High prevalence of serum antibodies reacting with simian virus 40 capsid protein mimotopes in patients affected by malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is considered a rare tumor, but recent estimations indicate that one-quarter million people will die of this neoplasm in Europe in the next three decades. The mineral asbestos is considered the main causative agent of this neoplasm. MPM is largely unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy.

Serum mesothelin for diagnosing malignant pleural mesothelioma: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Purpose: Mesothelin is currently considered the best available serum biomarker of malignant pleural mesothelioma. To examine the diagnostic accuracy and use of serum mesothelin in early diagnosis, we performed an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis.

Methods: The literature search identified 16 diagnostic studies of serum mesothelin, measured with the Mesomark enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A review of transcriptome studies combined with data mining reveals novel potential markers of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a cancer of the serosal pleural cavities, is one of the most aggressive human tumors. In order to identify genes crucial for the onset and progression of MPM, we performed an extensive literature review focused on transcriptome studies (RTS). In this kind of studies a great number of transcripts are analyzed without formulating any a priori hypothesis, thus preventing any bias coming from previously established knowledge that could lead to an over-representation of specific genes.

Effects of palladium nanoparticles on the cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of palladium-sensitized women.

Objective: To investigate the effects of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles on cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of control or Pd-sensitized nonatopic women.

Methods: TNF-α, IL-5, IL-10 and IFN-γ release and/or expression from PBMCs incubated in presence of 5 to 10 nm Pd nanoparticles or Pd salt (potassium hexachloropalladate) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Transmission electronmicroscopy was performed.

[Assessment of urinary cotinine in a group occupationally exposed to nicotine].

In a Tobacco processing company, located in central Italy, both air nicotine and, one of its metabolites, the urinary cotinine were assessed, as part of the evaluation of the effectiveness of recently implemented technical preventive controls. Urinary cotinine measurements ranged from 9,63 to 234,09 microg/gr creat. in non-smokers and from 178,79 to 2476,19 microg/gr creat.

[Collaboration of the occupational physician for risk assessment activities in work environment].

In Italy, the legislative Decree n. 81/2008 (and further modifications) foresee the obligation, with relative sanction, for the "competent physician" to collaborate with the employer and the person responsible of the service of prevention and protection to the evaluation of the risks in the places of job. Objective of the present job is to give indications that allow the physician to acquit with correctness the obligation, looking for an equilibrium among the dictated normative and the resources to his/her disposition.

Efficacy of oral hyposensitization in allergic contact dermatitis caused by nickel.

Background: Nickel contact allergy remains common in Western countries, and the dermatitis may require prolonged treatment. The development of new strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of affected individuals is needed.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of oral hyposensitization in nickel-allergic individuals and how this affects in vitro T cell responsiveness to the metal.

Combined serum mesothelin and plasma osteopontin measurements in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Introduction: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a lethal tumor related to asbestos exposure. At present, the only instruments for screening and diagnosis are based on radiological tests, posing evident economic and radio-protectionist problems. Some authors are evaluating biological indicators, such as plasma osteopontin (pOPN) and serum soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP).

Two novel polymorphisms in 5' flanking region of the mesothelin gene are associated with soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) levels.

Background And Aims: Increased concentrations of soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) have been found in sera of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) even if a relatively high rate of false positives has hampered their clinical use as a tumor marker. Individual SMRP levels could be affected by polymorphic elements. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms within the promoter-5'UTR regions and SMRP levels in healthy asbestos-exposed individuals and patients suffering from MPM.

Double blind clinical trial in a series of 115 patients with seborrheic dermatitis: prevention of relapses using a topical modulator of Toll like receptor 2.

Aim: Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease aggravated by Malassezia species. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are part of innate immune system that can be activated by yeasts. Previous studies showed that an association of Umbelliferae extract with a lipid (TLR2-Regul™) decreases the IL-8 expression in human skin in contact with M.

Evidences that the polymorphism Pro-282-Ala within the tumor suppressor gene WWOX is a new risk factor for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

We report a hypothesis-driven study aimed to detect genetic markers of susceptibility to differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC). A large number of candidate genes were first selected through literature search (genome-wide studies were also included). To restrict the analysis to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a high likelihood to be associated with increased risk, each SNP must comply with several a priori hypotheses.

Soluble markers for diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive and invasive tumor, whose incidence is expected to peak, in many countries, at the end of the present decade, 20-40 years after the peak of asbestos use (asbestos being the most important etiological factor). MPM has a poor prognosis, in part, owing to a difficult and often late diagnosis hindered by a lack of available tests able to diagnose or predict this cancer in its early stages. Recently, there has been increased interest in noninvasive, economic and well-accepted diagnostic tests for screening of asbestos-exposed subjects, as well as for monitoring response of MPM patients to treatment.

Evaluation of allergic vesicular reaction to patch test using in vivo confocal microscopy.

Background: Confocal microscopy has been successfully applied both in oncologic and inflammatory diseases. In particular, it has been proved as a useful tool for the in vivo detection of microscopical changes occurring in allergic reactions.

Aims Of The Study: To evaluate microscopic changes occurring in positive patch test reactions.

[Methodology and results of an experience of medical surveillance of people previously exposed to asbestos in Tuscany].

Although medical surveillance of workers previously exposed to asbestos has been made mandatory by several laws since 1991 (recently confirmed by the law 81/08), neither the subject encharged of it nor the medical protocols have been yet established. In the absence of a specific regulation different medical protocols have been proposed by several centers often with no respect of ethical or radioprotectionist principles, such as some screening programs exclusively based on radiologic exams. With the aim of setting up a secondary preventive health program according both to a correct ethical and economic cost-effective balance, we followed up a cohort of 647 workers.

[In vitro study on the immune effects of the exposure to palladium nanoparticles].

Pd allergic contact dermatitis is increasing in the general population; aim of this preliminary study was to determine, in women with Pd sensitization, the cytokine release from PBMC exposed to Pd nanoparticles similar to those emitted from catalytic converters. PBMC of 8 non-atopic and of 5 Pd sensitized women were incubated with LPS stimulation in presence of Pd nanoparticles (5-10 nm) or potassium hexa-chloropalladate 10(-5) and 10(-6) M. This Pd salt inhibited IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-17 release from PBMC of non-atopic women, whereas Pd nanoparticles enhanced the release of IFN-gamma and inhibited that of TNF-alpha and IL-17.

Phylogeographic patterns, genetic affinities and morphological differentiation between Epipactis helleborine and related lineages in a Mediterranean glacial refugium.

Background And Aims: In the Mediterranean basin, the Italian peninsula has been suggested to be one of the most important glacial refugia for temperate tree species. The orchid genus Epipactis is widely represented in the Italian peninsula by widespread species and several endemic, localized taxa, including selfing and outcrossing taxa. Here the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships in a group of closely related taxa in Epipactis are investigated with the aim of understanding the role of this refugial area for cladogenesis and speciation in herbaceous species, such as terrestrial orchids.

Comparison between plasma and serum osteopontin levels: usefulness in diagnosis of epithelial malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background: A potential role of serum osteopontin (OPN) and serum mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has been recently reported. Although the most important data regarding the role of OPN in MPMs derive from the marker's measurement in serum samples, most commercial laboratory kits for OPN assay are suitable only for measuring plasma levels, as indicated by the manufacturers. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of preanalytic variables on serum and plasma OPN, to compare serum and plasma OPN in the same population, and to assess whether OPN levels can aid in the diagnostic distinction of patients with MPM versus benign respiratory disease (BRD) and healthy subjects exposed to asbestos.

Quality of life and contact dermatitis: a disease-specific questionnaire.

Background: Contact dermatitis (CD) is a chronic disease with a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). There have been relatively few reports in the literature on specific QoL outcomes for patients suffering from CD.

Objectives: To develop a new instrument specifically designed to measure QoL in CD and to investigate which disease features could strongly influence QoL.

[The new methodology to produce instruments for updating occupational physician proposed by Italian Society of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene (SIMLII)].

Starting from the experience of last five years, during which 24 guide liens about the most important aspects of Occupational Physician activity have been produced, the Italian Society of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene (SIMLII) delegated a specific working group for updating the methodology to be adopted for guide lines and other instruments for improving and standardizing the current activity in our professional field. SIMLII produced in the context of the specific Education and Accreditation Programme for occupational physicians prepared from 2002 25 guide lines or other informative instruments on the most important and controversial themes in which our discipline is involved. They were considered and treated to meet the need to improve and standardise activities and to modify the current approach of occupational physicians and aimed not only at improving the effectiveness of preventive actions but also at constantly adopting rigorous methodologies based where possible on evidence based or on consensus procedures.

Multimodality treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with or without immunotherapy: does it change anything?

The purpose of this study was to investigate immunological effector cells and angiogenesis in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients, who underwent multimodality treatments. Clinical and pathological characteristics of 57 patients, with International Mesothelioma Interest Group stage II-III MPM, who underwent two different multimodality treatments (with and without immunotherapy) between 1999 and 2008 were analyzed. CD8+, CD4+ and Foxp3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, tryptase and chymase mast cells (MCs), CD34, number of microvessels and vascular endothelial growth factor were determined by immunohistochemistry.

[Company occupational physician and work related stress: from risk assessment to health surveillance].

In Italy the recent safety legislation requires a new committment for the company occupational physician. His duty is a balance between legal requirements and the state of art of prevention. There are many tools to tackle stress at work as a general preventive intervention.

Polymorphisms in the putative micro-RNA-binding sites of mesothelin gene are associated with serum levels of mesothelin-related protein.

Background: Serum mesothelin, also known as soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP), reportedly shows increased levels in epithelial-type malignant pleural mesothelioma, but sometimes also arrives at high values in healthy asbestos-exposed subjects.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) of the mesothelin-encoded gene (MSLN) are associated with the SMRP levels measured in serum.

Methods: The 3'UTR of the mesothelin gene was genotyped in 59 healthy asbestos-exposed subjects, selected on the basis of their SMRP levels.

[Psychiatric support of healthcare workers undergoing periodic health assessment].

Introduction: An integrated mental health surveillance program was developed by the department of occupational medicine at S. Chiara University Hospital in Pisa, Italy, in order to better assist and treat hospital staff suffering from psychiatric disorders in a preventive medical setting.

Material And Methods: During the occupational medical surveillance of 4000 employees of S.

Release of palladium from biomechanical prostheses in body fluids can induce or support PD-specific IFNgamma T cell responses and the clinical setting of a palladium hypersensitivity.

The increased use of Palladium (Pd) for biomedical applications, which has more than doubled in the last ten years, appears to be associated with an increased frequency of adverse reactions to Pd. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the implant of a biomechanical apparatus containing Pd and the setting of a hypersensitivity to Pd by determining the levels of the metal released in biological fluids, assessing the effects of Pd on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokine production and exploring the clinical setting of skin sensitization. Of a total of 3,093 subjects examined in 2006, sensitization to Pd alone or in association with nickel (Ni) was observed in 1.