Iloprost use and medical management of systemic sclerosis-related vasculopathy in Italian tertiary referral centers: results from the PROSIT study

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Vasculopathy is a crucial feature of systemic sclerosis (SSc), and Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) and digital ulcers (DU) have a deep impact on the quality of...     

Variable sources of Bk virus in renal allograft recipients

BK virus is the causative agent of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy, a major cause of kidney transplant failure affecting 1%-10% of recipients. Previous studies that investigated the viral source on the kidney recipient pointed that the donor is implicated in the origin of human polyomavirus BK (BKPyV) infection in recipients, but giving the low genetic variability of BKPyV this subject is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine if BKPyV replicating in kidney recipients after transplantation is always originated from the donor. Urine and blood samples from 68 pairs of living donors and kidney recipients who underwent renal transplantation from August 2010-September 2011 were screened for BKPyV by real time polymerase chain reaction. Only three recipients presented viremia. When both donors and recipients were BKPyV positive, a larger fragment of VP1 region was obtained and sequenced to determine the level of similarity between them. A phylogenetic tree was built for the 12 pairs of sequences obtained from urine and high level of similarity among all sequences was observed, indicating that homology inferences for donor and recipient viruses must be cautiously interpreted. However, a close inspection on the donor-recipient pairs sequences revealed that 3 of 12 pairs presented considerably different viruses and 4 of 12 presented mixed infection, indicating that the source of BKPyV infection is not exclusively derived from the donor. We report that about 60% of the renal recipients shed BKPyV genetically distinct from the donor, confronting the accepted concept that the donor is the main source of recipients’ infection.     

Detection of “Candidatus Rickettsia wissemanii” in ticks parasitizing bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in the northern Brazilian Amazon

A total of 482 bats representing 32 species and two families were captured in the Amazon forests of the Amapá state in northern Brazil. Nineteen Artibeus planirostris bats (3.9 %) were infested with 160 ticks, all identified as Ornithodoros hasei. Three pools of larvae were screened for rickettsial DNA via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting three rickettsial genes: gltA, ompA and htrA. Only one of them yielded an amplicons of the expected size for all three molecular assays. Comparisons of the obtained sequences including a phylogenetic analysis confirmed the occurrence of “Candidatus Rickettsia wissemanii” in Brazil.

     

Eryptosis of non-parasitized erythrocytes is related to anemia in Plasmodium berghei low parasitema malaria of Wistar rats

Parasitology Research - It is known that premature elimination of non-parasitized RBCs (nRBCs) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of malarial anemia, in which suicidal death process...     

Dose-dependent effects of platelet gel releasate on activities of human osteoblasts

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma is used in oral and maxillofacial surgery; however, its real efficacy is debated. Also, the in vitro effects on bone-specific functions are contradictory. Understanding the mechanisms of action of platelet-derived factors could be the basis for their proper use in clinical applications. METHODS: The functional parameters of osteoblasts (proliferation, alkaline phosphatase, collagen synthesis, and calcium deposition) were analyzed in vitro for 14 days in the presence of different concentrations (100%, 33%, and 11%) of platelet gel releasate (PGR). RESULTS: Concentrations of 100% PGR and 33% PGR stimulated cells to proliferate more than 10% fetal calf serum. The effect on cell proliferation was dose dependent, and the addition of dexamethasone (dex) and beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP) reduced the proliferative effects. Alkaline phosphatase activity was stimulated by 33% PGR and 11% PGR after 7 days and was induced further by dex and beta-GP. Also, collagen synthesis, measured on day 11, was stimulated by 33% PGR and 11% PGR. Calcium deposition, evaluated after 7 and 14 days, was greatest in cells treated with PGR supplemented with dex and GP. The mineralization process increased with time; on day 14, calcium aggregates were observed in all cultures treated with PGR (100%, 33%, and 11%). CONCLUSIONS: PGR stimulated osteoblast proliferation in a dose dependent manner and, when used at 33% and 11%, induced maximum levels of alkaline phosphatase and collagen synthesis. Moreover, in the presence of dex and beta-GP, PGR stimulated the end maturative status of cells as expressed by the deposition of calcium nodules.     

Feasibility of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Chronic Carriers of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus

There are several reports describing acute liver decompensation in chronic carriers of HBsAg after withdrawal of chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy; recently the same was also reported for chronic HCV-RNA carriers. We retrospectively evaluated hepatic toxicity in eleven patients (6 carriers of HCV-RNA and 5 of HBsAg) autotransplanted at our Institution between March '92 and June '98. Male/female ratio was 7/4, median age 41 years (26-56). Nine patients (4 HBsAg) were affected by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 (HCV-RNA) by chronic myelogenous leukaemia and 1 (HBsAg) by breast cancer. In the immediate post-transplant period in only 1 patient (HBsAg carrier and affected by breast cancer) was hepatitis documented (at about 1 month from transplant) with an elevation of transaminase levels (x20-40 n.v.). Neither other complications, nor toxic deaths were observed. During the post-transplant follow-up (median 31 months, range 9-83) no hepatic abnormalities were observed. All patients are alive at 56 months (20 - 122) from diagnosis. Currently 10/11 patients are in complete remission, while 1 patient, affected by follicular centre lymphoma, is alive with disease 52 months from autologous stem cell transplantation. Our study shows that both conventional therapy and high-dose chemotherapy can be performed safely in chronic hepatitis B and C virus carriers.