Prevalence of SENV-H and SENV-D Virus: Epidemiological Study in Blood Donors and Dialysis Patients

Introduction. Recently, the identification of the SEN virus as a possible etiological agent of parental transmission hepatitis led to the study of the prevalence of such pathogen agents, particularly SENV-H, in our population. This paper compares the rate prevalence in high-risk subjects, such as dialysis patients, and low-risk subjects, such as blood donors. Material and Methods. The study was carried out on SEN virus DNA extracted from serum of dialysis patients and blood donors, and the presence of viral genomes was performed by the nested PCR method. Results. The results showed a higher prevalence in male blood donors, supporting the hypothesis of an epidemiological role for sexual and also parental transmission, as is clearly demonstrated by the high prevalence in dialysis patients. The result reduced the importance of the possible etiological role of the SEN virus due to the high percentage of positivity in healthy population, and it induces one to consider poorly significant the pathogenicity of such viral agents. Conclusion. For this instance, the authors, in agreement with the phylogenically related TT virus, described SEN viruses as absolutely not pathogens and considered them as “simple guests.”     

A 2-year pilot trial of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion versus intensive insulin therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (IMDIAB 8)

In a pilot study, the metabolic effects of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) versus intensive subcutaneous insulin therapy (ISIT) started at diagnosis in patients with Type 1 diabetes and continued for a 2-year period were evaluated and compared. Twenty-three patients (between 12 and 35 years old, mean +/- SD 18.4 +/- 9 years) were randomized into two treatment groups (CSII vs. ISIT), and both received supplemental nicotinamide (NA), 25 mg/kg of body weight. CSII was started immediately after admission to the hospital. Parameters of metabolic control [insulin dose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and C-peptide] were evaluated for a 2-year follow-up period. Data are presented for a total of 19 patients who remained in the study for its duration. Two years after diagnosis, mean +/- SD HbA1c was 6.3 +/- 0.5% and 6.2 +/- 0.3% for the CSII and ISIT groups, respectively (p=not significant). Compared with baseline values, an increase of baseline C-peptide of 38% for the CSII group and 27% for the ISIT group was observed; however, the difference between the groups was not significant. The insulin requirement for the entire duration of the study, but not at entry and 3 months, was significantly higher in CSII compared with ISIT patients (0.62 +/- 0.4 IU/kg/day vs. 0.3 +/- 0.4 IU/kg/day, respectively; p<0.01). After trial completion patients on CSII continued with this mode of therapy. Implementation of CSII as well as ISIT at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes and continuation for 2 years thereafter achieved similar and optimal metabolic control, but more insulin was required with the CSII group. Both types of intensive insulin therapy combined with NA are able to preserve C-peptide secretion or even increase baseline levels for up to 2 years after diagnosis.     

Negative effect of lockdown on juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients

Clinical Rheumatology - The aim of this study is to evaluate a possible negative action of lockdown, during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, in the...     

Bioenergetics of T cell activation and death in HIV type 1 infection

Regressive morphological lesions, found in peripheral lymphocytes from HIV(+) patients, clearly conflict with normal cycle progression and with the execution of basic housekeeping and immune functions. With these lesions, circulating lymphocytes are destined to spontaneous and energy-independent cell lysis. By means of confocal microscopy and morphometry, we have quantified the rate of circulating T cells that are probably destined to emocatheresis in vivo. This rate includes lymphocytes in which nucleolin fragments have been scattered out of the nuclear region as a result of prelethal alterations in the nuclear membrane permeability. In terms of bioenergetics, these cells show evident anomalies in the energy production machinery that make them unable to carry out ATP-requiring functions. The extent of damaged cell fraction in peripheral blood reflects the frequency with which T lymphocytes leave lymphoid tissue to be cleared in hemocatheretic processes.     

A two year observational study of nicotinamide and intensive insulin therapy in patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A number of trials have evaluated residual beta-cell function in patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) treated with nicotinamide in addition to intensive insulin therapy (IIT). In most studies, only a slight decline of C-peptide secretion was observed 12 months after diagnosis; however, no data is available on C-peptide secretion and metabolic control in patients continuing nicotinamide and IIT for up to 2 years after diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 25 patients (mean age 14.7 years +/- 5 SD) with DM1 in whom nicotinamide at a dose of 25 mg/kg b. wt. was added from diagnosis (< 4 weeks) to IIT (three injections of regular insulin at meals + one NPH at bed time) and continued for up to 2 years after diagnosis. Data were also analysed from patients (n = 27) in whom IIT was introduced at diagnosis and who were similarly followed for 2 years. Baseline C-peptide as well as insulin dose and HbA1c levels were evaluated at 12 and 24 months after diagnosis. RESULTS: In the course of the follow-up, patients on nicotinamide + IIT or IIT alone did not significantly differ in terms of C-peptide secretion (values at 24 months in the two groups were 0.19 +/- 0.24 nM vs 0.19 +/- 0.13 nM, respectively). Insulin requirement (0.6 +/- 0.3 U/kg/day vs 0.7 +/- 0.2 U/kg/day at 24 months, respectively) did not differ between the two groups. However, HbA1c was significantly lower 2 years after diagnosis in patients treated with nicotinamide + IIT (6.09 +/- 0.9% vs 6.98 +/- 0.9%, respectively, p < 0.01). No adverse effects were observed in patients receiving nicotinamide for 2 years. CONCLUSION: Implementation of IIT with the addition of nicotinamide at diagnosis continued for 2 years improves metabolic control as assessed by HbA1c. In both nicotinamide and control patients, no decline in C-peptide was detected 2 years after diagnosis, indicating that IIT preserves C-peptide secretion. We conclude that nicotinamide + IIT at diagnosis of DM1 prolonged for up to 2 years can be recommended, but longer follow-up is required to determine whether nicotinamide should be continued beyond this period.     

Susceptibilities of non-Pseudomonas aeruginosa gram-negative nonfermentative rods to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, D-ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, ceftazidime, piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and imipenem.

Agar dilution MICs of 10 agents against 410 non-Pseudomonas aeruginosa gram-negative nonfermentative rods were determined. MICs at which 50 and 90% of the isolates were inhibited, respectively, were as follows (in micrograms per milliliter): sparfloxacin, 0.5 and 8.0; levofloxacin, 1.0 and 8.0; ciprofloxacin, 2.0 and 32.0; ofloxacin, 2.0 and 32.0; D-ofloxacin, 32.0 and > 64.0; ceftazidime, 8.0 and 64.0; piperacillin with or without tazobactam, 16.0 and > 64.0; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 0.5 and > 64.0; imipenem, 2.0 and > 64.0. With the exception of those for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia cepacia, and Alcaligenes faecalis-A. odorans, agar dilution MICs for all strains tested were within 1 dilution of inhibitory (bacteriostatic) levels as determined by time-kill methodology.     

Oxidative damage in human epithelial alveolar cells exposed in vitro to oil fly ash transition metals

Among particulate matter emissions from combustion processes, oil fly ash (OFA) displays a marked oxidative and inflammogenic reactivity, due to the high content of bioavailable transition metals. In the present study, we evaluated the biological effects of an OFA water solution, composed of the transition metals Fe (57.5%), V (32.4%), and Ni (10.1%), in human epithelial alveolar cells (A549 line). The fluorimetric analysis by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein showed a significant, dose- and time-dependent induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggered by OFA metal components at subtoxic doses. The metal chelator deferoxamine and the radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxide attenuated the metal-induced generation of ROS. Confocal microscopy observations strengthened these findings and showed an intense cytoplasmic fluorescence with perinuclear thickenings in A549 cells, in the absence of morphological damage. Metal-induced generation of ROS was significantly correlated with a dose- and time-dependent DNA damage, as assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Catalase was able to decrease dramatically DNA damage. Fluorimetric analyses by diphenyl-1-pyrenylphosphine showed a parallelism between generation of ROS and formation of lipid peroxides. The results obtained in the experiments evaluating the effects of individual metal solutions did not show any significant difference in DNA damage between Fe(III) and V(IV), but highlighted the higher capability of V(IV) to increase ROS in the cytoplasmic compartment. The different behavior of these two elements, confirmed by the weak Fe-induced lipid peroxidation, may be ascribed to the presence of Fe-binding proteins, such as ferritin, in the cytoplasm. Finally, Ni(II) had negligible effects on ROS production. On the whole, the results obtained in this study show the strong capability of transition metals adsorbed to OFA to cause widespread damage to biological macromolecules, and suggest potential health effects resulting from exposure to power plant emissions in industrialized sites.     

Podiatric considerations of angioleiomyoma.

Angioleiomyoma is a benign soft tissue tumor that originates from the smooth muscle of blood vessels. Such lesions must be differentiated from fibroma, lipoma, ganglionic cyst, glomus tumor, neurofibroma, leiomyosarcoma, and phlebitis. These masses appear as encapsulated, glistening nodules that ordinarily respond well to surgical excision. It will be the intent of the present study to review the clinical and histological characteristics of angioleiomyomas as they may appear in podiatric practice.