Epidemiology, clinical and laboratory findings of leptospirosis in Southwestern Greece.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with global distribution. The aim of the present study was to determine epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of leptospirosis in Greece. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and laboratory profile as well as the outcome of all adults with confirmed leptospirosis in our Tertiary Referral centre in Southwestern Greece from 2013 to 2017.

Replication of Brucella melitensis inside primary human monocytes depends on mitogen activated protein kinase signaling.

The clinical course of infections caused by Brucella is linked to its capacity to modulate the initial immune response of macrophages in order to ensure its intracellular replication. Signal transduction pathways implicated in the survival of Brucella in human cells are not completely elucidated. We herein investigated the involvement of the TLR-MAPK-dependent signaling pathways in the survival of Brucella in primary human monocytes using live clinical strains of Brucella melitensis.

Apolipoprotein A-I modulates processes associated with diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is the main protein of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). We investigated the involvement of apoA-I in diet-induced accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes and its potential role in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). ApoA-I-deficient (apoA-I(-/-)) mice showed increased diet-induced hepatic triglyceride deposition and disturbed hepatic histology while they exhibited reduced glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.