ABSTRACT
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin essential for neuronal development and survival, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive function. Dysregulation of BDNF signaling is involved in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Alteration of metal ion homeostasis is observed both in normal aging and in many neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, there is a significant overlap between brain areas characterized by metal ion dyshomeostasis and those where BDNF exerts its biological activity. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that metal ions, especially zinc, can modulate the activity of BDNF. The synthesis of BDNF peptidomimetic can be helpful both to understand the molecular interaction of BDNF with metal ions and to develop new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases.
Subject(s)
Aging , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Brain/metabolism , Homeostasis , Neurons/metabolism , Peptide Fragments/metabolism , Zinc/metabolism , Animals , Brain/cytology , Brain/growth & development , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/chemistry , Humans , Lipid Bilayers/chemistry , Lipid Bilayers/metabolism , Neurons/cytology , Peptide Fragments/chemistryABSTRACT
The peptide fragments NGF1-14 and BDNF1-12, encompassing the N-terminal domains, respectively, of the proteins nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were used in this study for the fabrication of a hybrid gold/peptide biointerface. These peptides mimic the Trk receptor activation of the respective whole protein - with a crucial role played by copper ions - and exhibit, in bulk solution, a pH-dependent capability to complex copper. We demonstrate here the maintenance of peptide-specific responses at different pH values as well as the copper binding also for the adlayers formed upon physisorption at the gold surface. The physicochemical properties, including viscoelastic behavior of the adlayer and competitive vs. synergic interactions in sequential adsorption processes, were addressed both experimentally, by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and circular dichroism (CD), and theoretically, by molecular dynamics (MD) calculations. Proof-of work biological assays with the neuroblastoma SY-SH5H cell line demonstrated that the developed hybrid Au/peptide nanoplatforms are very promising for implementation in pH- and metal-responsive systems for application in nanomedicine.
ABSTRACT
In 2005, the Italian System for Surveillance of Acute Pesticide-Related Illnesses (SIAF) identified 625 cases, among which 520 unintentionally exposed. The majority of these subjects were men (75%) and aged 26-65 years (65%). About 63% of all exposures occurred at work. Severity for these illnesses was low for 94% and moderate for 5%. Four cases were classified as illnesses of high severity. Some 70% of all the reported exposures occurred between May and September. The active ingredients responsible for the largest number of cases were: glyphosate (n. 56), copper sulphate (n. 55), methomyl (n. = 52), metam-sodium (n. 24). Three episodes of collective environmental exposure to soil fumigants involving 23 subjects were also detected.
Subject(s)
Occupational Diseases/chemically induced , Pesticides/adverse effects , Population Surveillance , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Italy , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
From 1995 through 1998 the Poison Control Centre of Milan identified 7594 cases of suspected or confirmed cases of acute pesticide poisoning. Domestic use products accounted for 4483 (59%) of the cases. Of these, 84% occurred at home and 48% in children under five. The most frequently reported domestic use products were pyrethrins/pyrethroids (26%), fertilizers (19%) and camphor/naphthalene (12%). Of 3111 cases (41%) due to agricultural products, 10% were children under five and 69% were males. Half of the poisonings from agricultural products occurred at home, the remainder at workplace. The products most frequently reported were organophosphates (26%), pyrethrins/pyrethroids (9%), and carbamates (9%). These preliminary data indicate the importance of implementing prevention programs to reduce pesticide poisonings with particular reference to young children.
Subject(s)
Pesticides/poisoning , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Italy , Middle Aged , Poison Control Centers , Poisoning/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Se presenta un caso de Hemangioma de la pared torácica con crecimiento endotorácico que fue diagnosticado por toracotomía ya que debuta con derrames pleurales inespecíficos no permitiendo llegar a un diagnóstico prequirúrgico. Se hace una breve reseña histórica y una somera clasificación histopatológica dándose pautas diagnósticas y terapéuticas.Se hace referencia a la rareza de localización y forma de crecimiento para tenerlo en cuenta en el momento de hacer diagnósticos diferenciales
Subject(s)
HemangiomaABSTRACT
Se presenta un caso de Hemangioma de la pared torácica con crecimiento endotorácico que fue diagnosticado por toracotomía ya que debuta con derrames pleurales inespecíficos no permitiendo llegar a un diagnóstico prequirúrgico. Se hace una breve reseña histórica y una somera clasificación histopatológica dándose pautas diagnósticas y terapéuticas.Se hace referencia a la rareza de localización y forma de crecimiento para tenerlo en cuenta en el momento de hacer diagnósticos diferenciales
