818 research outputs found
Glial cells of the developing amphioxus: a molecular study
No full textGlial cells play important roles in the development and homeostasis of metazoan nervous systems.
However, while their involvement in the development and function in the central nervous system (CNS) of
vertebrates is increasingly well understood, much less is known about invertebrate glia and the evolutionary
history of glial cells more generally. An investigation into amphioxus glia is therefore timely, as this
organism is the best living proxy for the last common ancestor of all chordates, and hence provides a
window on the role of glial cells development and function at the transition between invertebrates and
vertebrates. We report here our findings on amphioxus glia as characterized by molecular probes correlated
with anatomical data at the TEM level. The results show amphioxus glial lineages express genes typical of
vertebrate astroglia and radial glia and segregate early in development, forming what appears to be a
spatially separated cell proliferation zone positioned laterally, between the dorsal and ventral zones of
neural cell proliferation. Our study provides strong evidence for the presence of vertebrate-type glial cells
in amphioxus while highlighting the role played by segregated progenitor cell pools in CNS development.
There are implications also for our understanding of glial cells in a broader evolutionary context and
insights into patterns of precursor cell deployment in the chordate nerve cord
Serotonin Receptors and Their Involvement in Melanization of Sensory Cells in Ciona intestinalis
No full textSerotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) is a biogenic monoamine with pleiotropic functions. It exerts its roles by binding to specific 5-HT receptors (5HTRs) classified into different families and subtypes. Homologs of 5HTRs are widely present in invertebrates, but their expression and pharmacological characterization have been scarcely investigated. In particular, 5-HT has been localized in many tunicate species but only a few studies have investigated its physiological functions. Tunicates, including ascidians, are the sister group of vertebrates, and data about the role of 5-HTRs in these organisms are thus important for understanding 5-HT evolution among animals. In the present study, we identified and described 5HTRs in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. During development, they showed broad expression patterns that appeared consistent with those reported in other species. Then, we investigated 5-HT roles in ascidian embryogenesis exposing C. intestinalis embryos to WAY-100635, an antagonist of the 5HT1A receptor, and explored the affected pathways in neural development and melanogenesis. Our results contribute to unraveling the multifaceted functions of 5-HT, revealing its involvement in sensory cell differentiation in ascidians
Exploring the competitiveness and sustainability of blueberry cultivation in marginal Italianareas
No full textMarginal agriculture presents both challenges and opportunities for sustainable agriculture, particularly in blueberry(Vaccinium myrtillus L.) cultivation. This study explores the potential of blueberry cultivation in Italy, whereconsumption has increased by 156.3% in volume and 206.6% in value since 2017. The area dedicated to blueberrycultivation has increased from 1,200 ha in 2020 to 1,500 ha in 2023, with production increasing from less than 7,000tonnes to over 10,000 tonnes per year. Despite a competitive global market and increased production from countriessuch as Peru and Spain, Italian blueberry export values have grown, driven by growing global demand for functionalfoods and improved production techniques, including high-yielding cultivars and precision agriculture. Around 75% ofItalian production is exported, generating over 100 million euros in revenue. However, growing imports highlight agap in domestic supply. Blueberry cultivation supports ecosystem conservation, prevents soil erosion, and enhancesbiodiversity, making it suitable for marginal areas. This research compares the profitability of organic blueberrycultivation versus conventional cultivation and assesses socioeconomic sustainability in marginal versus non-marginal areas using data from the Italian Agricultural Accounting Network (RICA). The findings aim to informstrategies that balance competitiveness and sustainability in the Italian blueberry sector
The Bright Side of Curcumin: A Narrative Review of Its Therapeutic Potential in Cancer Management
No full textCurcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits significant therapeutic potential in cancer management. This review explores curcumin’s mechanisms of action, the challenges related to its bioavailability, and its enhancement through modern technology and approaches. Curcumin demonstrates strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to its ability to neutralize free radicals and inhibit inflammatory mediators. Its anticancer effects are mediated by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, and interfering with tumor growth pathways in various colon, pancreatic, and breast cancers. However, its clinical application is limited by its poor bioavailability due to its rapid metabolism and low absorption. Novel delivery systems, such as curcumin-loaded hydrogels and nanoparticles, have shown promise in improving curcumin bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, photodynamic therapy has emerged as a complementary approach, where light exposure enhances curcumin’s anticancer effects by modulating molecular pathways crucial for tumor cell growth and survival. Studies highlight that combining low concentrations of curcumin with visible light irradiation significantly boosts its antitumor efficacy compared to curcumin alone. The interaction of curcumin with cytochromes or drug transporters may play a crucial role in altering the pharmacokinetics of conventional medications, which necessitates careful consideration in clinical settings. Future research should focus on optimizing delivery mechanisms and understanding curcumin’s pharmacokinetics to fully harness its therapeutic potential in cancer treatment
810-nm Photobiomodulation Evokes Glutamate Release in Normal and Rotenone-Dysfunctional Cortical Nerve Terminals by Modulating Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism
No full textThe dysfunction of mitochondria, the primary source of cellular energy and producer of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is associated with brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Scientific evidence indicates that light in the visible and near-infrared spectrum can modulate mitochondrial activity, a phenomenon known in medicine as photobiomodulation therapy (PBM-t). The beneficial effects of PBM-t on dementia and neurodegeneration have been reviewed in the literature. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these findings have yet to be fully elucidated. This study investigates the mechanism behind dose-dependent glutamate release in nerve terminals after irradiation with 810 nm, 1 W for 60 s continuous, 1 cm2, 1 W/cm2, 60 J, 60 J/cm2 (810 nm-1 W) or 810 nm, 0.1 W for 60 s continuous, 1 cm2, 0.1 W/cm2, 6 J, 6 J/cm2 (810 nm-0.1 W), focusing on mitochondrial activities. The results show that PBM modulated the mitochondrial metabolism of cortical nerve terminals and supported a power-dependent increase in oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) activity when stimulated with pyruvate plus malate (P/M) or succinate (succ) as respiratory substrates. The PBM-induced increase in OxPhos was sensitive to adding rotenone (Complex I inhibitor) and antimycin A (Complex III inhibitor) when synaptosomes were stimulated with P/M, but only to antimycin A when stimulated with succ. This allowed us to observe that the glutamate efflux, disrupted in the presence of rotenone, was partially restored by PBM due to the increase in the OxPhos pathway led by Complex II. This evidence suggests that PBM, acting on mitochondria, could facilitate physiological communication within the neuron-astrocyte network through vesicular glutamate release, potentially regulating healthy brain function and brain dysfunction
New Insights into Geometric Morphometry Applied to Fish Scales for Species Identification
No full textThe possibility of quick and cheap recognition of a fish species from a single dermal scale would be interesting in a wide range of contexts. The methods of geometric morphometry appear to be quite promising, although wide studies comparing different approaches are lacking. We aimed to apply two methods of geometric morphometry, landmark-based and outline-based, on a dataset of scales from five different teleost species: Danio rerio, Dicentrarchus labrax, Mullus surmuletus, Sardina pilchardus, and Sparus aurata. For the landmark-based method the R library “geomorph” was used. Some issues about landmark selection and positioning were addressed and, for the first time on fish scales, an approach with both landmarks and semilandmarks was set up. For the outline-based method the R library “Momocs” was used. Despite the relatively low number of scales analyzed (from 11 to 81 for each species), both methods achieved quite good clustering of all the species. In particular, the landmark-based method used here gave generally higher R2 values in testing species clustering than the outline-based method, but it failed to distinguish between a few couples of species; on the other hand, the outline-based method seemed to catch the differences among all the couples except one. Larger datasets have the potential to achieve better results with outline-based geometric morphometry. This latter method, being free from the problem of recognizing and positioning landmarks, is also the most suitable for being automatized in future applications
PRATICHE SOCIALI DI CITTA' PUBBLICA
No full textQuesto volume raccoglie un saggio introduttivo teorico della curatrice e i risultati di una survey svolta nelle città italiane grandi e medie (Matteo Colleoni e Camillo Tidore), e dell’osservazione diretta svolta in sette tipologie di spazi urbani: il Parco del Valentino di Torino (Alfredo Mela), le Stazioni Centrale e Lambrate di Milano (Francesca Zajczyk, Francesco Memo e Flavio Pellegrinuzzi), il Porto Antico di Genova (Antida Gazzola), la Sala Borsa di Bologna (Maurizio Bergamaschi e Marco Castrignanò), gli Intorni alla Fontana Maggiore di Perugia (Roberto Segatori), Piazza Umberto I di Bari (Luciana Bozzo), l’Aeroporto “Costa Smeralda” di Olbia (Antonietta Mazzette)
Impact of ocean warming on early development of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis: Effects on larval susceptibility to potential vibrio pathogens
No full textIn a global change scenario, ocean warming and pathogen infection can occur simultaneously in coastal areas, threatening marine species. Data are shown on the impact of temperature on early larvae of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Increasing temperatures (18-20-22 °C) altered larval phenotypes at 48 hpf and affected gene expression from eggs to 24 and 48 hpf, with shell biogenesis related genes among the most affected. The effects of temperature on larval susceptibility to infection were evaluated using Vibrio coralliilyticus, a coral pathogen increasingly associated with bivalve mortalities, whose ecology is affected by global warming. Malformations and mortalities at 48 hpf were observed at higher temperature and vibrio concentrations, with interactive effects. In non-lethal conditions, interactions on gene expression at 24 and 48 hpf were also detected. Although temperature is the main environmental driver affecting M. galloprovincialis early larvae, warming may increase the susceptibility to vibrio infection, with consequences on mussel populations
Prevention of Dry Socket with Ozone Oil-Based Gel after Inferior Third Molar Extraction: A Double-Blind Split-Mouth Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
No full textTooth extraction is followed by a sequence of elaborate local changes affecting hard and soft tissues. Dry socket (DS) can occur as intense pain around and in the extraction site, with an incidence from 1–4% after generic tooth extraction to 45% for mandibular third molars. Ozone therapy has gained attention in the medical field because of its success in the treatment of various diseases, its biocompatible properties and its fewer side effects or discomfort than drugs. To investigate the preventive effect of the sunflower oil-based ozone gel Ozosan® (Sanipan srl, Clivio (VA), Italy) on DS, a double-blind split-mouth randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted according to the CONSORT guidelines. Ozosan® or the placebo gel were put in the socket, and the gels were washed off 2 min later. In total, 200 patients were included in our study. The patient population comprised 87 Caucasian males and 113 Caucasian females. The mean age of the included patients was 33.1 ± 12.4 years. Ozosan reduced the incidence of DS after inferior third molar extraction from 21.5% of the control to 2% (p < 0.001). Concerning the dry socket epidemiology, the incidence was not significantly correlated with gender, smoking or mesioangular, vertical or distoangular Winter’s classification. Post hoc power calculation showed a power of 99.8% for this data, with alpha = 0.001
Efficacy and Safety of Visible and Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation Therapy on Astenospermic Human Sperm: Wavelength-Dependent Regulation of Nitric Oxide Levels and Mitochondrial Energetics
No full textMale infertility is a growing global concern, with asthenozoospermia being an important contributing factor. Mitochondrial dysfunction and changes in the metabolism of nitric oxide (NO) are key determinants of reduced sperm motility. This study investigates the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with visible and near-infrared (NIR) laser light on sperm of asthenozoospermic patients, focusing on mitochondrial energetic status, oxidative stress, and NO dynamics. Semen samples were irradiated at 450 nm, 635 nm, 810 nm, 940 nm, and 1064 nm at different power levels (0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00 W) for 60 s on a spot area of 1 cm2. ATP and AMP levels, oxidative stress markers, and NO concentrations were assessed at 10 and 60 min after irradiation, with the ATP/AMP ratio calculated as an index of cellular energy balance. The results show that the PBM modulates the energetic status of spermatozoa in a way dependent on wavelength and dose. Irradiation at 810 nm produced the most marked improvement in energetic status, whereas 635 nm exposure led to a significant decrease in cellular energy levels. NO levels showed a biphasic response, correlated with the visible range and with energy metabolism at 810 nm. Irradiation with 635 nm induced higher NO production with respect to the other wavelengths. Our findings suggest that PBM mainly involves mitochondrial photoreceptors and potentially the heme and flavin groups of nitric oxide synthases, facilitating electron transitions, enhancing the effectiveness of oxidative phosphorylation, and optimizing enzymatic activity. At longer wavelengths (940 nm and 1064 nm), interactions with water and lipids may introduce additional variables that affect membrane fluidity and mitochondrial function differently from shorter wavelengths
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