Pro-inflammatory phospholipid arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio of dysmetabolic severely obese women.

BACKGROUND: Fatty acids (FAs) and adipokines such as adiponectin or interleukin-6 (IL-6) are known to modulate inflammation and the development of metabolic syndrome. Whether FA composition assessed in plasma triacylglycerols (TAGs), phospholipids (PLs) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and adipose tissue (AT) PLs differed between dysmetabolic and non-dysmetabolic severely obese women remains to be established. Whether the plasma and/or AT arachidonic acid (AA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio in the PL sub-fraction may be associated with adipokine AT gene expression needs to be examined. METHODS: FA composition was measured in plasma lipid classes and in the TAG and PL sub-fractions of subcutaneous abdominal and omental ATs of severely obese women paired for age and adiposity but showing a dysmetabolic profile (n = 13) or not (n = 14). FA profile was assessed by gas chromatography. Plasma and AT mRNA concentrations of adiponectin and IL-6 were measured by ELISA and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: Plasma adiponectin and FA concentrations in the NEFA sub-fraction were, respectively, lower and higher in dysmetabolic than in non-dysmetabolic women (p < 0.05). Despite similar FA levels in the PL sub-fraction, the AA/EPA ratio was higher in plasma and ATs (p < 0.005), because of an EPA decrease in plasma and subcutaneous abdominal fat vs. an AA increase in the omental depot. The AA/EPA ratio was negatively associated with adiponectin concentrations in plasma and subcutaneous abdominal AT (0.01 < p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic dysfunction is associated with a pro-inflammatory phospholipid AA/EPA ratio in plasma and ATs, and an altered adiponectin secretion that could contribute to developing metabolic syndrome.

Identification of a novel HLA-A*02 allele, A*027401*.

A novel HLA-A*02 allele was detected in a Caucasian patient from central Italy, requiring a hematopoietic cell transplantation. Direct sequencing identified a variation in one nucleotide position, which was confirmed by cloning. The name A*027401 was officially assigned by the WHO Nomenclature Committee in November 2004. A*027401 differs from A*02010101 by a single G to A substitution at nucleotide position 595 in exon 3. The new variant would lead to a nonsynonymous nucleotide change (GGG to AGG) at codon 175, resulting in a basic Arg in the alpha-helix of the alpha2-domain, in place of a non-polar Gly. The presence of an uncommon variation at a highly conserved nucleotide position could have implications in unrelated hematopoietic cell transplantation.

[Exfoliative cytology of psoriasis: effects of cyclosporin A]. / Citologia esfoliativa della psoriasi: effetti della ciclosporina A.

The cytological modifications of the horny layer cell population in psoriatic subjects during treatment with Cyclosporin A are described. They are studied by means of the cytoexfoliative method. The value of this technique is discussed, using it either for diagnosis, or for evaluating therapeutic efficacy of various treatments. The cytological findings are respectively compared with those of other psoriasis therapies, such as Methotrexate and RO 10-9359 (etretinate).

Effects of isotretinoin on the neutrophil chemotaxis in cystic acne.

The authors show that the use of Isotretinoin (Ro 4-3740) in cystic acne brings a reduction of chemotactic activity of the neutrophil granulocytes, like another retinoid, Etretinate, in pustular and vulgar psoriasis. This effect of retinoids, with a direct action on the polymorphonuclear leukocytes plays an important role in the recovery of the disease.

[Effect of 13-cis-retinoic acid (Ro 4-3780) in the therapy of severe cystic acne]. / Effetti dell'acido 13-cis-retinoico (Ro 4-3780) nella terapia dell'acne cistica grave.

Five subjects with serious cystic acne, two of which were also affected by hydrosadenitis, were examined during a treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid. The drug was given at decreasing doses: 0.9 mg/kg body weight for a period of six weeks, followed by a second six weeks period at 0.6 mg/kg and lastly by another 9 months period at 0.3 mg/kg. The patients had a good response to the treatment with a rapid reduction of the number and of the severity of the acneic lesions, with the only exception of one subject who had a relapse at the 18th week. This study, limited to a small number of patients, suggest that 13-cis-retinoic acid may be used in severe cystic acne with a higher dosage in the presence of complicating hydrosadenitis.

An occurrence of Newcastle disease in pigeons: virological and serological studies on the isolates.

The antigenic and pathogenetic relationship between pigeon Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates during outbreaks of 1982 in Italy and reference pathogen and non-pathogen NDV-strains were investigated. The pigeon-isolates were slow-eluters and showed a thermostability at 56 degrees C of over 30 min. They proved to be lentogenic as measured by the mean-death-time in chicken-embryos, and between lentogenic and mesogenic as measured by the Hanson test. They failed to produce plaques in chicken-embryo-fibroblasts and showed high pathogenicity for experimentally infected pigeons, low-pathogenicity for quails and were not pathogenic for chickens. They were antigenically different from the LaSota strain as measured by the cross-HI-test and induced considerable seroconversion in inoculated animals. The existence of a lentogenic neurotropic pigeon-pathogenic strain was considered.

[Treatment with levamisole in a case of deficiency of the neutrophil granulocyte function associated with an increase in plasma IgA and recurrent dermal abscess infections]. / Trattamento con Levamisolo di un caso di deficit della funzionalità dei granulociti neutrofili associato ad aumento delle IgA plasmatiche e infezioni ascessuali dermiche ricorrenti.

The authors describe a case of recurrent dermal abscess infections resistant to usual antibiotic therapy and demonstrating a failing of the activity of the neutrophils and a remarkable increase of plasmatic IgA. The treatment with Levamisole regularized the laboratory data and, as a result, determined a consequent important improvement of the patient.