240 research outputs found
Large delection of TSC2 and PKD1 genes is associated with renal and extrarenal signs of adult PKD phenotype.
No full textAltered expression of B lymphocyte surface immunoglobulins in minimal change nephrotic syndrome and focal glomerulosclerosis
No full textIn 20 patients with nephrotic syndrome (10 minimal change glomerulonephritis, MCN; 10 focal glomerulosclerosis, FGS) the peripheral blood lymphocytes showed a statistically significant increase in IgG-bearing cells (SIgG-C) in comparison with 30 patients with other histological types of primary glomerulonephritis with and without nephrotic syndrome (14 and 16, respectively). In the same MCN and FGS patients the serum IgG levels were slightly decreased. Furthermore, 5 cases of MCN in sustained remission for 1 year after steroid therapy showed normalization of the SIgG-C and the serum IgG levels. The possible significance of these phenomena in the pathogenesis of the hypo-IgG-globulinemia in MCN and FGS is discussed
Comparative chemical analyses of five finger lime varieties by UHPLC-HR-ESI-MS/MS and evaluation of their in vitro antioxidant activity
No full textCitrus australasica F.Muell (Rutaceae), commonly called finger lime or lemon caviar, is a small tree native to Australia.1 The uniqueness of its finger-shaped fruits and odorous caviar-shaped vesicles of the pulp are the reasons for its enormous, recent diffusion in Europe and in Italy. The indigenous peoples of Australia have used finger lime fruits as a food source and for healing purposes for thousands of years.2 Nowadays, these fruits have huge popularity and economic interest in gourmet culinary preparations. The species has several varieties and hybrids differing in peel and pulp color and taste. These macroscopic differences reflect changes in the chemical composition of bioactive secondary metabolites. Many previous studies suggest fruits belonging to genus Citrus as excellent sources of macronutrients and molecules of therapeutic interest such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, coumarins, and limonoids,3 but to date few chemical and biological studies about C. australasica were performed.1
The aim of this research was to carry out a comparative chemical analysis among peel and pulp extracts of four C. australasica selected varieties (Red, Collette, Pink Ice, and Yellow Sunshine) and the hybrid species faustrime (Monocitrus australasica x Fortunella sp.x Citrus aurantifolia) by UHPLC-HR-ESI-MS/MS quali-quantitative technique. Peel and pulp extracts were also analyzed for their total phenolic content (TPC) and in vitro antioxidant activity on a Balb/3T3 Clone A31 mouse embryo fibroblasts cell line. The chemical analyses showed a higher content of TPC in peels than in pulps and in Red and Collette varieties. All varieties contain hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in similar quantities both in peels and in pulps, particularly rich in caffeoylisocitric acid. Collette and Pink Ice are the two varieties with the largest number of identified flavonoids such as rutin, luteolin 7'-O-neohesperidoside/rutinoside, poncirin, and isosakuranetin rhamnosyldiglucoside. Collette peels are also the richest in anthocyanins with delfinidin rhamnosylglucoside the most abundant one. All peel extracts showed no cytotoxicity in the range of 5-120 μg/mL, while the pulp extracts within 30-300 μg/mL. Red and Collette varieties exhibited the maximum protective activity against oxidative damage induced with H2O2 1500 μM, capable of reducing cell viability to 50%. In conclusion, the edible parts of fingerlime fruits are good sources of health-promoting phytocomplexes with antioxidant activity, due to their rich composition in polyphenols, being Red, Collette, and Pink Ice varieties the most promising ones
B-Lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) upregulation in mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome and hepatitis C virus infection
No full textObjectives. To investigate the role of B-Lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) in mixed cryoglobulinaemia syndrome (MCsn), a systemic vasculitis associated with a high risk to develop lymphoma, since BLyS up-regulation may favour both autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation. Methods. BLyS serum levels were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (positive when >0.85 ng/ml) in 66 patients with MCsn, 54 (81.8%) of whom were positive for hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection. Thirty-three HCV-positive patients without MCsn were also studied. Patients were compared with 48 healthy blood donors (HBDs). BLyS modifications after antiviral therapy were also studied. Results. A significantly higher frequency of BLyS serum positivity was detected both in MCsn patients and in HCV-positive patients without MCsn (37.9 and 30.3%, respectively) when compared with HBDs (4.2%) (P < 0.0001 vs MCsn and P = 0.0026 vs HCV-positive patients without MCsn, respectively). BLyS appeared significantly higher in MCsn (3.70 ± 2.97 ng/ml) than in HCV-positive patients without MCsn (1.56 ± 0.63 ng/ml; P = 0.0044). BLyS expression did not correlate with rheumatoid factor levels, cryoglobulin levels or definite MCsn-related systemic features. High BLyS levels were significantly associated only with MCsn-related overt lymphoproliferative disorder. Finally, antiviral treatment significantly increased BLyS levels, independently from HCV-RNA negativization. However, BLyS normalization was noticed after both HCV-RNA negativization and suspension of antiviral therapy by preliminary data. Conclusions. BLyS is up-regulated and may play a pathogenetic role in a fraction of patients with MCsn, similarly to other autoimmune diseases. HCV infection likely represents the early event leading to BLyS up-regulation in this setting. BLyS is up-regulated during antiviral treatment. Overall, these data provide new insights for BLyS and virus-related autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation and possible treatment strategies
La mortalità nei pazienti schizofrenici cronici. Risultati di uno studio di coorte retrospettivo
No full textBioetica e salvaguardia dell'ambiente
No full textQuaderno n. 5 dei Quaderni di Bioetica "Luigi Migone
B-Lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) up-regulation in mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome and hepatitis-C virus infection
No full textDEVELOPMENT OF 3D WET-SPUN POLYMERIC SCAFFOLDS LOADED WITH ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS FOR BONE ENGINEERING
No full textThree-dimensional wet-spun microfibrous meshes of a star poly(ε-caprolactone) were developed as potential scaffolds endowed with antimicrobial activity. The in vitro release kinetics of the meshes, under physiological conditions, was initially fast and then a sustained release for more than one month was observed. Cell cultures of a murine pre-osteoblast cell line showed good cell viability and adhesion on the wet-spun star poly(ε-caprolactone) fiber scaffolds. These promising results indicate a potential application of the developed meshes as engineered bone scaffolds with antimicrobial activit
Supporti tridimensionali in materiale polimerico biodegradabile per la rigenerazione ossea: risultati dello studio in vitro
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