103,398 research outputs found
The ancient genomic DNA (anDNA) and analysis of genetic risk factors related to autoimmune rheumatic diseases HLA linked
No full textThe ancient genomic DNA (anDNA) and analysis of genetic risk factors
related to autoimmune rheumatic diseases HLA linked
A. Poma, S. Colafarina, G. Fontecchio;
University of L‘Aquila, L‘Aquila, Italy.
The mountain areas of L’Aquila city, such as Barete and Rocca di Cambio are
characterized by environmental conditions (low temperature and humidity)
that facilitate the preservation of the humans remains and anDNA: this factor
explains the often tempering of a number of paleoanthropological findings.
The migratory events surely resulted in the disappearance of several genes
as well as the introduction of foreign alleles, among which some responsible
for the development of autoimmune diseases HLA-restricted. In this work
we show some preliminary genetic data generated by applying different
bone anDNA extraction protocols, innovative and/or suitably modified from
commercially available kits for forensic analysis. The immunogenetic assays
have showed the positivity for HLA gene HLA-Cw3 (an increased frequency
of HLA-Cw3 and HLA-Dw4 is tipically observed in Rheumatoid Arthritis).
This work has laid the foundation for the design of protocols for extraction
and PCR reaction improved and optimized, to be applied to paleogenetics
and paleopathology samples on which to assess genetic risk factors related
to autoimmune rheumatic diseases „HLA-Linked“.References
Fontecchio G., Ventura L., Poma A.M., 2012; Further genomic testing and histological
examinations confirm the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in an Italian mummy from the 16th century, 2012; Ann. Rheum. Dis., 71: 630.
Poma A., Carlucci G, Fontecchio G., 2012; Immunogenetics and HPLC analyses
contribute to understanding the etiopathology of rheumatoid arthritis
through studies on ancient human remains, Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol.,
25: 1075-1082.
This work was partially funded (2013) to A. Poma by ANCE Associazione Nazionale
Costruttori Edili L’Aquil
Anti-inflammatory properties of drugs from Saffron Crocus
No full textThe medicinal uses of saffron (Crocus sativus Linnaeus) have a long history beginning in Asian countries since the Late Bronze Age. Recent studies have validated its potential to lower the risk of several diseases. Some metabolites derived from saffron stigmas exert numerous therapeutic effects due to hypolipidemic, antitussive, antioxidant, antidiabetic activities and many others. Water and ethanol extracts of Crocus sativus L. are cardioprotective and counteract neurodegenerative disorders. Many of these medicinal properties of saffron can be attributed to a number of its compounds such as crocetin, crocins and other substances having strong antioxidant and radical scavenger properties against a variety of radical oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Botany, worldwide spreading of cultivars, biochemical pathways, active constituents and chemical detection methods are reviewed. Therapeutic uses of saffron principles with particular regard to those exhibiting antioxidant and thus anti-inflammatory features are discussed. To date, very few adverse health effects of saffron have been demonstrated. At high doses (more than 5 g/die day), it should be avoided in pregnancy owing to its uterine stimulation activity
Trasformazione delle imprese o rivoluzione?
No full textIl mondo è sempre in movimento. Anche nei periodi di cosiddetta stasi economica le imprese, mediante piccoli aggiustamenti, accorgimenti, innovazioni incrementali più o meno intense, sono impegnate in un’incessante processo dinamico. Eppure vi sono dei periodi storici nei quali i cambiamenti dell’ambiente dove operano le imprese sono di tale portata, che le stesse smarriscono i propri paramenti di riferimento e si trovano a dover stravolgere le modalità con le quali precedentemente affrontavano la competizione. In questo caso è corretto parlare di “rivoluzione”, di cambiamento di paradigma. Le imprese non sono agenti ipotetici che agiscono in un mercato astratto e asettico, dominato unicamente dalle loro decisioni. Esse agiscono e retroagiscono in un mondo reale e complesso, che nell’ultimo quindicennio si è trasfigurato
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