Innovative microbial water quality management in water distribution systems using in-pipe hydropowered UV disinfection: envisioning futuristic water-energy systems.

Hydropower UV disinfection has not been explored as a possible alternative for off-grid disinfection. Hydropowered UV LED technology was developed using off-the-shelf UV-C LEDs and pico - and femto-scale hydro turbine generators and evaluated across point-of-use relevant flow rates. Commercially available UV LED flow through reactors were subjected to microorganism challenge testing with 3 power schemes: wall-plug, hydropower, and hydropower-charged battery.

Serum concentrations of free indoxyl and p-cresyl sulfate are associated with mineral metabolism variables and cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) are uremic toxins associated with cardiovascular outcome in CKD patients. The present work is an analysis of the association of serum free, total IS and PCS with cardiovascular events and calcium-phosphate metabolism variables in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Serum levels of total and free IS and PCS were measured in 139 hemodialysis patients.

Serum Irisin May Predict Cardiovascular Events in Elderly Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3-5.

Objective: Irisin is a circulating myokine released from skeletal muscles after physical exercise. Irisin production decreases during the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a potential consequence of sarcopenia and physical inactivity.

Methods: This observational study explored the relationship of serum irisin with cardiovascular outcome in 79 patients with stage 3-5 CKD.

MYD88 L265P mutation and interleukin-10 detection in cerebrospinal fluid are highly specific discriminating markers in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: results from a prospective study.

Reliable biomarkers are needed to avoid diagnostic delay and its devastating effects in patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL). We analysed the discriminating sensitivity and specificity of myeloid differentiation primary response (88) (MYD88) L265P mutation (mut-MYD88) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of both patients with newly diagnosed (n = 36) and relapsed (n = 27) PCNSL and 162 controls (118 CNS disorders and 44 extra-CNS lymphomas). The concordance of MYD88 mutational status between tumour tissue and CSF sample and the source of ILs in PCNSL tissues were also investigated.

SAGA DUB-Ubp8 Deubiquitylates Centromeric Histone Variant Cse4.

Aneuploidy, the unbalanced segregation of chromosomes during cell division, is recurrent in many tumors and the cause of birth defects and genetic diseases. Centromeric chromatin represents the chromosome attachment site to the mitotic spindle, marked by specialized nucleosomes containing a specific histone variant, CEN-H3/Cse4, in yeast. Mislocalization of Cse4 outside the centromere is deleterious and may cause aberrant chromosome behavior and mitotic loss.

A phase-III prevention trial of low-dose tamoxifen in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy users: the HOT study.

Background: Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) relieves menopausal symptoms and may decrease mortality in recently postmenopausal women, but increases breast cancer risk. Low-dose tamoxifen has shown retained activity in phase-II studies.

Methods: We conducted a phase-III trial in 1884 recently postmenopausal women on HRT who were randomly assigned to either tamoxifen, 5 mg/day, or placebo for 5 years.

Diagnostic sensitivity of thyroid autoantibodies assessed in a population-based, cross-sectional study in adults.

The aim of this study was to estimate the diagnostic sensitivity of thyroid autoantibodies in individuals with a case-mix of subjects with thyroid disease representing that of the general population. We measured thyroid microsome (TMA), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin (TGA) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TRA) autoantibodies in subjects in the bottom (hyperthyroid end) and top (hypothyroid end) four percentiles of the TSH distribution from among participants in a population-based survey of individuals aged ≥40 years (the Cremona Study). TMA and TPO were the most sensitive autoantibodies in subjects in both the bottom percentiles (19.

B lymphocyte subsets and their functional activity in the early months of life.

In the present study we evaluated B-cell subsets and their functional development in 74 newborns from birth to 6 months of life. Moreover, we evaluated natural antibody production in vitro. The results documented a predominance of naive B-lymphocytes at all time-points evaluated, decreasing from birth to 6 months (p=0.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of two diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated polio virus-Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines administered at 3, 5 and 11-12 months of age.

The use of combination vaccines in the routine childhood program reduces distress to the recipients and is likely to improve uptake rates and timeliness of vaccination but requires careful evaluation and surveillance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of two commercial diphtheria-tetanus- acellular pertussis-hepatitis b-inactivated polio virus-Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-HBV-IPV/Hib) combination vaccines when administered to infants at 3, 5 and 11-12 months of age. A total of 494 infants were randomized to receive three doses of either Infanrix hexa (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals; N = 246) or Hexavac (Sanofi Pasteur MSD; N = 248) in 10 centers in Italy, Finland and Sweden.

Radiobinding assay for detecting autoantibodies to single epitopes.

Autoantibodies, a hallmark of autoimmune disease, are directed against diverse antigens and epitopes. This diversity aids in characterising disease progression and identifying disease-associated autoantibodies. Here we aimed to develop a sensitive assay to detect and quantify epitope-specific autoantibodies.

Immunoglobulin E levels in the 1st year of life.

Asthma allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are multifactorial disorders influenced by various familial and environmental factors. The correlation between maternal and fetal immunoglobulin E (IgE) seems to be caused by genetic factors rather than placental transfer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify the relationship of IgE levels between mothers and their offspring during the 1st year of life.

Frovatriptan vs. transdermal oestrogens or naproxen sodium for the prophylaxis of menstrual migraine.

Acute treatment of menstrual migraine (MM) attacks is often incomplete and unsatisfactory, and perimenstrual prophylaxis with triptans, oestrogen supplementation or naproxen sodium may be needed for decreasing frequency and severity of the attack. In this pilot, open-label, non-randomised, parallel group study we evaluated, in 38 women with a history of MM, the efficacy of frovatriptan (n=14) 2.5 mg per os or transdermal oestrogens (n=10) 25 microg or naproxen sodium (n=14) 500 mg per os once-daily for the short-term prevention of MM.

Immunogenicity of hepatitis A-inactivated vaccine administered to seronegative infants, and serological follow-up 12 months after second dose.

Aim: To evaluate a) the safety and immunogenicity of anti-HAV-inactivated vaccine administered during the first year of life to anti-HAV seronegative babies, and b) the antibody persistence in a low/intermediate endemic area.

Methods: After having obtained informed written consent from mothers, 92 babies were vaccinated at 4 and 10 mo of age. All babies were seronegative at birth and did not present HAV-RNA shedding in three serial stool samples taken at 1, 2 and 3 mo of age.

Non classical HLA genes and non-HLA genes in a population of infants at familial risk of atopy.

Aim: We investigated on parental history and IgE serum level in 2588 consecutive newborns to individuate babies "at risk" of atopy at birth and we analysed the polymorphisms of class III region to evaluate the association with immunogenetic markers of HLA: C4A, C4B, LTA, RAGE and TNFA genes; we performed TNF and IgE receptor (FCERB1) physiologically related gene polymorphisms.

Result: 791 babies/2588 (30.6%) were considered "at risk" for atopy and followed-up: 400 had familial history of atopy (at least one parent or sibling), 256 had IgE >0.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women attending menopause clinics in Italy: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To analyze risk factors for type 2 diabetes among women attending menopause clinics in Italy for counselling about the menopause.

Subjects: Women attending a network of first-level outpatient menopause clinics in Italy for general counselling about menopause or treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with no exclusion criteria.

Factors associated with climacteric symptoms in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy.

Objective: To obtain data on correlates of climacteric symptoms in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy.

Methods: Since 1997 a large cross sectional study has been conducted on the characteristics of women around menopause attending a network of first level menopause outpatient's clinics in Italy. A total of 66,501 (mean age 54.

Humoral autoimmune responses to glutamic acid decarboxylase have similar target epitopes and subclass that show titer-dependent disease association.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is an autoantigen in stiff man syndrome (SMS) and type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Different GAD autoantibody characteristics in these disorders have suggested distinct underlying mechanisms of autoimmunity. Here, it is shown that increased prevalence of autoantibodies to GAD65 amino terminal and GAD67 epitopes and autoantibodies of IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 subclass in patients with SMS (P < 0.

Human amniotic fluid cells are able to produce IL-6 and IL-8.

Problem: In order to investigate the role of amniotic fluid cells (AFC) in the establishment of feto-maternal immune relationship, we evaluated their phenotype and capacity to produce cytokines.

Methods Of Study: CK 7-8, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I, HLA-DR, HLA-G, CD1d, CD34, CD45, CD14 surface antigens expression and the intracellular production of IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-1 were studied in cultured AFC and in eight samples immediately after amniocentesis using flow cytometry. IL-6 and IL-8 were detected by ELISA in all amniotic fluids and in all culture supernatants.

Fine mapping of diabetes-associated IA-2 specific autoantibodies.

The related tyrosine phosphatase-like proteins (PTP) IA-2 and IA-2beta are autoantigens of type 1 diabetes. Autoantibodies are predominantly against IA-2. We utilized the close homology between IA-2 and IA-2beta PTP domains to design chimeras and mutants in order to identify humoral IA-2-specific epitopes.

Antigen-specific T cell response in infants after recombinant hepatitis B virus vaccination at birth: evaluation of T helper lymphocyte diversity.

Recombinant hepatitis B virus antigen (rHBsAg)-specific CD4+ T cell clones (TCC) were isolated and expanded from the peripheral blood of nine children vaccinated at birth against the hepatitis B (HB) virus. Four of them responded with protective antibody production (responders), three subjects were unable to produce detectable antibody levels even after revaccination (nonresponders), and two infants produced antibodies only after revaccination (slow responders). TCC were then characterized for their ability to produce cytokines known to be important for T cell expansion (interleukin-2, IL-2) and/or effector functions (IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-10).

Immunogenicity of a three-component acellular pertussis vaccine administered at birth.

Objective: To evaluate within the first 6 months of birth the immunogenicity of a 3-component acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine containing filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactine (PRN), and genetically detoxified pertussis toxin (PT) in infants who received a dose of vaccine at birth, in addition to the recommended schedule administered at 3, 5, and 11 months. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of maternal antibodies on aP vaccine response.

Methods: We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate immunoglobulin G antibody levels in 45 infants immunized at birth and at 3, 5, and 11 months (group 1) and in 46 infants immunized at the ages of 3, 5, and 11 months (group 2).

Six months of gluten-free diet do not influence autoantibody titers, but improve insulin secretion in subjects at high risk for type 1 diabetes.

Removal of gluten from the diet can attenuate the intensity of autoimmunity and reduces the incidence of diabetes in the nonobese diabetic mouse. In this study, we tested whether a gluten-free diet could reduce autoimmunity in human preclinical type 1 diabetes. A trial consisting of 6 months of a gluten-free diet followed by another 6 months of normal gluten-containing diet was performed in 17 first-degree relatives with at least 2 antibodies among islet cell antibodies, glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies, protein tyrosine islet antigen-2 autoantibodies, and insulin autoantibodies.

Decline of maternal hepatitis A virus antibody levels in infants.

Unlabelled: Hepatitis A is a common viral infection causing substantial morbidity and mortality. The anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination in infants would guarantee control of the infection. However, the immunogenicity of the HAV vaccine in infants could be impaired by the presence of passively acquired maternal HAV antibodies.