E-rosette and surface Ig tests were used to study circulating T and B lymphocytes in 65 patients with chronic active liver disease (CALD), 15 healthy HBsAg carriers and 30 healthy controls. No significant variation in B lymphocytes was observed in CALD and in healthy HBsAg carriers. On the other hand, the absolute number and the percentage of T lymphocytes were significantly decreased in CALD, especially in cases negative for HBV infection markers.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Improvement of mortality rate and decrease in histologic hepatic injury after human cord blood stem cell infusion in a murine model of hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Because of their plasticity potential local and systemic application of cord blood stem cells may represent excellent candidates for cell-based therapeutic strategies in toxic liver injuries. It is already known that intraperitoneal administration of hematopoietic stem cells provides rapid liver homing in animal models of hepatic injury. We sought to assess the efficacy of a hematopoietic stem cell infusion to decrease the histologic damage and the mortality rate of animals previously damaged by allyl alcohol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: NOD/SCID mice were divided into two groups. (1) animals treated by intraperitoneal administration of allyl alcohol and (2) animals treated with allyl alcohol and 24 hours later with an intraperitoneal infusion of human cord blood cells. Flow cytometry, histology, immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR were performed to monitor human cell engraftment by evidences of human hepatic markers. RESULTS: Human stem cells were able to transdifferentiate into hepatocytes, improve liver regeneration after damage, and reduce the mortality rate even when requiring qualitative and quantitative differences in the transdifferentiation processes. The mortality rate decreased from 70% to 20%, with a significant improvement in the histologic findings. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the infusion of hematopoietic stem cells into the liver in the early stage of damage might initiate endogenous hepatic tissue regeneration that oppose the injury inflicted by toxicants.

Animals↗

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No evidence of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in patients submitted to hepatectomy or in patients with acute on chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND: Liver regeneration is a heterogeneous phenomenon involving the proliferation of different cell lineages in response to injury. Under a strong positive selection pressure bone marrow derived stem cells may be involved in this process, by making a contribution to both parenchymal restoration and endothelial cell replacement. We investigate bone marrow stem cell migration to the liver in patients undergoing hepatectomy or with acute on chronic liver failure. METHODS: We enrolled 6 patients submitted to hepatectomy, 6 patients to cholecystectomy and 8 patients with acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis. Mobilization of CD34+ cells was evaluated by cytofluorimetry on peripheral blood samples at different time points; baseline, 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after surgery and at admission, 1, 7 and discharge among patients with acute on chronic liver failure. 10 healthy subjects undergoing blood donation were also enrolled to evaluated the basal value of CD34+ cells. RESULTS: White blood cell counts remained in the normal range (4.1-9.8 x 10(9)/L) in all groups throughout the follow-up. In all patients of Groups 1, 2 and 3, circulating CD34+ failed to show statistically significant differences both as the absolute number and as the percentage at any time point compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Bone marrow derived cell mobilization can not be detected after hepatectomy or during an acute decompensation on a cirrhotic liver. Under these circumstances liver regeneration can probably call upon mature hepatocytes and endogenous progenitor cells. The involvement of extrahepatic progenitors if any, is a rare and limited phenomenon.

Adult↗

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Human cordonal stem cell intraperitoneal injection can represent a rescue therapy after an acute hepatic damage in immunocompetent rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tissue homeostasis and turnover require reserve stem proliferating cells. Several studies performed on immunodeficient animals have suggested a degree of plasticity by the hematopoietic stem cell compartment that may represent source for liver regeneration. We sought to explore the hepatic differentiation potential of hematopoietic stem cells from human cord blood, after toxic liver damage induced by allyl-alcohol in immunocompetent rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into groups (A) allyl-alcohol intraperitoneal injection with hematopoietic stem cell intraperitoneal infusion at 1 day and sacrifice 3 days later; (B) stem cell injection and sacrifice 3 days later; (C) allyl-alcohol infusion and sacrifice 4 days later; and (D) sacrifice without any treatment. Livers, spleens, and bone marrows were analysed for human stem cells using flow-cytometry; livers were also tested by histology and immunohistochemistry to study the pattern of hepatic regeneration after damage and human stem cell conversion into hepatocyte-like cells, respectively. RESULTS: Flow-cytometry revealed selective recruitment of human hematopoietic stem cells by damaged livers (group A) compared with control group B. In addition, liver damage was reduced in animals treated with stem cells. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that human stem cells could convert hepatic cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that hematopoietic stem cells selectively recruited by injured livers can contribute to hepatic regeneration after acute toxic damage in immunocompetent recipients.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Release-regulating GABAB autoreceptors in rat cerebral cortex slices.

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Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

CD105 (endoglin) expression on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

Endoglin (CD105) is a component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) receptor (TGF-betaR) complex. Together with betaglycan, CD105 is considered as a TGF-betaR accessory molecule (also called TGF-betaRIII), but its functions in the receptor-ligand interactions are still poorly understood. A small subset of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells that has phenotypic and functional features suggestive of very primitive hematopoietic cells expresses the CD105 antigen. CD34+/CD105+ cells recirculate in the peripheral blood of mobilized subjects and can be purified by immunomagnetic isolation strategies. The hematopoietic potential of these CD34+/CD105+ cells appears to be sustained by a combination of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cytokines, which comprises Flt3 ligand, erythropoietin, interleukin-15 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Endogenous TGF-beta1 is a crucial factor for the maintenance of CD34+/CD105+ immaturity acting through positive modulation of both CD105 and CD34 molecules in the absence of relevant effects on the cell cycle profile. CD105 is absent on very primitive CD34-/lineage-/CD45+ (CD34-Lin-) human hematopoietic cells isolated from cord blood. However, in vitro exposure of CD34-Lin- cells to exogenous TGF-beta1 causes the appearance of a discrete population of CD34+/CD105+ cells. Collectively, available data on CD105 expression and function in primitive hematopoiesis indicate that this molecule could cooperate with the dissociation of TGF-beta1 cell cycle effects from its other effects on cell survival and differentiation.

Antigens, CD↗

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Smoking, blood pressure and serum albumin are major determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in dialysis patients. CREED Investigators. Cardiovascular Risk Extended Evaluation in Dialysis patients.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and some major cardiovascular risk factors in uremic patients on chronic dialysis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 119 unselected dialysis patients (89 on hemodialysis and 30 on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, CAPD). Fasting blood sampling for serum lipids, albumin, hemoglobin, and echo-colour-Doppler evaluation of common carotid arteries were performed in all patients (during the non-dialysis day in hemodialysis patients). In hemodialysis patients BP was measured before and after dialysis; in CAPD patients home BP values were recorded during the month before the study day. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients had at least one plaque and 57 had at least four plaques. Thirty-eight had mild and eleven severe carotid stenosis. In multiple regression models, the mean internal diameter of carotid arteries was explained (R=0.52, P=0.0001) by systolic pressure (r=0.39), serum cholesterol (r=-0.28), age (r=0.27) and smoking (r=0.24) while the degree of carotid stenosis was predicted (R=0.39, P=0.0001) by age (r=0.36) and smoking (r=0.25). The number of atherosclerotic plaques was explained (R=0.51, P=0.0001) by age (r=0.36), smoking (r=0.25) and pulse pressure (r=0.20), serum albumin just failing to reach statistical significance (P = 0.06). However, serum albumin was a significant and independent predictor of the number of atherosclerotic plaques (r=-0.26) in hemodialysis patients (n=89). Sex, diabetes, Kt/V, duration of dialysis treatment, hemoglobin, serum calcium and phosphate did not add any predictive power to the models. CONCLUSIONS: In dialysis patients arterial pressure and smoking are associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Serum albumin appears to serve as an independent predictor of carotid atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis↗

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[Correlations between bacterial flora present in the juice and the gastric mucosa and the risk of postoperative infection].

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Stem cell-based treatments for gynecological solid tumors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We have recently assisted to an increasing scientific interest and a new research effort in the field of stem cell-based therapy. Since the late 1980s hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) have been used to set up therapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid tumors such as gynecological cancers. In this context, different approaches have been suggested and clinically investigated. STATE OF THE ART: In the autologous setting we can describe the well-known use of HSC as hematologic support to high-dose chemotherapy regimens, and the use of HSC as a source of dendritic cells for cancer vaccination protocols. In our institution a long-term experience has been developed in high-dose chemotherapy with autologous HSC transplantation as first-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, and in the use of cytokines both for HSC collection and for post-transplantation hematopoietic recovery and immune reconstitution. An alternative approach consists of allogenic HSC transplantation following either myeloablative/standard or non-myeloablative/reduced conditioning regimens, which have been proposed as new adoptive immunotherapeutic treatments for different non-hematologic malignancies. PERSPECTIVES: Future strategies in the use of HSC in oncology comprise the possibility of HSC ex-vivo expansion, the use of umbilical cord blood HSC, and the development of HSC-based gene-therapy programs. Further investigations are expected in the new field of cancer stem cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

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Esophacoil for palliation of recurrent malignant esophago-jejunal anastomotic stricture. Case reports.

Recurrent malignancy at esophagojejunal anastomosis represents an incurable stage of disease. Treatment options are limited. Surgery presents a high rate of morbidity and mortality and frequently fails to alleviate symptoms. Radiochemotherapy relieves dysphagia slowly and offers disappointing clinical results. The use of Self Expanding Metallic Stent (SEMS) has shown to be effective, safe and offers a good quality of residual life. We herein report three cases of malignant esophagojejunal anastomotic strictures successfully treated with metallic coil stent (Esophacoil).

Aged↗

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[Airbone contact dermatitis caused by latex exposure: a clinical case].

We describe the case of a nurse who showed eczematous lesions wide-spread over the neck and face. She worked as a attendant to a surgical chamber and wore vinyl gloves because of previous episodes of contact dermatitis caused by rubber gloves. The allergologic examination demonstrated that total IgE was 69.8 kU/1, both the Skin prick tests and the patch test for latex were positive. Persisting her dermatological symptomatology, in the suspicion of a airborne contact dermatitis, the nurse was removed and addressed to administrative functions for detecting the clinical follow-up. Fortunately, the eczematous manifestations spontaneously disappeared immediately after her transfer. In this case the presence of eczema mainly on air-exposed areas was interpreted as a sign of airborne contact dermatitis to latex. The case is reported in that the clinical picture is not very common.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Smoking habits in health care workers: experience in two general hospitals of Eastern Sicily].

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to assess the smoking habits in health care workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In concomitance with a medical examination for Health Care Surveillance requested by the Italian Laws (D. Lgs. 626/94), our operative units interviewed 2,000 persons (47.9% males, 52.1% females, mean age = 45 yrs (SD+/-9.41 yrs) working in two General Hospitals of Eastern Sicily. RESULTS: The prevalence of smokers was found to be higher in men (34.5%) than in women (33.6%), in Health Care Operators (36.4%) and professional nurses (36.2%) than in medical doctors (27.7%), in night-time workers (34,5%) then in day-time-workers (28,7%). The compliance with smoking restriction was found to be poor; in fact, 60% out of smokers declared to smoke during the working hours. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation has revealed the significant prevalence of tobacco smoking among the health care workers in general. We think that the inclusion of an anonymous questionnaire on smoking habits within the Services of Sanitary Surveillance may help in the national campaign against cigarette smoking.

Adult↗