Search results for "PAPER"
showing 10 items of 2166 documents
Mediated sacralization and the construction of postmodern communio sanctorum: The case of the Swedish foreign minister anna lindh
2005
In the media age, the linkage between mediated communities and images is established by the sacralization of images. Based on the theoretical insights of Michel Maffesoli and on an influential tradition in French sociology, which includes Emile Durkheim, Georges Bataille, and Rene Girard, this article attempts to apply the theory of sacred images to the empirical analysis of images in the media. The analysis of the Swedish and Finnish newspapers' visual coverage of the assassination of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh suggests that the process of sacralization is actually performed as a communicative behavior involving the media and the crowd as the main actors and a number of symbols wh…
3α-Hydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-5β-cholan-24-amide
2009
The title compound, C27H47NO3, is a (3-hydroxypropyl)amide derivative of naturally occurring enantiopure lithocholic acid (3-hydroxy-5-cholan-24-oic acid). The molecule contains four fused rings: three six-membered rings in chair conformations and one five-membered ring in a half-chair form. The two terminal six-membered rings are cis-fused, while other rings are trans-fused. The structure contains an intramolecular O—H O hydrogen bond and a similar hydrogen-bond framework to the corresponding deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acid derivatives. Intermolecular O— H O and N—H O interactions are also present in the crystal. This compound seems to have at least two polymorphic forms from a compa…
Treatment of Hepatitis C virus infection in Italy: A consensus report from an expert panel
2017
Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has significantly improved the course of patients with chronic HCV infection (CHC), due to the ability of these drugs to achieve high rates of sustained virological response (SVR). These exceedingly high rates of SVR and the excellent safety data have been confirmed in real life practice. Evolving guidelines have been issued by national and international scientific societies in accordance with the progression of clinical knowledge and the availability of new DAAs. These recommendations, however, may not be applied universally because of …
From current status to optimization of HCV treatment: Recommendations from an expert panel
2016
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem at a global level, causing an enormous burden of hepatic and extra-hepatic morbidity and mortality. Treatment of chronic HCV (CHC) has been revolutionized in the last few years by the introduction of highly effective and well tolerated direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) able to achieve >90% rates of sustained virological response (SVR) in many groups of patients, including those previously excluded from interferon-based regimens. For such reason interferon-free regimens are now the treatments of choice for all patients. Successful anti-HCV treatment can stop liver disease progression and can solve the HCV-relat…
GDF11 induces mild hepatic fibrosis independent of metabolic health
2020
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11) is an anti-aging factor, yet its role in liver diseases is not established. We evaluated the role of GDF11 in healthy conditions and in the transition from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). RESULTS: GDF11 mRNA levels positively correlated with NAFLD activity score and with CPT1, SREBP, PPAR? and Col1A1 mRNA levels, and associated to portal fibrosis, in morbidly obese patients with NAFLD/NASH. GDF11-treated mice showed mildly exacerbated hepatic collagen deposition, accompanied by weight loss and without changes in liver steatosis or inflammation. GDF11 triggered ALK5-dependent SMAD2/…
Nontumorous portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis: Possible role of β-blockers
2018
<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Nonselective β-blockers (NSBB) are used in liver cirrhosis (LC) to prevent variceal bleeding because they decrease portal pressure. A main risk factor for the development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in LC is decreased portal vein inflow velocity. The aim of our study was to examine retrospectively the incidence of PVT and its correlation with the use of β-blockers in a cohort of LC patients. <b><i>Subjects and Methods:</i></b> Data from 230 LC patients (90% Child-Pugh class A), who had been followed up for at least 5 years, were reviewed. The diagnosis of PVT was made by ultrasound. The presence of PVT was evaluate…
Noncovalent Targeting of Nanocarriers to Immune Cells with Polyphosphoester‐Based Surfactants in Human Blood Plasma
2019
Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) are part of the immune system and can internalize pathogens by carbohydrate receptors. The uptake induces maturation and migration of the DCs resulting in an adaptive immune response by presenting antigens to T‐cells. Thus, targeted delivery to DCs is a powerful tool for immunotherapy. However, in blood, specific targeting is challenging as blood proteins adsorb to the nanocarriers and mask the targeting molecules. Additionally, covalent coupling of targeting groups to nanocarriers requires new chemistry for each nanocarrier, while a general strategy is missing. A general protocol by noncovalent adsorption of mannosylated polyphosphoesters (PPEs) on the nanoca…
Luminescence and Light‐Driven Energy and Electron Transfer from an Exceptionally Long‐Lived Excited State of a Non‐Innocent Chromium(III) Complex
2019
Abstract Photoactive metal complexes employing Earth‐abundant metal ions are a key to sustainable photophysical and photochemical applications. We exploit the effects of an inversion center and ligand non‐innocence to tune the luminescence and photochemistry of the excited state of the [CrN6] chromophore [Cr(tpe)2]3+ with close to octahedral symmetry (tpe=1,1,1‐tris(pyrid‐2‐yl)ethane). [Cr(tpe)2]3+ exhibits the longest luminescence lifetime (τ=4500 μs) reported up to date for a molecular polypyridyl chromium(III) complex together with a very high luminescence quantum yield of Φ=8.2 % at room temperature in fluid solution. Furthermore, the tpe ligands in [Cr(tpe)2]3+ are redox non‐innocent, …
Elimination of quiescent/slow-proliferating cancer stem cells by Bcl-XL inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer
2014
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, urging the discovery of novel molecular targets and therapeutic strategies. Stem cells have been recently isolated from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), thus allowing the investigation of molecular pathways specifically active in the tumorigenic population. We have found that Bcl-XL is constantly expressed by lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and has a prominent role in regulating LCSC survival. Whereas chemotherapeutic agents were scarcely effective against LCSC, the small molecule Bcl-2/Bcl-XL inhibitor ABT-737, but not the selective Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-199, induced LCSC death at nanomolar concentrations. Differen…
Inhibition of c-MYC with involvement of ERK/JNK/MAPK and AKT pathways as a novel mechanism for shikonin and its derivatives in killing leukemia cells
2015
Leukemia remains life-threatening despite remarkable advances in chemotherapy. The poor prognosis and drug resistance are challenging treatment. Novel drugs are urgently needed. Shikonin, a natural naphthoquinone, has been previously shown by us to be particularly effective towards various leukemia cell lines compared to solid tumors. However, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated shikonin and 14 derivatives on U937 leukemia cells. Four derivatives (isobutyrylshikonin, 2-methylbutyrylshikonin, isovalerylshikonin and β,β-dimethylacrylshikonin) were more active than shikonin. AnnexinV-PI analysis revealed that shikonins induced apoptosis. Cell cycle G1/S…