1,720,995 research outputs found
Microbiota & infertility: microorganisms and immune factors in the idiopathic infertility
Full text linkIn the present work, the possible relationship between the idiopathic infertility, the alteration of the vaginal microbiota and that of the local immune response is investigated. The next-generation Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform allowed the survey of the vaginal microbial composition, while the Luminex assay permitted the dosage of the soluble local immune mediators.
After the analysis, the women affected by idiopathic infertility showed a vaginal microbiota similar to that of women affected by bacterial vaginosis (Chapter 1) and, especially, to those women who belong to the Intermediate group (Chapter 2).
Among Lactobacilli, L. iners, crispatus and gasseri have a peculiar pattern in women affected by idiopathic infertility. Furthermore, secondary players such as A. vaginae, P. bivia, U. parvum, and E. fergusonii contribute to the affected microbiome. Simultaneously, an altered immune response is detected in the vaginal niche of the Idiopathic group
Next-generation 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial vaginosis investigation by Ion Torrent PGM platform.
No full textHigh expression of cytokines promoting angiogenesis and cell proliferation in early high-risk human papillomavirus infection
No full textHPV genotypes distribution in Chlamydia trachomatis co-infection in a large cohort of women from north-east Italy
No full textHuman papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis are pathogens with oncogenic potential associated with persistent infections. Epidemiological data on C. trachomatis infection status, C. trachomatis/HPV co-infection and the relationship between HPV genotypes in Italian women are only preliminary. The aim of the present study was to characterize the relationship between HPV genotypes and C. trachomatis in an extending cohort of asymptomatic immunocompetent women from an area of north-east Italy. A retrospective study was conducted using Luminex technology on cervical swabs from asymptomatic immunocompetent women, comprising 921 attending the prevention centre for the Cervical Cancer Program and 6214 who had been referred to the Sexually Transmitted Infections Center, with clinical indications of HPV and C. trachomatis infections. A quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess chronic C. trachomatis infection by heat-shock protein 60 (Hsp60) gene expression. The overall prevalence of the investigated pathogens was 39 % (359/921) for HPV and 4 % (251/6214) for C. trachomatis. The Hsp60 gene was detected in 57 % of the women infected with C. trachomatis. HPV co-infection was present in 58 % of C. trachomatis-infected women. A high prevalence of co-infection was found in women with chronic C. trachomatis infection (68 %, P = 0.0002), especially in women ≤ 25 years (72 %) where HPV multiple infections were found in 78 % (P = 0.022). HPV genotype distribution showed that uncommon low-risk genotypes were associated with C. trachomatis. These results indicate a high frequency of co-detection of multiple HPV genotypes in chronically infected young women and suggest that the expression of the C. trachomatis Hsp60 gene may favour HPV infection
Farnesyl and geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitors: an anti-inflammatory effect. Comment to "Inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation and farnesylation protects against graft-versus-host disease via effects on CD4 effector T cells" Haematologica. 2013;98(1):31-40
Full text linkFTIs have a dramatic anti-inflammatory effect in models where the mevalonate pathway is chemically or genetically impaired. In our studies, we considered several compounds, such as Tip, Lon and ManA. The effects of Tip and Lon were confirmed by in vitro studies on a cellular model of MKD and on monocytes isolated from MKD patients. The same findings have also been confirmed using the FT inhibitor ManA, according to the results of the in vivo studies.
Our findings and those of Hechinger et al. all demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of FTIs and GTIs. Given this, FTIs could be used as a novel therapeutic approach for the currently orphan disease MKD, as well as an anti-cancer drug
Liver Bacterial Colonization in Patients with Obesity and Gut Dysbiosis
Full text linkPurposeRecently, the link between gut microbiota, liver inflammation, and obesity has become an interesting focus of research. The aim of this study is to show the possible relation between gut microbiota dysbiosis in patients with obesity and the presence of bacterial genomes in their liver biopsies.Materials and MethodsA prospective study on patients undergoing bariatric surgery was carried out. Anthropometric and metabolic data, comorbidities, stool samples, and hepatic biopsies were collected and analyzed at the time of surgery. The V3-16S rRNA region was sequenced using the Ion Torrent new-generation sequencing platform.ResultsIn each of the 23 patients enrolled, the bacterial population was analyzed both in the stools and liver. In eight patients (34.7%), Prevotella (62.5%), Bacteroides (50%), Streptococcus (12.5%), and Dalister (12.5%) were found in both samples, simultaneously; in 15 cases, the liver was free from colonization. The statistically significant difference between groups was a Roseburia intestinalis reduction in fecal samples of patients with liver biopsies colonized by bacteria (1% vs 3%; p = 0.0339).ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the presence of bacterial genome in a liver biopsy on bariatric patients, instead of the microbe-associated molecular patterns. Notably, in literature, the presence of Roseburia intestinalis in stool samples has been shown to prevent intestinal inflammation playing its role in the gut barrier integrity. In our population, the Roseburia reduction was associated with the presence of bacterial genome in the liver, probably related to a greater permeability of the gut and vascular barriers
Oral microbiota profile is related to cognitive status in centenarians: a clinical and biological study
Full text linkObjectives: A growing body of evidence supports the potential role of the oral microbiota in influencing cognitive function. Centenarians, at the extreme end of the lifespan, are the ideal cohort to study the long-term effects of inflammaging. Study design: Twenty-three centenarians were examined by a neurologist, neuropsychologist and dentist to assess cognitive status and oral health. They were also profiled for oral microbiota and inflammasome. Results: We found less alpha diversity in the oral microbiota of participants with dementia and an overall depletion of typical oral commensals, including Alloprevotella, Prevotella, Veillonella, Fusobacterium and Leptotrichia. The latter two were also underrepresented in edentulous compared with dentate subjects. Moreover, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines tended to be higher in participants with dementia. Conclusions: Our data support a relationship between oral microbiota, cognitive status and inflammation, which deserves further exploration to counteract cognitive decline while promoting healthy aging
Shifts of subgingival bacterial population after nonsurgical and pharmacological therapy of localized aggressive periodontitis, followed for 1 year by Ion Torrent PGM platform.
Full text linkThe possibility of targeting the hypervariable region V3 of the 16S rRNA gene using Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) could provide a complete analysis of subgingival plaque samples, potentially able to identify microbiological species missed by culture-based methods. A 16-year-old female smoker patient, affected by localized aggressive periodontitis, underwent a full-mouth disinfection protocol and was inserted in a 3-month recall program. Microbiological samples were collected at baseline and at 30, 100, 365 days follow-up and analyzed by Ion Torrent PGM. Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, and Treponema were the most represented pathogens at baseline. Nonsurgical treatment and systemic antibiotics drastically lowered the anaerobic species, and their presence remained limited after 100 days, while a consistent recolonization by anaerobic bacteria was detected at 365 days. The patient showed a general improvement of periodontal conditions. Differently from polymerase chain reaction and other microarray techniques, Ion Torrent performs a quantitative analysis of the microbiota, irrespective of the searched species. An accurate definition of the shifts of the bacterial community might help periodontal researchers for a better understanding of the impact of different treatment approaches or in intercepting nonresponsive conditions
Role of preoperative gut microbiota on colorectal anastomotic leakage: preliminary results
No full textThe dysbiosis is defined as a disturbed symbiotic relationship between microbiota and the host and can cause a pro-inflammatory imbalance impairing the healing process at anastomotic level. The aim of this study is to detect, in fecal samples collected in the preoperative time, a peculiar microbiota composition that could predict the onset of colorectal anastomotic leakage
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