The Hijacking of the Bioeconomy Vivien, F.-D.; Nieddu, M.; Befort, N. ...
Ecological economics,
05/2019, Letnik:
159
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Georgescu-Roegen used the term bioeconomy to refer to a radical ecological perspective on economics he developed in the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years, it has also become a buzzword used by public ...institutions to announce and describe a supposed current economic and ecological transition. We see in this use an attempt of semantic hijacking of the original term. To support this claim we analyze three different interpretations of the term bioeconomy, presenting each of them as narratives combining distinct visions of future economic development, technical trajectories and imaginaries associated with a particular relationship to nature. Finally, we discuss these narratives in relation to the endorsement they receive by different stakeholders.
•Reviews the bioeconomy as defined by N. Georgescu-Roegen in order to discuss the development of the bioeconomy.•Adopts a narrative-based approach in order to identify main narratives as ideal-types.•Compares three main narratives of the bioeconomy: sustainability-oriented, science-oriented, and biomass-oriented.•Science and biomass-oriented narratives are dominating and trying to hijack Georgescu-Roegen’ bioeconomy.
Discovered in late 1960, azoles are heterocyclic compounds class which constitute the largest group of available antifungal drugs. Particularly, the imidazole ring is the chemical component that ...confers activity to azoles. Triazoles are obtained by a slight modification of this ring and similar or improved activities as well as less adverse effects are reported for triazole derivatives. Consequently, it is not surprising that benzimidazole/benzotriazole derivatives have been found to be biologically active. Since benzimidazole has been widely investigated, this review is focused on defining the place of benzotriazole derivatives in biomedical research, highlighting their versatile biological properties, the mode of action and Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) studies for a variety of antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and even antitumor, choleretic, cholesterol-lowering agents.
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•We report the versatile biological properties of benzotriazole derivatives.•Benzotriazole is evaluated as lonely pharmacophore or fused in polycyclic systems.•Benzotriazole is often used as bioisosteric replacement of some triazolic systems.•Fusion of benzotriazole with quinolones modified their drug mode of action.•Benzotriazol acrylonitriles demonstrated a potent tubulin inhibition.
The dietary sesquiterpene dienone zerumbone (ZER) selectively targets cancer cells, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, and protects non-cancerous cells towards oxidative stress and ...insult. This study examines the in vitro effects of ZER on lipid peroxidation in biological systems (cholesterol and phospholipid membrane oxidation) and explores its antitumor action in terms of its ability to modulate cancer cell lipid profile. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of ZER showed that this compound is unable to trap lipoperoxyl radicals per se. ZER significantly modulated the total lipid and fatty acid profiles in cancer cells, inducing marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, with significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids and a marked increase of stearic acid. Cell-based fluorescent measurements of intracellular membranes and lipid droplets using the Nile Red staining technique showed that in cancer cells, ZER induced significant accumulation of cytosolic lipid droplets and altered cell membrane organization/protein dynamics, depolarizing the mitochondrial membranes and inducing apoptosis and alteration of nuclear morphology. The modulatory activity of ZER on the total lipid and fatty acid profiles and lipid droplets may therefore represent another possible mechanism of its anticancer properties.
Eupatilin is a dietary flavonoid isolated from the alpine wormwoods, used for the genepy liqueur production. This flavone protects cells and tissues against oxidative stress and targets cancer cells, ...inducing cytotoxicity, cell circle arrest, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study examines the EUP in vitro antioxidant effects on cholesterol and phospholipid membrane oxidation and explores its ability to modulate the cancer cell lipid profile. This flavone remarkably protected fatty acids and cholesterol against oxidative degradation by scavenging lipoperoxyl radicals. EUP (24 h of incubation) significantly reduced viability and modulated the total lipid and fatty acid profiles in cancer HeLa cells. It induced marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids and a marked increase of stearic acid, involving an inhibitory effect on de novo lipogenesis and desaturation in cancer cells. Moreover, a noteworthy mitochondrial membrane depolarization, signs of apoptosis, abnormal mitosis with multi-nucleation (mitotic catastrophe) and morphological alterations were observed in cancer EUP-treated cells. Our results validate the EUP role as antioxidant agent for the treatment/prevention of disorders implicating a membrane lipid oxidative damage and substantiate cell lipid metabolism as another possible target of this dietary natural flavonoid in cancer HeLa cells.
The aim of this study was to encapsulate, thymol, in natural polymers in order to obtain (i) taste masking effect and, then, enhancing its palatability and (ii) two formulations for systemic and ...local delivery of herbal drug as adjuvants or substitutes to current medications to prevent and treat several human and animal diseases. Microspheres based on methylcellulose or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) were prepared by spray drying technique. Microparticles were in vitro characterized in terms of yield of production, drug content and encapsulation efficiency, particle size, morphology and drug release. Both formulations were in vivo orally administered and pharmacokinetic analysis was carried out. The polymers used affect the release and, then, the pharmacokinetic profile of thymol. Encapsulation into methylcellulose microspheres leads to short half/life but bioavailability remarkably increases compared to the free thymol. In contrast, enteric formulation based on HPMCP shows very limited systemic absorption. These formulations could be proposed as alternative or adjuvants for controlling pathogen infections in human or animal. In particular, methylcellulose microspheres can be used for thymol systemic administration at low doses and HPMCP particles for local treatment of intestinal infections.
We explored the changes in viability and lipid profile occurring in cancer cells, murine melanoma cells (B16F10 cells) and human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa cells), when exposed to 24 h-treatments ...with an n-3 PUFA-rich oil obtained by supercritical extraction with CO
2
from
Mugil cephalus
processed roe (bottarga). The composition of the major lipid classes of bottarga oil was determined by the
13
C NMR technique. Reversed-phase HPLC with DAD/ELSD detection was performed to analyze cells' total fatty acid profile and the levels of phospholipids, total/free cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and cholesteryl esters. Cell-based fluorescent measurements of intracellular membranes and lipid droplets were performed on bottarga oil-treated cells using the Nile red staining technique. The treatments of cancer cells with bottarga oil reduced the viability and affected the fatty acid profile, with a significant n-3 PUFA increase in treated cells. Mullet roe oil uptake modulated the cancer cell lipid composition, inducing a remarkable incorporation of health beneficial n-3 PUFA in the polar and neutral lipid fractions. Bottarga oil treatment influenced the synthesis of intracellular membranes and accumulation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets in cancer cells.
We explored the changes in viability and lipid profile occurring in cancer cells, melanoma cells (B16F10 cells) and cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa cells), when exposed to an n-3 PUFA-rich oil obtained by SFE-CO
2
extraction from
Mugil cephalus
processed roe (bottarga).
Intranasal application of dopamine (IN-DA) has been shown to increase motor activity and to release DA in the ventral (VS) and dorsal striatum (DS) of rats. The aim of the present study was to assess ...the effects of IN-DA treatment on parameters of DA and excitatory amino acid (EAA) function in prepuberal rats of the Naples high-excitability (NHE) line, an animal model for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and normal random bred (NRB) controls. NHE and NRB rats were daily administered IN-DA (0.075, 0.15, 0.30 mg/kg) or vehicle for 15 days from postnatal days 28–42 and subsequently tested in the Làt maze and in the Eight-arm radial Olton maze. Soluble and membrane-trapped
l
-glutamate (
l
-Glu) and
l
-aspartate (
l
-Asp) levels as well as NMDAR1 subunit protein levels were determined after sacrifice in IN-DA- and vehicle-treated NHE and NRB rats in prefrontal cortex (PFc), DS and VS. Moreover, DA transporter (DAT) protein and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels were assessed in PFc, DS, VS and mesencephalon (MES) and in ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra, respectively. In NHE rats, IN-DA (0.30 mg/kg) decreased horizontal activity and increased nonselective attention relative to vehicle, whereas the lower dose (0.15 mg/kg) increased selective spatial attention. In NHE rats, basal levels of soluble EAAs were reduced in PFc and DS relative to NRB controls, while membrane-trapped EAAs were elevated in VS. Moreover, basal NMDAR1 subunit protein levels were increased in PFc, DS and VS relative to NRB controls. In addition, DAT protein levels were elevated in PFc and VS relative to NRB controls. IN-DA led to a number of changes of EAA, NMDAR1 subunit protein, TH and DAT protein levels in PFc, DS, VS, MES and VTA, in both NHE and NRB rats with significant differences between lines. Our findings indicate that the NHE rat model of ADHD may be characterized by (1) prefrontal and striatal DAT hyperfunction, indicative of DA hyperactivty, and (2) prefrontal and striatal NMDA receptor hyperfunction indicative of net EAA hyperactivty. IN-DA had ameliorative effects on activity level, attention, and working memory, which are likely to be associated with DA action at inhibitory D2 autoreceptors, leading to a reduction in striatal DA hyperactivity and, possibly, DA action on striatal EAA levels, resulting in a decrease of striatal EAA hyperfunction (with persistence of prefrontal EAA hyperfunction). Previous studies on IN-DA treatment in rodents have indicated antidepressant, anxiolytic and anti-parkinsonian effects in relation to enhanced central DAergic activity. Our present results strengthen the prospects of potential therapeutic applications of intranasal DA by indicating an enhancement of selective attention and working memory in a deficit model.
The intake of several substances by pregnant women could be hazardous to the fetus and mother's health: many substances can cross the placenta and reach the fetal compartment, causing adverse ...outcomes. Consequently, to accurately measure the presence of xenobiotics in fetal matrices, sensitive and specific bioanalytical methods are necessary: this would allow the assessment of fetal exposure to substances which, although licit, can be dangerous for the fetal and child's growth. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination and quantitation of caffeine and acetaminophen in amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is a quite complex biological matrix and, as such, it requires a purification step prior to analysis. The extraction method has been optimized by comparing three different commercially available SPE cartridges (Supel™ Select HLB, Phenomenex Strata C18-E, and Agilent ABS Elut-NEXUS), and a liquid/liquid extraction with acetonitrile. A reverse-phase HPLC with a C18 column and gradient elution program was used. MS detection was carried out in MRM mode. Quantitation was performed using the internal standard method. Validation parameters were very satisfactory. The high selectivity and sensitivity of the method (LOQ < 9.5 ng mL −1 , and LOD < 3.3 ng mL −1 ) allowed us to determine target analytes even in small amounts. Precision, matrix effect, and stability were also evaluated. The whole validated method has finally been applied to the analysis of 194 real samples of human amniotic fluid obtained from pregnant women (15–21 weeks of gestation) in order to monitor the effective intake of target analytes: 96% of the examined women consumed caffeine during pregnancy while a lower percentage (20%) showed acetaminophen intake. The whole procedure is simple and easy to perform with minimal sample preparation and short analysis time.
An aneurysm is defined as a permanent localized dilation of an artery with a diameter increased by more than 50% compared to the normal diameter. An aneurism arising from the radial artery of the ...wrist is a rare injury and it usually occurs after a blunt trauma or as an iatrogenic injury. This paper presents the case of a 47-year-old patient with a pulsating swelling at the volar surface of the right wrist. Clinical diagnosis of aneurysm of the radial artery was confirmed by ultrasound (US) imaging. This case is reported because of the rarity of the pathology and to highlight the effectiveness of US as an important tool for further investigation and confirmation of clinical diagnosis.
L’aneurisma è una dilatazione permanente e localizzata di un’arteria con un aumento del diametro di oltre il 50% rispetto al normale. Quella che si origina dall’arteria radiale al polso è una lesione rara generalmente secondaria a un trauma penetrante o a una manovra iatrogena. Si riporta di seguito il caso di un paziente di 47 anni con una tumefazione pulsante sulla superficie volare del polso destro.
La diagnosi, scaturita dall’esame obiettivo, è stata confermata da un’indagine ecografica.
Si ritiene opportuno segnalare il caso per la rarità della patologia e per l’efficacia dell’indagine ecografica come supporto importante dell’esame fisico.
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