Search results for "Research Paper"
showing 10 items of 477 documents
Metabolic adaptation in the human gut microbiota during pregnancy and the first year of life
2018
Abstract Background The relationship between the gut microbiome and the human host is dynamic and we may expect adjustments in microbiome function if host physiology changes. Metatranscriptomic approaches should be key in unraveling how such adjustments occur. Methods We employ metatranscriptomic sequencing analyses to study gene expression in the gut microbiota of infants through their first year of life, and of their mothers days before delivery and one year afterwards. Findings In infants, hallmarks of aerobic metabolism disappear from the microbial metatranscriptome as development proceeds, while the expression of functions related to carbohydrate transport and metabolism increases and …
Role of p16INK4a and BMI-1 in oxidative stress-induced premature senescence in human dental pulp stem cells
2017
Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) are a source for cell therapy. Before implantation, an in vitro expansion step is necessary, with the inconvenience that hDPSCs undergo senescence following a certain number of passages, loosing their stemness properties. Long-term in vitro culture of hDPSCs at 21% (ambient oxygen tension) compared with 3–6% oxygen tension (physiological oxygen tension) caused an oxidative stress-related premature senescence, as evidenced by increased β-galactosidase activity and increased lysil oxidase expression, which is mediated by p16INK4a pathway. Furthermore, hDPSCs cultured at 21% oxygen tension underwent a downregulation of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC factors, w…
Determinants of influenza vaccination among solid organ transplant recipients attending Sicilian reference center
2016
Among solid organ transplant recipients, influenza infection is commonly associated with higher morbidity and mortality than immunocompetent hosts. Therefore, in these subjects influenza vaccination is of paramount importance. The main objective of the study was to assess compliance to vaccination and analyze factors associated with influenza vaccination of solid organ transplant recipients admitted to the Sicilian solid organ transplant Reference Center IRCCS-ISMETT in Palermo during 2014–2015 influenza season. Thirty one (37.8%) out of 82 solid organ transplant recipients were vaccinated against influenza. The main reason for vaccination refusal was fear of adverse reaction (n = 16, 31.4%…
Sex differences in conditioned stimulus discrimination during context-dependent fear learning and its retrieval in humans: the role of biological sex…
2015
BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are more prevalent in women than in men. Despite this sexual dimorphism most experimental studies are conducted in male participants and studies focusing on sex differences are sparse. In addition the role of hormonal contraceptives and menstrual cycle phase in fear conditioning and extinction processes remain largely unknown. METHODS: We investigated sex differences in context-dependent fear acquisition and extinction (day 1) and their retrieval/expression (day 2). Skin conductance responses (SCRs) fear and unconditioned stimulus expectancy ratings were obtained. RESULTS: We included 377 individuals (261 women) in our study. Robust sex differences were observe…
The Influence of Chitosan on the Oral Bioavailability of Acyclovir-a Comparative Bioavailability Study in Humans
2015
Purpose The effects of chitosan hydrochloride on the oral absorption of acyclovir in humans were studied to confirm the absorption enhancing effects reported for in vitro and rat studies, respectively. Methods A controlled, open-label, randomized, 3-phase study was conducted in 12 healthy human volunteers. Zovirax 200 mg dispersible tablets co-administered with doses of 400 and 1000 mg chitosan HCl were compared with Zovirax only. Results The expected increased absorption of acyclovir was not observed. On the contrary, mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-12 h) and maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) decreased following concomitant chitosan intake (1402 versus 1017 and …
Shape analysis of the cingulum, uncinate and arcuate fasciculi in patients with bipolar disorder
2016
Background: Abnormal maturation of brain connectivity is supposed to underlie the dysfunctional emotion regulation in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). To test this hypothesis, white matter integrity is usually investigated using measures of water diffusivity provided by MRI. Here we consider a more intuitive aspect of the morphometry of the white matter tracts: the shape of the fibre bundles, which is associated with neurodevelopment. We analyzed the shape of 3 tracts involved in BD: the cingulum (CG), uncinate fasciculus (UF) and arcuate fasciculus (AF). Methods: We analyzed diffusion MRI data in patients with BD and healthy controls. The fibre bundles were reconstructed using Q-ball–b…
Socio-economic status and maternal BMI are associated with duration of breast-feeding of Norwegian infants
2018
AbstractObjectiveTo explore whether there is an association between socio-economic status and maternal BMI and duration of any breast-feeding/exclusive breast-feeding among Norwegian infants at 4 and 5 months of age in 2016.DesignCross-sectional design. Baseline data from a randomized controlled trial. Data concerning breast-feeding were collected by FFQ.SettingRecruitment was done at child health-care centres and through Facebook in 2016. In total, 960 infants/parents registered for participating in the study Early Food for Future Health.SubjectsA total of 715 infant/mother dyads completed the questionnaire when the child was between 5 and 6 months old.ResultsAt 5 months of age, 81·0 % of …
NfL predicts relapse-free progression in a longitudinal multiple sclerosis cohort study
2021
Background: Easily accessible biomarkers enabling the identification of those patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who will accumulate irreversible disability in the long term are essential to guide early therapeutic decisions. We here examine the utility of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) for forecasting relapse-free disability progression and conversion to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) in the prospective Neurofilament and longterm outcome in MS (NaloMS) cohort. Methods: The predictive ability of sNfL at Baseline and sNfL follow-up (FU)/ Baseline (BL) ratio with regard to disability progression was assessed within a development cohort (NaloMS, n=196 patients with relapsing-remitt…
Factors associated with poor adherence to MMR vaccination in parents who follow vaccination schedule.
2014
Due to median vaccination coverage far from elimination level, Italy is still an European country with high number of measles cases per million of people. In this study we explored potential socioeconomic, medical and demographic factors which could influence the propensity of family members for measles vaccination schedule. A cross-sectional study was performed through a questionnaire administered to the parents of children who received the first dose of MMR vaccine in two different vaccination centers in the Palermo area from November 2012 to May 2013. Overall, the role played by internet (OR 19.8 P = 0.001) and the large number of children in a family (OR 7.3 P ≤ 0.001) were the factors …
The effect of surgical suture material on osteoclast generation and implant-loosening
2020
Background: Implant loosening - either infectious or aseptic- is a still a major complication in the field of orthopaedic surgery. In both cases, a pro-inflammatory peri-prosthetic environment is generated by the immune system - either triggered by bacteria or by implant wear particles - which leads to osteoclast differentiation and osteolysis. Since infectious cases in particular often require multiple revision surgeries, we wondered whether commonly used surgical suture material may also activate the immune system and thus contribute to loss of bone substance by generation of osteoclasts. Methods: Tissue samples from patients suffering from infectious implant loosening were collected intr…