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Caraffa E, Mascia C, Ciardi MR, Lichtner M, Ajassa C, Del Borgo C, Tieghi T, Vita S, Savinelli S, Iannetta M, Russo G, Mastroianni CM, Vullo V. Steroid use in measles: A retrospective cohort study during the 2017 outbreak in tertiary referral center, Rome and Latina, Italy. J Infect Chemother 2024; 30:201-207. [PMID: 37820949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since early January 2017, a new measles outbreak in Italy has been observed. The aim of the study was to compare features between adults and children measles cases and evaluate the effect of steroid treatment on the above parameters. METHODS A retrospective multicenter, descriptive study was performed. We analyzed all patients admitted to the Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome and Latina, from January 2017 to December 2017 and discharged with diagnosis of measles. RESULTS We identified 113 patients discharged with the diagnosis of measles infection cases of which 59 adults and 54 children (≤16 years). In adult population 32 patients (54 %) were males, with a median age of 30.5 years old and all unvaccinated (100 %). Keratoconjunctivitis 30 (50 %) was the most frequent complication. In pediatric population 27 (50 %) patients were males, with a median age of 3 years old. Information on measles vaccination status was available for only 21 (38.8 %) of cases. Keratoconjunctivitis 40 (74 %) was the most frequent complication. Analyzing the differences between adult and pediatric patients we found that children were significantly more likely to have keratoconjunctivitis and diarrhea as complications than adults in which the rate of thrombocytopenia and hepatitis was highest. Thirty-nine adult subjects (66 %) have been treated with systemic corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients differ from adults in complications and liver involvement. Regarding steroids use, although there is no clear indication of steroid use during measles, there is no evidence of a worse outcome in our cases series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Caraffa
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Ciardi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Camilla Ajassa
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosmo Del Borgo
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Tiziana Tieghi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Serena Vita
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy; National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Savinelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Department of Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marco Iannetta
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine and Infectious Diseases Clinic, University Hospital Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Russo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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Vita S, Mascia C, Kertusha B, Marocco R, Sauzullo I, Mengoni F, Pozzetto I, Scalzi A, Nijhawan P, Savinelli S, Fondaco L, Carraro A, Del Borgo C, Mastroianni CM, Lichtner M. TB specific intracellular cytokines production in Synovial liquid for diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis. J Infect Dev Ctries 2023; 17:1829-1833. [PMID: 38252716 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.12618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Skeletal tuberculosis (TB) accounts for about 10 to 35% of extrapulmonary cases and the knee is the most frequent site after the spine and hip. The diagnosis is difficult and largely clinical. CASE PRESENTATION This is a case of a young Pakistani man with a history of joint pain for about 4 years, who was diagnosed with chronic arthritis of the right knee. Microscopy of synovial fluid and conventional diagnostic tests to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative, while a non-classical method based on intracellular cytokine flow cytometry response of CD4 T-cells in synovial fluid helped us to address the diagnosis, which was subsequently confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). CONCLUSIONS Thanks to an innovative immunological approach, supported by PCR for detection of M. tuberculosis DNA, we were able to diagnose tuberculous arthritis of the knee, which allowed prompt initiation of treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Vita
- Infectious Disease Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | | | | | - Raffaella Marocco
- Infectious Disease Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Mengoni
- Infectious Disease Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Irene Pozzetto
- Infectious Disease Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scalzi
- Orthopedics and Traumatology, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Savinelli
- Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | - Cosmo Del Borgo
- Infectious Disease Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | | | - Miriam Lichtner
- Infectious Disease Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
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Rodia R, Meloni PE, Mascia C, Balestrieri C, Ruggiero V, Serra G, Conti M, Loi M, Pes F, Onali S, Perra A, Littera R, Velluzzi F, Mariotti S, Chessa L, Boi F. Direct-acting antivirals used in HCV-related liver disease do not affect thyroid function and autoimmunity. J Endocrinol Invest 2023; 46:359-366. [PMID: 36048357 PMCID: PMC9859881 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-022-01909-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE It is well known that interferon-α (IFN-α), used for long time as the main therapy for HCV-related disease, induces thyroid alterations, but the impact of the new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on thyroid is not established. Aim of this prospective study was to evaluate if DAAs therapy may induce thyroid alterations. METHODS A total of 113 HCV patients, subdivided at the time of the enrollment in naïve group (n = 64) and in IFN-α group (n = 49) previously treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin, were evaluated for thyroid function and autoimmunity before and after 20-32 weeks of DAAs. RESULTS Before starting DAAs, a total of 8/113 (7.1%) patients showed Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) all belonging to IFN-α group (8/49, 16.3%), while no HT cases were found in the naïve group. Overall, 7/113 (6.2%) patients were hypothyroid: 3/64 (4.7%) belonging to naïve group and 4/49 (8.2%) to IFN-α group. Furthermore, a total of 8/113 patients (7.1%) showed subclinical hyperthyroidism: 2/64 (3.1%) were from naïve group and 6/49 (12.2%) from IFN-α group. Interestingly, after DAAs therapy, no new cases of HT, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism was found in all series, while 6/11 (54.5%) patients with non-autoimmune subclinical thyroid dysfunction became euthyroid. Finally, the only association between viral genotypes and thyroid alterations was genotype 1 and hypothyroidism. CONCLUSIONS This study supports evidence that DAAs have a limited or missing influence on thyroid in patients with HCV-related diseases. Moreover, it provides preliminary evidence that subclinical non-autoimmune thyroid dysfunction may improve after HCV infection resolution obtained by DAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Rodia
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - P E Meloni
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - C Mascia
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - C Balestrieri
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - V Ruggiero
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Serra
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - M Conti
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - M Loi
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Pes
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - S Onali
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - A Perra
- Unit of Oncology and Molecular Pathology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - R Littera
- Complex Structure of Medical Genetics, R. Binaghi Hospital, ASSL Cagliari, ATS Sardegna, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Velluzzi
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - S Mariotti
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - L Chessa
- Centre of Liver Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Boi
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari, SS 554, Bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
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Nijhawan P, Nijhawan P, Carraro A, Marocco R, Vita S, Kertusha B, Mascia C, Lichtner M, Mastroianni C, Zingaropoli MA, Masci G, Ianiri P, Vito M, Fondaco L, Del Borgo C, Mirella D. 1203. Systemic, Mucosal Immune Activation And Psycho-sexual Health in HIV-Infected And Uninfected Women: Evaluation of Biomarkers And Environmental Stimuli. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020. [PMCID: PMC7777619 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.1388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV infection in women in disproportionate ratios as compared to men has been a grave concern over the years. It is in proportion to reproductive and hormonal differences making women more vulnerable. It elicits an Immune response which can be monitored by analysing various factors such as mucosal immunity, sexual behaviour, biomarkers in the plasma, serum and vaginal lavage and vaginal infections. Aim Evaluating and comparing the systemic and mucosal immuno-inflammatory status, the female sexual function (FSF) and generalized anxiety in HIV+ women on successful HAART with healthy women (HW). Methods We enrolled 53 subjects (23 HIV+ women on successful HAART and 30 Healthy women (HW)) with no statistical differences in age. The figure (named: methodology) below explains the methods applied: Cytometry and Kit ELISA were used to estimate lymphocytes and all cytokines. Women were also tested for co-morbidities such as diabetes, blood pressure, HCV, cervical cancer etc. Statistical analysis was performed using PRISM 8.0. Methodology ![]()
Results Higher CD4 and CD8 cell count was observed in HW compared to HIV+ women (p=0.02,p=0.004).Plasma levels of sCD 163, CXCL-10, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in HIV women as compared to HW(p< 0.001), while IL-6 and IL8 were lower in the VL of HIV women. An ASCUS in HW was found for PAP Test. CXCL-10 was correlated to estradiol levels (r=0.8, p=0.02). 57% reported FSD and 43% had a FSFI score≤10. A significant difference between the two groups in the FSFI score (p=0.007) was found, particularly in sexual desire, arousal and pain. A positive correlation between level of testosterone and FSFI score was found only in HIV+ women (p=0.02; r= 0.74). 17% of women presented an anxiety disorder. Z-index was associated with orgasm domains (p=0.01; r=-0.4) and CD4+ T cells (p=0.02; r=-0.45). Conclusion Higher plasma levels of the cytokines despite successful antiretroviral therapy were observed. At the mucosal level evaluating the balance within pro anti-inflammatory cytokines and micro-biome will be interesting to study. FSD is detected in more than half of HIV infected women and seems to be related to testosterone levels. The comparison with uninfected women underlying a persistent gap in quality of life of young HIV women should be bridged. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Serena Vita
- Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy
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Abstract
AbstractThis paper deals with the numerical approximation of a stick–slip system, known in the literature as Burridge–Knopoff model, proposed as a simplified description of the mechanisms generating earthquakes. Modelling of friction is crucial and we consider here the so-called velocity-weakening form. The aim of the article is twofold. Firstly, we establish the effectiveness of the classical Predictor–Corrector strategy. To our knowledge, such approach has never been applied to the model under investigation. In the first part, we determine the reliability of the proposed strategy by comparing the results with a collection of significant computational tests, starting from the simplest configuration to the more complicated (and more realistic) ones, with the numerical outputs obtained by different algorithms. Particular emphasis is laid on the Gutenberg–Richter statistical law, a classical empirical benchmark for seismic events. The second part is inspired by the result by Muratov (Phys Rev 59:3847–3857, 1999) providing evidence for the existence of traveling solutions for a corresponding continuum version of the Burridge–Knopoff model. In this direction, we aim to find some appropriate estimate for the crucial object describing the wave, namely its propagation speed. To this aim, motivated by LeVeque and Yee (J Comput Phys 86:187–210, 1990) (a paper dealing with the different topic of conservation laws), we apply a space-averaged quantity (which depends on time) for determining asymptotically an explicit numerical estimate for the velocity, which we decide to name LeVeque–Yee formula after the authors’ name of the original paper. As expected, for the Burridge–Knopoff, due to its inherent discontinuity of the process, it is not possible to attach to a single seismic event any specific propagation speed. More regularity is expected by performing some temporal averaging in the spirit of the Cesàro mean. In this direction, we observe the numerical evidence of the almost convergence of the wave speeds for the Burridge–Knopoff model of earthquakes.
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Zelic R, Giunchi F, Fridfeldt J, Carlsson J, Davidsson S, Lianas L, Mascia C, Zugna D, Molinaro L, Vincent P, Zanetti G, Andrén O, Richiardi L, Akre O, Fiorentino M, Pettersson A. Prognostic utility of the Gleason grading system revisions. EUR UROL SUPPL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s2666-1683(20)33873-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Iannetta M, Savinelli S, Rossi R, Mascia C, Marocco R, Vita S, Zuccalà P, Zingaropoli MA, Mengoni F, Massetti AP, Falciano M, d'Ettorre G, Ciardi MR, Mastroianni CM, Vullo V, Lichtner M. Myeloid and lymphoid activation markers in AIDS and non-AIDS presenters. Immunobiology 2018; 224:231-241. [PMID: 30522891 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
HIV infection is characterized by a state of chronic activation of the immune system, which is not completely reversed by antiretroviral treatment (ART). The aim of this study was to assess myeloid and lymphoid activation markers during HIV infection, before and one year after ART initiation, in AIDS and non-AIDS presenters. Treatment naïve HIV positive patients were enrolled in this study. Myeloid dendritic cell (mDC), plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC), slanDC, monocyte and T-lymphocyte cell counts and activation status, were assessed by flow cytometry in peripheral blood samples. Soluble (s)CD14 and sCD163 were assessed in plasma samples using ELISA assays. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism and Minitab Express. Thirty-four ART naïve HIV-1 infected subjects were enrolled in this study (22 non-AIDS and 12 AIDS presenters). Seventeen healthy donors (HD) were included as control group. Although circulating mDC levels resulted unchanged, HLA-DR expression was decreased on mDCs of HIV positive subjects compared to HD (p < 0,0001). AIDS presenters showed the lowest level of expression of HLA-DR on mDCs. Circulating levels of pDCs were decreased in HIV patients compared to HD (p < 0,001), without any changes in HLA-DR expression. SlanDC cell counts were extremely reduced in AIDS presenters, compared to non-AIDS presenters and HD (p < 0,01 and p < 0,0001, respectively) and showed higher HLA-DR expression in HIV patients compared to HD (p < 0,01). Intermediate monocyte (IM) cell counts were increased in AIDS and non-AIDS presenters compared to HD (p < 0,001 and p < 0,001 respectively). Furthermore, IM expansion was directly correlated to HIV viral load (p = 0,036) and independent from CD4 cell counts and activation levels. Plasma concentrations of sCD14 and sCD163 resulted increased in HIV infected subjects compared to HD (p < 0,0001 and p < 0,001), with the highest levels observed in AIDS presenters. After 1 year, ART was able to increase pDC and decrease IM absolute cell counts and modify HLA-DR expression on mDCs and slanDCs, approaching the levels observed in HD. ART reduced also CD4 and CD8 activation levels. In conclusion, in untreated HIV infected subjects circulating dendritic cells resulted altered either in numbers or in HLA-DR expression, especially in AIDS presenters. IM absolute counts were equally increased in AIDS and non-AIDS presenters. ART was able to reduce myeloid and lymphoid inflammation in both advanced and non-advanced HIV patients, confirming the role of ART in hampering disease progression and immune activation associated non-AIDS events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Iannetta
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Stefano Savinelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Rossi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Marocco
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Via Canova, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Serena Vita
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Via Canova, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Paola Zuccalà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Antonella Zingaropoli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Paola Massetti
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Falciano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella d'Ettorre
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Ciardi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Maria Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Via Canova, 04100, Latina, Italy
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Pavone P, Alfieri G, Corano-Scheri G, Pinacchio C, Fard SN, Mascia C, Tieghi T, Lichtner M, d'Ettorre G, Vullo V, Mastroianni CM. Systemic adipokines, hepatokines and interleukin-6 in HCV-monoinfected and HCV/HIV coinfected patients treated with direct antiviral agents (DAAs). Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2018; 42:e45-e48. [PMID: 29735250 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Pavone
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Alfieri
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Corano-Scheri
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Pinacchio
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Saeid Najafi Fard
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Tieghi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, 79, Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, 79, Corso della Repubblica, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Gabriella d'Ettorre
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Maria Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 5, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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Mascia C, Pozzetto I, Kertusha B, Marocco R, Del Borgo C, Tieghi T, Vita S, Savinelli S, Iannetta M, Vullo V, Lichtner M, Mastroianni CM. Persistent high plasma levels of sCD163 and sCD14 in adult patients with measles virus infection. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198174. [PMID: 29795672 PMCID: PMC5967820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Measles is an infectious disease that represents a serious public health problem worldwide, being associated with increased susceptibility to secondary infections, especially in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The aim of this study was to evaluate sCD163 and sCD14 levels in measles virus (MV) infected patients, as markers of immune activation, in order to better understand their role in the pathogenesis of the disease. TNF-α plasma levels were also evaluated. METHODS sCD163, sCD14 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA in plasma samples of 27 MV infected patients and 27 healthy donors (HD) included as controls. RESULTS At the time of hospital admission, sCD163 and sCD14 levels were significantly higher in MV infected patients than in HD, while a decrease in TNF-α levels were found even if without statistical significance. sCD163 and sCD14 levels were significantly decreased after two months from acute infection compared to hospital admission although they remained significantly higher compared to HD. TNF-α levels increased significantly during the follow-up period. Considering clinical parameters, sCD163 levels positively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, white blood cell count and neutrophils rate, while negatively correlated with the lymphocyte percentage. sCD14 levels positively correlated with the neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that, despite the resolution of symptoms, an important macrophage/monocyte activation persists in measles patients, even after two months from infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Pozzetto
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Blerta Kertusha
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Raffaella Marocco
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Cosmo Del Borgo
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Tiziana Tieghi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Serena Vita
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Stefano Savinelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Iannetta
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
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10
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Mascia C, Lichtner M, Zuccalà P, Vita S, Tieghi T, Marocco R, Savinelli S, Rossi R, Iannetta M, Campagna M, Schiavone F, Mengoni F, Russo G, Mastroianni CM, Vullo V. Active HCV infection is associated with increased circulating levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), soluble CD163 and inflammatory monocytes regardless of liver fibrosis and HIV coinfection. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2017; 41:644-655. [PMID: 28578937 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 03/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), soluble (s) CD163 and sCD14 play an important role in the pathogenesis of HCV and HIV infection and are involved in inflammation and liver fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate at a single time point, plasma soluble biomarkers and inflammatory monocytes subsets in different groups of subjects: (i) HIV monoinfected patients on suppressive ART; (ii) HIV/HCV coinfected patients on ART, with undetectable HIV viremia (including either subjects who had active HCV replication or those who cleared HCV); (iii) HCV monoinfected individual with active viral replication. METHODS Hundred and twenty-nine plasma samples were analyzed including HCV and HIV monoinfected patients, HIV/HCV coinfected patients, with active HCV infection (AHI) or with HCV viral clearance (VHC) and healthy donors (HD). Levels of IP-10, sCD163 and sCD14 were measured by ELISA. Absolute cell counts of monocyte subpopulations were enumerated in whole blood by using flow cytometric analyses. RESULTS IP-10 and sCD163 plasma levels were higher in HCV monoinfected and in AHI coinfected pts compared to HIV monoinfected and HD, whereas sCD14 levels were higher only in HIV monoinfected patients. Considering the degree of fibrosis, sCD163 and sCD14 levels positively correlated with kPa values (as assessed by fibroscan) and FIB-4 in HCV monoinfected group. On the other hand, IP-10 did not correlate with the fibrosis stage and it was found increased also in patients with low fibrosis. Moreover, we found an increase of the inflammatory NCM subset, in non-cirrhotic HCV subjects, while no alterations were observed in HIV, AHI and VHC. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests a scenario in which active HCV infection is associated with a strong pro-inflammatory state, even in the initial stage of liver fibrosis, regardless the presence of HIV coinfection, thus underlying the need of an early anti-HCV treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy.
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy.
| | - Paola Zuccalà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Vita
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Tieghi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Raffaella Marocco
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Stefano Savinelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Rossi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Iannetta
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Campagna
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Schiavone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza, University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy; Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Russo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Maria Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155 Rome, Italy
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11
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Lichtner M, Rossi R, Vita S, Savinelli S, Iannetta M, Mascia C, Marocco R, Ajassa C, Mengoni F, Scorzolini L, Maria Mastroianni C, Vullo V. Blood Myeloid Dendritic Cells and slanDC in Antiretroviral Therapy- Suppressed HIV-Infected Patients. Curr HIV Res 2017; 14:331-9. [PMID: 26785889 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x14666160120152100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) play a complex role in HIV infection regardless of viral replication. The aim of our study was to analyse mDCs in long term antiretroviral therapy (ART)- suppressed HIV-infected patients. We evaluated the numbers of mDCs and slanDC in the context of different degree of CD4+ T cell recovery, persistent T cell activation (as HLA-DR+/CD3+ expression) and monocyte-macrophage activation assessed in terms of circulating levels of both sCD14 and sCD163. We enrolled 72 aviremic patients under effective ART and 34 healthy donors (HD). Patients were divided into two groups on the bases of ΔCD4, indicating the difference between the value of CD4 at the time of sampling and CD4 nadir. Higher levels of mDCs and slanDC were found in patients with ΔCD4>200/mmc in comparison to HD. In those patients also an increased level of sCD14 was found, whereas sCD163 seemed to be at normal levels. An augmentation of activated CD4 T lymphocytes was found, although less pronounced in patients with ΔCD4<200/mmc. In conclusion, our findings showed an expansion of mDCs with a shift to inflammatory slanDC that could sustain both microbial translocation and HIV latency in CD4 T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raffaella Rossi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00155, Rome, Italy
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12
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Mascia C, Vita S, Zuccalà P, Marocco R, Tieghi T, Savinelli S, Rossi R, Iannetta M, Pozzetto I, Furlan C, Mengoni F, Mastroianni CM, Vullo V, Lichtner M. Changes in inflammatory biomarkers in HCV-infected patients undergoing direct acting antiviral-containing regimens with or without interferon. PLoS One 2017. [PMID: 28636655 PMCID: PMC5499435 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Increased levels of chemokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible protein-10
(CXCL10), soluble CD163 (sCD163) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) have been reported
in HCV infection. The aim of this study was to compare, sCD163 and sCD14
levels in HCV-infected patients undergoing direct acting antiviral
(DAA)-containing regimens with or without interferon (IFN). Methods sCD163, sCD14 and CXCL10 were longitudinally measured by ELISA in 159 plasma
samples from 25 HCV-infected patients undergoing IFN-based treatment plus
telaprevir or boceprevir and 28 HCV infected subjects treated with DAA
IFN-free regimens. Twenty-five healthy donors (HD) were included as
controls. Results At baseline CXCL10, sCD163 and sCD14 levels were higher in HCV-infected
patients than in HD. CXCL10 and sCD163 levels were significantly decreased
in responder (R) patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR),
with both IFN-based and IFN-free regimens, while they were persistently
elevated in non-responders (NR) patients who stopped IFN-based treatments
because of failure or adverse events. Conversely, sCD14 levels were
apparently unchanged during therapy, but at the end of treatment the levels
reached normal ranges. Comparing the two regimens, the extent of CXCL10
reduction was more pronounced in patients undergoing DAA IFN-free therapies,
whereas sCD163 and sCD14 reduction was similar in the two groups. Interestingly, only in IFN-based regimens baseline sCD163 levels were
significantly higher in NR than in R patients, while in the IFN-free
treatment group also patients with high sCD163 plasma levels obtained SVR.
At the end of therapy, even if the biomarkers were largely decreased, their
levels remained significantly higher compared to HD. Only in the early
fibrosis stages, sCD163 values tended to normalize. Conclusions These results indicate that IFN-free regimens including newer DAA induce an
early and marked decrease in circulating inflammatory biomarkers. However,
the full normalization of biomarkers was not obtained, especially in
patients with advanced fibrosis, thus underlying the need for a treatment in
the early stages of HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Serena Vita
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Zuccalà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Marocco
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital,
Latina, Italy
| | - Tiziana Tieghi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital,
Latina, Italy
| | - Stefano Savinelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Rossi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Iannetta
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Pozzetto
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital,
Latina, Italy
| | - Caterina Furlan
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Maria Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital,
Latina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University,
Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Sapienza University, S. M. Goretti Hospital,
Latina, Italy
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13
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Vita S, Ajassa C, Caraffa E, Lichtner M, Mascia C, Mengoni F, Paglia MG, Mancarella C, Colistra D, Di Biasi C, Ciardi RM, Mastroianni CM, Vullo V. Immunological diagnosis as an adjunctive tool for an early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis of an immune competent child in a low tuberculosis endemic country: a case report. BMC Res Notes 2017; 10:123. [PMID: 28288691 PMCID: PMC5347815 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-017-2444-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric tuberculous meningitis is a highly morbid, often fatal disease. Its prompt diagnosis and treatment saves lives, in fact delays in the initiation of therapy have been associated with high mortality rates. CASE PRESENTATION This is a case of an Italian child who was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis after a history of a month of headache, fatigue and weight loss. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a lymphocytic pleocytosis with predominance and decreased glucose concentration. Microscopy and conventional diagnostic tests to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative, while a non classical method based on intracellular cytokine flow cytometry response of CD4 cells in cerebral spinal fluid helped us to address the diagnosis, that was subsequently confirmed by a nested polymerase chain reaction amplifying a 123 base pair fragment of the M. tuberculosis DNA. CONCLUSIONS We diagnosed tuberculous meningitis at an early stage through an innovative immunological approach, supported by a nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of M. tuberculosis DNA. An early diagnosis is required in order to promptly initiate a therapy and to increase the patient's survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Vita
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Camilla Ajassa
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caraffa
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Paglia
- Microbiology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Lazzaro Spallanzani, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Mancarella
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Division of Neurosurgery, Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Colistra
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Division of Neurosurgery, Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Di Biasi
- Department of Emergency and Acceptance, Unit of Radiology, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Ciardi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Maria Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
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14
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Sauzullo I, Mengoni F, Mascia C, Rossi R, Lichtner M, Vullo V, Mastroianni CM. Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection induces changes in multifunctional Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4+ T cells. Med Microbiol Immunol 2015; 205:37-45. [PMID: 26108901 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-015-0424-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
To ascertain whether multiparametric flow cytometry assessment of multifunctional Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells can distinguish between untreated and treated patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), we enrolled 14 LTBI subjects treated with isoniazid (INH) therapy, 16 untreated LTBI patients, and 25 healthy controls. The analysis of mono-functional CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells producing single cytokines showed significant differences only between uninfected and infected LTBI subjects (both treated and untreated). Conversely, the analysis of multifunctional CD4(+) T cells revealed a significant reduction in the frequency of two CD4(+) T cells subsets, those producing IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α simultaneously (triple positive; p = 0.005) and those producing IL-2 alone (p = 0.0359), as well as a shift towards T cells producing only one cytokine in treated as compared to untreated LTBI subjects. Assigning a triple-positive CD4(+) T cells a cut-off >0.082 %, 94 % of untreated LTBI patients were scored as positive, as compared to only 28 % of treated LTBI patients and none of the healthy controls. No significant differences between untreated and treated LTBI subjects in terms of Mtb-specific CD8(+) T cell cytokine profiles (p > 0.05) were identified. The significant changes in the cytokine profiles of Mtb-specific T cells after INH therapy suggest that analysis of multifunctional T cells may be a promising means for the monitoring of LTBI treatment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Sauzullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 1, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Rossi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 1, 00185, Rome, Italy.,Infectious Diseases Unit, Fondazione Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio M Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 1, 00185, Rome, Italy.,Infectious Diseases Unit, Fondazione Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
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15
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Sauzullo I, Mastroianni CM, Mengoni F, Ermocida A, Mascia C, Salotti A, Falciano M, Vullo V. Long-term IFN-γ and IL-2 response for detection of latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers with discordant immunologic results. J Immunol Methods 2014; 414:51-7. [PMID: 25111618 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Discordant results between the interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) and tuberculin skin test (TST) are common in latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). We evaluated whether the measurement of IFN-γ and interleukin (IL)-2T-cell responses, after prolonged Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigen stimulation, can be used as adjunctive biomarker for LTBI detection in subjects with discordant results between TST and QuantiFERON-Gold In-Tube (QFT). 196 healthcare workers were screened for LTBI and in 90 of those participants, the QFT was repeated after 18 h, and IFN-γ/IL-2 immune response was measured after 72 h long-term stimulation. Of the 196 patients, 34 had positive, 155 negative, and 7 indeterminate QFT results. Discordant TST+/QFT- results were found in 29 (14.7%) patients, of whom 6 (20.6%) were Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinated. None of 23 non-BCG vaccinated subjects showed a specific IFN-γ immune response after 18 h nor 72 h of incubation, whereas 3/23 (13.04%) discordant subjects produced a specific long-term IL-2 response, which might reflect a LTBI status. In LTBI group (TST+/QFT+) both cytokine levels were increased after long-term in comparison to short-term stimulation. No significant long-term IFN-γ/IL-2 secretion was detected in control group (TST-/QFT-). Taken together, our data showed that the 87% of discordant patients who did not respond to the long-term assay, as controls subjects, were judged LTBI negative. The use of classic QFT and long-term IL-2 response may have a potential role to clarify the LTBI status in individuals in whom the diagnosis of LTBI is uncertain due to the discordance of the available diagnostic tests, such as TST and IGRA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Sauzullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy.
| | - Claudio M Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy; Infectious Diseases Unit, Fondazione Eleonora Lorillard Spencer Cenci, Sapienza University, Latina, Italy
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Ermocida
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Salotti
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Falciano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
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16
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Mastroianni CM, Lichtner M, Mascia C, Zuccalà P, Vullo V. Molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV coinfection. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:9184-208. [PMID: 24865485 PMCID: PMC4100089 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15069184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in people coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Several studies have shown that HIV infection promotes accelerated HCV hepatic fibrosis progression, even with HIV replication under full antiretroviral control. The pathogenesis of accelerated hepatic fibrosis among HIV/HCV coinfected individuals is complex and multifactorial. The most relevant mechanisms involved include direct viral effects, immune/cytokine dysregulation, altered levels of matrix metalloproteinases and fibrosis biomarkers, increased oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis, HIV-associated gut depletion of CD4 cells, and microbial translocation. In addition, metabolic alterations, heavy alcohol use, as well drug use, may have a potential role in liver disease progression. Understanding the pathophysiology and regulation of liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infection may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies for the management of all patients with ongoing liver disease. In this review, we therefore discuss the evidence and potential molecular mechanisms involved in the accelerated liver fibrosis seen in patients coinfected with HIV and HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio M Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Zuccalà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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17
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Rossi R, Lichtner M, Iori F, Ermocida A, Mascia C, Mengoni F, Sauzullo I, Dini D, Mastroianni CM, Vullo V. Dendritic cells in blood and urine samples from bladder cancer patients undergoing BCG immunotherapy. Arch Ital Urol Androl 2013; 85:157-63. [DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2013.4.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Immunotherapy with BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor represents a highly effective primary treatment for intermediate and high-risk superficial bladder cancer. The effectiveness of this therapy has been documented, but its mechanism of action is not clear yet. In the present study, we investigated the changes of dendritic cells (DC) numbers in peripheral blood and urine of patients with superficial bladder cancer undergoing BCG intravescical therapy Material and method: We have enumerated plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs in the peripheral blood and in the urine of patients with bladder cancer in order to clarify the role of these cells in the evolution of the disease and the effect of therapy. DCs in blood and urine samples were assessed using the single-platform TruCOUNT assay with monoclonal antibodies. The study population included 37 healthy donors and 13 patients with diagnosis of primitive superficial bladder cancer. Results: At the time of diagnosis a reduction of blood DCs was found in patients as opposed to healthy donors, while DCs were not found in the urine in the same way as in healthy subjects. Six of these patients were followed before and after weekly and monthly instillations of BCG. In the peripheral blood, we observed an immunological recovery of DCs from the third weekly instillation up to the sixth. In the urine of patients, we didn’t find mDCs or pDCs at T0, but we found a statistically significant change from the third instillation up to the sixth. On the contrary, we didn’t find mDCs in urine during monthly instillation. Conclusions: DC Count could be used in the monitoring of patients undergoing BCG therapy. Immunological restoration of mDC numbers in peripheral blood and the efflux in urine could be important for confirming the effectiveness of BCG instillation.
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Spanò D, Pintus F, Mascia C, Scorciapino MA, Casu M, Floris G, Medda R. Extraction and characterization of a natural rubber from Euphorbia characias latex. Biopolymers 2012; 97:589-94. [PMID: 22605550 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A natural rubber was identified and characterized for the first time in the latex of the perennial Mediterranean shrub Euphorbia characias. Four different methods, i.e., acetone, acetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and Triton® X-100, followed by successive treatments with cyclohexane/ethanol, were employed to extract the natural rubber. The rubber content was shown to be 14% (w/v) of the E. characias latex, a low content compared with that of Hevea brasiliensis (30-35%) but a similar content to other rubber producing plants. E. characias rubber showed a molecular weight of 93,000 with a M(w) /M(n) of 2.9. (1) H NMR, (13) C NMR, and FTIR analysis revealed the characteristic of the cis-1,4-polyisoprene typical of natural rubber. These results provided novel insight into latex components and will ultimately benefit the broader understanding of E. characias latex composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia Spanò
- Department of Sciences of Life and Environment, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Italy
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Lichtner M, Mastroianni CM, Rossi R, Russo G, Belvisi V, Marocco R, Mascia C, Del Borgo C, Mengoni F, Sauzullo I, d'Ettorre G, D'Agostino C, Massetti AP, Vullo V. Severe and persistent depletion of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with 2009 pandemic H1N1 infection. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19872. [PMID: 21625541 PMCID: PMC3098245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dysregulation of host immune responses plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of severe 2009 pandemic H1N1 infection. Whether H1N1 virus could escape innate immune defense in vivo remains to be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of innate immune response during human 2009 H1N1 infection. We performed the enumeration of circulating myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in blood from patients with H1N1 pneumonia shortly after the onset of symptoms and during follow-up at different intervals of time. The analysis of CD4 and CD8 count, CD38 T-cell activation marker and serum cytokine/chemokine plasma levels was also done. Methodology/Principal Findings Blood samples were collected from 13 hospitalized patients with confirmed H1N1-related pneumonia at time of admission and at weeks 1, 4, and 16 of follow-up. 13 healthy donors were enrolled as controls. In the acute phase of the disease, H1N1-infected patients exhibited a significant depletion in both circulating pDC and mDC in conjunction with a decrease of CD4 and CD8 T cell count. In addition, we found plasmatic hyperproduction of IP-10 and RANTES, whereas increase in T-cell immune activation was found at all time points. When we assessed the changes in DC count over time, we observed a progressive normalization of mDC number. On the contrary, H1N1-infected patients did not achieve a complete recovery of pDC count as values remained lower than healthy controls even after 16 weeks of follow-up. Conclusions H1N1 disease is associated with a profound depletion of DC subsets. The persistence of pDC deficit for several weeks after disease recovery could be due to H1N1 virus itself or to a preexisting impairment of innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Lichtner
- Infectious Diseases Unit, “Sapienza” University, Polo Pontino, SM Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio M. Mastroianni
- Infectious Diseases Unit, “Sapienza” University, Polo Pontino, SM Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Raffaella Rossi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Russo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Belvisi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, “Sapienza” University, Polo Pontino, SM Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Raffaella Marocco
- Infectious Diseases Unit, “Sapienza” University, Polo Pontino, SM Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Claudia Mascia
- Infectious Diseases Unit, “Sapienza” University, Polo Pontino, SM Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Cosmo Del Borgo
- Infectious Diseases Unit, “Sapienza” University, Polo Pontino, SM Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Sauzullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella d'Ettorre
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia D'Agostino
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna P. Massetti
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
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Masha A, Brocato L, Dinatale S, Mascia C, Biasi F, Martina V. N-acetylcysteine is able to reduce the oxidation status and the endothelial activation after a high-glucose content meal in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Endocrinol Invest 2009; 32:352-6. [PMID: 19636205 DOI: 10.1007/bf03345726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Post-prandial hyperglycemia seems to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the cardiovascular complications of diabetes mellitus, as it leads to an oxidative stress which in turn causes a reduced NO bioavailability. These conditions produce an endothelial activation. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to assure that the administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), thiolic antioxidant, is able to decrease the oxidation status and endothelial activation after a high-glucose content meal. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Ten patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2) (Group 1) and 10 normal subjects (Group 2) were studied. They assumed a high-glucose content meal without (phase A) or after (phase B) the administration of NAC. Glycemia, insulinemia, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, malonaldehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) were assessed at -30, 0, +30, +60, +90, +120, and +180 min with respect to the meal consumption. RESULTS During the phase A in Group 1, only HNE and MDA levels increased after the meal assumption; all parameters remained unchanged in Group 2. During the phase B, in Group 1, HNE, MDA, VCAM-1, and E-selectin levels after the meal were lower than those in phase A, while no change for all variables were observed in Group 2. CONCLUSIONS A high-glucose meal produces an increase in oxidation parameters in patients with DMT2. The administration of NAC reduces the oxidative stress and, by doing so, reduces the endothelial activation. In conclusion, NAC could be efficacious in the slackening of the progression of vascular damage in DMT2.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Masha
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Turin, Corso A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy
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Mitola S, Sorbello V, Ponte E, Copreni E, Mascia C, Bardessono M, Goia M, Biasi F, Conese M, Poli G, Bussolino F, De Rose V. Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Airway Secretions from Cystic Fibrosis Patients Upregulate Endothelial Adhesion Molecules and Induce Airway Epithelial Cell Apoptosis: Implications for Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2008; 21:851-65. [DOI: 10.1177/039463200802100410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Airway inflammation plays a crucial role in lung damage in cystic fibrosis (CF) and is characterized by a persistent influx of neutrophils into the airways. We hypothesized that the high levels of inflammatory products that accumulate in the microenvironment of the CF lung contribute to induce the persistent neutrophil recruitment and the airway epithelial damage. Thus, we evaluated the in vitro effect of sputum sol phase (SSP) from CF patients on a) adhesion molecule expression by human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) and b) apoptosis of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs), both wild-type and CFTR-defective. SSP was obtained from 7 clinically stable adult CF patients and 8 patients with an acute exacerbation. HMECs and HBECs were cultured in the absence or presence of SSP. Cell adhesion molecule expression was assessed by flow cytometry and cell death by the detection of histone-associated DNA fragments, caspase activation, and cytochrome c release. SSP obtained from CF patients, especially at the time of an acute exacerbation, induced a) an upregulation of endothelial adhesion molecules on cultured HMECs that was associated with an increase of neutrophil adhesion to these cells, and was mediated at least in part by TNF-α and IL-1 and b) apoptosis of airway epithelial cells, mainly activated by TNF-α pathway. These results suggest that the high concentrations of inflammatory mediators in CF airways contribute both to the chronic neutrophil influx and the airway damage, and support the crucial role of early anti-inflammatory treatment in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Mitola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Brescia, Brescia
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Torino, Candiolo, Torino
| | - V. Sorbello
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
| | - E. Ponte
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
| | - E. Copreni
- Institute for Experimental Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - C. Mascia
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
| | - M. Bardessono
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
| | - M. Goia
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
| | - F. Biasi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
| | - M. Conese
- Institute for Experimental Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - G. Poli
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
| | - F. Bussolino
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Torino, Candiolo, Torino
| | - V. De Rose
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino
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Gescheider GA, Bolanowski SJ, Zwislocki JJ, Hall KL, Mascia C. The effects of masking on the growth of vibrotactile sensation magnitude and on the amplitude difference limen: a test of the equal sensation magnitude-equal difference limen hypothesis. J Acoust Soc Am 1994; 96:1479-1488. [PMID: 7963012 DOI: 10.1121/1.410290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the hypothesis that the difference limen (DL) for the detection of differences in amplitude of vibrotactile stimuli is independent of the slope of the sensation magnitude function was tested. The slope of the sensation magnitude function was varied by presenting test stimuli in the presence of or in the absence of vibrotactile noise. The slopes of the sensation magnitude functions were determined through a matching technique in which the subject adjusted stimulus amplitudes of a 250-Hz stimulus presented alone and a 250-Hz stimulus presented simultaneously with a masking noise, so that their sensation magnitudes were equated. The slope of the matching function was found to increase as a function of the intensity of the masking noise. In the second phase of the experiment, the amplitude DL was measured by the gated-pedestal method for test stimuli presented under the same stimulus conditions as used in the matching procedure. At all levels of stimulus intensity, the DL was found to be independent of the masking condition provided the sensation magnitudes of the stimuli were the same. This finding supports the hypothesis that the size of the DL is independent of the slope of the sensation magnitude function, provided the sensation magnitudes of stimuli are the same. The generality of this principle, first discovered in hearing, is thus extended to another sense modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A Gescheider
- Department of Psychology, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York 13323
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Mascia C, Capone W, Melis M, Valenti D. Determination of heavy metals in animal tissues. Farmaco 1990; 45:777-81. [PMID: 2400527 DOI: 10.1002/chin.199052360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
During studies on the accumulation of heavy metals in animal organs and tissues, only small samples (0.5-2 g) rich in lipids and having low concentrations of metals are often available. This may lead to loss of metals in the various steps of the analytical procedure. A modified procedure of mineralization for the determination of Pb, Cd and Zn is described, as well as suitable analytical procedures used by the Authors for the determination by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that the loss of metals is minimized with these procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Mascia
- Istituto di Chimica Farmaceutica, Tossicoligica ed Applicata dell'Università di Cagliari
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Abstract
In 102 insulin-dependent diabetic patients without retinopathy and with visual acuity 20/20, the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test was performed, and glycosylated hemoglobin (GlHb) levels were determined. In 70% of the patients, a dyschromatopsia in the yellow-blue axis (tritanopia) was found. No correlation existed between duration of diabetes and tritanopia. On the other hand, the degree of this visual defect was positively correlated with GlHb levels. Thus, dyschromatopsia might be associated with poor metabolic control. It is suggested that dyschromatopsia is a consequence of hypoxia at the neuroepithelial level. The high levels of GlHb could be a contributory cause of hypoxia by reduction of both oxygen release capacity and erythrocyte deformability.
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Congiu G, Mascia C, Spano F. [Rapid method of determination of low doses of Sr90 in biological samples]. G Fis Sanit Prot Radiaz 1974; 18:148-50. [PMID: 4452444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Capone W, Contu M, Mascia C, Melis M. [Studies of fixtion of P32 and Ca45 in the skeletal system of animals]. Minerva Fisiconucl 1971; 15:81-6. [PMID: 5110388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Serchi G, Mascia C. [Research on the effect of L-leucine-C14(U) on the derivatives of estrone oxidation]. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper 1966; 42:1235-1238. [PMID: 5971154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
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28
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Serchi G, Mascia C. [Kinetics of the formation of water-soluble derivatives of estrogen-4-C 14 in presence of rat liver, ovary and kidney homogenates]. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper 1966; 42:1003-5. [PMID: 6007988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Serchi G, Mascia C. [Role of amino acids in rendering water-soluble the oxidation products of estrone-4-C-14 in vitro]. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper 1966; 42:355-8. [PMID: 5938688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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