Cytosolic and Calcium-Independent Phospholipases A2 Activation and Prostaglandins E2 Are Associated with Escherichia coli-Induced Reduction of Insulin Secretion in INS-1E Cells.

It is suspected that microbial infections take part in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM). Glucose-induced insulin secretion is accompanied by the release of free arachidonic acid (AA) mainly by cytosolic- and calcium independent phospholipases A2 (cPLA2 and iPLA2). Insulinoma cell line (INS-1E) was infected with E.

Infections of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: 14 years of experience in an Italian hospital.

The aim of the study was to describe the microbial aetiology of infections from cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) between 2001 and 2014 at The Centro Cuore Morgagni Hospital (Catania, Italy). In this 14-year retrospective study on pacemaker isolates 1,366 patients were evaluated and clinical data were collected. CIEDs were analyzed and isolates tested by routine microbiological techniques.

Involvement of PKCα-MAPK/ERK-phospholipase A(2) pathway in the Escherichia coli invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Escherichia coli K1 is the most common Gram-negative organism that causes neonatal meningitis following penetration of the blood-brain barrier. In the present study we demonstrated the involvement of cytosolic (cPLA(2)) and calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)) and the contribution of cyclooxygenase-2 products in E. coli invasion of microvascular endothelial cells.

Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence in unselected infertile couples.

Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is responsible for the most common sexual transmitted disease and infertility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate: a) the frequency of chlamydial infection in unselected infertile couples and b) whether chlamydial infection could be identified in the semen sample as effectively as in the urethral swab of infertile patients.

Bifidobacterium longum with fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) treatment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) describes patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis who have no clinical symptoms of brain dysfunction but perform worse on psychometric tests compared with healthy subjects. The pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy is controversial although ammonia has been found to induce cerebral dysfunction. Increased intestinal ammonia production is due to bacterial urease activity and the production of other toxin methabolities, such as mercaptans, thioles.