Pulmonary Disease Due to Mycobacterium arosiense, an Easily Misidentified Pathogenic Novel Mycobacterium▿

Mycobacterium arosiense is a newly described species. After noticing it was misidentified as Mycobacterium intracellulare by the commercial identification system GenoType CM (Hein, Nehren, Germany), we detected 4 such strains among 33 that were previously misidentified as M. intracellulare. Three more strains were found among unidentified mycobacteria not tested previously with GenoType. The first case of pulmonary disease due to M. arosiense is reported here, and the novel species, of which so far only one strain had been investigated, is further characterized

Selective alterations of endocannabinoid system genes expression in obsessive compulsive disorder

Abstract Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is listed as one of the top 10 most disabling neuropsychiatric conditions in the world. The neurobiology of OCD has not been completely understood and efforts are needed in order to develop new treatments. Beside the classical neurotransmitter systems and signalling pathways implicated in OCD, the possible involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged in pathophysiology of OCD. We report here selective downregulation of the genes coding for enzymes allowing the synthesis of the endocannabinoids. We found reduced DAGLα and NAPE-PLD in blood samples of individuals with OCD (when compared to healthy controls) as well as in the amygdala complex and prefrontal cortex of dopamine transporter (DAT) heterozygous rats, manifesting compulsive behaviours. Also mRNA levels of the genes coding for cannabinoid receptors type 1 and type 2 resulted downregulated, respectively in the rat amygdala and in human blood. Moreover, NAPE-PLD changes in gene expression resulted to be associated with an increase in DNA methylation at gene promoter, and the modulation of this gene in OCD appears to be correlated to the progression of the disease. Finally, the alterations observed in ECS genes expression appears to be correlated with the modulation in oxytocin receptor gene expression, consistently with what recently reported. Overall, we confirm here a role for ECS in OCD at both preclinical and clinical level. Many potential biomarkers are suggested among its components, in particular NAPE-PLD, that might be of help for a prompt and clear diagnosis

Identifying HIV patients with an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile in the clinical practice: results from the SIMONE study

Objective. To identify and characterize HIV-infected patients at higher cardiovascular risk in ordinary clinical settings. Design. Multicenter, nationwide cross-sectional study. Methods. Consecutive HIV-patients, attending scheduled visits at facilities involved in the Italian coordination group for the study of allergies and HIV infection (CISAI), were included between February and April, 2005. Their 10-year probability of acute coronary events was calculated using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) as well as 3 other cardiovascular algorithms (“PROCAM”, “PROGETTO CUORE”, “SCORE”); Metabolic Syndrome (MS) was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program definitions. An estimated 10-year CVD ≥10% and/or MS led to the diagnosis of high CV risk. We compared selected clinical features between high- and low-risk patients. Results. A total of 1230 HIV infected patients (72% males, mean age of 43 ± 9 years), 185 of whom treatment-naïve, were evaluated. FRS gave the highest estimate of CV risk. The mean 10-year risk for acute coronary events according to FRS was 7.4 ± 7.0. MS was present in 22% of the observed patients. Accordingly, 443 patients (36%) were classified at high risk. Twelve percent of the patients (n = 142) had both a FRS ≥10% and a diagnosis of MS. The main single predictor of increased cardiovascular risk was smoking (60% of whole sample). A higher prevalence of clinically evident lipodystrophy and a higher CD4 T-cell counts were found both in patients with higher FRS and in patients with high FRS and MS (both p < 0.001). Conclusions. The worst estimation of CV risk was obtained with the FRS algorithm. Clinical evidence of lipodystrophy and higher CD4 T-cell counts were closely associated to a worse cardiovascular risk profile

Time Dependence of the electron and positron components of the cosmic radiation measured by the PAMELA experiment between July 2006 and December 2015

Cosmic-ray electrons and positrons are a unique probe of the propagation of cosmic rays as well as of the nature and distribution of particle sources in our Galaxy. Recent measurements of these particles are challenging our basic understanding of the mechanisms of production, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. Particularly striking are the differences between the low energy results collected by the space-borne PAMELA and AMS-02 experiments and older measurements pointing to sign-charge dependence of the solar modulation of cosmic-ray spectra. The PAMELA experiment has been measuring the time variation of the positron and electron intensity at Earth from July 2006 to December 2015 covering the period for the minimum of solar cycle 23 (2006-2009) until the middle of the maximum of solar cycle 24, through the polarity reversal of the heliospheric magnetic field which took place between 2013 and 2014. The positron to electron ratio measured in this time period clearly shows a sign-charge dependence of the solar modulation introduced by particle drifts. These results provide the first clear and continuous observation of how drift effects on solar modulation have unfolded with time from solar minimum to solar maximum and their dependence on the particle rigidity and the cyclic polarity of the solar magnetic field

Search for spatial and temporary variations of galactic cosmic ray positrons in PAMELA experiment

AbstractThe PAMELA experiment is gathering data since 2006 on board the Resurs DK1 satellite (orbit with inclination 70.4°, the altitude 350-600km). The instrument consists magnetic spectrometer, silicon-tungsten imaging electromagnetic calorimeter, neutron detector and shower scintillator that gives possibility to measure electron and positron fluxes over wide energy range from hundreds MeVs to hundreds GeVs. Results of the experiment indicate the presence of a large flux of positron with respect to electrons in the CR spectrum above 10GeV. This excess might be originated through dark matter annihilation or in local astrophysical objects such as pulsars producing possible spatial and season variations. Electron and positron events have been analyzed searching for spatial and temporal variations from June 2006 till January 2014