Increased serum interleukin-37 (IL-37) levels correlate with oxidative stress parameters in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

PURPOSE

Interleukin-37 (IL-37), member of the IL-1 family, is a natural suppressor of immune and inflammatory responses. Increased serum IL-37 levels were observed in several autoimmune diseases, including Graves' disease. To our knowledge, no data on Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) are available in the literature.

METHODS

Aim of our study was to measure serum IL-37 levels and evaluate their relationship, if any, with oxidative stress markers in HT patients. We enrolled 45 euthyroid HT patients (5 M e 40 F, median age 40 years) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. None was under L-thyroxine therapy. Serum IL-37 levels were measured by ELISA. Specific serum tests, such as derived reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), and biological anti-oxidant potential (BAP) test were performed in all subjects to investigate the changes in oxidative balance, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were determined as a specific marker of oxidative stress.

RESULTS

IL-37 levels were significantly higher in HT than in controls (median 475 vs. 268 pg/ml, P = 0.018). In the same patients, serum oxidants (d-ROMs) were increased and anti-oxidants (BAP) decreased compared with controls (P = 0.011 and < 0.0001, respectively), clearly indicating an enhanced oxidative stress. In addition, AGEs levels were higher in HT patients than in controls (210 vs. 140 AU/g prot, P < 0.0001) and directly correlated with IL-37 levels (P = 0.048). At multivariate analysis, the main independent predictors that influenced IL-37 levels were both anti-thyroid antibodies (P = 0.026) and AGEs levels (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

IL-37 is up-regulated in HT and may exert a protective role by counteracting oxidative stress and inflammation.

DCE-MRI Data Analysis for Cancer Area Classification

Objectives: The paper aims at improving the support of medical researchers in the context of in-vivo cancer imaging. Morphological and functional parameters obtained by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) techniques are analyzed, which aim at investigating the development of tumor microvessels. The main contribution consists in proposing a machine learning methodology to segment automatically these MRI data, by isolating tumor areas with different meaning, in a histological sense.

Methods: The proposed approach is based on a three-step procedure: i) robust feature extraction from raw time-intensity curves, ii) voxel segmentation, and iii) voxel classification based on a learning-by-example approach. In the first step, few robust features that compactly represent the response of the tissue to the DCE-MRI analysis are computed. The second step provides a segmentation based on the mean shift (MS) paradigm, which has recently shown to be robust and useful for different and heterogeneous clustering tasks. Finally, in the third step, a support vector machine (SVM) is trained to classify voxels according to the labels obtained by the clustering phase (i.e., each class corresponds to a cluster). Indeed, the SVM is able to classify new unseen subjects with the same kind of tumor.

Results: Experiments on different subjects affected by the same kind of tumor evidence that the extracted regions by both the MS clustering and the SVM classifier exhibit a precise medical meaning, as carefully validated by the medical researchers. Moreover, our approach is more stable and robust than methods based on quantification of DCE-MRI data by means of pharmacokinetic models.

Conclusions: The proposed method allows to analyze the DCE-MRI data more precisely and faster than previous automated or manual approaches.

Flavonoid profile, antioxidant and antiglycation properties of Retama sphaerocarpa fruits extracts

Retama sphaerocarpa occurs in the Mediterranean area of North-east Africa and in the Iberian Peninsula, and grows on a variety of soil types and climatic conditions. Used in Algerian folk medicine, it is a valuable species for revegetation and soil restoration. The aim of this study is to evaluate flavonoid composition and antioxidant and antiglycation properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts from R. sphaerocarpa fruits. HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS was used to identify/quantify flavonoid content. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu, ORAC, FRAP, TEAC, and DPPH assays, and antiglycation capability by glucose/fructose-BSA assay. Results showed that fruits contain isoflavones (daidzein and genistein derivatives) and flavonols (apigenin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol and quercetin derivatives), and extracts (especially the methanolic one, richer in flavonoids) possess good in vitro antioxidant and antiglycation properties. These findings evidence that R. sphaerocarpa fruits are a source of valuable phytochemicals, with potential applications in the field of phytopharmaceuticals and in food industry.

Protective activity of an anthocyanin-rich extract from bilberries and blackcurrants on acute acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, APAP) overdosage can produce fatal centrilobular hepatic necrosis in humans. The present study attempted to investigate the protective effect of an anthocyanin-rich extract from bilberries and blackcurrants (AE) against APAP-induced acute hepatic damage in rats. Treatment with AE normalised blood activities of glutamate oxaloacetate and glutamate pyruvate transaminase and prevented APAP-induced plasmatic and tissutal alterations in biomarkers of oxidative stress, probably due to various bioproperties of the components of the extract.

Oxidative stress markers are increased in patients with mastocytosis

BACKGROUND

Mastocytosis is characterized by clonal proliferation of mast cells limited to the skin (cutaneous mastocytosis: CM and mastocytosis in the skin: MIS) and/or involving internal organs (systemic mastocytosis: SM). Oxidative stress occurring in various inflammatory and neoplastic disorders causes molecular damage with the production of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). We evaluated these markers of oxidative stress in patients with CM/MIS and SM and correlated their levels with the presence of symptoms related to mast cell activation.

METHODS

Serum levels of AOPPs and AGEs in 34 patients with mastocytosis (23 CM/MIS and 11 SM) and 27 healthy controls were measured by spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods. Serum tryptase levels were measured by immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Serum AOPPs, but not AGEs, were significantly higher in patients with mastocytosis as compared to healthy controls. While serum tryptase levels were higher in patients with SM as compared to those with CM/MIS, there was no difference in AOPP and AGE concentrations between these two groups of patients. Patients with recurrent mediator-related symptoms had lower AOPPs and AGEs as compared to patients without symptoms. AOPPs and AGEs were inversely correlated with the severity of symptoms, and in patients with symptoms, AOPPs correlated with tryptase levels.

DISCUSSION

Our data show that mastocytosis is associated with a state of increased oxidative stress that, in patients with mediator-related symptoms, correlates with mast cell burden as assessed by tryptase. Patients with symptoms presumably have an adaptive response resulting in lower blood levels of AOPPs and AGEs.

Common buzzards (Buteo buteo) bio-indicators of heavy metals pollution in Sicily (Italy)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of toxic (As, Cd and Pb) and essential (Cu, Mn and Zn) metals in samples (feathers, liver, kidney, lung, intestine and muscle) of common buzzards (Buteo buteo) from Sicily, used as bio-indicators for monitoring environmental metals pollution. All samples of buzzards were collected at the "Recovery Center of Wild Fauna" of Palermo, through the Zooprophilactic Institute. The quantitative determinations of metals were carried out using an atomic absorbtion spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained showed the presence of metals in all samples analyzed. For toxic metals the highest levels of Pb and As were found in liver and those of Cd in kidney; for essential metals Zn levels were higher than Cu and Mn in all tissues analyzed. Significant differences are observed in metal levels between female and male and juvenile and adult bird samples. Highest metal levels found in liver, kidney and muscle can be considered indicative of chronic exposure to metals while the presence of metals in feathers can be consequential to storing and elimination processes. The results obtained suggest that common buzzards (Buteo buteo) may be very useful as bio-indicators for monitoring environmental pollution.

Antiviral and immunomodulatory effect of a lyophilized extract of Capparis spinosa L. buds

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are common human pathogens that in particular cases can also cause severe problems especially in immunodeficient patients. The present paper reports the antiviral and immunomodulatory properties of a methanolic extract of C. spinosa buds (CAP), rich in flavonoids, including several quercetin and kaempferol glycosides. In particular we have investigated whether the in vitro exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to CAP might inhibit the replication of HSV-2 and modulate the induction kinetics of IL-12, TNF-alpha IFN-gamma. Our findings have shown that CAP treatment interferes with HSV-2 replication in PBMCs inhibiting the extracellular virus release upregulating their production of IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. One could speculate that CAP may contribute in improving immune surveillance of PBMCs toward virus infection by up-regulating expression of peculiar proinflammatory cytokines; it should thus be successfully employed for treatment of HSV-2 infections in immunocompromised hosts.

Electron beam irradiated UHMWPE: degrading action of air and hyaluronic acid

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, both pure and electron beam irradiated, was exposed to air and hyaluronic acid. Physical and mechanical analyses were performed in order to check the polymeric change due to the treatment. Pure UHMWPE, in fact, was modified by the hyaluronic acid that plasticizes the polymer. The electron irradiation cross links the chains and prevents their sliding in acid presence. A low irradiation dose is preferable rather than an high one. Low doses induce low amount of free radicals, witch react with oxygen and hyaluronic acid inducing low polymer degrade maintaining the initial mechanical performance. High doses degrade significantly the polymer properties.100 kGy irradiation in air can be applicable on the polyethylene as well as a compromise between the low mechanical performance improving and the material degradation.

In vitro protective effect of a Jacquez grapes wine extract on UVB-induced skin damage

Several studies have shown that UV radiation on the skin results in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that interact with proteins, lipids and DNA, thus altering cellular functions. The epidermis is composed mainly of keratinocytes, rich in ROS detoxifying enzymes and in low-molecular-mass antioxidant molecules. However, the increased generation of ROS can overwhelm the natural defences against oxidative stress. Therefore treatment of the skin with products containing plant-derived antioxidant ingredients may be a useful strategy for the prevention of UV-mediated cutaneous damage. In the present study we have investigated the in vitro capability of a Jacquez grapes wine extract (containing a significant level of proanthocyanidins, together with lower amounts of anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids; JW-E), to protect skin against UVB-induced oxidative damage by using a three-dimensional tissue culture model of human epidermis. The endpoints of our experiments were cell viability, release of interleukin-1alpha and prostaglandin E(2) (well-known mediators of cutaneous inflammatory processes), accumulation in the epidermis of malondialdehyde/4-hydroxynonenal and protein carbonyl groups (derived by the oxidative damage respectively of lipids and proteins) and tissue redox balance (expressed by the levels of reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase). Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the JW-E is an efficient botanical mixture able to prevent skin oxidative damage induced by UV-B exposure and may thus be a potential promising candidate as a skin photoprotective agent.

'In vivo' time course of plasma myeloperoxidase levels after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced stem cell mobilization

Administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is widely used for harvesting an adequate number of CD34+ stem cells by leukapheresis in normal donors. G-CSF is the most established agent for the mobilization of stem cells in current clinical practice, because it has been proven to be superior to any other agent tested to date in terms of not only mobilization capacity, but also of tolerance. However, although regulatory and accrediting agencies have provided guidelines to protect donors, the short- and long-term side effects of G-CSF need to be further studied. In this study, we evaluated the time course of plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels measured in a group of donors given recombinant human G-CSF (rHuG-CSF) at different intervals: (i) before starting rHuG-CSF administration, (ii) on day 5 of rHuG-CSF administration, (iii) on the same day soon after the end of the first leukapheresis procedure and (iv) 1 week after rHuG-CSF withdrawal. Plasma MPO levels significantly increased in the donors after 5 days of rHuG-CSF treatment, returning to the baseline values within 7 days following rHuG-CSF withdrawal. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of G-CSF safety profile in stem cell donors.

A case of contact urticaria due to adigraf, a PVC-made material

Adigraf is a plastic material applied as thin sheets that may be incised and are used, also by children, to produce artistic drawing. The principal component of adigraf is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate is added as a plasticizer. Herein we describe a case of a 14-year-old boy with facial angioedema and widespread urticaria, occurring 1h after contact with an adigraf sheet. Open patch-test with adigraf sheet showed swelling of the application site and widespread urticaria. To our knowledge, there are no similar reports of urticaria and angioedema from adigraf or similar PCV items.

Organochlorine compounds and heavy metals in the soft tissue of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from Lake Faro (Sicily, Italy)

Three hundred samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected from five stations (north, south, east, west and centre) of Lake Faro to evaluate the concentrations of organochlorine compounds and heavy metals. Quantitative determinations of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs were made by GC-ECD and confirmed with GC-MS. Concentrations of "essential" (Cu, Se and Zn) and "toxic" (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) metals were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained show the low residue levels of p,p'-DDE in six samples of M. galloprovincialis from southern (7.00-11.00 ng/g w.w. and 148.3-275 ng/g l.w.) and western (7.60-15.37 ng/g w.w. and 126.7-256.2 ng/g l.w.) areas of Lake Faro. No appreciable residues of PCBs were found in any of the samples examined. Zn concentrations (range 11.0-18.5 microg/g w.w.) were higher than Cu (range 188.3-396.0 ng/g w.w.) and Se (range 93.5-288.9 ng/g w.w.) in all areas of origin. Cd (range 41.9-63.8 ng/g w.w.), Pb (range 64.8-93.0 ng/g w.w.) and Hg levels (range 5.7-13.1 ng/g w.w.) showed lower concentrations than permitted MRLs. The As levels were below detection limits for the all mussel samples. In conclusion, the absence of PCBs, the low levels of p,p'-DDE, the concentrations of Cd, Hg and Pb below permitted MRLs in M. galloprovincialis, used as a "biological indicator", show that Lake Faro is not at contamination risk from these contaminants and moreover is free from health problems for the consumer of mussel products.

Levels of "toxic" and "essential" metals in samples of bovine milk from various dairy farms in Calabria, Italy

The aim of this research was to evaluate the possible contamination by heavy metals of milk from cows bred on various farms in Calabria. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined in 40 samples of bovine milk from the various dairy farms. Each sample, homogenized and powdered, was mineralized in a microwave oven. Quantitative analyses of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Se were performed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphite furnace; As was analyzed by hot vapor generation technique and Zn with the flame method. As regards toxic heavy metals, highest values are those of As (g.m. 37.90 microg/kg w.w.) and Pb (g.m. 1.32 microg/kg w.w.), while lowest concentrations are those of Cd (g.m. 0.02 microg/kg w.w). With regard to essential metals, Zn (g.m. 2016 microg/kg w.w) and Se (g.m. 13.24 microg/kg w.w.) showed the highest concentrations, followed by Cr (g.m. 2.03 microg/kg w.w.) and Cu (g.m. 1.98 microg/kg w.w.). Further investigations of the levels of heavy metals (As) in a greater number of milk samples from various zones of Calabria are necessary, both to examine this problem from the clinical epidemiological point of view and to identify the possible causes of milk contamination.

Lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in patients affected by Hodgkin's lymphoma

A dysregulation of the redox homoeostasis has been reported in various neoplastic disorders. Malondialdehyde/4-hydroxy-2,3-nonenal (MDA/HNE) and protein carbonyl groups represent in vivo indexes of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, respectively, suitable to investigate radical-mediated physio-pathological conditions. We evaluated MDA/HNE and protein carbonyl groups in sera of untreated Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients in advanced disease stages, in order to quantify the oxidative stress. HL patients displayed significantly higher levels of both MDA/HNE and protein carbonyl groups as compared with healthy controls. This is the first evidence that a strong increase in HL is one of the most common haematological malignancies, representing approximately 30% of all lymphomas in the circulating protein carbonyl content in HL. These findings may contribute to a better definition of the redox homoeostasis dysregulation in HL.

The Complexity of Reasoning about Spatial Congruence

In the recent literature of Artificial Intelligence, an intensive research effort has been spent, for various algebras of qualitative relations used in the representation of temporal and spatial knowledge, on the problem of classifying the computational complexity of reasoning problems for subsets of algebras. The main purpose of these researches is to describe a restricted set of maximal tractable subalgebras, ideally in an exhaustive fashion with respect to the hosting algebras. In this paper we introduce a novel algebra for reasoning about Spatial Congruence, show that the satisfiability problem in the spatial algebra MC-4 is NP-complete, and present a complete classification of tractability in the algebra, based on the individuation of three maximal tractable subclasses, one containing the basic relations. The three algebras are formed by 14, 10 and 9 relations out of 16 which form the full algebra.