Evaluation of the Siemens HIV Antigen-Antibody Immunoassay

Fourth-generation assays for the simultaneous detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen and antibodies are available on the international market and are currently used for blood donor screening and for HIV diagnosis. In this study we evaluated the performance of the novel automated fourth-generation ADVIA Centaur® HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay. The assay detected seroconversion at the same bleed or at least one bleed earlier in panels with respect to other assays and showed a detection efficacy equal to those of other assays in a low-titer panel. Samples obtained from blood donors (n = 2,778) or from HIV-positive patients (HIV-1 B subtype, n = 82; non-B subtype, n = 71) were also tested, showing a good correlation with other fourth-generation assays. We assessed the performance of 3 fourth-generation assays for detecting in utero transmitted anti-HIV antibodies and found a more specific detection efficiency with the ADVIA Centaur HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay compared to the other fourth-generation assays

Identification of Novel Putative Urinary Markers of Endometriosis by High-Resolution Quantitative Proteomics

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of functional endometrial glands..

Distribution of HCV genotypes in the metropolitan area of Naples

The Hepatitis C virus is characterized by high genomic variability that leads to the identification of six different genotypes and many subtypes. In this work, we show the prevalence of genotypes in patients living in the metropolitan area of Naples collected in one year, analyzing differences in the distribution depending on sex and age groups

Nuclear Localization of PTTG1 Promotes Migration and Invasion of Seminoma Tumor through Activation of MMP-2

(1) Background: PTTG1 sustains the invasiveness of several cancer types. We previously reported that in seminomas, PTTG1 was detected in the peripheral area of the tumor and in the leading infiltrative edge. Here, we investigate the PTTG1 role on the invasive properties of seminoma. (2) Methods: three seminoma cell lines were used as in vitro model. PTTG1 levels and localization were investigated by biochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. Wound-healing, Matrigel invasion assays, and zymography were applied to study migratory and invasive capability of the cell lines. RNA interference and overexpression experiments were performed to address the PTTG1 role in seminoma invasiveness. PTTG1 and its target MMP-2 were analyzed in human testicular tumors using the Atlas database. (3) Results: PTTG1 was highly and differentially expressed in the seminoma cell lines. Nuclear PTTG1 was positively correlated to the aggressive phenotype. Its modulation confirms these results. Atlas database analysis revealed that PTTG1 was localized in the nucleus in seminoma compared with non-seminoma tumors, and that MMP-2 levels were significantly higher in seminomas. (4) Conclusions: nuclear PTTG1 promotes invasiveness of seminoma cell lines. Atlas database supported these results. These data lead to the hypothesis that nuclear PTTG1 is an eligible prognostic factor in seminomas

Bridging a patient with acute liver failure to liver transplantation by the AMC-bioartificial liver

Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver failure (ALF) to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) by the AMC-bioartificial liver (AMC-BAL). The AMC-BAL is charged with 10 X 109 viable primary porcine hepatocytes isolated from a specified pathogen-free (SPF) pig. Here we report a patient with ALF due to acute HBV infection. This patient was treated for 35 It by two AMC-BAL treatments and was bridged to OLT. There was improvement of biochemical and clinical parameters during the treatment. No severe adverse events were observed during treatment and follow-up of 15 months after hospital discharge. Possible porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) activity could not be detected in the patient's blood or blood cells up to 12 months after treatmen

Phase I clinical trial with the AMC-bioartificial liver.

Recently a bio-artificial liver (BAL) system has been developed at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) of Amsterdam to bridge patients with acute liver failure (ALF) to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). After successful testing of the AMC-BAL in rodents and pigs with ALF, a phase I study in ALF patients waiting for (OLT) was started in Italy. We present the safety outcome of the first 7 patients aged 21-56 years with coma grade III or IV The total AMC-BAL treatment time ranged from 8 to 35 hours. Three patients received 2 treatments with two different BAL's within three days. Six of the 7 patients were successfully bridged to OLT. One patient showed improved liver function after two treatments and did not need OLT. No severe adverse events of the BAL treatment were noted. CONCLUSION: Treatment of ALF patients with the AMC-BAL is a safe and feasible technique to bridge the waiting time for an adequate liver-graft

Docosahexaenoic-Acid enhances the susceptibility of human colorectal cancer cells to 5-Fluorouracil.

PURPOSE: Powerful growth-inhibitory action has been shown for n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against colon cancer cells. We have previously described their ability to inhibit proliferation of colon epithelial cells in patients at high risk of colon cancer. In the work reported here we investigated the ability of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to potentiate the antineoplastic activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in p53-wildtype (LS-174 and Colo 320) and p53-mutant (HT-29 and Colo 205) human colon cancer cells. METHODS: When in combination with DHA, 5-FU was used at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 microM, much lower than those currently found in plasma patients after infusion of this drug. Similarly, the DHA concentrations (< or =10 microM) used in combination with 5-FU were lower than those widely used in vitro and known to cause peroxidative effects in vivo. RESULTS: Whereas the cells showed different sensitivity to the growth-inhibitory action of 5-FU, DHA reduced cell growth independently of p53 cellular status. DHA synergized with 5-FU in reducing colon cancer cell growth. The potentiating effect of DHA was attributable to the enhancement of the proapoptotic effect of 5-FU. DHA markedly increased the inhibitory effect of 5-FU on the expression of the antiapoptotic proteins BCL-2 and BCL-XL, and induced overexpression of c-MYC which has recently been shown to drive apoptosis and, when overexpressed, to sensitize cancer cells to the action of proapoptotic agents, including 5-FU. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that DHA strongly increases the antineoplastic effects of low concentrations of 5-FU. Overall, the results suggest that combinations of low doses of the two compounds could represent a chemotherapeutic approach with low toxicity

No evidence of in vitro and in vivo porcine endogenous retrovirus infection after plasmapheresis through the AMC-bioartificial liver.

BACKGROUND: Currently a number of bioartificial livers (BAL) based on porcine liver cells have been developed as a treatment to bridge acute liver failure patients to orthotopic liver transplantation or liver regeneration. These xenotransplantation related treatments hold the risk of infection of treated patients by porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) released from the porcine cells, as in vitro infection experiments and transplantations in immunocompromised mice have shown that PERV is able to infect human cells. The Academic Medical Center (AMC)-BAL, unlike other BALs, is characterized by direct contact between porcine liver cells and human plasma, and might therefore be permissive for PERV transfer. METHODS: Prior to a clinical phase I trial, human plasma perfused through the AMC-BAL was investigated for PERV DNA and RNA. Moreover productive infectivity was analyzed by exposing the plasma to HEK-293 cells that were subsequently tested for PERV DNA, PERV RNA and reverse transcriptase activity. RESULTS: Although PERV DNA was detected in the perfused plasma, no productive infectivity was detected. Consequently fourteen patients were treated with the AMC-BAL and monitored for PERV transmission. Immediately after treatment the plasma of the patients was positive for PERV DNA, most probably due to porcine liver cell lysis. The PERV DNA was cleared within 2 weeks post-treatment and no PERV RNA was detected. No productive infectivity in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells exposed to plasma of treated patients was detectable. CONCLUSION: To conclude, no release of infective PERV particles from the AMC-BAL was observed. Therefore we consider the AMC-BAL as safe, however careful surveillance of patients will be continued