Showing papers by "Marche Polytechnic University published in 2006"
TL;DR: Recognising the potentially aggressive epithelioid angiomyolipoma and mixed epithelial and stromal tumour categories may have important implications in patients' clinical management.
782 citations
TL;DR: Stimulatory autoantibodies against PDGFR appear to be a specific hallmark of scleroderma and their biologic activity on fibroblasts strongly suggests that they have a causal role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Abstract: Background Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is characterized by immunologic abnormalities, injury of endothelial cells, and tissue fibrosis. Abnormal oxidative stress has been documented in scleroderma and linked to fibroblast activation. Since platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and since IgG from patients with scleroderma reacts with human fibroblasts, we tested the hypothesis that patients with scleroderma have serum autoantibodies that stimulate the PDGF receptor (PDGFR), activating collagen-gene expression. Methods We analyzed serum from 46 patients with scleroderma and 75 controls, including patients with other autoimmune diseases, for stimulatory autoantibodies to PDGFR by measuring the production of ROS produced by the incubation of purified IgG with mouse-embryo fibroblasts carrying inactive copies of PDGFR α or β chains or the same cells expressing PDGFR α or β. Generation of ROS was assayed with and without specific PDGFR inhibitors. ...
542 citations
TL;DR: The new trends on Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) development are outlined with particular attention to the innovative solutions answering to the most recent technological requirements which are not met by the current systems as discussed by the authors.
427 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that gliadin activates zonulin signaling irrespective of the genetic expression of autoimmunity, leading to increased intestinal permeability to macromolecules.
Abstract: Objective. Little is known about the interaction of gliadin with intestinal epithelial cells and the mechanism(s) through which gliadin crosses the intestinal epithelial barrier. We investigated whether gliadin has any immediate effect on zonulin release and signaling. Material and methods. Both ex vivo human small intestines and intestinal cell monolayers were exposed to gliadin, and zonulin release and changes in paracellular permeability were monitored in the presence and absence of zonulin antagonism. Zonulin binding, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) redistribution were evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Tight junction occludin and ZO-1 gene expression was evaluated by realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. When exposed to gliadin, zonulin receptor-positive IEC6 and Caco2 cells released zonulin in the cell medium with subsequent zonulin binding to the cell surface, rearrangement of the cell cytoskeleton, loss of occludin-ZO1 protein � /protein interaction, and increased monolayer permeability. Pretreatment with the zonulin antagonist FZI/0 blocked these changes without affecting zonulin release. When exposed to luminal gliadin, intestinal biopsies from celiac patients in remission expressed a sustained luminal zonulin release and increase in intestinal permeability that was blocked by FZI/0 pretreatment. Conversely, biopsies from non-celiac patients demonstrated a limited, transient zonulin release which was paralleled by an increase in intestinal permeability that never reached the level of permeability seen in celiac disease (CD) tissues. Chronic gliadin exposure caused down-regulation of both ZO-1 and occludin gene expression. Conclusions. Based on our results, we concluded that gliadin activates zonulin signaling irrespective of the genetic expression of autoimmunity, leading to increased intestinal permeability to macromolecules.
420 citations
TL;DR: Results are in agreement with the increase of body weight recorded in this study, and FishfedonLAB showed 81% higher body weight in long treated group and 28% in short treated one with respect to control.
297 citations
TL;DR: The persistence and level of non-Saccharomyces yeasts during multistarter fermentations under stress conditions (high ethanol content and/or low temperature) can cause stuck fermentations.
294 citations
TL;DR: The majority of patients with epilepsy maintain seizure control during pregnancy, and the apparently higher risk of seizures among women treated with ox carbazepine and the more frequent increases in drug load in the oxcarbazepines and lamotrigine cohorts prompts further studies on relationships with pharmacokinetic changes.
Abstract: Objective: To analyze seizure control and treatment in pregnant women with epilepsy. Methods: Seizure control and treatment were recorded prospectively in 1,956 pregnancies of 1,882 women with epilepsy participating in EURAP, an international antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and pregnancy registry. Results: Of all cases, 58.3% were seizure-free throughout pregnancy. Occurrence of any seizures was associated with localization-related epilepsy (OR: 2.5; 1.7 to 3.9) and polytherapy (OR: 9.0; 5.6 to 14.8) and for tonic-clonic seizures, with oxcarbazepine monotherapy (OR: 5.4; 1.6 to 17.1). Using first trimester as reference, seizure control remained unchanged throughout pregnancy in 63.6%, 92.7% of whom were seizure-free during the entire pregnancy. For those with a change in seizure frequency, 17.3% had an increase and 15.9% a decrease. Seizures occurred during delivery in 60 pregnancies (3.5%), more commonly in women with seizures during pregnancy (OR: 4.8; 2.3 to 10.0). There were 36 cases of status epilepticus (12 convulsive), which resulted in stillbirth in one case but no cases of miscarriage or maternal mortality. AED treatment remained unchanged in 62.7% of the pregnancies. The number or dosage of AEDs were more often increased in pregnancies with seizures (OR: 3.6; 2.8 to 4.7) and with monotherapy with lamotrigine (OR: 3.8; 2.1 to 6.9) or oxcarbazepine (OR: 3.7; 1.1 to 12.9). Conclusions: The majority of patients with epilepsy maintain seizure control during pregnancy. The apparently higher risk of seizures among women treated with oxcarbazepine and the more frequent increases in drug load in the oxcarbazepine and lamotrigine cohorts prompts further studies on relationships with pharmacokinetic changes. Risks associated with status epilepticus appear to be lower than previously reported.
283 citations
TL;DR: Results show an association between impaired cerebral microvessels functionality and unfavorable evolution of cognitive function in patients with AD.
Abstract: Background and Purpose— The aim of this study was to explore the possible contribution of alterations in cerebral hemodynamics to the evolution of cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Method— Fifty-three patients with AD were investigated. The evolution of cognitive decline over 12 months was evaluated by means of changes in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and AD Assessment Scale for Cognition (ADAS-Cog) scores. Demographic characteristics, vascular risk profile, pharmacological treatment, and presence of white matter lesions were assessed at entry. Further, a basal evaluation of cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia was measured with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography using the breath-holding index (BHI). Results— Of all the variables considered, both MMSE and ADAS-Cog changes had the highest correlation with BHI, followed by age and diabetes. After subdividing both cognitive measures reductions into bigger and smaller-than-average decline (2 points for MMSE; 5 points ...
256 citations
TL;DR: Investigation of the role of C. psittaci and other infectious agents commonly associated with chronic eye disease in the development of ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma shows that C. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis, HSSV1, HSV2, ADV8 or ADV19, is associated with ocularAdnexalMALT lymphomas and that this association is variable in different geographical areas.
Abstract: Chlamydia psittaci is variably associated with ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma in different geographical regions Infectious agents play a critical role in MALT lymphoma development. Studies from Italy showed Chlamydia psittaci infection in 87% of ocular adnexal MALT lymphomas and complete or partial regression of the lymphoma after C psittaci eradication in four of nine cases. However, C. psittaci was not demonstrated in ocular adnexal MALT lymphomas from the USA. This study was thus designed to investigate further the role of C psittaci, and other infectious agents commonly associated with chronic eye disease, in the development of ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma. The presence of C psittaci, C trachomatis, C pneumoniae, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV1, HSV2), and adenovirus 8 and 19 (ADV8, ADV19) was assessed separately by polymerase chain reaction in 142 ocular adnexal MALT lymphomas, 53 non-marginal zone lymphomas, and 51 ocular adnexal biopsies without a lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD), from six geographical regions. C psittaci was detected at similar low frequencies in non-LPD and non-marginal zone lymphoma groups from different geographical regions (0-14%). Overall, the prevalence of C psittaci was significantly higher in MALT lymphomas (22%) than in non-LPD (10%, p = 0.042) and non-marginal zone lymphoma cases (9%, p = 0.033). However, the prevalence of C. psittaci infection in MALT lymphoma showed marked variation among the six geographical regions examined, being most frequent in Germany (47%), followed by the East Coast of the USA (35%) and the Netherlands (29%), but relatively low in Italy (13%), the UK (12%), and Southern China (11%). No significant differences in the detection of C. pneumoniae, C trachomatis, HSV1, HSV2, ADV8, and ADV19 were found between lymphomas and controls from different geographical regions. In conclusion, our results show that C psittaci, but not C. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis, HSV1, HSV2, ADV8 or ADV19, is associated with ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma and that this association is variable in different geographical areas. Copyright (c) 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
227 citations
TL;DR: Econophysics has already made a number of important empirical contributions to our understanding of the social and economic world as mentioned in this paper, and econophysicists have attempted to apply the theoretical approach of statistical physics to try to understand empirical findings.
Abstract: Econophysics has already made a number of important empirical contributions to our understanding of the social and economic world. These fall mainly into the areas of finance and industrial economics, where in each case there is a large amount of reasonably well-defined data. More recently, Econophysics has also begun to tackle other areas of economics where data is much more sparse and much less reliable. In addition, econophysicists have attempted to apply the theoretical approach of statistical physics to try to understand empirical findings. Our concerns are fourfold. First, a lack of awareness of work that has been done within economics itself. Second, resistance to more rigorous and robust statistical methodology. Third, the belief that universal empirical regularities can be found in many areas of economic activity. Fourth, the theoretical models which are being used to explain empirical phenomena. The latter point is of particular concern. Essentially, the models are based upon models of statistical physics in which energy is conserved in exchange processes. There are examples in economics where the principle of conservation may be a reasonable approximation to reality, such as primitive hunter–gatherer societies. But in the industrialised capitalist economies, income is most definitely not conserved. The process of production and not exchange is responsible for this. Models which focus purely on exchange and not on production cannot by definition offer a realistic description of the generation of income in the capitalist, industrialised economies.
227 citations
TL;DR: The peculiar chemico-physical properties of the doped (Mg- and Mg,CO 3 -substituted) materials improved the behaviours of MSC and MG-63 cells in term of adhesion, proliferation and metabolic activation compared to stoichiometric HA.
Abstract: The doping of the apatite with carbonate or/and Mg ions in biologically-like amounts (6 and 1 wt.%, respectively) was performed. Chemico-physical characterizations and cell culture tests were carried out onto the synthetic Mg- and Mg,CO 3 -substituted (∼30–40 nm particle size) powders in comparison with stoichiometric HA (∼160 nm particle size) to determine as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can directly use the mineral microenvironment to stimulate their own proliferation and differentiation activities. At the same time the growth of human osteoblast like cells (MG-63) was evaluated to determine the compatibility of the synthetic doped apatites for bone substitution. Cell morphology analysis by SEM as well as MTT and ALP tests were performed. The peculiar chemico-physical properties of the doped (Mg- and Mg,CO 3 -substituted) materials improved the behaviours of MSC and MG-63 cells in term of adhesion, proliferation and metabolic activation compared to stoichiometric HA.
TL;DR: A novel sequential regimen, consisting of a simple dual therapy given for the first 5 days followed by a triple therapy for the remaining 5 days, achieved a very high cure rate as compared with standard triple therapy and may depend on increased efficacy of the sequential regimen against the clarithromycin-resistant strains.
Abstract: The authors compared Helicobacter pylori eradication rates among strains with different point mutations that confer clarithromycin resistance. Antibiotics eradicated Helicobacter pylori infection i...
TL;DR: Pictorial evidence of the principal US findings in gout includes monosodium urate deposition on the surface of articular cartilage, various patterns within synovial fluid ranging from completely anechoic fluid to collections filled with aggregates of variable shape and echogenicity.
TL;DR: The observed seasonal oscillations revealed both similarities and differences with those reported for other Mediterranean mussel populations suggesting that opposite trends can occur when the same environmental prooxidant factors have a different regional influence.
TL;DR: Whether interannual climate-growth responses in Alpine treeline forests are stationary over time is determined and time-dependent variables should be taken into account to avoid overestimation of treeline advance, future forest carbon storage in temperature-limited environments and inaccurate reconstruction of past climate variability.
Abstract: Tree rings are widely used long-term proxy data which, if combined with long-term instrumental climate records, can provide excellent information on global climate variability. This research aimed to determine whether interannual climate-growth responses in Alpine treeline forests are stationary over time. We used tree-ring width chronologies of Larix decidua (European larch) from 17 sites and monthly temperatures and precipitation data for the period 1800-1999. Climate-growth relationships were assessed with correlation and response functions, and their stationarity and consistency over time were measured using moving correlation. Tree-ring chronologies showed similar interannual variations over the last two centuries, suggesting that the same climatic factors synchronously limited growth at most sites. The most sensitive variables showed significant transient responses varying within the time period, indicating a possible deviation from the uniformitarian principle applied to dendroclimatology. If these findings are confirmed in future studies on other species and in other regions, we suggest that time-dependent variables should be taken into account to avoid overestimation of treeline advance, future forest carbon storage in temperature-limited environments and inaccurate reconstruction of past climate variability.
TL;DR: The findings reveal that cortisol and heart rate responses to a psychosocial stressor are enhanced in carriers of the MR180V variant.
Abstract: Context: Mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) mediate the action of aldosterone on sodium resorption in kidney tubular cells, but in brain they respond to the glucocorticoid cortisol in stress regulation and cognitive processes. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the role of the MR gene variant I180V in the neuroendocrine response to a psychosocial stressor and in electrolyte regulation. Design: Associations between the MRI180V and outcome variables in a healthy cohort subjected to psychosocial challenge (Trier Social Stress Test) and in a mild hypertensive cohort exposed to acute salt loading (Weinberger’s test) were investigated. In vitro transactivational assays were applied to compare the effects of cortisol and aldosterone on the MRI180V. Results: Carriers of the MR180V allele showed higher saliva (P < 0.01), plasma cortisol (P < 0.01), and heart rate responses (P < 0.05) to the Trier Social Stress Test than noncarriers (MR180I). After 3 d of a normal salt diet and the Weinberger’s ...
TL;DR: VEGF mediates the adaptive proliferative response of cholangiocytes to cholestasis and is found to be amplified in BDL cholangsiocytes.
TL;DR: The overall results of this exploratory study suggest the utility of H. aspersa as a sentinel organism for biomonitoring the biologic impact of atmospheric pollution in urban areas and an ecotoxicologic approach to evaluate both bioaccumulation and toxicologic effects caused by airborne pollutants.
Abstract: Atmospheric pollution from vehicular traffic is a matter of growing interest, often leading to temporary restrictions in urban areas. Although guidelines indicate limits for several parameters, the real toxicologic impacts remain largely unexplored in field conditions. In this study our aim was to validate an ecotoxicologic approach to evaluate both bioaccumulation and toxicologic effects caused by airborne pollutants. Specimens of the land snail Helix aspersa were caged in five sites in the urban area of Ancona, Italy. After 4 weeks, trace metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured and these data integrated with the analyses of molecular and biochemical responses. Such biomarkers reflected the induction of detoxification pathways or the onset of cellular toxicity caused by pollutants. Biomarkers that correlated with contaminant accumulation included levels of metallothioneins, activity of biotransformation enzymes (ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase), and peroxisomal proliferation. More general responses were investigated as oxidative stress variations, including efficiency of antioxidant defenses (catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferases, glutathione peroxidases, and total glutathione) and total oxyradical scavenging capacity toward peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals, onset of cellular damages (i.e., lysosomal destabilization), and loss of DNA integrity. Results revealed a marked accumulation of metals and PAHs in digestive tissues of organisms maintained in more traffic-congested sites. The contemporary appearance of several alterations confirmed the cellular reactivity of these chemicals with toxicologic effects of potential concern for human health. The overall results of this exploratory study suggest the utility of H. aspersa as a sentinel organism for biomonitoring the biologic impact of atmospheric pollution in urban areas. Key words: atmospheric pollutants, bioindicators, biomarkers, DNA integrity, lysosomes, metallothioneins, oxidative stress, peroxisomes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, trace metals.
TL;DR: An improvement in tolerance to acute stress of fry fed with probiotics is suggested, indicating a greater potentiality to respond to the harmful conditions possibly present in fish farms.
Abstract: Two bacterial strains, Lactobacillus fructivorans, isolated from sea bream (Sparus aurata) gut, and Lactobacillus plantarum, isolated from human faeces, were administered simultaneously, during sea bream development, using Brachionus plicatilis and/or Artemia salina as vectors. The probiotic treatment significantly affected gut colonization. To test the probiotic influence on stress responsiveness, sea bream fry, 47 days post-hatching (p.h.), were subjected to pH stress (from 8.6 to 6.3) and cumulative mortality, cortisol levels and HSP70 gene expression were analysed. Cortisol was selected, since under stress conditions its level increases. HSP70 was selected with consideration of its wide involvement in response to a great number of injuries, and because it protects cells probably by binding and refolding damaged proteins. The results obtained indicated that the administration of probiotic to sea bream fry induced higher HSP70 levels, indicating a greater potentiality to respond to the harmful conditions possibly present in fish farms. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the levels of cortisol found were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in both groups under probiotic treatment. When pH was used as a stressor, it induced a higher cumulative mortality in the control; the mortality was found to be significantly lower in both treated groups. Interestingly, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in HSP70 gene expression was observed in all stressed groups. These results suggest an improvement in tolerance to acute stress of fry fed with probiotics.
TL;DR: This paper presents a three-stage framework for a robust automatic classification of raw LIDAR data as buildings, ground and vegetation, followed by a reconstruction of 3D models of the buildings.
Abstract: LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) data are a primary data source for digital terrain model (DTM) generation and 3D city models. This paper presents a three-stage framework for a robust automatic classification of raw LIDAR data as buildings, ground and vegetation, followed by a reconstruction of 3D models of the buildings. In the first stage the raw data are filtered and interpolated over a grid. In the second stage, first a double raw data segmentation is performed and then geometric and topological relationships among regions resulting from segmentation are computed and stored in a knowledge base. In the third stage, a rule-based scheme is applied for the classification of the regions. Finally, polyhedral building models are reconstructed by analysing the topology of building outlines, building roof slopes and eaves lines. Results obtained on data sets with different ground point density, gathered over the town of Pavia (Italy) with Toposys and Optech airborne laser scanning systems, are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
TL;DR: BoNTX injections are safe and effective treatment for the management of PD‐related drooling and experienced a reduction in both drooling frequency and familial and social disability.
Abstract: To investigate the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTX) treatment to reduce sialorrhea in Parkinson's disease (PD), a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study enrolled 32 PD patients complaining of excessive drooling. Patients received either 50 U Botox in each parotid gland or placebo without using ultrasound guidance. Subjects treated with BoNTX experienced a reduction in both drooling frequency and familial and social disability (Time × Group effect: P < 0.01), as well as in saliva production (Time × Group effect: P < 0.0001). No adverse events were recorded. BoNTX injections are safe and effective treatment for the management of PD-related drooling. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
TL;DR: This study provides the first demonstration that in SSc, there is a complex impairment in the BM microenvironment involving both the endothelial and mesenchymal stem cell compartments and that this impairment might play a role in defective vasculogenesis in scleroderma.
Abstract: Objective
Vascular abnormalities represent the main component of the pathobiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc), progressing from structural derangements of the microcirculation with abortive neoangiogenesis to final vessel loss. Since circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are important in the vascular repair process, we undertook this study to examine their numbers in the peripheral blood (PB) of SSc patients and to evaluate whether their status is related to impaired quantitative and/or qualitative aspects of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment.
Methods
Circulating EPCs from 62 SSc patients were evaluated by flow cytometry and characterized as CD45 negative and CD133 positive. BM EPCs, identified as CD133 positive, were isolated from 14 SSc patients and grown to induce endothelial differentiation. In addition, progenitor numbers and functional properties of hematopoietic and stromal compartments were analyzed by various assays.
Results
We found that EPCs were detectable in the PB of patients with SSc, and their number was significantly increased in patients with early-stage disease but not in those with late-stage disease. All of the examined BM samples contained reduced numbers of EPCs and stromal cells, both of which were functionally impaired. Both endothelial and stromal progenitors expressed vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, indicating that BM is strongly induced to differentiate into the endothelial lineage; furthermore, only BM EPCs from patients with early disease led to endothelial differentiation in vitro.
Conclusion
This study provides the first demonstration that in SSc, there is a complex impairment in the BM microenvironment involving both the endothelial and mesenchymal stem cell compartments and that this impairment might play a role in defective vasculogenesis in scleroderma.
TL;DR: All 45 patients were alive with no evidence of disease at mean follow-up of 66.1 months, confirming an extremely good prognosis after surgery and a 5-year disease-specific survival rate of 100%.
Abstract: The 2004 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of kidney tumors recognizes multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma (MCRCC) as a rare variant of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with a good prognosis. Available information on its clinical significance is limited. The study cohort included 45 MCRCC cases classified according to 2004 WHO criteria obtained through a multi-institutional international search. Most patients had unilateral MCRCC with no side predominance that was found incidentally; 62% were men, but women had tumors at an earlier age (P = .385). MCRCC occurred slightly more often in men than in women (1.7:1). At diagnosis, 82% of patients had stage T1 and 16%, stage T2; 1 patient had stage T3. The Fuhrman grade was 1 (62%) or 2 (38%), with smaller tumors (
TL;DR: In HIV-1-infected patients harbouring a lamivudine-resistant virus, lamivUDine monotherapy may lead to a better immunological and clinical outcome than complete therapy interruption.
Abstract: Objective We compared the immunological and clinical outcomes of lamivudine monotherapy and complete therapy interruption in the treatment of HIV-1-infected patients harbouring lamivudine-resistant virus. Methods This 48-week, open-label pilot study randomly assigned HIV-infected patients receiving lamivudine-containing HAART and harbouring the M184V mutation to monotherapy with lamivudine 300 mg once daily (lamivudine group) or the discontinuation of all antiretroviral drugs (TI group). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of immunological or clinical failure; immunological failure was defined as the first report of a CD4 T-cell count less than 350 cells/microl, and clinical failure as the occurrence of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grade B or C event. The data were analysed on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle. Results By week 48, 20 of 29 patients in the TI group (69%; 95% CI 51-83%) and 12 of 29 in the lamivudine group (41%; 95% CI 26-59%) had discontinued the study because of immunological or clinical failure, which was significantly delayed in the lamivudine group (P = 0.018). Only patients in the TI group (6/29, 20.7%) experienced grade 3-4 clinical adverse events at least possibly related to HIV-1 (P = 0.02). The mean decline in CD4 cell percentage, viral rebound and recovery of HIV-1 replication capacity were significantly lower in the lamivudine group. The 24-week virological and immunological response after therapy resumption in patients who prematurely discontinued the study was similar in the two groups. Conclusion In HIV-1-infected patients harbouring a lamivudine-resistant virus, lamivudine monotherapy may lead to a better immunological and clinical outcome than complete therapy interruption.
TL;DR: The data reinforce the superiority of a standardized upright ARR as a screening test in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, identifying 40 as an ideal cut-off value.
Abstract: BackgroundThe upright serum aldosterone/upright plasma renin activity ratio (ARR) has been recommended as a screening tool for the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism.ObjectiveWe reviewed the data collected from hypertensive patients in order to define retrospectively the cut-off values and evaluate
TL;DR: LL-37 and imipenem proved to be the most effective treatments in reducing all variables measured and may become an important future consideration for the treatment of sepsis.
Abstract: We investigated the efficacy of LL-37, the C-terminal part of the only cathelicidin in humans identified to date (termed human cationic antimicrobial protein), in three experimental rat models of gram-negative sepsis. Adult male Wistar rats (i) were given an intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg Escherichia coli 0111:B4 LPS, (ii) were given 2 x 10(10) CFU of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, or (iii) had intra-abdominal sepsis induced via cecal ligation and puncture. For each model, all animals were randomized to receive intravenously isotonic sodium chloride solution, 1-mg/kg LL-37, 1-mg/kg polymyxin B, 20-mg/kg imipenem, or 60-mg/kg piperacillin. Lethality; growth of bacteria in blood, peritoneum, spleen, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes; and endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations in plasma were evaluated. All compounds reduced lethality compared to levels in controls. Endotoxin and TNF-alpha plasma levels were significantly higher in conventional antibiotic-treated rats than in LL-37- and polymyxin B-treated animals. All drugs tested significantly reduced bacterial growth compared to saline treatment. No statistically significant differences between LL-37 and polymyxin B were noted for antimicrobial and antiendotoxin activities. LL-37 and imipenem proved to be the most effective treatments in reducing all variables measured. Due to its multifunctional properties, LL-37 may become an important future consideration for the treatment of sepsis.
TL;DR: Converging evidence indicates that white adipose tissue (WAT) is innervated by the SNS based on immunohistochemical labeling of a SNS marker (tyrosine hydroxylase [TH]) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Converging evidence indicates that white adipose tissue (WAT) is innervated by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) based on immunohistochemical labeling of a SNS marker (tyrosine hydroxylase [TH])...
TL;DR: It is suggested that prtF1-negative macrolide-susceptible or mef(A)-carrying isolates, which are poorly equipped to enter cells, may use biofilm to escape antimicrobial treatments and survive within the host.
Abstract: Streptococcus pyogenes infections often fail to respond to antibiotic therapy, leading to persistent throat carriage and recurrent infections. Such failures cannot always be explained by the occurrence of antibiotic resistance determinants, and it has been suggested that S. pyogenes may enter epithelial cells to escape antibiotic treatment. We investigated 289 S. pyogenes strains isolated from different clinical sources to evaluate their ability to form biofilm as an alternative method to escape antibiotic treatment and host defenses. Up to 90% of S. pyogenes isolates, from both invasive and noninvasive infections, were able to form biofilm. Specific emm types, such as emm6, appeared to be more likely to produce biofilm, although variations within strains belonging to the same type might suggest biofilm formation to be a trait of individual strains rather than a general attribute of a serotype. Interestingly, erythromycin-susceptible isolates formed a significantly thicker biofilm than resistant isolates (P < 0.05). Among resistant strains, those carrying the erm class determinants formed a less organized biofilm than the mef(A)-positive strains. Also, prtF1 appeared to be negatively associated with the ability to form biofilm (P < 0.01). Preliminary data on a selection of strains indicated that biofilm-forming isolates entered epithelial cells with significantly lower efficiency than biofilm-negative strains. We suggest that prtF1-negative macrolide-susceptible or mef(A)-carrying isolates, which are poorly equipped to enter cells, may use biofilm to escape antimicrobial treatments and survive within the host. In this view, biofilm formation by S. pyogenes could be responsible for unexplained treatment failures and recurrences due to susceptible microorganisms.
TL;DR: Mussels from the River Cecina showed a general alteration of all the biomarkers investigated, accompanied by an elevation of tissue metal levels, which suggest that the parallel use of caged and native mussels in environmental biomonitoring can improve the characterization of the study area.
TL;DR: Power Doppler sonography detected a rapid and significant reduction in synovial perfusion at the wrist joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving adalimumab.
Abstract: Objective: To use power Doppler sonography (PDS) to evaluate changes in synovial perfusion induced by adalimumab in the wrist joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: 48 wrists of 24 patients (18 women and 6 men) were examined. Despite prior treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including methotrexate, patients with clinically active rheumatoid arthritis were recruited in two rheumatological centres to receive 40 mg adalimumab subcutaneously every other week. Clinical, laboratory and PDS assessments were carried out at 0, 2, 6 and 12 weeks. Clinical and laboratory measurements of disease activity included physician’s global assessment of disease activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum levels of C reactive protein. The Disease Activity Score for 28 joints (DAS28) was calculated. PDS signal was scored from 0 to 3 according to the overall expression of PDS findings at the wrists. Results: A significant reduction in both clinical (p Conclusion: PDS detected a rapid and significant reduction in synovial perfusion at the wrist joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving adalimumab. Ongoing follow-up will provide further information regarding the persistence of considerable reduction in PDS signal score and its correlation with DAS28.