92 research outputs found
The Relationship Between Sensory Processing and Academic Readiness in Preschool-Age Children of High-Need Families
No full textAbstract
Date Presented 3/30/2017
This session reviews study results describing the relationships among sensory processing, child behavior, academic readiness, and caregiver characteristics in preschool children from high-risk families. Results of the study and implications for occupational therapy practice are presented.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jeanne Zobel-Lachiusa
Contributing Authors: Kathryn Wiezbicki-Stevens, Dawn DiStefano</jats:p
Ethanol-mediated stress promotes autophagic survival and aggressiveness of colon cancer cells via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
No full textEpidemiological studies suggest that chronic alcohol consumption is a lifestyle risk factor strongly associated with colorectal cancer development and progression. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of ethanol (EtOH) on survival and progression of three different
colon cancer cell lines (HCT116, HT29, and Caco-2). Our data showed that EtOH induces oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as demonstrated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ER stress markers Grp78, ATF6, PERK and, CHOP increase. Moreover, EtOH triggers an autophagic response which is accompanied by the upregulation of beclin, LC3-II, ATG7, and p62 proteins.
The addition of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine significantly prevents autophagy, suggesting that autophagy is triggered by oxidative stress as a prosurvival response. EtOH treatment also upregulates the antioxidant enzymes SOD, catalase, and heme oxygenase (HO-1) and promotes
the nuclear translocation of both Nrf2 and HO-1. Interestingly, EtOH also upregulates the levels of matrix metalloproteases (MMP2 and MMP9) and VEGF. Nrf2 silencing or preventing HO-1 nuclear translocation by the protease inhibitor E64d abrogates the EtOH-induced increase in the antioxidant enzyme levels as well as the migration markers. Taken together, our results suggest that EtOH mediates both the activation of Nrf2 and HO-1 to sustain colon cancer cell survival, thus leading to the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype
Aerobic Exercise and Metabolic Syndrome: The Role of Sympathetic Activity and the Redox System
No full textBackground: Aerobic exercise can greatly assist in reducing collateral effects of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Moreover, aerobic exercise is associated with sympathetic activation and adaptive responses to sustain muscle engagement, changes in the release of Orexin A, a pleiotropic neuropeptide.Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise without dietary changes, in a cohort of MetS subjects, focusing on the role of sympathetic and orexinergic activity. Several blood parameters linked to MetS ROS production, heart rate, galvanic skin response, d-ROM test, and Orexin A serum levels were evaluated in ten males with MetS (BMI 30-34.9) before and after a period of 6 months of aerobic exercise compared to ten healthy subjects.Methods: Ten male subjects (aged 54 +/- 4.16) with MetS (MetS group) and ten healthy males (aged 49.7 +/- 2.79, Healthy group) were told about the study protocol and possible risks, signed the informed consent, and voluntarily participated in the study. Several blood parameters were evaluated in the two tested groups and were re-evaluated in the MetS group after 6 months of training (MetS6M group). The training protocol consisted of more than 30 min/day of walking (average speed of 4.5 km/h) and 3 days/week of aerobic activities (jogging under heart rate control - 120-140 bpm for 45 min).Results: The results showed that exercise induced a significant increase in GSR and plasma Orexin A but no significant increase in d-ROM values. Significant decreases in the serum ALT enzyme, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were found, while the HDL levels were significantly higher. Finally, a significant reduction of BMI and resting HR were reported.Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that physical activity is associated with sympathetic activation, having a pivotal role against adverse effects linked to MetS. Moreover, this study demonstrates that, in patients with MetS, Orexin A is involved in hormonal adaptations to exercise
A sustainable porous composite material based on loofah-halloysite for gas adsorption and drug delivery
No full textThe development of new advanced polymers has led researchers to look at nature to find new, high-performance, low-cost materials. This work aims to easily functionalize fibers, made up of polysaccharides, of loofah with halloysite through crosslinkers. Bio-composites have been extensively characterized using different techniques. The synthesized loofah-halloysite composites have improved CO2 adsorption properties superior to those of both individual components and materials currently used in industry. In particular, compared to BEA and the MOR zeolites, an improvement in CO2 capture of about 50% and 23%, respectively, was observed. Moreover, the composite investigated in this work showed superior CO2 capture compared to other cellulose-based and sustainable materials. Furthermore, the presence of halloysite also increased the mechanical properties of the cellulosic polymer. The new cellulose composites have proved to be excellent candidates for the delivery of resveratrol, maintaining its anticancer activity. The results underline the synergistic effect of functionalization on increasing the adsorption properties compared to the starting materials and the possibility of using this eco-sustainable and low-cost porous system in various fields such as gas adsorption and drug administration
Building the future. Zero energy school : Cairate
No full textLAUREA MAGISTRALENel contesto di un piccolo comune di provincia, Cairate, abitato da
meno di 8.000 cittadini si inserisce la progettazione di un Nuovo Polo
Scolastico da 600 studenti, che permetterà la dismissione di obsolete
e tecnologicamente inadeguate strutture presenti nella zona.
Abbiamo portato avanti il lavoro in due macro-fasi, la prima di approfondimento
sulla situazione del sistema scolastico Italiano e dell’edilizia
scolastica Italiana, messi a paragone con quanto è accaduto in
Europa e nel Mondo nel corso degli ultimi cent’anni, e la seconda di
progettazione, tramite l’utilizzo di software BIM e di analisi veicolare,
che ci ha permesso di controllare tutto il processo progettuale, non
solo dal punto di vista compositivo, ma anche energetico, funzionaleorganizzativo
e riguardante i flussi veicolari che il progetto avrebbe
causato nella viabilità di quartiere.
Il risultato mostra un manufatto scolastico energicamente autosufficiente,
caratterizzato da elevati standard tecnologici, dotato di ambienti
flessibili che rispondono alle esigenze attuali senza inficiare future
e mutate richieste; l’analisi avente oggetto i flussi veicolari inoltre
ci ha mostrato come l’impatto del progetto sulla viabilità di quartiere
potesse essere critico, abbiamo quindi proposto una nuova viabilità
che possa sfruttare appieno le infrastrutture presenti senza caricare la
zona di nuove.In the context of a small town of Varese district, Cairate, in which live
less than 8,000 citizens, there is the project of a new School for 600
students, which will allow the disposal of obsolete and technologically
inadequate artifacts in the area.
We keep on the work into two main phases, the first deepening the
situation of the Italian school system and school buildings, put in
comparison with what happened in Europe and in the World over the
last hundred years, and the second on the design, through the use of
BIM software and vehicular analysis, which allowed us to control the
entire design process, not only from the point of view of composition,
but also energetic, functional and organizational concerning traffic
flow that the project would have caused to the viability of the district.
The result shows an artifact school energetically self-sufficient, characterized
by high technological standards, with flexible room that
meet the needs of the present without compromising future and
changing demands; vehicular and flows analysis also showed us how
the project’s impact on the viability of the district could be critical, we
have proposed a new way that can take full advantage of the existing
facilities without loading new road
Spectrum of skeletal abnormalities in a complex malformation syndrome with "cutis tricolor" (Ruggieri-Happle syndrome)
No full textBackground: The term cutis tricolor describes the combination of congenital hyper- and hypopigmented skin lesions in close proximity to each other in a background of normal complexion. This phenomenon has been reported: (i) as a purely cutaneous trait; (ii) as a part of a complex malformation syndrome (Ruggieri-Happle syndrome - RHS); (iii) as a distinct type [cutis tricolor parvimaculata]; (iv) in association with other (e.g. vascular) skin disturbances. Objectives: To delineate the spectrum of skeletal defects in cutis tricolor. Methods: Retrospective and prospective analysis of skeletal surveys in 14 subjects (eight men; six women; aged 2-28 years) with cutis tricolor [4 purely cutaneous trait; 10 syndromic (RHS)]. Results: Bone abnormalities were recorded in 71.4% (10/14) of patients [100% (10/10) of cases with (other-than-skeletal) extra-cutaneous manifestations vs. null (0/4) in cases with purely cutaneous traits] and included overall small skull (n = 6); prognathism (n = 6); 'J'-shaped pituitary fossa (n = 1); absence of atlas posterior arch (n = 3); frontal bossing (n = 6); scoliosis (n = 9) with kyphosis (n = 6) and/or lordosis (n = 6); vertebral (n = 9) and ribs (n = 4) defects. Negative ZFHX1B gene analyses excluded overlaps with Mowat-Wilson syndrome. Conclusions: Cutis tricolor may be a marker of underlying skeletal involvement particularly in subjects with a complex syndromic (RHS) phenotype. © 2010 The Author(s)/Acta Pædiatrica © 2010 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica
Consequences on aging process and human wellness of generation of nitrogen and oxygen species during strenuous exercise
No full textImpairment of antioxidant defense system and increase in metabolic rate and production of reactive oxygen species have been demonstrated in strenuous exercise. Both at rest and during contractile activity, skeletal muscle generates a very complex set of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species; the main generated are superoxide and nitric oxide. The nature of the contractile activity influences the pattern and the magnitude of this reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS) generation. The intracellular pro-oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis undergoes alteration owing to strenuous exercise and the major identified sources of intracellular free radical generation during physical activity are the mitochondrial electron transport chain, polymorphoneutrophil, and xanthine oxidase. Reactive oxygen species increased tissue susceptibility to oxidative damage and pose a serious threat to the cellular antioxidant defense system. The possible dangerous consequences of the aging process and human wellness are emphasized in this review
Comparative assessment of electronic nicotine delivery systems aerosol and cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration: the Replica Project
No full textCigarette smoking is associated with impairment of repair mechanisms necessary for vascular endothelium homeostasis. Reducing the exposure to smoke toxicants may result in the mitigation of the harmful effect on the endothelium and cardiovascular disease development. Previous investigations performed by the tobacco industries evaluated in vitro the effect of electronic cigarette (e-cig) compared to cigarette smoke demonstrating a significant reduction in endothelial cell migration inhibition following e-cig aerosol exposure. In the present study, we replicated one of these studies, evaluating the effects of cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration compared to e-cig and heated tobacco products. We used a multi-center approach (ring-study) to verify the robustness and reliability of the results obtained in the replicated study. Consistently with the original study, we observed a substantial reduction of the effects of e-cig and tobacco heated products on endothelial cell migration compared to cigarette smoke. In conclusion, our study further confirms the importance of e-cig and tobacco heated products as a possible harm reduction strategy for cardiovascular diseases development in smokers
HIV in Japan: Epidemiologic puzzles and ethnographic explanations
No full textAbstractJapan is widely perceived to have a low level of HIV occurrence; however, its HIV epidemics also have been the subject of considerable misunderstanding globally. I used a ground truthing conceptual framework to meet two aims: first, to determine how accurately official surveillance data represented Japan's two largest epidemics (urban Kansai and Tokyo) as understood and experienced on the ground; and second, to identify explanations for why the HIV epidemics were unfolding as officially reported. I used primarily ethnographic methods while drawing upon epidemiology, and compared government surveillance data to observations at community and institutional sites (459 pages of field notes; 175 persons observed), qualitative interviews with stakeholders in local HIV epidemics (n = 32), and document research (n = 116). This revealed seven epidemiologic puzzles involving officially reported trends and conspicuously missing information. Ethnographically grounded explanations are presented for each. These included factors driving the epidemics, which ranged from waning government and public attention to HIV, to gaps in sex education and disruptive leadership changes in public institutions approximately every two years. Factors constraining the epidemics also contributed to explanations. These ranged from subsidized medical treatment for most people living with HIV, to strong partnerships between government and a well-developed, non-governmental sector of HIV interventionists, and protective norms and built environments in the sex industry. Local and regional HIV epidemics were experienced and understood as worse than government reports indicated, and ground-level data often contradicted official knowledge. Results thus call into question epidemiologic trends, including recent stabilization of the national epidemic, and suggest the need for revisions to the surveillance system and strategies that address factors driving and constraining the epidemics. Based upon its utility in the current study, ground truthing has value as a conceptual framework for research and shows promise for future theoretical development
The Lebanese crisis of summer 2006 In terms of jus contra bellum
No full textAs the title denotes, the present article focusses on the application of ius contra bellum rules ; in other word, the author will examine States\u27 and non-State actors\u27 conducts during summer 2006 events through the sole spectrum of rules relating to the right to the use of force in intern national relations, formerly known as the right to wage war. Thus, this article will not deal with the body of rules pertaining to the conduct of belligerents during armed conflict, i.e. the ius in bellum. Therefore, special, yet not exclusive emphasis will be put on Israel\u27s title to resort to armed force in order to guarantee its allegedly infringed rights. To this effect, the author will review different legal rules (and set of rules) which could validate Israel\u27s conduct. On the other side, Lebanon\u27s conduct in relation to Israel\u27s claims and especially with regard to Hezbollah\u27s activities will carefully be scrutinized in the light of public international law rules. In this framework, the question of States’ lawful reactions to non-State actors’ use of force will be thoroughly examined. Hence, in this respect, the article will assess not only ius contra bellum rules but also international law of State responsibility as well as the right to resort to forcible countermeasures and UN law (notably Security Council prerogatives under United Nations Charter Chapter VII). In conclusion, the author aims to determine Israel, Lebanon (and Hezbollah\u27s) responsibility in the context of this chapter of the Middle East Question
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