169,843 research outputs found
Petrosia ficiformis (Poiret, 1789): an excellent model for holobiont and biotechnological studies
No full textThe aggregation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells has resulted in evolution of organisms with remarkable abilities to synthetize natural bioactive compounds of biotechnological relevance. Marine sponges such as Petrosia ficiformis are examples of this evolutionary strategy. The P. ficiformis microbiome, which produces a diversity of chemical compounds, plays a fundamental role in this sponge's extraordinary adaptation to various ecological conditions. The microbial community of P. ficiformis seems representative of sponge microbiomes, but it has an unusual exclusively horizontal transmission. This uncommon feature, together with its wide environmental distribution, its ability to generate 3D cell cultures that host symbionts, and the availability of meta-omics and physiology information make this sponge an effective model to study the complexity of holobionts
Phytochrome A, phytochrome B and other phytochrome(s) regulate ATHB-2 gene expression in etiolated and green Arabidopsis plants
No full textThe expression of the Arabidopsis ATHB-2 gene is light-regulated both in seedlings and in adult plants, The gene is expressed at high levels in rapidly elongating etiolated seedlings and is down-regulated by a pulse of red light (R) through the action of a phytochrome other than phytochrome A or B, or by a pulse of far-red light (FR) through the action of phytochrome A, In green plants, the expression of the ATHB-2 gene is rapidly and strongly enhanced by lowering the R:FR ratio perceived by a phytochrome other than A or B, Returning the plant to a high R:FR ratio results in an equally rapid decrease of the ATHB-2 mRNA, Consistently, plants overproducing ATHB-2 show developmental phenotypes characteristic of plants grown in low R:FR: elongated petioles, reduced leaf area, early flowering, and reduced number of rosette leaves, Taken together, the data strongly suggest a direct involvement of ATHB-2 in light-regulated growth phenomena throughout Arabidopsis development
Total aniridia after nonperforating trauma of a pseudophakic eye: ultrasound biomicroscopic findings
No full textLa gestione clinica e riabilitativa del paziente ipovedente
No full textSommario
Capitolo 1
La patologia oculare in relazione con le problematiche dell’ipovisione
1. a. Definizione, classificazione ed epidemiologia dell’ipovisione
1. b. Categorie di ipovisione
1. c. Eziologia dell’ipovisione
Capitolo 2
Epidemiologia, diagnosi e trattamento della complicanza neovascolare sottoretinica
2. a. Epidemiologia della neovascolarizzazione coroideale sottoretinica
2. b. Decorso naturale e sintomatologia della CNV
2. c. Segni clinici e diagnosi strumentale della CNV
2. d. Possibilità terapeutiche della CNV
2. e. Fotosensibilizzatori in oftalmologia
2. f. Trials clinici multicentrici per lo studio della efficacia terapeutica della PDT: la gestione clinica dei pazienti affetti da CNV
Capitolo 3
Epidemiologia, prevenzione ed aspetti clinici della retinopatia diabetica
3. a. Classificazione ed epidemiologia del diabete mellito
3. b. Complicazioni croniche del diabete mellito: la retinopatia diabetica
3. c. Epidemiologia e fattori di rischio della retinopatia diabetica
3. d. Patogenesi della retinopatia diabetica
3. e. Caratteristiche della retinopatia diabetica
3. f. Il trattamento della retinopatia diabetica
Capitolo 4
Epidemiologia, patogenesi, diagnosi precoce e genetica clinica
della malattia glaucomatosa
4. a. Epidemiologia del glaucoma cronico semplice
4. b. Fattori di rischio e patogenesi del glaucoma
4. c. Diagnosi precoce e semeiotica avanzata del glaucoma
4. d. Recenti acquisizioni nella genetica del glaucoma cronico semplice
Capitolo 5
Retinopatia pigmentosa: inquadramento clinico e terapeutico
5. a. Definizione ed epidemiologia della retinopatia pigmentosa
5. b. Sintomatologia e gestione clinica del paziente con retinopatia pigmentosa
5. c. Possibilità e prospettive terapeutiche della retinopatia pigmentosa
Capitolo 6
Esame del paziente affetto da ipovisione
6. a. Anamnesi e questionari di abilità visiva
6. b. Valutazione della funzionalità visiva del paziente ipovedente
6. c. Valutazione dell’acuità visiva
6. d. Determinazione dell’acuità visiva dell’infanzia
6. e. La lettura di testo continuo
6. f. L’ottotipo MNREAD
6. g. L’esame della sensibilità al contrasto
6. h. L’esame della visione dei colori
6. i. L’esame del campo visivo
6. l. La valutazione clinica e strumentale del paziente ipovedente
Capitolo 7
Consulenza genetico-familiare nella malattie causa di ipovisione
7. a. Cause eredo-familiari d’ipovisione
7. b. La consulenza genetica
7. c. Il ruolo della biologia molecolare
7. d. Indicazioni per la richiesta di consulenza genetica
Capitolo 8
Il trattamento del paziente ipovedente
8. a. Il percorso terapeutico riabilitativo nell’ipovisione
8. b. Ausili ottici riabilitativi per pazienti ipovedenti
8. c. Ingrandimento dell’immagine retinica
8. d. Lenti d’ingrandimento
8. e. Sistemi ipercorrettivi
8. e. Sistemi prismatici
8. f. Sistemi telescopici
8. g. Ausili riabilitativi non ottici per ipovedenti: sistemi elettronici ingrandenti
8. h. Illuminazione dell’ambiente di lavoro
8. i. Trattamento antiriflesso delle lenti
8. l. Ausili ergonomici e posturali
8. m. Filtri fotoselettivi anti-fototossici
8. n. Foto-stimolazione neuronale
Capitolo 9
Ipovisione: problematiche ed interventi psicologici
9. a. Tematiche ed approcci psicologici del paziente ipovedente
9. b. La grande incertezza: la strenua difesa della normalità
9. c. La sindrome da spada di Damocle
9. d. L'età d’insorgenza della malattia
9. e. Il ruolo della famiglia
9. f. Interventi psicologici di prevenzione: colloquio e tests
9. g. Consulenza e/o sostegno psicologici: rinforzare le potenzialità
9. h. Interventi psicologici terapeutici nel paziente affetto da ipovisione
Capitolo 10
Legislazione italiana in teme d’ipovisione
10. a. Il danno visivo e la sua valutazione
Appendice 1. Classificazione e quantificazione delle minorazioni visive e norme in materia di accertamenti oculistici
Appendice 2. Danno biologico in ambito lavorativo: le nuove tabelle
Appendice 3. Tabella ANIA per la valutazione delle menomazioni nell’infortunistica privata
Appendice 4. Tabella INAIL per la valutazione delle menomazioni nell’infortunistica privata (T.U. 1124/1965)
Appendice 5. Requisiti visivi per il conseguimento, la revisione e la conferma di validità della patente di guida
Appendice 6. Direttiva tecnica per l'applicazione dell'elenco delle imperfezioni e delle infermità che sono causa di non idoneità al servizio militare (edizione 2000)
Appendice 7. Barèmes orientativo per la valutazione del danno biologico in ambito cvilistico
Appendice 8. Disposizioni in materia di assistenza ai ciechi civili
10. b. Indirizzi legislativi nazionali in tema di riabilitazione del paziente ipovedente
Appendice 9. Disposizioni per la prevenzione della cecità e per la riabilitazione visiva e l'integrazione sociale e lavorativa dei ciechi pluriminorati
Appendice 10. Regolamento recante norme per le prestazioni di assistenza protesica erogabili nell'ambito del S.S.N.: modalità di erogazione e tariff
Total aniridia after nonperforating trauma of a pseudophakic eye: ultrasound biomicroscopic findings
No full textIn pseudophakic eyes, isolated total aniridia following a nonperforating blunt trauma, without any apparent dehiscence or extension of the cataract incision, has been rarely reported in the literature. Here we describe a case of posttraumatic massive hyphema followed by complete aniridia in a patient who had undergone cataract surgery 18 months before. A comprehensive diagnostic assessment, including ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM; i.e. 50-MHz single-element mechanical sector scanner), has been performed within few days from the hyphema reabsorption. To our knowledge, UBM findings of this condition have not been documented previously.
There are two possible explanations for the hitherto described aniridia secondary to traumatic iridodialysis: (1) the iris was expulsed through the quickly transient opening of the cataract incision; and (2) the iris remained within the eye and then it was phagocyted by macrophages and/or trabecular meshwork cells. The first hypothesis has already been suggested by other authors, who have reported similar posttraumatic outcomes but always in eyes with recent cataract surgery. However, our UBM images, revealing a band of echogenic particles at the level of the anatomical iris position, cannot definitely rule out the second deduction. This intriguing possibility has been also indirectly suggested by Ball et al as well as speculatively supported by several findings observed in experimental models of phagocytosis. In fact, the phagocytic properties of both macrophages and trabecular meshwork cells could theoretically explain the missing disinserted iris which, even partially or totally remaining within the eye, should be identified as a nonself material
ERK5/MAPK is activated by TGFbeta in hepatocytes and required for the GSK-3beta-mediated Snail protein stabilization
No full textExtracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase, specifically activated by MEK5, and involved in the regulation of many cellular functions including proliferation, survival, differentiation and apoptosis. MEK5/ERK5 module is an important element of different signal transduction pathways. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ERK5 participates to the signalling of the multifunctional cytokine TGF beta, known to play an important role in the regulation of hepatic growth. Here, we reported that ERK5 is phosphorylated and activated by TGF beta in hepatocytes, with a rapid and sustained kinetic, through a Src-dependent pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that ERK5 participates to the TGF beta-induced Snail protein regulation being required for its stabilization. We also found that the functional inactivation of ERK5 impedes the TGF beta-mediated glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inactivation suggesting this as mechanism responsible for ERK5-mediated Snail stabilization. Thus, results presented in this study uncovered for the first time a role for ERK5 in the TGF beta-induced cellular responses. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Hepatitis C virus production requires apolipoprotein A-I and affects its association with nascent low-density lipoproteins
No full textBackground/aims The life cycle of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is intimately linked to the lipid metabolism of the host. In particular, HCV exploits the metabolic machinery of the lipoproteins in several steps of its life cycle such as circulation in the bloodstream, cell attachment and entry, assembly and release of viral particles. However, the details of how HCV interacts with and influences the metabolism of the host lipoproteins are not well understood. A study was undertaken to investigate whether HCV directly affects the protein composition of host circulating lipoproteins. Methods A proteomic analysis of circulating very low-, low- and high-density lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL and HDL), isolated from either in-treatment naive HCV-infected patients or healthy donors (HD), was performed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). The results obtained were further investigated using in vitro models of HCV infection and replication. Results A decreased level of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) was found in the LDL fractions of HCV-infected patients. This result was confirmed by western blot and ELISA analysis. HCV cellular models (JFH1 HCV cell culture system (HCVcc) and HCV subgenomic replicons) showed that the decreased apoA-I/LDL association originates from hepatic biogenesis rather than lipoprotein catabolism occurring in the circulation, and is not due to a downregulation of the apoA-I protein concentration. The sole non-structural viral proteins were sufficient to impair the apoA-I/LDL association. Functional evidence was obtained for involvement of apoA-I in the viral life cycle such as RNA replication and virion production. The specific siRNA-mediated downregulation of apoA-I led to a reduction in both HCV RNA and viral particle levels in culture. Conclusions This study shows that HCV induces lipoprotein structural modification and that its replication and production are linked to the host lipoprotein metabolism, suggesting apoA-I as a new possible target for antiviral therapy
Changes of psychical and physical conditions in the elderly after a four-year follow-up
No full textThe elderly show a loss of both the intellectual functions and of motion ability. This happens also without particular pathologies; possible tests to highlight this loss are the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Functional Reach (FR)-test. During 2004-2005 winter 50 healthy subjects were analyzed; the subjects were divided into three age-groups: from 55 to 64 years; from 65 to 74 years; over 75 years of age. The test results showed a significant decline of MMSE and FR from the first group to the other two groups, a same behavior of male and female subjects, a greater decline of physical characteristics compared to psychic characteristics. During 2008-2009 winter several subjects (34 of 50) were again analyzed, and a more accurate facility was used to measure the FR. The aim of the new test has been the exam of the cognitive conditions and of the physical performances after the 4 year follow-up. The results of the new tests confirm the previous results, both with regard to the decline of the psychophysical characteristics from the first age-group to the others but the decrease is not as significant as the previous, and with regard to the greater physical decline. What is surprising is that the decline of both the psychic and the physical characteristics concerns only the first age-group, not the other two. Maybe healthy subjects, without particular pathologies reach a stabilization of the above-mentioned characteristics; some hypothesis is given to explain what happens. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
Mitomycin C in highly myopic eyes - Author reply
No full textOphthalmology. 2005 Feb;112(2):208-18; discussion 219.
Mitomycin C modulation of corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy in highly myopic eyes.
Gambato C, Ghirlando A, Moretto E, Busato F, Midena E.
SourceRefractive Surgery Service and Antimetabolite Therapy Research Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of topical mitomycin C in corneal wound healing (CWH) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in highly myopic eyes.
DESIGN: Prospective, double-masked, randomized clinical trial.
PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two eyes of 36 patients affected by high (>7 diopters) myopia.
METHODS: In each patient, one eye was randomly assigned to PRK with intraoperative topical 0.02% mitomycin C application, and the fellow eye was treated with a placebo. Postoperatively, mitomycin C-treated eyes received artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months), whereas the fellow eye was treated with fluorometholone sodium 2% and artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, manifest refraction, and biomicroscopy. Contrast sensitivity was determined using the Pelli-Robson chart. Corneal confocal microscopy documented CWH.
RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 12-36). No side effects or toxic effects were documented. At 12-month follow-up examination, UCVAs (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) were 0.4+/-0.48 and 0.5+/-0.53 (P = .03) in mitomycin C-treated eyes and corticosteroid-treated eyes, respectively. At 1 year, corneal haze developed in 20% of corticosteroid-treated eyes, versus 0% of mitomycin C-treated eyes. At 12, 24, and 36 months, corneal confocal microscopy showed activated keratocytes and extracellular matrix significantly more evident in untreated eyes (Ps = 0.004, 0.024, and 0.046, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Topical intraoperative application of 0.02% mitomycin C can reduce haze formation in highly myopic eyes undergoing PRK.
Comment in
Ophthalmology. 2006 Feb;113(2):357; author reply 357-8
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