The Paradox Effect of Calcification in Carotid Atherosclerosis: Microcalcification Is Correlated with Plaque Instability

Background: this study aims to investigate the possible association among the histopathologic features of carotid plaque instability, the presence of micro- or macrocalcifications, the expression of in situ inflammatory biomarkers, and the occurrence of the major risk factors in this process in a large series of carotid plaques. Methods: a total of 687 carotid plaques from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were collected. Histological evaluation was performed to classify the calcium deposits in micro or macrocalcifications according to their morphological features (location and size). Immunohistochemistry was performed to study the expression of the main inflammatory biomarkers. Results: results here reported demonstrated that calcifications are very frequent in carotid plaques, with a significant difference between the presence of micro- and macrocalcifications. Specifically, microcalcifications were significantly associated to high inflamed unstable plaques. Paradoxically, macrocalcifications seem to stabilize the plaque and are associated to a M2 macrophage polarization instead. Discussion: the characterization of mechanisms involved in the formation of carotid calcifications can lay the foundation for developing new strategies for the management of patients affected by carotid atherosclerosis. Data of this study could provide key elements for an exhaustive evaluation of carotid plaque calcifications allowing to establish the risk of associated clinical events.     

Dextran-Curcumin Nanosystems Inhibit Cell Growth and Migration Regulating the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Prostate Cancer Cells

Functional nanocarriers which are able to simultaneously vectorize drugs to the site of interest and exert their own cytotoxic activity represent a significant breakthrough in the search for effective anticancer strategies with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapeutics. Here, we propose previously developed, self-assembling dextran-curcumin nanoparticles for the treatment of prostate cancer in combination therapy with Doxorubicin (DOXO). Biological effectiveness was investigated by evaluating the cell viability in either cancer and normal cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptotic effect, interference with the cell cycle, and the ability to inhibit cell migration and reverse the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). The results proved a significant enhancement of curcumin efficiency upon immobilization in nanoparticles: IC₅₀ reduced by a half, induction of apoptotic effect, and improved ROS production (from 67 to 134%) at low concentrations. Nanoparticles guaranteed a pH-dependent DOXO release, with a more efficient release in acidic environments. Finally, a synergistic effect between nanoparticles and Doxorubicin was demonstrated, with the free curcumin showing additive activity. Although in vivo studies are required to support the findings of this study, these preliminary in vitro data can be considered a proof of principle for the design of an effective therapy for prostate cancer treatment.     

Some problems related to an environmental factual database: the case Aeolian project

Factual databanks can make an important contribution to environmental management. They help considerably with the difficult processes of integrating the various scientific languages used, and also with the development of valid methods for interdisciplinary research. In the planning the Aeolian project (a multidisciplinary study of an Archipelago north of Sicily), it was considered useful to include a group of workers on methodology and computer science. The hope is that they will help to facilitate the exchange of data and thus contribute to a better understanding of the various phenomena occurring on the islands. This paper discusses the conceptual working aspects of environmental information, together with those characteristics that render it suitable for inclusion in a modern computer‐based system.     

Chlorogenic acid is poorly absorbed, independently of the food matrix: A Caco-2 cells and rat chronic absorption study

According to epidemiologic studies, dietary phenolic antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid (CQA), could prevent coronary heart diseases and some cancers. Coffee is the main source of CQA in the human diet. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of usual coffee consumption conditions, such as the addition of milk, on CQA bioavailability. Interactions between CQA and milk proteins were shown, using an ultrafiltration technique. These interactions proved to be slightly disrupted during an in vitro digestion process. CQA absorption and bioavailability were then studied in vitro using a Caco-2 cell model coupled with an in vitro digestion process, and in vivo, in a chronic supplementation study in which rats were fed daily coffee or coffee and milk for 3 weeks. Both experiments showed that CQA absorption under its native form is weak, but unmodified by the addition of milk proteins, and slightly reduced by the addition of Maillard reaction products. These data show that there are some interactions between coffee phenolics and milk proteins, but these have no significant effect on CQA bioavailability from coffee in the rat. CQA is poorly absorbed under its native form in the body, when ingested in a realistic food matrix.     

What is beautiful is good, even online: Correlations between photo attractiveness and text attractiveness in men’s online dating profiles

Attractive people are considered by others to have many positive qualities and in the case of social skills and intelligence, these attributions are often true. In internet dating, individuals with attractive profile photos are viewed more favorably overall, but no research has yet established whether they indeed have more positive qualities. We addressed this issue by having 50 women independently rate 100 photos and free-written texts taken from males’ profiles on a popular dating website. Photos rated as physically attractive had profile texts that were rated as more attractive, even though photos and texts were rated by different judges. Perceived confidence seemed to play a mediating role, suggesting that attractive men write appealing texts because they are aware of their high mate value. Thus, contrary to popular belief, the internet does not seem to “level the playing field.”     

MiR-223 Exclusively Impairs In Vitro Tumor Growth through IGF1R Modulation in Rhabdomyosarcoma of Adolescents and Young Adults

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) form a subgroup of patients whose optimal clinical management and best possible access to care remain a challenge and whose survival rates lag behind that of children diagnosed with histologically similar tumors. A better understanding of tumor biology that differentiates children (PEDS-) from AYA-RMS could provide critical information and drive new initiatives to improve their final outcome. We investigated the functional role of miRNAs implicated in AYA-RMS development, as they have the potential to lead to discovery of new targets pathways for a more tailored treatment in these age groups of young RMS patients. MiR-223 and miR-486 were observed de-regulated in nine RMS tissues compared to their normal counterparts, yet only miR-223 replacement impaired proliferation and aggressiveness of AYA-RMS cell lines, while inducing apoptosis and determining cell cycle arrest. Interestingly, IGF1R resulted in the direct target of miR-223 in AYA-RMS cells, as demonstrated by IGF1R silencing. Our results highlight an exclusive functional role of miR-223 in AYA-RMS development and aggressiveness.     

Accessibility of the Italian institutional web pages: a survey on the compliance of the Italian public administration web pages to the Stanca Act and its 22 technical requirements for web accessibility

Accessibility of the Italian public administration web pages is ruled by the Stanca Act and in particular the Decree of the Minister issued on July 8, 2005. In this paper, an objective test is performed on the official web pages of the Italian province and region chief towns to check their compliance to the 22 technical requirements defined by the Stanca Act. A sample of 976 web pages belonging to the websites of the Italian chief towns have been downloaded in the period October–December 2012. Such a data collection has been submitted to Achecker, the worldwide recognized syntax and accessibility validation service. Several accessibility and syntax errors have been found following the automatic analysis. Such errors have been classified, a statistic has been produced, and some graphs are included to offer an immediate view of the error distribution. Moreover, the most frequent errors are pointed out and explained in detail. Although the Stanca Act has been promulgated some years ago, and contains precise indications about updating a web page to be compliant to the 22 technical requirements, all the analyzed websites are not fully compliant to the law. Updating web pages to be compliant to the Stanca Act is a slow process and some grave errors are still present, both in terms of syntax and accessibility.