Metabolic interactions between vitamin A and conjugated linoleic acid

Lipid-soluble molecules share several aspects of their physiology due to their common adaptations to a hydrophilic environment, and may interact to regulate their action in a tissue-specific manner. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a fatty acid with a conjugated diene structure that is found in low concentrations in ruminant products and available as a nutritional supplement. CLA has been shown to increase tissue levels of retinol (vitamin A alcohol) and its sole specific circulating carrier protein retinol-binding protein (RBP or RBP4). However, the precise mechanism of this action has not been elucidated yet. Here, we provide a summary of the current knowledge in this specific area of research and speculate that retinol and CLA may compete for catabolic pathways modulated by the activity of PPAR- and RXR heterodimer. We also present preliminary data that may position PPAR- at the crossroads between the metabolism of lipids and vitamin

COVID-19: Considerations about immune suppression and biologicals at the time of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

The extent of the profound immunological and nonimmunological responses linked to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is currently being investigated worldwide due to the large burden associated with death due to SARS-CoV-2 and the short-term consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It has been hypothesized that patients on immunosuppressive treatments, including biologics, may have an augmented risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2; however, there are currently no definitive data about biological drugs and COVID-19 in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Current epidemiological models developed to understand how long the COVID-19 epidemic may last are not conclusive and range from sustained epidemics to complete elimination. Nevertheless, even in the best-case scenario of apparent elimination, there is concordance about a possible contagion resurgence as late as 2024. Therefore, knowledge of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on immune-mediated diseases and among patients treated with biologicals, together with the results of novel and promising COVID-19 treatment strategies targeting the virus and the host immune response (or both), will help us to best manage our patients during this pandemic over the next few years

Misurare l’impatto di un evento culturale: analisi del fenomeno Monumenti Aperti

Dopo aver indagato la letteratura esistente nel campo dell’economia della cultura, il lavoro presenta una breve rassegna sugli studi concernenti la misurazione degli impatti degli eventi culturali ed illustra l’importanza della valutazione della customer experience come elemento fondamentale per il successo dell’evento. Gli eventi culturali sono spesso espressione delle tradizioni di una comunità e valorizzazione della storia del territorio, la cui conoscenza crea senso di appartenenza e incentiva l’aggregazione sociale. Organizzati spesso nei mesi di spalla, costituiscono una risposta all’esigenza di destagionalizzare e delocalizzare i flussi turistici, dando così visibilità al territorio e contenendo gli impatti negativi sull’ambiente. Il principale risultato del lavoro è valutare gli impatti di carattere socio-culturale della Manifestazione Monumenti Aperti attraverso l’analisi ex post della soddisfazione dei partecipanti alla XXII edizione dell’evento.Measuring the impact of a cultural event: an analysis of the Monumenti Aperti’s case. This work presents a brief review of the studies concerning the measurement of cultural events impact and illustrates the importance of evaluating the customer experience as a fundamental element for the success of the event. Cultural events are often an expression of the traditions of a community and enhancement of the history of the territory, whose knowledge encourages social aggregation. Cultural events also offer an answer to the need to delocalize and to deseasonalize the tourist flows. The main object of this work is to evaluate the socio-cultural impacts of Monumenti Aperti by analyzing the participant’s satisfaction in the XXII edition

Global profiling of co- and post-translationally N-myristoylated proteomes in human cells

Protein N-myristoylation is a ubiquitous co- and post-translational modification that has been implicated in the development and progression of a range of human diseases. Here, we report the global N-myristoylated proteome in human cells determined using quantitative chemical proteomics combined with potent and specific human N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) inhibition. Global quantification of N-myristoylation during normal growth or apoptosis allowed the identification of >100 N-myristoylated proteins, >95% of which are identified for the first time at endogenous levels. Furthermore, quantitative dose response for inhibition of N-myristoylation is determined for >70 substrates simultaneously across the proteome. Small-molecule inhibition through a conserved substrate-binding pocket is also demonstrated by solving the crystal structures of inhibitor-bound NMT1 and NMT2. The presented data substantially expand the known repertoire of co- and post-translational N-myristoylation in addition to validating tools for the pharmacological inhibition of NMT in living cells

The landscape of DNA repeat elements in human heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The epigenomes of healthy and diseased human hearts were recently examined by genome-wide DNA methylation profiling. Repetitive elements, heavily methylated in post-natal tissue, have variable methylation profiles in cancer but methylation of repetitive elements in the heart has never been examined. RESULTS: We analyzed repetitive elements from all repeat families in human myocardial samples, and found that satellite repeat elements were significantly hypomethylated in end-stage cardiomyopathic hearts relative to healthy normal controls. Satellite repeat elements are almost always centromeric or juxtacentromeric, and their overexpression correlates with disease aggressiveness in cancer. Similarly, we found that hypomethylation of satellite repeat elements correlated with up to 27-fold upregulation of the corresponding transcripts in end-stage cardiomyopathic hearts. No other repeat family exhibited differential methylation between healthy and cardiomyopathic hearts, with the exception of the Alu element SINE1/7SL, for which a modestly consistent trend of increased methylation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Satellite repeat element transcripts, a form of non-coding RNA, have putative functions in maintaining genomic stability and chromosomal integrity. Further studies will be needed to establish the functional significance of these non-coding RNAs in the context of heart failure

Krill oil significantly decreases 2-arachidonoylglycerol plasma levels in obese subjects

We have previously shown that krill oil (KO), more efficiently than fish oil, was able to downregulate the endocannabinoid system in different tissues of obese zucker rats

Physiological response to lipid peroxidation in ischemia and reperfusion during carotid endarterectomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In this study we aimed to assess lipid peroxidation during carotid endarterectomy by the formation of PUFA hydroperoxides (PUFAHP) and isoprostanes (IP) and concomitant peroxisomal beta-oxidation as a physiological mechanism to limit their concentration. Two markers of peroxisomal beta oxidation have been evaluated, formation of 2,3 dinor from IP and conjugated esadecadienoic acid (CD 16:2) from peroxisomal beta-oxidation of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an unusual fatty acid present in small concentration in our diet and preferentially beta-oxidised in peroxisomes.</p> <p>The study was conducted on 30 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Blood samplings were performed before, during endarterectomy in the "ischemic phase", and 30 seconds, 30 minutes and 2 hours after reperfusion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed that PUFAHP increased significantly after 30 min of reperfusion in patients with controlateral stenosis > 50%, and steeply decreased after 2 hour of reperfusion. Interestingly, IP increased in a similar fashion of PUFAHP but never significantly. Both ratios CD16:2/CLA and DIN/IP also increased significantly after 30 min of reperfusion to decrease thereafter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data show that lipid peroxidation takes place only in patients with high controlateral stenosis and within 2 hours occurs a physiological response aimed to decrease IP and PUFAHP by increasing their catabolism in peroxisomes.</p

Effect of acute administration of Pistacia lentiscus L. essential oil on rat cerebral cortex following transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ischemia/reperfusion leads to inflammation and oxidative stress which damages membrane highly polyunsaturated fatty acids (HPUFAs) and eventually induces neuronal death. This study evaluates the effect of the administration of <it>Pistacia lentiscus </it>L. essential oil (E.O.), a mixture of terpenes and sesquiterpenes, on modifications of fatty acid profile and endocannabinoid (eCB) congener concentrations induced by transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) in the rat frontal cortex and plasma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult Wistar rats underwent BCCAO for 20 min followed by 30 min reperfusion (BCCAO/R). 6 hours before surgery, rats, randomly assigned to four groups, were gavaged either with E.O. (200 mg/0.45 ml of sunflower oil as vehicle) or with the vehicle alone.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BCCAO/R triggered in frontal cortex a decrease of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the membrane highly polyunsaturated fatty acid most susceptible to oxidation. Pre-treatment with E.O. prevented this change and led further to decreased levels of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as assessed by Western Blot. In plasma, only after BCCAO/R, E.O. administration increased both the ratio of DHA-to-its precursor, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and levels of palmytoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Acute treatment with E.O. before BCCAO/R elicits changes both in the frontal cortex, where the BCCAO/R-induced decrease of DHA is apparently prevented and COX-2 expression decreases, and in plasma, where PEA and OEA levels and DHA biosynthesis increase. It is suggested that the increase of PEA and OEA plasma levels may induce DHA biosynthesis via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha activation, protecting brain tissue from ischemia/reperfusion injury.</p