Membrane-binding and activation of LKB1 by phosphatidic acid is essential for development and tumour suppression.

The serine/threonine kinase LKB1 regulates various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, energy homeostasis and cell polarity and is frequently downregulated in various tumours. Many downstream pathways controlled by LKB1 have been described but little is known about the upstream regulatory mechanisms. Here we show that targeting of the kinase to the membrane by a direct binding of LKB1 to phosphatidic acid is essential to fully activate its kinase activity.

Inactivation of the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway does not contribute to salivary gland tumor development - a short report.

Purpose: Activation of AMPK by the tumor suppressor LKB1 represents an essential gatekeeping step for cells under energetic stress to prevent their growth and proliferation by inhibiting mTOR activation, until the energy supply normalizes. The LKB1/AMPK pathway is frequently downregulated in various types of cancer, thereby uncoupling tumor cell growth and proliferation from energy supply. As yet, little information is available on the role of the LKB1/AMPK pathway in tumors derived from salivary gland tissues.

Interleukin-15 and soluble interleukin-15 receptor α in coronary artery disease patients: association with epicardial fat and indices of adipose tissue distribution.

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which signals via a specific alpha receptor subunit (IL-15Rα). Increased IL-15 level has been observed in cardiovascular patients and IL-15 immunoreactivity has been detected at vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Due to the association between adipose tissue distribution, inflammation and coronary artery disease (CAD), we quantified IL-15 and IL-15Rα in CAD patients with different adiposity and adipose tissue distribution and we evaluated whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a visceral fat depot surrounding and infiltrating myocardium, may be a source of both molecules.

Low heart-type fatty acid binding protein level during aging may protect down syndrome people against atherosclerosis.

Background: Aging is considered an important independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Down syndrome people (DS) display an accelerated aging process compared to healthy subjects, anyway they are relatively resistant to developing atherosclerosis. The mechanisms involved in such protective effect are not well known.

Bone remodelling biomarkers after whole body cryotherapy (WBC) in elite rugby players.

Whole body cryotherapy (WBC) consists of a brief exposure to extreme cold air (-110°C) in a controlled chamber and it is applied in sports medicine to improve recovery from musculoskeletal trauma. The aim of this study is to better define the beneficial effect of WCB on the musculoskeletal system of athletes, in particular on bone remodelling. Remodelling osteoimmunological biomarkers OPG, RANKL and RANK were measured after WBC treatment in 10 male rugby players randomly selected from the Italian National team.

Adipokines, hormonal parameters, and cardiovascular risk factors: similarities and differences between patients with erectile dysfunction of arteriogenic and nonarteriogenic origin.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often associated with metabolic disorders. Leptin and adiponectin are adipose tissue-derived hormones involved in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and considered important players in the relationship among obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: Leptin, adiponectin, leptin to adiponectin ratio (L/A), and their correlation with hormonal and metabolic parameters were examined in male with arteriogenic- (A-ED) and nonarteriogenic-ED (NA-ED).

Natural zeolites chabazite/phillipsite/analcime increase blood levels of antioxidant enzymes.

Imbalance between reactive oxygen species generation and antioxidant capacity induces a condition known as oxidative stress which is implicated in numerous pathological processes. In this study we evaluated whether natural zeolites chabazite/phillipsite/analcime may affect the levels of different antioxidant enzymes (gluthatione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, gluthatione reductase), total antioxidant status and oxidative stress in 25 clinically healthy men, both non-smokers and smokers. Measurements were performed on whole blood or on plasma samples before (T0) and after 4-weeks zeolites intake (T1).

Serum amyloid a and C-reactive protein independently predict the recurrences of atrial fibrillation after cardioversion in patients with preserved left ventricular function.

Background: Subclinical inflammation and atrial stretch have been recognized as important contributors to atrial fibrillation (AF) onset and perpetuation. The aim of the study was to compare the predictive role of serum inflammatory markers (serum amyloid A [SAA], and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) an indice of atrial strain in relation to subacute arrhythmic recurrence rate in patients with persistent AF and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: We studied 57 patients with a mean LVEF of 58.

Italian air force acrobatic pilots are protected against flight-induced oxidative stress.

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the oxidative stress of aircraft pilots by evaluating different markers of oxidative stress and any imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in plasma.

Patients And Methods: A group of 13 supersonic aircraft pilots, following regular exercise and personalized diet, were compared with a group of 40 healthy controls. Oxidative stress indicators, such as reactive oxidative metabolites, carbonyl proteins, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and total antioxidant status, were evaluated after three months of intense flight.

Carbon dioxide-enriched water inhalation in patients with allergic rhinitis and its relationship with nasal fluid cytokine/chemokine release.

Background And Aims: Allergic rhinitis is characterized by eosinophil infiltration and accumulation in the nasal mucosa mainly due to IL-3, IL-5, and eotaxin activities. We undertook this study to investigate a possible in vivo effect of carbon dioxide-enriched water inhalation in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Methods: Twenty five consecutive patients inhaled carbon dioxide-enriched water at Fonti di Rabbi Spa Centre (Trento, Italy).

Reduced plasma levels of P-selectin and L-selectin in a pilot study from Alzheimer disease: relationship with neuro-degeneration.

Neurodegenerative processes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are accompanied by reactive astrogliosis and microglia activation and a role for chronic inflammation in the brain degeneration of these patients has been suggested. Moreover impaired immune functions in AD brains might also influence the disease's progression. Therefore, it is of interest to further characterized inflammatory molecules in the peripheral blood of patients with AD and its relationship with cognitive decline.

Plasma concentrations of angiogenetic factors and angiogenetic inhibitors in patients with ductal pancreatic neoplasms. A pilot study.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the circulating concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) and endostatin in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), and in those with ductal adenocarcinomas.

Methods: Sixty patients (32 males, 28 females, mean age 69.3±11.

Serum neutrophil gelatinase-B associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in Down's syndrome patients.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a group of proteins with different functions.NGAL is released by different cell types such as epithelial cell, hepatocytes and renal tubular cells during inflammation and after cell injury. Expression of NGAL is induced under various pathophysiological conditions such as infection, cancer, inflammation, kidney injury, cardiovascular disease, burn injury, and intoxication, which has an important anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory role.

The role of inflammation in patients with intraductal mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas and in those with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: There are very few data regarding inflammation in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas.

Aim: To evaluate the circulating concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNF-R1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in patients with IPMNs and in those with pancreatic adenocarcinomas.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-nine patients were enrolled: 23 (33.

Plasma and drainage fluid levels of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (sRANK), soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) during proximal humerus fracture healing.

Fracture healing is an ordered process that restores the structural integrity of the bone. Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (sRANK), its ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are involved in bone remodelling, thus they may play a role in fracture repair. OPG, soluble RANK and RANKL levels were measured in plasma and in drainage fluid, collected from pre-surgery phase to healing in ten patients of both genders (age range 26-65 years) with proximal humerus fracture needing osteosynthesis.

The natural antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid induces p27(Kip1)-dependent cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Unlike normal cells, tumor cells survive in a specific redox environment where the elevated reactive oxygen species contribute to enhance cell proliferation and to suppress apoptosis. Alpha-lipoic acid, a naturally occurring reactive oxygen species scavenger, has been shown to possess anticancer activity, due to its ability to suppress proliferation and to induce apoptosis in different cancer cell lines. Since at the moment little information is available regarding the potential effects of alpha-lipoic acid on breast cancer, in the present study we addressed the question whether alpha-lipoic acid induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

Molecular basis of anti-inflammatory action of platelet-rich plasma on human chondrocytes: mechanisms of NF-κB inhibition via HGF.

Loss of articular cartilage through injury or disease presents major clinical challenges also because cartilage has very poor regenerative capacity, giving rise to the development of biological approaches. As autologous blood product, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) provides a promising alternative to surgery by promoting safe and natural healing. Here we tested the possibility that PRP might be effective as an anti-inflammatory agent, providing an attractive basis for regeneration of articular cartilage, and two principal observations were done.

Relation of echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness and myocardial fat.

Epicardial and myocardial fats increase with degree of visceral adiposity and possibly contribute to obesity-associated cardiac changes. Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness is a new and independent marker of visceral adiposity. The aim of this study was to test whether echocardiographic epicardial fat is related to myocardial fat.

NT-proBNP concentrations in mountain marathoners.

The 76 amino acid N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is proposed for evaluating and monitoring heart pathologies characterized by myocardial wall stress. Strenuous exercise might generate transitory ischemia, myocardial stress, and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction, possibly inducing an increase of some biochemical parameter concentrations. An alert has been claimed owing to biochemical and instrumental signs of heart dysfunction in recreational athletes during marathon races.

Age-related changes in plasma levels of BDNF in Down syndrome patients.

Background: The prevalence of coronary artery diseases is low among Down Syndrome (DS) patients and they rarely die of atherosclerotic complications. Histopathological investigations showed no increase in atherosclerosis, or even a total lack of atherosclerotic changes, in DS AIM: The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between age and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in Down Syndrome (DS).

Subjects And Methods: Three groups of DS patients were studied: the first consisted of 23 children (age 2-14 years); the second of 14 adults (age 20-50 years), the third group of 13 elderly persons (>60 years) and a controls group of 20 healthy patients (age 15-60 years).

O-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase in erythrocytes of Italian air force acrobatic pilots.

Background: Italian air force acrobatic pilots are occupationally susceptible to oxidative stress damage that can lead to overt signs and symptoms of hypoxia. We propose erythrocyte glycohydrolases as new, sensitive markers to assess oxidative stress.

Methods: We measured erythrocyte concentrations of beta-D-glucuronidase (GCR), hexosaminidase, O-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase), plasma membrane fluidity and plasma hydroperoxides from 19 pilots and compared these to 40 matched healthy subjects.