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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in people less than 40 years of age in Western countries. Currently, there are no satisfying pharmacological treatments for TBI patients. In this study, we subjected rats to severe TBI (sTBI), testing the effects of a single subcutaneous administration, 30 min post-impact, of a new low molecular weight dextran sulfate, named ILB®, at three different dose levels (1, 5, and 15 mg/kg body weight). A group of control sham-operated animals and one of untreated sTBI rats were used for comparison (each group n = 12). On day 2 or 7 post-sTBI animals were sacrificed and the simultaneous HPLC analysis of energy metabolites, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), oxidized and reduced nicotinic coenzymes, water-soluble antioxidants, and biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress was carried out on deproteinized cerebral homogenates. Compared to untreated sTBI rats, ILB® improved energy metabolism by increasing ATP, ATP/ adenosine diphosphate ratio (ATP/ADP ratio), and triphosphate nucleosides, dose-dependently increased NAA concentrations, protected nicotinic coenzyme levels and their oxidized over reduced ratios, prevented depletion of ascorbate and reduced glutathione (GSH), and decreased oxidative (malondialdehyde formation) and nitrosative stress (nitrite + nitrate production). Although needing further experiments, these data provide the first evidence that a single post-injury injection of a new low molecular weight dextran sulfate (ILB®) has beneficial effects on sTBI metabolic damages. Due to the absence of adverse effects in humans, ILB® represents a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of sTBI patients.

Irisin, a recently discovered myokine, has been considered a prognostic factor in several cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, no data are available on the role of irisin in patients with heart failure (HF), both with preserved (HFpEF) or reduced (HFrEF) ejection fraction. We have therefore evaluated the circulating irisin levels in HFpEF and HFrEF patients, correlating them with metabolic parameters and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as index of oxidative stress. Irisin was significantly higher in HFpEF than in HFrEF patients (7.72 ± 0.76 vs 2.77 ± 0.77 ng/ml, respectively). An inverse correlation between irisin and TAC was found in HFpEF, but not in HFrEF. Conversely, no correlation was present with HOMA index. These data support the hypothesis that a different pathophysiological mechanism is involved in the two HF subtypes, and oxidative stress modulates irisin secretion.

Hard coatings are a suitable solution for increasing the lifetime of tools and components employed in different industrial applications. Coatings of transition metal nitrides have great use for tribological applications due to due to their unique mechanical properties. Although widely employed, current deposition methods such as cathodic arc evaporation produce coatings with many defects, which in turn reduce the resistance to wear, especially under severe conditions. High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering is a novel physical vapor deposition technique that produces homogeneous coatings. In this study, CrN and CrAlN monolayer coatings were deposited on AISI 304 stainless steel substrates using HiPIMS. X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy were used to evaluate the microstructure, phase composition, morphology and chemical composition of the coating. Results showed that HiPIMS is a promising technique to deposit CrN and CrAlN homogeneous coatings with high hardness and good adhesion to the substrate.

O número XXIV da Revista de Italianística, que temos a satisfação de apresentar, é dedicado a reflexões sobre a língua italiana e suas peculiaridades e, em especial, ao ensino e à aprendizagem do italiano como língua estrangeira. São apresentados estudos que se referem às diferentes abordagens escolhidas para a seleção do material didático, a elaboração de percursos para a sala de aula e a análise e avaliação de resultados nos mais diversos contextos de uso. Colaboraram a este número da revista docentes e pesquisadores ligados a instituições brasileiras e italianas, que agradecemos por terem escolhido nossa revista para a publicação de seus trabalhos.

Neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy (NLSDM) and with ichthyosis (NLSDI) are rare autosomal recessive disorders caused by mutations in the PNPLA2 and in the ABHD5/CGI58 genes, respectively. These genes encode the adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and α-β hydrolase domain 5 (ABHD5) proteins, which play key roles in the function of lipid droplets (LDs). LDs, the main cellular storage sites of triacylglycerols and sterol esters, are highly dynamic organelles. Indeed, LDs are critical for both lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Partial or total PNPLA2 or ABHD5/CGI58 knockdown is characteristic of the cells of NLSD patients; thus, these cells are natural models with which one can unravel LD function. In this review we firstly summarize genetic and clinical data collected from NLSD patients, focusing particularly on muscle, skin, heart, and liver damage due to impaired LD function. Then, we discuss how NLSD cells were used to investigate and expand the current structural and functional knowledge of LDs.

BACKGROUND:The question whether metacylic trypomastigote (MT) forms of different T. cruzi strains differentially release surface molecules, and how they affect host cell invasion, remains to be fully clarified. We addressed that question using T. cruzi strains that differ widely in the ability to invade cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Metacyclic forms were incubated at 37°C for 1 h in complete D10 medium or in nutrient-deprived PBS containing Ca2+ and Mg2+ (PBS++). The conditioned medium (CM), collected after parasite centrifugation, was used for cell invasion assays and Western blot analysis, using monoclonal antibodies directed to gp82 and gp90, the MT surface molecules that promote and negatively regulate invasion, respectively. CM of poorly invasive G strain (G-CM) contained high amounts of gp90 and gp82, either in vesicles or as soluble molecules. CM of highly invasive CL strain (CL-CM) contained gp90 and gp82 at very low levels. HeLa cells were incubated for 1 h with CL strain MT in D10, in absence or in the presence of G-CM or CL-CM. Parasite invasion was significantly inhibited by G-CM, but not by CL-CM. As G strain MT invasion rate in D10 is very low, assays with this strain were performed in PBS++, which induces invasion-promoting lysosome-spreading. G-CM, but not CL-CM, significantly inhibited G strain internalization, effect that was counteracted by preincubating G-CM with an anti-gp90 monoclonal antibody or anti-gp82 polyclonal antibody that do not recognize live MT. G strain CM generated in PBS++ contained much lower amounts of gp90 and gp82 as compared to CM produced in D10, and exhibited lower inhibitory effect on host cell invasion. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE:Our data suggest that the surface molecules spontaneously released by MT impair parasite-host cell interaction, gp82 presumably competing with the molecule expressed on MT surface for the host cell receptor, and gp90 further contributing to down modulate invasion.

Após o número duplo XIX-XX da Revista de Italianística, dedicado à literatura italiana, apresentamos agora o número XXI-XXII que, respeitando a tradicional alternância da revista, aborda temas ligados à língua italiana. Para essa edição que, como a anterior, sai apenas em formato digital, selecionamos artigos da esfera dos estudos linguísticos e do ensino/aprendizagem de línguas não maternas, que focam o italiano e suas relações com o Brasil. Contribuíram à realização desse número pesquisadores brasileiros e italianos que estabelecem um diálogo de perspectivas teóricas sobre a linguagem e o ensino e nos oferecem estímulos para a reflexão nessas áreas de estudo e atuação.

Il seguente articolo tratta della commutazione di codice ovvero, del passaggio dalla lingua straniera (LS) alla lingua materna (LM o L1), da parte dell’insegnante durante le lezioni di lingua. Nella prima parte si illustrano i vari studi effettuati in questo ambito, nella seconda si presenterà una ricerca condotta dalla sottoscritta presso l’Università di San Paolo del Brasile (USP). Lo studio, svolto nell’ambito dei corsi di italiano, mette in luce le funzioni e il ruolo rivestito dalla L1. Scopo di questo contributo è di mostrare che i passaggi dall’una all’altra lingua potenziano la capacità acquisitiva; come sostiene infatti Long (1996), è attraverso la negoziazione dei significati che l’input diviene comprensibile, pertanto l’utilizzo della lingua materna da parte dell’insegnante è da considerarsi non un limite ma un ausilio.

Neste artigo demonstramos o grande poder exercido pela língua, uma vez que ela, através de diálogos ou textos didáticos usados no ensino de uma língua estrangeira, pode ocultar ou explicitar a realidade, menosprezar ou prestigiar aqueles aos quais se dirige, sendo, assim, um instrumento de poder. Por isso, o professor deverá preocupar-se em ter uma visão crítica sobre o conteúdo que está sendo transmitido. Segundo Orlandi (1987), o discurso pedagógico, ou seja, o processo discursivo que se estabelece na sala de aula entre o leitor eo texto de língua estrangeira e sua interpretação, determina o “clima em sala de aula”, as leituras dos textos, as falas e suas circunstâncias. Concordamos com Orlandi quando afirma que o discurso pedagógico aparece como discurso de poder. Esse trabalho se baseia nos estudos de vários pesquisadores de universidades brasileiras, que contribuíram para a compreensão do discurso pedagógico como parte de uma teoria de construção do conhecimento.

This paper presents the result of research into the current situation of regional Italian in connection with the use of different words with the same meaning. This source of lexical wealth, from the point of view of dialects, is topic of great relevance that students are expected to incorporate from the beginning of their studies.

The study aims to analyze factor structure and psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Academic Motivation Scale-College (AMS-C). Overall, 797 university students completed the AMS-C (28 items). Measurement invariance across gender was tested. Confirmatory factor analysis did not confirm the original 7-factor structure. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted with one split-half subsample indicating a good model fit for a 4-factor solution, which was confirmed by the CFA with the second split-half subsample. The Italian version of the AMS-C consists of 26 items, tapping four meaningful and reliable factors (Introjected Motivation, Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Motivation, Amotivation) which covered, with a new meaningful configuration, all the seven factors of the original tool. Findings revealed satisfactory internal consistency, convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Measurement invariance across gender was also supported. The AMS-C represents a reliable and valid tool to be used for the assessment of university students9 motivation in the Italian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Non-thyroidal-illness syndrome (NTIS) refers to condition found in chronic diseases that is an adaptive mechanism. However, oxidative stress is related to NTIS in a vicious circle, due to deiodinases alteration and negative effects of low T3 on antioxidant levels or activity. Muscle is one of the main targets of thyroid hormones and it can secrete a myokine named irisin, which is able to induce the browning of white adipose tissue, energy expenditure and protect against insulin resistance. Inconclusive data have been reported about irisin role in chronic diseases. Moreover, no correlation with antioxidants has been investigated. Therefore, we performed a case-control study with the primary endpoint to evaluate irisin levels in two models of NTIS, such as chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) during haemodialytic treatment. The secondary endpoint was the correlation with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) to establish a possible role of irisin in the modulation of antioxidant systems. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three groups of subjects were enrolled. Group A included CHF patients (n=18; aged 70.22 ± 2.78 ys; BMI ± 27.75 ± 1.28 kg/m2); Group B included CKD patients (n=29; aged 67.03 ± 2.64; BMI 24.53 ± 1.01); finally, 11 normal subjects (Group C) have been enrolled as controls. Irisin has been evaluated by ELISA method and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) by spectrophotometric method. RESULTS: Irisin was significantly higher in Group B vs. A and C groups (Mean ± SEM: 20.18 ± 0.61 ng/ml vs. 2.77 ± 0.77 and 13.06 ± 0.56, respectively; p<0.05); a significant correlation between irisin and TAC was observed in group B. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest a possible role of irisin in the modulation of antioxidants in two chronic syndromes with low T3 (i.e., CHF and CKD) with differential pattern in these two models studied. Further insights are needed to confirm this pilot study, which could be the basis for a longitudinal investigation, to assess a prognostic role of irisin with possible therapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O italiano no Brasil, de língua materna e étnica, torna-se cada vez mais língua estrangeira a ser aprendida em cursos formais, escolas e universidades. Coloca-se o problema da formação adequada, cultural e lingüística dos professores, à qual os cursos universitários atuais reservam, a nosso ver, um número insuficiente de horas aula. Pensa-se na possibilidade de ampliar informalmente a oferta de aulas complementares para proporcionar uma melhor assimilação lingüística e cultural, mediante conversação e leitura, e chegar, assim, a um ensino mais amplo e rico.