Translational Medicine at UniSa最新文献

Globularia alypum (GA), a plant of the Globulariacea family, has long been used as a traditional cure for inflammatory and metabolic illnesses. In addition to various in vitro model studies, the current work focuses on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of GA in human colon biopsies. The phenol components in GA aqueous extract (GAAE) were identified by Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. The antioxidant ability of GAAE was tested in vitro utilizing chemiluminescence and flow cytometry using fluorescent yeasts n conjunction with PLB-985-human myeloid leukemia cells. Experiments on human colon biopsies after a biopsy challenge with Escherichia coli-lipopolysaccharides aimed to see if GAAE had an anti-inflammatory impact on human colon inflammation. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of several inflammatory markers. According to the findings, GAAE had a significant influence on hydrogen peroxide and cellular reactive oxygen species. GAAE inhibited the activities of cyclooxygenase 2 and nuclear factor B in inflamed biopsies, indicating anti-inflammatory action. The present study is the first to show that GA has a beneficial effect on human colon inflammation, thanks to its significant antioxidant activity in vitro. According to these preliminary data, GA may be utilized to treat a range of human inflammatory illnesses.

Recent discoveries have shed light on the participation of the immune system in the physio pathology of the cardiovascular system underpinning the importance of keeping the balance of the first to preserve the latter. Aging, along with other risk factors, can challenge such balance triggering the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Among several mediators ensuring the proper cross-talk between the two systems, bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold-containing family B member 4 (BPIFB4) has been shown to have a pivotal role, also by sustaining important signals such as eNOS and PKC-alpha. In addition, the Longevity-associated variant (LAV), which is an haplotype allele in BPIFB4 characterized by 4 missense polymorphisms, enriched in homozygosity in Long Living Individuals (LLIs), has been shown to be efficient, if administered systemically through gene therapy, in improving many aspects of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This occurs mainly through a fine immune system remodeling across: 1) a M2 macrophage polarizing effect, 2) a favorable redistribution of the circulating monocyte cell subsets and 3) the reduction of T-cell activation. Furthermore, LAV-BPIFB4 treatment induced a desirable recovery of the inflammatory balance by mitigating the pro-inflammatory factor levels and enhancing the anti-inflammatory boost through a mechanism that is partially dependent on SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. Importantly, the remarkable effects of LAV-BPIFB4 treatment, which translates in increased BPIFB4 circulating levels, mirror what occurs in long-living individuals (LLIs) in whom the high circulating levels of BPIFB4 are protective from age-related and CVDs and emphasize the reason why LLIs are considered a model of successful aging. Here, we review the mechanisms by which LAV-BPIFB4 exerts its immunomodulatory activity in improving the cardiovascular-immune system dialogue that might strengthen its role as a key mediator in CVDs.

Diffuse pulmonary ossification (DPO) is a rare condition of DLD (diffuse lung disease) characterized by the presence of metaplastic ectopic bone in the lungs and is less frequent in patients without a clear background of lung diseases. DPO is characterized by very small calcific nodules, often with bone mature located in both lungs and often in peripheral areas of the lungs. Two patterns of DPO have been recognized dendriform and nodular. The dendriform type is less common and is characterized by a coral-like network of bone spiculae along the alveolar septa and is often related to interstitial fibrosis or chronic obstructive lung disease [1]. Recent literature papers indicate that DPO may be a predictor of pulmonary fibrosis, is related to Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) pattern, and has a higher correlation with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). We present a case of a 41-years-old male with persistent bronchitis who underwent a chest X-ray (CXR) that showed multiple pulmonary small calcified nodules in both lungs. These findings were then defined with a high-resolution computed tomography of the chest (HRCT) that showed multiple small nodules spread in both lungs with a "tree-like pattern". A lung biopsy was performed to confirm the radiological diagnostic hypothesis of DPO, and further pathological examination showed multifocal areas of mature bone tissue within the lung parenchyma.

Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 30 January 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the outbreak of Covid-19 realizes a public health emergency of international concern. Because of the primary involvement of the respiratory system, chest CT is strongly recommended in suspected Covid-19 cases, for both initial and follow-up. We present the case of a Covid-19 patient, a 57-year-old man, with a typical HRCT course of OP reaction.

To date stress, a highly complex process that disrupts homeostasis and involves environmental and psychosocial factors, is considered as one of the most crucial factor that affects our daily life, especially urban dweller's life. Clinical and experimental studies widely support the notion that adrenergic stimulation due to chronic stress affects inflammation and metabolism. In this work, supported by several recent scientific evidences, we show how stress plays a positive role in cancer initiation, progression and cancer metastasis, a negative role for anti-tumor immune function and therapy response. Understanding the intricacies of this interaction could provide an additional help on how act in cancer prevention and therapy.

Purpose: To investigate literature about pharmacological, surgical, and diagnostic innovations for Meniere's Disease (MD).

Summary: Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder characterized by the presence of endolymphatic hydrops in the inner ear and symptomatology of recurrent and debilitating vertigo attacks, tinnitus, aural fullness, and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss. Although many therapeutic options for MD have been proposed during years, no consensus has been reached by the scientific community. In the last decade, many therapeutic options have been proposed, as intratympanic steroid, intratympanic gentamicin, and intravenous glycerol. Recently, the role of the antisecretory factor in the diet of MD patients have been investigated. Surgery is recommended for intractable MD; some authors proposed new approaches including transcanal endoscopic infracochlear vestibular neurectomy, new marsupiliazation technique in sac surgery, and tenotomy of the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles.

The aim of this work is to clarify the incidence of meningitis/encephalitis in SARS-CoV-2 patients. We conducted an initial search in PubMed using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms "meningitis," and "encephalitis,", and "COVID-19" to affirm the need for a review on the topic of the relationship between meningitis/encephalitis and SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included case series, case reports and review articles of COVID-19 patients with these neurological symptoms. Through PubMed database we identified 110 records. After removal of duplicates, we screened 70 record, and 43 were excluded because they focused on different SARS-CoV-2 neurological complications. For eligibility, we assessed 27 full-text articles which met inclusion criteria. Seven articles were excluded, and twenty studies were included in the narrative review, in which encephalitis and/or meningitis case reports/case series were reported. Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are not rare, especially meningoencephalitis; the hypoxic/metabolic changes produced by the inflammatory response against the virus cytokine storm can lead to encephalopathy, and the presence of comorbidities and other neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, predispose to these metabolic changes. Further study are needed to investigate the biological mechanisms of neurological complications of COVID-19.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), an extremely rare and aggressive tumor, derives from plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors and is characterized by CD4 and CD56 positivity accompanied by the expression of isolated myeloid, B- or T-cell lineage markers. Despite the recent introduction of specific targeted therapies, prognosis is still poor with a median overall survival of one year, and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation remains the only curative treatment in eligible patients. In this series, we described two cases of adult BPDCN treated with high dose cytarabine and methotrexate and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or fludarabine, cytarabine, and idarubicin achieving the first a complete lasting remission, while the second only a transient improvement in skin lesions.

The aim of this paper is to describe the protocol of a study assessing the impact of a Community-based pro-Active Monitoring Program, by measuring the effect in counteracting the adverse outcomes related to frailty.

Methods: a prospective pragmatic trial will be carried out to describe the impact of an intervention on people aged>80, adjusted for relevant parameters: demographic variables, comorbidities, disability and bio-psycho-social frailty. They have been assessed with the Functional Geriatric Evaluation questionnaire that is a validated tool. Mortality, Acute Hospital Admission rates, Emergency Room Visit rates and Institutionalization rates are the main outcomes to be evaluated annually, over three years. Two groups of patients, made up by 578 cases (undergoing the intervention under study) and 607 controls have been enrolled and interviewed.

Results: at baseline the two groups are quite similar for age, living arrangement, comorbidity, disability and cognitive status. They differ in education, economic resources and physical status (that are better in the control group) and in social resources (that is better in the case group). The latter was expected since the intervention is focused on increasing social capital at individual and community level and aimed at improving survival among the cases as well as reducing the recourse to hospital and residential Long Term Care.

Conclusion: The proposed study addresses a crucial issue: assessing the impact of a bottom up care service consisting of social and health interventions aimed at reducing social isolation and improving access to health care services.

Study objectives: Oral appliances have gained their place in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) where custom-made titratable mandibular advancement devices (MAD) have become the oral appliance of choice. This study aimed to asses the value of the drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) using a MAD in the prediction of treatment outcome for OSAHS.

Methods: This is a prospective, single-center cohort study that enrolled sixty-six consecutive patients with diagnosed OSA (5 events/h < apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 50 events/h) to be treated with a custom-made titratable MAD. The patients were evaluated polysomnographically with the MAD in situ after the adaptation and titration period of 3 months. The associations between findings during DISE and treatment outcome were assessed.

Results: The subjects showed a wide range of severity of OSAHS pre-treatment: median AHI was 43.10 with a range from 20.13 to 66.07. The simulation bite was associated with a significant increase in cross-sectional area at level of the velopharynx, tongue base and epiglottis. MAD treatment response in the studied population was 91%, with a mean AHI improving from 43.10 to 12.93.

Conclusions: Drug-induced sleep endoscopy with simulation bite is an acceptably reproducible technique for determining the sites of obstruction in OSAHS subjects; it thus offers possibilities as a prognostic indicator for treatment with MAD.