Influence of Sampling Conditions, Salivary Flow, and Total Protein Content in Uric Acid Measurements in Saliva.

Uric acid (UA) is the most abundant antioxidant compound in saliva and one of the most sensitive biomarkers for detecting changes in the oxidative status of the organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of: (i) different methods of saliva sampling and (ii) the correction by salivary flow or total protein on UA concentrations in saliva. Paired saliva (collected by two different methods, passive drooling and using Salivette cotton rolls) and serum samples were obtained from 12 healthy men after the performance of two resistance training exercises of different level of effort that can produce different concentrations in UA in saliva.

Role of the circadian clock in the statistics of locomotor activity in Drosophila.

In many animals the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity is controlled by an endogenous circadian clock. Using custom made housing and video tracking software in order to obtain high spatial and temporal resolution, we studied the statistical properties of the locomotor activity of wild type and two clock mutants of Drosophila melanogaster. We show here that the distributions of activity and quiescence bouts for the clock mutants in light-dark conditions (LD) are very different from the distributions obtained when there are no external cues from the environment (DD).

The Underlying Genetics of Circadian Behaviors.

Life is shaped by circadian clocks. This review focuses on how behavioral genetics in the fruit fly unveiled what is known today about circadian physiology. We will briefly summarize basic properties of the clock and focus on some clock-controlled behaviors to highlight how communication between central and peripheral oscillators defines their properties.

Differences in the accumulation and tissue distribution of Pb, Cd, and Cu in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) exposed to single, binary, and ternary metal mixtures.

Heavy metals often accumulate in complex mixtures in the environment and are currently a source of concern in many marine ecosystems. Pb, Cd, and Cu are regarded as priority hazardous metals due to their great persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the tissue accumulation and distribution of these heavy metals in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) exposed to binary and ternary mixtures of metals as opposed to only single exposures.

Esterase activity (EA), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in gills of Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to pollutants: Analytical validation and effects evaluation by single and mixed heavy metal exposure.

The aims of the present study were to optimize and validate methods for esterase activity (EA), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) determination in mussel' gills, and to establish the relationships between these biomarkers and Pb, Cd and Cu pollution, in single form and ternary mixture. Two different buffers for sample homogenization, the need of ultracentrifugation, and analytical validation were evaluated. Coefficients of variation, when buffer without additives and ultracentrifugation were used, were <15%, and recovery were 97%-109% in all cases.

Snail1 suppresses TGF-beta-induced apoptosis and is sufficient to trigger EMT in hepatocytes.

Although TGF-β suppresses early stages of tumour development, it later contributes to tumour progression when cells become resistant to its suppressive effects. In addition to circumventing TGF-β-induced growth arrest and apoptosis, malignant tumour cells become capable of undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), favouring invasion and metastasis. Therefore, defining the mechanisms that allow cancer cells to escape from the suppressive effects of TGF-β is fundamental to understand tumour progression and to design specific therapies.

ENA/VASP downregulation triggers cell death by impairing axonal maintenance in hippocampal neurons.

Neurodegenerative diseases encompass a broad variety of motor and cognitive disorders that are accompanied by death of specific neuronal populations or brain regions. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these complex disorders remain largely unknown. In a previous work we searched for novel Drosophila genes relevant for neurodegeneration and singled out enabled (ena), which encodes a protein involved in cytoskeleton remodeling.

[Different enzymatic activities recruitment by specific domains of TIF2 are involved in NF-kappaB transactivation].

We have previously shown that nuclear receptor coactivator overexpression significantly enhanced NF-kappaB activity in a dose response manner. We studied the mechanism by which TIF2 regulates NF-kappaB activity. We determined that: 1) the p38 specific inhibitor reduces 50% NF-kappaB transcriptional activity, even in cells that overexpress distinct TIF2 deletions; 2) there is a physical interaction between TIF2 and p38 and RelA determined through in vitro translated protein binding assays; 3) TIF2 is a p38 substrate; 4) there is a physical interaction between TIF2 and IKK in TNF-alpha 20 ng/ml stimulated or not HEK 293 cell protein extract, and IkappaB only in basal conditions, determined by binding pull down assays.