Search results for "DHE"
showing 10 items of 1975 documents
Recombinant mussel protein Pvfp-5β: A potential tissue bioadhesive
2019
During their lifecycle, many marine organisms rely on natural adhesives to attach to wet surfaces for movement and self-defence in aqueous tidal environments. Adhesive proteins from mussels are biocompatible and elicit only minimal immune responses in humans. Therefore these proteins have received increased attention for their potential applications in medicine, biomaterials and biotechnology. The Asian green mussel Perna viridis secretes several byssal plaque proteins, molecules that help anchor the mussel to surfaces. Among these proteins, protein-5β (Pvfp-5β) initiates interactions with the substrate, displacing interfacial water molecules before binding to the surface. Here, we establis…
A new class of phenylhydrazinylidene derivatives as inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation
2016
In the struggle against the emergence of the antibiotic resistance, new molecules targeting biofilm formation could be useful as adjuvant of conventional antibiotics. This study focused on a new class of 2-phenylhydrazinylidene derivatives as antivirulence agents. The compound 12e showed interesting activities against biofilm formation of all tested Staphylococcus aureus strains with IC50 ranging from 1.7 to 43 µM; compounds 12f and 13a resulted strong inhibitors of S. aureus ATCC 6538 and ATCC 29213 biofilm formation with IC50 of 0.9 and 0.8 µM, respectively. A preliminary study on the mechanism of action was carried on evaluating the inhibition of sortase A transpeptidase. Compound 12e re…
Relationship between PMN-endothelium interactions, ROS production and Beclin-1 in type 2 diabetes.
2020
Type 2 diabetes is closely related to oxidative stress and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we hypothesized that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)-endothelium interactions and autophagy are associated. We evaluated PMN-endothelial interactions, ROS production and autophagy parameters in 47 type 2 diabetic patients and 57 control subjects. PMNs from type 2 diabetic patients exhibited slower rolling velocity (p < 0.001), higher rolling flux (p < 0.001) and adhesion (p < 0.001) in parallel to higher levels of total (p < 0.05) and mitochondrial ROS (p < 0.05). When the protein expression of autophagy markers was analysed, an increase of Beclin-1 (p < 0.05), LC3I (p < 0.05), LC3II (p < 0…
Attitudes and perception of healthcare workers concerning influenza vaccination during the 2019/2020 season: A survey of sicilian university hospitals
2020
Influenza is an infectious disease with a high impact on the population in terms of morbidity and mortality, but despite International and European guidelines, vaccination coverage rates among healthcare workers (HCWs) remain very low. The aim of the present study was to evaluate influenza vaccination adherence in the three Sicilian University Hospitals of Catania, Messina, and Palermo and to understand the attitudes and perceptions of vaccinated healthcare workers and the main reasons for vaccination refusal. A cross-sectional survey through a self-administered questionnaire was conducted during the 2019/2020 influenza season. Overall, 2356 vaccinated healthcare workers answered the questi…
Behavioral and clinical characteristics of people receiving medical care for HIV infection in an outpatient facility in Sicily, Italy
2016
Paola Di Carlo,1 Giuliana Guadagnino,1 Palmira Immordino,1 Giovanni Mazzola,2 Pietro Colletti,2 Ilenia Alongi,1 Lucia Adamoli,1 Francesco Vitale,1 Alessandra Casuccio1 1Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care &ldquo;G D&rsquo;Alessandro&rdquo;, University of Palermo, 2Department of Medicinal Clinics and Emerging Diseases, &ldquo;Paolo Giaccone&rdquo; Polyclinic University Hospital, Palermo, Italy Aim: The authors examined a cohort of HIV-positive outpatients at the AIDS Center of Palermo University in Italy in order to identify factors related to the frequency of their visits to the outpatient facility for health care services.Methods: Two hundr…
Metabolic syndrome enhances endoplasmic reticulum, oxidative stress and leukocyte–endothelium interactions in PCOS
2017
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance, which can lead to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Oxidative stress and leukocyte-endothelium interactions are related to PCOS. Our aim was to evaluate whether the presence of MetS in PCOS patients can influence endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress and leukocyte-endothelium interactions.This was a prospective controlled study conducted in an academic medical center. The study population consisted of 148 PCOS women (116 without/32 with MetS) and 112 control subjects (87 without / 25 with MetS). Metabolic parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, ER stress markers (GRP78, sXBP1, ATF6), leukocyte-endotheli…
Immunomodulatory Therapy of Inflammatory Liver Disease Using Selectin-Binding Glycopolymers
2017
Immunotherapies have the potential to significantly advance treatment of inflammatory disease and cancer, which are in large part driven by immune cells. Selectins control the first step in immune cell adhesion and extravasation, thereby guiding leukocyte trafficking to tissue lesions. We analyzed four different highly specific selectin-binding glycopolymers, based on linear poly(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (PHPMA) polymers. These glycopolymers contain either the tetrasaccharide sialyl-LewisX (SLeX) or the individual carbohydrates fucose, galactose, and sialic acids mimicking the complex SLeX binding motive. The glycopolymers strongly bind to primary human macrophages, without activatin…
The Metalloprotease Meprin β Is an Alternative β-Secretase of APP
2017
The membrane bound metalloprotease meprin β is important for collagen fibril assembly in connective tissue formation and for the detachment of the intestinal mucus layer for proper barrier function. Recent proteomic studies revealed dozens of putative new substrates of meprin β, including the amyloid precursor protein (APP). It was shown that APP is cleaved by meprin β in distinct ways, either at the β-secretase site resulting in increased levels of Aβ peptides, or at the N-terminus releasing 11 kDa, and 20 kDa peptide fragments. The latter event was discussed to be rather neuroprotective, whereas the ectodomain shedding of APP by meprin β reminiscent to BACE-1 is in line with the amyloid h…
Validation of the Satisfaction Questionnaire with physical education classes (CSCEF) in the Latin American context
2020
The objective of this study was to validate the Satisfaction Questionnaire in Physical Education Classes (CSCEF) in the context of Latin America (Dominican Republic). 1298 students aged between 15 and 21 participated. The psychometric properties of the instrument were analysed. The results demonstrated that the best factor solution would be a multidimensional model represented by nine dimensions for the satisfaction construct, as well as a higher-order model. According to Cronbach's alpha and omega index, values between .66 and .99 were obtained. The Latin American version of the CSCEF was invariant with respect to gender. Although the results of this study support the validity and reliabil…
Pantethine Alters Lipid Composition and Cholesterol Content of Membrane Rafts, With Down-Regulation of CXCL12-Induced T Cell Migration
2015
Pantethine, a natural low-molecular-weight thiol, shows broad activity in a large range of essential cellular pathways. It has been long known as a hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agent. We showed recently that it exerts a neuroprotective action in mouse models of cerebral malaria and Parkinson's disease through multiple mechanisms. In the present study we looked at its effects on membrane lipid rafts that serve as platforms for molecules engaged in cell activity, therefore providing a target against inappropriate cell response leading to chronic inflammation. We found that pantethine-treated cells showed a significant change in raft fatty acid composition and cholesterol content, wit…