177 research outputs found
A new allele uncovers the role of echinus in the control of ommatidial rotation in the Drosophila eye
No full textThe precise orientation of the ommatidia in the Drosophila eye is achieved through a specialized process of cell migration taking place in the third-instar eye imaginal disc when ommatidial clusters rotate by 90
degrees. This process is strictly coordinated with the establishment of planar cell polarity (PCP), but it relies on a specific set of genes that control its mechanism independently from PCP signaling. Recently, the
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway has been implicated in determining ommatidial
rotation. We have isolated a new allele of echinus, a gene known to control the patterning and number of
interommatidial cells. We show that echinus displays defects in the rotation of ommatidia that are not
evident until mid-pupal stages, and we propose that echinus action is that of opposing EGFR by an unknown
mechanism and that this can explain both its influence in ommatidial rotation and lattice programmed cell
death (PCD
Transcriptional regulation by Atrophin in development and neurodegeneration
No full textAtrophin (Atro) is the only Drosophila homolog of human Atrophin-1, the DRPLA disease gene. DRPLA (Dentatorubralpallidoluysian Atrophy) is a polyglutamine disease, caused by an expansion (over 48 repeats) of a polyQ tract in Atrophin-1, and characterized by brain specific neurons degeneration, together with psychiatric and motor symptoms. Atrophins are ubiquitous transcriptional cofactors involved in neuronal development and survival. Drosophila Atrophin itself contains two polyQ tracts, Q11 and Q14, of 11 and 14 glutamines respectively.
To find what is the Atro function in gene expression regulation, what are the genes whose expression is regulated by Atro, and possibly misregulated by DRPLA-modeling Atro mutations, we are coupling gene expression with chromatin profiling in flies overexpressing wild-type or polyQ-expanded Atro.
We have generated transgenic flies carrying wild-type Atro and two DRPLA fly models carrying polyQ-expanded Atro forms, which show retinal neurodegeneration. Taking advantage of the TARGET (Temporal And Regional Gene Expression Targeting) system, we have induced the transgenes expression in the adult retina, performing microarrays based genome-wide expression profiling at time points preceding neurodegeneration, and we are carrying on data mining and validation. We are also generating a cell culture model based on Drosophila neurons inducibly overexpressing wt and polyQ-expanded Atro forms to verify their effects on gene expression in neuronal cells, by quantitative RT-PCR.
Finally we have generated an in vivo system based on flies which inducibly express Atro fused with Dam (DNA adenine-methyltransferase), to perform genome-wide chromatin analysis by the DamID (Dam Identification) method. This technique will allow us to find out DNA-protein interaction sites by methylation profiling and to identify the Atro direct transcriptional targets
Effects of vaccination against COVID-19 in chronic spontaneous and inducible urticaria (CSU/CIU) patients.a monocentric study
No full textBackground: Patients affected by pre-existing chronic spontaneous/Inducible urticaria (CSU/CIU) still feel unsafe due to the potential risk of an Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) and Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (CARs) of COVID-19 vaccines. The appropriate management in this field remains debated and evidence is still lacking. Methods: We considered 160 CSU/CIU patients in Omalizumab/antihistamine therapy who received two doses of Comir-naty/Moderna mRNA vaccines; 20 of them also received a booster dose. Urticaria Activity Score-7 (UAS7) was used to assess the severity of the disease. Demographics, medical history, AEFI and CARs outcome after vaccination were collected by administering a web-based questionnaire completed by phone interview. Results: In total, 147 patients did not show urticaria relapse (91.88%). Worsening cutaneous symptoms were experienced by 13 of our patients (8.12%). Exacerbation had a mean duration of 2 days and 11 h and mostly occurred after the first dose (69.23%). Systemic mild side effects were experienced by 9 patients (5.62%). No severe reactions were observed. Conclusions: Omalizumab can potentially prevent CARs and AEFI; however, major problems were registered during the 2-month stop period scheduled in the treatment. We suggest patients should not undergo vaccination during this period. CSU/CIU exacerbations appear to be transient and can be managed by antihistamines
The nucleosome remodeling factor ISWI functionally interacts with an evolutionarily conserved network of cellular factors
No full textISWI is an evolutionarily conserved ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor playing central roles in DNA replication, RNA transcription, and chromosome organization. The variety of biological functions dependent on ISWI suggests that its activity could be highly regulated. Our group has previously isolated and characterized new cellular activities that positively regulate ISWI in Drosophila melanogaster. To identify factors that antagonize ISWI activity we developed a novel in vivo eye-based assay to screen for genetic suppressors of ISWI. Our screen revealed that ISWI interacts with an evolutionarily conserved network of cellular and nuclear factors that escaped previous genetic and biochemical analyses
Telemedicine for Virtual Consultations During COVID-19 Pandemic in a Medically Assisted Reproduction Center: Patients' Perspective
No full textBackground: Restrictive measures imposed to prevent COVID-19 contagion have caused an increase in waiting times for other health procedures. During the pandemic, utilization of telemedicine has increased to ensure patient care safely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perspective of infertile patients who underwent virtual consultations for infertility.Materials and Methods: This was an observational study. A survey was submitted to patients who attended a virtual consultation at a single in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit between March 2020 and July 2021. The survey concerned their experience with telemedicine assessing the experience of video consulting and the software characteristics.Results: The survey response rate was 50.3% (n = 159). In total, 98.8% of patients positively rated the experience of telemedicine. Regarding the software itself, it was defined as intuitive and easy to use by 87.4% of patients. A majority (92.5%) of interviewed patients reported that they were able to receive the information and clear any doubts they had and 85.5% of interviewed patients would repeat the experience of video consultation.Conclusions: The acceptance of telemedicine was very high among infertile patients. However, IVF treatments have a strong emotional component and face-to-face consultation with medical staff might help to create the right climate of trust, and the empathy that can be demonstrated during a vis-a-vis meeting cannot be achieved through a screen. The use of telemedicine should be considered in those situations where it is not possible to attend an in-person consultation or when couples prefer it
Anomalous Aluminium contents in ground water in NW Italy: Relevance for Alzheimer’s disease.
No full textPersuasion and Resistance: The Use of Psychology by Anglo-American Corporate Governance Advocates in France
No full textThe Author argues that in the 1990s Anglo-American corporate governance became the dominant model for large, public firms in the international business world, and that corporate governance professionals relentlessly promoted and exported Anglo-American corporate governance throughout the developed and developing world. Contending that it is an appropriate time--if only because the U.S. recession and international hostilities have tempered the irrational exuberance of capital market proponents--to examine critically the advocacy of Anglo-American corporate governance, the Author proposes that an important part of the critical assessment is to explain the momentum of the dominant model: to understand why Anglo-American corporate governance appeared so persuasive and inevitable, and why other models were less compelling and pushed to the margins of the debate. The Author argues that corporate governance advocates used psychological factors to create this momentum.
The Author bases his argument upon a study of how corporate governance advocates used psychological factors in public texts, French and non-French, influential in recent French corporate governance debates to make a psychologically persuasive case for the Anglo-American model. After presenting the results of the study, the Author explains that the study shows that there is a need for policymakers to develop a better, more rational way of debating about corporate finance and governance, in light of this pervasive use of the psychological factors by governance advocates. After offering a few general guidelines on how to achieve this goal, the Author argues that, because its development will take time, culture and politics give policymakers a mental framework that blunts the immediate effects of the psychological factors and that guarantees for them and others a space for debate on governance changes
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