Download or read book Purines as transmitter molecules Electrophysiological studies on purinergic signalling in different cell systems written by Elisabetta Coppi and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Purinergic nucleotides and nucleosides (ATP, ADP, AMP and adenosine) are essential intracellular metabolites involved in a number of cellular processes, from energy supply to protein phosphorylation. However, in the last years, several studies demonstrated their involvement in cell signalling by the activation of specific membrane receptors (P1 and P2) and their role as neurotransmitters began to be investigated. The present work was aimed to clarify the effects of purinergic neurotransmission in different cell systems by using electrophysiological techniques. Relevant results of this research include the observation that P1 and P2 receptors play a deleterious role during "in vitro" ischemia in the rat brain, and the first demonstration of P2 receptor expression and function in a line of adult human mesenchymal stem cells.

Download or read book Molecular Imaging in Parkinson s Disease written by Cristina Polito and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The present work explores brain functional changes in drug-naïve Parkinson's disease (PD) patients by means of molecular imaging techniques. Thirty-one consecutive drug-naïve PD patients from the Neurological Clinic of the University of Flor-ence underwent clinical assessment, neuropsychological assessment, MRI, [123I]FP-CIT SPECT, [18F]FDG PET. First, [18F]FDG-PET was employed to identify in drug-naïve PD patients brain metabolic alteration uniquely related to disease process and not modulated by anti-parkinsonian therapeutic intervention. Second, [18F]FDG-PET and [123I]FP-CIT SPECT were employed together to explore the early functional changes in brain function related to dopaminergic depletion in the putamen and in the caudate nucleus.

Download or read book Isotopic fractionation study towards massive star forming regions across the Galaxy written by Laura Colzi and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2022 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the most important tools to investigate the chemical history of our Galaxy and our own Solar System is to measure the isotopic fractionation of chemical elements. In the present study new astronomical observations devoted to the study of hydrogen and nitrogen fractionation (D/H and 14N/15N ratios) of molecules, towards massive star-forming regions in different evolutionary phases, have been presented. Moreover, a new detailed theoretical study of carbon fractionation, 12C/13C ratios, has been done. One of the main results was the confirmation that the 14N/15N ratio increases with the galactocentric distance, as predicted by stellar nucleosynthesis Galactic chemical evolution models. This work gives new important inputs on the understanding of local chemical processes that favor the production of molecules with different isotopes in star-forming regions.

Download or read book Folding and Aggregation Studies in the Acylphosphatase like Family written by Francesco Bemporad and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Folding and misfolding of proteins are considered two sides of the same coin. The delicate equilibrium existing between these two processes is crucial for any living organism and its alterations can lead to the onset of several tremendous diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The attainment of a profound knowledge of folding/misfolding processes is a key step to understand how life works and for discovering new therapies to these diseases. In this work the author shows that proteins can display enzymatic activity even in the absence of a compact three-dimensional structure, with important implications for the study of protein enzymes. Furthermore, the author investigates the formation of protein aggregates similar to those observed in patients of amyloid-related diseases.

Download or read book Proteins as possible targets for antitumor metal complexes Biophysical studies of their interactions written by Chiara Gabbiani and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is considerable interest today for the reactions of anticancer metallodrugs with proteins as these interactions might feature processes that are crucial for the biodistribution, the toxicity and even the mechanism of action of this important group of anticancer agents. Valuable structural and functional information on these adducts could be derived from several biophysical studies mainly relying on the application of X-ray diffraction and ESI MS techniques. The structural and functional information achieved on the respective metallodrug-protein adducts allowed us to identify some general trends in the reactivity of anticancer metallodrugs with protein targets.

Download or read book Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy written by Raffaella Valenti and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sporadic cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is considered to be among the most commonly known neuropathological processes in the brain, hosting a crucial role in stroke, cognitive impairment, and functional loss in elderly subjects. We investigated clinical (neuroimaging and cognitive) biomarkers in the SVD, through a series of analyses from our five studies. Sporadic cerebral SVD is a complex 'micro-world' to be globally considered. All the relevant lesion types and SVD neuroimaging burden should be taken into account. The cumulative effects of microangiopathy burden in the brain of patients affected by SVD are crucial. Cognitive rehabilitation could represent a promising approach to prevent vascular dementia or to improve cognitive performances in patients with cerebral SVD. Longitudinal studies may provide more robust information about the progression and prognostic significance of our findings.

Download or read book Functional validation of genetic variants identified by next generation sequencing in malformations of cortical development written by Dalila De Vita and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2022 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Malformations of cortical development (MCDs) result from a disruption in the process of the human brain cortex formation: currently, there are no pharmacological treatments for diffuse MCDs. Next-generation sequencing has accelerated the identification of MCDs causing genes: in some cases, functional studies are needed to clarify the role of genetic variants. The aim of this PhD project has been to apply a multidisciplinary approach to identify causative mutations in patients with MCDs, validate the pathogenic role of the identified mutations, and assess the effectiveness of novel in vitro treatment for mTOR pathway related MCDs.

Download or read book Tectono metamorphic evolution of the continental units along the edge between Alpine and Hercynian Corsica written by Maria Di Rosa and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2022 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this work the central area of Corsica island was studied in order to reconstruct the tectono-metamorphic history of the continental and oceanic high pressure units that occupy the structurally deeper levels of the tectonic stacking of Alpine Corsica and their stratigraphic and structural relationship with the European margin (Hercynian Corsica). The study includes the geological mapping, the mesoscale and microscale structural analysis, the acquisition of chemical analyzes and micromaps with the microprobe, thermobarometric estimation through specific methodologies for metapelites, U-Th-Pb dating of zircons and allanites. The results obtained allows to reconstruct the geodynamic model of this sector of the Alpine belt from the Permian to the Burdigalian.

Download or read book Bioinformatics of Genome Evolution from Ancestral to Modern Metabolism Phylogenomics and Comparative Genomics to Understand Microbial Evolution written by Marco Fondi and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bioinformatics, that is the interdisciplinary field that blends computer science and biostatistics with biological and biomedical sciences, is expected to gain a central role in next feature. Indeed, it has now affected several fields of biology, providing crucial hints for the understanding of biological systems and also allowing a more accurate design of wet lab experiments. In this work, the analysis of sequence data has be used in different fields, such as evolution (e.g. the assembly and evolution of metabolism), infections control (e.g. the horizontal flow of antibiotic resistance), ecology (bacterial bioremediation).

Download or read book An Integrated Nonlinear Wind Waves Model for Offshore Wind Turbines written by Enzo Marino and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis presents a numerical model capable of simulating offshore wind turbines exposed to extreme loading conditions. External condition-based extreme responses are reproduced by coupling a fully nonlinear wave kinematic solver with a hydro-aero-elastic simulator. First, a two-dimensional fully nonlinear wave simulator is developed. The transient nonlinear free surface problem is formulated assuming the potential theory and a high-order boundary element method is implemented to discretize Laplace's equation. For temporal evolution a second-order Taylor series expansion is used. The code, after validation with experimental data, is successfully adopted to simulate overturning plunging breakers which give rise to dangerous impact loads when they break against wind turbine substructures. Emphasis is then placed on the random nature of the waves. Indeed, through a domain decomposition technique a global simulation framework embedding the numerical wave simulator into a more general stochastic environment is developed. The proposed model is meant as a contribution to meet the more and more pressing demand for research in the offshore wind energy sector as it permits taking into account dangerous effects on the structural response so as to increase the global structural safety level.

Download or read book Determinants of Mobility Disability in Older Adults Evidence from Population Based Epidemiologic Studies written by Marco Inzitari and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gait and mobility are cardinal to maintain autonomy and independency in daily life, also for older persons. Changes in these functions might be critical in the transition towards disability and loss of autonomy during the aging process. The aim of the present work, which collects three years of research conducted between Italy and the United States, was to assess some of the main risk factors for the progressive impairment of mobility and gait in older adults living in the community. According to our results, abnormalities in the nervous and cardiovascular systems, even subtle, are associated with a subsequent worsening of these functions. These data might help to better understand the progressive development of disability in the elderly, and in the future might also have practical implications for prevention.

Download or read book Finite Size Effects in Stochastic Models of Population Dynamics Applications to Biomedicine and Biology written by Francesca Di Patti and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Sub Wavelength Probing and Modification of Complex Photonic Structures written by Silvia Vignolini and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The aim of this thesis consists in the study and modification of complex photonic nano-structures. Nowadays, propagation of light in such materials is a rich and fascinating area of research, both for its fundamental implications and for its practical technological impact. To deeply investigate light propagation inside these structures a high spatial resolution technique is required, especially because intriguing effects often occur on length scales comparable with the diffraction-limit or involve coupling phenomena on this length scale. For this reason in this thesis a Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope represents one the most straightforward tool both to study and locally modify complex photonic nano-structures from perfect periodic to completely random ones.

Download or read book Use of Microorganisms in the Removal of Pollutants from the Wastewater written by Giovanni Colica and published by Firenze University Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The aims of this thesis were to test the adsorption efficiency of cyanobacterial biomasses of polysaccharide producing strains and to realize a pilot plant for galvanic waste treatment based on biosorption. First of all the different strains were tested at laboratory scale with solutions containing one or more metals, in order to gradually approach the reality of galvanic industries, where several metals at different concentrations are present at the same time in the wastes. To realize the pilot plant we tried to combine the protocols established during laboratory experiments with the necessities of the final user, the industry, by designing and realizing three prototypes. It was moreover evaluated the possibility to recover the adsorbed metal in a form easy and convenient for recycling.

Download or read book Purinergic and Pyrimidinergic Signalling II written by Maria P. Abracchio and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 459 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Physiological, pharmacological and molecular biological data generated over the past three decades have demonstrated the existence of two major families of extracellular receptors, the P1, a family of four G-protein coupled receptors and the P2, a family of at least 12 receptors responsive to purine (ATP, ADP) and pyrimidine (UTP) nucleotides through which adenosine and ATP can function as extracellular messengers. The present two-part volume represents an integrated compendium of invited chapters by leading researchers in the area focusing on advances in the understanding of purinergic and pyrimidinergic signaling systems, their role(s) in tissue function and pathophysiology and advances in developing potential new medications based on the modulation of P1 and P2 receptor signaling processes. The volumes will thus provide the reader with a topical, comprehensive and integrated overview of this important area.

Download or read book Handbook of Neurochemistry written by Abel Lajtha and published by . This book was released on 1982 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Purinergic Signalling and the Nervous System written by Geoffrey Burnstock and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-06-05 with total page 724 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the first 20 years that followed the purinergic signalling hypothesis in 1972, most scientists were sceptical about its validity, largely because ATP was so well established as an intracellular molecule involved in cell biochemistry and it seemed unlikely that such a ubiquitous molecule would act as an extracellular signalling molecule. However, after the receptors for ATP and adenosine were cloned and characterized in the early 1990s and ATP was established as a synaptic transmitter in the brain and sympathetic ganglia, the tide turned. More recently it has become clear that ATP is involved in long-term (trophic) signalling in cell proliferation, differentiation and death, in development and regeneration, as well as in short-term signalling in neurotransmission and secretion. Also, important papers have been published showing the molecular structure of P2X receptors in primitive animals like Amoeba and Schistosoma, as well as green algae. This has led to the recognition of the widespread nature of the purinergic signalling system in most cell types and to a rapid expansion of the field, including studies of the pathophysiology as well as physiology and exploration of the therapeutic potential of purinergic agents. In two books, Geoffrey Burnstock and Alexej Verkhratsky have aimed at drawing together the massive and diverse body of literature on purinergic signalling. The topic of this first book is purinergic signalling in the peripheral and central nervous systems and in the individual senses. In a second book the authors focus on purinergic signalling in non-excitable cells, including those of the airways, kidney, pancreas, endocrine glands and blood vessels. Diseases related to these systems are also considered.