844 research outputs found
Measurements of the depth of maximum muon production and of its fluctuations in extensive air showers above 1.5×1019eV at the Pierre Auger Observatory
No full textCancer related fatigue, levels of haematic haemoglobin and presence of anxiety and depression in hospitalised cancer patients
No full textG17 CANCER RELATED FATIGUE, LEVELS OF HAEMATIC
HAEMOGLOBIN AND PRESENCE OF ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION IN HOSPITALISED CANCER PATIENTS
F. Romito, F. Giuliani, D. Galetta, M. Di Bisceglie, R. Mallamaci,
M. Longo, G. Colucci
U.O. Oncologia Medica e Sperimentale, IRCCS Ospedale Oncologico,
Bari, Italy
Background: Cancer related fatigue is a very common problem among
cancer patients, which is not directly connected to illness stage and kind
of treatment. It is a multidimensional syndrome, involving both physical
and psychological aspects of the patient, which are interrelated and
mutually influencing. Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of
patients, who are impaired in the pleasant activities of their lives, such as
social relationships, hobbies and interests, sex. Anaemia is present in
approximately 70% of fatigued patients.
Aim: To evaluate levels of cancer related fatigue, in relation with haematic
haemoglobin level and the presence of anxiety and depression inhospitalised patients, collecting data regarding kind and stage of
treatment.
Methods: FACT Scale (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy), subscale
Anemia, and HAD (Hospital Anxiety and Depression) Questionnaire
were administered consecutively to all patients referring to the unit in one
week time. Haematic data were collected with routine blood test at the
same time of administration of questionnaires.
Results: The preliminary sample constituted 23 patients, the majority (15;
65%) were men aged 51(71 years old. Fifty-six percent of patients were
receiving the first two chemotherapy treatment cycles. Seven (30%) of
these patients show some level of depression (cut-off: 11), whereas nine
(39%) are anxious (cut-off: 8). Anxiety and depression co-occur in five
patients (22%), depression alone in 17%, only anxiety in 9%. The last
data could be interpreted in the light of our experience with clinicians
who are more likely to detect the presence of anxiety in cancer patients.
Fatigue is present in 30% of patients, one with no anxiety nor depression,
the remaining equally divided in half with co-occurring depression and
anxiety, and half who are only depressed. Patients who are only anxious
show low level of fatigue in this sample. Haematic data are still not
available
MAXIMUM MUON PRODUCTION DEPTH AND ITS FLUCTUATIONS ABOVE 15 EEV AT THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY: MASS COMPOSITION AND CONSTRAINTS ON HADRONIC INTERACTION MODELS
No full textThe surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory measures the arrival time distribution of particles and it therefore provides indirect information on the longitudinal development of the muonic component of extensive air showers. In this work, the depth at which the muon production is maximum and the corresponding shower-to-shower fluctuations are reconstructed for more than 2000 events above 15 EeV (1.5X10^19 eV), in a wide range of zenith angles between 45° and 65°. Both observables are analysed in terms of mass composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, one of the most intriguing issues of modern astrophysics. In addition, these observables are exploited to attempt to constrain the most up-to date hadronic interactions models, which are used in the simulation of extensive air showers
Point-like source searches of PeV-EeV Earth-skimming neutrinos with MAGIC telescopes: optimisation study of the event selection
No full textPoster presented at the XVIII Internationale Workshop on Neutrino Telescopes (Venice, March 18-22, 2019
Molecular bases of cortico-cerebral regionalization
No full textThis chapter will focus on molecular mechanisms governing early steps of cortico-cerebral arealization. This is a very complex and intricate field, in which a great number of experimental investigations have been performed and vigorous scientific debates have taken place in recent years. We will try to provide an organic synthesis of this subject, summarizing the main experimental results and their theoretical implications
Effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) and Augmenter of Liver Regeneration (ALR) on human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell survival and differentiation.
No full textEffects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) and Augmenter of Liver Regeneration (ALR) on human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell survival and differentiation.
MALLAMACI R1, CAMPANA G2, POLIMENO L3, VITIELLO F2, BUTTIGLIONE M2
1Dip. Farmaco Chimico, Fac. di Farmacia, Univ. di Bari, Italia
2Dip. di Farmacologia e Fisiologia Umana, Fac. di Medicina e Chirurgia, Univ. di Bari, Italia
3 DETO, Sez. di Gastroenterologia, Fac. di Medicina e Chirurgia, Univ. di Bari, Italia
AIM: ALR is a liver growth factor with a strong anti-apoptotic activity; our previous studies have demonstrated the protective effect of ALR on H2O2-induced apoptosis in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. The aim of the present study was to explore both effect and role of RA and ALR in terms of SH-SY5Y cell survival and differentiation in media supplemented with different serum concentrations.
METHODS: Cultures of the SH-SY5Y cells were maintained in either DMEMs supplemented with 10, 2 or 0.2% FCS, or in defined medium (DM). 10μM RA and 100ng/ml ALR were added to the culture media singularly or together. Cell viability was tested using the MTT assay. The expression of anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 and of differentiation marker Gap43 was assessed by Western blot.
RESULTS: RA was found to significantly decrease cell viability and increase neurite outgrowth, whereas ALR alone had no effect on cell proliferation and differentiation in all the different culture media under study. When RA and ALR were added together to a low-serum culture medium, SH-SY5Y cell viability was enhanced. In addition, treatment of SH-SY5Y with ALR was found to increase Bcl2 expression compared to treatment with RA alone, while Gap43 expression was observed to decrease.
CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that ALR can protect SH-SY5Y cells against the apoptotic effect of RA, but also that this protein has an inhibitory effect on cell differentiation. Further work on this subject is underway in our laboratories
Promotion of cortico-cerebral precursors expansion by artificial pri-miRNAs targeted against the Emx2 locus.
No full textEmx2 encodes for a transcription factor controlling several aspects of cerebral cortex development. Its overexpression promotes self-renewal of young cortico-cerebral precursors, it promotes neuronal rather than gliogenic fates and it protects neuronal progenitors from cell death. These are all key activities for purposes of gene-promoted brain repair. Artificial pri-miRNAs targeting non-coding cis-active modules and/or conserved sequences of the Emx2 locus were delivered to embryonic cortico-cerebral precursors, by lentiviral vectors. A subset of these pri-miRNAs upregulated Emx2, possibly stimulating its transcription. That led to enhanced self-renewal, delayed differentiation and reduced death of neuronally committed precursors, resulting in an appreciable expansion of the neuronogenic precursors pool. This method makes Emx2 overexpression for purposes of brain repair a more feasible goal, avoiding the drawbacks of exogenous gene copies introduction. Interestingly, the two genomic enhancers targeted by these pri-miRNAs were discovered to be naturally transcribed. Their expression profile suggests their possible involvement in regulation of Emx2 transcription
E-ASTROGAM: A space mission for MeV-GeV gamma-ray astrophysics
No full texte-ASTROGAM is an observatory space mission dedicated to the study of the gamma radiation in the range from 0.3 MeV to 3 GeV. The detector is composed by a Silicon tracker, a calorimeter, and an anticoincidence system. The mission is based on an advanced space-proven detector technology, with unprecedented sensitivity, angular and energy resolution, combined with polarimetric capability. Thanks to its performance in the MeV-GeV domain, substantially improving its predecessors, eASTROGAM will open a new window on the non-thermal Universe. In particular it will determine the origin of key isotopes fundamental for the understanding of supernova explosions and the chemical evolution of our Galaxy. It will also shed light on the processes behind the acceleration of cosmic rays in our Galaxy
Modulation of K+ channel activity of striated fibers of hypokalemic rats underlies the therapeutical efficacy of minoxidil and acetazolamide.
No full textTu-Pos390
MODULATION OF K+ CHANNEL ACTIVITY OF STRIATED FIBERS OF
HYPOKALEMIC RATS UNDERLIES THE THERAPEUTICAL EFFICACY OF
MINOXIDIL AND ACETAZOLAMIDE. ((D. Tricaiico, M. Barbieri, R. Mallamaci , R.
Capriulo* and D. Conte Camerino)) Dept. of Pharnacobiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and
*Clinic of Aniestesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bari, ITALY.
K' depleted rats (hypoK rats) resemble humans affected by hypokalemic periodic paralysis for
the serum K+ levels lower than 3.2meq/L, the muscle fiber depolarization and the attacks of
paralysis induced by acute injection of insulsn (4U/IOOgr) and/or glucose (0.5gr) (Lehmann-
Hom et al., Myology: 1303-1310,1994). Moreover, skeletal muscle fibers of hypoK rats have an
abnormally lower activity of ATP sensitive K' channels (KATp) (Tricarico et al., Biophys.J.
72/2:A249, 1997). We observed by patch clamp recordings, that in vitro application of
minoxidil sulphate increased KATP activity of normokalemic rat striated fibers
(ED55=465±4pM) and significantly restored KATP currents of hypoK rats fibers
(ED50=11±2gM). Accordingly, minoxidil sulphate (1-100lM) repolarized hypoK rats fibers,
effect antagonized by glybenclamide (60-lO0nM). To evaluate the potential benefit of in vivo
administration of minoxsdil to hypoK rats, 8 depleted animals were treated for 10 days with
18jg/kg/die minoxidil. The effects were compared with those of 2.8mg/kg/die acetazolamide (4
hypoK rats), a drug currently used in the therapy of human hypokalemic periodic paralysis.
Acetazolamide restored normal serum K' levels, whereas minoxidil did not. However, 50% of
the rats treated with either minoxidil or acetazolamide were not paralyzed after the acute
injection of insulin and glucose. In vitro recordings on muscle fibers from no-paralyzed treated
rats showed normal values of resting potential and further hyperpolarization in low K' solution.
This effect was antagonized by glybenclamide in minoxidil treated and by charybdotoxin in the
acetazolamide treated rat fibers. Furthermore, patch clamp recordings showed that the
treatment with minoxidil restored the KATP channel activity whereas acetazolamide increased
Ca2+activated K+ channel activity. These results suggest that KATP channel openers could be
beneficial in the therapy of hypokalemic periodic paralysis and increase our understanding on
the mechanism of action of acetazolamide. (Telethon Italy project n°579)
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