Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Daniela Basso

Publications and source records attributed to Daniela Basso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

CagA+ Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer risk in the EPIC-EURGAST study.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), atrophic gastritis, dietary and life-style factors have been associated with gastric cancer (GC). These factors have been evaluated in a large case-control study nested in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition carried out in 9 countries, including the Mediterranean area. Participants, enrolled in 1992-1998, provided life-style and dietary information and a blood sample (360,000; mean follow-up: 6.1 years). For 233 GC cases diagnosed after enrolment and their 910 controls individually-matched by center, gender, age and blood donation date H. pylori antibodies (antilysate and antiCagA) and plasma Pepsinogen A (PGA) were measured by ELISA methods. Severe chronic atrophic gastritis (SCAG) was defined as PGA circulating levels <22 microg/l. Overall, in a conditional logistic regression analysis adjusted for education, smoke, weight and consumption of total vegetables, fruit, red and preserved meat, H. pylori seropositivity was associated with GC risk. Subjects showing only antibodies anti-H. pylori lysate, however, were not at increased risk, while those with antiCagA antibodies had a 3.4-fold increased risk. Overall, the odds ratio associated with SCAG was 3.3 (95% CI 2.2-5.2). According to site, the risk of noncardia GC associated with CagA seropositivity showed a further increase (OR 6.5; 95% CI 3.3-12.6); on the other hand, a ten-fold increased risk of cardia GC was associated with SCAG (OR 11.0; 95% CI 3.0-40.9). These results support the causal relationship between H. pylori CagA+ strains infection, and GC in these European populations even after taking into account dietary habits. This association was limited to distal GC, while serologically defined SCAG was strongly associated with cardia GC, thus suggesting a divergent risk pattern for these 2 sites.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pancreatic cancer-derived S-100A8 N-terminal peptide: a diabetes cause?

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to identify the pancreatic cancer diabetogenic peptide. METHODS: Pancreatic tumor samples from patients with (n=15) or without (n=7) diabetes were compared with 6 non-neoplastic pancreas samples using SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: A band measuring approximately 1500 Da was detected in tumors from diabetics, but not in neoplastic samples from non-diabetics or samples from non-neoplastic subjects. Sequence analysis revealed a 14 amino acid peptide (1589.88 Da), corresponding to the N-terminal of the S100A8. At 50 nmol/L and 2 mmol/L, this peptide significantly reduced glucose consumption and lactate production by cultured C(2)C(12) myoblasts. The 14 amino acid peptide caused a lack of myotubular differentiation, the presence of polynucleated cells and caspase-3 activation. CONCLUSIONS: The 14 amino acid peptide from S100A8 impairs the catabolism of glucose by myoblasts in vitro and may cause hyperglycemia in vivo. Its identification in biological fluids might be helpful in diagnosing pancreatic cancer in patients with recent onset diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗

Quantitative PSA mRNA determination in blood: a biochemical tool for scoring localized prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to verify whether the quantitative determination of PSA mRNA in circulating cells is helpful in diagnosing and scoring localized prostate cancer (PC). DESIGN AND METHODS: The study included 145 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 138 with localized PC and 28 healthy controls (CS). PSA cDNA was amplified by real-time PCR from circulating mononuclear cells. Serum total and free PSA were determined. Prostate cancers were histologically scored according to the Gleason criteria. RESULTS: The most sensitive index of PC was tPSA (70%), and the most specific was f/t PSA (80%). High PSA mRNA was found more frequently in PC patients with poorly differentiated (23.1%) than in those with well (4.5%) or moderately (4.3%) differentiated tumors. CONCLUSIONS: tPSA and f/t PSA are the best available tools for discriminating between localized PC and BPH. The quantitative assessment of PSA mRNA in blood might be helpful in the biochemical grading of prostate cancer.

Base Sequence↗

Decreased total lymphocyte counts in pancreatic cancer: an index of adverse outcome.

OBJECTIVES: An impaired host immunity might concur in determining the dismal prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). Our aim was to ascertain whether the immunophenotype pattern of blood lymphocytes in PC correlates with tumor stage, grade, or survival. METHODS: We studied 115 patients with PC, 44 with chronic pancreatitis (CP), 23 with tumors of the pancreatico-biliary tract, and 34 healthy controls (CS). Survival data were available for 77 patients with PC. Lymphocyte subsets were determined by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. RESULTS: In patients with PC, total lymphocyte counts were lower than in CP or CS, and CD8 lymphocyte subset levels were higher with respect to CS. Lower circulating lymphocytes were found in advanced PC stages (IIB-IV; chi2 = 11.55, P < 0.05) compared with stages 0 to IIA. Cox regression analysis, made considering total lymphocyte counts and tumor stage as covariates, was found to be significant for both tumor stage (P < 0.001) and total lymphocyte counts (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction of total lymphocytes in blood is the main immunologic change in advanced PC. The survival of these patients depends mainly on tumor stage, but it is also affected by the number of circulating lymphocytes, suggesting that the immune system plays an important role in pancreatic adenocarcinoma immunosurveillance and immunoediting.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A new indirect chemiluminescent immunoassay to measure anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies.

OBJECTIVES: Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG) determination using second-generation (human antigen) enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISAs) is a very accurate test to diagnose celiac disease (CD). In this study, we compared 2 second-generation ELISAs (Celikey tTG; Pharmacia Diagnostics GmbH & Co, Freiburg, Germany, and QuantaLite; Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA) and antiendomysial antibodies (EMAs) with a new indirect chemiluminescence immunoassay (LIAISON tTG; DiaSorin S.p.A., Saluggia, Italy) in diagnosing and monitoring CD in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Antiendomysial antibodies, anti-tTGs and total immunoglobulin A were measured in the sera of 103 control children, 101 children with histologically proven CD and 31 CD children on gluten-free diet (GFD). RESULTS: Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody mean levels were significantly higher in CD with respect to control or GFD children. The sensitivity value of EMAs, LIAISON tTG, Celikey tTG and QuantaLite in diagnosing CD was 97.7%, 97.0%, 94.1% and 98.0%, respectively, and the corresponding specificity values were 91.1%, 98.1%, 97.1% and 96.1%, respectively. The degree of mucosal destruction (Marsh criteria) was correlated with EMA semiquantification (P < 0.01) and with the circulating levels of anti-tTGs measured using LIAISON (P < 0.05) or QuantaLite (P < 0.01). Twenty-six CD children were followed up from 5 to 25 months after GFD. The circulating levels of anti-tTGs measured with any of the 3 assays significantly dropped after GFD. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody determination with second-generation ELISAs is as effective as EMAs for CD diagnosis. The novel chemiluminescent method described in the present paper for the detection of anti-tTGs in the diagnosis of CD had the highest sensitivity and specificity values. The anti-tTG test correlates with the degree of mucosal destruction and is suitable for verifying patient compliance to dietary treatment.

Adolescent↗

Mitochondrial DNA D-loop in pancreatic cancer: somatic mutations are epiphenomena while the germline 16519 T variant worsens metabolism and outcome.

We ascertained the frequency of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region somatic mutations in pancreatic cancer (PC) and verified whether polymorphisms were linked to diagnosis, prognosis, and PC-associated diabetes mellitus (DM) in 99 PC cases, 42 chronic pancreatitis (CP) cases, 18 pancreatobiliary tract tumors, and 87 healthy control subjects (CSs). Tissue samples were obtained from 19 patients with PC and 5 with CP. The D-loop region was sequenced from all tissue samples and from blood DNA of the same patients and 12 CSs. D-loop somatic mutations were found in 3 PC tissue samples (16%). Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; T152C, T16189C, T16519C, A73G), more frequently found in PC than in CS, were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography-restriction fragment length polymorphism using blood DNA as the starting template in all cases. The T allele of 16519 SNP correlated with DM. The survival of patients with PC correlated with tumor stage and grade and with DM at diagnosis. When survival analysis was performed considering only patients with locally advanced disease, the T allele of mtDNA 16519 SNP correlated with shorter life expectancy. mtDNA D-loop somatic mutations, rarely found in PC, cannot be considered causative events for this tumor type and probably are epiphenomena; the mtDNA D-loop 16519 variant, which worsens PC prognosis, seems to be a predisposing genetic factor for DM.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Celiac disease in North Italian patients with autoimmune Addison's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) are prone to develop other autoimmune manifestations. An increased prevalence of celiac disease (CD) has recently been demonstrated in Northern European patients with AAD. IgA deficiency is the most frequent type of immunodeficiency among humans and is present in about one in every 600 individuals in the population. IgA deficiency is frequent in patients with other autoimmune diseases, but data concerning AAD are still unavailable. DESIGN: The aim was to define the prevalence of CD and of IgA deficiency in a group of Italian patients with AAD. METHODS: One hundred and nine patients with AAD were enrolled and examined for tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies of the IgA class, circulating levels of IgA and adrenal cortex antibodies. RESULTS: Two (1.8%) of the patients were affected by already diagnosed CD and were already on a gluten-free diet. Out of the remaining 107 patients, four (3.7%) were found to be positive for IgA antibodies to human tissue transglutaminase. Three of the four patients who were positive for tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies agreed to undergo endoscopy and duodenal biopsies and, in one, a latent form of CD was identified. The clinical, silent or latent form of CD was present in six out of 109 (5.4%). This prevalence was significantly higher (P = 0.0001) than that reported for the Northern Italian population which was equal to 0.063%. Specifically, CD was present in 12.5% of the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) type 1 cases, in four out of 60 (6.7%) of the APS type 2 cases and in one out of 40 (2.5%) of the isolated AAD cases. IgA deficiency was present in two out of 109 patients (1.8%), all of whom had normal IgG anti-gliadin. Autoantibodies to the adrenal cortex were detected in 81 out of 109 patients (74.3%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AAD there is a high prevalence of both CD and IgA deficiency. Consequently, it is important to screen for CD with tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies of the IgA class and for IgA levels.

Addison Disease↗

Role of blood AFP mRNA and tumor grade in the preoperative prognostic evaluation of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To explore the potential prognostic role of preoperative tumor grade and blood AFP mRNA in a cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) eligible for radical therapies according to a well-defined treatment algorithm not including nodule size and number as absolute selection criteria. METHODS: Fifty patients with a diagnosis of HCC were prospectively enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria were: (1) histological assessment of tumor grade by means of percutaneous biopsies; (2) determination of AFP mRNA status in the blood; (3) patient's eligibility for radical therapies. RESULTS: At preoperative evaluation, 54% of the study group had a well-differentiated HCC, 42% had AFP mRNA in the blood, 40% had a tumor larger than 5 cm and 56% had more than one nodule. Surgery (resection or liver transplantation) was performed in 29 patients, while 21 had percutaneous ablation procedures. After a median follow-up of 28 mo, 12-, 24-, and 36-mo survival rates were 78%, 58%, and 51%, respectively. Surgical therapy, performance status and three tumor-related variables (AFP mRNA, HCC grade and gross vascular invasion) resulted as significant survival predictors at univariate analysis. Nodule size and number did not perform as significant prognosticators. Multivariate study selected only surgical therapy and a biologically early HCC profile (AFP mRNA negative and well-differentiated tumor without gross vascular invasion) as independent survival variables. CONCLUSION: The preoperative determination of tumor grade and blood AFP mRNA status may potentially refine the prognostic evaluation of HCC patients and improve the selection process for radical therapies.

Adult↗

Intron 2 [IVS2, T-C +4] HFE gene mutation associated with S65C causes alternative RNA splicing and is responsible for iron overload.

UNLABELLED: A patient with congenital liver fibrosis revealed a high transferrin saturation index and iron overload on liver biopsy. He did not carry the most frequent HFE mutations: C282Y or H63D. Heterozygosity was detected for S65C. Unknown HFE mutations were also sought using a combined denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC)/direct sequence approach and another point mutation, a transition T-C (nt 4910), at the fourth base of the donor splice site of intron 2 [HFE, intervening sequence (IVS) 2, T-C +4] was found. Family screening revealed that a daughter carried both S65C and [IVS2, T-C +4]. CONCLUSION: : The existence in our proband of a partly-altered HFE protein in the region encoded by exon 2 might be responsible for the histologically-demonstrated iron overload.

Journal Article↗

Pancreatic cancer-associated diabetes mellitus: an open field for proteomic applications.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is associated with pancreatic cancer in more than 80% of the cases. Clinical, epidemiological, and experimental data indicate that pancreatic cancer causes diabetes mellitus by releasing soluble mediators which interfere with both beta-cell function and liver and muscle glucose metabolism. METHODS: We analysed, by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF), a series of pancreatic cancer cell lines conditioned media, pancreatic cancer patients' peripheral and portal sera, comparing them with controls and chronic pancreatitis patients' sera. RESULTS: MALDI-TOF analysis of pancreatic cancer cells conditioned media and patients' sera indicated a low molecular weight peptide to be the putative pancreatic cancer-associated diabetogenic factor. The sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of tumor samples from diabetic and non-diabetic patients revealed the presence of a 1500 Da peptide only in diabetic patients. The amino acid sequence of this peptide corresponded to the N-terminal of an S-100 calcium binding protein, which was therefore suggested to be the pancreatic cancer-associated diabetogenic factor. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a tumor-derived peptide of 14 amino acids sharing a 100% homology with an S-100 calcium binding protein, which is probably the pancreatic cancer-associated diabetogenic factor.

Animals↗

Efficacy of zinc supplementation in preventing acute hepatitis in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats.

OBJECTIVES: Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats are characterized by an abnormal hepatic deposition of copper (Cu) due to a lack of the Cu-transporter P-type adenosine triphosphatase: accordingly, the strain is a good animal model of Wilson's disease. The effect of oral zinc (Zn) acetate treatment on the development of acute hepatitis and the biochemical parameters of Cu-induced liver damage was studied in 5-week-old LEC rats (n=52). METHODS: Rats receiving 50 or 80 mg/ml/day Zn acetate by gavage and control rats receiving a daily dose of glucose solution 0.02 g/ml by gastric intubation were killed at 1, 2 or 8 weeks after the start of treatment. RESULTS: Treatment with Zn acetate resulted in the prevention of acute hepatitis: 10 of the 13 untreated rats developed signs and symptoms compatible with acute hepatitis between the 6th and 7th week of treatment. Tissue metallothionein (MT) significantly increased in the treated rats and positively correlated with Zn concentrations within the liver. Control rats had a significantly higher iron concentration in the liver and kidneys compared with supplemented rats, after both short- and long-term experiments. 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine amounts were significantly lower in untreated rats. CONCLUSIONS: Zn acetate prevents acute hepatitis, by increasing tissue MT concentrations, reducing Cu absorption and interfering with Fe metabolism.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori infection: interactions influence outcome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there was any correlation between Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases and (1) H. pylori virulence genes or (2) IL-1B, IL-1RN, IFN-G, TNF-A, IL-10 genetic polymorphisms. Patients with non-cardia gastric cancer (NCGC, n=129) or benign gastroduodenal diseases (n=792) were studied. IL-1RN intron 2 VNTR polymorphism (PCR), IL-1B -31 C/T (RFLP), the SNPs of IFN-G (+874 A/T), TNF-A (-1031 C/T, -857 C/T, -376 A/G, -308 A/G, -238 A/G), IL-10 (-1082 A/G, -819 C/T, -592 A/C) (Taqman chemistry) were studied. cagA, s1 and m1 vacA, were PCR amplified. Duodenal ulcer was more frequent in TNF-A -857 TT and in IL-1RN 1,2 subjects. TNF-A -857 TT genotype was also correlated with gastric ulcer. IL-10 -819 TT genotype was associated with intestinal metaplasia and NCGC. Antral inflammation was associated with TNF-A -1031 TT, while corpus activity with IL-10 -819 CC. H. pylori infection was associated with TNF-A -308 AG genotype, while IFN-G +874 AA genotype was associated with cagA. In conclusion, among host genetic factors contributing to H. pylori disease outcome, IFN-G +874 AA genotype favors cagA positive infections, TNF-A -857 TT duodenal ulcer while IL-10 -819 TT intestinal metaplasia and NCGC.

Adolescent↗

Maldi-TOF analysis of portal sera of pancreatic cancer patients: identification of diabetogenic and antidiabetogenic peptides.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer (PC) associated diabetes mellitus (DM) might be consequent to the diabetogenic effects of tumour products, possibly acting via nitric oxide (NO). Our aims were: (1) to verify whether PC associated DM determines an increased hepatic NO and (2) using MALDI-TOF analysis, to evaluate the peptide composition of PC cell conditioned media (CM) and of portal sera from patients with PC with (n=7) or without (n=4) DM. METHODS: In liver tissue homogenates of 23 patients with PC (n=17) or chronic pancreatitis (n=6) GAPDH mRNA and activity, glucose, lactate, nitrite and nitrate were assayed. MALDI-TOF analysis was performed in three PC cell lines CM, and in portal sera from patients with PC. RESULTS: Higher GAPDH mRNA and nitrite were found in patients with than in patients without DM. In PC cell CM, only 9 among a total of 75 fragments identified, were tumour specific. One hundred seventy-three fragments were identified in the portal sera of patients: one was positively and six fragments were negatively correlated with DM. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike liver GAPDH, NO appears to be involved in PC associated DM. In portal sera, the absence, rather than the presence, of specific fragments, appears to be correlated with the development of DM.

Aged↗

Clinical significance of alpha-fetoprotein mRNA in blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) messenger RNA (mRNA) in the blood reflects the presence of circulating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and is a sensitive marker of HCC extrahepatic metastases. The specificity of this molecular marker and its correlation with the main HCC clinical-pathological parameters remains controversial, however. METHODS: AFPmRNA was determined in 50 HCC patients and in 50 patients with diagnosis of cirrhosis (6), or colon (24) or, pancreatic (20) carcinoma. HCC patients with clinically evident extrahepatic metastasis were excluded. HCC diagnosis was confirmed in all patients by histology on percutaneous biopsies or surgical specimens; pathological grading was assessed at the same time. RESULTS: AFPmRNA was positive in 20 HCC patients (40%) and in 18 patients without HCC (36%). The presence of AFPmRNA in the blood correlated significantly with cholestatic indices (p<0.01), nodule size (p=0.03), vascular invasion (p=0.006) and moderately or poorly differentiated HCC (p<0.0001). Moreover, survival analysis showed a significant impact of AFPmRNA detection on overall (p=0.04) and recurrence-free survival (p=0.0007) after a median follow-up of 17 months. CONCLUSIONS: Although AFPmRNA is frequently detected in the blood, even in benign liver diseases or gastroenteric tumors, in HCC patients without clinical evidence of extrahepatic metastases it seemed to identify the biologically more aggressive tumors.

Adult↗

Non-invasive diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: simplified 13C-urea breath test, stool antigen testing, or DNA PCR in human feces in a clinical laboratory setting?

OBJECTIVES: (1) To compare two stool antigen EIAs (HpSA, FemtoLab) and PCR of ureaseA and cagA in feces, with (13)C-urea breath test (UBT). (2) To ascertain whether a simplified UBT (breath collection time = 10 min) is as reliable as the standard assay (30 min). DESIGN AND METHODS: Helicobacter pylori status was recorded in Group 1 (n = 187) by UBT, H. pylori stool antigen, ureA and cagA PCR in feces. UBT with 10, 20 and 30 min sampling was performed in Group 2 patients (n = 283). RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of HpSA, FemtoLab, and ureA were 67% and 99%, 90% and 96%, 35% and 98%, respectively. cagA results were positive in 16/48 H. pylori-positive, and in 5/100 H. pylori-negative patients. The results of UBT with a 10- and 30-min sampling strictly overlapped. CONCLUSION: UBT with 10 min breath collection and FemtoLab stool antigen assay are the most reliable non-invasive tests to diagnose H. pylori infection.

Adult↗

H. pylori infection: bacterial virulence factors and cytokine gene polymorphisms as determinants of infection outcome.

The gram negative bacterium H. pylori infects the human stomach worldwide, invariably causing mucosal inflammation. In the majority of cases, H. pylori-associated gastritis remains the only clinical manifestation of the infection, which might cause, otherwise, peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma. or MALToma. The balance between the bacterial virulence machinery and the host response to the infection determines the different clinical outcomes. The main bacterial virulence factors comprise adhesins (BabA, SabA), the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA, and the products of cag pathogenicity island. The pattern of cytokine production in response to the infection is one of the main host determinants involved in limiting the infection outcome to gastritis or in favoring peptic ulcer or cancer onset. The polymorphisms of some cytokine genes (IL-1beta IL-1RN, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma) have been correlated with H. pylori-associated gastric adenocarcinoma or peptic ulcer, possibly because they influence the amount of cytokine production in response to H. pylori infection. This review focuses on the role of H. pylori virulence genes and on host cytokines' genes polymorphisms in determining clinical outcome to H. pylori infection.

Animals↗

Organ-specific autoantibodies in children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: We compared the prevalence of organ-specific autoantibodies in a group of Helicobacter pylori infected children and a group of uninfected children and investigated the relationship between the presence of relevant autoantibodies and the status of the target organs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four children with dyspepsia (54 boys, 70 girls; mean age 10.5 years; range 4-19) underwent gastroscopy: 56 had H. pylori infection (31 girls, 25 boys), while 68 (37 girls and 31 boys), were H. pylori-negative. All sera were tested for the presence of: parietal cell autoantibodies (PCA), intrinsic factor autoantibodies (IFA), microsomial autoantibodies, thyroglobulin autoantibodies, islet cell autoantibodies, glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies, adrenal cortex autoantibodies, steroid-producing cell autoantibodies; gastrin, pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and anti-H. pylori antibodies. The histological features and the ureA and cagA genes were also considered. RESULTS: The frequency of organ-specific autoantibodies was higher in patients with H. pylori infection than in uninfected patients (chi2-test p < .0001). Specifically gastric autoantibodies were significantly higher: seven of the 56 H. pylori-positive children were PCA-positive and one was IFA-positive (chi2-test p = .0004). The presence of autoantibodies was not associated with any clinical or biohumoral signs of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study detected a relationship between H. pylori infection in childhood and the presence of organ-specific autoantibodies unassociated with any clinical or biohumoral signs of disease. Helicobacter pylori infection in childhood could trigger the onset of clinical autoimmune gastritis, and/or other clinical autoimmune diseases.

Adolescent↗