Reduced Plasma Levels of sCD14 and I-FABP in HIV-infected Patients with Mesalazine-treated Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND: Microbial translocation (MT) is a shared feature of HIV infection and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AIMS: This study was conducted to assess the impact of IBD (and particularly ulcerative colitis, UC) on plasma markers of MT and immune activation in HIV+ subjects. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 groups of patients: HIV+/UC+(group HIV/UC); HIV+/UC- (group HIV); HIV-/UC+(group UC). Plasma levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14), intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), and endotoxin core antibodies (endoCAB) were measured as plasma markers of MT. Inflammation and immune activation were evaluated by measuring plasma levels of IL-6, IL-21, TNF-alpha, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). T- and B-cells subpopulations were characterized by FACS analysis. RESULTS: Seven patients were enrolled in group HIV/UC, 9 in HIV, and 10 in UC. All HIV-positive patients had plasma values of HIV-1 RNA < 37 copies/mL for at least 12 months and good immunological recovery. All patients with UC were treated with oral mesalazine. Markers of MT, immune activation, and inflammation were not increased in subjects with HIV/UC. In fact, they had lower levels of I-FABP (p = 0.001) and sCD14 (p = 0.007) when compared to other patients groups. Positive correlations were found between I-FABP and sCD14 (r = .355, p = 0.076). Frequency of T- and B-cell subsets did not differ among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that UC does not worsen MT, inflammation, or immune activation in HIV-infected subjects. The anti-inflammatory activity of chronic mesalazine administration on intestinal mucosa may contribute to this finding

Selective oxidation of aromatic alcohols in the presence of C3N4 photocatalysts derived from the polycondensation of melamine, cyanuric and barbituric acids

A set of C3N4 samples has been prepared by using melamine, cyanuric acid and barbituric acid as the precursors. The materials were subjected both to physical and chemical characterization and were used as photocatalysts for the selective oxidation of aromatic alcohols in water suspension under UV and visible irradiation. The photoactivity of the materials versus the partial oxidation of four substituted benzyl alcohols was investigated. The type and position of the substituents in the aromatic molecule influenced conversion and selectivity to the corresponding aldehyde. The presence of barbituric and cyanuric acids in the preparation method has changed the graphitic-C3N4 structure, and therefore both the characteristics of the material and the ability of light to activate the surface of the photocatalyst. The most active material prepared in the presence of melamine and cyanuric acid showed a remarkable selectivity towards the aldehyde even under visible irradiation

Italian experiences in the management of andrological patients at the time of Coronavirus pandemic.

The SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) was first reported in December 2019, then its rapid spread around the world caused a global pandemic in March 2020 recording a high death rate. The epicenter of the victims moved from Asia to Europe and then to the United States. In this Pandemic, the different governance mechanisms adopted by local health regional authorities made the difference in terms of contagiousness and mortality together with a community strong solidarity. This document analyzes the andrological urgencies management in public hospitals and in private practice observed in Italy and in particular in the most affected Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna and Marche

Extracellular Matrix Proteome Remodeling in Human Glioblastoma and Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastomas (MBs) and glioblastomas (GBMs) are high-incidence central nervous system tumors. Different origin sites and changes in the tissue microenvironment have been associated with the onset and progression. Here, we describe differences between the extracellular matrix (ECM) signatures of these tumors. We compared the proteomic profiles of MB and GBM decellularized tumor samples between each other and their normal decellularized brain site counterparts. Our analysis revealed that 19, 28, and 11 ECM proteins were differentially expressed in MBs, GBMs, and in both MBs and GBMs, respectively. Next, we validated key findings by using a protein tissue array with 53 MB and 55 GBM cases and evaluated the clinical relevance of the identified differentially expressed proteins through their analysis on publicly available datasets, 763 MB samples from the GSE50161 and GSE85217 studies, and 115 GBM samples from RNAseq-TCGA. We report a shift toward a denser fibrillary ECM as well as a clear alteration in the glycoprotein signature, which influences the tumor pathophysiology. MS data have been submitted to the PRIDE repository, project accession: PXD023350

Clinical comparison between conventional and microdissection testicular sperm extraction for non-obstructive azoospermia: Understanding which treatment works for which patient

Objectives: The superiority of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) over conventional TESE (cTESE) for men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is debated. We aimed to compare the sperm retrieval rate (SRR) of mTESE to cTESE and to identify candidates who would most benefit from mTESE in a cohort of Caucasian-European men with primary couple’s infertility. Material and methods: Data from 49 mTESE and 96 cTESE patients were analysed. We collected demographic and clinical data, serum levels of LH, FSH and total testosterone. Patients with abnormal karyotyping were excluded from analysis. Age was categorized according to the median value of 35 years. FSH values were dichotomized according to multiples of the normal range (N) (N and 1.5 N: 1-18 mIU/mL, and > 18 mIU/mL). Testicular histology was recorded for each patient. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses tested the impact of potential predictors on positive SRR in both groups. Results: No differences were found between groups in terms of clinical and hormonal parameters with the exception of FSH values that were higher in mTESE patients (p = 0.004). SRR were comparable between mTESE and cTESE (49.0% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.40). SRRs were significantly higher after mTESE in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) (p = 0.038), in those older than 35 years (p = 0.03) and with FSH >1.5N (p 1.5N (p = 0.018). Moreover, increased FSH levels (p = 0.03) and both SCOS (p = 0.01) and MA histology (p = 0.04) were independent predictors of SRR failure. Conclusions: Microdissection and cTESE showed comparable success rates in our cohort of patients with NOA. mTESE seems beneficial for patients older than 35 years, with high FSH values, or when SCOS can be predicted. Given the high costs associated with the mTESE approach, the identification of candidates most likely to benefit from this procedure is a major clinical need

Clinical factors affecting semen improvement after microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy: which subfertile patients benefit from surgery?

Background: The exact mechanism of varicocele-related infertility is still elusive, therefore, the current challenges for its management lie in determining which patients stand to benefit most from surgical correction. The authors aimed to assess the clinical factors affecting semen improvement after left microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (MSV) in relation to patient age, ultrasound varicocele grading (USVG), and presence of a right subclinical varicocele (RSV). Methods: From 2010 to 2017 a total of 228 infertile patients underwent left MSV for clinical varicocele. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the cohort and verify the surgical benefit in terms of semen improvement, in addition, subsets of patients were selected according to clinical covariates. Logistic regression modeling was applied to evaluate the presence of RSV, operative time, age, and USVG as explanatory variables. Results: Sperm concentration (SC), progressive sperm motility (PSM), and normal sperm morphology (NSM) increased significantly after surgery (p = 0.002; p = 0.011; p = 0.024; respectively). Mean SC improved after MSV in &gt; 35 year-old patients and the grade 3 USVG group (p = 0.01; p = 0.02; respectively). Logistic regression modeling showed a that the probability of SC improvement was 76% lower in subjects presenting RSV (p = 0.011). In addition, patients with a grade 3 USVG presented a three-times greater probability of SC improvement compared with patients with a lower USVG (p = 0.035). In addition, older patients showed a greater probability of SC improvement after MSV (p = 0.041). Conclusions: MSV is an effective varicocele-related infertility treatment that should also be offered to older patients. In addition, patients with a higher USVG benefit from surgery. In infertile men with an RSV in association with a left clinical disease, a bilateral varicocele repair should be considered

Incidence and Predictors of Infections and All-Cause Death in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: The Italian Nationwide RI-AIAC Registry

The incidence of infections associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and patient outcomes are not fully known. To provide a contemporary assessment of the risk of CIEDs infection and associated clinical outcomes. In Italy, 18 centres enrolled all consecutive patients undergoing a CIED procedure and entered a 12-months follow-up. CIED infections, as well as a composite clinical event of infection or all-cause death were recorded. A total of 2675 patients (64.3% male, age 78 (70-84)) were enrolled. During follow up 28 (1.1%) CIED infections and 132 (5%) deaths, with 152 (5.7%) composite clinical events were observed. At a multivariate analysis, the type of procedure (revision/upgrading/reimplantation) (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.38-12.08) and diabetes (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.02-4.84) were found as main clinical factors associated to CIED infection. Both the PADIT score and the RI-AIAC Infection score were significantly associated with CIED infections, with the RI-AIAC infection score showing the strongest association (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.60-3.55 for each point), with a c-index = 0.64 (0.52-0.75), p = 0.015. Regarding the occurrence of composite clinical events, the Kolek score, the Shariff score and the RI-AIAC Event score all predicted the outcome, with an AUC for the RI-AIAC Event score equal to 0.67 (0.63-0.71) p < 0.001. In this Italian nationwide cohort of patients, while the incidence of CIED infections was substantially low, the rate of the composite clinical outcome of infection or all-cause death was quite high and associated with several clinical factors depicting a more impaired clinical status