Baseline metabolic disturbances and the twenty-five years risk of incident cancer in a Mediterranean population.

Background And Aims: Obesity is predictive of metabolic syndrome (metS), type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular (CV) disease and cancer. The aim of the study is to assess the risk of incident cancer connected to obesity and metS in a Mediterranean population characterized by a high prevalence of obesity.

Methods And Results: As many as 1133 subjects were enrolled in two phases and followed for 25 years (859 subjects) or 11 years (274 subjects) and incident cancer was registered in the follow-up period.

Mitochondrial dysfunction: different routes to Alzheimer's disease therapy.

Mitochondria are dynamic ATP-generating organelle which contribute to many cellular functions including bioenergetics processes, intracellular calcium regulation, alteration of reduction-oxidation potential of cells, free radical scavenging, and activation of caspase mediated cell death. Mitochondrial functions can be negatively affected by amyloid β peptide (Aβ), an important component in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, and Aβ can interact with mitochondria and cause mitochondrial dysfunction. One of the most accepted hypotheses for AD onset implicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are one of the primary events in the insurgence of the pathology.

Curcumin induces apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells via inhibition of AKT and Foxo3a nuclear translocation.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most frequent extracranial solid tumors in children. It accounts for 8-10% of all childhood cancer deaths, and there is a need for development of new drugs for its treatment. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a major active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been shown to exert anti-tumor activity on NB, but the specific mechanism by which curcumin inhibits cancer cells proliferation remains unclear.

Cigarette smoke alters IL-33 expression and release in airway epithelial cells.

Airway epithelium is a regulator of innate immune responses to a variety of insults including cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke alters the expression and the activation of Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR4), an innate immunity receptor. IL-33, an alarmin, increases innate immunity Th2 responses.

HLA and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors influence the natural course of CMV infection.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells provide a major defense against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection through the interaction of their surface receptors, including the activating and inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), and human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class I molecules. This study assessed whether the KIR and HLA repertoire may influence the risk of developing symptomatic or asymptomatic disease after primary CMV infection in the immunocompetent host.

Methods: Sixty immunocompetent patients with primary symptomatic CMV infection were genotyped for KIR and their HLA ligands, along with 60 subjects with a previous asymptomatic infection as controls.

Carbocysteine regulates innate immune responses and senescence processes in cigarette smoke stimulated bronchial epithelial cells.

Cigarette smoke represents the major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) alter TLR4 expression and activation in bronchial epithelial cells. Carbocysteine, an anti-oxidant and mucolytic agent, is effective in reducing the severity and the rate of exacerbations in COPD patients.

Cigarette smoke increases BLT2 receptor functions in bronchial epithelial cells: in vitro and ex vivo evidence.

Leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) is a neutrophil chemotactic molecule with important involvement in the inflammatory responses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Airway epithelium is emerging as a regulator of innate immune responses to a variety of insults including cigarette smoke, the major risk factor for COPD. In this study we have explored whether cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) or soluble mediators present in distal lung fluid samples (mini-bronchoalveolar lavages) from smokers alter the expression of the LTB(4) receptor 2 (BLT2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) in bronchial epithelial cells.

Increased expression of IL-19 in the epithelium of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammation of the nose and of the paranasal sinuses. The involvement of the respiratory epithelium in the mechanisms of CRS is poorly understood.

Aims: Among proteins expressed by nasal epithelial cells in CRS, IL-19 may have key functions.

Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with grass allergens for seasonal allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The benefit of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with grass allergens for seasonal allergic rhinitis has been extensively studied, but data on efficacy are still equivocal.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of SLIT with grass allergens in the reduction of symptoms and medication in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen.

Methods: Computerized bibliographic searches of MEDLINE (1995-2010) were supplemented by hand searches of reference lists.

Immune-inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease: therapeutic implications.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a heterogeneous and progressive neurodegenerative disease which in Western society mainly accounts for clinical dementia. AD has been linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. Neuro-pathological hallmarks are senile plaques, resulting from the accumulation of several proteins and an inflammatory reaction around deposits of amyloid, a fibrillar protein, Abeta, product of cleavage of a much larger protein, the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and neurofibrillary tangles.

Pro-inflammatory gene variants in myocardial infarction and longevity: implications for pharmacogenomics.

Inflammation and genetics play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, despite the increasing appreciation of the role of genetics in CHD and myocardial infarction (MI) pathogenesis, pharmacogenomic approaches to uncover drug target have not been extensively explored. Cyclo-oxygenases (COXs) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) are the key enzymes in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PG) and leukotrienes (LT) and are implicated in a wide variety of inflammatory disorders, including atherosclerosis.

Pleural mesothelial cells express both BLT2 and PPARalpha and mount an integrated response to pleural leukotriene B4.

Leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) plays a crucial role in the recruitment of neutrophils into the pleural space. We identified for the first time the mechanisms by which LTB(4) interacts with mesothelial cells and recruits neutrophils in the pleural compartment. Primary pleural mesothelial cells express both the proinflammatory receptor for LTB(4) BLT2, and the anti-inflammatory receptor for LTB(4), PPARalpha.

Relapses of hyperthyroidism in patients treated with radioiodine for nodular toxic goiter: relation to thyroid autoimmunity.

Relapses of hyperthyroidism after treatment with radioiodine for uni- or multi-nodular goiter may be accompanied by the appearance of TSAb. However, this phenomenon has only emerged from one retrospective study on Northern European patients, in which it was not possible to determine whether TSAb also appeared in treated patients who did not relapse. The present study aimed to assess the appearance, immunogenic nature and clinical characteristics of hyperthyroidism relapse after treatment with 131I for nodular toxic goiter in patients from the Mediterranean area.

Glycemic homeostasis in chronic viral hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.

Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the respective impacts of virus-related chronic hepatitis (CH) and liver cirrhosis (LC) on glycemic homeostasis, with reference to grading and/or staging of liver disease and to contribution of the two main responsible viruses.

Material And Methods: The glycometabolic features of 82 patients with CH (B-related 16, and C-related 66) and 145 with LC (B-related 24, and C-related 121) were evaluated.

Results: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was detected in 9 (11.

Effects of gemfibrozil on insulin sensitivity and on haemostatic variables in hypertriglyceridemic patients.

In order to assess the efficacy of gemfibrozil on lipid and haemostatic parameters in patients with plurimetabolic syndrome, a multicenter double-blind placebo controlled, parallel study was carried out in 56 patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia and glucose intolerance. These patients had elevated PAI activity and antigen and t-PA antigen levels at rest and after venous occlusion. Gemfibrozil reduced plasma triglyceride levels (P<0.

Serum and fecal pancreatic enzymes in beta-thalassemia major.

Conclusion: This study, using indirect tests, demonstrated that exocrine pancreatic function is impaired in a proportion of patients with beta-thalassemia major (TM), though this impairment is generally mild or moderate.

Background: Impaired structure and function of the exocrine pancreas has been reported in patients with Beta-thalassemia major.

Methods: In this study we measured fecal fats and serum and fecal pancreatic enzymes in 30 patients (13 M, 17 F) with TM, mean age 22.

Prospective study on thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction related to chronic hepatitis C and interferon therapy.

This study was designed to assess patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) for the presence of thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction, to evaluate the risk of thyroid disorders associated with interferon (IFN) therapy, and to survey the outcome of possible treatment-related thyroid injury. Out of 104 consecutive untreated patients (30 women and 74 men; mean age, 52.7 years), 8 (7.

Effectiveness of cascade filtration plasmapheresis in two patients affected by familial hypercholesterolemia.

Hypercholesterolemia has been recognised as a primary risk factor for coronary heart disease. Reduction of plasma levels of total and LDL cholesterol has been shown to decrease coronary atherosclerosis. Plasmapheresis represents an useful non-pharmacological tool to treat severe hypercholesterolemias.

Subclinical hypothyroidism resulting from autoimmune thyroiditis in female patients with endogenous depression.

Thyroid function and presence of thyroid autoantibodies were assessed in a group of 75 consecutive female patients with mood disturbances and in a group of 38 healthy women of similar age recruited as controls. Nine patients suffered from major (endogenous) depression and 66 from minor (neurotic) depression. The individual patients had normal values of circulating thyroid hormones.

Deficient pulsatile thyrotropin secretion in the low-thyroid-hormone state of severe non-thyroidal illness.

Twenty-four-hour thyrotropin (TSH) profiles in eight severely ill patients were compared with those of six healthy subjects. The profiles were assessed using the cosinor method to evaluate circadian variations and using the Pulsar algorithm to analyze episodic secretion. In the normal subjects, the typical periodicity of TSH secretion showed a mean level in the rhythm (mesor) of 2.

Transient neonatal hypercholesterolemia. Lack of relationships with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.

In order to obtain new information about the relationship between transient neonatal hypercholesterolemia and adrenal gland function, we have studied 39 healthy babies found hypercholesterolemic at birth and 39 healthy controls with normal cholesterol levels. The results of this study have shown that levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in cord blood were not significantly different in the hypercholesterolemic subjects compared with normolipidemic controls (1.4 +/- 0.

Lipoprotein (a) levels in end-stage renal failure and renal transplantation.

Some previous studies have documented an increase in lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels in renal diseases. Here, we report data in subjects with end-stage renal failure treated with hemodialysis (HD) or with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and in renal transplant recipients (RTR), compared with a group of normolipidemic controls (C). Lp(a) levels were significantly increased in HD and CAPD patients in comparison with C, while they were only slightly increased in RTR.

Lp(a) levels in patients undergoing aorto-coronary bypass surgery.

The aims of this study were to evaluate plasma lipid, apoprotein and Lp(a) levels in patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis undergoing aorto-coronary bypass surgery (BP) and to relate these parameters to the involvement of one or more vessels. Seventy-seven male patients and 77 cardiovascular disease-free controls, matched for sex, age and body weight were studied. Higher triglyceride and apo B levels with lower HDL-cholesterol and apo A-I levels were found in BP patients in comparison with the controls.

Alterations in circadian rhythm of serum thyrotropin in critically ill patients.

To evaluate the 24-h pattern of serum thyrotropin (TSH) in critically ill patients, we measured serum concentrations of TSH in blood samples collected every 2 h for 24 h from nine patients (six with malignancy, two with liver cirrhosis, one with chronic renal failure), who had subnormal levels of both triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), in the absence of history, symptoms or signs of thyroid disease. Analysis of the data, performed using a second-order inferential statistical methodology for rhythmometry (cosinor method), demonstrated that critically ill patients still had daily oscillations of serum TSH which significantly adapted to the function approximating the circadian rhythms (R2 = 74.3%).

Pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone action with preserved circadian rhythm of thyrotropin in a postmenopausal woman.

We assessed the 24-h behavior of circulating TSH and the dopaminergic control on TSH release in a postmenopausal woman, who had elevated levels of serum thyroid hormones and an inappropriately high concentration of serum TSH, indicating pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone action. The patient was found to have a daily profile of serum TSH similar to that of normal subjects, except for the persistently elevated 24 h levels, suggesting that alterations in thyroid hormone negative feedback control did not affect substantially circadian TSH rhythm. The acute administration of a dopamine antagonist drug (metoclopramide) resulted in a markedly elevated peak of serum TSH, similar both in the morning and in the evening.