Boosting Adaptive Immunity: A New Role for PAFR Antagonists.

We have previously shown that the Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor (PAFR) engagement in murine macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) promotes a tolerogenic phenotype reversed by PAFR-antagonists treatment in vitro. Here, we investigated whether a PAFR antagonist would modulate the immune response in vivo. Mice were subcutaneously injected with OVA or OVA with PAFR-antagonist WEB2170 on days 0 and 7. On day 14, OVA-specific IgG2a and IgG1 were measured in the serum. The presence of WEB2170 during immunization significantly increased IgG2a without affecting IgG1 levels. When WEB2170 was added to OVA in complete Freund's adjuvant, enhanced IgG2a but not IgG1 production was also observed, and CD4+ FoxP3+ T cell frequency in the spleen was reduced compared to mice immunized without the antagonist. Similar results were observed in PAFR-deficient mice, along with increased Tbet mRNA expression in the spleen. Additionally, bone marrow-derived DCs loaded with OVA were transferred into naïve mice and their splenocytes were co-cultured with fresh OVA-loaded DCs. CD4(+) T cell proliferation was higher in the group transferred with DCs treated with the PAFR-antagonist. We propose that the activation of PAFR by ligands present in the site of immunization is able to fine-tune the adaptive immune response

Two Generations of Hexagonal CaAl_2Si_2O_8 (Dmisteinbergite) in the Type B2 FUN CAI STP-1

Dmisteinbergite (dmist) is a metastable hexag-onal form of CaAl_2Si_2O_8, with space group of P6_3/mcm, a = 5.10Å and c = 14.72Å [1]. First occurrence of meteoritic dmist has been reported in the Allende Type B2 FUN CAI STP-1 [2], where it appears to have crystallized from a ^(16)O-rich (Δ^(17)O ~ −25‰) silicate melt via rapid cooling [3]. Here we report on an-other textural occurrence of dmist in STP-1 - ^(16)O-poor (Δ^(17)O ~ −2‰) fine-grained crystals in alteration zone of the inclusion

Association of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels against two periodontal pathogens and prothrombotic state: a clinical pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Periodontitis is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In our previous studies a prothrombotic state has been observed in periodontitis, which contributes to the risk of CVD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum IgG levels against <it>Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) </it>and <it>Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) </it>in periodontitis were associated with a prothrombotic state.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Patients with moderate (n = 38) and severe periodontitis (n = 30) and controls (n = 24) were recruited. We explored correlations between serum anti-<it>Aa </it>and anti-<it>Pg </it>IgG and plasma levels of markers of prothrombotic state (von Willebrand Factor [vWF], prothrombin fragment 1+2 [F1+2], plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1] and D-dimer). Multivariate analyses were performed considering several major potential contributing factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Periodontitis patients showed higher anti-<it>Aa </it>IgG (<it>p </it>= 0.015) than controls but not for <it>Pg </it>(<it>p </it>= 0.320). In periodontitis patients, body mass index and anti-<it>Aa </it>IgG showed a positive correlation with vWF (β = 0.297, <it>p </it>= 0.010 and β = 0.248, <it>p </it>= 0.033 respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In periodontitis, infection with <it>Aa </it>together with other well accepted risk factors for CVD, may play a role in increasing the risk for prothrombotic state.</p

Reorganization of Active Surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) in Emilia-Romagna, Italy: a two-step Public Health intervention

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee declared in 2014 that poliovirus circulation is a public health emergency of international concern. In 2017 and 2018 Italy was classified at intermediate risk of poliovirus reintroduction based on suboptimal poliovirus surveillance. Acute flaccid paralysis active surveillance is the gold standard in the polio eradication process. The aims of this study were to investigate the causes of reduced acute flaccid paralysis case reporting in Emilia-Romagna in the last few years (step 1) and to study a public health intervention to restore an adequate level of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in that region (step 2). METHODS: In the first step a context analysis was performed by analysing the 2015-2017 Hospital Discharge Registers in Emilia-Romagna with the ICD-9-CM differential diagnosis codes for acute flaccid paralysis. Data from context analysis was then used to plan a new regional collaborative network of acute flaccid paralysis active surveillance. RESULTS: The active surveillance network was, at the end of the study, composed by 49 doctors from both hospital administrations and clinical wards from 4 University Hospitals and 7 Local Health Authorities throughout the Region. In 15 months, 7 acute flaccid paralysis cases have been reported; 85,7% received a full clinical and virological investigation and 83,3% completed the 60 day's follow-up. The mean response to each e-mail was 48,5% (SD 7,5%). CONCLUSIONS: In 2019, the Emilia-Romagna's active surveillance system reached the sensitivity, completeness of case investigation and follow-up required to achieve the minimum levels for certification standard surveillance

Jupiter Analogues Orbit Stars with an Average Metallicity Close to that of the Sun

Jupiter played an important role in determining the structure and configuration of the Solar System. Whereas hot-Jupiter type exoplanets preferentially form around metal-rich stars, the conditions required for the formation of planets with masses, orbits and eccentricities comparable to Jupiter (Jupiter analogues) are unknown. Using spectroscopic metallicities, we show that stars hosting Jupiter analogues have an average metallicity close to solar, in contrast to their hot-Jupiter and eccentric cool Jupiter counterparts, which orbit stars with super-solar metallicities. Furthermore, the eccentricities of Jupiter analogues increase with host star metallicity, suggesting that planet-planet scatterings producing highly eccentric cool Jupiters could be more common in metal-rich environments. To investigate a possible explanation for these metallicity trends, we compare the observations to numerical simulations, which indicate that metal-rich stars typically form multiple Jupiters, leading to planet-planet interactions and, hence, a prevalence of either eccentric cool Jupiters or hot-Jupiters with circularized orbits. Although the samples are small and exhibit variations in their metallicities, suggesting that numerous processes other than metallicity affect the formation of planetary systems, the data in hand suggests that Jupiter analogues and terrestrial-sized planets form around stars with average metallicities close to solar, whereas high metallicity systems preferentially host eccentric cool Jupiter or hot-Jupiters, indicating higher metallicity systems may not be favorable for the formation of planetary systems akin to the Solar System.Comment: Accepted in Ap

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on hospital surfaces

The COVID-19 pandemic, affecting 213 countries, with more than 10 million cases and over 500,000 deaths is still causing serious health, social and economic emergency worldwide. Italian Northern regions are among the most badly affected areas. Surfaces represent matrices to which particular attention should be paid for prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. A few studies have highlighted virus presence on surfaces. We report the evidence of its presence on hospital surfaces, in a single room hosting a patient whose nose-pharyngeal swab resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the admission. The surfaces sampling was carried out using pre-wetted swabs followed by extraction and amplification of viral RNA by reverse Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR). A total of 4/15 (26.66%) surfaces were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA: the right bed rail, the call button, the bed trapeze bar, the stethoscope; moreover, the patient’s inner surgical mask was positive, showing the emission of the virus from the patient. This study is a further confirmation that the surfaces represent a potential vehicle of transmission. This supports the need for strict adherence to hand and environmental hygiene. (www.actabiomedica.it)