Targeting microRNAs involved in human diseases: a novel approach for modification of gene expression and drug development.

The identification of all epigenetic modifications (i.e. DNA methylation, histone modifications and expression of noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs) involved in gene regulation is one of the major steps forward for understanding human biology in both normal and pathological conditions and for development of novel drugs.

Interactive effects of nickel and chlorpyrifos on Mediterranean mussel cAMP-mediated cell signaling and MXR-related gene expressions.

The aim of this study was to infer putative interactive effects of a binary mixture between nickel (Ni) and chlorpyrifos (CHP) on mussel cell signaling, and also to unravel downstream effects on transcriptional regulation mediating cytoprotective responses. Mussels were exposed for 4 days to Ni (0.77 mg/L), CHP (4.

Cholinesterase activities and sensitivity to pesticides in different tissues of silver European eel, Anguilla anguilla.

Cholinesterase (ChE) activities were characterized in silver European eel, Anguilla anguilla, grown in the brackish lagoon of Comacchio (Italy). All specimens were harvested at the "lavoriero", a traditional eel trapping weir that captures eels while leaving internal waters at the onset of reproductive migration. To our knowledge, no investigation on ChE was reported in silver eels.

Papillary thyroid cancer in thalassaemia.

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine neoplasm in the general population. Its incidence is 5-10/100,000 per year, with an annual death rate of 0.2-1.

Bioaccumulation of algal toxins and changes in physiological parameters in Mediterranean mussels from the North Adriatic Sea (Italy).

The Northwestern Adriatic Sea is a commercially important area in aquaculture, accounting for about 90% of the Italian mussel production, and it was subjected to recurring cases of mussel farm closures due to toxic algae poisoning. A spatial and temporal survey of four sites along the North Adriatic Sea coasts of Emilia Romagna (Italy) was undertaken to study the possible impairments of physiological parameters in Mytilus galloprovincialis naturally exposed to algal toxins. The sites were selected as part of the monitoring network for the assessment of algal toxins bioaccumulation by the competent Authority.

Evaluation of the bacterial microflora of the conjunctival sac of healthy dogs and dogs with atopic dermatitis.

The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate and compare the bacterial microflora from the conjunctival sac of dogs with atopic dermatitis and healthy dogs. Twenty-one atopic dogs without clinical and/or cytopathological signs of bacterial blepharoconjunctivitis and 21 breed-matched healthy dogs were enrolled. Under topical anaesthesia, the inferior conjunctival sac of one eye was scraped twice.

Neurological presentation of Hodgkin lymphoma in the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology LH-2004 protocol.

Neurological symptoms can represent the first clinical manifestation of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Because of its rarity, it is often misunderstood for other pathological processes. We report two cases of pediatric CNS HL, presenting with neurological symptoms at diagnosis.

Role of prenatal diagnosis and counseling in the management of 735 pregnancies complicated by primary human cytomegalovirus infection: a 20-year experience.

Background: The burden of congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is well recognized. However, screening for maternal infection remains controversial in view of diagnostic challenges, counseling difficulties, and absence of medical treatment.

Objective: To assess the role of prenatal diagnosis and counseling in the management of pregnancy complicated by primary HCMV infection.

The β-blocker propranolol affects cAMP-dependent signaling and induces the stress response in Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Widespread occurrence of pharmaceuticals is reported in aquatic systems, posing concerns for the health of aquatic wildlife and a theoretical risk to humans. A recent concept was developed for the identification of highly active compounds amongst the environmental pharmaceuticals, based on their mode of action, the homology between human targets and possible targets in the environment, and the importance of the affected pathway for the target species. In line with this approach, this study investigated whether propranolol (PROP) affects the cAMP-dependent pathway in Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Betamethasone, progesterone and RU-486 (mifepristone) exert similar effects on connexin expression in trophoblast-derived HTR-8/SVneo cells.

Connexins (Cx) are membrane proteins able to influence cell trophoblast responses, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasiveness. Likewise, glucocorticoids are also known to modulate many factors involved in implantation, including trophoblast gap-junction intercellular communication, although their influence on pregnancy is controversial. In order to investigate the effects of betamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, on Cx and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and localisation, as well as on cell proliferation, the extravillous trophoblast-derived HTR-8/SVneo cell line was used as a model.

Prognostic markers of symptomatic congenital human cytomegalovirus infection in fetal blood.

Objective: To identify fetal cord blood prognostic markers of symptomatic congenital human cytomegalovirus infection (HCMV).

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: Fetal medicine unit in Milan and Medical virology unit in Pavia, Italy.

Trimethylangelicin reduces IL-8 transcription and potentiates CFTR function.

Chronic inflammatory response in the airway tract of patients affected by cystic fibrosis is characterized by an excessive recruitment of neutrophils to the bronchial lumina, driven by the chemokine interleukin (IL)-8. We previously found that 5-methoxypsoralen reduces Pseudomonas aeruginosa-dependent IL-8 transcription in bronchial epithelial cell lines, with an IC(50) of 10 μM (Nicolis E, Lampronti I, Dechecchi MC, Borgatti M, Tamanini A, Bezzerri V, Bianchi N, Mazzon M, Mancini I, Giri MG, Rizzotti P, Gambari R, Cabrini G. Int Immunopharmacol 9: 1411-1422, 2009).

Lowering grain boundary resistance of BaZr(0.8)Y(0.2)O(3-δ) with LiNO3 sintering-aid improves proton conductivity for fuel cell operation.

A novel sintering additive based on LiNO(3) was used to overcome the drawbacks of poor sinterability and low grain boundary conductivity in BaZr(0.8)Y(0.2)O(3-δ) (BZY20) protonic conductors.

Ionic conductivity in oxide heterostructures: the role of interfaces.

Rapidly growing attention is being directed to the investigation of ionic conductivity in oxide film heterostructures. The main reason for this interest arises from interfacial phenomena in these heterostructures and their applications. Recent results revealed that heterophase interfaces have faster ionic conduction pathways than the bulk or homophase interfaces.

Sublingual immunotherapy for Alternaria-induced allergic rhinitis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Respiratory allergy due to Alternaria is a relevant clinical problem, and specific immunotherapy may represent a viable treatment option. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is safe and effective, but data for Alternaria are lacking.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of standardized SLIT in patients sensitized to Alternaria in a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

High proton conduction in grain-boundary-free yttrium-doped barium zirconate films grown by pulsed laser deposition.

Reducing the operating temperature in the 500-750 °C range is needed for widespread use of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Proton-conducting oxides are gaining wide interest as electrolyte materials for this aim. We report the fabrication of BaZr(0.

Electrode materials: a challenge for the exploitation of protonic solid oxide fuel cells.

High temperature proton conductor (HTPC) oxides are attracting extensive attention as electrolyte materials alternative to oxygen-ion conductors for use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at intermediate temperatures (400-700 °C). The need to lower the operating temperature is dictated by cost reduction for SOFC pervasive use. The major stake for the deployment of this technology is the availability of electrodes able to limit polarization losses at the reduced operation temperature.

Materials challenges toward proton-conducting oxide fuel cells: a critical review.

The increasing world population and the need to improve quality of life for a large percentage of human beings are the driving forces for the search for sustainable energy production systems, alternative to fossil fuel combustion. Among the various types of alternative energy production technologies, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at intermediate temperatures (400-700 °C) show the advantage of possible use both for stationary and mobile energy production. To reach the goal of reducing the SOFC operating temperature, proton-conducting oxides are gaining wide interest as electrolyte materials.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Haloacetyl, α-Bromoacryloyl and Nitrooxyacetyl Benzo[b]furan and Benzo[b]thiophene Derivatives as Potent Antiproliferative Agents Against Leukemia L1210 and K562 Cells.

Identification of novel and selective anticancer agents remains an important and challenging goal in pharmacological research. In search of new compounds with strong antiproliferative activity and simple molecular structure, we have synthesized three different series of compounds in which different substituents were linked to the 3-amino position of the 2-(3', 4', 5'-trimethoxybenzoyl)-benzo[b]furan or benzo[b]thiophene ring system. These substituents, corresponding to acetyl/haloacetyl, α-bromoacryloyl and nitrooxyacetyl moieties had different electrophilic properties.

Introduction of oxygenated side chain into imidazolium ionic liquids: evaluation of the effects at different biological organization levels.

The biological effects of a class of oxygenated imidazolium ionic liquids were studied in comparison with alkyl imidazolium salts (BMIM BF4 and BMIM N(CN)2).The cellular and subcellular effects were evaluated on rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell lines, through MTT test, lactate dehydrogenase release and acetylcholinesterase inhibition; the eco-toxicological responses were assessed through the acute toxicity tests towards Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri. The introduction of ethoxy moieties in the lateral chain of imidazolium cations reduced the biological effects in all the tests.

gamma-Hydroxymethyl PNAs: Synthesis, interaction with DNA and inhibition of protein/DNA interactions.

The ability of PNA to interact with DNA double stranded has been recently investigated. In a decoy approach these interactions are of great importance as may lead to inhibition of interactions of DNA sequences to specific transcription factors and may be employed as a strategy for the inhibition of gene transcription alternative to the antisense strategy (targeting transcription factors mRNAs) and the transcription factor decoy approach (targeting transcription factors). We explored the ability of PNA and PNAs with modified monomers to bind to DNA and to interfere in the formation of DNA/transcription factor complex.

Forensic DNA against wildlife poaching: identification of a serial wolf killing in Italy.

The recent expansion of the Italian wolf population through the Apennine and western Alps, after centuries of contractions, is causing conflicts with human activities leading to a rise in poaching or illegal killings. Here we show how molecular population genetics has been used to identify a suspect serial wolf killer. We analysed DNA extracted from a necklace made of ten presumed wolf canine teeth, confiscated in 2008 to a man living in the northern Italian Apennine (Liguria Region).

Early cerebral lesions in cytomegalovirus infection: prenatal MR imaging.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of fetal cerebral magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in comparison with that of level II ultrasonography (US).

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed consent for fetal MR imaging and data collection were obtained. Thirty-eight fetuses with CMV infection, examined by using serial level II US, underwent fetal MR imaging (mean gestational age, 25 weeks; age range at first fetal MR examination, 20-34 weeks).

5-(Dimethylamino)-N-(4-ethynylphenyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide as a novel bifunctional antitumor agent and two-photon induced bio-imaging probe.

A novel compound, (5-(dimethylamino)-N-(4-ethynylphenyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide), was prepared and characterized; it shows dual functional roles as an effective antitumor and a two-photon induced bio-imaging agent.

Exposure of mussels to a polluted environment: insights into the stress syndrome development.

Coastal environments are often subjected to contamination, whose biological impact is profitably evaluated through sentinel organisms and biomarkers. mRNA profiling was also proposed as a potential biomarker, whose relevance is still under discussion. Indeed, correlation between molecular and cell-organism responses need further investigations, especially under field conditions.