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1.
Eur J Public Health ; 34(3): 592-599, 2024 Jun 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38243748

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of individuals reports persistent clinical manifestations following SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) acute infection. Nevertheless, knowledge of the burden of this condition-often referred to as 'Long COVID'-on the health care system remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate healthcare utilization potentially related to Long COVID. METHODS: Population-based, retrospective, multi-center cohort study that analyzed hospital admissions and utilization of outpatient visits and diagnostic tests between adults aged 40 years and older recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred between February 2020 and December 2021 and matched unexposed individuals during a 6-month observation period. Healthcare utilization was analyzed by considering the setting of care for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection [non-hospitalized, hospitalized and intensive care unit (ICU)-admitted] as a proxy for the severity of acute infection and epidemic phases characterized by different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Data were retrieved from regional health administrative databases of three Italian Regions. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 307 994 previously SARS-CoV-2 infected matched with 307 994 uninfected individuals. Among exposed individuals, 92.2% were not hospitalized during the acute infection, 7.3% were hospitalized in a non-ICU ward and 0.5% were admitted to ICU. Individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 (vs. unexposed), especially those hospitalized or admitted to ICU, reported higher utilization of outpatient visits (range of pooled Incidence Rate Ratios across phases; non-hospitalized: 1.11-1.33, hospitalized: 1.93-2.19, ICU-admitted: 3.01-3.40), diagnostic tests (non-hospitalized: 1.35-1.84, hospitalized: 2.86-3.43, ICU-admitted: 4.72-7.03) and hospitalizations (non-hospitalized: 1.00-1.52, hospitalized: 1.87-2.36, ICU-admitted: 4.69-5.38). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with increased use of health care in the 6 months following infection, and association was mainly driven by acute infection severity.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Hospitalização , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Masculino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Idoso , Adulto , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Itália/epidemiologia , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Síndrome de COVID-19 Pós-Aguda , Estudos de Coortes , Recursos em Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva/estatística & dados numéricos
2.
BMC Endocr Disord ; 22(1): 52, 2022 Mar 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35241041

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: In adult population, Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) is a complex clinical condition with heterogeneity of causes and duration. Growth Hormone (GH) replacement therapy has beneficial effects entailing a chronic and expensive use. Therefore, entity, appropriateness and standardization of GHD treatment need to be accurately analysed. In Italy, the epidemiological surveillance on somatropin therapy is entrusted to the National Register of Growth Hormone Therapy (Registro Nazionale degli Assuntori dell'Ormone della Crescita-RNAOC) by the Italian Regulation, in accordance of which the RNAOC-database is collecting the notifications of somatropin prescriptions. METHODS: Aim of this study is to analyse data on somatropin-treated adult population communicated to the RNAOC by the specialist centres of 15 Italian regions and 2 autonomous provinces. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2019, the somatropin-treated adults were 970 with 4061 examinations (1.21 ± 0.33 visits/year). The diagnoses were: hypopituitarism (n = 579); hypophysectomy (n = 383); and congenital GHD (n = 3). Five subjects were addressed with diagnoses not included in the regulation. The starting posology of somatropin was 0.320 (± 0.212) mg/day, 0.292 (± 0.167) mg/day in male and 0.360 (± 0.258) in female patients, with 7 administrations/week in 70.31% of the prescriptions. The differences in posology by gender persisted at 10th year of the follow-up. Starting dosage was higher in patients diagnosed with adult GHD before the age of 30 (0.420 ± 0.225 mg/day), with a progressive decrease of the dosage during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on adult GH treatment, describing numbers, diagnoses, and pharmaceutical prescriptions associated to somatropin therapy in a large cohort of Italian GHD-adults.


Assuntos
Hormônio do Crescimento Humano/deficiência , Hormônio do Crescimento Humano/uso terapêutico , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Terapia de Reposição Hormonal/métodos , Hormônio do Crescimento Humano/administração & dosagem , Humanos , Hipofisectomia , Hipopituitarismo/diagnóstico , Hipopituitarismo/tratamento farmacológico , Itália , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Proteínas Recombinantes/uso terapêutico , Sistema de Registros , Adulto Jovem
3.
Cell Mol Neurobiol ; 38(6): 1315-1320, 2018 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29846839

RESUMO

Curcumin is one of the major compounds contained in turmeric, the powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa. Results obtained in various experimental models indicate that curcumin has the potential to treat a large variety of neuronal diseases. Excitotoxicity, the toxicity due to pathological glutamate receptors stimulation, has been considered to be involved in several ocular pathologies including ischemia, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. The NMDA receptor (NMDAR), a heteromeric ligand-gated ion channel, is composed of GluN1 and GluN2 subunits. There are four GluN2 subunits (GluN2A-D), which are major determinants of the functional properties of NMDARs. It is widely accepted that GluN2B has a pivotal role in excitotoxicity while the role of GluN2A remains controversial. We previously demonstrated that curcumin is neuroprotective against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity with a mechanism involving an increase of GluN2A subunit activity. In this paper, we investigate the mechanisms involved in curcumin-induced GluN2A increase in retinal cultures. Our results show that curcumin treatment activated CaMKII with a time-course that paralleled those of GluN2A increase. Moreover, KN-93, a CaMKII inhibitor, was able to block the effect of curcumin on GluN2A expression. Finally, in our experimental model, curcumin reduced ser/thr phosphatases activity. Using okadaic acid, a specific PP1 and PP2A blocker, we observed an increase in GluN2A levels in cultures. The ability of okadaic acid to mimic the effect of curcumin on GluN2A expression suggests that curcumin might regulate GluN2A expression through a phosphatase-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, our findings indicate curcumin modulation of CaMKII and/or ser/thr phosphatases activities as a mechanism involved in GluN2A expression and neuroprotection against excitotoxicity.


Assuntos
Proteína Quinase Tipo 2 Dependente de Cálcio-Calmodulina/efeitos dos fármacos , Curcumina/farmacologia , Fosfoproteínas Fosfatases/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Proteína Quinase Tipo 2 Dependente de Cálcio-Calmodulina/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Neurônios/metabolismo , Fosfoproteínas Fosfatases/metabolismo , Ratos Wistar , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos
4.
Exp Eye Res ; 145: 158-163, 2016 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26607807

RESUMO

The effects of the anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) drugs ranibizumab and aflibercept were studied in Müller glia in primary mixed cultures from rat neonatal retina. Treatment with both agents induced activation of Müller glia, demonstrated by increased levels of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein. In addition, phosphorylated Extracellular-Regulated Kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) showed enhanced immunoreactivity in activated Müller glia. Treatment with aflibercept induced an increase in K(+) channel (Kir) 4.1 levels and both drugs upregulated Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in activated Müller glia. The results show that VEGF-antagonizing drugs influence the homeostasis of Müller cells in primary retinal cultures, inducing an activated phenotype. Upregulation of Kir4.1 and AQP4 suggests that Müller glia activation following anti-VEGF drugs may not depict a detrimental gliotic reaction. Indeed, it could represent one of the mechanisms able to contribute to the therapeutic effects of these drugs, particularly in the presence of macular edema.


Assuntos
Células Ependimogliais/metabolismo , Proteínas do Olho/metabolismo , Degeneração Macular/tratamento farmacológico , Neuroglia/metabolismo , Ranibizumab/farmacologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/farmacologia , Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores da Angiogênese/farmacologia , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Western Blotting , Células Cultivadas , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Eletroforese , Células Ependimogliais/patologia , Degeneração Macular/metabolismo , Degeneração Macular/patologia , Neuroglia/patologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Receptores de Fatores de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular , Regulação para Cima
5.
Exp Eye Res ; 125: 20-9, 2014 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24877742

RESUMO

Müller cell activation is an early finding in diabetic retinopathy (DR), but its physiopathologic role in the disease is still unclear, especially in the early phases. We investigated on Müller glial activation in primary rat retinal cultures, exposed to High Glucose (HG), and in retinas from streptozotocin (stz)-induced diabetic rats. First of all, we checked if the presence of Müller glia influenced HG neurotoxicity. In mixed glial/neuronal retinal cultures, a single HG administration (sHG) for 48 h induced activation of Müller glia, in absence of neuronal damage. In contrast, in pure neuronal cultures, a marked neurotoxic effect was detected, suggesting that in this cell model Müller glia protect neurons from HG neurotoxicity. To better mimic the diabetic milieu, where retinal cells are constantly bathed in hyperglycemic fluid, and to further characterize astrocytic neuroprotective ability, mixed retinal cultures were exposed to repeated daily replacement of HG (rHG). In this paradigm, starting from 48 h, increased apoptosis and synaptic loss were observed, even in the presence of Müller cells. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), whose activation triggers a prosurvival pathway, was increased by sHG, while it was down-regulated by rHG, suggesting that ERK1/2 activation is involved in neuroprotection. Consistently, in presence of ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, sHG exerted a proapoptotic effect also in glial/neuronal retinal cultures. In line with the in vitro data, early changes in diabetic retinas from stz-injected rats included Müller cell activation and increased pERK1/2 levels, but no signs of neuronal damage. These results suggest that, in the early phases of DR, Müller glial activation does not contribute to neurodegeneration, but may indeed have a neuroprotective activity against HG-induced neurotoxicity through a mechanism involving pERK1/2.


Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Retinopatia Diabética/fisiopatologia , Células Ependimogliais/fisiologia , Sistema de Sinalização das MAP Quinases/fisiologia , Retina/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Western Blotting , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Retinopatia Diabética/induzido quimicamente , Células Ependimogliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Glucose/toxicidade , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley
6.
Int J Mol Sci ; 15(4): 6286-97, 2014 Apr 14.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24736780

RESUMO

In recent years, citicoline has been the object of remarkable interest as a possible neuroprotectant. The aim of this study was to investigate if citicoline affected cell survival in primary retinal cultures and if it exerted neuroprotective activity in conditions modeling retinal neurodegeneration. Primary retinal cultures, obtained from rat embryos, were first treated with increasing concentrations of citicoline (up to 1000 µM) and analyzed in terms of apoptosis and caspase activation and characterized by immunocytochemistry to identify neuronal and glial cells. Subsequently, excitotoxic concentration of glutamate or High Glucose-containing cell culture medium (HG) was administered as well-known conditions modeling neurodegeneration. Glutamate or HG treatments were performed in the presence or not of citicoline. Neuronal degeneration was evaluated in terms of apoptosis and loss of synapses. The results showed that citicoline did not cause any damage to the retinal neuroglial population up to 1000 µM. At the concentration of 100 µM, it was able to counteract neuronal cell damage both in glutamate- and HG-treated retinal cultures by decreasing proapoptotic effects and contrasting synapse loss. These data confirm that citicoline can efficiently exert a neuroprotective activity. In addition, the results suggest that primary retinal cultures, under conditions inducing neurodegeneration, may represent a useful system to investigate citicoline neuroprotective mechanisms.


Assuntos
Citidina Difosfato Colina/farmacologia , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Retina/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Glucose/toxicidade , Ácido Glutâmico/toxicidade , Modelos Biológicos , Ratos , Retina/citologia
7.
Front Public Health ; 11: 1122141, 2023.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37151592

RESUMO

A significant number of people, following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, report persistent symptoms or new symptoms that are sustained over time, often affecting different body systems. This condition, commonly referred to as Long-COVID, requires a complex clinical management. In Italy new health facilities specifically dedicated to the diagnosis and care of Long-COVID were implemented. However, the activity of these clinical centers is highly heterogeneous, with wide variation in the type of services provided, specialistic expertise and, ultimately, in the clinical care provided. Recommendations for a uniform management of Long-COVID were therefore needed. Professionals from different disciplines (including general practitioners, specialists in respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, internal medicine, geriatrics, cardiology, neurology, pediatrics, and odontostomatology) were invited to participate, together with a patient representative, in a multidisciplinary Panel appointed to draft Good Practices on clinical management of Long-COVID. The Panel, after extensive literature review, issued recommendations on 3 thematic areas: access to Long-COVID services, clinical evaluation, and organization of the services. The Panel highlighted the importance of providing integrated multidisciplinary care in the management of patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and agreed that a multidisciplinary service, one-stop clinic approach could avoid multiple referrals and reduce the number of appointments. In areas where multidisciplinary services are not available, services may be provided through integrated and coordinated primary, community, rehabilitation and mental health services. Management should be adapted according to the patient's needs and should promptly address possible life-threatening complications. The present recommendations could provide guidance and support in standardizing the care provided to Long-COVID patients.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Geriatria , Humanos , Criança , Síndrome de COVID-19 Pós-Aguda , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/terapia , SARS-CoV-2 , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde
8.
Front Public Health ; 10: 975527, 2022.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36062113

RESUMO

Background: Despite the growing clinical relevance of Long-COVID, there is minimal information available on the organizational response of health services to this condition. Methods: A national online survey of centers providing assistance for Long-COVID was implemented. Information collected included date of start of activity, target population, mode of assistance and of referral, type and number of specialists available, diagnostic and instrumental tests, use of telemedicine and of specific questionnaires. Results: Between February and May 2022, 124 centers completed the survey. Half of them were situated in northern Italy. Most (88.9%) provided assistance through either outpatient visits or day hospital services. Eleven (8.9%) assisted pediatric patients. Access to centers included scheduled visits for previously hospitalized patients (67.7%), referral from primary care (62.1%), from other specialists (46.8%), and, less commonly, from other services. Almost half of the centers (46.3%) started their activity early in the pandemics (March-September 2020). Almost all (93.5%) communicated with primary care physicians, and 21.8% used telemedicine tools. The mean number of patients followed was 40 per month (median 20, IQR 10-40). In most cases, the center coordinator was a specialist in respiratory diseases (30.6%), infectious diseases (28.2%), or internal medicine (25.0%). At least half of the centers had specialistic support in cardiology, respiratory diseases, radiology, infectious diseases, neurology and psychology, but roughly one quarter of centers had just only one (14.5%) or two (9.7%) specialists available. The clinical assessment was usually supported by a wide range of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics and by multidimensional evaluations. Conclusions: Most of the centers had an articulate and multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and care of Long-COVID. However, a minority of centers provided only single or dual specialistic support. These findings may be of help in defining common standards, interventions and guidelines that can reduce gaps and heterogeneity in assistance to patients with Long-COVID.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Telemedicina , COVID-19/complicações , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Criança , Humanos , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Telemedicina/métodos , Síndrome de COVID-19 Pós-Aguda
9.
Ann Ist Super Sanita ; 58(1): 67-72, 2022.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35324476

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Aim of this paper is to present a guide for translating to practice an evidence-based set of Quality Criteria and Recommendations (QCR) to promote the implementation of policies and practices in the field of health promotion, disease prevention and care for people with chronic diseases. METHODS: The guide is based on real-world experiences of eight European pilot actions using QCR as a framework for practice design, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. All partners implemented their respective practices by following the same agreed process. RESULTS: The implementation method was summarized in seven steps where each of one outline a particular phase of the process. The guide provides a step-by-step tutorial for the implementation of QCR. CONCLUSIONS: Practical experiences from the pilot actions show the potential value of using the QCR in designing and implementing practices to improve the quality of care for people with chronic diseases.


Assuntos
Promoção da Saúde , Políticas , Doença Crônica , Humanos , Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde
10.
Neurobiol Dis ; 35(2): 278-85, 2009 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19481149

RESUMO

The early effects of the diabetic milieu on retinal tissue and their relation to the Renin-Angiotensin system (RAS) activation are poorly known. Here we investigated RAS signaling in retinas explanted from adult rats exposed for 48 h to high glucose (HG), with or without the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitor enalaprilat, which blocks RAS. HG was observed to i) initiate a phosphotyrosine-dependent signaling cascade; ii) up-regulate Angiotensin(1) Receptor (AT(1)R); iii) activate src tyrosine kinase and increase phosphorylation of Pyk2, PLCgamma1 and ERK1/2; and iv) activate Akt and the transcription factor CREB. In the presence of enalaprilat, tyrosine phosphorylation signal and AT(1)R upregulation decreased and activation of PLCgamma1 and CREB reverted, showing their relation to RAS signaling. In line with Akt activation, no apoptosis or synapse degeneration was found. Müller glia was activated, but in a RAS-independent manner. Our results suggest that, in early phases of HG exposure, a pro-survival cell program may be induced in the retina.


Assuntos
Glucose/metabolismo , Sistema Renina-Angiotensina/fisiologia , Retina/fisiologia , Inibidores da Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina/farmacologia , Animais , Proteína de Ligação ao Elemento de Resposta ao AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Enalaprilato/farmacologia , Quinase 2 de Adesão Focal/metabolismo , Técnicas In Vitro , Masculino , Proteína Quinase 1 Ativada por Mitógeno/metabolismo , Proteína Quinase 3 Ativada por Mitógeno/metabolismo , Fosfolipase C gama/metabolismo , Fosfotirosina/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Receptor Tipo 1 de Angiotensina/metabolismo , Sistema Renina-Angiotensina/efeitos dos fármacos , Retina/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios Retinianos/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios Retinianos/fisiologia , Fatores de Tempo , Quinases da Família src/metabolismo
11.
Ital J Pediatr ; 45(1): 130, 2019 Oct 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31639023

RESUMO

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is an approved and effective treatment for short children born small for gestational age (SGA). Prevalence of children eligible for treatment as SGA is reported to be 1:1800. The latest data from the National Registry of Growth Hormone therapy (RNAOC) showed that the number of children treated with SGA indication is still small (prevalence 0.37/100,000) and these children are significantly less reported than those treated for growth hormone deficiency (GHD), although GHD prevalence is 1:4000-1:10,000. This means that many short children born SGA are still not properly identified, and therefore not treated with rhGH, or misdiagnosed as GHD. This article provides some practical tools for the identification of children eligible for rhGH treatment.


Assuntos
Estatura , Hormônio do Crescimento Humano/deficiência , Hormônio do Crescimento Humano/uso terapêutico , Recém-Nascido Pequeno para a Idade Gestacional , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Itália , Masculino , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto
12.
Neuroscience ; 411: 119-129, 2019 07 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31128161

RESUMO

In hypertensive retinopathy, the retinal damage due to high blood pressure is accompanied by increased expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), which indicates a role of neuroinflammatory processes in such a retinopathy. Proteins belonging to the Rho GTPase family, particularly Rac1, are involved in the activation of Müller glia and in the progression of photoreceptor degeneration, and may thus represent a novel candidate for therapeutic intervention following central nervous system inflammation. In this paper, we have observed that topical administration as eye drops of Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1), a Rho GTPase modulator, surprisingly improves electrophysiological and behavioral visual performances in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats. Furthermore, such functional improvement is accompanied by a reduction of Rac1 activity and retinal GFAP expression. Our results suggest that Rac1 inhibition through CNF1 topical administration may represent a new strategy to target retinal gliosis.


Assuntos
Toxinas Bacterianas/uso terapêutico , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/uso terapêutico , Gliose/tratamento farmacológico , Retinopatia Hipertensiva/tratamento farmacológico , Retina/efeitos dos fármacos , Visão Ocular/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Toxinas Bacterianas/administração & dosagem , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/administração & dosagem , Gliose/fisiopatologia , Retinopatia Hipertensiva/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Soluções Oftálmicas , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos SHR , Retina/fisiopatologia
13.
Metabolism ; 71: 64-69, 2017 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28521879

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) constitute a highly heterogeneous family of compounds, relevant in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, which could represent efficient biomarkers of disease progression and drug response. Unfortunately, due to their chemical heterogeneity, no method has been validated to faithfully monitor their levels in the course of the disease. In this study, we refine a procedure to quantitatively analyze fluorescent AGEs (fAGEs), a subset considered remarkably representative of the entire AGE family, and measure them in in vitro glycated BSA (gBSA) and in plasma and vitreous of diabetic rats, for testing its use to possibly quantify circulating AGEs in patients, as markers of metabolic control. METHODS: fAGE levels were evaluated by spectrofluorimetric analysis in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. BSA was glycated in vitro with increasing D-glucose concentrations for a fixed time or with a fixed D-glucose concentration for increasing time. In in vivo experiments, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were studied at 1, 3, 6 and 12weeks to analyze plasma and vitreous. To confirm the presence of AGEs in our models, non-diabetic rat retinal explants were exposed to high glucose (HG), to reproduce short-term effects, or in vitro gBSA, to reproduce long-term effects of elevated glucose concentrations. Rat retinal explants and diabetic retinal tissues were evaluated for the receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: In in vitro experiments, fluorescence emission showed glucose concentration- and time-dependent increase of fAGEs in gBSA (p≤0.05). In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, fAGE in plasma and vitrei showed an increase at 6 (p≤0.005) and 12 (p≤0.05) weeks of diabetes, with respect to control. RAGE was time-dependently upregulated in retinas incubated with gBSA, but not with HG, and in diabetic retinal tissue, substantiating exposure to AGEs. CONCLUSIONS: Applying the proposed technique, we could show that fAGEs levels increase with glucose concentration and time of exposure in vitro. Furthermore, in diabetic rats, it showed that circulating fAGEs are similarly upregulated as those in vitreous, suggesting a correlation between circulating and tissue AGEs. These results support the use of this method as a simple and reliable test to measure circulating fAGEs and monitor diabetes progression.


Assuntos
Produtos Finais de Glicação Avançada/sangue , Espectrometria de Fluorescência/métodos , Animais , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/sangue , Retinopatia Diabética/patologia , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Corantes Fluorescentes , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Retina/química , Retina/metabolismo , Soroalbumina Bovina/análise
14.
Biomed Res Int ; 2015: 364924, 2015.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25688355

RESUMO

Experimental models of diabetic retinopathy (DR) have had a crucial role in the comprehension of the pathophysiology of the disease and the identification of new therapeutic strategies. Most of these studies have been conducted in vivo, in animal models. However, a significant contribution has also been provided by studies on retinal cultures, especially regarding the effects of the potentially toxic components of the diabetic milieu on retinal cell homeostasis, the characterization of the mechanisms on the basis of retinal damage, and the identification of potentially protective molecules. In this review, we highlight the contribution given by primary retinal cultures to the study of DR, focusing on early neuroglial impairment. We also speculate on possible themes into which studies based on retinal cell cultures could provide deeper insight.


Assuntos
Células Cultivadas , Retinopatia Diabética , Modelos Biológicos , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Coelhos , Ratos
15.
Ann Ist Super Sanita ; 50(2): 178-85, 2014.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24968918

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Since 2002, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures identified the needs for Research Infrastructures (RIs) in Europe in priority fields of scientific research and drafted a strategic document, the ESFRI Roadmap, defining the specific RIs essential to foster European research and economy. The Biological and Medical Sciences RIs (BMS RIs) were developed thanks to the active participation of many institutions in different European member states associated to address the emerging needs in biomedicine and, among these, the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), in virtue of its role in public health and research, has been specifically involved in the national development and implementation of three RIs: the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI), the European Advanced Translational Research Infrastructure in Medicine (EATRIS) and the European Clinical Research Infrastructures Network (ECRIN). AIM: This article outlines the design and development of these RIs up to the recent achievement of the ERIC status, their importance in the Horizon 2020 programme and their societal and economic potential impact, with special attention to their development and significance in Italy. CONCLUSIONS: The ISS plays a unique role in fostering a coordinated participation of excellence Italian institutes/facilities to different European biomedical RIs, thus contributing to health innovation, healthcare optimization, and healthcare cost containment.


Assuntos
Pesquisa Biomédica/tendências , Bancos de Espécimes Biológicos , Controle de Custos , Europa (Continente) , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde/tendências , Itália , Biologia Molecular/tendências
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