LTP allergy/sensitization in a pediatric population

Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are widespread plant food allergens, highly resistant to food processing and to the gastrointestinal environment, which have been described as the most common food allergens in the Mediterranean area. LTP allergy is widely described in adults, but it represents an emerging allergen also in the pediatric population. Little is known about the real prevalence and the clinical features of this allergy in children and it still often remains underdiagnosed in these patients. An early identification and a deeper knowledge of this allergy in childhood can avoid severe systemic reactions and improve the child's quality of life. Pediatricians should always consider the possibility of LTP involvement in cases of plant-derived food allergy

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Adverse reaction to Ficus Carica: reported case of a possible cross-reactivity with Der p1.

BACKGROUND: Ficus carica is an edible fruit, belonging to the Moraceae family, rarely described as cause of food allergy. We describe the first case of fig allergy that occurred as a cross-reactivity between fig and Derp 1. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 10-years-old-girl, with a history of no-seasonal mild intermittent rhinitis, who experienced an immediate reaction after ingestion of a fresh fig. Skin prick tests (SPT) with commercial extracts of food, airborne allergens, latex and panallergens (profilin, PR-10 and lipid transfer protein) were performed. SPT revealed a sensitization only for dermatophagoides farina and dermatophagoides pteronyssinus which was then confirmed with by specific IgE assay (UniCAP, Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). We also carried out a positive SPT with a commercial fig allergen (Lofarma, Milan, Italy) and prick-by-prick (PBP) both with skin and pulp of green raw and cooked fig. Fig specific serum IgE levels were 1.08 U/ml and specific IgE for rDer p1 was 16.20 U/ml (total serum IgE = 377 U/ml). In contrast specific IgE levels for latex, LTP, profilin, PR-10 and pollen allergens were negative. CONCLUSION: The ficin, the major fig allergen, belongs to cysteine protease family like Der p 1. The symptoms presented by our patient could be related to a cross reactivity between these two proteins which present a structural homology.

LTP allergy/sensitization in a pediatric population.

Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are widespread plant food allergens, highly resistant to food processing and to the gastrointestinal environment, which have been described as the most common food allergens in the Mediterranean area. LTP allergy is widely described in adults, but it represents an emerging allergen also in the pediatric population. Little is known about the real prevalence and the clinical features of this allergy in children and it still often remains underdiagnosed in these patients. An early identification and a deeper knowledge of this allergy in childhood can avoid severe systemic reactions and improve the child's quality of life. Pediatricians should always consider the possibility of LTP involvement in cases of plant-derived food allergy.

Italian Men Tested for BRCA1/2 Mutation: Psychological Distress during 6-Month Follow-Up.

Introduction. Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease, whose main risk factor is genetic vulnerability. Despite care of men with MBC is modeled on care of women, men's experiences with the disease and concerns related to the status of genetic mutation carrier are unique. So far, little is known concerning the psychological impact in BRCA1/2 testing, especially with regard to specific subset of individuals, such as male subjects and the elderly. METHODS: We assessed self-reported anxiety and depression levels in 26 male subjects presenting at Unit of Breast Surgery in Breast Unit of AOUI Verona (MBC patients, n = 7; high-risk unaffected subjects, n = 7; high-risk unaffected subjects. RESULTS: Among the 17 unaffected men tested, 7 (41%) received a positive test (either BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant) and 10 (59%) a negative test. Of the 9 MBC patients tested, only one subject received a positive test result. No significant differences were observed in mean scores, mean change from baseline to follow-up, either for those with T+ or T- test results. Discussion. Genetic testing for BRCA1/2 mutation was not associated in our sample with increased level of psychological distress as measured with HADS in a short-term evaluation.

Eosinophilic esophagitis during latex desensitization

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Histopathology of the skin in rheumatic diseases.

Rheumatological systemic autoimmune diseases, such as connective tissue diseases, rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis, are characterized by the presence of joint involvement associated with extra-articular manifestations. Among them, cutaneous diseases are often the most relevant and representative clinical manifestation, as in psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma or systemic lupus erythematosus. In this context, it is useful for rheumatologists to understand better skin diseases and their histopathological features. Evaluation of skin biopsy specimens can be helpful not only to confirm the diagnosis in both classic and clinically atypical variants, but also to improve further our knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanisms and the close link between skin and articular diseases. In this review, we discuss the clinical features, diagnostic evaluation and the histopathological features of skin manifestation of the most relevant rheumatological autoimmune diseases.

Inhibitory role of oxytocin on TNFα expression assessed in vitro and in vivo.

AIM: Oxytocin administration to diet-induced obese (DIO) rodents, monkeys and humans decreases body weight and fat mass with concomitant improvements in glucose metabolism. Moreover, several studies show an immunomodulatory role of oxytocin in a number of settings (such as atherosclerosis, injury, sepsis). This study aims to shed some light on the effects of oxytocin on macrophage polarization and cytokine production, as well as its possible impact on these parameters in adipose tissue in DIO mice with impaired glucose metabolism. METHODS: Mouse bone marrow cells were differentiated into macrophages and treated with oxytocin. Macrophage proliferation, cytokine secretion and macrophage populations were determined. For experiments in vivo, DIO mice were treated with oxytocin for 2 weeks. Body weight and composition and glucose tolerance were subsequently followed. At the end of treatment, adipose tissue macrophage populations, plasma cytokine levels and cytokine expression in adipose tissue were determined. RESULTS: In bone marrow-derived macrophages, oxytocin induced an anti-inflammatory phenotype (decreased M1/M2 ratio). In M1-derived macrophages, oxytocin decreased TNFα secretion, with no effects on the other cytokines tested nor any effect on cytokine secretion by M2-derived macrophages. Oxytocin treatment in DIO mice in vivo led to decreased body weight accompanied by an improvement in glucose tolerance, with no changes in plasma cytokine levels. In adipose tissue, oxytocin decreased Tnfα expression without modifying the M1/M2 macrophage ratio. CONCLUSION: Oxytocin treatment decreases TNFα production both in vitro (in bone marrow-derived macrophages) and in vivo (in epididymal adipose tissue) in DIO mice. This effect may also be contributory to the observed improvement in glucose metabolism.

Cooling treatment of olive paste during the oil processing: Impact on the yield and extra virgin olive oil quality.

In recent years, the temperature of processed olives in many olive-growing areas was often close to 30°C, due to the global warming and an early harvesting period. Consequently, the new trends in the extraction process have to include the opportunity to cool the olives or olive paste before processing to obtain high quality EVOO. A tubular thermal exchanger was used for a rapid cooling treatment (CT) of olive paste after crushing. The results did not show a significant difference in the oil yield or any modifications in the legal parameters. The cooling process determined a significant improvement of phenolic compounds in all the three Italian cultivar EVOOs analyzed, whereas the volatile compounds showed a variability largely affected by the genetic origin of the olives with C6 aldehydes that seem to be more stable than C6 alcohols and esters.

Effect of an olive phenolic extract on the quality of vegetable oils during frying.

The potential of a phenolic extract (PE) from olive vegetation water (OVW) to limit the negative effects of frying was tested after adding it at different concentrations to a refined olive oil (RO). Its efficacy was also compared to ROs containing butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and an extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) with a high polyphenol content. Analyses of the oils collected after 30min, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12h of frying at 180°C, demonstrated that degradation of the polyphenols was proportional to the original content; at a concentration of at least 400mg/kg of polyphenols, PE was able to reduce oxidation of the tocopherols and the emission of low-molecular-weight aldehydes better than BHT and with similar results to the EVOO. In addition, secoiridoid oxidative compounds were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation.

Tight junction dynamics: the role of junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs).

Junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) are a family of adhesion molecules localized at the tight junction of polarized cells and on the cell surface of leukocytes. The last 20 years of research in this field has shown that several members of the family play an important role in the regulation of cell polarity, endothelium permeability and leukocytes migration. They mediate these pleiotropic functions through a multitude of homophilic and heterophilic interactions with intrafamily and extrafamily partners. In this article, we review the current status of the JAM family and highlight their functional role in tight junction dynamics and leukocyte transmigration.

Immunological aspects of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a complex chronic inflammatory and metabolic disease that involves the collaboration of several cellular components of the immune system and results in thickening of the arterial wall. Atherosclerosis is also the primary cause of coronary artery and cerebrovascular diseases. A multitude of immune cell subsets, soluble molecules such as chemokines and cytokines, and circulating lipids play pivotal roles in atherosclerosis development. In this review, we highlight the role of the immune system in the course of atherosclerotic disease development and discuss the mechanisms involved.

LRP1/CD91 is up-regulated in monocytes from patients with haemophilia A: a single-centre analysis.

The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is an ubiquitously expressed endocytic receptor that, among its several functions, is involved in the catabolism of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and in the regulation of its plasma concentrations. Although LRP1/CD91 polymorphisms have been associated with increased FVIII levels and a consequent thrombotic risk, no data are available on LRP1/CD91 expression in patients with inherited FVIII deficiency. With the aim of elucidating this issue, 45 consecutive patients with haemophilia A (HA) (18 severe, 5 moderate and 22 mild HA) were enrolled in this cross-sectional, single-centre survey. The LRP1/CD91 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in monocytes from HA patients was significantly higher than that detected in 90 healthy blood donors (105 vs. 67, P < 0.001). This over-expression was independent of hepatitis C virus infection status and varied according to the severity of the haemophilia, being higher in patients with more severe FVIII deficiency. In conclusion, our study documents for the first time that LRP1/CD91 is over-expressed on monocytes from HA patients, with the intensity of expression varying according to the severity of the FVIII deficiency. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical implications of these findings.

Use of dried stoned olive pomace in the feeding of lactating buffaloes: effect on the quantity and quality of the milk produced.

Dried stoned olive pomace (DSOP) was administered to dairy water buffaloes, and their productive performance and milk composition were analysed. Sixteen pluriparous lactating buffaloes were divided into two uniform groups (control and experimental), taking into consideration the following parameters: milk production (2,192 and 2,102 kg) and duration of lactation (254 and 252 d) of the previous year, distance from calving (51 and 43 d), milk production (9.71 and 10.18 kg/d), body condition score (BCS) (6.44 and 6.31) and weight (617 and 653 kg) at the beginning of the trial. Both diets had the same formulation: second cut alfalfa hay 20%, corn silage 42%, concentrate 38% but the two concentrates differed in their formulation, the experimental one contained 15.50% of DSOP as fed. The employed DSOP showed high amounts of secoiridoids, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (3,4-DHPEA) (1.2 g/kg DM), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid di-aldehyde (3,4-DHPEA-EDA) (12.6 g/kg DM), p-hydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid di-aldehyde (p-HPEA-EDA) (5.6 g/kg DM) and lignans, which are known to be powerful bioactive compounds. The control diet had an energy-protein content of 0.86 Milk FU/kg DM and 143.3 g/kg DM of crude protein, whereas the experimental diet of 0.87 Milk FU/kg DM and 146.6 g/kg DM of crude protein. Each animal of the two groups received 17 kg DM/d and each buffalo of the experimental group, by way of the concentrate, ingested 1.05 kg DM/d of DSOP. The trial lasted 40 days. No significant difference was found between the BCS (6.41 and 6.53), live weight (625.93 and 662.50 kg) and milk production (9.69 and 10.08 kg/d) of the two groups, as was the case for fat, protein, lactose, pH and coagulating parameters of the two milks. The milk fat of the experimental group had a significantly higher content of total tocopherols (10.45 vs 8.60 µg/g, p<0.01) and retinol (3.17 vs 2.54 µg/g, p<0.01). The content of the reactive substances with tiobarbituric acid (TBARs) was significantly lower in the milk fat of the experimental group (12.09 vs 15.05 µg MDA/g, p<0.01). The acid content of the milk fat of the experimental group had a significantly higher content (p<0.05) of C18:0 and of C18:3ω6. LC-MS/MS analysis showed the presence of 3,4-DHPEA (36.0 µg/L) in the milk of the DSOP-fed buffaloes, while other phenols were not found. DSOP, in the quantity utilized, can be used in the feeding of the lactating buffalo; the dietetic-nutritional characteristics of the milk are improved due to a greater contribution of tocopherols, retinol and the presence of hydroxytyrosol.

Functional milk beverage fortified with phenolic compounds extracted from olive vegetation water, and fermented with functional lactic acid bacteria.

Functional milk beverages (FMB100 and FMB200) fortified with phenolic compounds (100 and 200mg/l) extracted from olive vegetable water, and fermented with γ-amino butyric acid (GABA)-producing (Lactobacillus plantarum C48) and autochthonous human gastro-intestinal (Lactobacillus paracasei 15N) lactic acid bacteria were manufactured. A milk beverage (MB), without addition of phenolic compounds, was used as the control. Except for a longer latency phase of FMB200, the three beverages showed an almost similar kinetic of acidification, consumption of lactose and synthesis of lactic acid. Apart from the beverage, Lb. plantarum C48 showed a decrease of ca. Log 2.52-2.24 cfu/ml during storage. The cell density of functional Lb. paracasei 15N remained always above the value of Log 8.0 cfu/ml. During fermentation, the total concentration of free amino acids markedly increased without significant (P > 0.05) differences between beverages. The concentration of GABA increased during fermentation and further storage (63.0 ± 0.6-67.0 ± 2.1mg/l) without significant (P > 0.05) differences between beverages. After fermentation, FMB100 and FMB200 showed the same phenolic composition of the phenol extract from olive vegetable water but a different ratio between 3,4-DHPEA and 3,4-DHPEA-EDA. During storage, the concentrations of 3,4-DHPEA-EDA, p-HPEA and verbascoside of both FMB100 and FMB200 decreased. Only the concentration of 3,4-DHPEA increased. As shown by SPME-GC-MS analysis, diactetyl, acetoin and, especially, acetaldehyde were the main volatile compounds found. The concentration of phenolic compounds does not interfere with the volatile composition. Sensory analyses based on triangle and paired comparison tests showed that phenolic compounds at the concentrations of 100 or 200mg/l were suitable for addition to functional milk beverages.

Reduced circulating endothelial progenitor cell number in healthy young adult hyperinsulinemic men.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The number of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) is considered a novel marker of cardiovascular (CV) disease. It is not clear which are the main determinants of EPC number in apparently healthy subjects in the absence of overt clinical CV or metabolic abnormalities. We evaluated the main clinical determinants of EPC levels in a population of healthy subjects with normal glucose tolerance. METHODS AND RESULTS: EPC number was determined in 122 healthy subjects (73M/49F;36.6 ± 8yrs). Blood samples were collected to test biochemical variables. OGTT was performed and insulin resistance/compensatory hyperinsulinemia was defined according to fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels. EPCs were identified as cells co-expressing CD133/CD34/KDR antigens by flow-cytometry. CD133(+)/KDR(+) count inversely correlated with BMI (rho=-0.18;p < 0.05), waist circumference (-0.2;<0.05), diastolic (-0.23;<0.01) and systolic blood pressure (-0.21;<0.05), uric acid (-0.24;<0.005), PAI-1 (-0.197; <0.05) and FPI (-0.2;<0.05) and directly correlated with HDL cholesterol (0.182;<0.05). CD34(+)/CD133(+)/KDR(+) count inversely correlated with uric acid (-0.28;<0.005) and FPI (-0.2;<0.05). EPC number was lower in males (p < 0.05) and gender was the only independent predictor of EPC count (p < 0.05). By dividing the population in four subgroups based on gender and insulin resistance, CD133(+)/KDR(+) levels were lower in insulin resistant compared to insulin sensitive males (p < 0.05) with no differences in females. CONCLUSION: The male gender is an independent predictor of low EPC levels in healthy subjects. This might contribute to explaining the higher CV risk in males compared to pre-menopausal age-matched females. In this study a reduced EPC number seems to be associated with insulin resistance in male subjects.

Phenolic compounds in olive oil: antioxidant, health and organoleptic activities according to their chemical structure.

Hydrophilic phenols are the most abundant natural antioxidants of virgin olive oil (VOO), in which, however, tocopherols and carotenes are also present. The prevalent classes of hydrophilic phenols found in VOO are phenolic alcohols and acids, flavonoids, lignans and secoiridoids. Among these substances the last two classes include the most concentrate phenols of VOO. Secoiridoids, like aglycone derivatives of oleuropein, demethyloleuropein and ligstroside, are present in olive fruit as most abundant VOO phenolic antioxidants. Several important biological properties (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive and anti-cancer) and the characteristic pungent and bitter tasty properties have been attributed to VOO phenols. Relationships between polyphenols activities and their chemical structures are discussed in this paper.

Thyroid hormones promote cell differentiation and up-regulate the expression of the seladin-1 gene in in vitro models of human neuronal precursors.

Thyroid hormones (TH) play an important role in the development of human brain, by regulating the expression of specific genes. Selective Alzheimer's disease indicator-1 (seladin-1) is a recently discovered gene with neuroprotective properties, which has been found to be down-regulated in brain regions affected by Alzheimer's disease. Seladin-1 has anti-apoptotic properties mainly due to the inhibition of the activation of caspase 3. The aim of this study was to determine whether seladin-1 may be regarded as a new mediator of the effects of TH in the developing brain. In order to demonstrate this hypothesis, the effects of TH both on cell differentiation and on the expression of seladin-1 were assessed in two different cell models, i.e. fetal human neuroepithelial cells (FNC) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), which can be differentiated into neurons. 3,3',5-Triiodothyronine (T3) determined different biological responses (inhibition of cell adhesion, induction of migration, and increase in the expression of the neuronal marker neurofilament-M and Na+ and Ca2+ channel functionality) in both FNC and hMSC, which express TH receptors. Then, we showed that TH significantly increase the expression levels of seladin-1, and that T3 effectively prevents camptothecin-induced apoptosis. However, in hMSC-derived neurons the expression of seladin-1 was not affected by TH. Our results demonstrated for the first time that seladin-1 is a novel TH-regulated gene in neuronal precursors. In view of its anti-apoptotic activity, it might be hypothesized that one of the functions of the increased seladin-1 levels in the developing brain may be to protect neuronal precursor cells from death.

Impairment of endothelial cell differentiation from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells: new insight into the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disorder characterized by vascular damage and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Despite marked tissue hypoxia, there is no evidence of compensatory angiogenesis. The ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into endothelial cells was recently demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine whether impaired differentiation of MSCs into endothelial cells in SSc might contribute to disease pathogenesis by decreasing endothelial repair. METHODS: MSCs obtained from 7 SSc patients and 15 healthy controls were characterized. The number of colony-forming unit-fibroblastoid colonies was determined. After culture in endothelial-specific medium, the endothelial-like MSC (EL-MSC) phenotype was assessed according to the surface expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs). Senescence, chemoinvasion, and capillary morphogenesis studies were also performed. RESULTS: MSCs from SSc patients displayed the same phenotype and clonogenic activity as those from controls. In SSc MSCs, a decreased percentage of VEGFR-2+, CXCR4+, VEGFR-2+/CXCR4+ cells and early senescence was detected. After culturing, SSc EL-MSCs showed increased expression of VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and CXCR4, did not express CD31 or annexin V, and showed significantly decreased migration after specific stimuli. Moreover, the addition of VEGF and stromal cell-derived factor 1 to cultured SSc EL-MSCs increased their angiogenic potential less than that in controls. CONCLUSION: Our data strongly suggest that endothelial repair may be affected in SSc. The possibility that endothelial progenitor cells could be used to increase vessel growth in chronic ischemic tissues may open up new avenues in the treatment of vascular damage caused by SSc.