Search

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) mature/precursor imbalance in tears and serum is suggested as a risk factor and symptomatology aggravation in ophthalmology and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Cognitive and mood alterations are reported by patients with Graves' Orbitopathy (GO), indicating neurotrophin alterations might be involved. To address this question, the expression levels of NGF and BDNF and their precursors in serum and tears of GO patients were analyzed and correlated with the ophthalmological and psycho-cognitive symptoms. Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) test were used as a score. NGF and BDNF levels were measured using ELISA and Western Blot and statistically analyzed for psychiatric/ocular variable trend association. GO patients show memorization time and level of distraction increase, together with high irritability and impulsiveness. HAM-A and CANTAB variables association, and some TCI dimensions are also found. NGF and BDNF expression correlates with ophthalmological symptoms only in tears, while mature/precursor NGF and BDNF correlate with the specific psycho-cognitive variables both in tears and serum. Our study is the first to show that changes in NGF and BDNF processing in tears and serum might profile ocular and cognitive alterations in patients.

Purpose: Recently, altered visual cortical processes i.e., lack of habituation to visual evoked potentials (VEP), has been highlighted in both photosensitive epilepsy and in a specific i.e., analytic mode of processing visual inputs. In this study we aimed at evaluating the relationship between photosensitivity (PS) and analytic style of processing visual information, in a sample of 30 patients with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE) and matched healthy controls., Methods: At our Epilepsy unit of the Sapienza University of Rome, we consecutively enrolled 15 patients with IGE with PSand matched them with 15 patients with IGE without PS and 15 Healthy Volunteers. All patients underwent EEG recording in basal conditions during hyperventilation (3 Min), and intermittent light stimulation. The most effective frequencies comprised from 12 to 16 Hz. The instruments used to gather psychological cognitive behavioral data, consisted of participation in two tests: the Sternberg-Wagner Self-Assessment Inventory and the Mariani Learning Style Questionnaire., Results: Compared to controls, both IGE groups show significantly higher scores for the analytic style (One-way ANOVA, F (2,44)  = 110.3, p < 0.0001). Epilepsy groups thereby showed very distinctive cognitive styles as measured with the Sternberg test. In the visual style, scores of the photosensitive Individuals with IGE were significantly higher than the non-photosensitive individuals with IGE (p < 0.0001, Tukey's post hoc test)., Conclusions: An association between analytic style of processing visual information and PS in IGE has been shown. The common neurophysiological features between these two factors, suggest the possibility to evaluate this cognitive behavior as a potential target for nonpharmacological therapeutic strategies in photosensitive epilepsy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The building materials of the Theatre of Marcellus, 44-11 , reflect Roman builders' careful selections of tuff and travertine for dimension stone and volcanic aggregates for pozzolanic concretes. The vitric-lithic-crystal Tufo Lionato tuff dimension stone contains a high proportion of lava lithic fragments, which increase its compressive strength and decrease water sorption, enhancing durability. Sophisticated installations of travertine dimension stone reinforce the tuff masonry, which is integrated with durable concrete walls and barrel vaults. The pozzolanic mortars of the concretes contain harenae fossiciae mainly from the intermediate alteration facies of the mid-Pleistocene, scoriaceous Pozzolane Rosse pyroclastic flow. They have pervasive interpenetrating pozzolanic cements, including strätlingite, similar to high-quality, imperial era mortars. Concrete walls are faced with refined Tufo Lionato opus reticulatum and tufelli, and opus testaceum of fired, greyish-yellow brick. The exploratory concrete masonry, which includes some of the earliest examples of brick facings and strätlingite cements in Rome, and the integration of these materials in complex architectural elements and internal spaces, reflect the highly skilled workmanship, rigorous work-site management and technical supervision of Roman builders trained in republican era methods and materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevant to the study of epileptogenesis is learning processing, given the pivotal role that neuroplasticity assumes in both mechanisms. Recently, evoked potential analyses showed a link between analytic cognitive style and altered neural excitability in both migraine and healthy subjects, regardless of cognitive impairment or psychological disorders. In this study we evaluated analytic/global and visual/auditory perceptual dimensions of cognitive style in patients with epilepsy. Twenty-five cryptogenic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients matched with 25 idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) sufferers and 25 healthy volunteers were recruited and participated in three cognitive style tests: "Sternberg-Wagner Self-Assessment Inventory", the C. Cornoldi test series called AMOS, and the Mariani Learning style Questionnaire. Our results demonstrate a significant association between analytic cognitive style and both IGE and TLE and respectively a predominant auditory and visual analytic style (ANOVA: p values <0,0001). These findings should encourage further research to investigate information processing style and its neurophysiological correlates in epilepsy., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Habituation is considered one of the most basic mechanisms of learning. Habituation deficit to several sensory stimulations has been defined as a trait of migraine brain and also observed in other disorders. On the other hand, analytic information processing style is characterized by the habit of continually evaluating stimuli and it has been associated with migraine. We investigated a possible correlation between lack of habituation of evoked visual potentials and analytic cognitive style in healthy subjects. According to Sternberg-Wagner self-assessment inventory, 15 healthy volunteers (HV) with high analytic score and 15 HV with high global score were recruited. Both groups underwent visual evoked potentials recordings after psychological evaluation. We observed significant lack of habituation in analytical individuals compared to global group. In conclusion, a reduced habituation of visual evoked potentials has been observed in analytic subjects. Our results suggest that further research should be undertaken regarding the relationship between analytic cognitive style and lack of habituation in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Background/Objectives: Chronic migraine with medication-overuse headache (CM-MOH) is neurophysiologically characterized by increased cortical excitability with sensitization at both the thalamocortical and the cortical levels. It is unclear whether the increased cortical excitability could be reverted by medication withdrawal (i.e., brain state) or whether it is a brain trait of individuals predisposed to medication overuse. In this study, we aim to investigate whether withdrawal from overused drugs can influence and restore these neurophysiological abnormalities. Methods: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were elicited by electrical stimulation of the median nerve (M), the ulnar nerve (U), and the simultaneous stimulation of both nerves (MU) in 14 patients with CM-MOH before (T0) and after (T1) a three-week withdrawal protocol and, for comparison, in 14 healthy volunteers (HVs) of a comparable age distribution. We measured the level of thalamocortical (pre-HFO) and cortical activation (post-HFO) by analyzing the high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) embedded in parietal N20 median SSEPs. Furthermore, we calculated the habituation and the degree of cortical lateral inhibition (dLI) of N20-P25 low-frequency SSEPs. Results: After the three-week withdrawal protocol (T1), we observed a normalization of the baseline habituation deficit (T0: +0.10 ± 0.54; T1: −0.53 ± 0.8; p = 0.040) and a reduction in the amplitude for both pre-HFO (p < 0.009) and post-HFO (p = 0.042), with values comparable to those of the HVs. However, no effects were observed on the dLI (p = 0.141). Conclusions: Our findings showed that withdrawal from overused drugs could affect the increased excitability of the non-painful somatosensory system in patients with CM-MOH, reducing the level of sensitization at both the thalamocortical and the cortical levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite great advances in pathophysiological facets of migraine that have been made during recent years, as of today, migraine etiology is still not completely understood; moreover, to date the relationship between psychological factors and this primary headache must be further elucidated. However, abnormal information processing, as measured by evoked and event-related potentials, has been considered a key feature in migraine pathogenesis. The aim of this work was to study the relationships between analytic/global style of information processing and migraine, hypothesizing an analytic style, as highlighted by our previous study on cluster headache. This study applied three cognitive style tests never previously used in the context of migraine: "Sternberg-Wagner Self-Assessment Inventory", the C. Cornoldi test series called AMOS, and Brain-Dominance Questionnaire. 280 migraneurs with and without aura were tested and matched with two control groups: healthy subjects and tension-type headache patients. Our results demonstrated a strong correlation between analytic information processing style and migraine, indicating a preference toward a visual sensory approach in migraine without aura, in line with known neuroelectrophysiological data. These findings may suggest a role for this specific cognitive behavior in migraine pathogenesis, leading us to further investigate the neuroelectrophysiological, neurobiological, and epigenetic correlates.

Previous reports on cluster headache have shown a hypothalamic dysfunction and a hitherto unrecognized defect in the information processing pathways measured by event-related potentials. As of today, the causes are still unknown; likewise, studies on the psychological factors involved in CH have not yielded relevant data. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of a possible correlation between CH and a specific manner of information processing, i.e., an analytic cognitive style. This study applies two cognitive style tests that have not previously been used in the context of cluster headache: "Sternberg-Wagner Self Assessment Inventory" and the C. Cornoldi AMOS test series. Twenty-three CH patients were involved in the study and were compared with two control groups: healthy subjects and tension type headache patients. Our findings clearly indicate a significant correlation between analytic cognitive style and CH, warranting further studies focusing on the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.

The degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra has been linked to the formation of the endogenous neurotoxin 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate derived from the corresponding precursor glucosinolate found in cruciferous vegetables has been observed to exert a range of biological activities in various cell populations. In this study, we show that SFN protects primary cortical neurons against 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine induced neuronal injury. Pre-treatment of cortical neurons with SFN (0.01-1 microM) resulted in protection against 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine-induced neurotoxicity, which peaked at 100 nM. This protection was observed to be mediated by the ability of SFN to modulate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 and the activation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/NF-E2-related factor-2 leading to the increased expression and activity of glutathione-S-transferase (M1, M3 and M5), glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase and NAD(P)H oxidoreductase 1. These data suggest that SFN stimulates the NF-E2-related factor-2 pathway of antioxidant gene expression in neurons and may protect against neuronal injury relevant to the aetiology of Parkinson's disease.

Background/Objectives: Habituation and sensitization are opposite phenomena that play a role in the pathophysiology of episodic migraine and its progression to chronic migraine (CM). There have been just a few studies that have investigated these phenomena in patients with medication overuse headache (MOH) in comparison to those with chronic migraine (CM) and healthy controls (HCs), and the findings have been inconsistent. Methods: We measured and examined visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in 81 patients with MOH and 24 patients with CM, as well as 24 HCs. The VEPs were used to assess sensitization by analysing the amplitude of the first block (100 sweeps) and to evaluate habituation by measuring the amplitude response decrement after six blocks. We further examined patients diagnosed with MOH based on their acute medication type and after a 3-week acute medication withdrawal program. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in terms of the first N1-P1 VEP amplitude block and its habituation. It was found that patients with MOH had a greater drop in the amplitude of the VEP P1-N2 complex after repeated stimulation than patients with CM or HC. The VEP parameters showed no significant differences based on the specific overused drug and after a 3-week acute medication withdrawal. Conclusions: We propose that the results obtained in patients with MOH indicate an abnormal activation of inhibitory circuits in the parieto-occipital region in response to repeated modulatory stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroencephalography-based (EEG) microstate analysis is a promising and widely studied method in which spontaneous cerebral activity is segmented into sub second level quasi-stable states and analyzed. Currently it is being widely explored due to increasing evidence of the association of microstates with cognitive functioning and large-scale brain networks identified by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In our study using the four archetypal microstates (A, B, C and D), we investigated the changes in resting state EEG microstate dynamics in persons with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) compared to healthy controls (HC). Machine learning was applied to study its feasibility in differentiating between different groups using microstate statistics. We found significant differences in all parameters related to Microstate D (fronto-parietal network) in TLE patients and Microstate B (visual processing) in IGE patients compared to HCs. Occurrence, duration and time coverage of Microstate B was highest in IGE when compared to the other groups. We also found significant deviations in transition probabilities for both epilepsy groups, particularly into Microstate C (salience network) in IGE. Classification accuracy into clinical groups was found to exceed 70% using microstate parameters which improved on incorporating neuropsychological test differences. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to compare and validate the use of microstate features to discriminate between two disparate epilepsy syndromes (TLE, IGE) and HCs using machine learning suggesting that resting state EEG microstates can be used for endophenotyping and to study resting state dysfunction in epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient stadia and circuses were considered by Greeks and Romans to be excellent places for live events. Back in ancient times, many people participated in public entertainment from athletic games, as typical of Greek traditions, to combats between gladiators and wild beasts. Among all of them, the most acclaimed were the horse races conducted with chariots, and this was the main sport of ancient Roman stadia. This paper deals with the digital reconstruction of three stadia belonging to the 2nd century B.C. (i.e., Panathenaic Stadium) and to the 1st century A.D. (i.e., Circus Maximum and Stadium of Domitian). The digital models have been rebuilt based on historical resources and archaeological discoveries to conduct the acoustic simulations and understand the acoustic behavior within these places. After the assessment of the main acoustic parameters, the noise levels from crowds have been predicted in different ways: based on information gathered from historic annals, and the comfort used for modern stadia to predict the ancient conditions with reference to the crowd noise levels measured in modern stadiums. The results indicate that the acoustic response of ancient stadia is very similar to the modern ones, in terms of both reverberation and noise level from crowds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases constitute a global health issue and a major economic burden. They significantly impair both cognitive and motor functions, and their prevalence is expected to rise due to ageing societies and continuous population growth. Conventional therapies provide symptomatic relief, nevertheless, disease-modifying treatments that reduce or halt neuron death and malfunction are still largely unavailable. Amongst the common hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases are protein aggregation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) constitutes a central regulator of cellular defense mechanisms, including the regulation of antioxidant, antiinflammatory and mitochondrial pathways, making it a highly attractive therapeutic target for disease modification in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we describe the role of NRF2 in the common hallmarks of neurodegeneration, review the current pharmacological interventions and their challenges in activating the NRF2 pathway, and present alternative therapeutic approaches for disease modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a major cause of mortality and disability among adults. Recanalization of blood vessels to facilitate timely reperfusion is the primary clinical approach; however, reperfusion itself may trigger cerebral ischemiareperfusion injury. Emerging evidence strongly implicates the NLRP3 inflammasome as a potential therapeutic target, playing a key role in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. The aberrant expression and function of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation in cerebral ischemia have garnered considerable attention as a recent research focus. Accordingly, this review provides a comprehensive summary of the signaling pathways, pathological mechanisms, and intricate interactions involving NLRP3 inflammasomes in cerebral ischemiareperfusion injury. Moreover, notable progress has been made in investigating the impact of natural plant products (e.g., Proanthocyanidins, methylliensinine, salidroside, a-asarone, acacia, curcumin, morin, ginsenoside Rd, paeoniflorin, breviscapine, sulforaphane, etc.) on regulating cerebral ischemia and reperfusion bymodulating the NLRP3 inflammasome andmitigating the release of inflammatory cytokines. These findings aim to present novel insights that could contribute to the prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with oxidative stress, due to an imbalance in the oxidation-reduction reactions at the cellular level. Various treatments are available to treat these diseases, although they often do not cure them and have many adverse effects. Therefore, it is necessary to find complementary and/or alternative drugs that replace current treatments with fewer side effects. It has been demonstrated that natural products derived from plants, specifically phenolic compounds, have a great capacity to suppress oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals thus, they may be used as alternative alternative pharmacological treatments for pathological conditions associated with an increase in oxidative stress. The plant species that dominate the Mediterranean ecosystems are characterized by having a wide variety of phenolic compound content. Therefore, these species might be important sources of neuroprotective biomolecules. To evaluate this potential, 24 typical plant species of the Mediterranean ecosystems were selected, identifying the most important compounds present in them. This set of plant species provides a total of 403 different compounds. Of these compounds, 35.7% are phenolic acids and 55.6% are flavonoids. The most relevant of these compounds are gallic, vanillic, caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids, apigenin, kaempferol, myricitrin, quercetin, isoquercetin, quercetrin, rutin, catechin and epicatechin, which are widely distributed among the analyzed plant species (in over 10 species) and which have been involved in the literature in the prevention of different neurodegenerative pathologies. It is also important to mention that three of these plant species, Pistacea lentiscus, Lavandula stoechas and Thymus vulgaris, have most of the described compounds with protective properties against neurodegenerative diseases. The present work shows that the plant species that dominate the studied geographic area can provide an important source of phenolic compounds for the pharmacological and biotechnological industry to prepare extracts or isolated compounds for therapy against neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seville is intimately linked to its historic role and extensive cultural heritage. The city has been occupied by Romans, Arabs and Christians, who built important historical buildings. Roman (first–second centuries) and Arabic (eleventh century) buildings, medieval Shipyard (thirteenth century), San Isidoro and Santa Maria de las Cuevas monasteries (fifteenth century), Santa María de las Cuevas (fifteenth century modified in eighteenth century), El Salvador Church (eighteenth century), the Royal Ordnance building (eighteenth century) and Santa Angela de la Cruz convent (twentieth century) performed with lining mortars, and mortars used in building stones (City Hall and Marchena Gate), all of them located in Seville (Spain), have been studied. Ninety-four mortar samples (employed as structural, plaster, coating) originally used or applied in restoration processes have been collected to perform an archaeometry study. The ratio of CO2 mass loss to hydraulic water (H2O) mass loss, and the mineralogical characterization by X-ray diffraction has been used to compare the mortars used in the different historical periods. Mainly hydraulic mortars were widely used in all these studied monuments as most mortars showed CO2/H2O ratios within the 4–10 range. Moreover, the thermal analysis curves also showed a broad temperature range for the thermal decomposition of the carbonate fraction of the mortars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqua Alexandrina is the last aqueduct built by ancient Romans for the city of Rome. At Giovanni Palatucci Park, the archaeological ruins run close to a pre-existent water system, Fragole cistern. This research aims at characterizing mortar samples from both constructions, to identify the materials used and infer about the technological level and the provenance of materials, using a multi-analytical approach. Combining the information obtained through the petrographic investigation of mortar thin sections at optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction on finely powdered samples and thermogravimetric analysis on the binder fraction, it was possible to attest the presence of both artificial and natural materials with pozzolanic behavior, which conferred hydraulicity to the mortars. The results show that materials are very similar in both constructions, confirming a well-established know-how in the production of hydraulic mortars by the Romans. The volcanic products used as aggregate are identified with two large pyroclastic-flow deposits erupted by the Colli Albani Volcanic District which extensively crop out in the area of Rome: Pozzolane Rosse and Pozzolanelle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory potential of 17 flavonoids on lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), a key enzyme in the downstream process of aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells, is investigated. Fisetin exhibited excellent inhibitory activity (IC 50  = 0.066 µM). Quercetin 3-β-D-glucoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, luteolin, neoeriocitrin, and luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucoside showed good inhibitory activity (IC 50  = 1.397-15.730 µM). Biochanin A, baicalein, quercetin, scutellarein-7-glucuronide, diosmetin, baicalein 7-O-β-D-glucuronide, and apigenin 7-apioglucoside demonstrated moderate inhibitory activity (IC 50  = 33.007-86.643 µM). Eriodictyol, quercetin 7-O-β-D-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucoside, and epicatechin were inactive. The Lineweaver-Burk plot showed that fisetin competitively inhibits NADH binding (K i  = 0.024 µM). K i values for other compounds were calculated using the Cheng-Prusoff equation (K i  = 0.2799-2.1661 µM). The study revealed that the inhibitory effect of flavonoids varies with the number and position of OH groups and bound sugars. Molecular docking analyses indicated that flavonoids exhibited strong interactions with the NADH binding site of LDHA through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamic simulations tested the stability of the fisetin-LDHA complex over 100 ns and showed fisetin's high binding affinity to LDHA, maintaining strong hydrogen bonds. The binding energy of fisetin with LDHA was -33.928 kcal/mol, indicating its effectiveness as an LDHA inhibitor. Consequently, flavonoids identified as strong inhibitors could be potential cancer treatment sources through LDHA inhibition., (© 2024 The Author(s). Archiv der Pharmazie published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Individual differences exist among learners. Among various individual differences, cognitive styles can strongly predict learners' learning behavior. Therefore, cognitive styles are essential for the design of online learning. There are a variety of cognitive style dimensions and overlaps exist among these dimensions. In particular, Witkin's field dependence/independence and Pask's Holism/Serialism share some similarities. To this end, it is necessary to develop a framework to show overlapped behavior between these two cognitive style dimensions. To address this issue, this study used the Lag Sequential Analysis to examine the overlaps between these two cognitive style dimensions from the aspect of online learning behavior. The results from this study indicated that the overlaps mainly appear in comprehensive/local and dynamic/fixed approaches. Based on the findings of this study, we develop a framework that can support the improvement of instruction design so that the needs of different cognitive style groups can be accommodated. Accordingly, this study is an interdisciplinary work, which makes scientific contributions to three communities, i.e. human–computer interaction, digital learning and learning analytic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conferences worldwide focus on a range of disciplines relating to the construction of the built environment. They tend to emphasize either the art or the science of building, the former focusing on architectural theory and design while the latter targets a range of topics from civil and/or building engineering to building physics. Vitruvius's De Architectura Libri Decem is a seminal treatise more than two millennia old which addresses these themes in a holistic manner. This text remains valid today for students and professionals engaged in architecture and building engineering. Translated as Ten Books on Architecture, it not only presents an overall view of the disciplines of town planning, architecture and civil engineering, along with the qualifications required to practice them, but also addresses building materials, civil-engineering structures and the science influencing buildings. Although grounded in the practice and technology of Ancient Rome, the principles put forward in this treatise are still valid nowadays for effective, sustainable architectural-engineering design based on rigorous education and good knowledge of building materials and construction. Vitruvius's definition of architecture—the one still customarily used—is an inclusive philosophical statement on the essence of building for humanity to house humanity. It recalls the symbiotic relation between architecture and building engineering that is often forgotten in the contemporary emphasis on specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactate in tumors has long been considered "metabolic junk" derived from the glycolysis of cancer cells and utilized only as a biomarker of malignancy, but is presently believed to be a pivotal regulator of tumor development, maintenance and metastasis. Indeed, tumor lactate can be a "fuel" for energy supply and functions as a signaling molecule, which actively contributes to tumor progression, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, therapeutic resistance, etc., thus providing promising opportunities for cancer treatment. However, the current approaches for regulating lactate homeostasis with available agents are still challenging, which is mainly due to the short half-life, low bioavailability and poor specificity of these agents and their unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes. In recent years, lactate modulation nanomedicines have emerged as a charming and efficient strategy for fighting cancer, which play important roles in optimizing the delivery of lactate-modulating agents for more precise and effective modulation and treatment. Integrating specific lactate-modulating functions in diverse therapeutic nanomedicines may overcome the intrinsic restrictions of different therapeutic modalities by remodeling the pathological microenvironment for achieving enhanced cancer therapy. In this review, the most recent advances in the engineering of functional nanomedicines that can modulate tumor lactate for cancer therapy are summarized and discussed, and the fundamental mechanisms by which lactate modulation benefits various therapeutics are elucidated. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of this emerging strategy in the anti-tumor field are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologia dell'Architettura is the property of Edizioni all'Insegna del Giglio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Novel studies have shown neurological treatment possibilities with extracellular vesicles (EVs) as natural particles with a special composition that are produced by different cell types. Their stability, natural structure, composition, and bioavailability make them good candidates as drug vehicles. Here, EVs were isolated from amniotic fluid (AF) through differential centrifugation, and characterized for size (<200 nm), structure, and composition, their effectiveness on the human PC12 cell line, and brain of chick embryos exposed to sodium valproate (animal autistic model). Sulforaphane (SFN) was employed as a bioactive compound and then encapsulated into Evs using three methods including passive (incubation), active (sonication), and active‐passive (sonication‐incubation). Further, the loading and in vitro releases of SFN fitted the Korsmeyer–Peppas (R2 = 0.99) kinetic model by non‐Fickian diffusion case II (n = 0.44, passive loading) and Fickian diffusion case I (n = 0.41, active and active‐passive loading). SFN‐loaded EVs (SFN@EVs; 11 μM: 103 nM) stimulated hPC‐12 cell proliferation. The gene expression analysis revealed that SFN@EVs could upregulate Nrf2 and reduce IL‐6 expression. Eventually, histopathological results of the coronal cross‐section of the chick embryos brain showed treatment with SFN@EVs. This treatment illustrated normality in the gray and white matter and the orientation of the bipolar neurons. Our findings showed EVs' potentially acting as a gene expression regulator in autism spectrum disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurological disorders incidences are increasing drastically due to complex pathophysiology, and the nonavailability of disease-modifying agents. Several attempts have been made to identify new potential chemicals to combat these neurological abnormalities. At present, complete abolishment of neurological diseases is not attainable except for symptomatic relief. However, dietary recommendations to help brain development or improvement have increased over the years. In recent times, cruciferous vegetables and their phytochemicals have been identified from preclinical and clinical investigations as potential neuroprotective agents. The present review highlights the beneficial effects and molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals such as indole-3-carbinol, diindolylmethane, sulforaphane, kaempferol, selenium, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins of cruciferous vegetables against neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Huntington's disease, autism spectra disorders, anxiety, depression, and pain. Most of these cruciferous phytochemicals protect the brain by eliciting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Regular dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables may benefit the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases. The present review suggests that there is a lacuna in identifying the clinical efficacy of these phytochemicals. Therefore, high-quality future studies should firmly establish the efficacy of the above-mentioned cruciferous phytochemicals in clinical settings., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This study provides the first detailed insight into the composition and properties of structural mortars used in a 4th‐century AD bath complex in Aquileia, the emblematic center of Roman culture in Northern Italy. Eighteen mortars, taken from different structures of the site, and three stone samples from the vaulting opus caementicium have been analyzed adopting a multianalytical approach integrating optical microscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy. The properties of the compounds are outstanding, as revealed by the formation of hydraulic phases (i.e., Al‐tobermorite and AFm) in most of the samples: the waterproofing capabilities of cocciopesto mortars are remarkable, as revealed by the formation of anthropogenic Al‐tobermorite (5.5 wt%) in pool coating samples; the lightweight of the vaults was guaranteed by the use of porous caementa and pozzolanic volcanic aggregates imported from the Gulf of Naples, as demonstrated by petro‐mineralogical features and chemical analysis of major and trace elements. This is the first proven case of trade in these building materials to the north of the Italian peninsula. These outcomes shed new light on the robust technical expertise of local artisans in Aquileia and indicate that the Cisalpina province was by no means a peripheral reality in the Roman Empire, as far as mortar‐based materials are concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Persian Medicine (PM), PD (brain‐based tremor) is a known CNS disorder with several therapeutic and preventive options. In their medical textbooks and pharmacopeias, Persian great scientists such as Rhazes (854–925 AD), Avicenna (980–1037 AD), and Jorjani (1042–1136 AD), have discussed pharmacological and nutritional strategies for the prevention, slowing progression, and treatment of PD. In the present study, we surveyed plant‐ and animal‐based foods recommended by PM for the prevention and treatment of CNS‐related tremors. In vivo and in‐vitro pharmacological evidence supporting the beneficial effects of PM‐recommended foods in prevention and alleviating PD, major active phytochemicals along with the relevant mechanisms of action were studied. Several PM plants possess potent antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and PD preventing properties. Garlic and allicin, cabbage and isothiocyanates, chickpea seed and its O‐methylated isoflavones biochanin A and formononetin, cinnamon, and cinnamaldehyde, saffron and its crocin, crocetin, and safranal, black cumin and its thymoquinone, black pepper and piperine, pistachio and genistein and daidzein, and resveratrol are among the most effective dietary itemsagainst PD. They act through attenuating neurotoxin‐induced memory loss and behavioral impairment, oxidative stress, and dopaminergic cell death. PM‐recommended foods can help alleviate PD progression and also discovering and developing new neuroprotective anti‐PD pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation into glucosinolates (GLs) therapeutic effects boasts a long history, which began with the evidence that their hydrolysis-derived isothiocyanates (ITCs) could exert cytoprotective effects through the modulation of both the inflammatory response (NF-kB pathway) and the oxidative stress (Nrf2/ARE pathway), two processes largely involved in the pathogenesis of chronic pain syndromes. GLs and ITCs are also able to modulate the activity and the expression of several targets involved in pain regulation, like opioid receptors. Recently, ITCs turned out to be slow-H2S donors in vivo, able to directly modulate the activity of a subtype of KV7 potassium channels involved in the transmission of painful stimuli, providing a further incentive to their employment in pain management. Nevertheless, some controversies exist in the use of ITCs for pain relief considering their ability to positively modulate the activity of TRPA1 receptors. This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical evidence attesting the beneficial effects of GLs and their derivatives ITCs in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic conditions. In this context, the mechanisms underlying the ability of GLs and ITCs to modulate pain perception and, besides, to prevent the establishment of chronic pain will be described along with their pharmacokinetics and toxicological profile. Finally, other possible mechanisms hidden behind GLs efficacy on pain will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, 3D technology has been widely used in various aspects of the entire workflow of conservation–restoration. However, in the majority of cases, researchers have mainly relied on 3D technologies to assist the conventional conservation–restoration process, and its advantages have not truly been exploited. In this paper, we applied a combination of digital acquisition, virtual anastylosis, virtual reconstruction, and 3D printing of a transparent reversible prosthesis with slots for the restoration of a gold foil decorated Black Ding bowl collected by the Chifeng Museum of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. While completing the physical/aesthetic restoration of the artifact, the conservation–restoration principles of the integrity and authenticity of cultural heritage, minimal intervention and reversibility were followed to the utmost extent. At the same time, we also conducted preliminary performance tests on the 3D printing material of the prosthesis, and the results showed that the material has excellent mechanical properties and stain resistance, contributing to the long-term, stable preservation of the artifact. This work presents an innovative solution applicable to other pieces of cultural heritage and has high significance for promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Temple of Apollo Pythios in Gortyn (Crete, Greece) dates back to the mid-7th century BC. The temple underwent several transformations and an ultimate destruction over time that resulted in the current remains of a Roman colonnade composed of six fragmented stone columns lying on the ground within the naos. In addition, the region was struck by several earthquakes which contributed to the various changes. The analysis of the fragments composing the column portions and their geometric features provided a possible outline for their standing repositioning. Based on the current seismic hazard of the region, a predictive numerical model of the colonnade in the anastylosis conditions suggested the need for proper connections between the fragments and the bases to ensure their overall conservation as a compound structure. The comparison of various configurations of intervention and the simple superimposition of the fragments also provided details on the accomplishment of minimal and compatible solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortar is of fundamental importance for the building technology. It is used to bind together masonry units and ease the building process. Several building techniques evolved to take advantage of the capacity of mortars to improve cohesiveness and form sound structures. In this paper, I discuss how lime and gypsum mortars were employed from the Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Gypsum mortars offered several advantages due to their adhesive properties and quick setting. Their use as a structural binding agent developed in regions rich in gypsum, and was particularly significant in vault construction. Lime mortars offered different advantages over gypsum ones, particularly in terms of mechanical resistance and resilience to humid conditions. The massive use of lime mortars started with the ancient Romans and continued throughout the centuries as the foremost binding material, until the introduction of Portland cement mortars in the nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper presents a practical approach to define a hypothetical virtual reconstruction of the ciborium and pergola of Monte Sorbo's Church. The high accuracy of archaeological fragments, digitally acquired, allowed to hypothesize the entire sequences of decorations of architectural elements and to define their geometrical rules. Starting from the acquisition to the 3d modelling phase, the proposed virtual reconstruction combines original fragments with their lost parts modelled in a digital environment.Digital technologies offer nowadays the great possibility to visualize and understand cultural heritage in a new and attractive way. Digital models and virtual reconstructions have a key role in encouraging and promoting the development of good practices for recording, documenting, and making accessible scientific processes beyond visual appearance. The term virtual reconstruction, within the project, is used to describe a procedure that consists of making a 3D model that reproduces a digital copy of the original, assembling digitally acquired fragments with elements philologically reconstructed following the evidence-based geometrical rules. This study aims to contribute to this growing area of research by exploring possibilities on digital integration of different 3d models to re-define a visual appearance of lost architectural elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification and optimization of lead compounds are inalienable components in drug design and discovery pipelines. As a powerful computational approach for the identification of hits with novel structural scaffolds, structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) has exhibited a remarkably increasing influence in the early stages of drug discovery. During the past decade, a variety of techniques and algorithms have been proposed and tested with different purposes in the scope of SBVS. Although SBVS has been a common and proven technology, it still shows some challenges and problems that are needed to be addressed, where the negative influence regardless of protein flexibility and the inaccurate prediction of binding affinity are the two major challenges. Here, focusing on these difficulties, we summarize a series of combined strategies or workflows developed by our group and others. Furthermore, several representative successful applications from recent publications are also discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined SBVS strategies in drug discovery campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There has been significant progress in recent years aimed at the development of new analytical techniques for investigating structure-function relationships in hierarchically ordered materials. Inspired by these technological advances and the potential for applying these approaches to the study of construction materials from antiquity, we present a new set of high throughput characterization tools for investigating ancient Roman concrete, which like many ancient construction materials, exhibits compositional heterogeneity and structural complexity across multiple length scales. The detailed characterization of ancient Roman concrete at each of these scales is important for understanding its mechanics, resilience, degradation pathways, and for making informed decisions regarding its preservation. In this multi-scale characterization investigation of ancient Roman concrete samples collected from the ancient city of Privernum (Priverno, Italy), cm-scale maps with micron-scale features were collected using multi-detector energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and confocal Raman microscopy on both polished cross-sections and topographically complex fracture surfaces to extract both bulk and surface information. Raman spectroscopy was used for chemical profiling and phase characterization, and data collected using EDS was used to construct ternary diagrams to supplement our understanding of the different phases. We also present a methodology for correlating data collected using different techniques on the same sample at different orientations, which shows remarkable potential in using complementary characterization approaches in the study of heterogeneous materials with complex surface topographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peculiar figurative friezes of the buildings with mixtilinear entablature have always fascinated collectors of antiquities since the Renaissance, determining their scattering in private collections and museums throughout Europe. Thanks to the application of digital surveying and reverse modelling techniques, increasingly adopted during the last years for the documentation and enhancement of Cultural Heritage, it has been possible to outline a specific methodology for the restoration works that concern the virtual anastylosis of the architectural order and the correct repositioning of the friezes, also not physically present on site. The master model, which shows the conditions of the Teatro Marittimo before the last restoration works (2017), is the result of several survey campaigns, carried out over the course of the last years, in collaboration with the Direction of the Villa. This model has become the basis for the hypothetical order reconstruction and the repositioning of the friezes, by considering their geometrical, morphological, stylistic, constructive, and figurative features. The ongoing research is in constant update, and it aims at providing methodological directions for virtual anastylosis and scientific tools, also preparatory to a real restoration work, starting from such a unique and delicate site as Villa Adriana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historic buildings are representations of cultural systems throughout time. Thus, it is important to shed light on any given historic building's chronological information by means of restitution, that is, the descriptions of different (re)compositions of a building for different historical states. However, the representation of information beyond the geometric, spatial, and physical characteristics of a historic building carries a crucial importance in the holistic understanding of historical changes. This requirement consists of representation, archival, assessment, and management aspects. Nevertheless, covering all these aspects is still quite challenging. Thus, three-dimensional (3D) visualization in digital platforms is considered, which indeed seems to be the most desirable way today. This article proposes a methodology through adopting an approach based on the Geographical Information System (GIS) and further develops a digital "container" as a 3D digital model for the archiving of a building's chronological information. This does not only cover the geometric and spatial aspects, but also the historical resources and their reliability. The paper concludes that the developed prototype may lessen the future investigation effort of heritage specialists by making the chronological information of a historical building more integrated and coherent, through increased readability, accessibility, and visibility. This, in turn, supports the planning of restoration projects, as well as provides a static and comprehensive archive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]