The transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are a group of highly homologous nonselective cation channels from the larger TRP channel family. They have the ability to form homo- and heteromers with varying degrees of calcium (Ca) permeability and signalling properties. TRPC5 is the one cold-sensitive among them and likewise facilitates the influx of extracellular Ca into cells to modulate neuronal depolarization and integrate various intracellular signalling pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic period was marked by the absence or reduced circulation of some infectious diseases. Legionellosis may have been affected by the prevention measures adopted to counter COVID-19. Legionellosis is a form of pneumonia interstitial that is normally transmitted via aerosol-containing bacteria (genus ), that could be present in contaminated water sources and is often associated with travel and with staying in hotels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain metastasis in breast cancer remains difficult to treat and its incidence is increasing. Therefore, the development of new therapies is of utmost clinical relevance. Recently, toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 was correlated with IL6 expression and poor prognosis in 1 215 breast cancer primaries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Balneotherapy centers of Ischia island (Italy) offer treatments for different dermatological diseases (psoriasis, acne, atopic dermatitis) and upper respiratory tract infections. In this study, we integrated morphological and molecular approaches to give a focus on isolation and screening of extremophile bacteria from Ischia thermal mud for potential antimicrobial applications.
Methods: Samples were collected during 2019 at four sites.
Significant release of rare earth elements (REEs) into the environment is mainly due to active or abandoned mining sites, but their presence is globally increasing due to their use in several industrial sectors. The effects on primary producers as Raphidocelis subcapitata are still limited. This research focused on La and Ce as the two most widespread REEs that can be currently found up to hundreds of μg/L in water and wastewater.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent knowledge about the microbial communities that occur in urban road runoff is scarce. Road runoff of trafficked roads can be heavily polluted and is treated by stormwater quality improvement devices (SQIDs). However, microbes may influence the treatment process of these devices or could lead to stress resistant opportunistic microbial strains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe alteration of rare earth elements (REEs) biogeochemical cycles has increased the potential effects related to their environmental exposure in a one-health perspective. Cerium (Ce), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), and neodymium (Nd) are frequently related to technological applications and their environmental concentrations are already in the μg/kg - mg/kg (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the microbial composition of the gut and its possible association with the Mediterranean diet (MD) after adjusting for demographic and anthropometric characteristics in a sample of healthy young Italian adults.
Methods: Gut microbiota, demographic information, and data on adherence to MD and physical activity (PA) habits were collected in a sample of 140 university students (48.6% males, mean age 22.
About 50% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have sinonasal complications, which include inferior turbinate hypertrophy (NTH) and/or nasal polyposis (NP), and different degrees of lung disease, which represents the main cause of mortality. Monitoring of sinonasal disease requires complex instrumental procedures, while monitoring of lung inflammation requires invasive collection of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between salivary cytokines levels and CF-related airway diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRequests to test for thrombophilia in the clinical context are often not evidence-based. To define the role of a series of prothrombotic gene variants in a large population of patients with different venous thromboembolic diseases. : We studied Factor V Leiden (FVL), FVR2, FII G20210A, Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C, beta-fibrinogen -455 G>A, FXIII V34L, and HPA-1 L33P variants and PAI-1 4G/5G alleles in 343 male and female patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 164 with pulmonary embolism (PE), 126 with superficial vein thrombosis (SVT), 118 with portal vein thrombosis (PVT), 75 with cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) and 119 with retinal vein thrombosis (RVT), and compared them with the corresponding variants and alleles in 430 subjects from the general population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have a reduced intestinal absorption of cholesterol and in a preliminary study we observed differences in plasma sterol profile between patients with pancreatic sufficiency (PS) and those with pancreatic insufficiency (PI). Therefore, we hypothesized that the sterol analysis may contribute to study the digestion and absorption state of lipids in patients with CF. To this aim we evaluated plasma sterols in a significant number of adult patients with CF in relation to the pancreatic status.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo natural mixtures, fermented extract (BGE) and cannabinol oil extract (CBD), were assessed for their ability to inhibit and remove biofilms on soft contact lenses in comparison to a multipurpose Soft Contact Lens-care solution present on the Italian market. (ATCC 9027 strain) and clinical strains isolated from ocular swabs were tested. Quantification of the biofilm was done using the microtiter plate assay and the fractional inhibitory concentration index was calculated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, many studies have highlighted the consistent finding of tramadol (TRA) in the effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) and also in some rivers and lakes in both Europe and North America, suggesting that TRA is removed by no more than 36% by specific disinfection treatments. The extensive use of this drug has led to environmental pollution of both water and soil, up to its detection in growing plants. In order to expand the knowledge about TRA toxicity as well as the nature of its disinfection by-products (DBPs), a simulation of the waste treatment chlorination step has been reported herein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe emerging concern about the increase of antibiotic resistance and associated biofilm has encouraged scientists to look for alternative antibiotics such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study evaluated the ability of melittin to act as an antibacterial biofilm inhibitor and biofilm remover considering isolates from dairy industry. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations (MBICs), and biofilm removal activities were studied in polymicrobial biofilms produced from isolates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrovillous inclusion disease (MVID) typically appears with severe chronic diarrhea in the few days after birth and rapidly causes dehydration and metabolic acidosis. In this context, presenting two novel cases, we underline the crucial importance of mutation analysis for the diagnosis of this disease that may be easily misdiagnosed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pneumonias are the most frequent infectious diseases, characterized by a high prevalence especially among children and adults at risk. The socio-economic impact caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is evaluated in terms of morbidity, death rate and hospitalizations.
Objective: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the potential economic advantages by implementation of an active anti-pneumococcal 13-valent vaccine strategy in Campania region (Southern Italy) in two different categories of subjects, children (aged 0-12), and adults (aged 50- 79) at risk (hypertension, nephropathies, COPD and heart diseases).
Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited, life limiting condition among Caucasians. No healing therapy is currently available for patients with CF. The aim of the study was to define clinical, anthropometric and biochemical effects of regular, supervised physical exercise in a large cohort of patients with CF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
July 2017
Objectives: We aimed to improve the knowledge of pathogenic mutations in sporadic cases of congenital chloride diarrhea (CCD) and emphasize the importance of functional studies to define the effect of novel mutations.
Methods: All member 3 of solute carrier family 26 (SLC26A3) coding regions were sequenced in 17 sporadic patients with CCD. Moreover, the minigene system was used to analyze the effect of 2 novel splicing mutations.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
September 2016
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently isolated in swimming pool settings. Nine recreational and rehabilitative swimming pools were monitored according to the local legislation. The presence of P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multi-professional and multidisciplinary evaluation approach designed to assess health technology in the broadest sense of the term, from its instruments to the rearranging of its organizational structures. It is by now an established methodology at national and international levels that involves several medical disciplines thanks to its versatility. Laboratory medicine is one of these disciplines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMannose binding lectin (MBL) is a protein of innate immunity that activates the complement and promotes opsonophagocytosis. The deficiency of MBL due to several common gene polymorphisms significantly enhances the risk of severe infections, particularly in the neonatal age and in childhood. On the contrary, the role of the protein in carcinogenesis and atherogenesis is still debated: MBL has a relevant role against neoplastic cells, but some studies described a protective effect of low levels of MBL toward breast cancer and a longer survival of lung cancer patients with a reduced MBL activity.
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