Novel poly(amido-amine)-based hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering

Biodegradable and biocompatible amphoteric poly(amido-amine) (PAA)-based hydrogels, containing carboxyl groups along with amino groups in their repeating unit, were considered as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. These hydrogels were obtained by co-polymerising 2,2-bisacrylamidoacetic acid with 2-methylpiperazine with or without the addition of different mono-acrylamides as modifiers, and in the presence of primary bis-amines as cross-linking agents. Hybrid PAA/albumin hydrogels were also prepared. The polymerisation reaction was a Michael-type polyaddition carried out in aqueous media. The PAA hydrogels were soft and swellable materials. Cytotoxicity tests were carried out by the direct contact method with fibroblast cell lines on the hydrogels both in their native state (that is, as free bases) and as salts with acids of different strength, namely hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic and lactic acid. This was done in order to ascertain whether counterion-specific differences in cytotoxicity existed. It was found that all the amphoteric PAA hydrogels considered were cytobiocompatible both as free bases and salts. Selected hydrogels samples underwent degradation tests under controlled conditions simulating biological environments, i.e. Dulbecco medium at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. All samples degraded completely and dissolved within 10 d, with the exception of hybrid PAA/albumin hydrogels that did not dissolve even after eight months. The degradation products of all samples turned to be non-cytotoxic. All these results led us to conclude that PAA-based hydrogels have a definite potential as degradable matrices for biomedical applications

QuantiFERON® TB GOLD’ s applications in the tuberculosis disease

Background. Tuberculosis is the most frequent cause of death from a single infectious agent in humans and remains a serious global health problem. The latent tuberculosis (LTBI) treatment can prevent progression to active disease. People infected with LTBI are a dangerous reservoir, since any immunosuppressive factor can cause a reactivation of Mycobacterium leading to overt disease. Recent production and introduction into the healthcare system, on the other hand, are the IGRAs (Interferon-Gamma Release Assay). Materials and Methods. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold test is an ELISA assay of IFN-γ produced by sensitized lymphocytes that allows to overcome some limitations of Mantoux test, being an in vitro test with specific antigens for M. tuberculosis. In the present study we examined a population of 150 patients tested with the Mantoux test and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test. The patients were divided into categories (contacts of the case, immigrants, health care personnel, and immunocompromised subjects in biological therapy). Results. The analysis of the obtained results from the comparison of the two tests showed a good concordance rate (47.3%) in the case of double positivity and detected the highest percentage of discrepancy in the profile QuantiFERON negative/Mantoux positive. Conclusions. Our results allow to state that remains valid and effective use of the QuantiFERON test, provided it is flanked by the Mantoux test and a medical history of patients.</p

Comparison between two diagnostic system such analyzer I and RAD 120 for the determination of IgG and IgM for HSV-1 and HSV-2

Herpes Simplex Virus (Herpesviridae family, Alphaherpesviridae subfamily) induces latent infections, which could reactivate in conjunction with decreases in cell-mediated response. Features biologic and antigenic of Herpes Simplex virus are characterized from HSV-1 e HSV-2. Seronegative women can contract primary infection from seropositive partners. Seronegative women may acquire primary infection from an infected partner. Prevention is done paying attention to the risk of HSV2 in the planning and gravidnza pportune neonatal infection prevention measures (clinical examination of the birth canal at the beginning of labor). Disease prevention is performed by planning preventive measures to avoid neonatal infection. Infection occurs through direct contact with herpetic lesions or biological fluid infect. HSV-1 is usually acquired about 5 years, whether HSV-2 is contracted between 14 and 30 years by sexual contact, both can be asymptomatic and be transmitted to the partner or to the newborn during the delivery through the contact with infected secretion. The baby infected 85% of cases acquired the infection to step into the birth canal, through contact with infected secretions. The intrauterine infection is proven in 5-8% of cases; in the 8-10% of cases postnatal infection the disease spreading occurs through breast milk or herpes skin lesions.The assessment of immune status can be evaluated by different serological methods, for determinate the presence of IgG and / or IgM anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2. Aim of this work is the comparison between two diagnostic systems such Analyzer I (Euroimmun) and RAD 120 (Radim) for the determination of IgG and IgM anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2. Between July 2009 - December 2009 n. 182 samples have been tested with Analyzer I, automated ELISA system automatic, and system Rad 120, final fluorescent determination. From the obtained results we conclude that both the methods perform quit well

The Genotype MTBDRplus ver. 2.0 test as a quick indicator of resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains

Tuberculosis is still a global emergency and a major public health problem, in some cases related to the appearance of strains of multi drug resistance (MDR) and extensive drug resistance (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.The correct determination of antibiotic sensitivity profiles is therefore crucial to carry out appropriate treatment aimed to decrease the infectivity of each patient and to reduce mortality. The poor adherence to treatment by the patient or the use of therapies based on a single drug, as a result of incorrect requirements, promote the development of drug-resistance. Have some time on the market of molecular diagnostic tests that allow, quickly and directly from biological sample to search for resistance genes some key drugs of anti-TB therapy (Rifampicin and Isoniazid). One of the tests in question is the Genotype MTBDRplus ver 2.0 which can reveal the presence of genes for resistance to Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampin (RMP).The loci analyzed are those corresponding to the rpoB gene for rifampicin, katG and inhA for isoniazid. Our study is based on the analysis of 83 strains of tubercular Mycobacteria identified and isolated from patients with tuberculosis disease and subjected to the tests sensitivity, searching for mutations and phenotypic susceptibility testing for Rifampicin and Isoniazid.The comparison of the results has shown that the results obtained using the Genotype MTBDRplus ver 2.0 test, were similar to the results obtained by the traditional susceptibility testing

Asthma in patients admitted to emergency department for COVID-19: prevalence and risk of hospitalization

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