The starch-bound alpha-amylase/trypsin-inhibitors in Avena.

Oat kernels exhibit an extra-soft texture, a trait recently demonstrated to be largely modulated by starch-bound tryptophan-rich 2S proteins, the vromindolines. In this study, fractionation by two-dimensional electrophoresis of starch-bound proteins in 25 oat (Avena sativa) cultivars and 11 diploid or tetraploid Avena species revealed novel 2S proteins called Avena α-amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (AATI) because of their sequence similarity with wheat α-amylase/trypsin inhibitors. Thirty-seven AATI polypeptides, about 14 kDa in size, were split into three families named AATI-1, AATI-2, and AATI-3 with different primary structures and isoelectric points.

The involvement of endothelial mediators in leprosy.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that requires better understanding since it continues to be a significant health problem in many parts of the world. Leprosy reactions are acute inflammatory episodes regarded as the central etiology of nerve damage in the disease. The activation of endothelium is a relevant phenomenon to be investigated in leprosy reactions.

Polymorphisms in MIR122, MIR196A2, and MIR124A Genes are Associated with Clinical Phenotypes in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are multifactorial disorders that result from a dysregulated inflammatory response to environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be involved in the development of IBDs.

Aims: We investigated common variants in five miRNA genes in a cohort of Italian IBD patients, to evaluate their possible role in the disease's susceptibility and phenotype manifestations.

In-vacuum thermolysis of ethane 1,2-diamineborane for the synthesis of ternary borocarbonitrides.

High-temperature (1000 °C) thermolytic decomposition of ethane 1,2-diamineborane (BH3NH2CH2CH2NH2BH3) deposited onto a Cu foil has been performed in an ultra-high-vacuum environment. A combined thermolytic, structural (x-ray diffraction), microscopic (scanning electron microscopy) and spectroscopic (Raman, x-ray photoemission spectroscopy) analysis, has identified a ternary borocarbonitride (BCN) compound as a result of the process. The obtained BCN compound is nanocrystalline, surrounded by crystallites of ammonium hydroxide borate hydrate.

Anal human papillomavirus in HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men: incidence and clearance rates, duration of infection, and risk factors.

Little is known regarding the natural history of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. We aimed to evaluate incidence and clearance rates, their risk factors, and duration of anal HPV infection in HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM). A longitudinal study was conducted.

On the Thermal and Thermodynamic (In)Stability of Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskites.

The interest of the scientific community on methylammonium lead halide perovskites (MAPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) for hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells has grown exponentially since the first report in 2009. This fact is clearly justified by the very high efficiencies attainable (reaching 20% in lab scale devices) at a fraction of the cost of conventional photovoltaics. However, many problems must be solved before a market introduction of these devices can be envisaged.

The HIV-1 reverse transcriptase polymorphism A98S improves the response to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate+emtricitabine-containing HAART both in vivo and in vitro.

The impact of baseline HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) polymorphisms on response to first-line modern HAART containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) was evaluated. The impact of each RT polymorphism on virological success (VS) was evaluated in 604 HIV-1 subtype B-infected patients starting TDF+FTC-containing HAART. TDF and FTC antiviral activity was also tested in PBMCs infected by mutagenised HIV.

Switching to boosted protease inhibitor plus a second antiretroviral drug (dual therapy) for treatment simplification: a multicenter observational study.

Background: Aim of the study was to assess predictors of discontinuation/toxicity of boosted PI-based (PI/r) dual therapy (DT).

Methods: Observational, retrospective switch study in patients successfully treated with triple drugs regimen. Patients switched to PI/r based DT [darunavir (DRV/r), lopinavir (LPV/r) or atazanavir (ATV/r)] plus a second drug: [raltegravir (RAL), maraviroc (MVC) etravirine (ETR), lamivudine (3TC) or tenofovir (TDF)] between 2009 and 2014 were included.

HIV and decreased risk of multiple sclerosis: role of low CD4+ lymphocyte count and male prevalence.

In this retrospective case-control study, we compared the number of circulating lymphocyte subsets among 31 healthy controls, 18 naïve and 40 antiretroviral-treated HIV patients, 28 untreated and 18 treated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Lymphocyte subsets were no different between untreated MS patients and controls. Untreated and treated MS had a lower CD8+ count and a higher CD4+ number compared to untreated and treated HIV patients except similar CD4+ number between treated MS and HIV patients.

Neopterin acts as an endogenous cognitive enhancer.

Neopterin is found at increased levels in biological fluids from individuals with inflammatory disorders. The biological role of this pteridine remains undefined; however, due to its capacity to increase hemeoxygenase-1 content, it has been proposed as a protective agent during cellular stress. Therefore, we investigated the effects of neopterin on motor, emotional and memory functions.

The GATA3 gene is involved in leprosy susceptibility in Brazilian patients.

Leprosy outcome is a complex trait and the host-pathogen-environment interaction defines the emergence of the disease. Host genetic risk factors have been successfully associated to leprosy. The 10p13 chromosomal region was linked to leprosy in familial studies and GATA3 gene is a strong candidate to be part of this association.

Perceptions of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and acceptability of HPV vaccine among men attending a sexual health clinic differ according to sexual orientation.

Our aim was to gain a better understanding of the knowledge about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine among men at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). A self-administered questionnaire was completed by attendees of the largest STI Center in Rome, Italy, from April to June 2013. Determinants of vaccine acceptability were investigated using a Structured Equation Model.

Solid Solutions of Rare Earth Cations in Mesoporous Anatase Beads and Their Performances in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Solid solutions of the rare earth (RE) cations Pr(3+), Nd(3+), Sm(3+), Gd(3+), Er(3+) and Yb(3+) in anatase TiO2 have been synthesized as mesoporous beads in the concentration range 0.1-0.3% of metal atoms.

Neopterin as a potential cytoprotective brain molecule.

Neopterin, a byproduct of the tetrahydrobiopterin de novo pathway, is found in increased levels in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma and significantly increases upon damage, infection or during immune system activation. The production of this compound seems almost restricted to the monocyte/macrophage linage cells, in response to interferon-γ stimulation. However, it is unclear whether and which nervous cells are able to synthesize neopterin, respond to any stressor applied extracellularly, or even the role of the compound in the central nervous system.

Reduced risk of Efavirenz Discontinuation in Naïve Patients Starting First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy with Single Tablet versus dual Tablet Regimen.

Objectives: Despite not being approved in Europe as first-line therapy, the efavirenz (EFV)-containing single tablet regimen (STR) is frequently used in clinical practice in naïve patients but few data are available on this strategy. In our study, we aimed to assess the risk of EFV discontinuation in patients starting antiretroviral therapy with STR vs. nonSTR.

Activation and cytokine profile of monocyte derived dendritic cells in leprosy: in vitro stimulation by sonicated Mycobacterium leprae induces decreased level of IL-12p70 in lepromatous leprosy.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in the connection of innate and adaptive immunity of hosts to mycobacterial infection. Studies on the interaction of monocyte-derived DCs (MO-DCs) using Mycobacterium leprae in leprosy patients are rare. The present study demonstrated that the differentiation of MOs to DCs was similar in all forms of leprosy compared to normal healthy individuals.

Severity of allergic rhinitis and asthma development in children.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a relevant risk factor for the development of asthma in children. We recruited a cohort of 104 children with AR and re-evaluated them after 5 years. We considered the ARIA classification.

Evidence of cellular senescence during the development of estrogen-induced pituitary tumors.

Although pituitary adenomas represent 25% of intracranial tumors, they are usually benign, with the mechanisms by which these tumors usually avoid an invasive profile and metastatic growth development still remaining unclear. In this context, cellular senescence might constitute a plausible explanation for the benign nature of pituitary adenomas. In this study, we investigated the emergence of cellular senescence as a growth control mechanism during the progression of estrogen-induced pituitary tumors.