1,698 research outputs found
Schermi. Immagini, corpi, condivisioni
No full textIn this book the author investigates the digital image proliferation of our times from an interdisciplinary point of view. Starting from the Visual Culture theoretical frame, Valentina Mignano explores the ways in which we interact with the screen, dealing with the "screen experience" in the first years of the network societ
Repurposing High-Throughput Screening Reveals Unconventional Drugs with Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from a Cystic Fibrosis Patient
No full textBackground/Objectives: Antibiotic therapy faces challenges from rising acquired and biofilm-related antibiotic resistance rates. High resistance levels to commonly used antibiotics have been observed in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, indicating an urgent need for new antibacterial agents. This study aimed to identify potential novel therapeutics with antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against an MRSA CF strain by screening, for the first time, the Drug Repurposing Compound Library (MedChem Express). Methods/Results: Among the 3386 compounds, a high-throughput screening-based spectrophotometric approach identified 2439 (72%), 654 (19.3%), and 426 (12.6%) drugs active against planktonic cells, biofilm formation, and preformed biofilm, respectively, although to different extents. The most active hits were 193 (5.7%), against planktonic cells, causing a 100% growth inhibition; 5 (0.14%), with excellent activity against biofilm formation (i.e., reduction ≥ 90%); and 4, showing high activity (i.e., 60% ≤ biofilm reduction < 90%) against preformed biofilms. The potential hits belonged to several primary research areas, with “cancer” being the most prevalent. After performing a literature review to identify other, already published biological properties that could be relevant to the CF lung environment (i.e., activity against other CF pathogens, and anti-inflammatory and anti-virulence potential), the most interesting hits were the following: 5-(N,N-Hexamethylene)-amiloride (diuretic), Toremifene (anticancer), Zafirlukast (antiasthmatic), Fenretide (anticancer), and Montelukast (antiasthmatic) against planktonic S. aureus cells; Hemin against biofilm formation; and Heparin, Clemastine (antihistaminic), and Bromfenac (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) against established biofilms. Conclusions: These findings warrant further in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm the potential of repurposing these compounds for managing lung infections caused by S. aureus in CF patients
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN MARAMURES COUNTY
No full textInitiating and developing a business involves a considerable risk and a sustained effort in order to defeat the inertia against what is new. The person initiating a business, assuming the responsibility and risk of its development and benefiting from theentrepreneurship, female entrepreneurship, profit, businesses
The use of initial tocolysis and maintenance tocolysis in preterm birth : guideline-based approach or off-label use - a survey on the current application in Switzerland
No full textAuthor Valentina Schedl, BscMasterarbeit Universität Linz 202
Guido Crepax – Valentina – The Shape of Her Time
No full textThe paper will focus on the analysis of Guido Crepax revolutionary comic book character Valentina that belongs to the golden age of the Italian comic-book genre fumetto. The aim is to explore whether Guido Crepax Valentina character was a "living doll" filling male fantasies of her creator or she was a woman empowered by her author struggling for many of the values of the women's culture that feminists today are trying to introduce into the mainstream. It also addresses research questions that focus on comic books and gender and empowerment at the decade of sexual liberation.Through Valentina case study the present paper is going to study an approach on the concept of woman in comics, and touch the border of female empowerment issue in contemporary world taking in consideration that her revolutionary strong and independent figure was born in a society where women have been frequently viewed as passive and represented as inferior to men and where questions of sexuality were considered taboo. Despite the fact that she angered some feminists by the way she was portrayed as an object of male gaze or a damsel in distress, there is nothing anti-feminist about Valentina. The aim here is to uncover feminist themes in the stories of Valentina and to explore what empowered her and made her a contemporary icon of style and symbol of liberated women
Biofilm and bacterial membrane vesicles: recent advances
No full textIntroductionBacterial Membrane Vesicles (MVs) play important roles in cell-to-cell communication and transport of several molecules. Such structures are essential components of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) biofilm matrix of many bacterial species displaying a structural function and a role in virulence and pathogenesis.Areas coveredIn this review were included original articles from the last ten years by searching the keywords 'biofilm' and 'vesicles' on PUBMED and Scopus databases. The articles available in literature mainly describe a positive correlation between bacterial MVs and biofilms formation. The research on Espacenet and Google Patent databases underlines the available patents related to the application of both biofilm MVs and planktonic MVs in inhibiting biofilm formation.Expert opinionThis review covers and analyzes recent advances in the study of the relationship between bacterial vesicles and biofilm. The huge number of papers discussing the role of MVs confirms the interest aimed at developing new applications in the medical field. The study of the MVs composition and biogenesis may contribute to the identification of components which could be (i) the target for the development of new drugs inhibiting the biofilm establishment; (ii) candidates for the development of vaccines; (iii) biomarkers for the diagnosis of bacterial infections
The Role of BPIFB4 in Immune System and Cardiovascular Disease: The Lesson from Centenarians
No full textRecent discoveries have shed light on the participation of the immune system in the physio pathology of the cardiovascular system underpinning the importance of keeping the balance of the first to preserve the latter. Aging, along with other risk factors, can challenge such balance triggering the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Among several mediators ensuring the proper cross-talk between the two systems, bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold-containing family B member 4 (BPIFB4) has been shown to have a pivotal role, also by sustaining important signals such as eNOS and PKC-alpha. In addition, the Longevity-associated variant (LAV), which is an haplotype allele in BPIFB4 characterized by 4 missense polymorphisms, enriched in homozygosity in Long Living Individuals (LLIs), has been shown to be efficient, if administered systemically through gene therapy, in improving many aspects of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This occurs mainly through a fine immune system remodeling across: 1) a M2 macrophage polarizing effect, 2) a favorable redistribution of the circulating monocyte cell subsets and 3) the reduction of T-cell activation. Furthermore, LAV-BPIFB4 treatment induced a desirable recovery of the inflammatory balance by mitigating the pro-inflammatory factor levels and enhancing the anti-inflammatory boost through a mechanism that is partially dependent on SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. Importantly, the remarkable effects of LAV-BPIFB4 treatment, which translates in increased BPIFB4 circulating levels, mirror what occurs in long-living individuals (LLIs) in whom the high circulating levels of BPIFB4 are protective from age-related and CVDs and emphasize the reason why LLIs are considered a model of successful aging. Here, we review the mechanisms by which LAV-BPIFB4 exerts its immunomodulatory activity in improving the cardiovascular-immune system dialogue that might strengthen its role as a key mediator in CVDs
Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities of the Italian Cannabis sativa L Essential Oil against Staphylococcus aureus
No full textIntroduction:
The aim of the study was the evaluation of the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of Cannabis sativa essential oil (EO) versus Staphylococcus aureus.
Materials and Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation of fresh aerial parts from hemp variety C. sativa cv. Futura75 cultivated in Abruzzo region. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of Hemp EO were evaluated on one reference strain Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) ATCC 29213 and three clinical strains of Sa 101, Sa 104, Sa 105, isolated by different sources and characterized for the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. The determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was carried out by using the broth microdilution method according to the NCCLS guidelines and the alamarBlue® (AB) viability assay. Hemp EO was prepared as 10% (v/v) solutions in ethanol and was used in the range of 0.5-16 mg/mL. The antibiofilm effect of Hemp EO was determined by the evaluation of Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) by using the broth microdilution method in the range of 16-32 mg/mL and the AB assay. The MBEC was confirmed by Live/Dead Cell Viability Staining and fluorescent microscopy analysis. However, Colony Forming Unit (CFU) enumeration was performed to evaluate the bacterial cell viability in the biofilm and planktonic phenotypes. Using a validated HPLC-PDA method was also obtained phenolics profile of the EO in order to correlate the biological activities with chemical profile on selected compounds.
Results: The Hemp EO showed a MIC corresponding to 8 mg/mL versus all S. aureus strains including S. aureus 104, a multi-drug resistant strain isolated by a pharyngeal swab of a male patient. With regard to MBC the Hemp EO showed to be effective at 16 mg/mL versus all S. aureus strains. Furthermore, the Hemp EO showed its capability to eradicate a mature biofilm developed by S. aureus showing a MBEC at 24 mg/mL towards all the strains of S. aureus except for S. aureus 105 that showed a MBEC corresponding to 16 mg/mL. The effect of the Hemp EO in the eradication of S. aureus pre-formed biofilms were confirmed by the statistical significant reduction of the CFU count. The Live/Dead staining and fluorescent microscopy evaluation showed a well-structured biofilm constituted by a great amount of live cells. On the contrary, S. aureus mature biofilms treated with 24 mg/mL of Hemp EO, did not show a reduction of the biofilm biomass, however, the biofilms treated with Hemp EO were characterized by a multitude of dead cells.
Discussion and Conclusions: The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of Hemp EO suggest it a possible candidate in the treatment of the infections associated with S. aureus
Cell Response Toward Inflammation of DPSCs Co‐Cultured With Streptococcus mutans in the Presence of Alginate/Hydroxyapatite‐Based Scaffolds Enriched With Silver Nanoparticles
No full textManaging bone defects is challenging, with autologous grafts being the most effective treatment. Biomaterials like alginate/hydroxyapatite (Alg/Hap) composites are increasingly used due to their biocompatibility and osteoconductive properties. Graft implantation in the oral cavity may trigger inflammatory responses, such as periodontitis, pulpitis, or caries, due to biomaterial recognition as non-self and the presence of pathogens like Streptococcus mutans. Conjugating Alg/Hap composites with antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (nAg) offers a strategy to counteract oral inflammation caused by microbial biofilms. This study explores the anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm activities of these biomaterials during early implantation (24–72 h), as well as DPSC viability and collagen expression. A co-culture model of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and Streptococcus mutans UA 159 strains was established. Streptococcus mutans viability and biofilm formation on scaffolds were evaluated through the live/dead assay and confocal microscopy. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and collagen type 1 from DPSCs were measured via ELISA assays. Nrf2 and COX-2 protein expression was evaluated by western blotting. Alg/Hap/nAg composites reduce S. mutans-derived biofilm formation, preserving biocompatibility toward DPSCs. Decreased IL-6 levels, restored collagen type 1 secretion (5.98 pg/mL in DPSCs-MOI 0.1-Alg/Hap/Ag vs. 3.04 pg/mL in DPSCs-Alg/Hap/Ag at 72 h), and modulation of antioxidant and inflammatory proteins were observed, including a two-fold increase of Nrf2 expression in cells seeded onto scaffolds in the presence of nAg. These findings highlight the potential of smart biomaterials to promote DPSC osteogenic and odontogenic differentiation, advancing oral tissue regeneration strategies
Analysis of the interplay of the Orai1 Ca2+ Ion channel and different Ca2+ sensing proteins
No full textAuthor Valentina Hopl, MScDissertation Johannes Kepler Universität Linz 2024Arbeit nach Ablauf der Sperre auf den öffentlichen PCs in den Bibliotheken der JKU+Medizin abrufba
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