Resolvin D1 enhances the resolution of lung inflammation caused by long-term Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection is a main cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Acute inflammation and its timely resolution are crucial for ensuring bacterial clearance and limiting tissue damage. Here, we investigated protective actions of resolvin (Rv) D1 in lung infection induced by the RP73 clinical strain of P. aeruginosa. RvD1 significantly diminished bacterial growth and neutrophil infiltration during acute pneumonia caused by RP73. Inoculum of RP73, immobilized in agar beads, resulted in persistent lung infection up to 21 days, leading to a non resolving inflammation reminiscent of human pathology. RvD1 significantly reduced bacterial titer, leukocyte infiltration, and lung tissue damage. In murine lung macrophages sorted during P. aeruginosa chronic infection, RvD1 regulated the expression of Toll-like receptors, downstream genes, and microRNA (miR)-21 and 155, resulting in reduced inflammatory signaling. In vitro, RvD1 enhanced phagocytosis of P. aeruginosa by neutrophils and macrophages, recapitulating its in vivo actions. These results unveil protective functions and mechanisms of action of RvD1 in acute and chronic P. aeruginosa pneumonia, providing evidence for its potent pro-resolution and tissue protective properties on airway mucosal tissue during infection.

[Combination inositol and glucomannan in PCOS patients]. / Valutazione dell'associazione inositolo-glucomannano nel trattamento di donne affette da PCOS.

AIM: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies of the reproductive age in women. PCOS is an endocrine-metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance. Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of natural substances such as inositol and glucomannan, and their combination in reducing glucose levels and improving insulin sensitivity in PCOS patients. METHODS: Forty women with clinical and endocrinological signs of PCOS were enrolled in the study and divided into three groups, including ten women each. The three groups were respectively treated with the combination inositol and glucomannan (A group), inositol (B group), glucomannan (C group) for a period of 3 months. Plasma levels of glucose and insulin were evaluated before and after treatment in our laboratory. RESULTS: There was a reduction in blood glucose and insulin levels, with particular significance in the group treated with the combination of inositol-glucomannan. CONCLUSION: Present results show that the association-inositol glucomannan may represent a good therapeutic strategy in the treatment of PCOS women with insulin resistance.

Formation and disruption of conductive filaments in a HfO2/TiN structure.

The process of the formation and disruption of nanometric conductive filaments in a HfO2/TiN structure is investigated by conductive atomic force microscopy. The preforming state evidences nonhomogeneous conduction at high fields through conductive paths, which are associated with pre-existing defects and develop into conductive filaments with a forming procedure. The disruption of the same filaments is demonstrated as well, according to a bipolar operation. In addition, the conductive tip of the microscopy is exploited to perform electrical operations on single conductive spots, which evidences that neighboring conductive filaments are not electrically independent. We propose a picture that describes the evolution of the shape of the conductive filaments in the processes of their formation and disruption, which involves the development of conductive branches from a common root; this root resides in the pre-existing defects that lay at the HfO2/TiN interface.

Visualization of coherent destruction of tunneling in an optical double well system.

We report on a direct visualization of coherent destruction of tunneling (CDT) of light waves in a double well system which provides an optical analog of quantum CDT as originally proposed by Grossmann, Dittrich, Jung, and Hänggi [Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 516 (1991)10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.516]. The driven double well, realized by two periodically curved waveguides in an Er:Yb-doped glass, is designed so that spatial light propagation exactly mimics the coherent space-time dynamics of matter waves in a driven double well potential governed by the Schrödinger equation. The fluorescence of Er ions is exploited to image the spatial evolution of light in the two wells, clearly demonstrating suppression of light tunneling for special ratios between the frequency and amplitude of the driving field.

Observation of dynamic localization in periodically curved waveguide arrays.

We report on a direct experimental observation of dynamic localization (DL) of light in sinusoidally-curved lithium-niobate waveguide arrays which provides the optical analog of DL for electrons in periodic potentials subjected to ac electric fields as originally proposed by Dunlap and Kenkre [Phys. Rev. B 34, 3625 (1986)10.1103/PhysRevB.34.3625]. The theoretical condition for DL in a sinusoidal field is experimentally demonstrated.

Optical-damage-free guided second-harmonic generation in 1% MgO-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate.

Room-temperature cw second-harmonic generation from telecom wavelengths, with 30% W(-1) cm(-2) efficiency and second-harmonic power levels up to 41 mW, was achieved in buried waveguides fabricated by reverse-proton exchange in 1% MgO-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate without any evidence of optical damage. The technology proves suitable for the realization of efficient nonlinear frequency converters and all-optical devices.

High quality buried waveguides in stoichiometric LiTaO3 for nonlinear frequency conversion.

High-quality buried optical-waveguides were fabricated by reverse-proton-exchange in periodically-poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate. Experimental results show excellent fiber-mode matching, losses below 0.3 dB/cm and almost non-critical conditions for a quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation process from telecom wavelengths. The interaction length of 2.5 cm is the highest so far reported for lithium tantalate waveguides.

Direct mediatorless electron transport between the monolayer of photosystem II and poly(mercapto-p-benzoquinone) modified gold electrode--new design of biosensor for herbicide detection.

Photosystem II (PSII) modified gold electrodes have been prepared providing mediatorless electron transport on the basis of electrodeposited conductive layer poly-mercapto-p-benzoquinone (polySBQ). Such electrodes are suitable in construction of biosensors for PSII inhibiting herbicides. PolySBQ layer was synthesized on (i) screen-printed gold electrodes and (ii) gold microelctodes in an array on silicon substrate, by electrochemical-oxidation of sulpho-p-benzoquinone (SBQ) at +650 mV versus Ag/AgCl. The basic properties of polySBQ layer were characterized using linear sweep voltammetry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The typical redox response for quinones was observed. The optimal length of the polymer providing direct electron transfer (DET) was found to be very close to 30 nm. PSII particles isolated from the thermophilic cyanobacteria Synechococcus bigranulatus were physically adsorbed on the polySBQ covered gold electrodes. The generation of photocurrent was observed at E=+250 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) without addition of any mediator. The basic properties of DET were studied. We concluded that: (i) PSII active in DET is immobilized in form of monolayer; (ii) the charge transport from PSII to gold working electrode (AuWE) is fast and dominated by the rate of the enzymatic reaction; (iii) polySBQ layer drains electrons from the Q(A) pocket of the photosystem since the electrode activity is inhibited by specific inhibitor, i.e. diuron (DCMU); (iv) the stability of the photosystem immobilized on gold electrodes by using polySBQ is comparable to the stability of PSII in solution under the same experimental conditions; (v) the inhibition of the photosystem by herbicide DCMU follows the sigmoid dependence; (vi) I(50) as well as limit of detection (LOD) show an improved sensitivity compared to other published biosensing systems using PSII as bioactive part.

Beam dynamics and wave packet splitting in a periodically curved optical waveguide: multimode effects.

A theoretical and experimental analysis of beam dynamics and wave packet splitting of light in a periodically bent optical waveguide, a phenomenon recently observed [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 073002 (2005)] which is the optical equivalent of adiabatic stabilization of atoms in intense and high-frequency laser fields, is presented in the multimode operational regime. Inhibition of wave packet splitting is theoretically predicted and experimentally observed for higher-order mode excitation.

Observation of wave packet dichotomy and adiabatic stabilization in an optical waveguide.

We report on the first experimental observation of wave packet dichotomy and adiabatic stabilization of light in a periodically bent optical waveguide in analogy with similar behavior of atoms in high-frequency strong laser fields.

[Acute lumbago due to the manual lifting of patients in wards: prevalence and incidence data]. / La lombalgia acuta da movimentazione manuale di pazienti nei reparti di degenza: dati di prevalenza e incidenza.

The aim of the study was to measure the occurrence (prevalence and incidence) of episodes of acute low back pain (definite effect) in a wide sample of health workers assisting disabled patients. A questionnaire was used for the study both of true acute low back pain and of episodes of ingravescent low back pain controlled pharmacologically at the onset. The questionnaire identified overall acute and pharmacologically controlled episodes occurring in the previous 12 months, both in the course of work and over the whole life of the subject. Appropriately trained operators administered the questionnaire to 551 subjects; 481 valid answer cards were obtained from 372 females and 109 males working in medical, orthopaedic and geriatric departments. 75.4% of the sample had high exposure index levels for patient lifting. The prevalence of true acute low back pain was 9% in males and 11% in females referred to the previous 12 months. Taking acute true and pharmacologically controlled low back pain together the prevalences rose to 13.8% for males and 26.9% in females. Data from the reference populations showed that acute low back pain did not exceed 3% on average in the previous year. Since work seniority in the hospital wards was known, the incidences were calculated, giving 7.9% in females and 5.29% in males for acute low back pain, and 19% in females and 3.49% in males for pharmacologically controlled low back pain. Considering the number of episodes in 100 workers/year, acute low back pain alone reached prevalences of 13-14%. This therefore appears to confirm the positive ratio between episodes of low back pain and duties involving assistance to disabled patients.