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Ambrosino F, La Verde G, Colucci M, Fanti V, Barrale D, Caciolli A, Hemmer S, De Giorgi ML, Ventura A, Immè J, Pagano A, Budinich M, Vascotto M, Montalbano V, Capua M, Tucci R, Chiosso M, Visca L, Groppi F, Pugliese M. RadioLab project: knowledge of radon gas in Italy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1224. [PMID: 38216583 PMCID: PMC10786923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45809-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
RadioLab is an Italian project, addressed to school-age people, and designed for the dissemination of scientific culture on the theme of environmental radioactivity, with particular regards to the importance of knowledge of radon gas exposure. The project is a nationwide initiative promoted by the National Institute of Nuclear Physics- INFN. First tool used by the project, and of immediate impact to assess the public awareness on radon, is the administration of the survey "do you know the radon gas?". In the survey, together with the knowledge of radon and of its sources, information on personal, cultural and territorial details regarding the interviewees are also taken. Reasonably, the survey invests not only young people, but also their relatives, school workers and, gradually, the public. The survey is administrated during exhibitions or outreach events devoted to schools, but also open to the public. The survey is in dual form: printed and online. The online mode clearly leads RadioLab project even outside the school environment. Based on the results of the survey, several statistical analyses have been performed and many conclusions are drawn about the knowledge of the population on the radon risk. The RadioLab benefit and the requirement to carry on the project goals, spreading awareness of environmental radioactivity from radon, emerge. The dataset involves all twenty Italian regions and consists of 28,612 entries covering the 5-year period 2018-2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Ambrosino
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Napoli Section, Naples, Italy.
- Department of Physics "Ettore Pancini", University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - G La Verde
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Napoli Section, Naples, Italy
- Department of Physics "Ettore Pancini", University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - M Colucci
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Milano Section, Milan, Italy
- Department of Physics Aldo Pontremoli, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - V Fanti
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Cagliari Section, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - D Barrale
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Cagliari Section, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - A Caciolli
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Padova Section, Padua, Italy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - S Hemmer
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Padova Section, Padua, Italy
| | - M L De Giorgi
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lecce Section, Lecce, Italy
| | - A Ventura
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lecce Section, Lecce, Italy
| | - J Immè
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Catania Section, Catania, Italy
| | - A Pagano
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Catania Section, Catania, Italy
| | - M Budinich
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Trieste Section, Trieste, Italy
| | - M Vascotto
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Trieste Section, Trieste, Italy
| | - V Montalbano
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Pisa Section, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - M Capua
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Cosenza Section, Cosenza, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Calabria, Italy
| | - R Tucci
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Cosenza Section, Cosenza, Italy
| | - M Chiosso
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Torino Section, Turin, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - L Visca
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Torino Section, Turin, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - F Groppi
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Milano Section, Milan, Italy
- Department of Physics Aldo Pontremoli, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M Pugliese
- INFN-National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Napoli Section, Naples, Italy
- Department of Physics "Ettore Pancini", University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Vecchi A, Colucci M. Ephemeral who? Evidence from the reconversion process implemented by Italian fashion companies in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. European Management Review 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/emre.12565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Vecchi
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences (DEPS) University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
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Esposito V, Catucci D, Colucci M, Torreggiani M, Grosjean F, Esposito C. Consecutive episodes of heart and kidney failure in an "otherwise" healthy young man. BMC Nephrol 2019; 20:229. [PMID: 31221126 PMCID: PMC6587250 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-019-1414-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute renal failure is a rare occurrence in a patient with an unremarkable past medical history and should always lead to an in depth clinical study. The occurrence in the same healthy young subject, of consecutive episodes of heart failure and of acute renal failure is an even rarer event and should prompt diagnostic tests and restrict the diagnostic hypotheses. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a 28 year-old man who, while waiting to undergo assessment for a mild chronic kidney disease, was diagnosed with decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy and placed on diuretics and β-blockers. After few weeks he developed a non oligoanuric acute renal failure with a slight elevation of serum calcium. Renal biopsy proved suggestive for renal sarcoidosis; thus the hypothesis of systemic sarcoidosis with cardiac and renal involvement was possible avoiding further delay in initiation of therapy. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac sarcoidosis is usually silent but the majority of cases are diagnosed when cardiac symptoms are present in a patient with systemic sarcoidosis. Renal involvement with granulomatous interstitial nephritis is also quite rare and can be an unexpected finding at kidney biopsy. This case highlights the need to evaluate thoroughly clinical problems that do not fit in a specific scenario and emphasizes the importance of performing a kidney biopsy in case of kidney failure of unknown etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Esposito
- Unit of Nephrology, ICS S. Maugeri SpA SB, Pavia, Italy
| | - D. Catucci
- Unit of Nephrology, ICS S. Maugeri SpA SB, Pavia, Italy
| | - M. Colucci
- Unit of Nephrology, ICS S. Maugeri SpA SB, Pavia, Italy
- University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | - F. Grosjean
- Unit of Nephrology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Camillo Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - C. Esposito
- Unit of Nephrology, ICS S. Maugeri SpA SB, Pavia, Italy
- University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Conese M, Montemurro P, Fumarulo R, Giordano D, Riccardi S, Colucci M, Semeraro N. Inhibitory Effect of Retinoids on the Generation of Procoagulant Activity by Blood Mononuclear Phagocytes. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryRetinoids are known to modulate several functions of mononuclear phagocytes. We have studied the effect of retinyl acetate (RAc) and retinoic acid (RA) on the production of procoagulant activity (PCA) by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with endotoxin (1 εg/ml, 4 or 20 h at 37°C). Both compounds caused a dose-dependent reduction in the expression of cell-associated PCA (from 86 to <10% of control in the range of concentration comprised between 0.1 and 100 εM). This effect was also observed when the cells were exposed to retinoids for 10 min and washed before challenge with endotoxin, indicating that it is rapid and irreversible. In contrast, incubation of RAc or RA for 3 h at 37° C with cells that have been already stimulated with endotoxin (20 h at 37° C) remained without influence on cell PCA. The inhibitory action of retinoids was also observed when monocyte-enriched (>85%) preparations or highly purified monocyte-derived macrophages (>99%) were used instead of whole mononuclear cells. BW755C, an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase, reversed the inhibitory effect of retinoids, whereas acetylsalycilic acid, an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase, was inactive, suggesting the involvement of a lipoxygenase product. The inhibition of monocyte/macrophage PCA production and the subsequent reduction of cell potential for fibrin deposition might represent one of the mechanisms whereby retinoids exert their antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Conese
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - P Montemurro
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - R Fumarulo
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - D Giordano
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - S Riccardi
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - M Colucci
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - N Semeraro
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
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Colucci M, Cavallo LG, Agnelli G, Mele A, Bürgi R, Heim J, Semeraro N. Properties of Chimeric (Tissue-Type/Urokinase-Type) Plasminogen Activators Obtained by Fusion at the Plasmin Cleavage Site. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1651634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryTwo hybrid plasminogen activators (K2tu-PA and FK2tu-PA), linking the kringle 2 domain or the finger plus the kringle 2 domains of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) to the catalytic domain of single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) were studied. At variance with similar constructs previously reported, they were obtained by fusion of the t-PA and scu-PA derived portions at their plasmin cleavage site (between Arg275 of t-PA and Ile159 of scu-PA), thus eliminating from scu-PA the two peptide bonds (Glu143-Leu144 and Arg156-Phe157) that lead to low molecular weight scu-PA and to thrombin-inactivated tcu-PA. The specific activities of K2tu-PA and FK2tu-PA, as measured by fibrin plate were 2.5 × 106 and 1.0 × 106 t-PA equivalent units/mg, respectively. Activation of plasminogen by hybrid PAs was stimulated by both CNBr-digested fibrinogen (40- and 80-fold) and Des-A-fibrin monomers (6- and 12-fold). The relatively weak stimulation of chimeric PAs by minimally degraded fibrin monomers was consistent with their reduced fibrin binding capacity. Like scu-PA, the chimeric PAs, in the single-chain form, were insensitive to inhibition, as they retained full activity after prolonged incubation in plasma and did not interact with SDS-reactivated recombinant PAI-1. The concentration producing 50% lysis of blood clots in 3 h was 0.5 μg/ml for K2tu-PA and 1 μg/ml for FK2tu-PA, as compared to 0.5 μg/ml and >2 μg/ml for t-PA and scu-PA, respectively. Plasminogen and α2-antiplasmin consumption induced by the hybrid PAs in clot-free plasma was comparable to (K2tu-PA) or lower than (FK2tu-PA) that induced by either t-PA or scu-PA. When exposed to plasmin, the hybrids were completely converted into two-chain molecules with full enzymatic activity. At variance with u-PA, however, the two-chain recombinant activators still required fibrin for full expression of activity. These data indicate that the products of such “artificial” fusion behave like true chimeras without loss of biological activity. The insensitivity to thrombin inactivation and to the proteolytic cleavage leading to low molecular weight scu-PA might confer enhanced stability to the molecules, especially at thrombus level. Moreover, if the thrombolytic activity observed in vitro is maintained in vivo, the prolonged half life of these hybrids should result in higher plasma levels of activator and thus in more extensive and rapid lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Colucci
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Bari, Istituto di Medicina Interna e di Medicina Vascolare, Università di Perugia, Menarini Ricerche Sud, Pomezia, Italy, and Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland
| | - L G Cavallo
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Bari, Istituto di Medicina Interna e di Medicina Vascolare, Università di Perugia, Menarini Ricerche Sud, Pomezia, Italy, and Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland
| | - G Agnelli
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Bari, Istituto di Medicina Interna e di Medicina Vascolare, Università di Perugia, Menarini Ricerche Sud, Pomezia, Italy, and Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland
| | - A Mele
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Bari, Istituto di Medicina Interna e di Medicina Vascolare, Università di Perugia, Menarini Ricerche Sud, Pomezia, Italy, and Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland
| | - R Bürgi
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Bari, Istituto di Medicina Interna e di Medicina Vascolare, Università di Perugia, Menarini Ricerche Sud, Pomezia, Italy, and Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland
| | - J Heim
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Bari, Istituto di Medicina Interna e di Medicina Vascolare, Università di Perugia, Menarini Ricerche Sud, Pomezia, Italy, and Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland
| | - N Semeraro
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Bari, Istituto di Medicina Interna e di Medicina Vascolare, Università di Perugia, Menarini Ricerche Sud, Pomezia, Italy, and Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland
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Semeraro N, Montemurro P, Giordanol P, Schettini F, Santoro N, De Mattia D, Giordano D, Conese M, Colucci M. Unbalanced Coagulation-Fibrinolysis Potential during L-Asparaginase Therapy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1647150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryTreatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with L-asparaginase (L-asp) may be associated with thrombotic complications, but the pathogenetic mechanisms of thrombus formation and persistence remain unclear. We studied the procoagulant activity (PCA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and some components of the plasma fibrinolytic system in L0 children with ALL undergoing remission induction therapy which includes L-asp. Mononuclear cells obtained 14 days after starting L-asp treatment generated significantly higher amounts of PCA (identified as tissue factor) than cells isolated before the first dose of L-asp and 7 days after the cessation of L-asp administration (p <0.01). Augmented PCA coincided with an increase in the plasma D-dimer. The plasma levels of type 1- plasminogen activator inhibitor were found signiticantly elevated during L-asp therapy (p <0.05), whereas plasminogen levels were markedly decreased (p <0.05). These findings suggest that, during the course of L-asp treatment, the coagulation-fibrinolysis balance is shifted towards promotion of fibrin formation and deposition. Although it remains to be conclusively established whether Lasp per se or the concurrent administration of multiple chemotherapeutic agents is responsible for these changes, the latter could contribute to the thrombotic complications associated with remission induction therapy for ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Semeraro
- Istituto di Pediatria Clinica e Preventiva, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - P Montemurro
- Istituto di Pediatria Clinica e Preventiva, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - P Giordanol
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - F Schettini
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - N Santoro
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - D De Mattia
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - D Giordano
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - M Conese
- Istituto di Pediatria Clinica e Preventiva, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
| | - M Colucci
- Istituto di Pediatria Clinica e Preventiva, Universitá di Bari, Bari,Italy
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Paramo JA, de Boer A, Colucci M, Jonker JJC, Collen D. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor (PA-lnhibitor) Activity in the Blood of Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1660108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J A Paramo
- The Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - A de Boer
- The Thrombosis Service, Municipal Hospital Bergweg, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Colucci
- The Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - J J C Jonker
- The Thrombosis Service, Municipal Hospital Bergweg, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Collen
- The Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
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Semeraro N, Montemurro P, Giordano P, Santoro N, De Mattia D, Colucci M. Increased Mononuclear Cell Tissue Factor and Type-2 Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor and Reduced Plasma Fibrinolytic Capacity in Children with Lymphoma. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1648810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryBlood clotting activation and fibrin deposition are common findings in lymphoma patients. We evaluated the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to produce procoagulant activity (PCA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) in 12 children with newly diagnosed lymphoma (8 non-Hodgkin’s, 4 Hodgkin’s) and in 12 matched healthy donors. In the same subjects we also measured plasma antigen levels of tissue-type PA (t-PA), urokinase-type PA (u-PA), PAI-1, PAI-2, and D-dimer. PCA generated by mononuclear cells after incubation for 20 h at 37° C was significantly higher in patients than in controls (p = 0.027). In all samples it was identified as tissue factor by functional criteria (dependence on factor VII). Moreover, culture medium obtained from patients’ mononuclear cells after incubation for 20 h at 37° C contained significantly higher amounts of PAI activity and PAI-2 antigen than control samples (p <0.001). Plasma PAI-1 and t-PA antigens were significantly augmented in patients (p <0.005), the mean increase of PAI-I being about 5 times higher than that of t-PA. Plasma levels of D-dimer wete markedly increased in the patients’ group (p <0.001), whereas u-PA and PAI-2 antigens did not differ from controls. It is suggested that monocytes from lymphoma patients are endowed with functional abnormalities leading to the simultaneous expression of tissue factor and antifibrinolytic activity. These abnormalities, coupled with a reduced plasma fibrinolytic potential, could play an important pathogenetic role in blood clotting activation and fibrin deposition associated with lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Semeraro
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana Sezione di Patologia Generale, Italy
| | - P Montemurro
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana Sezione di Patologia Generale, Italy
| | - P Giordano
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell’età evolutiva, Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - N Santoro
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell’età evolutiva, Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - D De Mattia
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell’età evolutiva, Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - M Colucci
- The Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana Sezione di Patologia Generale, Italy
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Semeraro N, Colucci M, Vermylen J. Complement-Dependent and Complement-Independent Interactions of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharides and Mucopeptides with Rabbit and Human Platelets. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryThe effect of 10 commercial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and of 5 highly purified LPS with variable but defined polysaccharide content, two LPS from anaerobic bacteria, two mucopeptides and two meningococcal polysaccharides, was studied on rabbit and human platelets. All the LPS preparations induced aggregation in rabbit heparinized platelet-rich plasma (PRP) but to differing degrees. However, a preparation consisting essentially of lipid A (from Salmonella minnesota Re 595) was one of the most active. The mucopeptides were very potent whereas the meningococcal polysaccharides had no effect. The activity was abolished by inactivation of complement. The lack of ability of LPS and mucopeptides to aggregate rabbit platelets in ethyleneglycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) – PRP suggests that the mechanism depends on activation of the classical pathway of complement. None of the bacterial products induced aggregation of human platelets.When washed rabbit platelets are mixed with complement-depleted rabbit serum and calcium chloride, generation of thrombin occurs. Washed platelets contribute to thrombin generation by providing factor V, a factor X activating activity, and possibly phospholipid (Brit. J. Haemat. 36: 107, 1977). All the LPS preparations but not the mucopeptides or meningococcal polysaccharides enhanced the rate of thrombin formation by enhancing the factor X activating activity of rabbit or human platelets.It is concluded that LPS affect rabbit platelets both by complement-dependent and complement-independent mechanisms, but human platelets only by the complement- independent pathway. Mucopeptides react with platelets only by the complement-dependent way and have no effect on human platelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Semeraro
- On leave of absence from the Department of Microbiology (Head: Prof. D. Fumarola), Medical School, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- The Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, Department of Medical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Colucci
- On leave of absence from the Department of Microbiology (Head: Prof. D. Fumarola), Medical School, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- The Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, Department of Medical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - J Vermylen
- The Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, Department of Medical Research, University of Leuven, Belgium
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Barbanti M, Calanni F, Milani MR, Marchi E, Semeraro N, Colucci M. Therapeutic Effect of a Low Molecular Weight Dermatan Sulphate (Desmin 370) in Rat Venous Thrombosis - Evidence for an Anticoagulant-Independent Mechanism. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1651571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryWe evaluated the capacity of a low molecular weight dermatan sulphate (D370) to prevent thrombus formation and to induce a reduction of a stabilized thrombus in a rat venous thrombosis model. Injection of D370, 10 min before induction of venous stasis (prevention model), prevented thrombus formation in a dose-dependent way (ED50: 2.3 mg/kg). When given to rats 6 h after induction of venous stasis (therapeutic model), D370 caused a time- and dose-dependent reduction in thrombus size (60% to 70% reduction 2 h after injection of 10 mg/kg). At comparable antithrombotic dosages (i.e. minimum dose giving complete inhibition of thrombus formation), heparin (0.5 mg/kg) only caused 40% reduction of a preformed thrombus while hirudin (1 mg/kg) was virtually ineffective (less than 10% reduction in weight). All three compounds inhibited 125I-fibrin(ogen) deposition on 6-h aged thrombi by more than 85%, suggesting that D370 and, to a lesser extent, heparin reduce thrombus size via mechanisms other than inhibition of thrombus accretion. The involvement of a fibrinolysis-mediated mechanism in the D370-induced effect is suggested by the following. EACA (1 g/kg), when given to thrombus-bearing control animals, did not influence thrombus weight. However, when administered before D370 treatment, it prevented the expected reduction in thrombus weight by more than 80%, without influencing the effect of D370 on 125I-fibrin(ogen) accumulation onto preexisting thrombi. D370 injection caused neither an enhancement of fibrinolytic activity nor a reduction of PAI in plasma. In vitro, D370 (200 μg/ml) was unable to potentiate the spontaneous or PA-induced lysis of 125I-fibrinogen labelled blood, plasma, or purified fibrin clots. It is suggested that prevention of thrombus formation by D370 is related mainly to inhibition of blood coagulation, whereas reduction of the weight of aged thrombi is primarily due to an anticoagulant-independent mechanism, most probably involving local enhancement of the fibrinolytic process. D370 may represent an alternative pharmacologic agent both in the prevention and in the therapy of venous thrombosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Barbanti
- Alfa Wassermann, Bologna, University of Bari, Italy
| | - F Calanni
- Alfa Wassermann, Bologna, University of Bari, Italy
| | - M R Milani
- Alfa Wassermann, Bologna, University of Bari, Italy
| | - E Marchi
- Alfa Wassermann, Bologna, University of Bari, Italy
| | - N Semeraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General Pathology, University of Bari, Italy
| | - M Colucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General Pathology, University of Bari, Italy
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Colucci M, Altomare DF, Chetta G, Triggiani R, Cavallo LG, Semeraro N. Impaired Fibrinolysis in Obstructive Jaundice - Evidence from Clinical and Experimental Studies. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1647628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SummaryMicrovascular thrombosis is considered an important pathogenetic factor in renal failure associated with obstructive jaundice but the mechanisms leading to fibrin deposition are still unknown. The plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) in 29 patients with obstructive jaundice were found significantly increased as compared to 20 nonjaundiced patients. Fibrin autography of plasma supplemented with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) revealed that in icteric samples most of the added activator migrated with an apparent Mr of 100 kDa, corresponding to t-PA-PAI complex, whereas in control samples virtually all t-PA migrated as free enzyme. PAI activity detected in icteric samples is similar to the endothelial type PAI since it is neutralized by a monoclonal antibody against PAI-1.Venous stasis in jaundiced patients was neither associated with an increase in blood fibrinolytic activity nor with a decrease in PAI activity. Immunologic assay showed that t-PA release was impaired in 3 out of 4 patients. In controls, venous occlusion induced an increase in both fibrinolytic activity and t-PA antigen and a reduction in PAI activity. Bile duct recanalization in jaundiced patients subjected to surgery was accompanied by a decrease in plasma PAI activity which paralleled the decrease in serum bilirubin levels. In nonjaundiced patients, surgical treatment did not cause significant changes in either parameter. Rabbits made icteric by bile duct ligation showed an early and progressive increase in plasma PAI activity indicating that obstructive jaundice itself causes the elevation of circulating PAI. It is concluded that obstructive jaundice is associated with a severe impairment of fibrinolysis which might contribute to microvascular thrombosis and renal failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Colucci
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Bari, Italy
| | - D F Altomare
- The Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - G Chetta
- The Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - R Triggiani
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Bari, Italy
| | - L G Cavallo
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Bari, Italy
| | - N Semeraro
- The Istituto di Patologia Generale, Bari, Italy
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Colucci M, Chellini M, Anello P, Arru B, Tettamanti G, Marcon E. Training in public health ethics: findings of a survey among residents. Eur J Public Health 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckw165.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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13
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Colucci M, Incampo F, Cannavò A, Menegatti M, Siboni SM, Zaccaria F, Semeraro N, Peyvandi F. Reduced fibrinolytic resistance in patients with factor XI deficiency. Evidence of a thrombin-independent impairment of the thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor pathway. J Thromb Haemost 2016; 14:1603-14. [PMID: 27094709 DOI: 10.1111/jth.13342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Essentials Plasma of factor XI-deficient patients (FXI-dp) displays enhanced fibrinolysis. We investigated the role of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in 18 FXI-dp. FXI-dp generated less activated TAFI (TAFIa) on clotting challenge and were resistant to TAFIa. TAFI activation and TAFIa resistance correlated with bleeding score and bleeding phenotype. SUMMARY Background Factor XI (FXI) deficiency, a rare disorder with unpredictable bleeding, has been associated with reduced fibrinolytic resistance as a result of abnormal fibrin density. Objective We investigated the involvement of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in the increased lysability of FXI-deficient (FXI-def) clots and the role of thrombin. Patients/Methods Eighteen patients with FXI deficiency (1-58%) and 17 matched controls were investigated for fibrinolytic resistance to t-PA, thrombin generation, TAFI activation and response to TAFIa. Results When clotting was induced by 0.5 pm tissue factor (TF), FXI-def plasmas displayed less thrombin and TAFIa generation and shorter lysis time than controls. A 100-fold higher TF concentration (to bypass FXI) abolished the difference in thrombin generation but not in lysis time between patients and controls. Normalization of FXI levels by a FXI concentrate increased thrombin generation but had no effect on the lysis time of FXI-def plasma. Moreover, when clots were induced by purified thrombin and high concentrations of FXa inhibitor, FXI-def plasma still generated less TAFIa and displayed a shorter lysis time than controls. Finally, upon TAFIa addition, the lysis time of FXI-def plasma was prolonged significantly less than that of control plasma, suggesting a TAFIa resistance. TAFIa generation and TAFIa resistance were correlated with the bleeding score, displaying a considerable capacity to discriminate between patients with and without bleeding. Conclusions TAFI pathway impairment, largely caused by a hitherto unknown TAFIa resistance, appears to be one main cause of decreased fibrinolytic resistance in FXI deficiency and might be clinically useful for assessing the bleeding risk of FXI-def patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Colucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
| | - F Incampo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
| | - A Cannavò
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M Menegatti
- Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - S M Siboni
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - F Zaccaria
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
| | - N Semeraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
| | - F Peyvandi
- Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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Colucci M, Roccatagliata L, Capello E, Narciso E, Latronico N, Tabaton M, Mancardi GL. The 14-3-3 protein in multiple sclerosis: a marker of disease severity. Mult Scler 2016; 10:477-81. [PMID: 15471360 DOI: 10.1191/1352458504ms1089oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Context: In multiple sclerosis (MS) axonal damage is an early event and is probably to be considered the most relevant cause of permanent and progressive disability. Objectives: To investigate the value of the increase of 14-3-3 and tau proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as peripheral markers of axonal pathology and predictors of disease evolution. Patients and methods: In the CSF samples obtained from 63 patients with demyelinating diseases (DD), including 20 clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) and 43 clinically defined MS, as well as from 56 controls, we analysed the presence of 14-3-3 reactivity by immunoblot analysis along with the concentration of tau protein by sandwich ELISA. Results: The percentage of DD subjects showing a positive 14-3-3 protein CSF reactivity (38%) was significantly higher than the one previously detected, and was correlated in the MS patients with a more severe clinical phenotype in terms of degree of disability and rate of disease progression, during a 10-month mean clinical follow-up. On the contrary, the levels of the CSF-tau protein were highly variable in DD and control subjects, and the mean CSF-tau concentration was similar in both groups. Conclusions: The immunoblot analysis of 14-3-3 protein in the CSF could be a useful marker to identify a subgroup of DD patients with high risk of developing severe disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Colucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Genetic and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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Colucci DBB, Fiore JF, Paisani DM, Risso TT, Colucci M, Chiavegato LD, Faresin SM. Cough Impairment and Risk of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Open Upper Abdominal Surgery. Respir Care 2015; 60:673-8. [DOI: 10.4187/respcare.03600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Bornstein J, McCullough K, Combe C, Bieber B, Jadoul M, Pisoni R, Mariani L, Robinson B, Saito A, Sen A, Tentori F, Guinsburg A, Marelli C, Marcelli D, Usvyat L, Maddux D, Canaud B, Kotanko P, Hwang SJ, Hsieh HM, Chen HF, Mau LW, Lin MY, Hsu CC, Yang WC, Pitcher D, Rao A, Phelps R, Canaud B, Barbieri C, Marcelli D, Bellocchio F, Bowry S, Mari F, Amato C, Gatti E, Zitt E, Hafner-Giessauf H, Wimmer B, Herr A, Horn S, Friedl C, Sprenger-Maehr H, Kramar R, Rosenkranz AR, Lhotta K, Ferris M, Marcelli D, Marelli C, Etter M, Xu X, Grassmann A, Von Gersdorff GD, Pecoits-Filho R, Sylvestre L, Kotanko P, Usvyat L, Consortium M, Dzekova-Vidimliski P, Nikolov I, Trajceska L, Selim G, Gelev S, Matevska Geshkovska N, Dimovski A, Sikole A, Suleymanlar G, Utas C, Ecder T, Ates K, Bieber B, Robinson BM, Pisoni RL, Laplante S, Liu FX, Culleton B, Tomilina N, Bikbov B, Andrusev A, Zemchenkov A, Bieber B, Robinson BM, Pisoni RL, Bikbov B, Tomilina N, Kotenko O, Andrusev A, Panaye M, Jolivot A, Lemoine S, Guebre-Egziabher F, Doret M, Juillard L, Filiopoulos V, Hadjiyannakos D, Papakostoula A, Takouli L, Biblaki D, Dounavis A, Vlassopoulos D, Bikbov B, Tomilina N, Al Wakeel J, Bieber B, Al Obaidli AA, Ahmed Almaimani Y, Al-Arrayed S, Alhelal B, Fawzy A, Robinson BM, Pisoni RL, Aucella F, Girotti G, Gesuete A, Cicchella A, Seresin C, Vinci C, Scaparrotta G, Naso A, Pilotto A, Hoffmann TR, Flusser V, Santoro LF, Almeida FA, Aucella F, Girotti G, Gesuete A, Cicchella A, Seresin C, Vinci C, Scaparrotta G, Ganugi S, Gnerre T, Russo GE, Amato M, Naso A, Pilotto A, Trigka K, Douzdampanis P, Chouchoulis K, Mpimpi A, Kaza M, Pipili C, Kyritsis I, Fourtunas C, Ortalda V, Tomei P, Ybarek T, Lupo A, Torreggiani M, Esposito V, Catucci D, Arazzi M, Colucci M, Montagna G, Semeraro L, Efficace E, Piazza V, Picardi L, Esposito C, Hekmat R, Mohebi M, Ahmadzadehhashemi S, Park J, Hwang E, Jang M, Park S, Resende LL, Dantas MA, Martins MTS, Lopes GB, Lopes AA, Engelen W, Elseviers M, Gheuens E, Colson C, Muyshondt I, Daelemans R, He Y, Chen J, Luan S, Wan Q, Cuoghi A, Bellei E, Monari E, Bergamini S, Tomasi A, Atti M, Caiazzo M, Palladino G, Bruni F, Tekce H, Ozturk S, Aktas G, Kin Tekce B, Erdem A, Uyeturk U, Ozyasar M, Taslamacioglu Duman T, Yazici M, Schaubel DE, McCullough KP, Morgenstern H, Gallagher MP, Hasegawa T, Pisoni RL, Robinson BM, Nacak H, Van Diepen M, Suttorp MM, Hoorn EJ, Rotmans JI, Dekker FW, Speyer E, Beauger D, Gentile S, Isnard Bagnis C, Caille Y, Baudelot C, Mercier S, Jacquelinet C, Briancon S, Sosorburam T, Baterdene B, Delger A, Daelemans R, Gheuens E, Engelen W, De Boeck K, Marynissen J, Bouman K, Mann M, Exner DV, Hemmelgarn BR, Hanley D, Ahmed SB. DIALYSIS. EPIDEMIOLOGY, OUTCOME RESEARCH, HEALTH SERVICES 2. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfu178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Ferro A, Bonanni P, Castiglia P, Montante A, Colucci M, Miotto S, Siddu A, Murrone L, Baldo V. [Improving vaccination social marketing by monitoring the web]. Ann Ig 2014; 26:54-64. [PMID: 25486693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Immunisation is one of the most important and cost- effective interventions in Public Health because of their significant positive impact on population health.However, since Jenner's discovery there always been a lively debate between supporters and opponents of vaccination; Today the antivaccination movement spreads its message mostly on the web, disseminating inaccurate data through blogs and forums, increasing vaccine rejection.In this context, the Società Italiana di Igiene (SItI) created a web project in order to fight the misinformation on the web regarding vaccinations, through a series of information tools, including scientific articles, educational information, video and multimedia presentations The web portal (http://www.vaccinarsi.org) was published in May 2013 and now is already available over one hundred web pages related to vaccinations Recently a Forum, a periodic newsletter and a Twitter page have been created. There has been an average of 10,000 hits per month. Currently our users are mostly healthcare professionals. The visibility of the site is very good and it currently ranks first in the Google's search engine, taping the word "vaccinarsi" The results of the first four months of activity are extremely encouraging and show the importance of this project; furthermore the application for quality certification by independent international Organizations has been submitted.
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Semeraro F, Ammollo CT, Gils A, Declerck PJ, Colucci M. Monoclonal antibodies targeting the antifibrinolytic activity of activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor but not the anti-inflammatory activity on osteopontin and C5a. J Thromb Haemost 2013; 11:2137-47. [PMID: 24134522 DOI: 10.1111/jth.12431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, anti-thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) mAbs selectively inhibiting plasmin-mediated TAFI activation were shown to stimulate fibrinolysis in vitro and in vivo, suggesting, in contrast to other findings, that plasmin-mediated TAFI activation plays an important role in fibrinolysis regulation. OBJECTIVE To further characterize the effects of two plasmin-specific anti-TAFI mAbs (MA-TCK11A9 and MA-TCK26D6) on TAFI-dependent inhibition of fibrinolysis. METHODS AND RESULTS Both mAbs inhibited plasmin-mediated but not thrombin/thrombomodulin-mediated TAFI activation, whereas neither inhibited the cleavage of hippuryl-arginine by activated TAFI (TAFIa). They stimulated tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced fibrinolysis in different clot lysis models through a TAFI-dependent mechanism, especially in the presence of thrombomodulin (TM), a condition in which TAFI is largely activated by the thrombin-TM complex. In a fibrinolysis-based TAFIa activity assay, both mAbs inhibited TAFIa, whereas other mAbs targeting thrombin-TM-mediated TAFI activation did not. The inhibition of TAFIa activity, however, was substrate-specific, because neither mAb inhibited the cleavage of thrombin-activated osteopontin and C5a by TAFIa, thus sparing the anti-inflammatory activity of TAFIa. CONCLUSIONS Our anti-TAFI mAbs, by selectively inhibiting TAFIa activity on fibrin, may represent the prototype of a new class of TAFI inhibitors with improved pharmacologic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Semeraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
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Incampo F, Carrieri C, Galasso R, Scaraggi FA, Di Serio F, Woodhams B, Semeraro N, Colucci M. Effect of warfarin treatment on thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) activation and TAFI-mediated inhibition of fibrinolysis. J Thromb Haemost 2013; 11:315-24. [PMID: 23256818 DOI: 10.1111/jth.12102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe clotting deficiencies are associated with enhanced in vitro fibrinolysis due to insufficient thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) activation. Because oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) with warfarin causes a partial deficiency of vitamin K-dependent factors, its effect on clot lysability remains unclear. OBJECTIVES To evaluate plasma and blood fibrinolytic capacity in patients under stable OAT (n = 221) as compared with controls (n = 132). METHODS Fibrinolysis resistance of plasma (turbidimetry) and blood (thromboelastography) clots was calculated as the lysis time of tissue factor-induced clots exposed to 30 and 100 ng mL(-1) t-PA, respectively. RESULTS Plasma PAI-1 was similar in the two groups, whereas TAFI was slightly lower in patients. OAT plasma clots lysed faster than controls (P = 0.001). The addition of the TAFIa inhibitor PTCI reduced lysis time by 14% in OAT and 34% in controls, and the difference between the groups disappeared. Similar data were obtained with blood clots. Thrombin and TAFIa generation in OAT plasma amounted to roughly 50% of controls, supporting a reduced thrombin-dependent TAFI activation. Clot resistance of OAT plasma was normalized by Ba-citrate plasma eluate or prothrombin but not by BaSO(4) serum eluate, rFVIIa or FX. Surprisingly, circulating levels of TAFIa and its inactive derivative TAFIai were higher in warfarin patients (P < 0.0001) and correlated with plasmin-antiplasmin (P = 0.0001) but not with prothrombin F(1) (+) (2) . CONCLUSIONS OAT enhances both plasma and blood fibrinolysis by reducing thrombin-dependent TAFI activation, a phenomenon largely determined by low prothrombin levels. At variance with in vitro data, 'basal' in vivo TAFIa/ai levels seem related to plasmin rather than thrombin generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Incampo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
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Antonucci G, Mazzotta F, Puoti M, Angeletti C, Girardi E, Santantonio T, Ambu S, Gaeta GB, Colucci M, Angarano G, Marino N, Rinaldi R, Bellissima P, Armignacco O, Carosi G, Sagnelli E. Factors associated with access to antiviral treatment in a multicentre cross-sectional study of patients with chronic hepatitis B in Italy. J Viral Hepat 2012; 19:881-9. [PMID: 23121367 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2012.01615.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A multicentre cross-sectional survey was performed to provide an accurate picture of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cared for by Italian Infectious Diseases Centers (IDCs). This analysis describes factors associated with access to the treatment of CHB in a country where barriers to treatment are not expected to exist because of comprehensive coverage under the National Health System (NHS). The study was performed in 74 IDCs. The analysis focused on 3305 patients with CHB of 3760 HBsAg-positive patients enrolled from March to September, 2008. To account for missing values, a Multiple Imputation method was used. Treatment was reported in 2091 (63.3%) patients. In the multivariate analysis, an increased chance of getting treatment was independently associated with 10 years increase of age at diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.3, P < 0.001), HBeAg positivity (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.8, P < 0.001), cirrhosis (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 2-6.3, P = 0.012), HDV (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.02-2.5, P = 0.042) and HIV positivity (aOR 6.5, 95% CI 4-10.8, P < 0.001). Conversely, a decreased chance was associated with female gender (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7, P < 0.001), immigration (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.9, P = 0.009), alcohol consumption (aOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.98, P = 0.04) and HCV positivity (aOR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P = 0.005). Our study shows that Italian IDCs treat a high percentage of patients with CHB. Nevertheless, disparities exist which are not related to the severity of disease limiting access to antiviral therapy of CHB, even in a country with a universal healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Antonucci
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
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Jones A, Silva PG, Silva AC, Colucci M, Tuffanin A, Jardim JR, Natour J. Evaluation of immediate impact of cane use on energy expenditure during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Gait Posture 2012; 35:435-9. [PMID: 22177285 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2010] [Revised: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/03/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to assess the immediate impact of cane use on energy expenditure during gait in patients with knee OA analyzing VO(2). METHODS An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out on 64 symptomatic patients with a diagnosis of knee OA. The assessment of energy expenditure was performed through an analysis of expired gases using the portable K4 apparatus (Cosmed, Model K4 b2, Italy) during the six-min walk test (6MWT). Two tests were performed with a cane and two without a cane on two different days within a seven-day period. RESULTS The patients walked farther on the test without the cane (p<0.001). Oxygen expenditure (VO(2)) and the O(2) cost of walking at the end of the 6MWT increased approximately 50% and 80% during cane-assisted gait when compared to gait without the use of a cane (p<0.001). Pain (Borg scale) decreased approximately 20% at the end of the 6MWT with cane-assisted gait in comparison to gait without a cane (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Cane use causes an immediate increase in energy expenditure (VO(2)) during gait and O(2) cost of walking and an immediate decrease of pain during gait. It is necessary to do a more prolonged follow up in order to assess the impact of daily cane use on energy expenditure among these patients and determine whether adaptation occurs. Furthermore, it is necessary to study whether daily cane use has a positive impact on important parameters in these patients, such as pain, function and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Jones
- Rheumatology Rehabilitation Section, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Jones A, Silva PG, Silva AC, Colucci M, Tuffanin A, Jardim JR, Natour J. Impact of cane use on pain, function, general health and energy expenditure during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis 2011; 71:172-9. [DOI: 10.1136/ard.2010.140178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Carrieri C, Galasso R, Semeraro F, Ammollo CT, Semeraro N, Colucci M. The role of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and factor XI in platelet-mediated fibrinolysis resistance: a thromboelastographic study in whole blood. J Thromb Haemost 2011; 9:154-62. [PMID: 20961395 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.04120.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The resistance of platelet-rich thrombi to fibrinolysis is generally attributed to clot retraction and platelet PAI-1 release. The role of TAFI in platelet-mediated resistance to lysis is unclear. OBJECTIVE We investigated the contribution of TAFI to the antifibrinolytic effect of platelets in whole blood by thromboelastography. METHODS Platelet-poor (PP-WB, < 40 × 10(3) μL(-1) ) and platelet-rich (PR-WB, > 400 × 10(3) μL(-1) ) blood samples were obtained from normal human blood (N-WB, 150-220 × 10(3) μL(-1) ). Clot lysis time was measured by thromboelastography in recalcified blood supplemented with t-PA (100 ng mL(-1) ) and tissue factor (1:1000 Recombiplastin). RESULTS t-PA-induced lysis time increased in parallel with platelet concentration (up to 3-fold). Neutralization of TAFI, but not of PAI-1, shortened the lysis time by ∼ 50% in PR-WB and by < 10% in PP-WB. Accordingly, prothrombin F1+2 and TAFIa accumulation was greater in PR-WB than in PP-WB. A similar TAFI-dependent inhibition of fibrinolysis was observed when clot retraction was prevented by cytochalasin D or abciximab, or when platelet membranes were tested. Moreover, in blood with an intact contact system, platelet-mediated fibrinolysis resistance was attenuated by an anti-FXI but not by an anti F-XII antibody. Finally, platelets made the clots resistant to the profibrinolytic effect of heparin concentrations displaying a strong anticoagulant activity. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that TAFI activation is one major mechanism whereby platelets make clots resistant to fibrinolysis and underscore the importance of TAFI inhibitors as new antithrombotic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Carrieri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
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Ammollo CT, Semeraro F, Incampo F, Semeraro N, Colucci M. Dabigatran enhances clot susceptibility to fibrinolysis by mechanisms dependent on and independent of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor. J Thromb Haemost 2010; 8:790-8. [PMID: 20088944 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.03739.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anticoagulants are expected to promote fibrinolysis by counteracting the antifibrinolytic effects of thrombin, which include thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) activation and clot structure enhancement. However, the efficiency of anticoagulants may vary remarkably, and the ability of direct thrombin inhibitors to facilitate clot lysis remains controversial. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the profibrinolytic effect of dabigatran, a new, direct thrombin inhibitor, using different in vitro models. METHODS AND RESULTS The resistance of tissue factor-induced plasma clots to fibrinolysis by exogenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) (turbidimetric method) was reduced by dabigatran in a concentration-dependent manner, with > or = 50% shortening of lysis time at clinically relevant concentrations (1-2 microm). A similar effect was observed in the presence of low (0.1 and 1 nm) but not high (10 nm) concentrations of thrombomodulin. Acceleration of clot lysis by dabigatran was associated with a reduction in TAFI activation and thrombin generation, and was largely, although not completely, negated by an inhibitor of activated TAFI, potato tuber carboxypeptidase inhibitor. The assessment of the viscoelastic properties of clots showed that those generated in the presence of dabigatran were more permeable, were less rigid, and consisted of thicker fibers. The impact of these physical changes on fibrinolysis was investigated using a model under flow conditions, which demonstrated that dabigatran made the clots markedly more susceptible to flowing t-PA, by a mechanism that was largely TAFI-independent. CONCLUSIONS Dabigatran, at clinically relevant concentrations, enhances the susceptibility of plasma clots to t-PA-induced lysis by reducing TAFI activation and by altering the clot structure. These mechanisms might contribute to the antithrombotic activity of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- C T Ammollo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Cortopassi F, Castro AAM, Porto EF, Colucci M, Fonseca G, Torre-Bouscoulet L, Iamonti V, Jardim JR. Comprehensive exercise training improves ventilatory muscle function and reduces dyspnea perception in patients with COPD. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2010; 71:106-12. [PMID: 19999956 DOI: 10.4081/monaldi.2009.355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comprehensive exercise training (CET) is an efficient strategy to decrease dyspnea perception in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may result in significant improvement in ventilatory muscles function. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of general exercise training on dyspnea perception and on respiratory muscles strength in COPD patients. METHODS Consecutive COPD patients were enrolled to complete a CET programme. The patients underwent a routine that included a global warm up, upper and lower limbs endurance exercise as well as stretching and relaxation. Before and after the CET programme, patients completed maximal inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) pressures measurements, maximal incremental test, endurance test, and 6-min walk distance (6MWD). RESULTS 71 patients (52 male). Mean age 67.6 +/- 8.6 years, FEV1 (%) 44.2 +/- 16.2 and Mahler dyspnea scale 6.4 +/- 1.8. The results before and after the exercise programme were: PImax 64.7 +/- 22.9 vs. 75.5 +/- 23.7 cmH2O (p=0.001), PEmax 110.8 +/- 28.1 vs. 120.4 +/- 28.1 cmH2O (p=0.004), 6MWD 510.6 +/- 90.3 vs. 528.2 +/- 99.7 metres (p=0.88), time of incremental test 672 +/- 135 vs. 856 +/- 226 sec (p<0.0001). Compared with the pre exercise programme, we observed a significant reduction on Borg dyspnea scale (6.1 +/- 2.8 to 3.6 +/- 2.3, p<0.0001) as well as a longer test time (504 +/- 218 to 1.038 +/- 841, p<0.0001) at the end of the endurance test after CET programme. Improvement of PImax correlated negatively with dyspnea perception at iso-time during the endurance test (r = -0.33, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that CET is associated with significant improvement in PImax, PEmax and provide evidence demonstrating that CET reduces dyspnea perception in patients with COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cortopassi
- Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Dellabianca A, Faniglione M, De Angelis S, Colucci M, Cervio M, Balestra B, Tonini S, Candura SM. Inhaled ammonium persulphate inhibits non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic relaxations in the guinea pig isolated trachea. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 79:411-9. [PMID: 19923787 DOI: 10.1159/000259041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2009] [Accepted: 09/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persulphates can act both as irritants and sensitizers in inducing occupational asthma. A dysfunction of nervous control regulating the airway tone has been hypothesized as a mechanism underlying bronchoconstriction in asthma. OBJECTIVES It was the aim of this study to investigate whether inhaled ammonium persulphate affects the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory innervation, the cholinergic nerve-mediated contraction or the muscular response to the spasmogens, carbachol or histamine, in the guinea pig epithelium-free, isolated trachea. METHODS Male guinea pigs inhaled aerosols containing ammonium persulphate (10 mg/m(3) for 30 min for 5 days during 3 weeks). Control animals inhaled saline aerosol. NANC relaxations to electrical field stimulation at 3 Hz were evaluated in whole tracheal segments as intraluminal pressure changes. Drugs inactivating peptide transmission, nitric oxide synthase, carbon monoxide production by haem oxygenase-2 and soluble guanylyl cyclase were used to assess the involvement of various inhibitory neurotransmitters. Carbachol and histamine cumulative concentration-response curves were obtained. RESULTS In both groups, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide participated to the same extent as inhibitory neurotransmitters. In exposed animals, the tracheal NANC relaxations were reduced to 45.9 +/- 12.1% (p < 0.01). The cholinergic nerve-mediated contractions to electrical field stimulation and the muscular response to histamine were not modified by ammonium persulphate exposure. The muscular response to carbachol was unaffected up to 1 microM. Conversely, the response to the maximal concentration of carbachol (3 microM) was increased (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Ammonium persulphate inhalation at high concentrations impairs the nervous NANC inhibitory control in the guinea pig airways. This may represent a novel mechanism contributing to persulphate-induced asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dellabianca
- Department of Preventive, Occupational and Community Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. antonio.dellabianca @ unipv.it
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Blandini F, Balestra B, Levandis G, Cervio M, Greco R, Tassorelli C, Colucci M, Faniglione M, Bazzini E, Nappi G, Clavenzani P, Vigneri S, De Giorgio R, Tonini M. Functional and neurochemical changes of the gastrointestinal tract in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Lett 2009; 467:203-7. [PMID: 19835930 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2009] [Revised: 10/02/2009] [Accepted: 10/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Patients with Parkinson's disease develop motor disturbances often accompanied by peripheral autonomic dysfunctions, including gastrointestinal disorders, such as dysphagia, gastric stasis and constipation. While the mechanisms subserving enteric autonomic dysfunctions are not clearly understood, they may involve the enteric dopaminergic and/or nitrergic systems. In the present study, we demonstrate that rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons develop a marked inhibition of propulsive activity compared to sham-operated controls, as indicated by a 60% reduction of daily fecal output at the 4th week of observation. Immunohistochemical data revealed that 6-hydroxydopamine treatment did not affect the total number of HuC/D-positive myenteric neurons in both the proximal and distal segments of ileum and colon. Conversely, in the distal ileum and proximal colon the number of nitrergic neurons was significantly reduced. These results suggest that a disturbed distal gut transit, reminiscent of constipation in the clinical setting, may occur as a consequence of a reduced propulsive motility, likely due to an impairment of a nitric oxide-mediated descending inhibition during peristalsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Blandini
- Interdepartmental Research Center for Parkinson's Disease (CRIMP), Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Pieretti S, Giannuario A, Colucci M, Mastriota M, Perretti M. 297 INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF FORMYL PEPTIDE RECEPTOR IN ACUTE NOCICEPTION USING GENE‐DEFICIENT MICE. Eur J Pain 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1090-3801(09)60300-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - M. Colucci
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - M. Perretti
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London, School of Medicine, LONDON, Great Britain
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Giannuario A, Colucci M, Mastriota M, Pieretti S. 319 FORMYL PEPTIDE N‐FORMYL‐Met‐Leu‐Phe INFLUENCED THE TOLERANCE TO THE ANTINOCICEPTIVE EFFECTS OF MORPHINE. Eur J Pain 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1090-3801(09)60322-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Giannuario
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M. Colucci
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M. Mastriota
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - S. Pieretti
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Mastriota M, Giannuario A, Colucci M, Giovannoni M, Biancalani C, Piaz V, Pieretti S. 296 A NEW ARYLPIPERAZINYLALKYL DERIVATIVE WITH POTENT ANTINOCICEPTIVE ACTIVITY IN MICE. Eur J Pain 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1090-3801(09)60299-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - M. Colucci
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M.P. Giovannoni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Sesto F.no, Florence, Italy
| | - C. Biancalani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Sesto F.no, Florence, Italy
| | - V. Piaz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Sesto F.no, Florence, Italy
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Colucci M, Cattaneo M, Martinelli I, Semeraro F, Binetti BM, Semeraro N. Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with increased TAFI levels and reduced plasma fibrinolytic potential. J Thromb Haemost 2008; 6:1571-7. [PMID: 18624976 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2008.03070.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mild hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) has been shown to be associated with impaired fibrinolysis, but some aspects of this association are unclear. OBJECTIVE Using an in vitro model of physiological relevance, we investigated whether and how HHcy influences plasma fibrinolytic potential. PATIENTS/METHODS We studied 176 patients with previous venous thromboembolism, 58 with HHcy, 118 with normal total homocysteine (tHcy) levels (NHcy), at least 3 months after withdrawal of anticoagulant therapy. Plasma fibrinolytic potential was measured as the fibrinolysis time of tissue factor (TF)-induced clots exposed to 15 ng mL(-1) t-PA. RESULTS Fibrinolysis time was longer in HHcy than in NHcy patients, but this difference disappeared when the assay was performed in the presence of the TAFIa inhibitor, PTCI. Plasma levels of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and factor VIII (FVIII) were higher in HHcy than NHcy, whereas PAI-1, fibrinogen and endogenous thrombin potential were similar. Using multivariate analysis, plasma tHcy was identified as an independent predictor of fibrinolysis time. Experiments in which native fibrinogen was replaced by purified fibrinogen suggested that alterations of fibrinogen structure did not contribute appreciably to the hypofibrinolysis of HHcy plasma samples. The acute increase of tHcy either in vivo (after an oral methionine load) or in vitro (after incubation of normal plasma with 0.5 mm DL-Hcy) had no effects on fibrinolysis or TAFI levels. CONCLUSIONS We describe an enhanced TAFI-related antifibrinolytic activity in mild HHcy, which might account for the reported heightened thrombosis risk; however, it is unknown whether HHcy is causally related to hypofibrinolysis or an associated bystander.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Colucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
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Rossiello M, Rotunno C, Carratù M, Semeraro N, Colucci M. IN VITRO INHIBITION OF MONOCYTE TISSUE FACTOR AND PAI-2 PRODUCTION BY OCHRATOXIN A. J Thromb Haemost 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2007.tb00561.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Altomare DF, Rotelli MT, Pentimone A, Rossiello MR, Martinelli E, Guglielmi A, De Fazio M, Marino F, Memeo V, Colucci M, Semeraro N. Tissue factor and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in colorectal cancer: relation with cancer recurrence. Colorectal Dis 2007; 9:133-8. [PMID: 17223937 DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2006.01158.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to quantify tissue factor (TF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colorectal cancer and to evaluate their possible relationship with recurrence. METHOD TF and VEGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in surgical tumour specimens and normal mucosa from 50 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who were followed up for 3 years for the assessment of disease recurrence. RESULTS TF and VEGF antigens were detected in all tumour samples. VEGF, but not TF, was much higher in tumour than in normal mucosa (P < 0.0001), as also confirmed by measurement of specific mRNAs. There was a strong correlation between TF and VEGF antigens (P < 0.0005) in tumour tissue but not in normal mucosa. Neither protein was related to tumour stage, grade or size. Local or distant recurrence was statistically related to pTNM stage. High VEGF, but not TF, levels in tumour extracts were associated with an increased risk of recurrence both by univariate (RR, 4.00, 95% CI: 1.45-11.0) and multivariate analyses (RR, 3.65, 95% CI: 1.33-10.0). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that VEGF content in colorectal cancer is an independent risk factor for tumour recurrence and might help select patients who might benefit from adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D F Altomare
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, General Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
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Colucci M, Cammarata S, Assini A, Croce R, Clerici F, Novello C, Mazzella L, Dagnino N, Mariani C, Tanganelli P. The number of pregnancies is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurol 2006; 13:1374-7. [PMID: 17116223 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2006.01520.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological data show a higher prevalence of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) in women. The estrogenic deficiency in the post-menopausal period is suspected to be the cause of the gender-related risk of the disease, but studies on the estrogenic therapy and occurrence of AD were not consistent and sometimes contradicting. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a higher exposure to endogenous estrogens is associated with lower risk of dementia or not. Two hundred and four AD patients and 201 control women were considered. By interviews, we evaluated different variables, indirectly correlated to estrogenic natural exposure, as well as educational level and head trauma. These data were correlated in the AD group with the disease progression, as well as with the age at onset. Unexpectedly, we found a significant higher number of pregnancies in the AD than in the control group. Within the AD cases, the number of lifetime pregnancies is related to an earlier onset of the disease. As previously reported, we confirmed that the educational level is a protective factor and that major head trauma represents a risk factor in developing AD. The higher number of pregnancies and a less frequency of nulliparous women, indirectly relate the AD group to a higher estro-progestinic exposure. These findings suggest that it is the increase of progesterone or estrogens level--and not the estrogens decrease, as previously indicated by other authors--that could play a role in the Alzheimer's pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Colucci
- Department of Neurology, P.A. Micone Hospital, Genova, Italy.
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Colucci M, Binetti B, Spiezia L, Gavasso S, Semeraro N, Simioni P. ID: 263 Effect of APC resistance associated with factor V mutations on plasma fibrinolysis. J Thromb Haemost 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.00263.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Colucci M, Binetti B, Branca G, Clerici C, Asciutti S, Morelli A, Semeraro N, Gresele P. ID: 259 Prognostic value of TAFI level in patients with liver cirrhosis. J Thromb Haemost 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.00259.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Colucci M, Rossiello M, Rotunno C, Carratu M, Smeraro N. ID: 260 Effect of ochratoxin A on tissue factor and PAI-2 production by human blood mononuclear cells. J Thromb Haemost 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.00260.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
Within an epidemiological study regarding the correlation between skin pathologies and personal ultraviolet (UV) exposure due to solar radiation, 14 field campaigns using polysulphone (PS) dosemeters were carried out at three different Italian sites (urban, semi-rural and rural) in every season of the year. A polysulphone calibration curve for each field experiment was obtained by measuring the ambient UV dose under almost clear sky conditions and the corresponding change in the PS film absorbance, prior and post exposure. Ambient UV doses were measured by well-calibrated broad-band radiometers and by electronic dosemeters. The dose-response relation was represented by the typical best fit to a third-degree polynomial and it was parameterized by a coefficient multiplying a cubic polynomial function. It was observed that the fit curves differed from each other in the coefficient only. It was assessed that the multiplying coefficient was affected by the solar UV spectrum at the Earth's surface whilst the polynomial factor depended on the photoinduced reaction of the polysulphone film. The mismatch between the polysulphone spectral curve and the CIE erythemal action spectrum was responsible for the variability among polysulphone calibration curves. The variability of the coefficient was related to the total ozone amount and the solar zenith angle. A mathematical explanation of such a parameterization was also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G R Casale
- University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Physics Department, P.le A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - M Borra
- ISPESL, (Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione E la Sicurezza del Lavoro), Occupational Hygiene Department, Via Fontana Candida 1, I-0040 Monteporzio Catone (RM), Italy
| | - A Colosimo
- University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, P.le A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - M Colucci
- ISPESL, (Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione E la Sicurezza del Lavoro), Occupational Hygiene Department, Via Fontana Candida 1, I-0040 Monteporzio Catone (RM), Italy
| | - A Militello
- ISPESL, (Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione E la Sicurezza del Lavoro), Occupational Hygiene Department, Via Fontana Candida 1, I-0040 Monteporzio Catone (RM), Italy
| | - A M Siani
- University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Physics Department, P.le A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - R Sisto
- ISPESL, (Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione E la Sicurezza del Lavoro), Occupational Hygiene Department, Via Fontana Candida 1, I-0040 Monteporzio Catone (RM), Italy
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Colucci M, Rossiello MR, Pentimone A, Berloco P, Russo F, Di Leo A, Semeraro N. Changes in coagulation-fibrinolysis balance in blood mononuclear cells and in gastric mucosa from patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. Thromb Res 2005; 116:471-7. [PMID: 16181982 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2005.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2004] [Revised: 01/19/2005] [Accepted: 02/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Helicobacter pylori and some of its virulence factors stimulate human blood mononuclear cells (MNC) in vitro to produce tissue factor (TF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2). In this study we investigated the procoagulant-fibrinolytic potential of blood MNC in patients with H. pylori infection. In the same patients we also evaluated the coagulation-fibrinolysis profile in gastric tissue and in plasma. METHODS AND RESULTS The production of TF and PAI-2 was evaluated in 61 patients with dyspepsia, 31 positive and 30 negative for H. pylori infection. TF expressed by MNC and PAI-2 accumulation in cell culture medium after incubation for 20 h at 37 degrees C were significantly higher in H. pylori(+) than in H. pylori(-) patients and were significantly correlated. TF and PAI-2 content in extracts of gastric mucosa was similar in the two groups whereas lower levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and thrombomodulin (TM) antigens were found in the antrum of H. pylori(+) patients. No difference between the groups was observed in plasma thrombus precursor protein, prothrombin fragment 1+2, D-dimer, t-PA, PAI-1, TM and thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS H. pylori infection is associated with functional abnormalities of blood MNC resulting in the coordinate expression of TF and antifibrinolytic activity. Changes in cell coagulation-fibrinolysis balance may represent a link between H. pylori infection and ischemic heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Colucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of General Pathology, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare, 11; I-70124 Bari, Italy.
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Rossiello MR, Momi S, Caracchini R, Giannini S, Guglielmini G, Monopoli A, Ongini E, Semeraro N, Colucci M, Gresele P. A novel nitric oxide-releasing statin derivative exerts an antiplatelet/antithrombotic activity and inhibits tissue factor expression. J Thromb Haemost 2005; 3:2554-62. [PMID: 16241953 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2005.01605.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND NO-releasing statins are new chemical entities, combining HMG-CoA reductase inhibition and slow NO release, that possess stronger anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities than the native statins. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the antithrombotic effects of nitropravastatin (NCX-6550) by assessing its activity on platelet activation and tissue factor (TF) expression by mononuclear cells in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS In vitro, NCX-6550 inhibited (1) U46619- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in buffer and plasma; (2) collagen-induced P-selectin expression in whole blood and (3) platelet adhesion to collagen-coated coverslips under high shear stress. These effects were displayed at concentrations of NCX-6550 ranging from 25 to 100 mum, and were totally reverted by the guanylylcyclase inhibitor ODQ (10 microm). Equimolar concentrations of pravastatin had no influence on these parameters of platelet function. LPS- and PMA-induced TF expression by blood mononuclear cells was also inhibited by NCX-6550 (IC50 13 microm), but not by pravastatin, as assessed by functional and immunological assays and by real-time PCR. In a mouse model of platelet pulmonary thromboembolism, induced by the i.v. injection of collagen plus epinephrine, pretreatment with NCX-6550 (24-48 mg kg(-1)) significantly reduced platelet consumption, lung vessel occlusion and mortality. Moreover, nitropravastatin markedly inhibited the generation of procoagulant activity by spleen mononuclear cells and peritoneal macrophages in mice treated with LPS. In these in vivo models too, pravastatin failed to affect platelet activation and monocyte/macrophage procoagulant activity. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that nitropravastatin exerts strong antithrombotic effects in vitro and in vivo, and may represent an interesting antiatherothrombotic agent for testing in acute coronary syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Rossiello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of General Pathology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Assini A, Cammarata S, Vitali A, Colucci M, Giliberto L, Borghi R, Inglese ML, Volpe S, Ratto S, Dagna-Bricarelli F, Baldo C, Argusti A, Odetti P, Piccini A, Tabaton M. Plasma levels of amyloid -protein 42 are increased in women with mild cognitive impairment. Neurology 2004; 63:828-31. [PMID: 15365131 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000137040.64252.ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulation in the brain of small aggregates of amyloid beta-protein 42 (Abeta42) is the major pathogenic event of Alzheimer disease (AD). In familial early-onset AD this event is likely the result of Abeta42 overproduction; in the most common sporadic late-onset form of the disease the mechanisms of Abeta42 accumulation are unknown. METHODS To address this issue the authors analyzed plasma levels of Abeta42 in 88 elderly patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), chosen as paradigm of preclinical sporadic AD. RESULTS The authors found a significant increase of Abeta42 plasma levels in women with MCI, in comparison to the affected men and 72 cognitively normal age-matched subjects. The levels were independent of variables in education, apolipoprotein E genotype, cholesterol, and creatinine plasma concentrations, as well as hemoglobin content. CONCLUSIONS The elevation of Abeta42 plasma levels in women with MCI may represent a biologic explanation for the sex-dependent increased incidence of late-onset AD in women identified by epidemiologic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Assini
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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42
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Castellani RJ, Colucci M, Xie Z, Zou W, Li C, Parchi P, Capellari S, Pastore M, Rahbar MH, Chen SG, Gambetti P. Sensitivity of 14-3-3 protein test varies in subtypes of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Neurology 2004; 63:436-42. [PMID: 15304573 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000135153.96325.3b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increase of the 14-3-3 protein in CSF is used as a diagnostic test in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), but the sensitivity and specificity of the 14-3-3 test are disputed. One reason for the dispute may be the recently established heterogeneity of sporadic CJD. The relationship between CSF 14-3-3 protein and sporadic CJD subtypes, distinguished by electrophoretic mobility of proteinase K-resistant prion protein (PrP(Sc)) and genotype at codon 129 of the prion protein gene, has not been elucidated. METHODS The authors examined the 14-3-3 protein test in 90 patients with sporadic CJD. PrP(Sc) type (type 1 or type 2) and the genotype at polymorphic codon 129 were determined in each patient. Mutations were excluded by prion gene sequencing. RESULTS The authors' findings indicate that the sensitivity of the 14-3-3 test is higher in patients with molecular features of the classic sporadic CJD than in patients with the nonclassic CJD subtypes. The difference appears to be related to the PrP(Sc) type and not to the codon 129 genotype. Disease duration before 14-3-3 testing might also have an influence because it was shorter in classic sporadic CJD. CONCLUSION The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease clinical subtype should be considered when interpreting results of the 14-3-3 test.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Castellani
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Division of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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43
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Colucci M, Piro D, Pentimone A, Ranieri P, Micelli M, Semeraro N. Identification of a dysfibrinogenemia characterized by marked resistance to fibrinolysis in an asymptomatic woman. J Thromb Haemost 2003. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2003.tb03458.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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44
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Altomare DF, Rotelli MT, Memeo V, Martinelli E, Guglielmi A, DeFazio M, D'Elia G, Pentimone A, Colucci M, Semeraro N. [Expression of tissue factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma]. Tumori 2003; 89:5-6. [PMID: 12903530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Tissue factor (TF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. We analyzed their expression in the carcinoma and normal mucosa of 53 colorectal cancer patients. VEGF levels were significantly higher in the tumor and correlated with TF expression. No correlation was found with tumor stage. TF may influence tumor growth and metastasis by modulating VEGF expression and neoangiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D F Altomare
- Dipartimento dell'Emergenza e Trapianti d'Organo, Sezione Chirurgia Generale e Trapianto di Fegato, Università degli Studi, Bari
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45
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Colucci M, Semeraro N. Rebuttal to: Effect of heparin on TAFI-dependent inhibition of fibrinolysis. J Thromb Haemost 2003. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1538-7836.2003.00035.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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46
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Pan T, Colucci M, Wong BS, Li R, Liu T, Petersen RB, Chen S, Gambetti P, Sy MS. Novel differences between two human prion strains revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:37284-8. [PMID: 11489910 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m107358200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotype of human sporadic prion diseases is affected by patient genotype at codon 129 of the prion protein (PrP) gene, the site of a common methionine/valine polymorphism, and by the type of the scrapie PrP (PrP(Sc)), which likely reflects the prion strain. However, two distinct disease phenotypes, identified as sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (M/M2 sCJD) and sporadic fatal insomnia (sFI), share methionine homozygosity at codon 129 and PrP(Sc) type 2. One-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting reveal no difference between the M/M2 sCJD and sFI species of PrP(Sc) in gel mobility and glycoform ratio. In contrast, the two-dimensional immunoblot demonstrates that in M/M2 sCJD the full-length PrP(Sc) form is overrepresented and carries glycans that are different from those present in the PrP(Sc) of sFI. Because the altered glycans are detectable only in the PrP(Sc) and not in the normal or cellular PrP (PrP(C)), they are likely to result from preferential conversion to PrP(Sc) of rare PrP(C) glycoforms. This is the first evidence that a qualitative difference in glycans contributes to prion diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Pan
- Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44107-1712, USA
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47
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Mele A, Tancredi F, Romanò L, Giuseppone A, Colucci M, Sangiuolo A, Lecce R, Adamo B, Tosti ME, Taliani G, Zanetti AR. Effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination in babies born to hepatitis B surface antigen-positive mothers in Italy. J Infect Dis 2001; 184:905-8. [PMID: 11509998 DOI: 10.1086/323396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2001] [Revised: 06/22/2001] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined 522 children born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers from 1985 through 1994 and evaluated the protection provided by anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization at birth. Babies were given hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccine at birth. At 5-14 years after immunization, 17 children (3.3%) were anti-HB core antigen positive, and 3 also were HBsAg positive. One carrier child had a double mutation, with substitution of proline-->serine at codons 120 (P120S) and 127 (P127S) within the a determinant of HBsAg. Of the 522 children, 400 (79.2%) of 505 still had protective anti-HBsAg titers > or =10 mIU/mL. Thus, HBV vaccination of children born to HBsAg-positive mothers is effective and confers long-term immunity. There is no evidence that the emergence of HBV escape mutants secondary to the immune pressure against wild-type HBV is of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mele
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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48
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Abstract
Human prion diseases are characterized by the conversion of the normal prion protein (PrP(C)) into a pathogenic isomer (PrP(Sc)). Distinct PrP(Sc) conformers are associated with different subtypes of prion diseases. PrP(C) binds copper and has antioxidation activity. Changes in metal-ion occupancy can lead to significant decline of the antioxidation activity and changes in conformation of the protein. We studied the trace element status of brains from patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). We found a decrease of up to 50% of copper and an increase in manganese of approximately 10-fold in the brain tissues from sCJD subjects. We have also studied the metal occupancy of PrP in sCJD patients. We observed striking elevation of manganese and, to a lesser extent, of zinc accompanied by significant reduction of copper bound to purified PrP in all sCJD variants, determined by the PrP genotype and PrP(Sc) type, combined. Both zinc and manganese were undetectable in PrP(C) preparations from controls. Copper and manganese changes were pronounced in sCJD subjects homozygous for methionine at codon 129 and carrying PrP(Sc) type-1. Anti-oxidation activity of purified PrP was dramatically reduced by up to 85% in the sCJD variants, and correlated with increased in oxidative stress markers in sCJD brains. These results suggest that altered metal-ion occupancy of PrP plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Since the metal changes differed in each sCJD variants, they may contribute to the diversity of PrP(Sc) and disease phenotype in sCJD. Finally, this study also presented two potential approaches in the diagnosis of CJD; the significant increase in brain manganese makes it potentially detectable by MRI, and the binding of manganese by PrP in sCJD might represent a novel diagnostic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- B S Wong
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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49
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Montemurro P, Barbuti G, Dundon WG, Del Giudice G, Rappuoli R, Colucci M, De Rinaldis P, Montecucco C, Semeraro N, Papini E. Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein stimulates tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 production by human blood mononuclear cells. J Infect Dis 2001; 183:1055-62. [PMID: 11237830 DOI: 10.1086/319280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2000] [Revised: 12/04/2000] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) is a virulence factor that activates phagocytic NADPH-oxidase. The effect of HP-NAP on the production of tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2), and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) by human blood mononuclear cells (MNC) was evaluated by using functional and immunological assays and mRNA analysis. HP-NAP induced time- and dose-dependent increases in TF and PAI-2, with a maximal effect at 300 nmol/L (>15-fold increase in antigens). No changes in u-PA were observed. When whole bacteria were used, an H. pylori mutant lacking HP-NAP was significantly less active than the wild-type strain. MNC from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease behaved as do normal cells, which indicates that HP-NAP effects can occur independently of NADPH-oxidase. HP-NAP, by inducing the coordinate expression of cell procoagulant and antifibrinolytic activities, might favor fibrin deposition and contribute to the inflammatory reaction of gastric mucosa elicited by H. pylori.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Montemurro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Patologia Generale, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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50
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Abstract
We have studied the modulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) protein Tat in microglia and astrocyte cultures obtained from neonatal rat brain. Pretreatment of microglia with recombinant Tat resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease of cAMP accumulation induced by subsequent exposure to isoproterenol (1 microM). The inhibitory action of 100 ng/mL Tat approached 50% after 4 h of preincubation and reached a maximum of 70% after 24 h. The Tat-induced time- and dose-dependent decrease of cAMP accumulation was observed also when microglial cultures were stimulated with the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin (100 microM). In both cases, Tat inhibitory action was 70% reverted by a specific monoclonal anti-Tat antibody, but was not prevented either by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xantine (100 microM) or by a 16-h pretreatment of microglial cultures with the Gi protein inhibitor pertussis toxin (10 ng/mL). All these results suggested that the viral protein acts at a step of the cAMP transduction pathway other than receptors, G proteins and phosphodiesterases. The target of Tat appeared to be adenylyl cyclase, whose activity was markedly reduced (up to 60%) in membranes prepared from Tat-treated microglial cells, both in basal conditions and after stimulation with isoproterenol and forskolin. The inability of the competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase N(G)-monometyl- L-arginine (20 and 200 microM) to revert Tat action on forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, and of two potent nitric oxide donors, PAPA and DETA (0.1-2 m M), to alter forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, excluded an involvement of nitric oxide in Tat-induced adenylyl cyclase inhibition. On the contrary, two inhibitors of nuclear factor kappaB activation, N-tosyl-( L)-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (10 microM) and SN50 (25 microM), markedly prevented the reduction of forskolin-evoked cAMP accumulation by Tat, suggesting a possible role for this nuclear transcriptional factor in the regulation of adenylyl cyclase by Tat in microglia. This assumption was strengthened by the ability of lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/mL, 4 h) to mimic the inhibitory effect of the viral protein. Conversely, astrocyte cAMP accumulation was unaffected by the viral protein, as tested at various concentrations and time points. Finally, Tat inhibition of microglial adenylyl cyclase was not due to non-specific cytotoxicity. As cAMP has been reported to exert a neuroprotective role in several in vivo and in vitro models of brain pathologies, and microglia is believed to mediate Tat-induced neurotoxicity, these results suggest that the ability of Tat to inhibit cAMP synthesis in microglia may contribute to neuronal degeneration and cell death associated with HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Patrizio
- Neurobiology Section, Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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