Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells cardiomyogenic potential: a preliminary study

The characterization of Amniotic Fluid-derived multipotent Stem Cells (AFSCs) open new paths in stem cell research. hAFSCs have characteristics intermediate between pluripotent embryonic- (ESCs) and lineage-restricted adult stem cells, and are non-tumorigenic and low immunogenic. Moreover, they are obtained without destroying human embryos, so that most of the ethical and social controversy could be prevented. We previously observed that human AFSCs express some genes specific of ESCs and primordial germ cells. We also shown hAFSCs ability to form in vitro three-dimensional aggregates of cells known as embryoid bodies (EBs), that express three germ layer markers. Recent studies reported the ability of hAFSCs to differentiate in vitro into adipocytes and osteocytes. Aim of our study was to analyse the cardiomyogenic potential of hAFSCs. EBs were obtained by modified hanging drops protocol from hAFSCs coltured in presence of ascorbic acid and 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (differentiation medium: DM). RT-PCR and Western Blotting analysis conducted on AFSCs and EBs cells evidenced the gene and protein expression of the transcriptor factor Nkx2.5, the earliest marker of heart precursor cells. Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis performed on EBs after 10 days in DM evidenced the cytoplasmic presence of α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) organized in parallel, oriented filamets. Microscopical analysis evidenced beating cells mainly at the periphery of the EB. In conclusion, our results evidenced that hAFSCs cultured in permissive conditions give rise to EB able to terminally differentiate in cardiomyocytes

Ghrelin and Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor localization in human iris and ciliar body

Ghrelin (Ghr) is a 28-amino acid peptide identified as endogenous, acylated ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue G-protein-coupled receptor (GHSR). Mainly synthesized from X/A like neuroendocrin cells of gastric fundus, Ghr acts directly on the pituitary gland inducing GH release; moreover Ghr regulates food intake resulting tightly associated with obesity. Several studies reported that Ghr is widely expressed in different tissues and, besides its orexigenic activity, effects on cardiovascular, pulmonary, reproductive and central nervous systems have been described. Recently, functional studies on rats and rabbits indicated Ghr as modulator of iris smooth muscles activity since induces relaxation of both sphincter and dilator muscles. Moreover Ghr mRNA has been found in the ciliary epithelium of ciliar body (CB). On the basis of these observations, we purposed to investigate Ghr and GHSR expression in human eye. The immunohistochemical analysis performed on iris and ciliar body specimens from post-traumatic explanted human eyeballs evidenced that Ghr and its receptor were co-expressed from the pigmented epithelium (PE) of both iris and CB, whereas we did not detect immunoreactivity in smooth muscle cells. Since human ciliar epithelium is a major site of production of neuroendocrine peptides found in aqueous humor (AqH), we analyzed AqH for the Ghr presence but the Enzymatic Immunoassay performed on 80 samples gave always negative results. In conclusion, our data suggest that Ghr may activate autocrine/paracrine signalling in human PE of CB and iris; the absence of GHSR- immunoreactivity on iris smooth muscle cells seem to rule out the possibility that Ghr can exert its myo-active effects directly

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis

Background. Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIAn) is a severe reactive syndrome that can be triggered by any type of physical activity a short while after a meal. Two forms are distinguished: "specific" and "non-specific ". The former follows the ingestion of a particular food for which allergological tests are usually found to be positive. In the latter, the reactions are triggered by physical activity after any intake of food and the allergological examination for food types is often negative. The main purpose of our diagnostic protocol is to identify the food allergens responsible. Methods. We studied 54 adults who had presented one or more episodes of FDEIAn with: a detailed personal history, prick tests with commercial food allergens, prick+prick tests with fresh vegetables, prick tests with the main aeroallergens. We also carried out: measurement of total IgE (PRIST) and specific IgE (RAST), objective examination integrated by electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and respiratory function tests, maximal exercise test on the treadmill 90 minutes after intake of a meal not containing the incriminated food or any of the foods for which skin- and/or RAST positivity had been identified (Food Exercise Challenge-FEC). Results. The allergological examination was positive for at least one food in 52 patients; 14 presented an oligosensitisation and 38 polysensitisation. The prick+prick technique revealed positivity of vegetable foods not picked up by the diagnostic extracts on the market. RAST highlighted numerous cases of positivity proving, with a few exceptions, to be a much more sensitive test than skin-reactions with vegetable foods. All in all, 48 patients presented a probable "specific" form of FDEIAn and 6 a "non-specific" form, although only 2 of the latter had presented symptoms following the FEC. The "specific" form of FDEIAn should be considered a particular type of food allergy that occurs in association with physical exercise. Polysensitisation to trophoallergens seems to be an important characteristic of most subjects with FEDIAn. Conclusions. It is vital to avoid intake of foods that have proved positive to allergological examination at least 4 hours before physical activity. This interval of time is sufficient to prevent reactions even in patients with the "non-specific" form

Anafilassi da esercizio fisico post-prandiale - Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis

Allergies du sportif en réaction à certains aliments consommés avant l'effort : tests réalisés avec 54 sujets

Anafilassi da esercizio fisico post-prandiale - Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis

Allergies du sportif en réaction à certains aliments consommés avant l'effort : tests réalisés avec 54 sujets

A Decrease in Sex Ratio at Birth Nine Months after the Earthquake in L'Aquila

Introduction. Multiple factors influence the secondary sex ratio (SSR) including stress, which appears to affect mainly the males born. Objective. We evaluate the effects of the earthquake in L'Aquila on the SSR. Materials and Methods. The SSR for the first six months of 2010 was compared to that of the same period of 2008. The chi-square test and Fisher's test were used for the statistical analysis. Results. Nine months after the earthquake, an important reduction in the SSR was recorded: January 2010 versus January 2008 =0.62 versus 0.96. An overall fall in the SSR was also recorded when the first 3 months of 2010 were compared to the first three months of 2008: 0,82 versus 1,11. When the first three months of 2010 were compared with the second three months of 2010, a statistically significant increase of the sex ratio at birth was noted (0,82 versus 1,27)

Management of Periodontal Disease with Adjunctive Therapy with Ozone and Photobiomodulation (PBM): A Randomized Clinical Trial

Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition of the soft and hard tooth-supporting tissues, representing the first cause of tooth loss. In addition to standard mechanical debridement (Scaling and Root Planing, SRP), further approaches have been proposed as adjuncts. The aim of the present randomized clinical trial is to compare the efficacy of ozone or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in addition to SRP to treat periodontal disease. According to a split-mouth design, 240 pathological sites, corresponding to 30 periodontal patients, were randomly divided according to the professional oral hygiene protocol performed at baseline (T0) and after 1 (T1), 2 (T2), 3 (T3), 4 (T4), 5 (T5), and 6 (T6) months. A total of 120 sites underwent an ozonized water administration (ozone group), whereas the other 120 sites were treated with photobiomodulation (PBM group), both in addition to SRP. At every timepoint, the following clinical indexes were assessed: Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) (measured on six sites per element), Plaque Index (PI), and Bleeding on Probing (BOP). As regards PPD, significant intergroup differences were noticed from T5, with significantly lower values in the PBM group (p 0.05). Both ozone and PBM appear to be effective adjuvant treatments to SRP, obtaining a slightly better outcome for the latter in the long term, with significant differences at T5 and T6 for PPD. However, because of the absence of standardized protocols for PBM considering both therapeutic and research purposes, no definitive conclusions can be reached, and further studies are required

Contact dermatoses in metal workers

We studied 150 metal workers occupationally exposed to metals and metalworking fluids (MWFs) to determine the prevalence and nature of contact dermatitis. 150 office workers were used as non-exposed control group, Questionnaires were administered to evaluate occupational and non-occupational exposure, All subjects underwent a dermatological examination and patch-testing with standard allergen series and MWFs used in the plant. Twenty-eight metal workers (18.6%) presented minor skin disorders involving the hands (vs, only 2% of the controls), ten (6.6%) had major disorders (similar to the figure for the control group - 5.4%), and 112 (74.8%) had no lesions, as opposed to 92.6% of the control group, Positive patch tests were found in ten metal workers: eight had major skin disorders (six to nickel, cobalt and chromium, one to nickel and cobalt, one to nickel) and the remaining two were asymptomatic tone positive for nickel and chromium, one for nickel), Among the controls there were three cases of positivity, all among asymptomatic subjects. Patch tests with MWFs were negative. The prevalence of dermatoses among the metal workers was significantly higher than that of controls (p < 0.01), and all cases of allergy in this group were provoked by metals themselves