Stain effects studied by time-resolved infrared imaging.

Pattern formation in evaporating colloidal droplets is an important phenomenon that is commonly observed in several solute-solvent systems; this is also an emerging technique for obtaining fine patterning through controlled conditions of drying. After evaporation of the solvent a ring-like pattern remains on the solid substrate under the condition of contact line pinning. We have used a new analytical technique, time-resolved infrared imaging, to investigate the formation of patterned structures with droplet drying, which is a typical time-dependent phenomenon.

Evaporation of ethanol and ethanol-water mixtures studied by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy.

The knowledge of the physics and the chemistry behind the evaporation of solvents is very important for the development of several technologies, especially in the fabrication of thin films from liquid phase and the organization of nanostructures by evaporation-induced self-assembly. Ethanol, in particular, is one of the most common solvents in sol-gel and evaporation-induced self-assembly processing of thin films, and a detailed understanding of its role during these processes is of fundamental importance. Rapid scan time-resolved infrared spectroscopy has been applied to study in situ the evaporation of ethanol and ethanol-water droplets on a ZnSe substrate.

Structural and functional properties of proteasomes purified from the human kidney.

Background: Proteasomes are 'proteolytic machineries' implicated in many cellular functions, including protein turnover, inflammatory response and immunosurveillance. They exist in various forms sharing the same catalytic core - the 20S proteasome. This core consists of 28 subunits codified by 14 different genes, 3 of which - beta 1, beta 2 and beta 5 - are catalytically active and show peptidyl-glutamyl peptide hydrolyzing (PGPH), trypsin-like and chymo-trypsin-like activities, respectively.

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy as an in situ tool to study the kinetics during self-assembly of mesostructured films.

Rapid scan time-resolved infrared spectroscopy has been used to investigate in situ the kinetics of the chemical processes involved in the formation of self-assembled mesostructured films. The experiments have been done in transmission mode on films cast on a diamond disk using an infrared microscope. Two specific materials have been studied: silica and titania mesoporous films templated by a triblock copolymer surfactant (Pluronic F-127).

Far-infrared absorption of La1-xCaxMnO3-y at high pressure.

The first far-infrared absorption spectra of manganite samples at pressures P up to 10 GPa were obtained on La1-xCaxMnO3-y by use of synchrotron radiation. For x=0.25 and 0.

Optical performances of SINBAD, the synchrotron infrared beamline at DAphiNE.

SINBAD (Synchrotron Infrared Beamline At DAphiNE) is the first Italian synchrotron radiation beamline operating in the infrared range. It collects the radiation emitted by DANE, an electron-positron collider designed to work at 0.51 GeV with a beam current I> 1 A.

Type I collagen limits VEGFR-2 signaling by a SHP2 protein-tyrosine phosphatase-dependent mechanism 1.

During angiogenesis, a combined action between newly secreted extracellular matrix proteins and the repertoire of integrins expressed by endothelial cells contributes in the regulation of their biological functions. Extracellular matrix-engaged integrins influence tyrosine kinase receptors, thus promoting a regulatory cross-talk between adhesive and soluble stimuli. For instance, vitronectin has been reported to positively regulate VEGFR-2.

Characterization of the 20S proteasome in human glioblastomas.

Proteasomes are multisubunit proteases involved in many cellular processes, including tumorigenesis and immune surveillance. In their catalytic core, the 20S proteasome, the beta1, beta2 and beta5 subunits show peptidylglutamyl peptide hydrolyzing (PGPH), trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities, respectively. By IFN-gamma and TNFalpha stimulus, these subunits are replaced by their counterparts LMP2, MECL-1 and LMP7, defined inducible subunits, thus originating the immunoproteasome, and expression of the proteasome activator PA28 is enhanced.

Myelin-associated glycoprotein is altered in a familial late-onset orthochromatic leukodystrophy.

Adult-onset dominant leukodystrophies are a heterogeneous group of rare disorders, whose etiology, pathogenesis and molecular background are still unknown. We report the neuropathological and biochemical investigations of the brains and their myelin proteins components in 2 members of an Italian family affected by an adult-onset autosomal dominant leukoencephalopathy. Clinical signs included spastic paraparesis, pseudobulbar syndrome, action tremor of head and hands, and moderate memory impairment.

Down-regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase in obese subjects is a defect that signals insulin resistance.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether down-regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDP) is responsible for poorly active pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) in circulating lymphocytes (CLs) of obese subjects (ObS), and if so, whether it improves when their plasma insulin rises.

Research Methods And Procedures: PDH activity was compared in lysed CLs of 10 euglycemic ObS and 10 sex- and age-matched controls before and during plasma insulin enhancement in an oral glucose tolerance test. It was evaluated without (PDHa) or with Mg/Ca or Mg at various concentrations to assess PDP1 or PDP2 activities or with Mg/Ca and exogenous PDP to determine total PDH activity (PDHt), which is an indirect measure of the amount of PDH.

Kinetics of polycondensation reactions during self-assembly of mesostructured films studied by in situ infrared spectroscopy.

In situ synchrotron FTIR experiments have been performed during evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) of mesoporous films and the role of silica polycondensation in obtaining highly organized mesostructures has been illuminated.

The HIV protease inhibitors nelfinavir and saquinavir, but not a variety of HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors, adversely affect human proteasome function.

Background: In HIV-infected patients some clinical and immunological benefits of antiretroviral therapy, which frequently include a combination of HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) and reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs), cannot be solely explained by the drugs' action on viral enzymes. Proteasomes constitute the central protease of the ubiquitin ATP-dependent pathway involved in many cellular processes, as well as in HIV maturation and aggressiveness.

Objective: To explore whether the PIs nelfinavir and saquinavir and the RTIs abacavir, nevirapine, delavirdine, stavudine and didanosine affect proteasome function in vitro and in vivo.

Highly ordered "defect-free" self-assembled hybrid films with a tetragonal mesostructure.

One-pot self-assembled hybrid films were synthesized by the cohydrolysis of methyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane and deposited via dip-coating. The films show a high "defect-free" mesophase organization that extends throughout the film thickness and for domains of a micrometer scale, as shown by scanning transmission electron microscopy. We have defined these films defect-free to describe the high degree of order that is achieved without defects in the pore organization, such as dislocations of pores or stacking faults.

Limits for the central production of Theta+ and Xi(--)pentaquarks in 920-GeV pA collisions.

We have searched for Theta+(1540) and Xi(--)(1862) pentaquark candidates in proton-induced reactions on C, Ti, and W targets at midrapidity and square root of s = 41.6 GeV. In 2 x 10(8) inelastic events we find no evidence for narrow (sigma approximately 5 MeV) signals in the Theta+ --> pK0(S) and Xi(--) --> Xi- pi- channels; our 95% C.

Octreotide in the prevention of intra-abdominal complications following elective pancreatic resection: a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Hypothesis: Prophylactic administration of octreotide acetate decreases the rate of postoperative intra-abdominal complications (IACs) after elective pancreatic resection.

Design: Single-blind, controlled, randomized trial.

Setting: Multicenter (N = 20) trial in France.

[Biomechanical risk for the upper limbs: experience at a factory of feeding electric cables].

Cumulative trauma disorders are found more and more frequently in working environments. Our examination concerns a factory of feeding electric cables, whose workers were subjected to a sanitary checking in 2001, 2002, 2003. The valuation of the risk due to a biomechanical overload of the upper limbs, carried out according to the OCRA method, pointed out, with reference to the specific task of pressing, a middle-high grade of exposure, while the clinical-instrumental results showed symptoms and objective signs of suffering on the median nerve of the wrist with regard to a significant percentage of workers.

High-dose carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide with hematological growth factors, without stem cell support in patients with advanced cancer.

Purpose: Peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation, introduced into clinical practice to decrease the hematological toxicity of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT), is both a costly procedure and a potential source of tumor cell reinfusion. The maximum tolerated dose of carboplatin (CB), cyclophosphamide (CT) and etoposide (VP) administered with growth factors without PBPC was determined in a previous phase I study. The aim of this phase II study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of HDCT with CB, CT and VP administered with growth factors, without PBPC in a group of patients with advanced solid tumors.

Proteasomes as drug targets.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a role in the degradation of the bulk of proteins in the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments. In this pathway proteins are targeted for degradation by covalent ligation with ubiquitin, a reaction that requires ATP. Following the binding of the first ubiquitin molecule with the epsilon-amino group of a lysine residue of the substrate protein, a polyubiquitin chain is usually formed, in which the C-terminus of each ubiquitin unit is linked to a specific Lys residue of the previous ubiquitin.

Interferon-gamma-inducible subunits are incorporated in human brain 20S proteasome.

In most tissues expressing MHC class I molecules, proteasomes incorporating IFN-gamma-inducible subunits, defined immuno-proteasomes, exist together with constitutive proteasomes. In physiological conditions, the central nervous system expresses neither MHC class I molecules nor TAP1 and TAP2 transporters but besides being constitutive, it is unknown whether immuno-proteasomes are also present in this tissue. We present evidence that in human brain, the two types of proteasome exist suggesting that under physiological conditions, the mechanisms regulating expression of IFN-gamma-inducible subunits as well as of MHC class I molecules and TAP1 and TAP2 transporters in nervous tissue, are not entirely coordinated.

Barkas effect for antiproton stopping in H2.

We report the stopping power of molecular hydrogen for antiprotons of kinetic energy above the maximum (approximately 100 keV) with the purpose of comparing with the proton one. Our result is consistent with a positive difference in antiproton-proton stopping powers above approximately 250 keV and with a maximum difference between the stopping powers of 21%+/-3% at around 600 keV.

Enhanced blood insulin overcomes pyruvate dehydrogenase derangements that reflect systemic insulin resistance in obese adolescents.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) has low activity in the circulating lymphocytes (CL) of obese adolescents and adults. In vitro, it is unresponsive to insulin at 5 micro-units/ml and is activated at 50 micro-units/ml, in contrast with activation and inhibition respectively at these concentrations in CL from controls. These changes are seen as being indicative of a molecular disorder underlying insulin resistance.

5-fluorouracil-carboplatin continuous infusion as salvage chemotherapy in advanced cancer.

Aims And Background: 5-fluorouracil given by continuous infusion allows higher dose delivery, causes less myelosuppression and may interfere with repair of DNA damage caused by carboplatin. With this rationale, we conducted a phase II study to test the activity and toxicity of 5-fluorouracil and carboplatin given in continuous infusion to patients with advanced cancer and pretreated with at least two chemotherapy regimens.

Methods: Forty patients with advanced tumors (21 colon, 4 stomach, 3 breast, 3 bladder, 3 ovary, and 6 at other sites) were entered in the trial.

The human 26S proteasome is a target of antiretroviral agents.

Background: Proteasomes constitute the degradative machinery of the ubiquitin/adenosine triphosphate-dependent proteolytic pathway, which is involved in many cell functions, including immune response and apoptosis, and in HIV maturation and infectivity.

Objective: To examine whether proteasomes are targeted by antiretroviral agents.

Methods: Chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like and peptidyl-glutamyl-peptide hydrolysing activities of purified human 26S and 20S proteasomes, the latter depleted or enriched in 11S regulator, were assayed after incubation with indinavir, lamivudine and zidovudine at 1-80 microM alone and in combination.