Cardiovascular patients in COVID-19 era, a case series, an experience from a tertiary cardiovascular center in Tehran, Iran

Different cardiovascular presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 can be seen because of the systemic involvement. Considering its new presentations, there is need for further studies regarding the mechanistic pathways involved. © 2020 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Lt

Regulación de la expresión de IL-33 e IL-17 por la modulación farmacológica de HIF-1 en un modelo murino de inflamación alérgica pulmonar

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la modulación farmacológica de HIF-1 en la expresión de IL-33 e IL-17 en un modelo murino de inflamación alérgica pulmonar (IAP) con diferentes grados de severidad. Métodos: 5 ratones/grupo recibieron ovoalbúmina (OVA) 1(leve), 2(moderada) o 3(severa) retos vía i.t. previa sensibilización como alergeno, además los grupos de inducción o inhibición de HIF-1α, recibieron EDHB (OVA+EDHB) i.p. o 2ME (OVA+2ME) i.t. respectivamente. Los grupos controles recibieron solución salina (SS) de igual forma. Se realizaron tinciones de HE (infiltrado inflamatorio), PAS (producción de moco) e inmunohistoquímicas de HIF-1α, IL-33, IL-17, analizando cuantitativamente por patología digital. Resultados: Obtuvimos diferentes grados de severidad a mayor número de retos, incrementando la expresión de HIF-1, correlacionando con la expresión de IL- 33/IL-17. Aumentando o disminuyendo, respectivamente por la modulación farmacológica. Conclusiones: Lo anterior sugiere que la alta expresión de HIF-1 favorece la producción de IL-33 e IL-17 contribuyendo al daño en el tejido pulmonar y la severidad de la enfermedad y estas pueden ser reguladas a través de la modulación de HIF-1

Prevalence of human papillomavirus cervical infection in an Italian asymptomatic population

BACKGROUND: In the last decade many studies have definitely shown that human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the major cause of cervical carcinogenesis and, in the last few years, HPV testing has been proposed as a new and more powerful tool for cervical cancer screening. This issue is now receiving considerable attention in scientific and non scientific press and HPV testing could be considered the most important change in this field since the introduction of cervical cytology. This paper reports our prevalence data of HPV infection collected in the '90s, while a follow up of these patients is ongoing. METHODS: For this study we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to search HPV DNA sequences in cervical cell scrapings obtained from 503 asymptomatic women attending regular cervical cancer screening program in the city of Genova, Italy. All patients were also submitted to a self-administered, standardized, questionnaire regarding their life style and sexual activity. On the basis of the presence of HPV DNA sequences women were separated into two groups: "infected" and "non infected" and a statistical analysis of the factors potentially associated with the infection group membership was carried out. RESULTS: The infection rate was 15.9% and the most frequent viral type was HPV 16. CONCLUSION: Our HPV positivity rate (15.9%) was consistent to that reported by other studies on European populations

In vitro study on the schedule-dependency of the interaction between pemetrexed, gemcitabine and irradiation in non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Based on their different mechanisms of action, non-overlapping side effects and radiosensitising potential, combining the antimetabolites pemetrexed (multitargeted antifolate, MTA) and gemcitabine (2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine, dFdC) with irradiation (RT) seems promising. This <it>in vitro </it>study, for the first time, presents the triple combination of MTA, dFdC and irradiation using various treatment schedules.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The cytotoxicity, radiosensitising potential and cell cycle effect of MTA were investigated in A549 (NSCLC) and CAL-27 (SCCHN) cells. Using simultaneous or sequential exposure schedules, the cytotoxicity and radiosensitising effect of 24 h MTA combined with 1 h or 24 h dFdC were analysed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Including a time interval between MTA exposure and irradiation seemed favourable to MTA immediately preceding or following radiotherapy. MTA induced a significant S phase accumulation that persisted for more than 8 h after drug removal. Among different MTA/dFdC combinations tested, the highest synergistic interaction was produced by 24 h MTA followed by 1 h dFdC. Combined with irradiation, this schedule showed a clear radiosensitising effect.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results from our <it>in vitro </it>model suggest that the sequence 24 h MTA → 1 h dFdC → RT is the most rational design and would, after confirmation in an <it>in vivo </it>setting, possibly provide the greatest benefit in the clinic.</p