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The pathophysiology of psoriasis is very complex and involves an interplay between immune cells and keratinocytes. The keratinocyte production of calprotectin (S100A8/A9), induced by the inflammatory psoriatic milieu, may be involved in initiating immune cell invasion, as well as in propagating inflammation. However, the exact role of calprotectin in psoriasis remains unclear. Therapeutic approaches utilizing adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab are widely used in psoriatic treatment, but their anti-inflammatory mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate, by immunohistochemical analysis, the expression of the heterocomplex S100A8/A9 in lesional skin from psoriatic patients undergoing biological therapy with adalimumab, etanercept or ustekinumab. Our results showed that S100A8/A9, absent or present at very low level in skin biopsies from healthy subjects, is dramatically upregulated in each epidermal layer from psoriatic patients. Interestingly, calprotectin was mainly localized in keratinocyte nuclei from psoriatic patients, suggesting a role of S100A8/A9 in keratinocyte nuclear function. Furthermore, we have shown that the biological treatment induced a drastic reduction of S100A8/A9 expression in skin biopsies from treated patients, correlating with PASI reduction. Our results suggest that calprotectin may play a crucial role as a significant marker of inflammation in psoriasis, and that its reduction of expression may be considered a favourable prognostic marker in psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbances have the potential to reduce soil water and nutrient retention capacity by decreasing soil organic matter (SOM), which is particularly true for sandy soils characterized by an inherent low capacity to retain nutrients and water. To restore degraded areas, several works have shown positive effects of organic matter inputs on soil properties and plant growth. Despite these promising results, it is still unclear how organic matter inputs and plant growth modify the balance between soil nutrient and water supply. The objectives of the present work were (1) to evaluate the effects of biosolids compost and municipal compost addition on plant available water (PAW), soil moisture and soil temperature in a burned sandy soil of NW Patagonia (Argentina), and (2) to relate PAW and soil moisture with bulk density, soil organic carbon, nutrient availability (inorganic and potential mineralized nitrogen (N), extractable phosphorous) and aboveground phytomass. An experiment with excised vegetation and watering was also conducted. Compost application increased SOM, but it was insufficient to increase PAW. The increase in potential mineralized N in the amended soils indicated that during moist periods (and adequate temperatures), N uptake was increased, enhancing plant growth. As a consequence, higher plant water consumption in amended treatments resulted in lower soil moisture than in non-amended plots during the vegetative growth period that coincides with decreasing precipitation. Results indicate that a relatively high dose of compost (40 Mg ha) applied to a sandy soil, contributed to increase nutrient availability and consequently, aboveground phytomass and water consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in seminal fluid viscosity (SFV), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cytokines and seminal leucocyte concentration related to microbiological outcome in patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) were studied. One hundred and ten infertile patients with CBP (positive sperm culture ≥105 colony-forming units [CFU] ml-1, pathogens or Chlamydia in expressed prostatic secretions) were treated with levofloxacin 500 mg daily for 14 consecutive days per month for 3 months. In case of bacterial prostatitis, two conditions were examined: responders, eradication of 0 to <10³ CFU ml-1 (n = 78) and poor responders, >10³ to <105 CFU ml-1 (n = 32). Compared with poor responders, responders showed a significant increase of sperm progressive motility and a significant decrease in seminal leucocyte count, SFV, liquefaction time, ROS production (in all fractions and conditions), seminal tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6. None of these variables showed significant differences compared with a control group of 37 fertile men. On the other hand, the poor responders showed significant changes in these variables compared with matched pretreatment values. In patients with CBP, antibiotic therapy alone leads to eradication in ≈71%, with improvement of sperm progressive motility, SFV and the framework of prooxidative factors. However, in the remaining ≈29% with poor antibiotic responsiveness, a deterioration of all variables is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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comparison between ultrasonication and microwave irradiation as tools to achieve a rapid sample treatment for the analysis of banned doping substances in human urine by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed. The following variables were studied and optimised: (i) time of treatment, (ii) temperature, (iii) microwave power and (iv) ultrasonic amplitude. The results were evaluated and compared with those achieved by the routine method used in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited Antidoping Laboratory of Rome. Only under the effect of the ultrasonic field was it possible to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis reaction rate of conjugated compounds. Similar reaction yield to the routine method was achieved after 10 min for most compounds. Under microwave irradiation, denaturation of the enzyme occurs for high microwave power. The use of both ultrasonic or microwave energy to improve the reaction rate of the derivatisation of the target compounds with trimethyliodosilane/methyl- N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide (TMSI/MSTFA/NHI/2-mercaptoethanol) was also evaluated. To test the use of the two systems in the acceleration of the reaction with TMSI, a pool of 55 banned substances and/or their metabolites were used. After 3 min of ultrasonication, 34 of the 55 compounds had recoveries similar to those obtained with the classic procedure that lasts for 30 min (Student's t test, n = 5), 18 increased to higher silylation yields, and for the compounds 13β,17α-diethyl-3α,17β-dihydroxy-5α-gonane (norboletone metabolite 1), metoprolol and metipranolol the same results were obtained increasing the ultrasonication time to 5 min. Similar results were obtained after 3 min of microwave irradiation at 1,200 W. In this case, 30 of the 55 compounds had recoveries similar to the classic procedure (Student's t test, n = 5) whilst 18 had higher silylation yields. For the compounds 3α-hydroxy-1α-methyl-5α-androstan-17-one (mesterolone metabolite 1), 17α-ethyl-5β-estrane-3α,17β,21-triol (norethandrolone metabolite 1), epioxandrolone, 4-chloro-6β,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one (chlormetandienone metabolite 1), carphedon, esmolol and bambuterol the same results were obtained after 5 min under microwave irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine whether the G(-174)C interleukin 6 (IL-6) polymorphism influences the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This was investigated by comparing the distribution of G(-174)C genotypes between patients with type 2 diabetes and PAD (PAD+) and those with type 2 diabetes but without PAD (PAD-). Plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, C reactive protein (CRP), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also compared in PAD+ and PAD- patients. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 146 PAD+ and 144 PAD- patients. SfaNI was used to determine the G(-174)C genotype. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, CRP, and VEGF were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The GG genotype was more common in PAD+ patients than in PAD- patients. PAD+ patients also had increased mean plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, CRP, and YEGF compared with PAD- patients. Mean plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, and CRP in both PAD+ and PAD- patients were higher in those with the GG genotype than in those with the GC or CC genotypes. In contrast, mean plasma concentrations of VEGF in PAD+ and PAD- patients were not significantly different between those with different G(-174)C genotypes. Conclusions: These results support a model in which the GG genotype promotes PAD development among individuals with type 2 diabetes by inducing increased release of IL-6. Higher concentrations of IL-6 among those with the GG genotype is associated with increased plasma concentrations of fibrinogen and CRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composts and vermicomposts from a municipal composting plant in northwestern Patagonia, both having undergone a thermophilic phase, (with the vermicompost being inoculated with earthworms after the thermophilic stage) and a nonthermophilic backyard vermicompost were studied. Their effects on soil biological and biochemical properties and plant growth were evaluated in laboratory incubations and a greenhouse trial, using a degraded volcanic soil amended at rates of 20 and 40 g kg-1 of vermicompost or compost. Between the two municipal products, the vermicompost had significantly larger nutrient concentrations than the compost; when mixed with the soil, the vermicompost also had higher microbial populations size and activity, and produced increased ryegrass yields. Compared to the municipal compost, the backyard vermicompost had similar or higher nutrient concentrations but its effects on soil microbial biomass, soil microbial activity and ryegrass yields were lower. Our results suggest that no generalization can be made regarding the higher quality of vermicomposts vs. composts, because the product quality depends both on the original materials and the technology employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a metal chelating compound, which exerts both pro-apoptotic effect and pro-oxidant activity on many cells. Our objective was to investigate whether PDTC was able to interfere with apoptotic process in leukemic and normal bone marrow CD34+ cells. Since hematopoietic growth factors stimulate growth and differentiation and prevent apoptosis, we therefore studied the effect of growth factors pretreatment, such as interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, in human myeloid CD34+ cells to evaluate whether they protect the cells from the apoptotic action of PDTC. We revealed that PDTC exerted an apoptotic effect in leukemic CD34+ cells. This effect was dependent on the ability of this compound to generate the oxidation of cellular glutathion to its disulphide and consequently to induce an intracellular oxidative stress. Hematopoietic growth factors did not protect cells from apoptosis induced by previous treatment with PDTC. The ability of PDTC to induce apoptosis was restricted to acute myelogenous leukaemia CD34+ cells, since normal CD34+ cells were insensitive to the pro-oxidant effect of PDTC. These findings imply that normal cells are equipped with mechanisms by which they respond differently to PDTC effects with respect to leukemic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient conservation in vegetation affects rates of litter decomposition and soil nutrient availability. Although resorption has been traditionally considered one of the most important plant strategies to conserve nutrients in temperate forests, long leaf life-span and low nutrient requirements have been postulated as better indicators. We aimed at identifying nutrient conservation strategies within characteristic functional groups of NW Patagonian forests on Andisols. We analysed C-, N-, P-, K- and lignin-concentrations in mature and senescent leaves of ten native woody species within the functional groups: broad-leaved deciduous species, broad-leaved evergreens and conifers. We also examined mycorrhizal associations in all species.Nutrient concentration in mature leaves and N-resorption were higher in broad-leaved deciduous species than in the other two functional groups. Conifers had low mature leaf nutrient concentrations, low N-resorption and high lignin/N ratios in senescent leaves. P-and K-resorptions did not differ among functional groups. Broad-leaved evergreens exhibited a species-dependent response. Nitrogen in mature leaves was positively correlated with both N resorption and soil N-fertility. Despite the high P-retention capacity of Andisols, N appeared to be the more limiting nutrient, with most species being proficient in resorbing N but not P. The presence of endomycorrhizae in all conifers and the broad-leaved evergreen Maytenus boaria, ectomycorrhizae in all Nothofagus species (four deciduous, one evergreen), and cluster roots in the broad-leaved evergreen Lomatia hirsuta, would be possibly explaining why P is less limiting than N in these forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis. Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines controlling the recruitment of leukocytes from the blood by regulating integrin adhesiveness. It has been shown that the migration of CD4+Th1 and CD4+Th2 cells is governed by specific chemokines. Increasing evidence suggests that the CD4+Th1 cheomoattractant chemokine CXCL10, also termed Interferon (IFN)-γ -inducible protein (IP)-10 is pathogenetically involved in several immunoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Methods. IFN-γ and IP-10 were quantified by solid-phase ELISA in sera of patients with either newly diagnosed or long-term Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, and in sera of their healthy first degree relatives. The latter were subdivided into "low" and "high" risk prediabetic subjects depending on whether they were negative or positive for the anti-beta-cell autoantibodies ICA and GAD. Results. Compared with healthy control subjects (18%, 9/50), those with a low risk of disease (21%, 5/24) and the group of patients with long-term Type I diabetes (24%, 12/50), IP-10 was found more frequently and at increased concentrations in both newly diagnosed Type I diabetic patients (84%, 42/50) and in those with a high risk of disease (73%, 16/22); in the latter, the IP-10 concentrations correlated with those of IFN-γ. Conclusion/interpretation. Circulating IP-10 concentrations is increased in patients with Type I diabetes, but only during the early and subclinical stage of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]