195 research outputs found
Analisi di alcuni parametri di qualità in germogli di Glicine max (L.) Merr. e Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek, cresciuti al buio e in condizioni di luce bianca e blu
No full textIodine intake in pregnancy
No full textIodine is an essential micronutrient required for thyroid hormone biosynthesis. The recommended daily adult intake is 150 μg, increasing to 220–300 μg for pregnant and lactating women. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) is an accurate indicator of iodine intake because more than 90% is excreted over a 24-hour period. The World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders established that for a given population, the appropriate UIC in clinically healthy pregnant women should be 150–249 μg/L [1] and [2]. Iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) are implicated in several diseases [3]. Despite iodine prophylaxis programs in many countries, iodine deficiency is still a significant public health concern [4]. Following the introduction of a salt iodization program (30 mg/Kg of salt) in Italy in 2005, we wanted to investigate whether the increased iodine requirement during pregnancy is being met in an urban area of Rome. Between January 2007 and March 2008, 124 clinically healthy pregnant women were enrolled to evaluate UIC in spot urine samples collected in the morning. The mean age of the women was 32 years, and mean body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) was 25.3 ± 2.6. Fifty-seven women were in the first trimester of pregnancy, 34 in the second, and 33 in the third. A control group of 145 age-matched healthy nonpregnant women (mean age 30 years; mean BMI 24.2 ± 2.4) was also enrolled. All participants were resident in the urban area of Rome and had no restrictions on iodized salt intake. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. The mean UIC in the control group was 137.2 ± 5.9 μg/L (median 112 μg/L, range 62–465), but it was significantly lower in the pregnant women (P < 0.01). Mean UIC in the women who were in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy were 93.6 ± 6.6 μg/L (median 85 μg/L, range 28–223), 90.11 ± 6.4 μg/L (median 82 μg/L, range 25–165), and 89.8 ± 3.6 μg/L (median 88 μg/L, range 39–113), respectively (Fig. 1). Notably, severe iodine deficiency (UIC less than 50 μg/L) was found in 12 pregnant women who were in the first trimester, 2 in the second, and 2 in the third. These results demonstrate that even in an urban area where iodine intake is expected to be adequate, pregnant women may be at risk of IDD. They also indicate the need to monitor iodine intake during pregnancy in areas with recently established salt iodization programs, and raise the question of whether iodine supplementation in pregnancy should be generalized or tailored on an individual basis
In vitro infection with Rhodococcus equi: Cytokine release and phagocytic functions by normal and HIV-positive human macrophages.
No full text
A Novel Benchtop Device for Efficient and Simple Purification of Cytokines, Growth Factors and Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue
No full textLipoaspirates represent a source of adult stem cells, cytokines, and growth factors of adipocyte origin with immunomodulation and regenerative medicine potential. However, rapid and simple protocols for their purification using self-contained devices that can be deployed at the points of care are lacking. Here, we characterize and benchmark a straightforward mechanical dissociation procedure to collect mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and soluble fractions from lipoaspirates. IStemRewind, a benchtop self-contained cell purification device, allowed a one-procedure purification of cells and soluble material from lipoaspirates with minimal manipulation. The recovered cellular fraction contained CD73+, CD90+, CD105+, CD10+ and CD13+ MSCs. These markers were comparably expressed on MSCs isolated using IstemRewind or classic enzymatic dissociation procedures, apart from CD73+ MSCs, which were even more abundant in IStemRewind isolates. IstemRewind-purified MSCs retained viability and differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes, even after a freezing-thawing cycle. Levels of IL4, IL10, bFGF and VEGF were higher compared to the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL1β and IL6 in the IStemRewind-isolated liquid fraction. In sum, IStemRewind can be useful for straightforward, rapid, and efficient isolation of MSCs and immunomodulatory soluble factors from lipoaspirates, opening the possibility to directly isolate and employ them at the point-of-care
Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in Leishmania-infected dog macrophages
No full textNitric oxide (NO) production by the inducible NO synthase (iNOS or NOS2) represents one of the main microbicidal mechanisms of murine macrophages, but its role in other animal models is poorly investigated. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate NOS2 expression in dog macrophages infected with Leishmania infantum. Macrophages obtained from peripheral blood of healthy dogs were activated with recombinant human interferon (rhIFN)-gamma and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then infected with L. infantum promastigotes, zymodeme MON1. For the immunofluorescence assay fixed macrophages were incubated with polyclonal rabbit anti-NOS2 and then with rhodamine F(ab ')(2) goat anti-rabbit IgG. For immunoblotting, cell lysates were submitted to SDS-PAGE and blots were incubated with polyclonal rabbit anti-NOS2 and then with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG. Results demonstrated that L. infantum-infected cells, after stimulation with rhIFN-gamma and LPS, displayed high levels of fluorescence for the NOS2 in their cytoplasm, unlike unstimulated uninfected macrophages. In western blotting, polyclonal anti-NOS2 reacted specifically with a protein band corresponding to 130 kDa. The signal produced in Leishmania-infected cells stimulated with rhIFN-gamma and LPS was higher than that produced in Leishmania-infected unstimulated cells. No band was detected in cellular lysates from uninfected unstimulated cells. These results indicate that dog macrophages can express NOS2, and suggest a role for IFN-gamma and LPS in NOS2 induction also in this animal model
Antibiofilm Effects of Plant Extracts Against Staphylococcus aureus
No full textThe global rise in antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to public health, necessitating alternative therapeutic options. One critical challenge is treating infections caused by biofilm-forming bacteria, which are notably resistant to conventional antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), is a major pathogen in biofilm-related infections, complicating treatment and leading to chronic cases. Plant extracts have emerged as promising alternatives, offering new avenues for effective treatment. This study evaluated the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of commercial extracts of Vitis vinifera L. (grape), Camellia sinensis L. (green tea), Olea europaea L. (olive), Quercus robur (oak), and Coffea arabica L. (coffee) against S. aureus strains from ATCC collections and clinical isolates. Preliminary screening using the disk diffusion test assessed the zones of inhibition, which was followed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination via broth microdilution, with Quercus robur L. showing the best overall MIC results. The results obtained demonstrate the strong antibacterial activity of the extracts, with the MIC values ranging from 0.2 to 12.4 mg/mL. Using the XTT reduction assay, the extracts inhibited biofilm growth by 80–85% after 24 h of incubation, with Coffea arabica L. achieving interesting antibiofilm activities. These findings suggest that the investigated plant extracts hold potential as antimicrobial agents and biofilm inhibitors, offering an alternative approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance. Further research is needed to explore their potential applications in developing novel adjuvant therapies
Nonostante le differenze
No full textThe Author reconstructs his collaboration with Piero Fumarola about the study of the modified states of consciousness
Role of chlamydia infection in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic plaques in HIV-1-positive patients
No full text- …
