Accelerated aging in perinatally HIV-infected children: clinical manifestations and pathogenetic mechanisms

BACKGROUND: Premature aging and related diseases have been documented in HIV-infected adults. Data are now emerging also regarding accelerated aging process in HIV-infected children. METHODS: A narrative review was performed searching studies on PubMed published in English language in 2004-2017, using appropriate key words, including "aging", "children", "HIV", "AIDS", "immunosenescence", "pathogenesis", "clinical conditions". RESULTS: Premature immunosenescence phenotype of B and T cells in HIV-infected children is mediated through immune system activation and chronic inflammation. Ongoing inflammation processes have been documented by increased levels of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS), increased mitochondrial damage, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and a positive correlation between sCD14 levels and percentages of activated CD8+ cells. Other reported features of premature aging include cellular replicative senescence, linked to an accelerated telomeres shortening. Finally, acceleration of age-associated methylation pattern and other epigenetic modifications have been described in HIV-infected children. All these features may favor the clinical manifestations related to premature aging. Lipid and bone metabolism, cancers, cardiovascular, renal, and neurological systems should be carefully monitored, particularly in children with detectable viremia and/or with CD4/CD8 ratio inversion. CONCLUSION: Aging processes in children with HIV infection impact their quality and length of life. Further studies regarding the mechanisms involved in premature aging are needed to search for potential targets of treatment

Effects of Two Concentrations of a Clinical Propofol Formulation on Canine Mammary Tumor Cells NET1 Gene Expression: A Preliminary Evaluation of Possible Anti-Metastatic Properties

Background: Several studies show that anesthesia for primary cancer surgery might influence cancer recurrence regulating specific gene expression like the Neuroepithelial transforming (NET) 1 protein. This gene has been associated with malignant behaviors and represents a novel prognostic marker in human epithelial cancers. The present study investigates the in vitro effects of a clinically available propofol formulation on NET1 expression in canine mammary tumor cells, as a potential translational model. Methods: Two canine mammary tumor cell lines, primary (CIPp) and metastatic (CIPm), were incubated with propofol (1-10 μg ml-1). Cells were lysate and RNA isolated at pre-established time points. A quantitative PCR was performed to evaluate NET1 gene expression and resulting delta cycle thresholds compared. Results: Baseline NET1 gene expression was lower in CIPm compared with CIPp. Both propofol concentrations increased NET1 mRNA levels in CIPp after 6 hours. In CIPm the higher propofol concentration caused a reduction in gene expression after 6 hours. Propofol decreased gene expression in both cell lines and only in CIPp after 12 and 24 hours, respectively. No differences were found in CIPm after 48 hours. The higher concentration of propofol increased gene expression in CIPp after 48 hours. Conclusions: Metastatic cells showed a lower basal NET1 expression and were less responsive to treatments compared to primary tumor cells. Propofol effectively influenced NET1 gene expression without a clear dose dependency. Most treatment time-points showed a decreased NET1 gene expression, although increases were also observed. Keywords: Anesthesia cancer; canine mammary tumor; NET1 gene; propofol.Peer reviewe

Automatic three-dimensional features extraction: The case study of L'Aquila for collapse identification after April 06, 2009 earthquake

This paper illustrates an innovative methodology for post-earthquake collapsed building recognition, based on satellite-image classification methodologies and height variation information. Together, the techniques create a robust classification that seems to yield good results in this application field. In the first part of this study, two different feature extraction methodologies were compared, based respectively on pixel-based and object-oriented approaches. Then the classification results of the most accurate classification methodology, obtained on an eight band WorldView-2 monoscopic image, were completed with height variation information before and after the event. The height difference is calculated, comparing a photogrammetric DSM, obtained using a photogrammetric rigorous orbital model on some EROS-B 0.7 metre across-track stereopairs with a 'roof model' before the earthquake

Canine mammary tumour cells exposure to sevoflurane : effects on cell proliferation and neuroepithelial transforming gene 1 expression

Objective The influence of perioperative factors, such as anaesthetic and analgesic techniques, on metastatic spread following surgery for primary cancer removal is of growing interest. The present study investigated the effects of sevoflurane on canine mammary tumour cell proliferation (MTT colorimetric assay) and on the expression of neuroepithelial transforming gene 1 (NET1). Study design Prospective controlled in vitro trial. Study material Primary (CIPp) and metastatic canine tubular adenocarcinoma (CIPm) cells. Methods To perform MTT tests, cell lines were seeded at a density of 3000 cells per well and incubated with sevoflurane (1, 2.5 or 4 mM) or only with the culture medium (control). Sevoflurane was added to the cell cultures every hour to avoid changes in drug concentration. MTT assays were performed after 6 hours of exposure obtaining absolute values of absorbance. The RNA isolated from the lysates of the same cell lines underwent quantitative polymerase chain reaction to evaluate NET1 gene expression changes compared with controls. One-or two-way analysis of variance was used as appropriate (p <0.05). Results A significant increase in cell proliferation compared with controls was observed in CIPp treated with lower sevoflurane concentrations, whereas a significant decrease in cell proliferation was found in CIPm treated with all the sevoflurane concentrations. All CIPp treatments did not induce changes in gene expression compared with controls, whereas a significant increase in gene expression was observed in CIPm between controls and the higher sevoflurane concentration. Conclusions and clinical relevance Sevoflurane treatments modified the cell proliferation rate in both cell lines showing an increase or decrease when applied to CIPp or CIPm, respectively. Expression of the NET1 gene increased after treatment with sevoflurane 4 mM in metastatic cells. The role of sevoflurane on cancer recurrence should be further investigated.Peer reviewe

Hydrolyzed protein formula for allergy prevention in preterm infants: follow-up analysis of a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background: Allergic diseases are a major public health burden worldwide. Evidence suggests that early nutrition might play a key role in the future development of allergies and the use of hydrolyzed protein formulas have been proposed to prevent allergic disease, mainly in term infants with risk factors. Aim: To evaluate the preventive effect of a hydrolyzed protein formula vs. an intact protein formula on allergy development in preterm infants with or without risk factors. Methods: We performed a 3-year follow-up study of a previous triple-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Evidence of atopic dermatitis, asthma and IgE-mediated food allergies were evaluated according to a validated parental questionnaire (Comprehensive Early Childhood Allergy Questionnaire). Food sensitization was also investigated by skin prick test at 3 years of chronological age. Results: Of the 30 subjects in the intact protein formula group and 30 in the extensively hydrolyzed formula group, respectively 18 and 16 completed the 3-year follow-up and entered the final analysis. No group differences in the incidence of atopic dermatitis, asthma, IgE-mediated food allergies, and food sensitization were found. Conclusion: Despite the small number of cases, extensively hydrolyzed protein formula seems to be ineffective in allergic diseases prevention in preterm neonates. Further adequately powered, randomized controlled trials evaluating hydrolyzed protein formula administration to prevent allergic diseases in preterm neonates are needed

Comparative study of different functionalized graphene-nanoplatelet aqueous nanofluids for solar energy applications

The optical properties of nanofluids are peculiar and interesting for a variety of applications. Among them, the high light extinction coefficient of nanofluids can be useful in linear parabolic concentrating solar systems, while their properties under high light irradiation intensities can be exploited for direct solar steam generation. The optical characterization of colloids, including the study of non-linear optical properties, is thus a needed step to design the use of such novel materials for solar energy exploitation. In this work, we analysed two different types of nanofluids, consisting of polycarboxylate chemically modified graphene nanoplatelets (P-GnP) and sulfonic acid-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (S-GnP) dispersed in water, at three concentrations from 0.005 wt% to 0.05 wt%. Moderately stable nanofluids were achieved with favourable light extinction properties, as well as a non-linear optical behaviour under high input solar intensities

Immune activation, immune senescence and levels of Epstein Barr Virus in kidney transplant patients: Impact of mTOR inhibitors

Abstract Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) represent a severe complication in transplanted patients and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is the main driver. Besides immunodepression, immune activation/chronic inflammation play an important role in both virus reactivation and expansion of EBV-positive B cells. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of immunosuppressive strategies on factors involved in the PTLD's pathogenesis. 124 kidney transplanted patients were enrolled in this study: 71 were treated with mycophenolic acid (MPA) and 53 treated with mTOR inhibitor (mTORi), both in combination with different doses of calcineurin inhibitor. At the time of the transplant (T0), profile of inflammation/immune activation and immune senescence didn't differ between the two groups, but after one year of treatment (T1) markers were significantly higher in MPA-treated patients; their immunosenescence process was supported by the greater erosion of telomeres despite their younger age. Percentages of activated B cells and levels of EBV-DNA significantly increased in MPA-treated patients, and at T1 were significantly higher in MPA- than in mTORi-treated patients. Overall, these findings indicate that mTOR inhibitors constrain the inflammation/immune activation and senescence status, thus reducing the expansion of EBV-infected B cells and the risk of virus-associated PTLD in kidney transplant recipients