Search results for "uno"

Impact of fascioliasis reinfection on Fasciola hepatica egg shedding: relationship with the immune-regulatory response.

2019

Abstract Fascioliasis is a disease caused by liver flukes. In human fascioliasis hyperendemic areas, reinfection and chronicity are the norm. Control strategies in humans require the use of egg count techniques to calculate the appropriate treatment dose for colic risk prevention. The present study investigates how fascioliasis reinfection affects liver fluke egg shedding and its relationship with the immune-regulatory response. The experimental design reproduced the usual reinfection/chronicity conditions in human fascioliasis endemic areas and included Fasciola hepatica primo-infected Wistar rats (PI) and rats reinfected at 4 weeks (R4), 8 weeks (R8), 12 weeks (R12), and negative control …

Large-scale genome-wide analysis identifies genetic variants associated with cardiac structure and function

2017

BACKGROUND: Understanding the genetic architecture of cardiac structure and function may help to prevent and treat heart disease. This investigation sought to identify common genetic variations associated with inter-individual variability in cardiac structure and function. METHODS: A GWAS meta-analysis of echocardiographic traits was performed, including 46,533 individuals from 30 studies (EchoGen consortium). The analysis included 16 traits of left ventricular (LV) structure, and systolic and diastolic function. RESULTS: The discovery analysis included 21 cohorts for structural and systolic function traits (n = 32,212) and 17 cohorts for diastolic function traits (n = 21,852). Replication …

Predictors of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Titers two decades after vaccination in a cohort of students and post-graduates of the Medical School at th…

2017

Introduction and objective. The introduction of a vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) for newborn babies in Italy in 1991, extended to 12-year-old children for the first 12 years of application, has been a major achievement in terms of the prevention of HBV infection. The objective of this study was to analyse the long-term immunogenicity and effectiveness of HBV vaccination among healthcare students with different working seniorities. Materials and method. A cross-sectional observational study of undergraduate and postgraduate students attending the Medical School of the University of Palermo was conducted from January 2014 – July 2016. HBV serum markers were performed with commercial …

Positioning of darunavir/cobicistat-containing antiretroviral regimens in real life: results from a large multicentre observational prospective cohor…

2019

Abstract Background Study aim was to evaluate the safety and durability of darunavir/cobicistat (DRV/c) in a real life setting. Methods Multicentre prospective cohort study performed in the context of SCOLTA (Surveillance Cohort Long-Term Toxicity Antiretrovirals). Patients were evaluated at baseline, week 24 and 48. Changes were evaluated using the paired t test or signed rank test. The multivariable analysis was performed using a general linear model, after ranking of not normally distributed variables. Results A total of 249 patients were included, 72 (29%) were in DRV/c-based dual therapies (DT). Hypercholesterolemia, HC, (total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 200 mg/dL or low density-C (LDL-C) ≥ 13…

Interferon-γ-Driven iNOS: A Molecular Pathway to Terminal Shock in Arenavirus Hemorrhagic Fever

2017

Arenaviruses such as Lassa virus (LASV) cause hemorrhagic fever. Terminal shock is associated with a systemic cytokine storm, but the mechanisms are ill defined. Here we used HLA-A2-expressing mice infected with a monkey-pathogenic strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-WE), a close relative of LASV, to investigate the pathophysiology of arenavirus hemorrhagic fever (AHF). AHF manifested as pleural effusions, edematous skin swelling, and serum albumin loss, culminating in hypovolemic shock. A characteristic cytokine storm included numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites. Edema formation and terminal shock were abrogated in mice lacking inducible nit…

Disease severity in patients with visceral leishmaniasis is not altered by co-infection with intestinal parasites

2017

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease that affects the poorest communities and can cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Visceral leishmaniasis is characterized by the presence of Leishmania parasites in the spleen, liver and bone marrow, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, prolonged fever, systemic inflammation and low body mass index (BMI). The factors impacting on the severity of VL are poorly characterized. Here we performed a cross-sectional study to assess whether co-infection of VL patients with intestinal parasites influences disease severity, assessed with clinical and haematological data, inflammation, cytokine profiles and BMI. Data from VL patients was s…

Antibody-mediated inhibition of FXIIa blocks downstream bradykinin generation.

2018

Protective and causative killer Ig-like receptor (KIR) and metalloproteinase genetic patterns associated with Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) encephal…

2020

Abstract Background The cerebral innate immune system has a critical role in control processes of viral replication in the brain after primary infactivo and immunologic disregulation and inflammation has been reported as a primary determinant of pathogenesis and prognosis of subsequent HSV-1 related encephalitis (HSE). Interaction linking LTR3-activated DCs is also represented by the killer Ig-like receptor (KIR) + pathways on NK cells. Only a few studies analyzed the role of of MMP-9 activity regulating genetic polymorphism on clinical outcome of viral infections. Susceptibility to symptomatic encephalitis depends on SNC viral invasion and BBB disruption. We hypothesize that certain KIR ge…

Functional Interactions between Gut Microbiota Transplantation, Quercetin, and High-Fat Diet Determine Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Development …

2019

Scope Modulation of intestinal microbiota has emerged as a new therapeutic approach for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, it is addressed whether gut microbiota modulation by quercetin and intestinal microbiota transplantation can influence NAFLD development. Methods and results Gut microbiota donor mice are selected according to their response to high-fat diet (HFD) and quercetin in terms of obesity and NAFLD-related biomarkers. Germ-free recipients displayed metabolic phenotypic differences derived from interactions between microbiota transplanted, diets, and quercetin. Based on the evaluation of hallmark characteristics of NAFLD, it is found that gut microbiota transplan…

Inflammasome activation in Ankylosing Spondylitis is associated to gut dysbiosis

2021

Objective: We undertook this study to evaluate the activation and functional relevance of inflammasome pathways in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and rodent models and their relationship to dysbiosis. Methods: An inflammasome pathway was evaluated in the gut and peripheral blood from 40 AS patients using quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy, and was compared to that of 20 healthy controls and 10 patients with Crohn’s disease. Bacteria was visualized using silver stain in human samples, and antibiotics were administered to HLA–B27–transgenic rats. The NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 was admini…