102,872 research outputs found
Experimental investigation of the recovery of soaked paper using evaporative freeze drying
No full textBIODETERIORATION
No full textThe biodeterioration of organic and inorganic materials, as well as polymers, is a complex of alteration processes induced by the growing and metabolic activ- ity of organisms. It can be recognized on monuments, wall paintings, stone, wood, paper, vegetal/animal fibers, and parchment artworks. As defined by Hueck (1968), biodeterioration is “any undesirable change in the properties of a material caused by the vital activities of organisms”; this definition is accepted as the meaning of the phenomenon. Both macroorganisms (such as animals, plants and mosses) and microorganisms (such as autotrophic or het- erotrophic bacteria, microfungi, cyanobacteria, algae and lichens) represent the triggers of biodeterioration for cultural heritage. Understanding the mor- phological and physiological features of the biodeteriogens is required to establish the kind of interaction that occurs with the material and to assess the cause-effect of the biodeterioration action of a specific identified biological agent. For a complete evaluation of biodeterioration, a proper sampling and identification of the majority of biodeteriogens are required. Therefore, in order to apply a prompt and effective conservation to limit further damage, evaluating and quantifying the presence of biological systems that induce dam- age in heritage materials is indispensable
DNA analysis as tool for identification of bacteria in archaeological watellogged wood
No full textS32. Wooden artifacts: from wood identification to dating and
conservation/restoration strategies
DNA analysis as tool for identification of bacteria in archaeological waterlogged wood
Palla, Franco; University of Palermo; Palermo; Italy Barresi, Giovanna; University of
Palermo; Palermo; Italy
Di Carlo, Enza; University of Palermo; Palermo; Italy
In this work molecular techniques were applied in order to integrate the results obtained by
Optical (OM) and Scanning Electron (SEM) Microscopy, to understanding and assessing the
changes in the anatomical structure of archaeological waterlogged wood (Pinus sp.) induced by
bacteria colonization. Observation of wooden thin sections by OM showed the presence of black
and dark-brown areas (must probably due to sulphur compound) and mineral concretions. The
SEM micrographs revealed a specific cell wall alteration, attributable to bacterial activity and
abundant pyrite framboids (as single structure or clustered). The presence of sulfur compounds in
archaeological waterlogged wood, indicate both long-term burial in anoxic environment and
colonization by sulfate-reducing bacteria.
Molecular biology investigation was performed through ad hoc protocols by direct DNA
extraction from wood samples and in vitro amplification of bacteria DNA target sequences (16S,
ITS regions- rRNA).
The results reveal and identify bacterial genus as Pseudomonas, Cellulomonas, Xanthomonas
and Bacillus that, as reported in the related scientific literature, are the most common
cellulosolytic and ligninolytic bacteria.
Moreover were also revealed the presence of Marinobacter sp. and Desulforudis audaxviator,
respectively iron - oxidizing and sulfate - reducing bacteria.
The investigation protocol set up in this work can be applied to a range of wooden artifacts of
archaeological findings for both identification of bacteria colonization shed some light on the
degradation phenomena, indispensable for correct conservation and restoration strategies.
Corresponding author: Palla, Franco <[email protected]
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin immunoexpression in colorectal carcinoma: A stage-specific prognostic factor?
No full textTNM post-surgical staging is considered to be one of the most powerful prognosticators for colorectal carcinoma. Although patient survival mostly decreases concomitantly to stage increase, in a percentage of cases TNM stage appears only to express the anatomic extent of the neoplasia with no correlation with clinical outcome. Thais, the identification of additional prognostic markers for colorectal cancer is required. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a 25-kDa protein that appears to play an important role in colorectal cancer progression. In order to evaluate whether NGAL expression may be considered as a predictor of colorectal cancer progression, we analyzed its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics, as well as with patient progression-free survival in a series of surgically resected colorectal carcinomas. A variable NGAL immunoexpression was found in 24 out of the 64 analyzed cases. When only the positive cases were considered, a significant association was found between a high NGAL expression and the presence of distant metastases or high tumor stage. In addition, the presence of NGAL was a significant negative prognostic marker correlated with a shorter progression-free survival in stage I colorectal carcinoma, but not in the remaining TNM stages. If our findings are confirmed in more extensive analyses on stage I colorectal carcinoma, NGAL assessment may be used in order to select those patients with a higher progression risk and to submit them to adjuvant therapies useful to prevent adverse outcome
La biblioteca dei Barresi di Pietraperzia nel XVI secolo
No full textIl contributo analizza i libri facenti parte della biblioteca della nobile famiglia Barresi di Pietraperzia, all'interno della quale erano presenti alcuni volumi d'architettura
NGAL immunohistochemical expression in brain primary and metastatic tumors
No full textA significant association has been recently shown between the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in tumors and its urinary levels. Thus NGAL urinary detection has been proposed as a method for the early diagnosis of brain tumors. In view of this, the objective of this study was to investigate whether NGAL expression differs according to brain tumor type or in primary vs. metastatic brain neolasias. 42 surgically resected formalin fixed and paraffin embedded neoplasias, including 15 cases of brain metastasis and 27 cases of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors (11 meningiomas; 1 pilocytic astrocytoma, 2 diffuse astrocytomas, 2 oligoastrocytomas, 2 oligodendrogliomas, 1 anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, 7 glioblastomas, 1 ependymoma) were submitted to the immunohistochemical procedure. Sections were incubated overnight with the primary antibody against NGAL. NGAL staining was found in all the analyzed glioblastomas and in the anaplastic oligoastrocytoma. No NGAL immuno-expression was evidenced in all the other cases. A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between NGAL presence and high proliferation index in the primary tumors. In conclusion, our findings suggest that NGAL expression is restricted to high grade gliomas among primary brain tumors, and that brain metastases do not express this protein. Considering the correlation between NGAL expression in tumors and its urinary levels, if our observations will be further validated, NGAL urinary detection might be used as an additional tool in the pre-surgical definition of brain lesions involving difficult differential diagnosis
Adiponectin immunohistochemical expression in colorectal cancer and its correlation with histological grade and tumour microvessel density
No full textAdiponectin (ApN) is a 30 kDa adipo-cytokine with anti-angiogenic effects. The expression of its receptors, Adipo-R1 and Adipo-R2, has been reported in colorectal cancer tissue and cell lines, but ApN expression in this neoplasia has not been investigated until now. In the present study, we aimed to analyse ApN expression and its eventual correlations with the clinico-pathological parameters and with the quantity of neo-angiogenesis, as reflected by the microvessel density (MVD), in human sporadic surgically resected colorectal carcinomas
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