46 research outputs found
"'Nothing but a feeling of brotherhood': the Interracial Question and the Return to Africa in Pauline Hopkins's Of One Blood"
No full textDuring the last twenty years Pauline Hopkins’s novel Of One Blood: Or, the Hidden Self (1903) has turned out to be one of the most debated text of early twentieth-century African American literature. In my essay I engage in a close reading of the novel in order to further investigate the method of characterization in relation to the ideological stances of the author. While most recent criticism has focused on Hopkins’ portrayal of male/female and/or the female/female relations in the novel, my study analyzes the dynamics among the four chief male characters and possibly proposes a fresher understanding of the race relations in the text. On the one hand, my study questions those pessimistic interpretations which tend to overlook any significant positive interracial relations in the story. On the other hand it provides new elements to reassess the supposed influence of late nineteenth/early twentieth-century imperialist rhetoric over Hopkins’ fiction, which has been already suggested by other scholars. My research on the method of characterization also calls attention to Hopkins’s creative handling of the figure of the mulatto and puts a new emphasis on her ability of representing black women’s pivotal role in the construction of black identity in America
Polyphenol-Rich <i>Larix decidua</i> Bark Extract with Antimicrobial Activity against Respiratory-Tract Pathogens: A Novel Bioactive Ingredient with Potential Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Applications
No full textLarch (Larix decidua) bark is a sawmill waste, traditionally used for antiseptic, expectorant and dermatological (wound healing, eczema, psoriasis) purposes. In this work, we developed a food-grade dry larch bark extract (LBE) from sawmill by-products using hydro-alcoholic extraction. The antibacterial activity of LBE was evaluated against respiratory-tract pathogens, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenza, and it was compared to that of grapefruit seed extract (GSE), a commercially available raw material commonly proposed as antibacterial ingredient for over-the-counter products. Procyanidins (PACs) and other polyphenols contents in LBE were determined by HPLC-FLD-MS and HPLC-DAD-MSn, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of LBE and GSE was assessed using the micro-plate dilution technique in concentration range of 2–200 µg/mL, and the safety of these dosages was assessed in cellular and animal models. LBE showed considerable contents of PACs (15% w/w; especially B-type) and other polyphenols (3.8% w/w), among which the characteristic spiropolyphenols larixinol and epilarixinol were identified, together with the flavonoids isoquercitrin and rutin, already reported as growth inhibitors of different respiratory-tract pathogens. LBE showed higher antimicrobial activity compared to GSE, demonstrated by a growth inhibition range of 10–40% towards five of six strains tested, compared to 10–15% of GSE. These results suggest that LBE may represent a natural and sustainable source of active compounds with antibacterial activity for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications
Synthesis and Medicinal Applications of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes Based on Caffeine and Other Xanthines
No full textFunding Information: . We kindly acknowledge the support of FCT\u2010 Funda\u00E7\u00E3o para a Ci\u00EAncia e a Tecnologia, I.P., through the MOSTMICRO\u2010ITQB R&D Unit (UIDB/04612/2020, UIDP/04612/2020) and LS4FUTURE Associated Laboratory (LA/P/0087/2020) and Fellowships PD/BD/135483/2018 and COVID/BD/152502/2022 (M.I.P.S. Leit\u00E3o), SFRH/BD/144441/2019 (G. Francescato) UI/BD/152076/2021 (G. Orsini). A. Petronilho acknowledges contract CEECINST/00102/2018/CP1567/CT0043 Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. ChemMedChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.Xanthines are purine derivatives predominantly found in plants. These include compounds such as caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine and exhibit a variety of pharmacological properties, demonstrating efficacy in treating neurodegenerative disorders, respiratory dysfunctions, and also cancer. The versatile attributes of these materials render them privileged scaffolds for the development of compounds for various biological applications. Xanthines are N-heterocyclic carbene precursors that combine a pyrimidine and an imidazole ring. Owing to their biological relevance, xanthines have been employed as N-heterocyclic carbenes in the development of metallodrugs for anticancer and antimicrobial purposes. In this conceptual review, we examine key examples of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes derived from caffeine and other xanthines, elucidating their synthetic methods and describing their pertinent medicinal applications.publishersversionpublishe
Novel Compounds Synergize With Venetoclax to Target KMT2A-Rearranged Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia
No full textMetal Complexes Stabilized by Nucleobases and Their Analogues: Synthesis and Applications
No full text"This thesis work is structured into four main sections. The first chapter is a general introduction, initiated with a discussion of the structure and the electronic properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). Furthermore, it focuses on the importance of NHCs in organometallic chemistry and the use of NHCs as ligands for metal complexes with potential biological applications. The introductory chapter also contains a review of key examples of metal complexes containing nucleobases and their analogues. This synopsis explores both the synthesis and the biological application of these complexes. Finally, the aim of this thesis work is outlined: synthesize new metal complexes containing nucleobases or analogues as NHCs and study their biological applications.(...)"N/
The 8q24 region hosts miRNAs altered in biospecimens of colorectal and bladder cancer patients
No full textBackground: The 8q24 locus is enriched in cancer-associated
polymorphisms
and, despite containing relatively few protein-coding
genes, it hosts
the MYC oncogene and other genetic elements connected to tumorigenesis,
including microRNAs (miRNAs). Research on miRNAs may provide insights
into the transcriptomic regulation of this multiple cancer-associated
region.
Material and methods: We profiled all miRNAs located in the 8q24 region in
120 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and 80 controls. miRNA profiling was performed
on cancer/non-malignant
adjacent mucosa, stool, and plasma extracellular
vesicles (EVs), and the results validated with The Cancer Genome Atlas
(TCGA) data. To verify if the 8q24-annotated
miRNAs altered in CRC were dysregulated
in other cancers and biofluids, we evaluated their levels in bladder cancer
(BC) cases from the TCGA dataset and in urine and plasma EVs from a set of
BC cases and healthy controls.
Results: Among the detected mature miRNAs in the region, 12 were altered
between CRC and adjacent mucosa (adj. p < 0.05). Five and four miRNAs
were confirmed as dysregulated in the CRC and BC TCGA dataset, respectively.
A co-expression
analysis of tumor/adjacent tissue data from the CRC
group revealed a correlation between the dysregulated miRNAs and CRC-related
genes (PVT1 and MYC) annotated in 8q24 region. miR-30d-
5p
and
miR-151a-
3p,
altered in CRC tissue, were also dysregulated in stool of CRC
patients and urine of BC cases, respectively. Functional enrichment of dysregulated
miRNA target genes highlighted terms related to TP53-mediated
cell cycle control.
Conclusions: Altered expression of 8q24-annotated
miRNAs may be relevant for
the initiation and/or progression of cancer
Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals a Different Proteomic Profile in Pediatric Patients With T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma or T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
No full textT-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) arise from the transformation of precursor T-cells sharing common morphological and immunophenotypic features. Despite this, T-LBL and T-ALL show different genomic/transcriptomic profiles and whether they represent two distinct disease entities or variant manifestations of the same disease is still a matter of debate. In this work, we performed a Reverse Phase Protein Array study on T-LBL and T-ALL samples and demonstrated that they are characterized by a different phosphoproteomic profile. Indeed, T-LBLs showed the hyperactivation of FAK/ERK1/2 and AKT/mTOR pathways, whereas JAK/STAT pathway was significantly hyperphosphorylated in T-ALLs. Moreover, since the only criteria for discriminating T-LBL from T-ALL is blasts’ infiltration below 25% in the bone marrow and lymphoma patients can present with a percentage of blasts close to this cut-off, a biomarker that could help distinguishing the two diseases would be of great help for the clinical diagnosis and treatment decision. Pursuing this aim, we identified a proteomic signature of six proteins whose expression/activation was able to discriminate stage IV T-LBL from T-ALL. Moreover, we demonstrated that AKT hyperphosphorylation alone was able to distinguish stage IV T-LBL from both T-ALL and stage III T-LBL. Concluding, these data demonstrate that T-ALL and T-LBL bear different phosphoproteomic profiles, further sustaining the hypothesis of the two disease as different entities and paving the way for the identification of new biomarkers able to distinguish stage IV T-LBL from T-ALL disease, so far based only on BM involvement criteria
Emotion, Attention, and Memory: The Relevance of Cognitive Psychology in Shaping the Role of Tourist Guides
No full textreservedQuesta tesi esplora il contributo della psicologia cognitiva alla fruizione turistica, attraverso l’analisi di processi cognitivi si indaga come si possa migliorare l’efficacia comunicativa delle guide turistiche e l’esperienza dei visitatori. Dopo una panoramica generale sulla psicologia cognitiva, il lavoro esamina la sua applicazione nel contesto turistico ed esperienziale, infine, approfondisce in che modo le guide turistiche possano applicare strategie basate su tali conoscenze per creare percorsi narrativi coinvolgenti e memorabili. L’obiettivo è mettere in luce l'importanza dell’approccio cognitivo per valorizzare l’interazione tra guida e visitatore all’interno del contesto culturale
The beeswax processing by‐product: a potential antibacterial ingredient for food and nutraceutical applications
No full textThe purification of raw beeswax by melting produces a semi-solid beeswax by-product (BBR) composed by honey, resins and other constituents that is usually considered as a waste. In this article, the chemical characterisation of BBR is reported, with the aim to valorise this by-product following the principles of the circular economy. Carbohydrates, hydrocarbons and minerals were among the main constituents. Flavonoids and phenolic acids represent 1.5% of the BBR, and their qualitative profile resembles the propolis. To assess its potential usefulness, the BBR was tested against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria of clinical interest, and results were compared with the raw propolis. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica were inhibited at concentrations >= 0.001 mg mL(-1), while Enterococcus faecalis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from 0.01 mg mL(-1). Only BBR was active on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Below the concentration of 1 mg mL(-1), no significant toxicity on Caco2 cells was observed. These results indicate that the BBR presents a polyphenol composition similar to propolis and a significant antibacterial activity. Thus, on the basis of these results, we suggest that the BBR can represent a sustainable alternative to propolis as food preservative or nutraceutical
