1,721,020 research outputs found
Beneficial effects of pharmacological treatment in patients with infantil mitochondrial encephalomyopathies
No full textEffects of esameprazole sodium on glutathione levels in the gastric mucosa of rats treated with indomethacin
No full textPyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency in a child responsive to thiamine treatment
No full textWe report the clinical features in a 4-year-old child who was investigated for a suspected metabolic disorder but was subsequently diagnosed as having a pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. A muscle biopsy was performed and the data obtained suggested thiamine treatment which resulted in a regression of the clinical findings and a return to normal values of blood lactic and pyruvic acids. The interruption of thiamine supplementation after I year of treatment led to a prompt recurrence of the previous clinical and biochemical symptoms
microRNAs as biomarkers of oxidant/antioxidant status
No full textThe discovery of small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) has generated enormous interest in their use as potential biomarkers
and as new drugs targeting genes. These molecules are involved in gene expression regulation: they are able to regulate
gene expression mainly by base-pairing to the 3'-UTR of specific target mRNAs so controlling, at epigenetic level, a wide
range of biological processes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of sncRNAs, are single stranded non-coding RNA ~19-25 nt
in length, that are transcribed from intergenic and intronic sequences and are released also in extracellular compartment
carried by various proteins, lipids and by exosomes, spreading in this way, molecular signals in biological fluids from one
district to others. Therefore, miRNAs may represent a fine-tuning of signaling able to reach different body districts and to
integrate multiple inputs and outputs. This makes them suitable to be used both as markers of disease state and as new
drugs for the control of protein expression (i.e. oncogenes). The discovery that circulating miRNAs are measurable in
serum and plasma and in other biological fluids and that their expression varies in the presence of pathologies makes them
of great potential in diagnostic applications.
Many epidemiological studies correlate the beneficial effects on population health to food containing polyphenols with the
antioxidant property of these molecules, but there are still unclear points regarding the useful concentrations. For example
the influence on gene transcription and gene regulation is far to be elucidated. Some recent studies have shown that
polyphenols are able to influence gene expression at the epigenetic level inducing the transcription of sncRNAs, in
particular miRNAs, that are able to inhibit the expression of target genes by interfering with the translation of their RNA
messengers (Bartel, 2004).
In our study we aimed to investigate, in the human intestinal Caco-2 cell line, if different concentrations of the polyphenol
Gallic Acid (GA) can modulate differently mithocondrial antioxidant activities by inducing different levels of miRNA
which down-regulate Mn SOD, Catalase and Peroxidase enzimes. In addition, cell proliferation (mitotic index) and death
(MTT test) were evaluated. Total RNA was obtained both from cells and culture media of untreated and treated cultures
and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of several miRNAs (mir-17-3p, mir-21-5p, mir-421) was performed using
cDNA obtained following the reverse transcription reaction with the miRCURY LNATM Universal RT micro RNA PCR
kit. From our results GA treatment induces a modulation of different miRNAs that, in turn, influences a number of
different biological processes. The modulation of miRNA synthesis was confirmed in culture medium. Our results
demonstrated a dose-dependent miRNA expression with a progressive increasing in miRNA levels that down regulate
mitochondrial antioxidant activity (mir-17-3p), cell proliferation (mir-21) and damage repair (mir-421). The progressive
increase in miRNA levels correlate with a progressive increase in toxic effects of GA. Our results are in agreement with
other studies showing that polyphenols are able to modulate miRNA synthesis (Bartel, 2004) and suggest the need of
further research for a safe use of antioxidant supplements in the light of the complex miRNA network interactions to avoid
possible adverse effects.
Bartel (2004). Cell 116: 281-97
A preliminary study of an alternative method for evaluating skin sensitizing potential of chemicals
No full textBackground: In order to comply with the European legislation concerning the risk assessment of skin sensitizers, considerable progress has been made in developing alternative methods, such as human cell line activation test (h-CLAT). H-CLAT is based on cytometric measurement of fluorescence emitted by anti-CD54 and anti-CD86 antibodies in THP-1 cells. Following this method, a range of substances have been analyzed; the emitted fluorescence, generally at low intensity, has caused problems concerning the interpretation of results. Aim: Find an alternative parameter to h-CLAT for evaluating the sensitizing potential of chemicals. Materials and Methods: Cells have been analyzed with flow cytometry after treatment with sensitizing compounds administered at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Results: Sensitizers were able to inducealterations in cell morphology to a more ‘condensed’ one allowing the identification of cells under microscope as a ‘sensitized’ subpopulation. These variations cause similar modifications in ‘scattering’ parameters, making cells easily monitorable by flow cytometry. No changes have been observed in cells treated with non-sensitizers or in untreated cells. Conclusion: This method based on the analysis of forward scatter and side scatter parameters, can be used as an alternative method for identifying sensitization potential of chemical compounds
Congenital lactic acidosis with PDHc deficiency in two siblings affected by respiratory distress in the first life
No full textEvaluation of some enzyme-activities related to energy-metabolism in 2 sisters affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
No full textValutazione di alcune attività enzimatiche mitocondriali in materiale bioptico ottenuto da 6 bambini con acidosi lattica
No full textClinical monitoring of safety and functionality of a non-medicated patch for pain alleviation associated to dysmenorrhea
No full textFIT® Lady patch is an easy-to-use class I medical device, developed to relieve pain associate to menstrual period, without pharmacological substances. The patch is based on far infrared (FIR) electromagnetic waves reflection properties that normally are emitted from the body, as a consequence of body heat dispersion between the difference of cutaneous body and ambient temperature. Consequently, infrared (IR) waves are reflected and resorbed at cutaneous level and thermal energy again locally introduced leads to a better microcirculation. Although biological IR waves properties and mechanisms of action are extensively studied, there are still few references on patches based on FIR properties. The aim of this study was the evaluation of FIR technology applied to FIT® Lady patch thought to be used to alleviate pain associated to menstrual period (dysmenorrhea). The FIT® Lady patch medical device (active patch) was evaluated in comparison with a placebo patch, in order to assess its action in reducing pain related to menstrual period in 40 women patients enrolled according to specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. This study confirmed a good tolerability of the product, by demonstrating the ability to significantly reduce inconvenience and feeling of pain. The mineral that was responsible of the reflection activity (titanium dioxide), conveniently entrapped in a patch, was able to work without any active substances in contact with and absorbed from the skin
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