First report of coexistence of blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 in carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates of in Brazil.

is an important opportunistic pathogen with the potential to develop resistance against last-line antibiotics, such as carbapenems, limiting the treatment options. Here, we investigated the antibiotic resistance profiles of 10 strains isolated from patient samples in the intensive-care unit of a Brazilian tertiary hospital using conventional PCR and a comprehensive genomic characterization of a specific strain (CRK317) carrying both the and genes simultaneously. All isolates were completely resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, including ertapenem, imipenem, and meropenem with differencing levels of resistance to aminoglycosides, quinolones, and tigecycline also observed.

Immunoglobulin γ chain allotypes and humoral immunity to HSV1 in Parkinson's disease.

The aim of this investigation was to determine if particular immunoglobulin GM (γ marker) alleles and genotypes were associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and whether they contributed to the interindividual differences in the level of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), which has been implicated in PD pathology. Using a case-control study design, 94 PD patients and 157 controls were characterized for anti-HSV1 IgG antibodies and genotyped for GM alleles expressed on IgG1 (3,17) and IgG2 (23 +, 23-). The homozygosity for the GM 3 and GM 23 alleles was significantly associated with susceptibility to PD (p = 0.

The Protein-Rich Fraction from Exerts Neuroprotection in Hemiparkinsonian Rats by Decreasing Brain Inflammatory-Related Enzymes and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Expressions.

is a cyanobacterium with high protein content and presenting neuroprotective effects. Now, we studied a protein-enriched fraction (SPF), on behavior, neurochemical and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays in hemiparkinsonian rats, distributed into the groups: SO (sham-operated), 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), and 6-OHDA (treated with SPF, 5 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.

Therapeutic effects of a lipid transfer protein isolated from Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) seeds on irinotecan-induced intestinal mucositis in mice.

This work aimed to evaluate the activity of a lipid transfer protein isolated from Morinda citrifolia L. seeds, McLTP, on the development of intestinal mucositis following irinotecan administration. McLTP (0.

Expression and Genotype Are Possible Discriminators in Different Forms of Dementia.

Vascular alterations often overlap with neurodegeneration, resulting in mixed forms of dementia (MD) that are hard to differentiate from Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The 26 bp intergenic polymorphism of , a key component of SNARE complex, as well as its mRNA and protein levels are associated with neurological diseases. We evaluated and 26 bp Ins/Del genotype distribution in 177 AD, 132 MD, 115 Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and 250 individuals without cognitive decline (CT), as well as gene expression in a subset of 73 AD, 122 MD, 103 MCI and 140 CT.

Sarcopenia associates with SNAP-25 SNPs and a miRNAs profile which is modulated by structured rehabilitation treatment.

Background: Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass and strength causing disability, morbidity, and mortality in older adults, which is characterized by alterations of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). SNAP-25 is essential for the maintenance of NMJ integrity, and the expression of this protein was shown to be modulated by the SNAP-25 rs363050 polymorphism and by a number of miRNAs.

Methods: We analysed these parameters in a cohort of sarcopenic patients undergoing structured rehabilitation.

A Possible Role for HSV-1-Specific Humoral Response and rs1859788 Polymorphism in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease.

The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD), a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement, is still unknown; both genetic and environmental factor are believed to be involved in onset of the disease and its development. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), in particular, is suspected to have a role in PD. Paired Immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor alpha (PILRA) is an inhibitory receptor that down-regulates inflammation and is expressed on innate immune cells.

Deregulation of IL-37 and its miRNAs modulators in sarcopenic patients after rehabilitation.

Background: sarcopenia is a highly prevalent condition in elderly individuals which is characterized by loss of muscle mass and functions; recent results showed that it is also associated with inflammation. Rehabilitation protocols for sarcopenia are designed to improve physical conditions, but very scarce data are available on their effects on inflammation We verified whether in sarcopenic patients the inflammation is reduced by rehabilitation and investigated the biological correlates of such effect.

Methods: Twenty-one sarcopenic patients undergoing a specifically-designed rehabilitation program were enrolled in the study.

JCPyV miR-J1-5p in Urine of Natalizumab-Treated Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

The use of Natalizumab in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can cause the reactivation of the polyomavirus JC (JCPyV); this may result in the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and usually lethal disease. JCPyV infection is highly prevalent in worldwide population, but the detection of anti-JCPyV antibodies is not sufficient to identify JCPyV infection, as PML can develop even in patients with negative JCPyV serology. Better comprehension of the JCPyV biology could allow a better understanding of JCPyV infection and reactivation, possibly reducing the risk of developing PML.

COS-7 cells are a cellular model to monitor polyomavirus JC miR-J1-5p expression.

Polyomavirus JC (JCPyV) is a ubiquitous human neurotropic virus that can cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), sometimes as a consequence of drug treatment for disabling diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis. JCPyV expresses microRNAs (miRNAs), and in particular miR-J1-5p, but at now we have limited knowledge regarding this aspect. In the present study the expression of JCPyV miR-J1-5p was measured in infected COS-7, to verify if and when this miRNA is expressed in a cell model of JCPyV-MAD-4 strain infection.

Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms in Sex-Frailty Paradox.

The "male-female health-survival paradox" evidences that the survival advantage observed in women is linked to higher rates of disability and poor health status compared to men, a phenomenon also called the "sex-frailty paradox". The depletion of vitamin D seems to play a role in the fragilization of old persons, and genetic polymorphisms of the () gene seem to be involved in regulating the vitamin D pathway. This study correlated the gene polymorphisms (FokI, ApaI, BsmiI, and TaqI) with frailty, computed by frailty index (FI), in 202 persons (127 women and 75 men, aged from 60 to 116 years), aiming to capture the involvement of vitamin D in the sex-frailty paradox.

Relation between FCGRIIB rs1050501 and HSV-1 specific IgG antibodies in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular plaques, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and neuronal loss in the central nervous system (CNS). Pathogens are suspected to have a role in the development of AD; herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), in particular, is suggested to be a risk factor for the disease. The gamma receptor for the Fc portion of IgG molecules (FCGRs) plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses, and among FCGRs, FCGRIIB is endowed with an inhibitory function.

Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Vitamin D is endowed with a number of biological properties, including down-regulation of inflammation, and might contribute to the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Vitamin D binds to the vitamin D Receptor (VDR); the biological activity of the ensuing complex depends on VDR FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI gene polymorphisms. We evaluated such Single Nucletoide Polymorphismsm (SNPs) in a cohort of 100 Italian families with ASD children.

The Biological Foundations of Sarcopenia: Established and Promising Markers.

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, is one of the major health issues in older adults, given its high prevalence accompanied by huge clinical and socioeconomic implications. Age-related changes in skeletal muscle can be attributed to mechanisms both directly and indirectly related to muscle homeostasis. Indeed, a wide spectrum of age-related modifications in the organism was shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia.

Immunoglobulin Genes and Immunity to HSV1 in Alzheimer's Disease.

Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) have identified numerous genes that influence the risk for disease, the majority of the genetic variance of AD remains uncharacterized. Furthermore, current GWAS, despite their name, do not evaluate all genes in the human genome. One such gene complex is immunoglobulin GM (γ marker) genes on chromosome 14.

The PILRA G78R Variant Correlates with Higher HSV-1-Specific IgG Titers in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive performance; Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is instead an objective decline in cognitive performance that does not reach pathology. Paired immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor alpha (PILRA) is a cell surface inhibitory receptor that was recently suggested to be involved in AD pathogenesis. In particular, the arginine-to-glycine substitution in position 78 (R78, rs1859788) was shown to be protective against AD.

The Syntaxin-1A gene single nucleotide polymorphism rs4717806 associates with the risk of ischemic heart disease.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has a genetic predisposition and a number of cardiovascular risk factors are known to be affected by genetic factors. Development of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, strongly influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors, frequently occur in subjects with a genetic susceptibility. The definition of genetic factors influencing disease susceptibility would allow to identify individuals at higher risk and thus needing to be closely monitored.

SNARE Complex Polymorphisms Associate with Alterations of Visual Selective Attention in Alzheimer's Disease.

The SNARE complex plays a crucial role in the synaptic exocytosis of neurotransmitters, a process involved in the Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. SNAP-25, STX1a, and VAMP2 are the core proteins of the SNARE complex, and changes in protein level are suggested to contribute to cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disorders. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SNARE complex genes were shown to be associated with different diseases and different cognitive impairments.

Serum miRNAs Expression and SNAP-25 Genotype in Alzheimer's Disease.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression by binding their 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) region; these molecules play a fundamental role in several pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is a vesicular protein of soluble -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) involved in neural plasticity and in the exocytosis of neurotransmitters, processes that are altered in AD. Recent results showed that a reduction of SNAP-25 is associated with dementia, and that the rs363050 SNAP-25 polymorphism correlates with cognitive decline and brain atrophy, as well as with the outcome of multistructured rehabilitation in AD patients.

HLA-G allelic distribution in Sardinian children with Autism spectrum disorders: A replication study.

Recent results show that in mainland Italian children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), HLA-G coding alleles distribution is skewed and an association between HLA-G*01:05N and ASD is present. Herein, in an independent cohort of Sardinian ASD (sASD) children and their relatives, we verify whether HLA-G allele association with ASD could be confirmed in this genetically peculiar insular population. One hundred children with a diagnosis of ASD, born in Sardinia and of Sardinian descent, 91 of their mothers, and 40 of their healthy siblings were enrolled.

HSV-1-Specific IgG Subclasses Distribution and Serum Neutralizing Activity in Alzheimer's Disease and in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Human Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is suggested to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) neutralize HSV-1 activity, but the virus can evade IgG-mediated immune responses by expressing receptor that efficiently binds the Fc portion of all IgG subclasses with the exception of IgG3. We analyzed HSV-1-specific IgG subclasses and IgG-mediated serum neutralization activity against HSV-1 in individuals with a diagnosis of either AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), comparing the results with those obtained in age-matched healthy controls (HC).

Lipid transfer protein isolated from noni seeds displays antibacterial activity in vitro and improves survival in lethal sepsis induced by CLP in mice.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of a lipid transfer protein isolated from Morinda citrifolia L. seeds, named McLTP, and to investigate its effect in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse sepsis model. Antimicrobial assays revealed that McLTP (12.

Modulation of Immune Responses to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 by IFNL3 and IRF7 Polymorphisms: A Study in Alzheimer's Disease.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has long been suspected to play a role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. IFN-lambda (IFN-λ) is one of the key cytokine in innate antiviral defenses and, in particular, has an appreciable antiviral activity against HSV-1 infection. IFN-λ expression is regulated by the interaction between two different proteins: Mediator Complex 23 (MED23) and Interferon-Responsive Transcription Factor 7 (IRF7); single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes as well as in IFNL3 were shown to be differently distributed in AD patients.

HLA-G coding region polymorphism is skewed in autistic spectrum disorders.

Different isoforms of HLA-G protein are endowed with a differential ability to induce allogenic tolerance during pregnancy. As prenatal immune activation is suggested to play a role in the onset of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), we evaluated HLA G*01:01-*01:06 allelic polymorphism in a cohort of Italian children affected by ASD (N=111) their mothers (N=81), and their healthy siblings (N=39). DNA sequencing analysis of HLA-G exon 2, 3 and 4 was used to obtain HLA-G allelic frequencies; alleles distribution was compared with that of two control groups of Caucasoid couples of multiparous women and their partners from Brazil and Denmark.

REST, a master regulator of neurogenesis, evolved under strong positive selection in humans and in non human primates.

The transcriptional repressor REST regulates many neuronal genes by binding RE1 motifs. About one third of human RE1s are recently evolved and specific to primates. As changes in the activity of a transcription factor reverberate on its downstream targets, we assessed whether REST displays fast evolutionary rates in primates.