Cytokines,Chaperones and Neuroinflammatory Responses in Heroin-Related Death: What Can We Learn from Different Patterns of Cellular Expression?

Heroin (3,6-diacetylmorphine) has various effects on the central nervous system with several neuropathological alterations including hypoxic-ischemic brain damage from respiratory depressing effects and neuroinflammatory response. Both of these mechanisms induce the release of cytokines, chemokines and other inflammatory mediators by the activation of many cell types such as leucocytes and endothelial and glial cells, especially microglia, the predominant immunocompetent cell type within the central nervous system. The aim of this study is to clarify the correlation between intravenous heroin administration in heroin related death and the neuroinflammatory response. We selected 45 cases among autopsies executed for heroin-related death (358 total cases); immunohistochemical studies and Western blotting analyses were used to investigate the expression of brain markers such as tumor necrosis factor-α, oxygen-regulated protein 150, (interleukins) IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, cyclooxygenase-2, heat shock protein 70, and CD68 (MAC387). Findings demonstrated that morphine induces inflammatory response and cytokine release. In particular, oxygen-regulated protein 150, cyclooxygenase-2, heat shock protein 70, IL-6 and IL-15 cytokines were over-expressed with different patterns of cellular expression.     

Physico-chemical parameters of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) juice clarified by microfiltration and ultrafiltration processes

The health-promoting capacity of cactus pear fruit is highly attractive for the development of nutraceutical foods. The increasing market demand towards this fruit and products, which combine added value with a fresher taste, has challenged researchers to develop procedures to lengthen storage life. In addition, the possibility to obtain natural colorants from the cactus pear fruit rather than synthetic colorants for drinks and dairy products represents another interesting perspective.In this study the effect of microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) processes on the physico-chemical composition of the cactus pear juice produced from fruits of Italian (Sicily) origin was investigated in order to evaluate the influence of the clarification treatment on the content of main parameters characterising the nutritional and functional properties of the fruit. Effects of operating parameters on the performance of both processes in terms of permeate fluxes were also evaluated.     

Evaluation of isoflavone content and antioxidant activity of soy-wheat pasta

The purposes of this work were to determine isoflavones profile and antioxidant activity of two soy flours and spaghetti produced from semolina blended with increasing amount of these flours. Defatted and toasted soy flour (DSF and TSF, respectively) showed different isoflavone profiles though glucosides were the most abundant isoflavone forms in both the meals. The pasta-making procedure determined an increase of the aglycone forms that was at least 37 and 21% in TSF and DSF pasta, respectively. Cooking operations induced severe decreases of the isoflavone content (the losses ranged from 60.44 to104.91 mg kg⁻¹ for TSF pasta and from 85.41 to 469.33 mg kg⁻¹ for DSF pasta). The results of the antioxidant activity were quite different as a function of the methods applied but they resulted generally well correlated with the isoflavone contents of the samples. Cooking induced significant decreases of the antioxidant activity in almost all samples. This result appears well correlated with the decrease of the total isoflavone content and the presence of antioxidant activity in the cooking water.     

Transforming Growth Factor-Beta-Induced Protein (TGFBI)/(βig-H3): A Matrix Protein with Dual Functions in Ovarian Cancer

Transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein (TGFBI, also known as βig-H3 and keratoepithelin) is an extracellular matrix protein that plays a role in a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions including diabetes, corneal dystrophy and tumorigenesis. Many reports indicate that βig-H3 functions as a tumor suppressor. Loss of βig-H3 expression has been described in several cancers including ovarian cancer and promoter hypermethylation has been identified as an important mechanism for the silencing of the TGFBI gene. Our recent findings that βig-H3 is down-regulated in ovarian cancer and that high concentrations of βig-H3 can induce ovarian cancer cell death support a tumor suppressor role. However, there is also convincing data in the literature reporting a tumor-promoting role for βig-H3. We have shown βig-H3 to be abundantly expressed by peritoneal cells and increase the metastatic potential of ovarian cancer cells by promoting cell motility, invasion, and adhesion to peritoneal cells. Our findings suggest that βig-H3 has dual functions and can act both as a tumor suppressor or tumor promoter depending on the tumor microenvironment. This article reviews the current understanding of βig-H3 function in cancer cells with particular focus on ovarian cancer.     

Nanostructure of buried interface layers in TiO₂ anatase thin films grown on LaAlO₃ and SrTiO₃ substrates

TiO(2) anatase thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition are investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The analyses provide evidence of a peculiar growth mode of anatase on LaAlO(3) and SrTiO(3) characterized by the formation of an epitaxial layer at the film/substrate interface, due to cationic diffusion from the substrate into the film region. Pure TiO(2) anatase growth occurs in both specimens above a critical thickness of about 20 nm. The microstructural and chemical characterization of the samples is presented and discussed in the framework of oxide interface engineering.     

The effect of temperature on the condensed phases formed in fuel-rich premixed benzene flames

The sooting structure of premixed fuel-rich atmospheric pressure benzene flames burning at the same C/O molar ratio = 0.8 was studied in different temperature conditions (T_max = 1720 K and 1810 K) by changing the cold gas velocity. Compositional profiles of gaseous and condensed phases, measured by probe sampling and chemical analysis, indicated that pyrolytic routes leading to higher soot formation are more favoured in the lower temperature conditions.The structural analysis of condensed phases, including condensed species and soot, has been carried out by using FT-IR and UV–Visible spectroscopy sensitive to the hydrogen bonding and carbon network, respectively.The very low hydrogenated character, as evaluated by FT-IR and elemental analysis, and the high aromatic/graphitic nature of the benzene soot, as shown by a detailed examination of UV–Visible spectral parameters, confirmed the effect of benzene fuel on the internal structure of soot particles already in the early stages of particle inception.     

Multi‐Drug‐Resistance‐Reverting Agents: 2‐Aryloxazole and 2‐Arylthiazole Derivatives as Potent BCRP or MRP1 Inhibitors

The 2‐aryloxazole and 2‐arylthiazole scaffolds were used for generating compounds that we characterized for their inhibitory activity toward ATP binding cassette transporters involved in multi‐drug resistance, such as BCRP and MRP1, by using tumor cell lines overexpressing each transporter. These SAR studies are a significant step toward improving the inhibitory potency against P‐glycoprotein, BCRP, and MRP1.

     

Social Conduct,Learning and Innovation: An Abductive Study of the Dark Side of Agile Software Development

Agile methodologies have been adopted by an increasing number of organizations to improve their responsiveness. However, few studies have empirically analysed the effect of Agile on long‐term organizational goals such as learning and innovation. Using an abductive approach, this study examines the relationships between self‐regulated teams' social conduct and their resulting learning and innovation. Results indicate that the time pressure induced by the implementation of Agile impedes team engagement in learning and innovation activities. Time pressure is affected by a set of different control strategies, more specifically concertive, belief, diagnostic and boundary controls, and these need to be adequately addressed in order to minimize the potential dark side of Agile.