138 research outputs found
Impact of Sex and Gender on Clinical Management of Patients with Advanced Chronic Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes
No full textGender differences in the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical features in chronic liver diseases that may be associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been increasingly reported in recent years. This sexual dimorphism is due to a complex interaction between sex- and gender-related factors, including biological, hormonal, psychological and socio-cultural variables. However, the impact of sex and gender on the management of T2D subjects with liver disease is still unclear. In this regard, sex-related differences deserve careful consideration in pharmacology, aimed at improving drug safety and optimising medical therapy, both in men and women with T2D; moreover, low adherence to and persistence of long-term drug treatment is more common among women. A better understanding of sex- and gender-related differences in this field would provide an opportunity for a tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the management of T2D subjects with chronic liver disease. In this narrative review, we summarized available data on sex- and gender-related differences in chronic liver disease, including metabolic, autoimmune, alcoholic and virus-related forms and their potential evolution towards cirrhosis and/or hepatocarcinoma in T2D subjects, to support their appropriate and personalized clinical management
Attività antibatterica di estratti algali nei confronti di batteri isolati da tamponi auricolari
No full textL'otite esterna consiste in un processo infiammatorio del condotto uditivo che può giungere ad interessare anche la membrana timpanica. Questa patologia, i cui sintomi più caratteristici sono otorrea ed otalgia, è causata generalmente da infezioni batteriche e, più raramente, da infezioni micotiche [1]; i principali microrganismi responsabili sono Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Staphylococcus aureus [2]. La diagnosi di otite esterna si basa, oltre che sull’esame clinico, sull’effettuazione di tamponi auricolari che, permettendo il riconoscimento dell’agente eziologico, costituiscono il supporto indispensabile per una corretta terapia; quest’ultima si basa essenzialmente sulla somministrazione di antibiotici, eventualmente associati ad antinfiammatori steroidei. Tuttavia, le infezioni da P.aeruginosa e da S.aureus pongono seri problemi terapeutici legati alla farmaco-resistenza, particolarmente sviluppata in ambiente ospedaliero, che in molti ceppi si estende alla maggior parte degli antibiotici in uso. Nell’ambito degli studi orientati alla scoperta e all’utilizzazione di sostanze ad attività antibiotica, interessanti molecole sono state isolate in microalghe [3, 4]; inoltre, si è osservato che la somministrazione di cellule algali favorisce l’attivazione dei macrofagi e l’aumento della produzione di cellule staminali nel midollo osseo accelerandone la differenziazione in cellule immunocompetenti [4, 5]. Questo studio intende valutare la popolazione microbica del condotto uditivo in pazienti affetti da otite esterna e verificare la sensibilità dei microrganismi responsabili ad estratti algali opportunamente approntati. Per l’indagine microbiologica sono stati utilizzati tamponi auricolari prelevati da 100 pazienti con presunta otite acuta esterna. Ogni tampone è stato seminato in opportuni terreni di coltura selettivi per Gram- (Columbia horse blood agar, Mc Conkey Agar), per stafilococchi (Mannitol Salt Agar) e per miceti (Sabouraud Agar); le piastre sono state tutte incubate a 37°C per 18/24 ore ad eccezione di quelle con Sabouraud per le quali l’incubazione è stata prolungata fino ad 1 settimana. I microrganismi sono stati identificati mediante esame microscopico con colorazione di Gram. In seguito, per i ceppi Gram+ sono stati eseguiti il test della catalasi, per discernere tra Staphylococcaceae (catalasi positive) e Streptococcaceae (catalasi negative) ed il test della coagulasi, per discernere tra S. aureus (coagulasi positivo) e gli altri stafilococchi (coagulasi negativi). L’attività antibiotica di estratti algali è stata verificata utilizzando colture della specie marina Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher 1959 (Chlorophyceae) e della specie d’acqua dolce Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Chlorophyceae). L’estratto algale è stato preparato per centrifugazione; il pellet è stato lavato con tampone fosfato (per P. subcapitata) o con PBS (per D. tertiolecta), è stato successivamente sottoposto a 20 cicli di sonicazione di 30 secondi ciascuno e a successiva centrifugazione (3500 rpm per 30 minuti). Al pellet ottenuto è stato aggiunto metanolo al 60% (0,25 g/ml) e si è proceduto ad una nuova centrifugazione (3500 rpm per 20 minuti); il sopranatante ottenuto è stato filtrato (0,22 mm - Millipore GV) ottenendo l’estratto che è stato utilizzato nello studio. Colture batteriche pure in fase di crescita esponenziale (5 × 105 CFU/ml) ottenute da tamponi auricolari raccolti tra gennaio 2012 e gennaio 2013 presso il Pronto Soccorso dell’IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino IST da 100 pazienti (di cui 58,06% maschi e 41,94% femmine) di età compresa tra 15 e 92 anni (media = 48,15 anni) sono state trattate con diverse concentrazioni di estratti algali di P. subcapitata e D. tertiolecta. L’attività antimicrobica degli estratti è stata determinata dopo 18-24 ore di incubazione ed è stata calcolata la Concentrazione Minima Inibente (MIC) secondo metodiche standardizzate [6]; 84 tamponi sono risultati positivi per la presenza di uno o più microrganismi (Tab. 1). Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Staphylococcus aureus sono risultati i patogeni più ricorrenti; le micosi hanno avuto un’incidenza molto inferiore (<9 %). I valori di MIC ottenuti trattando ceppi di P.aeruginosa e di S. aureus con estratto da cellule di D. tertiolecta sono risultati compresi rispettivamente tra 1,4 × 109 e 5,6 × 109 cell./ml e tra 2,8 × 109 e 1,1 × 1010 cell./ml. I valori di MIC dei ceppi sottoposti all’estratto da cellule di P. subcapitata sono risultati compresi tra 6,2 × 109 e 1,2 × 1010 cell./ml per P. aeruginosa e tra 1,6 × 109 e 1,2 × 1010 cell./ml per S. aureus. Questo studio ha confermato che P. aeruginosa e S. aureus sono gli agenti principali responsabili delle otiti esterne. Nel complesso, P. aeruginosa è prevalente e presenta una maggiore incidenza nei mesi estivi. Gli estratti provenienti da D. tertiolecta e P. subcapitata hanno mostrato attività antibatterica, in particolare nei confronti di P. aeruginosa, (MIC90 = 5,6 × 109 e 6,2 × 109 cell./ml rispettivamente) ed un minore effetto nei confronti di S. aureus (MIC90 = 1,12 × 1010 e 1,25 × 1010 cell./ml rispettivamente). Considerate le difficoltà derivanti dalla presenza di ceppi resistenti, l’individuazione di nuove molecole bioattive di origine naturale può costituire una prospettiva terapeutica di notevole interesse. In questo ambito, i risultati ottenuti indicano che estratti da specie algali fitoplanctoniche possono risultare adatti per ottenere sostanze ad attività antibiotica utili per il trattamento di patologie otorinolaringoiatriche causate da agenti microbici
«La aguja fría del deseo»: the sensitive tropology of Margarita Ferreras
No full textLa poesía escrita por mujeres que se produjo desde las postrimerías del Modernismo hasta mediados de los cincuenta se distingue por un subjetivismo copioso y cierto erotismo que procura contradecir el arquetipo femenino de ascendencia romántica y desacreditar el matrimonio en cuanto institución represiva de las exigencias liberales de las mujeres. Propia del clima de emancipación femenina de los años treinta, la incorporación de referencias eróticas en las obras de las poetas del 27 viene a complementar el panorama de libertades que reivindicaban. Con todo, la mayoría de las poetas optan por estrategias estilísticas que insinúan, más o menos directamente, el elemento sensual, parapetándolo detrás de un sistema metafórico complejo, fundamentado en la ambigüedad genérica. Pocas son las que se decantan por un tratamiento franco e inmediato de los impulsos amorosos. Entre estas últimas destaca Margarita Ferreras, otra de las grandes olvidadas de las autoras que operaron en el primer tercio del siglo XX, quien alcanza en Pez en la tierra (1932), su única obra publicada, la cumbre de un erotismo pionero e infrecuente. El poemario, impreso por los Altolaguirre, consta de veintiocho composiciones que destacan por audacia, claridad expresiva y un realismo que puede tildarse de ardoroso. El presente estudio pretende proporcionar un análisis de las soluciones formales adoptadas por Ferreras para vehicular su concepto de erotismo y sensualidad. A través del análisis de algunas composiciones de Pez en la tierra, procuraremos explicar su peculiar uso de la tropología y el simbolismo de los elementos naturales, para luego explayarnos en los recursos metafóricos empleados para poetizar ese erotismo luminoso y atrevido.The poetry written by women that was produced from the end of Modernism to the middle of 1950s is distinguished by copious subjectivism and a certain eroticism that seeks to contradict the feminine archetype of Romanticism and to discredit marriage as an institution that represses the liberal demands of women. The incorporation of erotic references in the poems of the women of the Generation of 27 not only is a characteristic of the climate of female emancipation of the 1930s, but also a complement to the panorama of freedoms that they claimed. However, most poets opt for stylistic strategies that hint, more or less directly, the sensual element, shielding it behind a complex metaphorical system, based on generic ambiguity. Few are those who opt for a frank and immediate treatment of love impulses. Among the latter, Margarita Ferreras, another of the great forgotten of the authors who operated in the first third of the 20th century, stands out, reaching in Pez en la tierra (1932) the summit of a pioneering and infrequent eroticism. The collection of poems, printed by the Altolaguirres, consists of 28 compositions that stand out for their audacity, expressive clarity and a realism that can be called ardent. This study aims to provide an analysis of the formal solutions adopted by the author to convey her concept of eroticism and sensuality. Through the analysis of some compositions of Pez en la tierra, we will try to explain its peculiar use of the tropology and the symbolism of natural elements, to then expand on the metaphorical resources used to poetize that luminous and daring eroticism that we have been talking about, which blind by its calcining power.Aportación realizada en el marco del Proyecto de I+D+I «Género, cuerpo e identidad en las poetas españolas de la primera mitad del siglo XX», dirigido por la Dra. Helena Establier y financiado por el Programa Estatal de Generación del Conocimiento (Ref. PID 2020-113343GB-100)
Effect of Cocoa Polyphenolic Extract on Macrophage Polarization from Proinflammatory M1 to Anti-Inflammatory M2 State
No full textPolyphenols-rich cocoa has many beneficial effects on human health, such as anti-inflammatory effects. Macrophages function as
control switches of the immune system, maintaining the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory activities. We investigated
the hypothesis that cocoa polyphenol extract may affect macrophage proinflammatory phenotype M1 by favoring an alternative
M2 anti-inflammatory state on macrophages deriving from THP-1 cells. Chemical composition, total phenolic content, and
antioxidant capacity of cocoa polyphenols extracted from roasted cocoa beans were determined. THP-1 cells were activated with
both lipopolysaccharides and interferon-γ for M1 or with IL-4 for M2 switch, and specific cytokines were quantified. Cellular
metabolism, through mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and ATP levels were evaluated. Here, we will show that cocoa
polyphenolic extract attenuated in vitro inflammation decreasing M1 macrophage response as demonstrated by a significantly
lowered secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, treatment of M1 macrophages with cocoa polyphenols influences
macrophage metabolism by promoting oxidative pathways, thus leading to a significant increase in O2 consumption by
mitochondrial complexes as well as a higher production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. In conclusion, cocoa
polyphenolic extract suppresses inflammation mediated by M1 phenotype and influences macrophage metabolism by promoting
oxidative pathways and M2 polarization of active macrophages
The Reversible Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1 Inhibitor (Teglicar) Ameliorates the Neurodegenerative Phenotype in a Drosophila Huntington’s Disease Model by Acting on the Expression of Carnitine-Related Genes
No full textHuntington’s disease (HD) is a dramatic neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal expansion of a CAG triplet in the huntingtin gene, producing an abnormal protein. As it leads to the death of neurons in the cerebral cortex, the patients primarily present with neurological symptoms, but recently metabolic changes resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction have been identified as novel pathological features. The carnitine shuttle is a complex consisting of three enzymes whose function is to transport the long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. Here, its pharmacological modification was used to test the hypothesis that shifting metabolism to lipid oxidation exacerbates the HD symptoms. Behavioural and transcriptional analyses were carried out on HD Drosophila model, to evaluate the involvement of the carnitine cycle in this pathogenesis. Pharmacological inhibition of CPT1, the rate-limiting enzyme of the carnitine cycle, ameliorates the HD symptoms in Drosophila, likely acting on the expression of carnitine-related genes
Relationship of Blood Lead Levels to Blood Pressure in Exhaust Battery Storage Workers
No full textAbstract: Several researches has focused the hypothesis that low blood lead levels could be associated
with an increased risk of hypertension. To assess the relation between occupational lead
exposure and elevated blood pressure a group of 27 workers, age range from 27 to 62 years,
mean (SD) 36.52 ( 8.16) yr; length of employment mean (DS) 2.97 ( 1.67) yr, were recruited
as study subjects. The following variables were measured: blood lead concentration (BPb), δ-
Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) activity, Zinc Protoporphirin (ZPP), creatinine, hematocrit,
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood (DBP)
Pressure. The results showed that long term occupational exposure was related to a slight
increase of systolic and diastolic blood pressure among workers who had been exposed to higher
level of lead with respect to workers exposed to lower level of lead. Furthermore, blood lead
concentration (BPb) and ZPP resulted higher among workers exposed to higher level of ambient
lead, while in the same group of workers ALAD activity resulted more inhibited. The authors
concluded long term cumulative lead exposure can significantly increase blood pressure in low
level Pb exposed workers
La poetización de la huerfilia en la lírica de Carmen Conde
No full textThis paper examines the poetization of perinatal death in Carmen Conde's work, specifically the loss of her only daughter due to a traumatic childbirth. This event deeply marked Conde's literary output, shaping the tone of her poetry. The analysis focuses on Derramen su sangre las sombras (1983), a collection that delves into the processing of grief and the emotional transformation of the author over time, poetics foreshadowed in Su voz le doy a la noche (1962). The study scrutinizes the metaphors and symbolism used to articulate this inexpressible pain, along with the evolving perception of motherhood in Conde’s work, which transitions from initial empowerment to deep disillusionment and despair. Furthermore, it explores the rupture of the familial ideal, emphasizing the devastating reconfiguration of parental roles and the feelings of abandonment and loss that ensue. Lastly, the paper addresses the author’s expressions of anger and her confrontation with divinity in the face of the perceived injustice of a truncated motherhood. El artículo ofrece un estudio de la poetización de la muerte perinatal sufrida por la única hija de Carmen Conde, a consecuencia de un mal parto. El hecho influyó profundamente en la escritura de la poeta, marcando la tónica general de muchas de sus composiciones. Se analiza Derramen su sangre las sombras (1983), poemario en el que se explica la elaboración del duelo y la transformación emocional de la autora a lo largo de los años, cuya poética se había adelantado ya en Su voz le doy a la noche (1962). Se examinan las metáforas y simbolismos utilizados para expresar ese dolor inenarrable, así como la evolución de la percepción de la maternidad, desde un empoderamiento inicial hasta una desilusión y desesperación profundas. De la misma forma, se pretende abordar el quiebre del sueño familiar, destacando la devastadora alteración de los roles parentales y la sensación de desamparo y desposesión que ello conlleva. Finalmente, se analizará el sentimiento de enojo y la confrontación con la divinidad ante la injusticia percibida de una maternidad truncada.
The anti-angiogenic effect of polyphenols from the roots of Daphne mucronata Royle subsp. linearifolia (Hart) Halda (Thymelaeaceae)
No full textIntroduction: The genus Daphne is an important source of anticancer constituents. In the present study, the Middle-Eastern medicinal plant, Daphne mucronata subsp. Linearifolia, was selected to evaluate its antiangiogenic and antioxidant activities.Methods: Root extracts (n-hexane, chloroform "CHCl3", chloroform/methanol "CHCl3/MeOH", and methanol "MeOH") and isolated pure compounds were used to assess the effects on angiogenesis by using an in vivo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography "RP-HPLC" analyses were performed on the most active extract to isolate potential anti-angiogenic compounds. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay and by measuring the reducing power with a Folin-Ciocalteu reagent.Results: In the CAM model, the CHCl3/MeOH extract (100 mu g/egg) exhibited a good anti-angiogenic response (37.4% of inhibition) compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Chromatographic separation of the bioactive extract provided four lignans, the phenylpropanoid glycoside syringin, and two biflavonoids. Syringin and daphnodorin B showed the best anti-angiogenic response on the CAM, inducing a marked reduction of the microvasculature (55.75% and 46.77% of inhibition at 20 mu M) and a decrease of haemoglobin content. Additionally, syringin, pinoresinol 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, daphnodorin B, lariciresinol 4,4 '-bis-O-beta-D-glucopyr-anoside, and genkwanol A revealed a strong antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50 0.11-0.55 mM) and a good reducing power (2.08-5.32 GAEs).Conclusion: The bio-guided isolation of D. mucronata root CHCl3/MeOH extract afforded anti-angiogenic and antioxidant compounds with a potential beneficial role against dangerous and reactive species that were involved in many oxidative stress-related diseases
Moderne Klassiker: Die wiedergefundene Zeit: Die Reeditionen von Sitzmöbeln in Deutschland und in Italien und ihre Rezeption
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