Pomegranate (
Punica granatum) is an important source of polyphenols with assessed antioxidant properties. The aims of this study were: (i) the characterization of the monomeric phenolic variability ...on each isolated fruit component (endocarp, mesocarp, aril); (ii) the study on the effect of pomegranate fruit components on human thrombin amidolytic activity. Collectively, our data show that pomegranate components contain bioactive metabolites (mainly ellagic acid) and suggest a potential role for the pomegranate extract in the regulation of a number of physio-pathological processes involving thrombin (or thrombin-like proteinase).
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Abstract The role of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been widely investigated and amyloid aggregates are considered a major cause of neuronal dysfunction. ...Increasing evidence has identified a correlation between this protein and the proteasome, the cellular proteolytic machinery, in particular the ubiquitin–proteasome system. The 20S proteasome is the catalytic core of a complex, known as 26S proteasome, and is the main responsible for the clearance of misfolded and oxidized proteins. In this work we have investigated the effects of different assembly states of two major amyloid peptides, Aβ (1–40) and Aβ (1–42) on the 20S proteasome functionality and on the ubiquitin-dependent pathway of protein degradation. In particular, we have tested proteasome activities after Aβ treatment on purified 20S complexes and on lysates of a human neuroblastoma cell line. Our findings show a significant decrease in proteasome activity, more evident in cell lysates than in isolated complexes, and an increased amount of ubiquitin–protein conjugates and of a known proteasome substrate (p27). Furthermore, the altered proteasome functionality is not associated with a decrease in cell viability, but is linked with increased levels of protein oxidation.
The effect of several polyphenols on the 20S proteasomes, both the constitutive and the LMP proteasomes, isolated from bovine tissues, has been investigated. Polyphenolic compounds show many ...biological activities such as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiallergic activities. However, the molecular mechanism underlying these effects has not been identified. It is well established that polyphenols possess inhibitory activities on several enzymes and among them the 20S proteasome. In the present work, the ChT-L, BrAAP, PGPH, and T-L activities of the isolated constitutive and immuno-proteasomes were assayed in order to get an overall information on the polyphenols binding to the complexes. The effects of the polyphenols on the proteasomal activities were analyzed, taking into account the different subunits composition of the two complexes. Furthermore the same activities were measured on whole extracts from cancer cells exposed to EGCG and gallic acid, evaluating, also, their antioxidant action under oxidative stress. EGCG and gallic acid are able to affect the 20S proteasomes functionality, depending on the complex subunit composition and, in cell extracts, they behave both as antioxidants and proteasome effectors.
The usefulness of dynamic light scattering measurements for the determination of particle size and shape in suspensions of biological objects is well established. However, when the particle sizes are ...larger than the wavelength of the incident light, so that structural information on the scattering particles can be made available, the analysis of the correlation function of the scattered light requires a careful examination, owing to the problem involved in its theoretical description.
In this note, dynamic light scattering techniques were employed for the determination of the size of human normal erythrocytes in physiological saline solution (isotonic solution) with the aim to discuss in detail the different effects that contribute to the scattered light intensity distribution and to evidentiate how correct information can be made available only when the anisotropic contribution to the translational diffusion coefficient of the erythrocyte cells is properly taken into account. In the case of erythrocytes, this effect produces deviation of the order of 8–10% in the evaluation of the cell size (the cell diameter and cell thickness) that can be accounted for by an appropriate dependence upon time of the autocorrelation function. Once the electric field autocorrelation function, where the intraparticle correlation function contains the correction for the anisotropic contribution, is considered, reasonable agreement was obtained between the data deduced from light scattering methods and those from scanning electron microscope pictures.
Only a few earlier clinical radiologic reports exist describing post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. We report a case of 74-year-old woman referred with dizziness and hypoxemic respiratory failure with ...chest high resolution computer tomography (HRCT) showing ground glass opacities and emphysema. The patient was tested for Sars-CoV-2 and resulted positive, she was treated with medical therapy and supported with mechanical ventilation. Despite initial clinical and radiological improvements, subsequently the respiratory failure worsened as ground glass opacities evolved, with the appearance of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema and the patient eventually died. Development of pulmonary fibrosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection and the overlap with preexistent emphysema could be a fatal complication.
The proteasomes are the major intracellular proteolytic systems involved in the removal of altered proteins. In this study, we examined different susceptibilities of constitutive (XYZ) and ...interferon-γ inducible (LMP) 20S proteasomes, isolated from bovine brain and thymus, respectively, to peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation. Exposure of XYZ and LMP proteasomes to increasing amounts of peroxynitrite resulted in different levels, in the two enzymes, of 3-nitrotyrosine groups and tryptophan residues oxidation. 1-Anilino-8-naphtalene-sulfonic acid binding studies and quenching of tryptophan residues indicated that the LMP complex was more sensitive to peroxynitrite. Regarding the proteolytic activities, the XYZ proteasome showed an overall activation (even if the trypsin-like (T-L) component was 20% inhibited), with the peptidyl-glutamyl peptide-hydrolyzing (PGPH) and branched-chain amino acid-preferring (BrAAP) activities being the most stimulated. On the other end, the LMP proteasome was inhibited, especially the BrAAP activity, whereas the T-L activity was not affected. Furthermore, exposure to increasing amounts of peroxynitrite induced a gradual decrease of β-casein degrading rate by the LMP proteasome, whereas it did not influence the constitutive complex. Our results indicated that peroxynitrite caused a mild modification of the XYZ complex, leading to activation of its catalytic activities. Differently, the LMP proteasome showed a more significant conformational change resulting in the inhibition of the proteolytic functions.
Pain is a symptom that should be evaluated along with its comorbidities in order to plan an effective holistic treatment strategy involving specific pharmacological interventions, side effect ...management, psychological support, control of therapeutic effects over time, and dialogue with the patient and their relatives. In this holistic process of caring for patients with pain, nurses play a central role as they deal with suffering patients directly and continuously. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the types of pain identified by nurses in their daily clinical practice and the associated comorbidities (anamnestic history taking) by geographical region and to evaluate the pharmacological strategies used.
A cross-sectional survey was performed among 696 registered nurses in Italy. Data were collected using an online questionnaire.
There was a significant difference between geographical regions in terms of reports of acute and chronic pain: acute pain was more frequently reported in the South (63.5%), while chronic pain was more frequent in the Central region (32.3%; p=0.0008). Additionally, chronic oncological pain was more frequent in the Northeast (29.6%), while chronic non-oncological pain was more frequently reported in the Central region (33.9%; p=0.0001). The underlying pain disorders reported were also different between geographical regions; rheumatic pain (21.8%) and neurological pain (18.6%) were more frequent in the Central region, while musculoskeletal pain was significantly more frequent in the South (43.4%; p=0.004). Anxiety, sleep disorders and somatization were found in acute pain (60.82%, 43.56% and 53.12%), while depression and mood disorders were more frequently detected in chronic pain condition (p<0.001).
Our study showed differences among Italian regions in pain assessment. Specific education on pain management nursing is essential for nurses. Promotion of optimal nursing care for people affected by pain is the main focus of pain management nursing. Nowadays, nurses should focus on personalized complex care and research in order to improve the patient's quality of life.
We investigated the optical and the electrical conductivity properties of synthetic melanin thin films spray-coated on glass. These films showed a broadband monotonic increase of the absorption ...coefficient, decreasing the wavelength in the Visible-NIR range. Conductivity as a function of the temperature evidenced a semiconductor like character and a hysteretic behaviour after thermal annealing up to 475 K. Thermal activation energies extrapolated by resistance curves have been explained by using the framework of a band-model as for an amorphous semiconductor.
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