221 research outputs found
"Come provvido padre". Famiglie assistenziali a Genova tra XVII e XVIII secolo
No full textL'articolo analizza la formazione lavorativa dei ricoverati nell'Albergo dei poveri di Genov
Prevalence and risk factors for multiple chemical sensitivity in Australia
No full textThe author found that the prevalence of diagnosed multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) in Australia was 6.5%. No mention is made about the role of exposure to metals. Exposure to metallic elements has been associated with MCS. Metals are a well-known primary risk factor for idiopathic environmental intolerance. It is important that the medical approach designed to reduce the risk factors for MCS includes preventive strategies of metal exposure. Keywords: Adults, Frequency, Hyperosmia, Idiopathic environmental intolerance, Metal allergens, Metallic elements, Metals, Metals toxicity, Toxicant
Re: Nickel chromium and iron levels in the saliva of patients with simulated fixed orthodontic appliances
No full textLocalization of the human oxytocin receptor in caveolin-1 enriched domains turns the receptor-mediated inhibition of cell growth into a proliferative response
No full textIn this study, we investigated the functional role of the localization of human OTR in caveolin-1 enriched membrane domains. Biochemical fractionation of MDCK cells stably expressing the WT OTR-GFP indicated that only minor quantities of receptor are partitioned in caveolin-1 enriched domains. However, when fused to caveolin-2, the OTR protein proved to be exclusively localized in caveolin-1 enriched fractions, where it bound the agonist with increased affinity and efficiently coupled to Galpha(q/11). Interestingly, the chimeric protein was unable to undergo agonist-induced internalization and remained confined to the plasma membrane even after prolonged agonist exposure (120 min). A striking difference in receptor stimulation was observed when the OT-induced effect on cell proliferation was analysed: stimulation of the human WT OTR inhibited cell growth, whereas the chimeric protein had a proliferative effect. These data indicate that the localization of human OTR in caveolin-1 enriched microdomains radically alters its regulatory effects on cell growth; the fraction of OTR residing in caveolar structures may therefore play a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation
Targeting PPARα in the rat valproic acid model of autism: Focus on social motivational impairment and sex-related differences
No full textBackground The social motivational theory of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) focuses on social anhedonia as key causal feature of the impaired peer relationships that characterize ASD patients. ASD prevalence is higher in boys, but increasing evidence suggests underdiagnosis and undertreatment in girls. We showed that stress-induced motivational anhedonia is relieved by repeated treatment with fenofibrate (FBR), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) agonist. Here, we used the valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD in rats to examine male and female phenotypes and assess whether FBR administration from weaning to young adulthood relieved social impairments. Methods Male and female rats exposed to saline or VPA at gestational day 12.5 received standard or FBR-enriched diet from postnatal day 21 to 48-53, when behavioral tests and ex vivo neurochemical analyses were performed. Phosphorylation levels of DARPP-32 in response to social and nonsocial cues, as index of dopamine D(1)receptor activation, levels of expression of PPAR alpha, vesicular glutamatergic and GABAergic transporters, and postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 were analyzed by immunoblotting in selected brain regions. Results FBR administration relieved social impairment and perseverative behavior in VPA-exposed male and female rats, but it was only effective on female stereotypies. Dopamine D(1)receptor signaling triggered by social interaction in the nucleus accumbens shell was blunted in VPA-exposed rats, and it was rescued by FBR treatment only in males. VPA-exposed rats of both sexes exhibited an increased ratio of striatal excitatory over inhibitory synaptic markers that was normalized by FBR treatment. Limitations This study did not directly address the extent of motivational deficit in VPA-exposed rats and whether FBR administration restored the likely decreased motivation to operate for social reward. Future studies using operant behavior protocols will address this relevant issue. Conclusions The results support the involvement of impaired motivational mechanisms in ASD-like social deficits and suggest the rationale for a possible pharmacological treatment. Moreover, the study highlights sex-related differences in the expression of ASD-like symptoms and their differential responses to FBR treatment
Geoblood: A Web Based Tool for Geo-analysis of Biological Data
No full textAbstractClinical records (also known as Electronic Medical Records or EMRs) have been considered as a collection of patients health information. Elettronic Citizen Helth Records store information regarding life style, activities, habits, environment (i.e. water sources or air quality), routine health screening like blood biological analysis.Patients and providers stand to benefit from Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare. Some uses of healthcare IoT are mobile medical applications or wearable devices that allow patients to capture their health data. Smart personal devices as well as data generator devices (i.e., internet of things) allow to provide such kind of data which may be collected in unique (cloud) database. Such information can then be related to location data within a geographic context.We use clinical anonymized data extracted from a Biological Department of University Magna Graecia Hospital. We show how to include geographic operators to statistical methods and how to analyze environmental data and citizen habits to improve wellness. We report on developing and testing a geo-based system to analyze biological data
Light on the structure of thromboxane A2 receptor heterodimers
No full textThe structure-based design of a mutant form of the thromboxane A(2) prostanoid receptor (TP) was instrumental in characterizing the structural determinants of the hetero-dimerization process of this G protein coupled receptor (GPCR). The results suggest that the hetero-dimeric complexes between the TPalpha and beta isoforms are characterized by contacts between hydrophobic residues in helix 1 from both monomers. Functional characterization confirms that TPalpha-TPbeta hetero-dimerization serves to regulate TPalpha function through agonist-induced internalization, with important implications in cardiovascular homeostasis. The integrated approach employed in this study can be adopted to gain structural and functional insights into the dimerization/oligomerization process of all GPCRs for which the structural model of the monomer can be achieved at reasonable atomic resolution
Author response image 1. Assessment of apoptosis using propidium iodide.
No full textBeyond its role in parturition and lactation, oxytocin influences higher brain processes that control social behavior of mammals, and perturbed oxytocin signaling has been linked to the pathogenesis of several psychiatric disorders. However, it is still largely unknown how oxytocin exactly regulates neuronal function. We show that early, transient oxytocin exposure in vitro inhibits the development of hippocampal glutamatergic neurons, leading to reduced dendrite complexity, synapse density, and excitatory transmission, while sparing GABAergic neurons. Conversely, genetic elimination of oxytocin receptors increases the expression of protein components of excitatory synapses and excitatory synaptic transmission in vitro. In vivo, oxytocin-receptor-deficient hippocampal pyramidal neurons develop more complex dendrites, which leads to increased spine number and reduced γ-oscillations. These results indicate that oxytocin controls the development of hippocampal excitatory neurons and contributes to the maintenance of a physiological excitation/inhibition balance, whose disruption can cause neurobehavioral disturbances.</jats:p
- …
