Airway Remodeling in Feline Lungs

Airway remodeling encompass structural changes that occur as the result of chronic injury and lead to persistently altered airway structure and function. Although this process is known in several human respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), airway remodeling is poorly characterized in the feline counterpart. In this study, we describe the spontaneous pulmonary changes in 3 cats paralleling the airway remodeling reported in humans. We observed airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) hyperplasia (peribronchial and interstitial), airway subepithelial and interstitial fibrosis, and vascular remodeling by increased number of vessels in the bronchial submucosa. The hyperplastic ASMCs co-expressed α-SMA, vimentin and desmin suggesting that vimentin, which is not normally expressed by ASMCs, may play a role in airway thickening, and remodeling. ASMCs had strong cytoplasmic expression of TGFβ-1, which is known to contribute to tissue remodeling in asthma and in various bronchial and interstitial lung diseases, suggesting its involvement in the pathogenesis of ASMCs hyperplasia. Our findings provide histologic evidence of airway remodeling in cats. Further studies on larger caseloads are needed to support our conclusions on the value of this feline condition as an animal model for nonspecific airway remodeling in humans

Non-assembled orf2 capsid protein of porcine circovirus 2b does not confer protective immunity

Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) vaccines are based on either inactivated whole virion, or recombinant ORF2 capsid protein assembled into Virus-like Particles (VLPs). No data are available about the immunizing properties of free, non-assembled capsid protein. To investigate this issue, ORF2 of a reference PCV2b strain was expressed in a Baculovirus-based expression system without assembly into VLPs. The free purified protein was formulated into an oil vaccine at three distinct Ag payloads: 10.8/3.6/1.2 micrograms/dose. Each dose was injected intramuscularly into five, 37-day old piglets, carefully matched for maternally-derived antibody. Five control piglets were injected with sterile PBS in oil adjuvant. Twenty-eight days later, all the pigs were challenged intranasally with 105.3 TCID50 of PCV2b strain DV6503. After challenge infection, all the pigs remained in good clinical conditions. The recombinant vaccine did not induce significant antibody and PCV2-specific IFN-γ responses. ELISPOT and lymphocyte proliferation data confirmed poor induction of cell-mediated immunity. In terms of PCV2 viremia, there was no significant difference between vaccinated and control animals. The histological data indicated the absence of a detectable viral load and of PCVAD lesions in both vaccinated and control animals, as well as of histiocytes and multi-nucleated giant cells. We conclude that free, non-assembled ORF2 capsid protein does not induce protective immunity

Dataset of immune responses induced in swine by an inactivated Porcine Circovirus 2b vaccine

A whole virus, inactivated, Porcine Circovirus 2b (PCV2b) vaccine was submitted to a quantal assay of potency, as explained in detail in our companion paper [1]. To this purpose, twenty, 45-day old piglets, checked for maternally-derived antibody (MDA), were allocated to four groups of 5 animals each; these were vaccinated with 800/266/88/0 nanograms, respectively, of an inactivated PCV2b strain, consisting of two distinct virion populations. Twenty-six days later, all the pigs were challenged intranasally with the homologous PCV2b strain. In the presence of a clear dose-dependent protection in terms of viremia, no such effect was observed in terms of weight gain after challenge. The 800 and 266-ng payloads were associated with neutralizing antibody titers above the MDA levels in oral fluids. Higher levels of viremia in control and 88-ng groups [1] coincided with a higher Natural Killer activity of tracheobronchial lymph node cells from PCV2-infected pigs. The PCV2 ORF2-specific ELISPOT assay for IFN-g– secreting cells showed very few (2–4) ORF2-specific cells/105 peripheral blood mononuclear cells beyond the basal levels under our experimental conditions (non-significant differences among groups). Also, no significant differences were observed in the degree of lymphoid tissue hyperplasia among the different groups

Wolfram Syndrome (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness): Clinical and genetic study

OBJECTIVE—Wolfram syndrome is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by diabetes insipidus, diabetes (nonautoimmune), optic atrophy, and deafness (a set of conditions referred to as DIDMOAD). The WFS1 gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 4. Wolfram syndrome prevalence is 1 in 770,000 live births, with a 1 in 354 carrier frequency

Combined Therapy with Insulin and Growth Hormone in 17 Patients with Type-1 Diabetes and Growth Disorders.

Combined growth hormone (GH) and insulin therapy is rarely prescribed by pediatric endocrinologists. We investigated the attitude of Italian physicians to prescribing that therapy in the case of short stature and type-1 diabetes (T1DM). Methods: A questionnaire was sent and if a patient was identified, data on growth and diabetes management were collected. Results: Data from 42 centers (84%) were obtained. Of these, 29 centers reported that the use of combined therapy was usually avoided. A total of 17 patients were treated in 13 centers (GH was started before T1DM onset in 9 patients and after the onset of T1DM in 8). Height SDS patterns during GH therapy in the 11 patients affected by GH deficiency ranged from -0.3 to +3.1 SDS. In the 8 diabetic patients in whom GH was added subsequently, mean insulin dose increased during the first 6 months of therapy from 0.7 ± 0.2 to 1.0 ± 0.2 U/kg (p = 0.004). HbA1c was unchanged during the first 6 months of combined therapy. Conclusions: Most Italian physicians do not consider prescribing the combined GH-insulin therapy in diabetic children with growth problems. However, the results of the 17 patients identified would confirm that the combined therapy was feasible and only caused mild insulin resistance. GH therapy was effective in promoting growth in most patients and did not affect diabetes metabolic contro

Insulin pump failures in Italian children with Type 1 diabetes: retrospective 1-year cohort study

AimsInsulin pump failure and/or malfunction requiring replacement have not been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluated pump replacement in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes using insulin pump therapy.MethodsData were collected for all participants younger than 19 years, starting insulin pump therapy before 31 December 2013. For each child, age, disease duration, date of insulin pump therapy initiation, insulin pump model, failure/malfunction/replacement yes/no and reason were considered for the year 2013.ResultsData were returned by 40 of 43 paediatric centres belonging to the Diabetes Study Group of the Italian Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology. In total, 1574 of 11 311 (13.9%) children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes were using an insulin pump: 29.2% Animas VIBE, 9.4% Medtronic MiniMed 715/515, 34.3% Medtronic MiniMed VEO, 24.3% Accu-Check Spirit Combo and 2.8% other models. In 2013, 0.165 insulin pump replacements per patient-year (11.8% due to pump failure/malfunction and 4.7% due to accidental damage) were recorded. Animas VIBE (22.1%) and Medtronic MiniMed VEO (17.7%) were the most replaced.ConclusionsIn a large cohort of Italian children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes, insulin pump failure/malfunction and consequent replacement are aligned with rates previously reported and higher in more sophisticated pump models

Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young in Children With Incidental Hyperglycemia:: A multicenter Italian study of 172 families

OBJECTIVE - To investigate the prevalence of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) in Italian children With incidental hyperglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Among 748 subjects age 1-18 years with incidental hyperglycemia, minimal diagnostic criteria for MODY were met by 172 families. Mutational analyses of the glucokinase (GCK) and hepatocyte nuclear factor lot (HNF1A) genes were performed. RESULTS - We identified 85 GCK gene mutations in 109 probands and 10 HNF1A mutations in 12 probands. In GCK patients, the median neonatal weight and age at the first evaluation were lower than those found in patients with HNF1A mutations. Median fasting plasma glucose and impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance frequency after oral glucose tolerance testing were higher in GCK patients, who also showed a lower frequency of diabetes than HNF1A patients. CONCLUSIONS - GCK mutations are the prevailing cause of MODY (63.4%) when the index case is recruited in Italian children with incidental hyperglycemia

β-Cell Autoimmunity in Pediatric Celiac Disease: The Case for Routine Screening?

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate the prevalence of β-cell autoimmunity and the usefulness of a type 1 diabetes screening in patients with celiac disease

Systematic review of communication technologies to promote access and engagement of young people with diabetes into healthcare

Background: Research has investigated whether communication technologies (e.g. mobile telephony, forums, email) can be used to transfer digital information between healthcare professionals and young people who live with diabetes. The systematic review evaluates the effectiveness and impact of these technologies on communication. Methods: Nine electronic databases were searched. Technologies were described and a narrative synthesis of all studies was undertaken. Results: Of 20,925 publications identified, 19 met the inclusion criteria, with 18 technologies assessed. Five categories of communication technologies were identified: video-and tele-conferencing (n = 2); mobile telephony (n = 3); telephone support (n = 3); novel electronic communication devices for transferring clinical information (n = 10); and web-based discussion boards (n = 1). Ten studies showed a positive improvement in HbA1c following the intervention with four studies reporting detrimental increases in HbA1c levels. In fifteen studies communication technologies increased the frequency of contact between patient and healthcare professional. Findings were inconsistent of an association between improvements in HbA1c and increased contact. Limited evidence was available concerning behavioural and care coordination outcomes, although improvement in quality of life, patientcaregiver interaction, self-care and metabolic transmission were reported for some communication technologies. Conclusions: The breadth of study design and types of technologies reported make the magnitude of benefit and their effects on health difficult to determine. While communication technologies may increase the frequency of contact between patient and health care professional, it remains unclear whether this results in improved outcomes and is often the basis of the intervention itself. Further research is needed to explore the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of increasing the use of communication technologies between young people and healthcare professionals