1,817 research outputs found
Mast cells as effector cells of innate immunity and regulators of adaptive immunity
No full textMast cells are widely distributed in human organs and tissues and they are particularly abundant at major body interfaces with the external environment such as the skin, the lung and the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, mast cells are located around blood vessels and are highly represented within central and peripheral lymphoid organs. The strategic distribution of mast cells closely reflects the primary role of these cells in providing first-line defense against environmental dangers, in regulating local and systemic inflammatory reactions and in shaping innate and adaptive immune responses. Human mast cells have pleiotropic and multivalent functions that make them highly versatile cells able to rapidly adapt responses to microenvironmental changes. They express a wide variety of surface receptors including immunoglobulin receptors, pathogen-associated molecular pattern receptors and danger signal receptors. The abundance of these receptors makes mast cells unique and effective surveillance cells able to detect promptly aggression by viral, bacterial and parasitic agents. In addition, mast cells express multiple receptors for cytokines and chemokines that confer them the capacity of being recruited and activated at sites of inflammation. Once activated by immunological or nonimmunological stimuli mast cells secrete a wide spectrum of preformed (early) and de novo synthesized (late) mediators. Preformed mediators are stored within granules and are rapidly released in the extracellular environment to provide a fast vascular response that promotes inflammation and local recruitment of other innate immunity cells such as neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils and monocyte/macrophages. Later on, delayed release of multiple cytokines and chemokines from mast cells further induce modulation of cells of adaptive immunity and regulates tissue injury and, eventually, resolution of inflammation. Finally, mast cells express several costimulatory and inhibitory surface molecules that can finely tune activities of T cells, B cells and regulatory cells by cognate interactions within lymphoid organs. The multivalent capacity to recognize and to react to internal and external dangers together with their ability to cross-talk with other immunocompetent cells make mast cells a unique effector cell of innate responses and a main bridge between innate and adaptive immunity
Diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis on cytological examination of cerebrospinal fluid: Report of the first case
No full textLangerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by a proliferation of histiocytic cells resembling dendritic Langerhans cells. LCH can be unifocal or multifocal, with one‐ or many‐organ involvement. The serous fluids are rarely involved. Cytological diagnosis of LCH is possible and relies on recognition of the typical cytomorphological features and subsequent immunocytochemical confirmation. Given the possibility of multisystem involvement, after diagnosing LCH it is necessary to carry out staging exams such as a bone survey, abdominal ultrasound, complete blood count, screening for diabetes insipidus and pulmonary function tests. We present the first case of LCH where the diagnosis was reached on cytological material from the cerebrospinal fluid. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in the international literature to date. The morphological and immunocytochemical characteristics of our case are described, and the relevant literature is reviewe
Chiara Lubich, Meditazioni: letteratura come relazione
No full textChiara Lubich (1920–2008), although the author of 32 books published in 26 countries (178 editions, 3.2 million copies), is better known for her social engagement, as reflected in numerous awards. She began to be regarded as a literary author only in the early 2000s, and primarily from a linguistic rather than literary perspective. This article focuses on her book Meditazioni (Meditations), reconstructs its genesis by tracing the writing process from the late 1950s to her death and the 2021 critical edition, and offers a literary analysis. This reveals Lubich as a forerunner of a new conception of literature: literature as relationship – not only between author and reader, but also among subject, inspiration, and the editorial process
Sustainable Simulation-Based Digital Twin: An Application Portfolio Management Tool to Minimize Digital Waste and Maximize Useful Life
No full textThe use of software in industry has become increasingly relevant,
although its impact from an environmental perspective is often underestimated
because of its intangible nature. Therefore, the need to make technology more
sustainable is becoming urgent. This paper investigates this question from a
sustainable digital twin technology perspective and points out the importance of
analyzing every source of digital waste of a simulation-based digital twin
(SBDT). To this end, we adopt Application Portfolio Management (APM) principles, including control charts and TIME analysis, to ensure that the digital
twin is always aligned with the real system. We discuss the importance of tracking over time the performance of each Digital Twin component that estimates
the Remaining Useful Life in terms of value through an APM dashboard. A
proof of concept of a Digital Twin Portfolio Management tool dashboard is developed for monitoring the value as well as the cost-benefit of every component
of a SBDT of a smart brewing system
Risk Factors and Cofactors for Severe Anaphylaxis
No full textPurpose of review
Severe anaphylaxis is a generalized reaction in which cardiovascular and respiratory involvement lead to a fatal or near-fatal outcome. Triggers of severe anaphylaxis differ from one age group to another and are mostly represented by drugs and hymenoptera stings in adults and food in children. Several risk factors and cofactors can increase the odds of severe anaphylaxis by different and still undefined mechanisms.
Recent findings
Major risk factors for severe anaphylaxis include old age, male sex, and preexisting medical conditions such as mast cell disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and uncontrolled asthma. Antihypertensive drugs appear to increase the severity of anaphylaxis probably by impairing compensatory mechanism to support blood pressure during the reaction. Severe reactions are also associated with transient cofactors such as exercise following specific allergen exposure, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and alcohol consumption.
Summary
Identification of risk factors and potential concurrent cofactors for each individual patient is mandatory to prevent severe anaphylaxis. Risk stratification is crucial to develop personalized prevention strategies and action plans to avoid potentially life-threatening reactions
Extra-Intestinal Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Meat
No full textExtra-intestinalE.coliareemergingasaglobalthreatduetotheirdiffusionasopportunisticpathogensand,aboveall,totheirwide setofantibioticresistancedeterminants.Therearestillmanygapsinourknowledgeoftheiroriginandspreadpathways,although food animalshavebeenadjudicatedvehiclesfor passingmult-drugresistantbacteriatohumans.Thisstudyanalyzed 46samples of meat purchasedfrom retail stores in Palermo in order toobtain quinolone-resistant E. coli isolates. Strains were screenedfor their phylogeneticgroups, ST131-associatedsingle nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNPs),andthentypedbyERIC-PCR. Theirsetof virulencefactors,namely,kpsMII,papA,sfaS,focG,iutA,papC,hlyD,andafagenes,wereinvestigatedandtheirfluoroquinoloneresistancedeterminantsevaluated.Thedataobtainedshowadramaticallyhighprevalenceofmultidrugresistancepatternsinthe Palermoarea,with28%oftheisolateshavingvirulencefactorgenestypicalofExPEC strains.NoB2grouporST131 strainswere detected.Moreover,20%ofourisolatesshowedpositivitytoalltheplasmid-mediatedquinoloneresistance(PMQR)determinants, showingapotentialtotransferthesegenesamongotherbacteria.Therefore,thesedataunderlinethepossibilitythatfoodanimals and,specifically,poultryinparticularmaybeasignificantsourceofresistantbacterialstrains,posingapotentialzoonoticrisk
Flow mediated dilation shows impaired endothelial function in patients with mastocytosis
No full textMastocytosis is a rare disease characterized by clonal proliferation of mast cells in different organs. Clinical manifestations of mastocytosis are mostly due to the release of mediators from mast cells and, in many cases such as urticaria, flushing, angioedema and anaphylaxis, are expression of biological effects of mediators on endothelial cells. Chronic secretion of mediators in patients with mastocytosis may lead to alteration of endothelial function
Chiara Lubich: A Saint for a New Global Unity
No full textIn this article the author offers an introduction to the life, thought, and impact of Chiara Lubich. He begins with a brief biographical overview and draws attention to some important features of her spiritual teaching: Jesus in the midst, Jesus Forsaken, Mary Desolate, the four nights. He draws attention to the Economy of Communion and as an expression of this spirituality in the world of business and economics, and to the figure of Chiara Luce Badano, a young adherent to the Spirituality of Unity who has been recognized as an example of how this spirituality can lead to holiness of life. The author’s judgment is that Chiara Lubich is “a saint of dialogue.
Manifesto per il museo post-etnografico
No full textThe author signes a poetic manifesto for the future of ethnographic museums, beyond colonial representational stereotypes and methodologies
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