Validation of suitable internal control genes for expression studies in aging.

Quantitative data from experiments of gene expression are often normalized through levels of housekeeping genes transcription by assuming that expression of these genes is highly uniform. This practice is being questioned as it becomes increasingly clear that the level of housekeeping genes expression may vary considerably in certain biological samples. To date, the validation of reference genes in aging has received little attention and suitable reference genes have not yet been defined. Our aim was to evaluate the expression stability of frequently used reference genes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with respect to aging. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we carried out an extensive evaluation of five housekeeping genes, i.e. 18s rRNA, ACTB, GAPDH, HPRT1 and GUSB, for stability of expression in samples from donors in the age range 35-74 years. The consistency in the expression stability was quantified on the basis of the coefficient of variation and two algorithms termed geNorm and NormFinder. Our results indicated GUSB be the most suitable transcript and 18s the least for accurate normalization in PBMCs. We also demonstrated that aging is a confounding factor with respect to stability of 18s, HPRT1 and ACTB expression, which were particularly prone to variability in aged donors

Observaciones sobre la enfermedad de la "hoja bronceada" del cocotero en venezuela.

La enfermedad de las "hojas bronceadas" del cocotero (Cocos nucifera) ha sido hallada en toda la costa de Venezuela, en las costas septentrional y meridional de la República Dominicana, y posiblemente en la costa Sur (Prov. de Oriente) de Cuba. Se describen detenidamente los síntomas de la enfermedad en Venezuela, en donde se estableció a lo menos desde los años 1910-1914, y donde hay centros de muy notable gravedad. Los síntomas de la enfermedad de Trinidad y la de Jamaica que Leach expone, fueron comparados con los de las enfermedades de Venezuela y la República Dominicana; teniendo la enfermedad de Venezuela síntomas intermediarios o en común con las de Trinidad y Jamaica; así mismo la enfermedad se parece a la de la República Dominicana, que, sin embargo, se parece más a la Jamaiquina. Nuestra conclusión provisional es que, más bien que dos enfermedades distintas, existentes ambas en Venezuela, trátase de una sola enfermedad, que sin embargo puede asumir "facies" distintas debido a las condiciones ambientales de cultivo (principalmente edáficas y climáticas). y probablemente también a factores individuales de productividad y adaptación a esas condiciones así como también a las variedades cultivadas

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation Acts in the DNA Demethylation of Mouse Primordial Germ Cells Also with DNA Damage-Independent Roles

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation regulates chromatin structure and transcription driving epigenetic events. In particular, Parp1 is able to directly influence DNA methylation patterns controlling transcription and activity of Dnmt1. Here, we show that ADP-ribose polymer levels and Parp1 expression are noticeably high in mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs) when the bulk of DNA demethylation occurs during germline epigenetic reprogramming in the embryo. Notably, Parp1 activity is stimulated in PGCs even before its participation in the DNA damage response associated with active DNA demethylation. We demonstrate that PARP inhibition impairs both genome-wide and locus-specific DNA methylation erasure in PGCs. Moreover, we evidence that impairment of PARP activity causes a significant reduction of expression of the gene coding for Tet1 hydroxylases involved in active DNA demethylation. Taken together these results demonstrate new and adjuvant roles of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation during germline DNA demethylation and suggest its possible more general involvement in genome reprogramming

Snoring, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes in obesity. Protection by physical activity

Sleep-related breathing disorders are recognized as major health problems in obesity. They are involved in both hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, through mechanisms possibly related to increased sympathetic tone. We studied the association of habitual snoring with diabetes, hypertension, weight cycling and physical activity in a large Italian database of treatment-seeking obese subjects. Clinical and behavioral data were assessed by standardized questionnaires. Consecutive data of 1890 obese patients were analyzed [average body mass index (BMI), 38.2 kg/m(2), median age: 46 yr, 78% females], from 25 obesity Italian centers, with low prevalence of clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease. Habitual snoring was reported in 56% of the cases, and was associated with day-time sleepiness. The prevalence increased with obesity class and waist circumference, and was positively associated with weight cycling and weight gain since the age of 20, and smoking. Regular physical activity had a protective effect. Snoring was associated with diabetes and hypertension at univariate analysis, but in multivariate analysis an independent effect was only observed for hypertension. After adjustment for age, gender and BMI, physical activity maintained an independent, protective effect on both snoring (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.49-0.84; p = 0.001), diabetes (0.50, 0.30-0.86; p = 0.011) and hypertension (0.71, 0.53-0.95; p = 0.023). We conclude that in treatment-seeking, obese subjects with low prevalence of cardiovascular disease, snoring independently increases the risk of hypertension, whereas physical activity exerts a protection on both snoring and complications. These data underline the importance of lifestyle interventions to limit the burden of obesity and associated diseases.ABSTRACT. Sleep-related breathing disorders are recognized as major health problems in obesity. They are involved in both hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, through mechanisms possibly related to increased sympathetic tone. We studied the association of habitual snoring with diabetes, hypertension, weight cycling and physical activity in a large Italian database of treatmentseeking obese subjects. Clinical and behavioral data were assessed by standardized questionnaires. Consecutive data of 1890 obese patients were analyzed [average body mass index (BMI), 38.2 kg/m2, median age: 46 yr, 78% females], from 25 obesity Italian centers, with low prevalence of clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease. Habitual snoring was reported in 56% of the cases, and was associated with day-time sleepiness. The prevalence increased with obesity class and waist circumference, and was positively associated with weight cycling and weight gain since the age of 20, and smoking. Regular physical activity had a protective effect. Snoring was associated with diabetes and hypertension at univariate analysis, but in multivariate analysis an independent effect was only observed for hypertension. After adjustment for age, gender and BMI, physical activity maintained an independent, protective effect on both snoring (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.49–0.84; p=0.001), diabetes (0.50, 0.30–0.86; p=0.011) and hypertension (0.71, 0.53–0.95; p=0.023). We conclude that in treatment-seeking, obese subjects with low prevalence of cardiovascular disease, snoring independently increases the risk of hypertension, whereas physical activity exerts a protection on both snoring and complications. These data underline the importance of lifestyle interventions to limit the burden of obesity and associated diseases

Markers of Liver Function as Potential Prognostic Indicators of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A Retrospective Analysis during the First and Second Waves of COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is known to cause a predominant respiratory disease, although extrapulmonary manifestations can also occur. One of the targets of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the hepatobiliary system. The present study aims to describe the correlation between the increase of liver damage markers (i.e. alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], total bilirubin [TB]) and COVID-19 outcomes (i.e., in-hospital mortality [IHM] and intensive care unit [ICU] transfer). Methods: All patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit of the St. Anna University-Hospital of Ferrara from March 2020 to October 2021 were retrospectively included in this single-centre study. ALT, AST and TB levels were tested in all patients and IHM or ICU transfer were considered as main outcomes. Co-morbidities were assessed using Charlson Comorbidity Index. Results: A total of 106 patients were retrieved. No hepatic marker was able to predict IHM, whereas all of them negatively predicted ICU transfer (ALT: OR 1.005, 95%CI 1.001-1.009, p= 0.011; AST: OR 1.018, 95%CI 1.006-1.030, p= 0.003; TB: OR 1.329, 95%CI 1.025-1.724, p= 0.032). Age was the only parameter significantly related to mortality. Conclusions: The present study, by correlating liver damage markers with COVID-19 outcome, showed that an increase of ALT, AST and TB predicted patients' severity, although not mortality

Role of minimally invasive surgery versus open approach in patients with early-stage uterine carcinosarcomas: a retrospective multicentric study

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare surgical and survival outcome in only patients with early-stage UCSs managed by laparotomic surgery (LPT) versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Methods: Data were retrospectively collected in four Italian different institutions. Inclusion criteria were UCS diagnosis confirmed by the definitive histological examination, and stage I or II according to the FIGO staging system. Results: Between August 2000 and March 2019, the data relative to 170 patients bearing UCSs were collected: of these, 95 were defined as early-stage disease (stage I-II) based on the histological report at the primary surgery, and thus were included in this study. Forty-four patients were managed by LPT, and 51 patients were managed by MIS. The operative time was lower in the MIS group versus the LPT group (p value 0.021); the median estimated blood loss was less in the MIS group compared to the median of LPT group (p value < 0.0001). The length of hospital stay days was shorter in the MIS patients (p value < 0.0001). Overall, there were eight (8.4%) post-operative complications; of these, seven were recorded in the LPT group versus one in the MIS group (p value 0.023). There was no difference in the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between the two groups. Conclusion: There was no difference of oncologic outcome between the two approaches, in face of a more favourable peri-operative and post-operative profile in the MIS group

High prevalence of albuminuria amongst people who inject drugs: A cross-sectional study.

Albuminuria is a key biomarker for cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Our study aimed to describe the prevalence of albuminuria amongst people who inject drugs in London and to test any potential associations with demographic characteristics, past diagnoses, and drug preparation and administration practices. We carried out a cross-sectional survey amongst people who use drugs in London. The main outcome measure was any albuminuria including both microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria. Three-hundred and sixteen samples were tested by local laboratory services. Our study initially employed point-of-care testing methods but this resulted in a high number of false positives. Our findings suggest the prevalence of albuminuria amongst PWID is twice that of the general population at 19% (95%CI 15.3-24.0%). Risk factors associated with albuminuria were HIV (aOR 4.11 [95% CI 1.37-12.38]); followed by overuse of acidifier for dissolving brown heroin prior to injection (aOR 2.10 [95% CI 1.04-4.22]). Albuminuria is high amongst people who inject drugs compared to the general population suggesting the presence of increased cardiovascular and renal pathologies. This is the first study to demonstrate an association with acidifier overuse. Dehydration may be common amongst this population and may affect the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care testing for albuminuria

Risk perception and affective state on work exhaustion in obstetrics during the COVID-19 pandemic

A multicenter cross-sectional survey study involving four Italian University Hospitals was performed to test the hypothesis that negative affect and positive affect (affective dimensions) mediate the association between risk perception (perceived risk of infection and death; cognitive dimensions) and the feeling of work exhaustion (WE) among obstetrics healthcare providers (HCPs) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Totally, 570 obstetrics HCPs were invited to complete the 104-item IPSICO survey in May 2020. A theoretical model built on the tested hypothesis was investigated by structural equation modelling. The model explained 32.2% of the WE variance. Only negative affect mediated the association between cognitive dimensions and WE and also the association between WE and psychological well-being before the pandemic, experiences of stressful events, female gender, and dysfunctional coping. Non-mediated associations with WE were observed for work perceived as a duty, experience of stressful events, support received by colleagues, and the shift strategy. Only previous psychological well-being, support by colleagues, and shift strategies were inversely associated with WE. Based on study results, monitoring negative than positive affect appears superior in predicting WE, with practical implications for planning psychological interventions in HCPs at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels