Salivary psoriasin (S100A7) correlates with diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide in a large cohort of systemic sclerosis patients

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin and the internal organs. In a previous work we suggested a correlation between levels of salivary psoriasin (S100A7) and pulmonary involvement in SSc patients. The goals of this study are to determine the distribution characteristics of psoriasin in whole saliva (WS) of SSc and healthy donor populations and define its predictive value on diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO), along with others clinical parameters.

METHODS

Salivary level of psoriasin was determined by ELISA kit in 134 SSc patients, 63 Raynaud syndrome patients, 40 patients affected by other connective diseases (non-case) and 74 healthy control subjects.

RESULTS

A significant increase of salivary psoriasin was observed in SSc patients when compared with other healthy and pathological controls. Moreover, we confirmed the efficacy of salivary psoriasin to correlate with DLCO in a large cohort of SSc patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall our results suggest a rapid, non invasive and low costing method which can help clinicians in the evaluation of SSc pulmonary involvement.

Metacognitive training for young subjects (MCT young version) in the early stages of psychosis: Is the duration of untreated psychosis a limiting factor?

OBJECTIVES

The treatment program 'Metacognitive training for patients with schizophrenia' (MCT) addresses cognitive biases assumed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of delusions (e.g., jumping to conclusions, theory of mind deficits). The aim of our study was to examine the effectiveness and the feasibility of this intervention targeted to early phases of psychosis (MCT young version).

DESIGN

An experimental design included two groups of subjects on the basis of their duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) 'short' (less or equal than 12 months) and 'long' DUP (longer than 12 months), assessed at baseline and after the 4-month intervention.

METHODS

Fifty-six young subjects affected by early psychosis were assessed on psychopathology, social functioning, neurocognitive, and metacognitive measures. The primary outcome was the reduction of psychopathology. Secondary outcomes included reduction of cognitive and emotional dysfunction and improvement of social functioning.

RESULTS

At the end of the 4-month MCT, both groups showed significant improvements in many variables: positive symptoms, cognitive functions, as verbal memory, attention and mental flexibility, and metacognitive functions, as cognitive insight. Significant and positive changes were found in theory of mind abilities and social perception.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in DUP between the two groups of young subjects of our sample did not seem to influence the intervention outcomes, still taking into account that the average difference between the two groups in terms of DUP is 12.6 months.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Metacognition refers to the general ability 'to think about thinking,' that is, the ability to think about one's mental state and the mental states of others. Persons with schizophrenia experience different metacognitive impairments. The metacognitive training for patients with schizophrenia - young version can be applied to young people affected by psychosis and seems to improve symptomatology, social functioning, cognitive, and metacognitive abilities, independently by their Duration of Untreated Psychosis over a 2-year period.

Comparative proteomic analysis of malignant pleural mesothelioma: Focusing on the biphasic subtype

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer originated from pleural mesothelial cells. MPM has been associated with long-term exposure to asbestos. In this work we performed a comparative proteomic analysis of biphasic pleural mesothelioma (B-PM). Tissue biopsies were obtained from 61 patients who were subjected to a diagnostic thoracoscopy. 2D/MS based approach was used for proteomic analysis. The 22 proteins found differentially expressed in B-PM, with respect to benign, were analyzed by Ingenuity Pathways Analysis and compared with those obtained for epitheliod pleural mesothelioma (E-PM). A different activation of transcription factors, proteins and cytokines were observed between two subtypes.

[The onset of affective disorder: impact of duration of untreated psychosis on global functioning]

AIM

Observational study on a young sample at the onset of affective disorder seeking help to a dedicated service, with the aim to evaluate the age of onset, the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and the functional outcome at 2-year follow-up.

METHODS

For 57 young people at First Episode Psychosis (FEP) of Affective Disorder, consecutively recruited to SMILE service, were collected socio-demographic and clinical (DUP, psychiatric history, age of onset) data and psychopathological (BPRS e SCL-90), perceived distress (GHQ-12) and functioning (VGF) evaluations.

RESULTS

Two years after the access to SMILE service, the sample showed a functional improvement, with a duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) of 120,9 weeks and a mean age of onset of 21 years. More than 50% of the sample reported a family psychiatric history; this subgroup showed a higher substance use and a longer DUP compared to young people with a negative family psychiatric history.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the problem of the diagnostic delay of young people at FEP of Affective Disorder and underlines the role of family psychiatric history. Our results support the need of a specialized service to improve the early detection, identification and treatment of mental disorders.

PTSD Growth and Substance Abuse Among a College Student Community: Coping Strategies after 2009 L'aquila Earthquake

Aim of the study was the assessment of coping strategies, specifically substance use and post-traumatic growth (PTG), in 411 college students two years after 2009 L’Aquila earthquake. Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) was used to assess PTG and one question about substance use (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis) was asked to verify if students had modified their use in the post-earthquake compared with the pre-earthquake period. The 77.1% of college students were exposed to L’Aquila earthquake. The PTGI mean score was 35.23, underlining low positive coping strategies among student community. About substance abuse, the 43.8% of college students reported a marked increase in alcohol use, 7.8% in cannabis and the 15.8% reported an increase in nicotine use in the post-earthquake period. Despite these data, 12.5 % of the students reported a decrease in alcohol use after the earthquake and 17.3% of the sample reported a PTG, showing positive behaviors and attitudes after the traumatic experience of the natural disaster (increase of social relationships, appreciation of new future possibilities, and development of a new deep meaning of life). Inferential analysis shows a strong negative correlation between direct earthquake exposure and PTGI total score. In post-disaster settings, a systematic framework of case identification, triage, and mental health interventions, including the improvement of positive coping strategies, like the PTG, should be integrated into emergency medicine and trauma care responses.

Is personal recovery in schizophrenia predicted by low cognitive insight?

Recovery is a widely discussed concept in the field of research, treatment, and public policy regarding serious mental illness, and mainly schizophrenia. Aim of our study was to assess the relationship between personal recovery and prediction variables, as psychopathology, neurocognition, clinical and cognitive insight, and social functioning in inpatients affected by schizophrenia, with a special interest on cognitive insight. We assessed 76 inpatients affected by schizophrenia at their hospital discharge. Instruments included the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, the Insight Scale and the Recovery Assessment Scale to assess the cognitive and clinical insight, and personal recovery. The neurocognitive assessment was represented by a single factor score produced by a principal components analysis of a neurocognitive test battery. Social functioning was measured also. Low self-reflectiveness of cognitive insight represented the best predictors of personal recovery. The relationship between cognitive insight and recovery found in this study may contribute to develop tailored interventions, taking into account the personal sense of recovery, despite the psychopathological evaluation.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 protects INS-1E mitochondria against palmitate-mediated beta-cell dysfunction: a proteomic study

Proteomic analysis of the protein expression profiles of enriched mitochondrial preparations of rat INS-1E β cells treated with palmitate in the presence and in the absence of GLP-1.

Altered protease-activated receptor-1 expression and signaling in a malignant pleural mesothelioma cell line, NCI-H28, with homozygous deletion of the β-catenin gene

Protease activated receptors (PARs) are G-protein coupled receptors that are activated by an unique proteolytic mechanism. These receptors play crucial roles in hemostasis and thrombosis but also in inflammation and vascular development. PARs have also been implicated in tumor progression, invasion and metastasis. In this study, we investigated expression and signaling of PAR1 in nonmalignant pleural mesothelial (Met-5A) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (NCI-H28) cells. We found that the expression level of PAR1 was markedly higher in NCI-H28 cells compared to Met-5A and human primary mesothelial cells. Other three malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines, i.e. REN, Ist-Mes2, and Mero-14, did not show any significant PAR1 over-expression compared to Met-5A cell line. Thrombin and PAR1 activating peptides enhanced Met-5A and NCI-H28 cell proliferation but in NCI-H28 cells higher thrombin concentrations were required to obtain the same proliferation increase. Similarly, thrombin caused extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation in both cell lines but NCI-H28 cells responded at higher agonist concentrations. We also determined that PAR1 signaling through Gq and G12/13 proteins is severely altered in NCI-H28 cells compared to Met-5A cells. On the contrary, PAR1 signaling through Gi proteins was persistently maintained in NCI-H28 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated a reduction of cell surface PAR1 expression in NCI-H28 and malignant pleural mesothelioma REN cells. Thus, our results provide evidences for dysfunctional PAR1 signaling in NCI-H28 cells together with reduced plasma membrane localization. The role of PAR1 in mesothelioma progression is just emerging and our observations can promote further investigations focused on this G-protein coupled receptor.

IRS1 G972R missense polymorphism is associated with failure to oral antidiabetes drugs in white patients with type 2 diabetes from Italy

This study tried to replicate in a large sample of white patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) from Italy a previously reported association of the IRS1 G972R polymorphism with failure to oral antidiabetes drugs (OAD). A total of 2,409 patients from four independent studies were investigated. Case subjects (n = 1,193) were patients in whom, because of uncontrolled diabetes (i.e., HbA1c >8%), insulin therapy had been added either on, or instead of, maximal or near-maximal doses of OAD, mostly metformin and sulfonylureas; control subjects (n = 1,216) were patients with HbA1c <8% in the absence of insulin therapy. The IRS1 G972R polymorphism was typed by TaqMan allele discrimination. In all samples, individuals carrying the IRS1 R972 risk variant tended to be more frequent among case than control subjects, though reaching statistical significance only in one case. As no IRS1 G972R-by-study sample interaction was observed, data from the four samples were analyzed together; a significant association was observed (allelic odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95% CI 1.03-1.63). When our present data were meta-analyzed with those obtained in a previous study, an overall R972 allelic OR of 1.37 (1.12-1.69) was observed. This study confirms in a large and ethnically homogeneous sample that IRS1 G972R polymorphism is associated with failure to OAD among patients with T2D.

First evidence of TRPV5 and TRPV6 channels in human parathyroid glands: possible involvement in neoplastic transformation

The parathyroid glands play an overall regulatory role in the systemic calcium (Ca²⁺) homeostasis. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the presence of the Ca²⁺ channels transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 5 and TRPV6 in human parathyroid glands. Semi-quantitative and quantitative PCR was carried out to evaluate the presence of TRPV5 and TRPV6 mRNAs in sporadic parathyroid adenomas and normal parathyroid glands. Western blot and immunocytochemical assays were used to assess protein expression, cellular localization and time expression in primary cultures from human parathyroid adenoma. TRPV5 and TRPV6 transcripts were then identified both in normal and pathological tissues. Predominant immunoreactive bands were detected at 75–80 kD for both vanilloid channels. These channels co-localized with the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) on the membrane surface, but immunoreactivity was also detected in the cytosol and around the nuclei. Our data showed that western blotting recorded an increase of protein expression of both channels in adenoma samples compared with normal glands suggesting a potential relation with the cell calcium signalling pathway and the pathological processes of these glands.

[Psychotropic-associated sexual dysfunctions: a survey of clinical pharmacology and medication-associated practice]

Epidemiological and clinical studies show that often persons affected by depression and schizophrenia can suffer of impairment of the sexual function. Most antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs have adverse sexual effects but it is difficult to identify if the impairment of the sexual function can be attributed to clinical picture or to the psychopharmacological treatments. Both antidepressants and novel and conventional antipsychotics are associated with significant sexual side effects and the presence of sexual side effects may affect compliance and adherence to treatment. In some specific clinical populations (e.g. youths), these specific side-effects turn out to be one of the most annoying and promote increased drop-out rates and poor adherence to treatment. Nevertheless, these clinical variables are often underestimated or not investigated in the course of follow-up of persons suffering from psychiatric disorders in treatment with psychotropic medications. Growing awareness of the adverse effects of psychotropic drugs has led to attempts to use adjuvants or substitute treatments to resolve sexual dysfunction. Effects on sexual function should be carefully diagnosed and treated; it should clearly discuss with patients in order to preserve an adequate quality of life, promote greater adherence to treatment and promote a good remission and recovery. The aim of this study is to review the most recent and significant literature data regarding association between sexual dysfunction and psychotropic medications, especially highlighting neurobiological and clinical data in order to improve the clinical pratice.

Comparative proteomic analysis of malignant pleural mesothelioma evidences an altered expression of nuclear lamin and filament-related proteins

PURPOSE

Malignant mesothelioma is a neoplastic disease linked to asbestos exposure whose diagnosis is limited, so detection methods for an early diagnosis and treatment result essential. Here, we compared proteomic profiles of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and benign biopsies to search potential biomarkers useful in differential diagnosis.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Tissue biopsies were obtained from 53 patients who were subjected to a diagnostic thoracoscopy. 2DE/MS based approach was used for proteomic analysis and protein validation was carried out by Western blot analysis versus benign and lung carcinoma samples.

RESULTS

Among the proteins identified we confirmed known MPM biomarkers such as calretinin and suggested the new ones as prelamin A/C, desmin, vimentin, calretinin, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A, myosin regulatory light chain 2, ventricular/cardiac muscle isoform, myosin light chain 3 and myosin light chain 6B. Ingenuity software was used to identify the biological processes to which these proteins belong and to construct a potential network.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Overall, our results suggest potential biomarkers that can be useful in occupational medicine for the early identification of the onset of disease in health surveillance of past asbestos-exposed workers, for monitoring the progress of disease and for assessing the response to treatment.

Search for peripheral biomarkers in patients affected by acutely psychotic bipolar disorder: a proteomic approach

Data on neurobiological mechanisms underlying mood disorders are elusive; the aetiology of such states is multifactorial, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Diagnosis is currently being made only on an interview-based methodology. Biological markers, which could improve the current classification, and in perspective, stratify patients on a biological basis into more homogeneous clinically distinct subgroups, are highly needed. We describe here a comparative proteomic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes from patients affected by acute psychotic bipolar disorder (PBD) (n = 15), major depressive episode (MDE) with no personal or family history of psychosis (n = 11), and a group of demographically matched healthy controls (HC) (n = 15). All patients were evaluated by means of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-Patient version (SCID-I-P), Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) questionnaires. Blood lymphocytes were obtained by gradient separation, and 2-DE was carried out on protein extracts. Significant differences in protein patterns among the three groups were observed. Thirty-six protein spots were found to be differentially expressed in patients compared to controls, which collapsed into 25 different proteins after mass spectrometry identification. Twenty-one of these proteins failed to discriminate between PBD and MDE, suggesting common signatures for these disorders. Nevertheless, after the western blot validation only two of the remaining proteins, namely LIM and SH3 domain protein1, and short-chain specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase mitochondrial protein, resulted in being significantly upregulated in PBD samples suggesting additional mechanisms that could be associated with the psychotic features of bipolar disorder.

Persistent fear of aftershocks, impairment of working memory, and acute stress disorder predict post-traumatic stress disorder: 6-month follow-up of help seekers following the L'Aquila earthquake

The aim of our 6-month follow-up study was to assess predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals seeking treatment at the General Hospital Psychiatric Unit within the first month following the L'Aquila earthquake. Clinical, trauma-related and neurocognitive variables were considered. At the 6-month follow-up, 91 (74.5%) out of 122 subjects were re-assessed and administered the Impact of Events Scale-revised (IES-R) for the detection of PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria. Within 4 weeks following the earthquake, patients were assessed with a checklist of traumatic-event-related variables, along with the Stanford Acute Stress Disorder Questionnaire (SASDQ) for the detection of ASD, with a short battery on working (Wechler Memory Scale-R, Digit Forward and Backward) and verbal memory (subtest of Milan Overall Dementia Assessment, MODA). A statistically significant higher proportion of subjects affected by 'partial' ASD showed a PTSD diagnosis (80.6%, N = 29) compared to not diagnosed subjects (40%, N = 22) and a PTSD diagnosis was shown by all the 4 subjects (4.4%) affected by 'full' ASD at the entry in the study. At the 6-month follow-up 56% of the sample could be considered affected by PTSD on the IES-R scale. The results of the logistic regression analysis on our selected predictors indicated that the persistent fear of aftershocks seemed to increase by over 57 times the likelihood of positive estimate of PTSD, followed by impairment of working memory backward (OR 48.2), and having being diagnosed as ASD case in the first 4 week after the earthquake (OR 17.4). This study underlines the importance of identifying PTSD predictors, in order to planning early treatment interventions after natural disasters.

A multidisciplinary approach to study the effects of balneotherapy and mud-bath therapy treatments on fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVES

To study the effects of both balneotherapy and mud-bath therapy treatments in patients affected by primary fibromyalgia (FM) using rheumatological, psychiatric, biochemical and proteomic approaches.

METHODS

Forty-one FM patients (39 females, 2 males), who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria received a 2-week thermal therapy programme consisting of therapy once daily for 6 days/week. Twenty-one patients received mud-bath treatment, while the other twenty balneotherapy. Pain, symptoms, and quality of life were assessed. Oxytocin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ATP and serotonin transporter levels during therapy were assayed. Comparative whole saliva (WS) proteomic analysis was performed using a combination of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and mass spectrometry techniques.

RESULTS

We observed a reduction in pain, FIQ values and improvement of SF36 in both groups of patients treated with mud-bath or balneotherapy. The improvement of the outcome measures occurred with different timing and duration in the two spa treatments. A significant decrease in BDNF concentrations was observed either after balneotherapy or mud-bath therapy when assayed after twelve weeks, while no significant change in oxytocin levels, ATP levels and serotonin transporter were detected. Significant differences were observed for phosphoglycerate mutase1 (PGAM1) and zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (AZGP1) protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that the thermal treatment might have a beneficial effect on the specific symptoms of the disease. In particular, while balneotherapy gives results that in most patients occur after the end of the treatment but which are no longer noticeable after 3 months, the mud-bath treatment gives longer lasting results.

The expression of platelet serotonin transporter (SERT) in human obesity

Background

Serotonin (5-HT) is a well-known modulator of eating behavior. However, the molecular mechanisms linking its action to body weight balance have been only partially elucidated. Since platelets are a suitable peripheral model to study 5-HT transport, metabolism and release, we herein evaluated the expression of the platelet 5-HT re-uptake system (SERT) by [³H]-paroxetine binding assay. A cohort of 114 unrelated individuals (34 males, 80 females; age, mean ± SD: 38.57 ± 12.47 years) without major psychiatric disorders, was recruited following a naturalistic design regarding age or gender and classified accordingly to their body mass index (BMI). Subjects were divided into 5 groups: normal-weight (NW), overweight (OW) and grade I-III obese (OB) individuals. For gender analyses, data were transformed into [³H]-paroxetine density (B_max)/BMI ratios to overcome both the disparity of women vs. men number and anthropometric differences between sexes.

Results

[³H]-paroxetine B_max (SERT density, fmol/mg proteins) was reduced in platelet membranes of grade II (p < 0.01) and III (p < 0.001) obese subjects vs. controls and in overweight subjects (p < 0.05) vs. grade III obese individuals. Considering all patients together, a strong negative correlation between B_max and BMI (r = −0.449; P < 0.0001) was demonstrated. Conversely, [³H]-paroxetine K_D (dissociation constant, nM) did not differ among groups. No gender-related variation concerning B_max/BMI ratios was observed in this cohort of subjects.

Conclusions

The down-regulation of SERT in platelet membranes of severe human obesity (BMI > 35 Kg/m²) confirms the involvement of 5-HT system in body weight gain. Moreover, this findings may help to elucidate those monoamine-endocrine networks acting on fat storage, adipocyte signaling and energy balance. Targeting 5-HT/5-HT-related markers will possibly uncover the existence of human obesity subtypes.

A multidisciplinary approach to study a couple of monozygotic twins discordant for the chronic fatigue syndrome: a focus on potential salivary biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a severe, systemic illness characterized by persistent, debilitating and medically unexplained fatigue. The etiology and pathophysiology of CFS remains obscure, and diagnosis is formulated through the patient's history and exclusion of other medical causes. Thereby, the availability of biomarkers for CFS could be useful for clinical research. In the present study, we used a proteomic approach to evaluate the global changes in the salivary profile in a couple of monozygotic twins who were discordant for CFS. The aim was to evaluate differences of salivary protein expression in the CFS patient in respect to his healthy twin.

METHODS

Saliva samples were submitted to two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). The gels were stained with Sypro, and a comparison between CFS subject and the healthy one was performed by the software Progenesis Same Spot including the Analysis of variance (ANOVA test). The proteins spot found with a ≥2-fold spot quantity change and p<0.05 were identified by Nano-liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. To validate the expression changes found with 2DE of 5 proteins (14-3-3 protein zeta/delta, cyclophilin A, Cystatin-C, Protein S100-A7, and zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein), we used the western blot analysis. Moreover, proteins differentially expressed were functionally analyzed using the Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software with the aim to determine the predominant canonical pathways and the interaction network involved.

RESULTS

The analysis of the protein profiles allowed us to find 13 proteins with a different expression in CFS in respect to control. Nine spots were up-regulated in CFS and 4 down-regulated. These proteins belong to different functional classes, such as inflammatory response, immune system and metabolism. In particular, as shown by the pathway analysis, the network built with our proteins highlights the involvement of inflammatory response in CFS pathogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows the presence of differentially expressed proteins in the saliva of the couple of monozygotic twins discordant for CFS, probably related to the disease. Consequently, we believe the proteomic approach could be useful both to define a panel of potential diagnostic biomarkers and to shed new light on the comprehension of the pathogenetic pathways of CFS.

Proteomic studies of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens represent a valuable informational resource of histologically characterized specimens for proteomic studies. In this article, the authors review the advancement performed in the field of FFPE proteomics focusing on formaldehyde treatment and on strategies addressed to obtain the best recovery in the protein/peptide extraction. A variety of approaches have been used to characterize protein tissue extracts, and many efforts have been performed demonstrating the comparability between fresh/frozen and FFPE proteomes. Finally, the authors report and discuss the large numbers of works aimed at developing new strategies and sophisticated platforms in the analysis of FFPE samples to validate known potential biomarkers and to discover new ones.

Presence in the pre-surgical fine-needle aspiration of potential thyroid biomarkers previously identified in the post-surgical one

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is usually applied to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid nodules. However, cytological analysis cannot always allow a proper diagnosis. We believe that the improvement of the diagnostic capability of pre-surgical FNA could avoid unnecessary thyroidectomy. In a previous study, we performed a proteome analysis to examine FNA collected after thyroidectomy. With the present study, we examined the applicability of these results on pre-surgical FNA. We collected pre-surgical FNA from 411 consecutive patients, and to obtain a correct comparison with our previous results, we processed only benign (n = 114), papillary classical variant (cPTC) (n = 34) and papillary tall cell variant (TcPTC) (n = 14) FNA. We evaluated levels of five proteins previously found up-regulated in thyroid cancer with respect to benign nodules. ELISA and western blot (WB) analysis were used to assay levels of L-lactate dehydrogenase B chain (LDHB), Ferritin heavy chain, Ferritin light chain, Annexin A1 (ANXA1), and Moesin in FNA. ELISA assays and WB analysis confirmed the increase of LDHB, Moesin, and ANXA1 in pre-surgical FNA of thyroid papillary cancer. Sensitivity and specificity of ANXA1 were respectively 87 and 94% for cPTC, 85 and 100% for TcPTC. In conclusion, a proteomic analysis of FNA from patients with thyroid nodules may help to distinguish benign versus malignant thyroid nodules. Moreover, ANXA1 appears to be an ideal candidate given the high sensitivity and specificity obtained from ROC curve analysis.

New insight into benign tumours of major salivary glands by proteomic approach

Major salivary gland tumours are uncommon neoplasms of the head and neck. The increase of precise pre-operative diagnosis is crucial for their correct management and the identification of molecular markers would surely improve the required accuracy. In this study we performed a comparative proteomic analysis of fine needle aspiration fluids of the most frequent benign neoplasms of major salivary glands, namely pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumour, in order to draw their proteomic profiles and to point out their significant features. Thirty-five patients submitted to parotidectomy were included in the study, 22 were identified to have pleomorphic adenoma and 14 Warthin's tumour. Fine needle aspiration samples were processed using a two-dimensional electrophoresis/mass spectrometry-based approach. A total of 26 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Ingenuity software was used to search the biological processes to which these proteins belong and to construct potential networks. Intriguingly, all Warthin's tumour up-regulated proteins such as Ig gamma-1 chain C region, Ig kappa chain C region and Ig alpha-1 chain C region and S100A9 were correlated to immunological and inflammatory diseases, while pleomorphic adenomas such as annexin A1, annexin A4, macrophage-capping protein, apolipoprotein E and alpha crystalline B chain were associated with cell death, apoptosis and tumorigenesis, showing different features of two benign tumours. Overall, our results shed new light on the potential usefulness of a proteomic approach to study parotid tumours and in particular up regulated proteins are able to discriminate two types of benign parotid lesions.

The activation of mitochondrial BK potassium channels contributes to the protective effects of naringenin against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Naringenin (NAR), flavonoid abundant in the genus Citrus, has been reported to interact with the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK). Since activators of BK channels expressed in cardiac mitochondria trigger protective effects in several models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), this work aimed to evaluate the potential cardioprotective effects of NAR and the involvement of mitochondrial BK channels. In an in vivo model of acute infarct in rats, NAR (100mg/kg i.p.) significantly reduced the heart injury induced by I/R. This effect was antagonized by the selective BK-blocker paxilline (PAX). The cardioprotective dose of NAR did not cause significant effects on the blood pressure. In Largendorff-perfused rat hearts submitted to ischemia/reperfusion, NAR improved the post-ischemic functional parameters (left ventricle developed pressure and dP/dt) with lower extension of myocardial injury. On isolated rat cardiac mitochondria, NAR caused a concentration-dependent depolarization of mitochondrial membrane and caused a trans-membrane flow of thallium (potassium-mimetic cation). Both these effects were antagonized by selective blockers of BK channels. Furthermore, NAR half-reduced the calcium accumulation into the matrix of cardiac mitochondria exposed to high calcium concentrations. In conclusion, NAR exerts anti-ischemic effects through a "pharmacological preconditioning" that it is likely to be mediated, at least in part, by the activation of mitochondrial BK channels.