Citomegalovirus nei pazienti trapiantati d\u2019organo

aim of the work Calprotectin (CalP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) are biochemical markers in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Their increased concentration indicates the onset of an inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to valuate the correlation between the levels of calprotectin and myeloperoxidase detected in the crevicular fluid (GCF) at different probing depth (PPD). Materials and methods In a total of 11 subjects with chronic periodontitis, non smokers enjoying good health and who had not undergone periodontal nor antibiotic therapy in the 6 months prior the study, 60 sites were randomly selected and bleeding on probing (BOP), PPD, quantity of GCF and concentration of MPO and CalP were recorded. The volume of GCF was assessed through inserting PerioCol paper strips in the periodontal pockets for 10 seconds, then analyzed with a micro-moisture meter electronic instrument (Periotrom 6000, Siemens). The determination of the CalP was performed by enzyme immunoassay. The determination of MPO in the crevicular fluid was performed using the spectrophotometric reading of optical density. The results were statistically analyzed (SPSS16). Results PPD 5 mm (GCF=0,72 \u3bcg/\u3bcl; CalP=10,06 \u3bcg/\u3bcl; MPO=3,69 \u3bcg/\u3bcl); PPD 6 mm (GCF=0,78 \u3bcg/\u3bcl; CalP=10,64 \u3bcg/\u3bcl; MPO=5,45 \u3bcg/\u3bcl); PPD 657 mm (GCF=1,32 \u3bcg/\u3bcl; CalP=7,20 \u3bcg/\u3bcl; MPO=5,55 \u3bcg/\u3bcl). There were no statistically significant differences in the concentrations of MPO and CalP in the deeper periodontal pocket. Conclusion The concentration ofmyeloperoxidase seems significantly related to the increased presence of neutrophils into the deepest pockets

Diabetes Mellitus and Vitamin D Deficiency: Comparable Effect on Survival and a Deadly Association after a Myocardial Infarction

Survivors after a myocardial infarction (MI), especially those with diabetes mellitus (DM),remain at high risk of further events. Identifying and treating factors that may influence survivalmay open new therapeutic strategies. We assessed the impact on prognosis of DM andhypovitaminosis D (hypovitD), alone or combined. In this prospective, observational study, 1081patients were enrolled surviving an MI and divided into four groups according to their diabetic andVitD status. The primary end-point was composite of all-cause mortality, angina/MI and heartfailure (HF). Secondary outcomes were mortality, HF and angina/MI. During a follow-up of 26.1months (IQR 6.6-64.5), 391 subjects experienced the primary end-point. Patients with DM orhypovitD had similar rate of the composite end-point. Patients with only hypovitD or DM did notdiffer regarding components of composite end-point (angina p = 0.97, HF p = 0.29, mortality p = 0.62).DM and VitD deficiency had similarly adjusted risks for primary end-point (HR 1.3, 95%CI 1.05-1.61; HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.04-1.64). The adjusted HR for primary composite end-point for patients withhypovitD and DM was 1.69 (95%CI 1.25-2.29, p = 0.001) in comparison to patients with neitherhypoD nor DM. In conclusion, DM and hypovitD, individually and synergistically, are associatedwith a worse outcome after MI

Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Diseases

Vitamin D is a hormone with pleiotropic effects; it controls calcium homeostasis, immune response, hemodynamic wall stress (by inhibiting Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System, RAAS, and modulating the endothelial function) and inflammation. In the last decade, numerous studies have focused on the role of vitamin D levels in the setting of cardiovascular disease. In particular, it has been shown that insufficient Vitamin D levels are frequently observed among patients with cardiovascular disease. Hypovitaminosis D activates the renin angiotensin system, causes endothelial dysfunction, reduces cardiomyocyte contractility and is associated with adverse left ventricular remodelling after myocardial infarction. Also, low Vitamin D levels are associated with worse outcome. However, there is still no evidence in supporting an extended use of oral hormone supplementation. Two big epidemiological studies including patients from general practice suggested a U-shape correlation between Vitamin D levels and survival; furthermore, we observed similar results in survivors after myocardial infarction; the prognosis of patients with Vitamin D -i.e., 25-(OH) D- levels 30 ng/mL was markedly worse than the prognosis of patients with levels between 10 and 30 ng/mL. Probably, the new therapeutic strategy should consider the non-linear relationship that exists between Vitamin D levels and the prognosis and should provide careful measurements of the blood levels of this hormone

PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF TUMOR INFILTRATING LYMPHOCITES (TILS) IN EPITHELIOID PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA

Objective. The inflammation is known to be essential in the neoplastic progression, nevertheless this host-tumor interaction has not been yet clarified. Whilst neoangiogenesis might stimulate the tumor progression, simultaneously this process could interfere with tumor growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of intra- and peri- tumor infiltrating lymphocites (TILs) and correlate this parameter with the overall survival. Material and Methods. We retrospectively collected 50 cases of epithelioid pleural mesthelioma analyzed from 2005 until 2016 by UCO di Anatomia e Istologia Patologica di Trieste. Immunohistochemistry staining of CD3 was performed to define intra-tumor lymphocites count. Intraepithelial, stromal and peritumoral TILs was assessed using the following scoring system: score 1 when TILs percentage ranges between 6 and 25%; score 2 when TILs percentage ranges between 26 and 50% and score 3 between 51% and 75%. Data were statistically analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method using a dedicated software (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The level of significance was p < 0.05. Results. In this sample the average and median age were 70 and 71 respectively. The 4-years OS was 16% (n=8) with 42 deaths due to mesothelioma and the event occurred after an average period 14.97 months long. Neither intraepithelial nor stromal TILs scores correlated with OS (p>0.05). On the contrary, high scores (2+3 score) of peritumoral TILs significantly correlates with improved OS (p=0.02). Conclusions. In our experience, peritumoral TILs was a positive prognostic factor in epithelioid pleural mesothelioma. This result suggests to include an immunological analysis in the therapeutical approach to mesothelioma because it has to be clarify how immune elements take part in the tumor progression. Aiming to stimulate a specific antitumor immune response,further studies are needed to optimize the immunotherapy

Epidemiological and molecular assessment of a Rubella outbreak in North-Eastern Italy

International audienceFrom January to June 2008, a rubella outbreak involving 111 laboratory confirmed cases occurred in the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region of North-Eastern Italy. The outbreak occurred initially in two residential homes for young adults disabled mentally and physically. Subsequently, the epidemic spread to the general population. Young adult cohorts were mostly affected and the mean age of the patients was 26.8 years; the majority of cases were male (73.8%), with a mean age of 26.6 years in males and 27.4 in females. Three pregnant women had a primary infection and two had their pregnancies terminated. Genotyping of sixteen isolates showed the circulation of RUBV 2B, a genotype originating from Asia and South Africa and now present in Europe. In addition, molecular analysis revealed a well defined space-temporal spread of two viruses showing distinct sequences. A seroepidemiological survey carried out in a city within the same geographical area showed that the proportion of women of childbearing age still susceptible to rubella virus was 5.5%, fairly close to the figure (less than 5%) expected by 2010

Efficacy of zinc supplementation in preventing acute hepatitis in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats

Objectives: Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats are characterized by an abnormal hepatic deposition of copper (Cu) due to a lack of the Cu-transporter P-type adenosine triphosphatase: accordingly, the strain is a good animal model of Wilson's disease. The effect of oral zinc (Zn) acetate treatment on the development of acute hepatitis and the biochemical parameters of Cu-induced liver damage was studied in 5-week-old LEC rats (n=52). Methods: Rats receiving 50 or 80 mg/ml/day Zn acetate by gavage and control rats receiving a daily dose of glucose solution 0.02 g/ml by gastric intubation were killed at 1, 2 or 8 weeks after the start of treatment. Results: Treatment with Zn acetate resulted in the prevention of acute hepatitis: 10 of the 13 untreated rats developed signs and symptoms compatible with acute hepatitis between the 6th and 7th week of treatment. Tissue metallothionein (MT) significantly increased in the treated rats and positively correlated with Zn concentrations within the liver. Control rats had a significantly higher iron concentration in the liver and kidneys compared with supplemented rats, after both short- and long-term experiments. 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine amounts were significantly lower in untreated rats. Conclusions: Zn acetate prevents acute hepatitis, by increasing tissue MT concentrations, reducing Cu absorption and interfering with Fe metabolism

Persistent viremia and urine shedding of tick-borne encephalitis virus in an infected immunosuppressed patient from a new epidemic cluster in North-Eastern Italy

A persistent tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in an immune-suppressed patient is presented. Such an unusual clinical case offers the unique chance of detecting persistent viremia associated to the erythrocyte fraction and shedding of the virus in the urine for more than six weeks. The infection occurred in a new area of the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region (North Eastern Italy) where two additional cases are also being reported

Ghrelin Derangements in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Impact of Myocardial Disease Duration and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin may exert positive effects on cardiac structure and function in heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS: We assessed ghrelin levels in 266 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients and in 200 age, gender and body mass index (BMI) matched controls. Further, we evaluated the expression of ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue-receptor (GHSR) in the myocardium of 41 DCM patients and in 11 controls. RESULTS: DCM patients had significantly lower levels of total, acylated and unacylated ghrelin when compared to controls (p < 0.05 for all). In controls, we observed a negative correlation of ghrelin with age, male gender and BMI. These correlations were lost in the DCM group, except for male gender. Total ghrelin was higher in patients with more recent diagnosis when compared to patients with longer duration of the DCM (p = 0.033). Further, total ghrelin was higher in patients with lower left ventricular systolic function (<40% LVEF, vs. 40% 64 LVEF < 49% vs. LVEF 65 50%: 480.8, vs. 429.7, vs. 329.5 pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.05). Ghrelin prepropeptide was expressed more in DCM patients than in controls (p = 0.0293) while GHSR was expressed less in DCM patients (p < 0.001). Furthermore, ghrelin showed an inverse correlation with its receptor (\uf072\uf020= -0.406, p = 0.009), and this receptor showed a significant inverse correlation with Interleukin-1\uf062 (\uf072\uf020\uf020= -0.422, p = 0.0103). CONCLUSION: DCM duration and severity are accompanied by alterations in the ghrelin-GHSR system