Is there a rationale for supplementing with vitamin D patients under treatment with allergen immunotherapy?

Vitamin D (VD) has been shown to exert immunomodulatory activities, especially in promoting immune tolerance. For these properties VD has been proposed in the therapy of immunological conditions in which the loss of tolerance is the key pathogenetic aspect of the disease, such as allergies. Despite these properties available literature suggests VD is not useful in treating or preventing allergic diseases and whether low serum VD levels favor allergic sensitization and severity is debated.

Vitamin D Role in Childhood Mite Allergy and Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT).

The post hoc analysis presented here aimed to address the influence of endogenous vitamin D in the immunological mechanism underlying effective mite allergoid immunotherapy (AIT). Previously, we have shown that in allergic children, after 12 months of this immunoactive treatment, functionally potentiated memory regulatory T cells are identified. Indeed, AIT is the only known treatment that is able to reshape the detrimental immune response against the allergen into a non-noxious one.

Impact of Resistance Training Volume on Physical and Perceptual Outcomes of Breast Cancer Survivors Submitted to a Combined Training Program: A Randomized, Single-Blinded Study.

Background: To determine the effect of resistance training volume on physical and perceptual outcomes of breast cancer survivors submitted to a combined training program.

Design: Randomized single-blinded study.

Methods: Nineteen breast cancer survivor women were randomized to a single-set (SS) or a multiple-set (MS) group.

Redox Remodeling by Nutraceuticals for Prevention and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Inflammation.

Antioxidant-rich dietary regimens are considered the best practice to maintain health, control inflammation, and prevent inflammatory diseases. Yet, nutraceuticals as food supplements are self-prescribed and purchasable over the counter by healthy individuals for the purpose of beneficial effects on fitness and aging. Hence, the effectiveness, safety, and correct intake of these compounds need to be better explored.

Electrochemical Biosensors in the Diagnosis of Acute and Chronic Leukemias.

Until now, morphological assessment with an optical or electronic microscope, fluorescence in situ hybridization, DNA sequencing, flow cytometry, polymerase chain reactions, and immunohistochemistry have been employed for leukemia identification. Nevertheless, despite their numerous different vantages, it is difficult to recognize leukemic cells correctly. Recently, the electrochemical evaluation with a nano-sensing interface seems an attractive alternative.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Targeting Hematological Malignancies: Potentials and Problems of Clinical Translation.

Cold atmospheric plasma is an ionized gas produced near room temperature; it generates reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species and induces physical changes, including ultraviolet, radiation, thermal, and electromagnetic effects. Several studies showed that cold atmospheric plasma could effectively provoke death in a huge amount of cell types, including neoplastic cells, via the induction of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. This technique seems able to destroy tumor cells by disturbing their more susceptible redox equilibrium with respect to normal cells, but it is also able to cause immunogenic cell death by enhancing the immune response, to decrease angiogenesis, and to provoke genetic and epigenetics mutations.

Detecting and Monitoring Periprosthetic Joint Infection by Using Electrical Bioimpedance Spectroscopy: A Preliminary Case Study.

A method to detect the presence of infection after Total Joint Arthroplasty is presented. The method is based on Electrical Bioimpedance Spectroscopy and guarantees low latency, non-invasiveness, and cheapness with respect to the state of art. Experimental measurements were carried out on a singular patient who had already undergone bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Histological and Chemical Analysis of Heavy Metals in Kidney and Gills of : Melanomacrophages Centers and Rodlet Cells as Environmental Biomarkers.

Industrialization has resulted in a massive increase in garbage output, which is frequently discharged or stored in waterways like rivers and seas. Due to their toxicity, durability, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification, heavy metals (such as mercury, cadmium, and lead) have been identified as strong biological poisons. Their presence in the aquatic environment has the potential to affect water quality parameters and aquatic life in general.

Modulation of Cellular Redox Parameters for Improving Therapeutic Responses in Multiple Myeloma.

Raised oxidative stress and abnormal redox status are typical features of multiple myeloma cells, and the identification of the intimate mechanisms that regulate the relationships between neoplastic cells and redox homeostasis may reveal possible new anti-myeloma therapeutic targets to increase the effectiveness of anti-myeloma drugs synergistically or to eradicate drug-resistant clones while reducing toxicity toward normal cells. An alteration of the oxidative state is not only responsible for the onset of multiple myeloma and its progression, but it also appears essential for the therapeutic response and for developing any chemoresistance. Our review aimed to evaluate the literature's current data on the effects of oxidative stress on the response to drugs generally employed in the therapy of multiple myeloma, such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, and autologous transplantation.

Fast and non-destructive neutron activation analysis for simultaneous determination of TiO and SiO in sunscreens with attention to regulatory and research issues.

A new instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for the simultaneous determination of titanium (TiO) and silica (SiO) dioxide as UV-filters in sunscreens is described. Samples are encapsulated, neutron irradiated (30 s) and after a suitable decay (3 min), the induced Ti (T = 5.76 min) and Al (T = 6.

Epimacular brachytherapy for previously treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration: month 36 results of the MERLOT randomised controlled trial.

Background/aim: To assess the long-term safety and efficacy of epimacular brachytherapy (EMB) for chronic, active, neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: This pivotal, randomised, controlled surgical device trial recruited patients with chronic nAMD receiving intravitreal ranibizumab from 24 UK hospitals. Participants were randomised to either pars plana vitrectomy with 24 Gray EMB and (PRN) ranibizumab (n=224) or PRN ranibizumab monotherapy (n=119).

Exposure to nanoparticles and occupational allergy.

Purpose Of Review: To provide an update on the possible role of nanoparticles as sensitizing occupational agents and on the influence of nanoparticles-exposure on the appearance/exacerbation of occupational allergy.

Recent Findings: Recent case reports, epidemiological studies, and experimental investigations in cellular and animal models demonstrated the potential for nanomaterials to favor/interfere with occupational allergy. First data are emerging on the sensitizing potential of nanoparticles that can act as haptens linking to proteins, with a formation of a 'corona'.

Specialized Intercellular Communications via Tunnelling Nanotubes in Acute and Chronic Leukemia.

Effectual cell-to-cell communication is essential to the development and differentiation of organisms, the preservation of tissue tasks, and the synchronization of their different physiological actions, but also to the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are membrane-enclosed tubular connections between cells that carry a multiplicity of cellular loads, such as exosomes, non-coding RNAs, mitochondria, and proteins, and they have been identified as the main participants in healthy and tumoral cell communication. TNTs have been described in numerous tumors in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models favoring the onset and progression of tumors.

Long persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 swab positivity in a drowned corpse: a case report.

Background: Since the beginning of the worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to date, important knowledge has been obtained about the virus behavior in living subjects and on inanimate surfaces; however, there is still a lack of data on virus persistency on dead bodies and the risk of contagion from cadavers.

Case Presentation: The present case shows the persistency of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral genome in nasopharyngeal swabs performed on a drowned Caucasian man, aged 41 years old, who was completely asymptomatic when he was alive, up to 41 days after death. Specific real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan 2019-nCoV Assay Kit v2; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Italy and Realquality RQ-SARS-CoV-2, AB Analytical) was used to evaluate the swabs.

A Customized Knee Antibiotic-Loaded PMMA Spacer: A Preliminary Design Analysis.

A preliminary design of customized antibiotic-loaded poly-methyl-methacrylate (ALPMMA) spacer characterized by an appropriate footprint according to the specific patient's anatomy and a reliable mechanical response to severe functional loads (i.e., level walking and 45° bent knee) is reported.

Nanomedicine for Immunotherapy Targeting Hematological Malignancies: Current Approaches and Perspective.

Conventional chemotherapy has partial therapeutic effects against hematological malignancies and is correlated with serious side effects and great risk of relapse. Recently, immunotherapeutic drugs have provided encouraging results in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Several immunotherapeutic antibodies and cell therapeutics are in dynamic development such as immune checkpoint blockades and CAR-T treatment.

Multiple Myeloma Cell-Derived Exosomes: Implications on Tumorigenesis, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Strategies.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological disease that is still not curable. The bone marrow milieu, with cellular and non-cellular elements, participate in the creation of a pro-tumoral environment enhancing growth and survival of MM plasma cells. Exosomes are vesicles oscillating in dimension between 50 nm and 100 nm in size that can be released by various cells and contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of MM.

Basophils and Mast Cells in COVID-19 Pathogenesis.

Basophils and mast cells are among the principal inducers of Th2 responses and have a crucial role in allergic and anti-parasitic protective immunity. Basophils can function as antigen-presenting cells that bind antigens on their surface and boost humoral immune responses, inducing Th2 cell differentiation. Their depletion results in lower humoral memory activation and greater infection susceptibility.

On the Necessity of a Customized Knee Spacer in Peri-Prosthetic Joint Infection Treatment: 3D Numerical Simulation Results.

Peri-prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) dramatically affect human health, as they are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Two-stage revision arthroplasty is currently the gold standard treatment for PJI and consists of infected implant removal, an accurate debridement, and placement of antimicrobial impregnated poly-methyl-metha-acrylate (PMMA) spacer. The use of antibiotic-loaded PMMA (ALPMMA) spacers have showed a success rate that ranges from 85% to 100%.

Metallobiochemistry of ultratrace levels of bismuth in the rat I. Metabolic patterns of Bi in the blood.

Background: The number of the applications of bismuth (Bi) is rapidly and remarkably increasing, enhancing the chance to increase the levels to which humans are normally daily exposed. The interest to Bi comes also from the potential of Bi-based nanoparticles (BiNPs) for industrial and biomedical purposes. Like other metal-based NPs used in nanomedicine, BiNPs may release ultratrace amounts of Bi ions when injected.

Genotoxicity and Immunotoxicity of Titanium Dioxide-Embedded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (TiO@MSN) in Primary Peripheral Human Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC).

TiO nanoparticles (TiO NPs) are the nanomaterial most produced as an ultraviolet (UV) filter. However, TiO is a semiconductor and, in nanoparticle size, is a strong photocatalyst, raising concerns about photomutagenesis. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were synthetized incorporating TiO NPs (TiO@MSN) to develop a cosmetic UV filter.