In Vitro Effects of Recombinant Human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (RhGM-CSF) on Polymorphonuclear Cell (PMN) and Monocyte (MO) Functional Capacities in Ovarian Cancer Patients Versus Human Volunteers

Human polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and monocytes (MO) from four ovarian cancer patients and seventeen normal donors were in vitro pretreated with different concentrations (25, 50 and 100IU, respectively) of rhGM-CSF. Phagocytosis and killing of PMN and MO as well as PMN polarization were evaluated in cancer patients before treatment (T0) and at the end of each chemotherapeutic cycle (T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively) in comparison with normal donors. RhGM-CSF did not affect phagocytosis and killing of PMN and MO. On the other hand, this cytokine was per se endowed with the capacity to enhance PMN polarization in both cancer patients (at T2 interval) and normal donors.     

Seroprevalence of Norovirus Genogroup IV Antibodies among Humans,Italy, 2010–2011

Noroviruses (NoVs) of genogroup IV (GIV) (Alphatron-like) cause infections in humans and in carnivorous animals such as dogs and cats. We screened an age-stratified collection of serum samples from 535 humans in Italy, using virus-like particles of genotypes GIV.1, circulating in humans, and GIV.2, identified in animals, in ELISA, in order to investigate the prevalence of GIV NoV-specific IgG antibodies. Antibodies specific for both genotypes were detected, ranging from a prevalence of 6.6% to 44.8% for GIV.1 and from 6.8% to 15.1% for GIV.2 among different age groups. These data are consistent with a higher prevalence of GIV.1 strains in the human population. Analysis of antibodies against GIV.2 suggests zoonotic transmission of animal NoVs, likely attributable to interaction between humans and domestic pets. This finding, and recent documentation of human transmission of NoVs to dogs, indicate the possibility of an evolutionary relationship between human and animal NoVs.     

Atypical features of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH) is a rare, rapidly progressive disorder of early childhood characterized by uncontrolled activation of T cells and macrophages. Although perforin gene mutations have been described in a proportion of patients with FHLH, the genotype/phenotype correlation is still limited. Only a few patients with late onset clinical manifestations have been reported. The biochemical and immunologic alterations in the asymptomatic phase are not well known. We report on a family in which 2 fraternal twins both homozygous for a perforin mutation previously described as causative of the disease, markedly differed in phenotypic expression of FHLH. The twins also had a second novel heterozygous mutation. Natural killer (NK) activity was severely impaired in the patient and was normal in the asymptomatic fraternal twin. Our report highlights that FHLH may present after a long disease-free interval during which biochemical or immunologic alterations may be not evident, thus implying a role for interfering factors.     

Rapid determination of creatinine in serum and urine by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography

We report a simple and reliable high performance liquid chromatography method for measuring creatinine in serum and urine. The chromatographic run is performed on a C(18) column after protein precipitation with acetone and addition of cimetidine as an internal standard. The separation is carried out in 20 min at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min, with a mobile phase consisting of 100 mmol/l sodium dihydrogen phosphate solution, containing 30 mmol/l sodium lauryl sulfate pH 3.0 and acetonitrile (60:36, v/v). The absorbance is monitored at 200 nm. The relationship between creatinine concentration and the creatinine/internal standard peak area is linear up to 1,088 micromol/l. Within-run precision measured at three different creatinine concentrations ranges from 0.89% to 2.34% in serum and from 0.34% to 1.10% in urine. Between-run precision varies from 1.68% to 3.17% in serum and from 1.58% to 1.85% in urine over a wide range of concentrations. Analytical recovery is between 98.71% and 101.25% in serum and between 98.96% and 100.27% in urine. The detection limit is 3.24 micromol/l for a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The method shows a good linearity with the reference isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure (r=0.999), without interferences, even in the presence of high bilirubin concentrations.