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To evaluate incidence of and risk factors for respiratory bacterial colonization and infections within 30 days from lung transplantation (LT). We retrospectively analyzed microbiological and clinical data from 94 patients transplanted for indications other than cystic fibrosis, focusing on the occurrence of bacterial respiratory colonization or infection during 1 month of follow-up after LT. Thirty-three percent of patients developed lower respiratory bacterial colonization. Bilateral LT and chronic heart diseases were independently associated to a higher risk of overall bacterial colonization. Peptic diseases conferred a higher risk of multi-drug resistant (MDR) colonization, while longer duration of aerosol prophylaxis was associated with a lower risk. Overall, 35% of lung recipients developed bacterial pneumonia. COPD (when compared to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, IPF) and higher BMI were associated to a lower risk of bacterial infection. A higher risk of MDR infection was observed in IPF and in patients with pre-transplant colonization and infections. The risk of post-LT respiratory infections could be stratified by considering several factors (indication for LT, type of LT, presence of certain comorbidities, and microbiologic assessment before LT). A wider use of early nebulized therapies could be useful to prevent MDR colonization, thus potentially lowering infectious risk.
Assuntos
Bactérias/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Transplante de Pulmão/efeitos adversos , Pneumonia Bacteriana/etiologia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/etiologia , Infecções Respiratórias/etiologia , Infecções Respiratórias/microbiologia , Bactérias/classificação , Bactérias/genética , Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pneumonia Bacteriana/epidemiologia , Pneumonia Bacteriana/microbiologia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/microbiologia , Infecções Respiratórias/epidemiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Transplantados/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
HLA-B*18:108 has two nucleotide changes from B*18:01:01:02 at nt 430 where A â G and nt 431 where G â A.
Assuntos
Alelos , Éxons/genética , Loci Gênicos , Antígenos HLA-B/genética , Íntrons/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Bases , Feminino , Antígenos HLA-B/química , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Alinhamento de SequênciaRESUMO
A partial NaCl replacement by KCl and sodium tripolyphosphate on low-fat meat sausages formulated with fish oil was studied using a mixture design. Thermal behavior by modulated differential scanning calorimetry, physicochemical, and textural properties were determined; afterwards they were mathematically modeled as a function of salts content. The thermo-rheological behavior of the different formulations was also studied in a control-stress rheometer. The optimal sodium reduction was found employing a desirability function approach. This formulation was experimentally validated and employed for microstructure analysis by environmental scanning microscopy. The results obtained in this work revealed that partial sodium replacement affected the matrix microstructure, but this change had no impact on sensory acceptability. In comparison with US and Argentinean commercial sausages, our product has 58% and 70% less Na(+) respectively.
Assuntos
Óleos de Peixe , Manipulação de Alimentos/métodos , Produtos da Carne/análise , Polifosfatos , Cloreto de Potássio , Cloreto de Sódio na Dieta , Sódio/análise , Cor , Comportamento do Consumidor , Dieta com Restrição de Gorduras , Dieta Hipossódica , Emulsões , Humanos , Reologia , PaladarRESUMO
Response surface methodology was used to analyze the effect of milk proteins and 2:1 κ:ι-carrageenans on cooking loss (CL), weight lost by centrifugation (WLC) and texture attributes of low-fat meat sausages with pre-emulsified fish oil. A central-composite design was used to develop models for the objective responses. Changes in carrageenans affected more the responses than milk proteins levels. Convenience functions were calculated for CL, WLC, hardness, and springiness of the product. Responses were optimized simultaneously minimizing CL and WLC; ranges for hardness and springiness corresponded to commercial products (20 g of pork fat/100 g). The optimum corresponded to 0.593 g of carrageenans/100 g and 0.320 g of milk proteins and its total lipid content was 6.3 g/100 g. This formulation was prepared and evaluated showing a good agreement between predicted and experimental responses. These additives could produce low-fat meat sausages with pre-emulsified fish oil with good nutritional quality and similar characteristics than traditional ones.
Assuntos
Carragenina/análise , Manipulação de Alimentos , Produtos da Carne/análise , Proteínas do Leite/análise , Animais , Culinária , Gorduras na Dieta/análise , Emulsões/química , Óleos de Peixe/análise , SuínosRESUMO
A newly identified allele, named HLA-DRB1*13:154, differs from DRB1*13:13 by the single nucleotide substitution 227T-A at codon 47 in exon 2.
Assuntos
Alelos , Cadeias HLA-DRB1/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Sequência de Bases , Transplante de Medula Óssea , Éxons , Teste de Histocompatibilidade , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Alinhamento de Sequência , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Doadores de TecidosRESUMO
The new HLA DRB1*01:54 differs from DRB1*01:02:01 by one nucleotide at exon 2.
Assuntos
Alelos , Cadeias HLA-DRB1/genética , Teste de Histocompatibilidade , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Sequência de Bases , Éxons/genética , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Alinhamento de SequênciaRESUMO
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare hereditary disorder of elastin fibers, characterized by yellowish coalescent papules in flexural surfaces with abnormally lax and corrugated skin. It can be associated to systemic manifestations mostly regarding eyes and vessels. Aesthetic surgery of cutaneous hyperlaxity was described in the international literature only in few cases, mostly as neck lift. A 40-year-old woman presented with cutaneous signs of PXE, demanding brachioplasty. Results after a nine-month followup are quite satisfying, and no signs of local recurrence or scar alterations are present.
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The old, red stars that constitute the bulges of galaxies, and the massive black holes at their centres, are the relics of a period in cosmic history when galaxies formed stars at remarkable rates and active galactic nuclei (AGN) shone brightly as a result of accretion onto black holes. It is widely suspected, but unproved, that the tight correlation between the mass of the black hole and the mass of the stellar bulge results from the AGN quenching the surrounding star formation as it approaches its peak luminosity. X-rays trace emission from AGN unambiguously, whereas powerful star-forming galaxies are usually dust-obscured and are brightest at infrared and submillimetre wavelengths. Here we report submillimetre and X-ray observations that show that rapid star formation was common in the host galaxies of AGN when the Universe was 2-6 billion years old, but that the most vigorous star formation is not observed around black holes above an X-ray luminosity of 10(44) ergs per second. This suppression of star formation in the host galaxy of a powerful AGN is a key prediction of models in which the AGN drives an outflow, expelling the interstellar medium of its host and transforming the galaxy's properties in a brief period of cosmic time.
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MP (Metabolic P) systems are a class of P systems introduced for modelling metabolic processes. We refer to the dynamical inverse problem as the problem of identifying (discrete) mathematical models exhibiting an observed dynamics. In this paper, we complete the definition of the algorithm LGSS (Log-gain Stoichiometric Stepwise regression) introduced in Manca and Marchetti (2011) for solving a general class of dynamical inverse problems. To this aim, we develop a reformulation of the classical stepwise regression in the context of MP systems. We conclude with a short review of two applications of LGSS for discovering the internal regulation logic of two phenomena relevant in systems biology.
Assuntos
Algoritmos , Redes e Vias Metabólicas , Modelos Biológicos , Análise de Regressão , Software , Biologia de Sistemas/métodos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Glucose/metabolismo , Teste de Tolerância a Glucose , Humanos , Insulina/metabolismo , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Transcriptoma/genéticaRESUMO
Chronic prostatitis (CP) is one of the most common male urogenital diseases and a significant public health problem in industrialised countries. It is associated with a low quality of life and significant expense. Given the poor results achieved with antibiotics, scientific interest has turned to the use of natural substances with a known activity on prostate function. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of a new dietary supplement containing lycopene, epigallocatechin gallate, ellagic acid, selenium and zinc on semen parameters and on leucocyte concentration in seminal fluid and expressed prostate secretion (EPS) in patients with CP without infection [National Institute of Health (NIH) Category IIIA], in comparison with a control group with the same condition who did not undergo any treatment during the study period. Our data showed a statistically significant reduction in inflammatory parameters (leucocytes in seminal fluid and EPS) and a statistically significant improvement in progressive sperm motility and sperm morphology in patients treated with the supplement in comparison with the untreated group. Improvements were also seen in the pain score of the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI), confirming that the reduced inflammation also resulted in a reduction in pain.
Assuntos
Suplementos Nutricionais , Dor Pélvica/terapia , Sêmen , Adulto , Doença Crônica , Feminino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
Technological developments based on the use of autologous white adipose tissue (WAT) attracted attention to minor fat depots as possible sources of adipose tissue. In plastic surgery, the trochanteric fatty pad is one of the most used WAT depots for its location and organoleptic characteristics that make it particularly suitable for reconstructive procedures. Despite its wide use in clinic, the structure of this depot has never been studied in detail and it is not known if structural differences exist among trochanteric fat and other subcutaneous WAT depots. The present study was performed on trochanteric fat pad with the aim to clarify the morphology of its adipocytes, stroma and microcirculation, with particular reference to the stem niches. Histological and ultrastructural studies showed that the main peculiar feature of the trochanteric fat concerns its stromal component, which appears less dense than in the other subcutaneous WATs studied. The intra-parenchymal collagen stroma is poor and the extracellular compartment shows large spaces, filled with electron-light material, in which isolated collagen bundles are present. The adipocytes are wrapped in weak and easily detachable collagen baskets. These connective sheaths are very thin compared to the sheaths in other subcutaneous WAT depots. The capillaries are covered by large, long and thin elements surrounded by an external lamina; these perivascular cells are poor in organelles and mainly contain poly-ribosomes. In conclusion, when compared to other WAT deposits, the trochanteric fatty pad shows structural peculiarities in its stroma and microcirculation suggesting a high regenerative potential. Resistance, dissociability, microvascular weft and high regenerative potential make the trochanteric fatty pad a privileged source for harvesting in autologous WAT-based regenerative procedures.
Assuntos
Adipócitos Brancos/ultraestrutura , Quadril , Gordura Subcutânea/ultraestrutura , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Medicina RegenerativaRESUMO
The extragalactic background light at far-infrared wavelengths comes from optically faint, dusty, star-forming galaxies in the Universe with star formation rates of a few hundred solar masses per year. These faint, submillimetre galaxies are challenging to study individually because of the relatively poor spatial resolution of far-infrared telescopes. Instead, their average properties can be studied using statistics such as the angular power spectrum of the background intensity variations. A previous attempt at measuring this power spectrum resulted in the suggestion that the clustering amplitude is below the level computed with a simple ansatz based on a halo model. Here we report excess clustering over the linear prediction at arcminute angular scales in the power spectrum of brightness fluctuations at 250, 350 and 500 µm. From this excess, we find that submillimetre galaxies are located in dark matter haloes with a minimum mass, M(min), such that log(10)[M(min)/M(â)] = 11.5(+0.7)(-0.2) at 350 µm, where M(â) is the solar mass. This minimum dark matter halo mass corresponds to the most efficient mass scale for star formation in the Universe, and is lower than that predicted by semi-analytical models for galaxy formation.
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The developments in the technologies based on the use of autologous adipose tissue attracted attention to minor depots as possible sampling areas. Some of those depots have never been studied in detail. The present study was performed on subcutaneous adipose depots sampled in different areas with the aim of explaining their morphology, particularly as far as regards stem niches. The results demonstrated that three different types of white adipose tissue (WAT) can be differentiated on the basis of structural and ultrastructural features: deposit WAT (dWAT), structural WAT (sWAT) and fibrous WAT (fWAT). dWAT can be found essentially in large fatty depots in the abdominal area (periumbilical). In the dWAT, cells are tightly packed and linked by a weak net of isolated collagen fibers. Collagenic components are very poor, cells are large and few blood vessels are present. The deep portion appears more fibrous then the superficial one. The microcirculation is formed by thin walled capillaries with rare stem niches. Reinforcement pericyte elements are rarely evident. The sWAT is more stromal; it is located in some areas in the limbs and in the hips. The stroma is fairly well represented, with a good vascularity and adequate staminality. Cells are wrapped by a basket of collagen fibers. The fatty depots of the knees and of the trochanteric areas have quite loose meshes. The fWAT has a noteworthy fibrous component and can be found in areas where a severe mechanic stress occurs. Adipocytes have an individual thick fibrous shell. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates evident differences among subcutaneous WAT deposits, thus suggesting that in regenerative procedures based on autologous adipose tissues the sampling area should not be randomly chosen, but it should be oriented by evidence based evaluations. The structural peculiarities of the sWAT, and particularly of its microcirculation, suggest that it could represent a privileged source for regenerative procedures based on autologous adipose tissues.
Assuntos
Tecido Adiposo Branco/ultraestrutura , Gordura Subcutânea/ultraestrutura , Adipócitos/ultraestrutura , Tecido Adiposo Branco/irrigação sanguínea , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Microcirculação , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neovascularização Fisiológica , Gordura Subcutânea/irrigação sanguíneaRESUMO
In the present study, as continuation of our previous research, Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) lingual glands were investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the cytoarchitecture and the subcellular sugar distribution within the different secretory structures. Indeed, glycosidic residues were visualized by applying an indirect technique of binding and the terminal sialoglycoconjugate sequences were characterized by employing sialidase digestion combined with lectin affinity. The ultrastructural analysis revealed an unusual cytoarchitecture of the caudal portion of anterior lingual gland that was composed of both secretory cells, filled with granules, and non-secretory cells, filled with mitochondria. Conversely, the posterior lingual gland was composed of secretory units of lingual glands only containing mucous cells filled with secretory granules with a variable morphology, including bipartite features characterized by an electron-lucent matrix and one or more electron-dense areas. Actual findings further supported that the quail lingual glands produce sialoglycoconjugates characterized by a heterogeneous composition. In conclusion, the cytological characteristics and the carbohydrate composition of quail lingual glands suggest that, analogously to mammal salivary glands, avian lingual glands could also be involved in several functions that can be correlated with the occurrence of sialic acids.
Assuntos
Coturnix/anatomia & histologia , Lectinas/análise , Glândulas Salivares Menores/anatomia & histologia , Glândulas Salivares Menores/química , Língua/ultraestrutura , Animais , Histocitoquímica , Lectinas/ultraestrutura , Mucosa Bucal/ultraestrutura , Glândulas Salivares Menores/ultraestrutura , Língua/anatomia & histologiaRESUMO
The role of two estrogen-mimicking compounds in regulating osteoblast activities were examined. Previously, our attention was focused on benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) since previous works showed that they enter the cytoplasm, bioaccumulate, modify actin cytoarchitecture and exert mitogenic effects involving microfilament disruption, and nuclear actin and lamin A regulation in Py1a rat osteoblasts. In this study we showed that BBP and DBP cause DNA base lesions both in MT3T3-E1 osteoblasts and in mouse primary calvarial osteoblasts (COBs). In addition, treatment with the above effectors caused an increase of p53 and phospho-p53 (ser-15 and ser-20) as well as an increase of apoptotic proteins with consequent decrease of cell viability. Moreover, treatment with phthalates did not modified p53 and phospho-p53 expression in Py1a rat osteoblasts. It is of relevance that in p53 knockdown mouse osteoblasts a proliferative effect of phthalates, similar to that observed in rat Py1a osteoblasts, was found. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that phthalates induce osteoblast apoptosis, which is, at least in part, mediated by p53 activation, suggesting that the proliferative effects could be due to p53 missing activation or p53 mutation.
Assuntos
Dibutilftalato/farmacologia , Osteoblastos/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácidos Ftálicos/farmacologia , Plastificantes/farmacologia , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Western Blotting , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Dano ao DNA/efeitos dos fármacos , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador , Camundongos , Microscopia Confocal , Microscopia Imunoeletrônica , Osteoblastos/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-myc/efeitos dos fármacos , RatosRESUMO
Espie and colleagues [(2006). The attention-intention-effort pathway in the development of psychophysiological insomnia: a theoretical review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 10, 215-245] propose a route into psychophysiological insomnia along the attention-intention-effort pathway which focuses on the inhibition of sleep-wake automaticity. A contributing factor to this is selective attention to sleep (alongside explicit intention to sleep and effort in the sleep engagement process). Following on from previous work on selective attention to sleep [Marchetti, L. M., Biello, S. M., Broomfield, N. M., MacMahon, K. M. A., & Espie, C. A. (2006). Who is pre-occupied with sleep?. A comparison of attention bias in people with psychphysiological insomnia, delayed sleep phase syndrome and good sleepers using the induced change blindness paradigm. Journal of Sleep Research, 15, 212-221; MacMahon, K., Broomfield, N., Macphee, L., & Espie, C. A. (2006). Attention bias for sleep related stimuli in primary insomnia and delayed sleep phase syndrome using the dot-probe task. Sleep, 29, 11] and considering the importance of monitoring both internal and external cues in the maintenance of insomnia, as highlighted in the cognitive model of insomnia [Harvey, A. G. (2002). A cognitive model of insomnia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40, 869-893], a cognitive probe task was employed to investigate further the role of the clock as a focus of selective attention in those with primary insomnia. A 2 x 2 between participants design comparing reaction time of individuals with primary insomnia (n=22) and normal sleepers (n=22) on a modified Posner paradigm. Responses obtained from a computer task presenting times which fall within a normal sleep period were analysed. Individuals with primary insomnia demonstrated delayed disengagement to the clock (F(1,84)=6.9, p<0.05) which is taken as further support for previous research demonstrating that individuals with primary insomnia exhibit an attentional bias to sleep related stimuli. These results lend support to the attention-intention-effort model (Espie et al., 2006) and the cognitive model (Harvey, 2002) both of which recognise the importance of selective attention towards salient stimuli in the maintenance of insomnia. Possible clinical implications of attentional bias to sleep as a marker of psychopathology progression and treatment efficacy are discussed.
Assuntos
Atenção , Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono/psicologia , Percepção do Tempo , Adulto , Ansiedade/psicologia , Sinais (Psicologia) , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Psicometria , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The flexibility of lower cohesivity silicone prostheses is the main reason for wrinkling, rippling and evidence of implant edges. The soft cohesive silicone implants promise to minimize such effects with minimal softness reduction. Forty consecutive patients received soft cohesive prostheses (INAMED Style 110 ST) and were studied prospectively. A historical group, made up by the 40 consecutive patients who received lower cohesivity silicone implants (INAMED Style 110) in the immediately preceding months, was used as a control. Wrinkling, prosthetic edge perceptibility and capsular contracture degree were assessed six months after surgery. The tissue coverage thickness was measured using ultrasonography. The patients were then asked to evaluate the breast softness by means of an anonymous questionnaire, where they also expressed their overall satisfaction by means of the five-steps linear analogical scales. The wrinkling prevalence was 9.2% in the soft cohesive group vs. 55% in the lower cohesivity one (p<0.01). The edge perceptibility was 14% in the soft cohesive group vs. 22% in the lower cohesivity one (no statistical significance). The coverage tissue thickness was not found to be significantly related to the wrinkling prevalence or to the edge perceptibility. The capsular contracture rate was almost identical in the two groups (Baker II: 2.6% vs. 2.7%, no Baker III or IV). A higher stiffness was noted in the soft cohesive group (average score: 4.2 vs. 4.4 in the control group, p<0.05), but the overall satisfaction degree was higher for soft cohesive implants (average score: 4.5 vs. 3.8, p<0.01). The soft cohesive prostheses offered better overall results than the lower cohesivity silicone prostheses, even if a longer term follow-up should be advised. The soft cohesive prostheses showed a higher firmness, but this seemed not to have any influence on the overall satisfaction degree.
Assuntos
Implante Mamário/métodos , Implantes de Mama , Géis de Silicone , Adolescente , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Satisfação do Paciente , Complicações Pós-Operatórias , Estudos Prospectivos , Desenho de Prótese , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a sensitive functional marker in heart disease, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) secondary to valvular aortic stenosis (AS). We evaluated the association between NT-proBNP changes, oxidative stress, energy status and severity of LVH in patients with AS. Ten patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for AS were studied. Plasma NT-proBNP concentrations were performed by electroluminescence immunoassay 15min after the induction of anesthesia (t0), before aortic cross-clamping (t1), before clamp removal (t2), 15min after myocardial reperfusion (t3), and 24h after surgery (t4). Heart biopsies were obtained and high energy phosphates (ATP, ADP, AMP) were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). In plasma samples from the coronary sinus, nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) concentrations were also analyzed by CE. Echocardiographic measurements were acquired and correlations between biochemical markers and severity of AS were assessed. NT-proBNP peaked significantly at t4 (p<0.001). A linear correlation between NT-proBNP values measured at t0 and t4 was found (R(2)=0.89; p<0.001). A negative correlation between NT-proBNP production and phosphorylation potential (ATP/ADP ratio) was observed (R(2)=0.62; p<0.01). NOx values positively correlated with NT-proBNP levels (p<0.01). NT-proBNP inversely correlated with aortic valvular area (r=81, p<0.01), positively correlated with mean (r=0.82, p<0.01) and maximum left ventricle-to-aortic gradients (r=0.80, p<0.01), and with left ventricular mass (r=0.69, p<0.01). NT-proBNP is a useful marker of LVH and severity of AS. It may complement echocardiographic evaluation of patients with AS in identifying the optimum time for surgery.
Assuntos
Estenose da Valva Aórtica/fisiopatologia , Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica/fisiopatologia , Hipertrofia Ventricular Esquerda/fisiopatologia , Traumatismo por Reperfusão Miocárdica/fisiopatologia , Peptídeo Natriurético Encefálico/sangue , Estresse Oxidativo , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/sangue , Difosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Monofosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estenose da Valva Aórtica/cirurgia , Biomarcadores/sangue , Eletroforese Capilar , Metabolismo Energético , Circulação Extracorpórea , Feminino , Parada Cardíaca Induzida , Implante de Prótese de Valva Cardíaca , Humanos , Hipertrofia Ventricular Esquerda/metabolismo , Imunoensaio , Medições Luminescentes , Masculino , Nitratos/sangue , Nitritos/sangue , Fosforilação , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaRESUMO
The occurrence of phthalate esters in freshwater and marine aquacultural species like rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and shi drum Umbrina cirrosa, respectively, were determined by immunohistochemical approach. The results showed a similar distribution in the gastrointestinal tract of both species. In particular, intense immunoreactivity was found at gastric gland level. In the intestinal tract, goblet cells failed to stain, whereas enterocytes showed the highest binding of phthalates restricted to the apical cytoplasm. This distribution of phthalate esters at gastric gland and enterocyte level may have implications for the physiology of the digestive process and intestinal biotransformation. Phthalates are confirmed to be widely diffused contaminants, absorbed via the alimentary canal; thus a multidisciplinary approach could be useful to examine sea and freshwater environments.