Ongoing outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis in Bologna Province, Italy, November 2012 to May 2013

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Tubular Cytoplasmic Expression of Zinc Finger Protein SNAI1 in Renal Transplant Biopsies: A Sign of Diseased Epithelial Phenotype?

The aim of the present study was to analyze in vivo the role of zinc finger protein SNAI1 (SNAI1) on renal fibrosis. Unilateral ureteral obstruction injury was induced in Snai1 knockout mice. Snai1 gene deletion was, however, only partial and could therefore not be correlated to reduced fibrosis. Expression of SNAI1 protein and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation markers was then assessed in human chronic allograft nephropathy biopsy specimens. Significant up-regulation of SNAI1 protein was detected within cytoplasm of proximal tubules localized, for some of them, near foci of fibrosis and tubular atrophy. No concomitant epithelial-mesenchymal transformation could, however, be demonstrated analyzing the expression of the fibroblast markers vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, and S100A4. SNAI1 cytoplasmic up-regulation was particularly evident in biopsy specimens obtained from calcineurin inhibitor-treated patients, which might be because of, as suggested by in vitro experiments, a decrease of the proteasome chimotrypsin activity. Deeper analysis on chronic allograft nephropathy biopsy specimens suggested that SNAI1 cytoplasmic up-regulation was preceded by a transient increase of phosphorylated heat shock protein 27, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β. Concomitant down-regulation of the polyubuquitinylated conjugates was detected in SNAI1(+) tubules. Altogether, these results might suggest that calcineurin inhibitor-induced tubular SNAI1 protein cytoplasmic accumulation, possibly because of impaired SNAI1 proteasomal degradation and nuclear translocation, might be a sign of a diseased profibrotic epithelial phenotype

Ongoing outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis in Bologna Province, Italy, November 2012 to May 2013

An increased number of autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases has recently been reported in Bologna Province in northern Italy. Over six months from November 2012 to May 2013, 14 cases occurred, whereas the average number of cases per year was 2.6 (range: 0-8) in 2008 to 2012. VL was diagnosed in a median of 40 days (range: 15-120) from disease onset. This delay in diagnosis shows the need for heightened awareness of clinicians for autochthonous VL in Europe. From November 2012 to May 2013, public health authorities, microbiologists and clinicians in Bologna Province, northern Italy, noted an upsurge in human cases of visceral leishmaniasis. During these six months, 14 cases were notified, an over five-fold increase compared with the annual average of 2.6 cases (range: 0-8) from 2008 to 2012. Here, we report preliminary epidemiological, microbiological and clinical finding

Italian guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents and the diagnostic-clinical management of HIV-1 infected persons. Update 2016

The Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (SIMIT) of the Technical Health Committee, Ministry of Health (Sections L and M) of Italy have supported recommendations for the Italian guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents and the diagnostic-clinical management of HIV-1 infected persons. This publication summarizes the latest updates to the 2016 version of the Italian Guidelines for the management of HIV-1 infected patients and the use of antiretroviral drugs. In particular, new recommendations were released concerning the following topics: estimate of the HIV continuum of care in Italy, optimal timing and preferred drug combinations for starting antiretroviral therapy, treatment optimization, and pre-exposure prophilaxis (PrEP). For a complete review of clinical and therapeutic relevant topics we refer the reader to the extended version of the Guidelines