MicroRNA Monitoring in Human Alveolar Macrophages from Patients with Smoking-Related Lung Diseases: A Preliminary Study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that is commonly considered to be a potent driver of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development and related mortality. A growing body of evidence supports a role of the immune system, mainly played by alveolar macrophages (AMs), in key axes regulating the development of COPD or NSCLC phenotypes in response to harmful agents. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that influence most biological processes and interfere with several regulatory pathways.

Surgical treatment of peri-implantitis.

As utilisation of dental implants continues to rise, so does the incidence of biological complications. When peri-implantitis has already caused extensive bone resorption, the dentist faces the dilemma of which therapy is the most appropriate to maintain the implant. Since non-surgical approaches of peri-implantitis have shown limited effectiveness, the present paper describes different surgical treatment modalities, underlining their indications and limitations.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events.

Background: Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies. Direct evidence that this risk extends to humans is lacking.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study involving patients who were undergoing carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery disease.

Prednisone-hydrogen sulfide releasing hybrid shows improved therapeutic profile in asthma.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is emerging as an important potential therapeutic option for respiratory inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a novel corticosteroid derivative, that is chemically linked to an HS donor, in managing asthma features. The effects of prednisone (PS), HS donor (4-hydroxybenzamide; TBZ), and their combination (PS-TBZ) have been evaluated and .

Association between Sex-Related Gene Polymorphisms and Lung Atopy Risk.

Atopy is an exaggerated IgE-mediated immune response to foreign antigens in which metabolic abnormalities of the leukotrienes (LTs) pathway play a crucial role. Recent studies have described sex as a key variable in LT biosynthesis, partly explaining why treatment with anti-LT drugs in atopic subjects leads to better control of symptoms in women. In addition, variability in LT production is often associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase () gene, which encodes the leukotriene-synthesizing enzyme machinery, 5-lipoxygenase ().