24 research outputs found
Chemoproteomic fishing identifies arzanol as a positive modulator of brain glycogen phosphorylase
No full textThe interactome of arzanol was investigated by MS-based chemical proteomics, a pioneering technology for small molecule target discovery. Brain glycogen phosphorylase (bGP), a key regulator of glucose metabolism so far refractory to small molecule modulation, was identified as the main high-affinity target of arzanol. Competitive affinity-based proteomics, DARTS, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance and in vitro biological assays provided molecular mechanistic insights into the arzanol-enzyme interaction, qualifying this positive modulator of bGP for further studies in the realm of neurodegeneration and cancer
Targeting phosphoglycerate kinases by tatridin A, a natural sesquiterpenoid endowed with anti-cancer activity, using a proteomic platform
No full textTatridin A (TatA) is a germacrane sesquiterpenoid containing one E-double bond and one Z-double bond in its 10-membered ring, which is fused to a 3- methylene-dihydrofuran-2-one moiety. Tatridin A bioactivity has been poorly investigated despite its interesting chemical structure. Here, a functional proteomic platform was adapted to disclose its most reliable targets in leukemia monocytic cells, and phosphoglycerate kinases were recognized as the most affine enzymes. Through a combination of limited proteolysis and molecular docking, it has been discovered that tatridin A interacts with the active domains of phosphoglycerate kinase 1, altering its hinge region, and it can be accountable for tatridin A inhibition potency on enzyme activity. A more detailed tatridin A biological profile showed that it is also fully active against gastric cancer cells, downregulating the mRNA levels of chemokine receptor 4 and β-catenin and inhibiting the invasiveness of living KATO III cells as a direct consequence of phosphoglycerate kinase 1 antagonism
Post-operative oncological and psychological evaluation of patients with colostomy for colorectal cancer.
No full textBACKGROUND: The therapeutic arsenal for colorectal cancer is largely made up of surgery. In digestive tumors, ostomy devices induce loss of function and control. This medical device generates changes that affect all aspects of patients’ lives. This study evaluates the postoperative follow-up from the oncological point of view and the psychological impact of colosto- my on the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer, analyzing any complications or relapses, and the high risk of self-concept disorder and social isolation.
METHODS: The aim of the work was to identify all the surgeries for colorectal cancer performed in the Federico II University Hospital of Naples, from 2018 to 2021, and among them how many had been packaged a colostomy. We then analyzed how many patients had been evaluated 12 months after surgery, with a transanal endoscopy or transto- my, and the percentage of any complications or relapses. The same patients who underwent endoscopic control were also evaluated psychologically, to analyze how they lived the packaging of the ostomy and how it had affected the quality of life.
READ-ONLY COP RESULTS: At endoscopic control, diversion colitis phenomena and few cases of stoma stenosis and stomatitis were detect- PRINTING PROHIBITED ed. No case of neoplastic recurrence. From the psychological point of view, the problems detected were in particular the alteration of body image, the loss of sphincter control, embarrassment and shame for the bad smell, impairment of sex- uality and difficulties in the couple relationship and social contacts, anxiety, depression and loneliness.
CONCLUSIONS: The post-operative evaluation of the ostomy patient following colorectal cancer requires endoscopic control to suddenly detect recurrences and complications and psychological support that improves their quality of life
Development of a Measurement Procedure for Emotional States Detection Based on Single-Channel Ear-EEG: A Proof-of-Concept Study
No full textReal-time emotion monitoring is increasingly relevant in healthcare, automotive, and workplace applications, where adaptive systems can enhance user experience and well-being. This study investigates the feasibility of classifying emotions along the valence–arousal dimensions of the Circumplex Model of Affect using EEG signals acquired from a single mastoid channel positioned near the ear. Twenty-four participants viewed emotion-eliciting videos and self-reported their affective states using the Self-Assessment Manikin. EEG data were recorded with an OpenBCI Cyton board and both spectral and temporal features (including power in multiple frequency bands and entropy-based complexity measures) were extracted from the single ear-channel. A dual analytical framework was adopted: classical statistical analyses (ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U) and artificial neural networks combined with explainable AI methods (Gradient × Input, Integrated Gradients) were used to identify features associated with valence and arousal. Results confirmed the physiological validity of single-channel ear-EEG, and showed that absolute β- and γ-band power, spectral ratios, and entropy-based metrics consistently contributed to emotion classification. Overall, the findings demonstrate that reliable and interpretable affective information can be extracted from minimal EEG configurations, supporting their potential for wearable, real-world emotion monitoring. Nonetheless, practical considerations—such as long-term comfort, stability, and wearability of ear-EEG devices—remain important challenges and motivate future research on sustained use in naturalistic environments
Regional chemostratigraphy and mechanical stratigraphy of the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin, Texas
No full textAlthough multiple localized chemostratigraphic and strength studies have been completed on the organic-rich Barnett Shale in the Fort Worth basin (Montgomery et al., 2005; Pollastro et al., 2007; Jarvie et al., 2007; Rowe et al., 2008; Williams et al., 2016; Taylor, 2017; Alsleben, unpublished), basin-wide correlations have not been completed. Basin-wide correlation of chemostratigraphy and mechanical stratigraphy could enhance the understanding of regional variations in chemical composition and rock competence. Therefore, this study tested multiple hypotheses to identify regional trends and correlations within the Barnett Shale, based on variations in the formations chemical makeup and rock strength. Results show three chemostratigraphic zonations that do not readily correlate to UCS divisions across the entire basin, but do correlate somewhat in the central/southern part of the basin. UCS is being controlled predominantly by clay content and secondarily by carbonate content
Endoscopic clipping in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding treatment
No full textSince the earliest reports, advanced clipping systems have been developed, and it is possible to choose among many models with different structural and technical features. The main drawback of through-the-scope clips is their small size, which allows the compression of limited amounts of tissue needed for large-size vessel treatment. Therefore, the over-the-scope clip system was realized, allowing a larger and stronger mechanical compression of large tissue areas, with excellent results in achieving a definitive hemostasis in difficult cases. Many studies have analyzed the indications and efficacy of two-pronged endoclips and have shown good results for initial and permanent hemostasis. The aim of this review was to provide updated information on indications, positioning techniques, and results of clip application for endoscopic treatment of upper gastrointestinal non-variceal bleeding lesions
A quantitative version of the Gidas-Ni-Nirenberg Theorem
No full textA celebrated result by Gidas, Ni & Nirenberg asserts that classical positive solutions to semilinear equations in a ball vanishing at the boundary must be radial and radially decreasing. In this paper we consider small perturbations of this equation and study the quantitative stability counterpart of this result
Antimicrobial Activity and Activation of Defense Genes in Plants by Natural Extracts: Toward Sustainable Plant Health Management
No full textThe increasing demand for sustainable agriculture has accelerated research into eco-friendly
plant health management, particularly through natural substances rich in bioactive compounds.
In this study, various substances, including essential oils, extracts from Aloe vera,
artichoke and ornamental plants, by-products from beer and coffee processing, and selected
commercial formulations including biostimulants and a plant strengthener, were evaluated
for their antimicrobial properties and ability to trigger plant defenses. Notably, Agapanthus
spp. exhibited strong antifungal activity against the fungus Botrytis cinerea (Bc), while
thyme, tea tree, and lavender essential oils were effective against both Bc and the bacterium
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). Greenhouse trials on tomato plants demonstrated
the protective effects of A. vera gel and ornamental plant extracts against Bc and Potato
virus Y (PVY), while coffee and artichoke extracts were effective against Pst. An alginatebased
formulation containing thyme oil showed enhanced in planta efficacy against the
three pathogens. Gene expression analyses revealed early upregulation of PR-1 and PR-4,
especially with alginate treatments and A. vera gel at 12 h post-treatment (hpt) while coffee
extract triggered the strongest late response at 72 hpt. These findings highlight the potential
of plant-derived substances in promoting sustainable plant disease management through
both direct antimicrobial action and immune system activation
Covid-19 representations in Italian newspapers: A text-based analysis
No full textThe paper presents the results of an analysis aimed at mapping the themes through which covid-19 is represented in some Italian newspapers and the semantic structure that grounds and shapes the content of those themes. For this purpose, the ACASM (Automated Co-occurrence Analysis for Semantic Mapping) procedure was used and applied to a text corpus consisting of a set of national newspaper articles balanced by source, political orientation and publication period. The results show that Italian newspapers represented the pandemic according to four specific themes based on two semantic structures. The implications of these results are discussed
