SerpinB3 promotes pro-fibrogenic responses in activated hepatic stellate cells

SerpinB3 is a hypoxia- and hypoxia-inducible factor-2\u3b1-dependent cystein protease inhibitor that is up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and in parenchymal cells during chronic liver diseases (CLD). SerpinB3 up-regulation in CLD patients has been reported to correlate with the extent of liver fibrosis and the production of transforming growth factor-\u3b21, but the actual role of SerpinB3 in hepatic fibrogenesis is still poorly characterized. In the present study we analyzed the pro-fibrogenic action of SerpinB3 in cell cultures and in two different murine models of liver fibrosis. "In vitro" experiments revealed that SerpinB3 addition to either primary cultures of human activated myofibroblast-like hepatic stellate cells (HSC/MFs) or human stellate cell line (LX2 cells) strongly up-regulated the expression of genes involved in fibrogenesis and promoted oriented migration, but not cell proliferation. Chronic liver injury by CCl4 administration or by feeding a methionine/choline deficient diet to transgenic mice over-expressing human SerpinB3 in hepatocytes confirmed that SerpinB3 over-expression significantly increased the mRNA levels of pro-fibrogenic genes, collagen deposition and \u3b1SMA-positive HSC/MFs as compared to wild-type mice, without affecting parenchymal damage. The present study provides for the first time evidence that hepatocyte release of SerpinB3 during CLD can contribute to liver fibrogenesis by acting on HSC/MFs

Il sistema bancario e la crisi finanziaria

Il presente volume, scritto e dedicato agli studenti di economia, permette di seguire, pur nella complessità dei temi, un filo logico utile ad interpretare la nuova realtà del sistema economico e bancario in seguito alla crisi finanziaria. I capitoli primo e secondo del volume, curati da Antonio Dell’Atti, descrivono in modo sistematico le cause e la natura della crisi, soffermandosi, tra le altre tematiche, sugli Accordi di Basilea e le loro conseguenze. Il capitolo terzo, di Federica Miglietta, focalizza l’attenzione sulle decisioni adottate dai Governi e dalle Banche centrali per gestire gli effetti che la crisi economico finanziaria ha indotto sull’economia reale. Il capitolo quarto, di Federica Miglietta e Antonia Patrizia Iannuzzi pone l’attenzione sui meccanismi di vigilanza unica sulle banche e la disciplina della gestione delle crisi. Mettendo in relazione gli avvenimenti finanziari con le decisioni delle Autorità di vigilanza europee (BCE, in primis) e dei decisori politici, gli autori propongono al lettore una bussola, anche temporale, per comprendere quanto accaduto e spiegare come il nuovo sistema di vigilanza unica sul sistema bancario europeo ha modificato il contesto finanziario di riferimento

Prevalence of Ureaplasma parvum in the area of Prato, Italy

In this study, the prevalence of Ureaplasma parvum in the area of Prato (Italy) was investigated. Samples from 1197 consecutive patients were analyzed. Our results showed that the prevalence of U. parvum was 33.6%, with a higher percentage in females than in males (40.6% vs 9%). In addition, the prevalence of U. parvum was significantly lower in older patients

Prevalence of Ureaplasma parvum in the area of Prato, Italy

In this study, the prevalence of Ureaplasma parvum in the area of Prato (Italy) was investigated. Samples from 1197 consecutive patients were analyzed. Our results showed that the prevalence of U. parvum was 33.6%, with a higher percentage in females than in males (40.6% vs 9%). In addition, the prevalence of U. parvum was significantly lower in older patients

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the rapid identification of aetiological agents of sepsis

Introduction: The MALDI-TOF has recently become part of the methods of microbiological investigation in many laboratories of bacteriology with advantages both practical and economical.The use of this technique for the rapid identification of the causative agents of sepsis is of strategic importance to the ability to provide the clinician with useful information for a prompt and rapid establishment of an empirical antimicrobial “targeted” therapy. Methods: It was tested a total of 343 positive blood culture bottles from 211 patients. The samples after collection were incubated in the BACTEC FX (Becton Dickinson, USA). From these bottles were taken a few milliliters of broth culture and transferred into a vacutainer tube containing gel. This was centrifuged, the supernatant was decanted, and finally recovered the bacterial suspension on the gel. With micro-organisms recovered in this way, after several washes with distilled water, was prepared a slide for microscopic examination with Gram stain, and a plate for mass spectrometry (MS-Vitek, bioMérieux, France).Then, the same samples were inoculated on solid agar media according to the protocol in use in our laboratory.The next day was checked the possible bacterial growth on solid media; we then proceeded to the identification of the colonies by Vitek MS and / or with the system Vitek2 (bioMérieux, France). Results: 258 (75.2%) positive vials show concordant results between direct identification and identification after growth on agar. For 83 (24.2%) positive bottles there has been full compliance with the microscopic examination but not with culture. In particular, two bottles (0.6%) have given complete discordance between the direct identification and that after growth. Conclusions: The protocol we use for the direct identification of organisms responsible for sepsis, directly on positive bottles, seems to be a quick and inexpensive procedure, which in less than 60 minutes can give valuable feedback to the clinician

Prevalence of Clostridium difficile infections in Prato hospital in the years 2010-2011

Clostridium difficile, a Gram positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacillus, is an important nosocomial enteric pathogen causing diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis. Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Clostridium difficile in Prato Hospital. Stool samples were collected from 1197 patients hospitalized from January 2010 to December 2011. In all the samples the common antigen GDH was investigated and only in samples positive for the antigen the presence of the A and B toxins was investigated. Our results showed that 170/1197 samples (14%) were positive for the antigen, and of these 170 patients, 84 (49%) were found positive also for the toxins. In addition the percentage of samples positive for toxins was higher in 2010 (8.6%) than in 2011 (5.9%)

Detection of T. vaginalis,M. hominis,M. genitalium, C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae and U. urealyticum using Multiplex PCR

Intoduction. The sexually transmitted diseases include a large group of infections affecting both the sexes. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma urealyticum in the Prato area during the period September 2010 – July 2011. Methods.We analysed different kind of samples (urine, endocervical swabs, urethral swabs, seminal fluids) from hospitalized patients or referred to the Prato clinic subjects.The DNA was obtained using EZ1-DNA extraction kit and EZ1 instrument.The DNA was then amplified using the Seeplex STD6 kit (Seegene, Korea), identifying multiple pathogens simultaneously (T. vaginalis, M. hominis, M. genitalium, C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae e U. urealyticum). The revelation was performed by electrophoresis on microchip (instrument Multina, Shimadzu, Japan). Results. 1136 samples from Italian and foreign patients were examined: 876 were endocervical swabs (77%), 103 urethral swabs (9%), 103 seminal fluids (9%), and 54 urines (5%). The number of females was higher than males [894 (78.7%) vs 242 (21.3%)]; the mean age of females was 37.0±11.6 years, whereas that of males was 41.5 ±12.63 years.The prevalence of urogenital pathogens was: 15 positive samples for T. vaginalis (1.3%), 56 for M. hominis (4.9%), 13 for M. genitalium (1.1%), 28 for C. trachomatis (2.5%), 8 for N. gonorrhoeae (0.7%) and 87 for U. urealyticum (7.7%).Among all positive, 25 subjects were positive for more than one pathogen and in particular: one was positive for the presence of 4 pathogens, five presented 3 pathogens simultaneously and the remaining nineteen for 2 pathogens. Conclusions. This study provides data on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the hospital of Prato

Screening for Klebsiella pneumoniae producing carbapenemase in Prato, Italy

In this study, the prevalence of carbapenemase in the area of Prato (Italy), from January 2011 to August 2013, is reported. Samples showing carbapenem resistance were tested for lactamase production with disc diffusion and molecular methods. Totally, 48 out of 1542 patients with K. pneumoniae showed carbapenem resistance (42 KPC 5 MBL and 1 OXA-48).</p

Carriage rates and risk factors during an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C ST-11 (cc11) in Tuscany, Italy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background During 2015–2016 an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease due to N. meningitidis serogroup C ST-11 (cc11) occurred in Tuscany, Italy. The outbreak affected mainly the age group 20–30 years, men who have sex with men, and the area located between the cities of Firenze, Prato and Empoli, with discos and gay-venues associated-clusters. A cross-sectional-survey was conducted to assess the prevalence and risk factors for meningococcal-carriage, in order to address public health interventions. Methods A convenience sample of people aged 11–45 years provided oropharyngeal swab specimens and completed questionnaires on risk factors for meningococcal carriage during a 3 months study-period, conducted either in the outbreak-area and in a control-area not affected by the outbreak (cities of Grosseto and Siena). Isolates were tested by culture plus polymerase chain reaction. Serogroup C meningococcal isolates were further characterized using multilocus sequence typing. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for meningococcal carriage. Results A total of 2285 oropharyngeal samples were collected. Overall, meningococcal carriage prevalence was 4.8% (n = 110), with nonencapsulated meningococci most prevalent (2.3%; n = 52). Among encapsulated meningococci, serogroup B was the most prevalent (1.8%; n = 41), followed by serogroup Y (0.5%; n = 11) and serogroup C (0.2%; n = 4); one carrier of serogroup E and one of serogroup Z, were also found (0.04%). Three individuals from the city of Empoli were found to carry the outbreak strain, C:ST-11 (cc11); this city also had the highest serogroup C carriage prevalence (0.5%). At the multivariate analyses, risk factors for meningococcal carriage were: illicit-drugs consumption (AOR 6.30; p < 0.01), active smoking (AOR 2.78; p = 0.01), disco/clubs/parties attendance (AOR 2.06; p = 0.04), being aged 20–30 years (AOR 3.08; p < 0.01), and have had same-sex intercourses (AOR 6.69; p < 0.01). Conclusions A low prevalence of meningococcal serogroup C carriage in an area affected by an outbreak due to the hypervirulent N. meningitidis serogroup C ST-11 (cc11) strain was found. The city of Empoli had the highest attack-rate during the outbreak and also the highest meningococcal serogroup C carriage-prevalence due to the outbreak-strain. Multivariate analyses underlined a convergence of risk factors, which partially confirmed those observed among meningococcal outbreak-cases, and that should be considered in targeted immunization campaigns

A multicenter study of viable PCR using propidium monoazide to detect Legionella in water samples

Legionella quantification in environmental samples is overestimated by qPCR. Combination with a viable dye, such as Propidium monoazide (PMA), could make qPCR (named then vPCR) very reliable. In this multicentre study 717 artificial water samples, spiked with fixed concentrations of Legionella and interfering bacterial flora, were analysed by qPCR, vPCR and culture and data were compared by statistical analysis. A heat-treatment at 55 °C for 10 minutes was also performed to obtain viable and not-viable bacteria. When data of vPCR were compared with those of culture and qPCR, statistical analysis showed significant differences (P &lt; 0.001). However, although the heat-treatment caused an abatement of CFU/mL ≤1 to 1 log10 unit, the comparison between untreated and heat-treated samples analysed by vPCR highlighted non-significant differences (P &gt; 0.05). Overall this study provided a good experimental reproducibility of vPCR but also highlighted limits of PMA in the discriminating capability of dead and live bacteria, making vPCR not completely reliable