7 results on '"Martini, Francesca"'
Search Results
2. Modulation of COX, LOX and NFκB activities by Xanthium spinosum L. root extract and ziniolide.
- Author
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Bader A, Giner RM, Martini F, Schinella GR, Ríos JL, Braca A, and Prieto JM
- Subjects
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents isolation & purification, Anti-Inflammatory Agents therapeutic use, Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors isolation & purification, Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors pharmacology, Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors therapeutic use, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, HeLa Cells, Humans, Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids biosynthesis, Inflammation chemically induced, Inflammation drug therapy, Inhibitory Concentration 50, Lipoxygenase Inhibitors isolation & purification, Lipoxygenase Inhibitors pharmacology, Lipoxygenase Inhibitors therapeutic use, Phorbols, Phytotherapy, Plant Extracts chemistry, Plant Extracts pharmacology, Plant Extracts therapeutic use, Plant Roots chemistry, Sesquiterpenes, Guaiane isolation & purification, Sesquiterpenes, Guaiane therapeutic use, Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology, Cyclooxygenase 1 metabolism, Inflammation metabolism, Lipoxygenases metabolism, NF-kappa B antagonists & inhibitors, Sesquiterpenes, Guaiane pharmacology, Xanthium chemistry
- Abstract
Xanthium spinosum L. (Asteraceae) is a medicinal weed distributed worldwide. Many of its diverse ethnopharmacological uses - namely diarrhoea, inflammation, liver disorders, snake bite and fever - are linked - at least in part - to an uncontrolled release of arachidonic acid metabolites. The crude extract of X. spinosum roots from Jordanian origin dose-dependently inhibited the 5-LOX (IC50 is approximately equal to 10 μg/mL), COX-1(IC50 is approximately equal to 50 μg/mL), and 12-LOX (IC50 is approximately equal to 170 μg/mL) enzymatic pathways in intact pro-inflammatory cells. A direct activity at the level of PLA2 is not probable, but the extract induced the synthesis of the anti-inflammatory eicosanoid 15(S)-HETE, which may in turn inhibit this enzyme. 5-LOX bioguided fractionation of the crude extract led to the isolation of ziniolide, a known 12,8-guaianolide sesquiterpene lactone, from the hydro-alcoholic fraction of the n-hexane extract (IC50=69 μM). Both the plant extract and ziniolide are in vitro inhibitors of the phorbol-induced NFκB activation, a key regulator of the arachidonic pathway., (© 2013.)
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Adaptive immunity, inflammation, and cardiovascular complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Author
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Pedicino D, Liuzzo G, Trotta F, Giglio AF, Giubilato S, Martini F, Zaccardi F, Scavone G, Previtero M, Massaro G, Cialdella P, Cardillo MT, Pitocco D, Ghirlanda G, and Crea F
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases etiology, Cardiovascular Diseases pathology, Cell Line, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 pathology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 pathology, Female, Humans, Inflammation complications, Inflammation pathology, Insulin Resistance immunology, Insulin-Secreting Cells immunology, Insulin-Secreting Cells pathology, Male, Middle Aged, T-Lymphocyte Subsets immunology, T-Lymphocyte Subsets pathology, Adaptive Immunity immunology, Cardiovascular Diseases immunology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 immunology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 immunology, Inflammation immunology
- Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a pandemics that affects more than 170 million people worldwide, associated with increased mortality and morbidity due to coronary artery disease (CAD). In type 1 (T1) DM, the main pathogenic mechanism seems to be the destruction of pancreatic β -cells mediated by autoreactive T-cells resulting in chronic insulitis, while in type 2 (T2) DM primary insulin resistance, rather than defective insulin production due to β -cell destruction, seems to be the triggering alteration. In our study, we investigated the role of systemic inflammation and T-cell subsets in T1- and T2DM and the possible mechanisms underlying the increased cardiovascular risk associated with these diseases.
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Functional impairment in video terminal operators is related to low-grade inflammation.
- Author
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Riondino S, La Farina F, Martini F, Guadagni F, and Ferroni P
- Subjects
- Adult, C-Reactive Protein analysis, Cumulative Trauma Disorders blood, Cumulative Trauma Disorders etiology, Disability Evaluation, Female, Humans, Inflammation blood, Inflammation etiology, Interleukin-6 blood, Male, Monocytes cytology, Monocytes metabolism, Occupational Diseases blood, Occupational Diseases etiology, Pain etiology, Pain physiopathology, Pain Measurement, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha blood, Computer Terminals, Cumulative Trauma Disorders diagnosis, Inflammation pathology, Occupational Diseases diagnosis, Occupational Exposure adverse effects
- Abstract
Purpose: Progressive functional impairments develop with chronic repetitive tasks possibly involving inflammatory mediators. Aim of this study was to analyze systemic inflammatory changes in relation to the possible occurrence of pain and/or disability in video terminal operators (VTOs) undergoing upper-extremity repetitive stress due to chronic overuse., Methods: Pain assessments, classification, and grade of impairment relied on self-report questionnaires administered to 21 VTOs and to 21 matched controls. The inflammatory status of the enrolled subjects was analyzed by determination of serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as well as systemic levels or monocyte expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)., Results: Serum levels of both cytokines were increased in VTOs compared to controls (P = 0.005 for TNF-α and P = 0.004 for IL-6). TNF-α levels correlated to IL-6 (P = 0.019), which, in turn, was associated to increased hs-CRP (P = 0.012). DASH score allowed to categorize VTOs according to disability. VTOs with mild (DASH = 22) or moderate (DASH = 46) disability (n = 10) had higher serum hs-CRP (P = 0.001) and IL-6 (P = 0.035) levels than VTOs without disabilities (DASH < 17) (n = 11). Monocyte stimulatory TNF-α expression was increased in individuals with mild/moderate disability. Monocyte expression of TNF-α was independently associated to that of IL-6, which, in turn, was associated to increased systemic hs-CRP levels together with mild/moderate functional impairment and weekly commitment to the display screen., Conclusions: The results here reported indicate the occurrence of a low-grade inflammatory condition in VTOs with mild/moderate disability, which might allow the early recognition of arising musculoskeletal disorders induced by repetitive stress.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Serum metalloproteinase 9 levels in patients with coronary artery disease: a novel marker of inflammation.
- Author
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Ferroni P, Basili S, Martini F, Cardarello CM, Ceci F, Di Franco M, Bertazzoni G, Gazzaniga PP, and Alessandri C
- Subjects
- Aged, Arteriosclerosis enzymology, Arteriosclerosis pathology, Biomarkers blood, C-Reactive Protein metabolism, Coronary Artery Disease blood, Coronary Artery Disease complications, Female, Fibrinogen metabolism, Humans, Inflammation complications, Interleukin-6 blood, Male, Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 blood, Middle Aged, Coronary Artery Disease enzymology, Inflammation blood, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 blood
- Abstract
Background: The finding that expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) is induced in atherosclerotic plaques prone to rupture suggests the possibility that patients with atherosclerotic diseases would show enhanced blood levels of MMPs and that MMPs might represent a potential inflammatory risk factor for atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study was aimed at verifying whether MMPs may represent sensitive markers of inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease., Methods: MMP-2, MMP-9, interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen levels were measured in blood samples obtained from 66 cases with previous acute myocardial infarction and 66 control subjects similar for age, sex, and major atherosclerotic risk factors but without history or evidence of atherothrombotic diseases., Results: Biohumoral markers of inflammation and MMP-9 levels were significantly elevated in cases compared with controls (median values 40.6 versus 9.8 ng/mL; p < .0001), whereas MMP-2 levels did not differ between the two groups (median values 839 versus 873 ng/mL; p = .53). A direct correlation was found among MMP-9, CRP, IL-6, and fibrinogen levels. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that MMP-9 is related to myocardial infarction (p = .006) even after adjusting for cardiovascular medications and CRP., Conclusion: These findings suggest that measurement of serum MMP-9 levels may represent a novel marker of inflammation in patients with known coronary artery disease and might provide an index of plaque activity in this clinical setting.
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Cognition in Schizophrenia: Modeling the Interplay between Interleukin-1β C-511T Polymorphism, Metabolic Syndrome, and Sex.
- Author
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Bosia, Marta, Spangaro, Marco, Sapienza, Jacopo, Martini, Francesca, Civardi, Serena, Buonocore, Mariachiara, Bechi, Margherita, Lorenzi, Cristina, Cocchi, Federica, Bianchi, Laura, Guglielmino, Carmelo, and Cavallaro, Roberto
- Subjects
METABOLIC syndrome ,EXECUTIVE function ,METABOLIC disorders ,PEOPLE with schizophrenia ,COGNITION ,22Q11 deletion syndrome - Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive deficits and metabolic disturbances are among the main determinants of functional impairment and reduced life expectancy in patients with schizophrenia, and they may share underlying biological mechanisms. Among these, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a key mediator of inflammatory response, is of particular interest. IL-1β C-511T polymorphism has been associated with neuropsychiatric conditions and, in the general population, with cognitive and metabolic alterations. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the IL-1β C-511T polymorphism on both cognition and metabolic syndrome in a sample of patients affected by schizophrenia, with a focus on sex differences. Methods: 138 patients with schizophrenia were assessed for metabolic parameters and neurocognitive measures by means of the Brief Assessment of Cognition Scale. The effects of IL-1β C-511T polymorphism on cognition and metabolic syndrome were evaluated in the context of general linear models. Results: The analysis showed a significant interaction between IL-1β genotype and sex on 2 core cognitive domains. In detail, among CC homozygous, females outperformed males on processing speed, while among T carriers, males outperformed females on executive functions. A significant interaction also emerged between metabolic syndrome, sex, and IL-1β genotype for executive functions, with worse performance for T carrier females with metabolic syndrome. No significant direct effect was observed for metabolic syndrome on cognition. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that IL-1β polymorphism could play a key role in mediating the complex and refined relationship between metabolic syndrome and cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Serum Metalloproteinase 9 Levels in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Novel Marker of Inflammation.
- Author
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Ferroni, Patrizia, Basili, Stefania, Martini, Francesca, Cardarello, Cristiano M., Ceci, Fabrizio, Franco, Manuela Di, Bertazzoni, Giuliano, Gazzaniga, Pier Paolo, and Alessandri, Cesare
- Abstract
The finding that expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) is induced in atherosclerotic plaques prone to rupture suggests the possibility that patients with atherosclerotic diseases would show enhanced blood levels of MMPs and that MMPs might represent a potential inflammatory risk factor for atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study was aimed at verifying whether MMPs may represent sensitive markers of inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease.MMP-2, MMP-9, interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen levels were measured in blood samples obtained from 66 cases with previous acute myocardial infarction and 66 control subjects similar for age, sex, and major atherosclerotic risk factors but without history or evidence of atherothrombotic diseases.Biohumoral markers of inflammation and MMP-9 levels were significantly elevated in cases compared with controls (median values 40.6 versus 9.8 ng/mL; p < .0001), whereas MMP-2 levels did not differ between the two groups (median values 839 versus 873 ng/mL; p = .53). A direct correlation was found among MMP-9, CRP, IL-6, and fibrinogen levels. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that MMP-9 is related to myocardial infarction (p = .006) even after adjusting for cardiovascular medications and CRP.These findings suggest that measurement of serum MMP-9 levels may represent a novel marker of inflammation in patients with known coronary artery disease and might provide an index of plaque activity in this clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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