SEC22 AND SLY2 ARE IDENTICAL

[No abstract available

Chlamydia trachomatis-associated respiratory disease in the very early neonatal period

Of 103 preterm neonates admitted consecutively to the neonatal intensive care unit soon after birth for respiratory distress, 8 were found to be Chlamydia trachomatis-positive as early as within the first 24 h of life. All these patients required mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen. Six infants had evidence on chest radiographs of hyaline membrane disease, one of pneumonia, and one of slight bilateral parenchymal changes. Our results suggest that the presence of C. trachomatis in preterm infants with neonatal respiratory distress is probably not an infrequent event

Monoclonal antibodies to human low density lipoprotein identify distinct areas on apolipoprotein B-100 relevant to the low density lipoprotein-receptor interaction.

We have characterized the epitopes for ten murine monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to human low density lipoprotein (LDL) and studied their ability to interfere with the LDL-receptor interaction. The epitopes for the antibodies were defined by using the following approaches: 1) interaction with apoB-48; 2) interaction with apoB-100 thrombolytic fragments; and 3) interaction with beta-galactosidase-apoB fusion proteins spanning different areas of the apoB-100 sequence. The results obtained are consistent with the following map of epitopes: Mab 6E, amino acids (aa) 1-1297, Mabs 5A and 6B, aa 1480-1693, Mabs 2A, 7A, 3B, and 4B, aa 2152-2377, Mabs 8A and 9A, aa 2657-3248 and 3H, aa 4082-4306. Four Mabs (2A, 5A, 7A, and 9A) whose epitopes are located in three different areas of apoB, dramatically reduced (up to 95%) the LDL-receptor interaction on cultured human fibroblasts; Fab fragments were as effective as the whole antibodies. Mab 3H, on the other hand, increased LDL binding up to threefold. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that several areas of apoB-100 are involved independently or in concert in modulating the apoprotein B conformation required for interaction with the LDL receptor

Virus dell'epatite C nei pazienti in trattamento emodialitico in lista per trapianto di rene: l'esperienza di Padova

Abstract non disponibil

West Nile virus transmission. results from the integrated surveillance system in Italy, 2008 to 2015

IIn Italy a national Plan for the surveillance of imported and autochthonous human vector-borne diseases (chikungunya, dengue, Zika virus disease and West Nile virus (WNV) disease) that integrates human and veterinary (animals and vectors) surveillance, is issued and revised annually according with the observed epidemiological changes. Here we describe results of the WNV integrated veterinary and human surveillance systems in Italy from 2008 to 2015. A real time data exchange protocol is in place between the surveillance systems to rapidly identify occurrence of human and animal cases and to define and update the map of affected areas i.e. provinces during the vector activity period from June to October. WNV continues to cause severe illnesses in Italy during every transmission season, albeit cases are sporadic and the epidemiology varies by virus lineage and geographic area. The integration of surveillance activities and a multidisciplinary approach made it possible and have been fundamental in supporting implementation of and/or strengthening preventive measures aimed at reducing the risk of transmission of WNV trough blood, tissues and organ donation and to implementing further measures for vector control

Simultaneous medullary and papillary thyroid cancer: two case reports

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) have always been considered different from each other; in their incidence, their cell origin and their histopathological features.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This paper describes two rare cases of the simultaneous occurrence of MTC and PTC in the thyroid gland. Case 1 is unique for different reasons: (a) the patient was affected by both multicentric MTC and PTC; (b) a "composite thyroid carcinoma" with mixed feautures of MTC and PTC carcinomas was found in the istmus of the gland; and (c) these tumors were associated with diffuse lymphocytic-type thyroiditis (LT). Case 2 is notable for the long follow up: 16 years disease free.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There are only 16 reports in the English medical literature describing a total of 20 cases of concurrent occurrence of both PTC and MTC in the same thyroid gland. We discuss whether the finding of another cancer in these patients was coincidental or from possible activation of a common tumorigenic pathway for both follicular and parafollicular thyroid cells.</p

Detrimental effects of ocean acidification on the economically important Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum)

The mean predicted decrease of 0.3-0.4 pH units in the global surface ocean by the end of the century has prompted urgent research to assess the potential effects of ocean acidification on the marine environment, with strong emphasis on calcifying organisms. Among them, the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum) is expected to be particularly susceptible to acidification effects, due to the elevated solubility of its Mg-calcite skeleton. This, together with the large overexploitation of this species, depicts a bleak future for this organism over the next decades. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low pH on the species from aquaria experiments. Several colonies of C. rubrum were long-term maintained for 314 days in aquaria at two different pH levels (8.10 and 7.81, pHT). Calcification rate, spicule morphology, major biochemical constituents (protein, carbohydrates and lipids) and fatty acids composition were measured periodically. Exposure to lower pH conditions caused a significant decrease in the skeletal growth rate in comparison with the control treatment. Similarly, the spicule morphology clearly differed between both treatments at the end of the experiment, with aberrant shapes being observed only under the acidified conditions. On the other hand, while total organic matter was significantly higher under low pH conditions, no significant differences were detected between treatments regarding total carbohydrate, lipid, protein and fatty acid composition. However, the lower variability found among samples maintained in acidified conditions relative to controls, suggests a possible effect of pH decrease on the metabolism of the colonies. Our results show, for the first time, evidence of detrimental ocean acidification effects on this valuable and endangered coral species

Does social cognition change? Evidence after 4 years from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses

BackgroundDeficits in social cognition (SC) are significantly related to community functioning in schizophrenia (SZ). Few studies investigated longitudinal changes in SC and its impact on recovery. In the present study, we aimed: (a) to estimate the magnitude and clinical significance of SC change in outpatients with stable SZ who were assessed at baseline and after 4 years, (b) to identify predictors of reliable and clinically significant change (RCSC), and (c) to determine whether changes in SC over 4 years predicted patient recovery at follow-up. MethodsThe reliable change index was used to estimate the proportion of true change in SC, not attributable to measurement error. Stepwise multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of RCSC in a SC domain (The Awareness of Social Inference Test [TASIT]) and the effect of change in TASIT on recovery at follow-up. ResultsIn 548 participants, statistically significant improvements were found for the simple and paradoxical sarcasm of TASIT scale, and for the total score of section 2. The reliable change index was 9.8. A cut-off of 45 identified patients showing clinically significant change. Reliable change was achieved by 12.6% and RCSC by 8% of participants. Lower baseline TASIT sect. 2 score predicted reliable improvement on TASIT sect. 2. Improvement in TASIT sect. 2 scores predicted functional recovery, with a 10-point change predicting 40% increase in the probability of recovery. ConclusionsThe RCSC index provides a conservative way to assess the improvement in the ability to grasp sarcasm in SZ, and is associated with recovery

Autistic symptoms in unaffected first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia: results from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses multicenter study

Background. Autistic symptoms represent a frequent feature in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). However, the prevalence and the cognitive and functional correlates of autistic symptoms in unaffected first-degree relatives of people with SSD remain to be assessed.Methods. A total of 342 unaffected first-degree relatives related to 247 outpatients with schizophrenia were recruited as part of the multicenter study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses (NIRP). Autistic features were measured with the PANSS Autism Severity Scale. Three groups of participants, defined on the presence and severity of autistic symptoms, were compared on a wide array of cognitive and functional measures.Results. Of the total sample, 44.9% presented autistic symptoms; 22.8% showed moderate levels of autistic symptoms, which can be observed in the majority of people with SSD. Participants with higher levels of autistic symptoms showed worse performance on Working Memory (p = 0.014) and Social Cognition (p = 0.025) domains and in the Global Cognition composite score (p = 0.008), as well as worse on functional capacity (p = 0.001), global psychosocial functioning (p &lt; 0.001), real-world interpersonal relationships (p &lt; 0.001), participation in community activities (p = 0.017), and work skills (p = 0.006).Conclusions. A high prevalence of autistic symptoms was observed in first-degree relatives of people with SSD. Autistic symptoms severity showed a negative correlation with cognitive performance and functional outcomes also in this population and may represent a diagnostic and treatment target of considerable scientific and clinical interest in both patients and their first-degree relatives