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Background: Post-marketing surveillance studies have raised concerns of increased myocarditis rates following coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) mRNA vaccines. The present study aims to accumulate the published mRNA Covid-19 vaccine-associated myocarditis cases, describe their clinical characteristics and determine the factors predisposing to critical illness. Methods: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL and Google Scholar were systematically searched from inception. Studies reporting adult myocarditis cases following BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccination were included. Individual participant data coming from case reports/series were pooled. Proportional random-effects meta-analysis was conducted by combining the pooled cohort and observational studies with aggregated data. Results: Overall, 39 studies were included with a total of 129 patients. Most cases occurred in young males after the second vaccine dose. Myocarditis after the first dose was significantly associated with prior Covid-19 (p-value: 0.025). The most common electrocardiographic finding was ST-segment elevation, while late gadolinium enhancement was invariably observed in cardiac magnetic reasoning. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that signs of heart failure were predictive of subsequent critical illness (Odds ratio: 19.22, 95% confidence intervals-CI: 5.57–275.84). Proportion meta-analysis indicated that complete resolution of symptoms is achieved in 80.5% of patients (95% CI: 59.3–92.1), while the proportion of participants necessitating intensive care unit admission is 7.0% (95% CI: 3.8–12.9). Conclusions: Myocarditis following mRNA Covid-19 vaccination is typically mild, following an uncomplicated clinical course with rapid improvement of symptoms. Future research is needed to define its exact incidence, clarify its pathophysiology and determine the optimal management plan depending on its severity. Protocol registration: dx.https://doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bxwtppen. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Severe financial crises could influence a country’s suicide trends and characteristics. We aimed to highlight differences among suicide completers before and after the onset of Greece’s serious debt crisis of 2010 based exclusively on forensic data. The sample’s size permitted a further elaboration by means of a time series analysis too. Data were collected from the Piraeus Department of Forensic Medicine for the period 1992–2016. We extracted information on sociodemographic parameters, psychiatric medication and alcohol intake, suicide method, place and month of suicide. The “after crisis onset” group (2011–2016) was significantly older (p = 0.039)—primarily due to differences in the 55–64 age group—, had more frequently used psychiatric medications (p < 0.001), less often alcohol (p = 0.001) and died more frequently by immolation (p = 0.001). These differences were—almost exclusively—due to changes regarding male suicidal behavior. Time series analysis indicates that no strong increasing trend in total (male + female) suicide count can be observed, despite a local increase in 2009–2010. Antidepressant-positive suicides show an increase after 2010, whereas alcohol-positive suicides show a decrease. Future predicted forecasts for antidepressant-positive suicides indicate a decrease (from 5.6 per year in 2018 to 4.3 per year in 2025) whereas an increase is predicted in alcohol-positive suicides (7.7 per year in 2017, 9.36 per year in 2025). Middle-aged men, compared to middle-aged women, presumably found it harder to adjust to economic hardship after the crisis onset. Finally, comparatively more men than women who died by suicide appear to have started and/or complied with psychiatric treatment after 2010. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

There are varied lessons to be learned regarding the current methodological approaches to women’s health research. In the present scheme of growing medical literature and inflation of novel results claiming significance, the sheer amount of information can render evidence-based practice confusing. The factors that classically determined the impact of discoveries appear to be losing ground: citation count and publication rates, hierarchy in author lists according to contribution, and a journal’s impact factor. Through a comprehensive literature search on the currently available data from theses, opinion, and original articles and reviews on this topic, we seek to present to clinicians a narrative synthesis of three crucial axes underlying the totality of the research production chain: (a) critical advances in research methodology, (b) the interplay of academy and industry in a trial conduct, and (c) review-and publication-associated developments. We also provide specific recommendations on the study design and conduct, reviewing the processes and dissemination of data and the conclusions and implementation of findings. Overall, clinicians and the public should be aware of the discourse behind the marketing of alleged breakthrough research. Still, multiple initiatives, such as patient review and strict, supervised literature synthesis, have become more widely accepted. The “bottom-up” approach of a wide dissemination of information to clinicians, together with practical incentives for stakeholders with competing interests to collaborate, promise to improve women’s healthcare. © 2021 by the authors. Li-censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Aim: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Mean Platelet Volume in neonatal sepsis. Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Google Scholar and WHO (International Clinical Trials Register Platform) databases from inception using a structured algorithm. All observational studies were deemed eligible. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.3 software and heterogeneity was assessed through subgroup and meta-regression analysis. Studies included in the meta-analysis were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale while studies used for the calculation of the diagnostic accuracy were evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy tool. Results: MPV levels were found significantly higher than in healthy neonates (SMD: 1.62, 95% CI 0.97–2.27 and p < 10−5). Subgroup analysis based on hematological analyzer, EDTA usage and venipuncture to analysis time below 120 min also showcased significantly higher SMD’s in neonates with sepsis than in healthy. Sensitivity and specificity of MPV in neonatal sepsis were found to be 0.675 (95% CI: 0.536–0.790) and 0.733 (95% CI: 0.589–0.840), respectively, at an optimal cutoff point of 9.28fL. Conclusion: MPV appears to have a fair diagnostic accuracy in sepsis investigation. Given its ready availability it may constitute an attractive adjunct for clinicians, especially in low-resource environments. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Suicide is a dynamic phenomenon. Psychiatric medication intake, illicit drug and alcohol use or the preference for particular suicide methods shift continuously over time. To capture such variations –and their potential implications for suicide prevention-, we researched the forensic records of suicide cases for the period 1992–2016 at a large department of forensic medicine and conducted age-period-cohort (APC) analyses of our sample (1162 suicides, 77.45% males, 22.25% females). We primarily investigated socio-demographic and toxicological parameters. Benzodiazepine, alcohol and illicit drug use increased considerably towards the younger cohorts. The segment of individuals of foreign nationality raised significantly too; likewise, the proportion of prison suicides. Hanging appears increasingly preferred by the younger APCs (the opposite is true for jumping). Hanging seems more popular among males, prisoners, and those under the influence of illicit drugs; jumping by females and those less likely to have consumed alcohol or illicit drugs. Given that the method of a prior attempt, if a highly lethal one, usually gets repeated in the completed suicide, a history of an attempt by hanging should never be underestimated. The mental health needs of immigrants and prisoners look inadequately addressed. Young-middle aged immigrant prisoners appear a group at high suicide risk. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Objectives: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:. To assess the effectiveness and safety of the application of autologous platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) in ART cycles. Copyright © 2021 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aim: Sex hormones have been suggested to have neuroprotective effects in the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in animal studies. The aim of the present review was to retrieve and systematically synthesize the evidence on the effect of menopause and hormonal replacement treatment (HRT) on the course of MS. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the databases MEDLINE (accessed through PubMed), Scopus, clinicaltrials.gov and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL). Eligible studies were all those that included women with MS and reported on at least one of the following: a) disability and MS relapse rate before and after menopause, b) serum sex hormone concentrations, c) sexual function, d) age at menopause onset. Effects of HRT on MS clinical outcomes were also assessed. Results: Of the 4,102 retrieved studies, 28 were included in the systematic review. Of these, one reported the age at menopause for both controls and women with MS and found no difference between the two groups. There was no difference in the rates of relapse before and after menopause (risk ratio 1.21, 95 % confidence interval 0.91–1.61, p = 0.218). Two intervention studies reported beneficial effects of estrogen therapy on women with MS; however, the majority of women were premenopausal. Three studies addressed the issue of sexual dysfunction in women with MS, but information on hormonal parameters was limited. Conclusions: The age at menopause is not associated with the presence of MS. The evidence on a potential causal effect of estrogen depletion on disability is inconclusive; still, relapse rate seems not be associated with menopause. The effect of HRT on the natural course of the disease remains to be defined. © 2020

Cervical cancer can be largely preventable through primary and secondary prevention activities. Following the financial crisis in Greece since 2011 and the increased number of refugees/migrants since 2015 the proportion of vulnerable population groups in Greece increased greatly and the ability of the healthcare sector to respond and to cover the health needs of the population is put under tremendous stress. A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the characteristics of vulnerable women in Greece regarding cervical cancer risk factors, prevention through screening activities and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) knowledge. Two cohorts of women aged 18 to 70 years were studied (142 in 2012 and 122 in 2017) who completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire based on the behavioural model for vulnerable populations. According to this model, the factors that affect the behaviour of women in relation with their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine in our study sample are categorised in predisposing factors (age, educational status, nationality menopausal status and housing) and enabling factors (lack of insurance coverage). Results from both univariate and multivariate analyses show that older age, low educational background, refugee/migrant or ethnic minority (Roma) background, menopausal status, housing conditions and lack of insurance coverage are linked with insufficient knowledge on risk factors for cervical cancer and false attitudes and perceptions on cervical cancer preventive activities (Pap smear and HPV vaccine). This is the first study in Greece showing the lack of knowledge and the poor attitudes and perceptions on cervical cancer screening and the HPV vaccine in various groups of vulnerable women. Our results indicate the need of health education and intervention activities according to the characteristics and needs of each group. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, the total number of people with depression exceeds 300 million, and the incidence rate is 70 % greater in women. The perimenopause is considered to be a time of increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms and major depressive episodes.; AIM: The aim of this position statement is to provide a comprehensive model of care for the management of depressive symptoms in perimenopausal and early menopausal women, including diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The model integrates the care provided by all those involved in the management of mild or moderate depression in midlife women.; MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature review and consensus of expert opinion.; SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS: Awareness of depressive symptoms, early detection, standardized diagnostic procedures, personalized treatment and a suitable follow-up schedule need to be integrated into healthcare systems worldwide. Recommended treatment comprises antidepressants, psychosocial therapies and lifestyle changes. Alternative and complementary therapies, although widely used, may help with depression, but a stronger evidence base is needed. Although not approved for this indication, menopausal hormone therapy may improve depressive symptoms in peri- but not in postmenopausal women, especially in those with vasomotor symptoms. Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Retinal assessment has indicated the presence of neuronal loss in neurodegenerative disorders, but its role in schizophrenia remains unclear. We sought to synthesize the available evidence considering 3 noninvasive modalities: optical coherence tomography, electroretinography, and fundus photography, and examine their diagnostic accuracy based on unpublished individual participant data, when provided by the primary study authors. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, SCOPUS, clinicaltrials.gov, PSYNDEX, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and Google Scholar, up to October 30, 2018. Authors were contacted and invited to share anonymized participant-level data. Aggregate data were pooled using random effects models. Diagnostic accuracy meta-analysis was based on multiple cutoffs logistic generalized linear mixed modeling. This study was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018109344. Results: Pooled mean differences of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in micrometer between 694 eyes of 432 schizophrenia patients and 609 eyes of 358 controls, from 11 case-control studies, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by quadrant were the following: -4.55, 95% CI: -8.28, -0.82 (superior); -6.25, 95% CI: -9.46, -3.04 (inferior); -3.18, 95% CI: -5.04, -1.31 (nasal); and -2.7, 95% CI: -4.35, -1.04 (temporal). Diagnostic accuracy, based on 4 studies, was fair to poor, unaffected by age and sex; macular area measurements performed slightly better. Conclusion: The notion of structural and functional changes in retinal integrity of patients with schizophrenia is supported with current evidence, but diagnostic accuracy is limited. The potential prognostic, theranostic, and preventive role of retinal evaluation remains to be examined. © 2019 The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. All rights reserved.

Introduction: Globally, the total number of people with depression exceeds 300 million, and the incidence rate is 70 % greater in women. The perimenopause is considered to be a time of increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms and major depressive episodes. Aim: The aim of this position statement is to provide a comprehensive model of care for the management of depressive symptoms in perimenopausal and early menopausal women, including diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The model integrates the care provided by all those involved in the management of mild or moderate depression in midlife women. Materials and methods: Literature review and consensus of expert opinion. Summary recommendations: Awareness of depressive symptoms, early detection, standardized diagnostic procedures, personalized treatment and a suitable follow-up schedule need to be integrated into healthcare systems worldwide. Recommended treatment comprises antidepressants, psychosocial therapies and lifestyle changes. Alternative and complementary therapies, although widely used, may help with depression, but a stronger evidence base is needed. Although not approved for this indication, menopausal hormone therapy may improve depressive symptoms in peri- but not in postmenopausal women, especially in those with vasomotor symptoms. © 2019

Background: Acute kidney injury is a major complication of vancomycin treatment, especially when it is co-administered with other nephrotoxins. Objectives: This meta-analysis aims to comparatively assess the nephrotoxicity of antipseudomonal β-lactams when combined with vancomycin. Data sources: Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were systematically searched from inception through 20 August 2019. Study eligibility criteria: Studies evaluating acute kidney injury risk following the concurrent use of antipseudomonal β-lactams and vancomycin were selected. Participants: Adult and paediatric patients treated in hospital or intensive care unit. Interventions: Administration of vancomycin combined with any antipseudomonal β-lactam. Methods: Acute kidney injury incidence was defined as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included severity, onset, duration, need of renal replacement therapy, length of hospitalization and mortality. Quality of evidence was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool and the Confidence In Network Meta-Analysis approach. Results: Forty-seven cohort studies were included, with a total of 56 984 patients. In the adult population, the combination of piperacillin–tazobactam and vancomycin resulted in significantly higher nephrotoxicity rates than vancomycin monotherapy (odds ratio (OR) 2.05, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.17–3.46) and its concurrent use with meropenem (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.02–3.10) or cefepime (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.13–2.77). In paediatric patients, acute kidney injury was significantly higher with vancomycin plus piperacillin–tazobactam than vancomycin alone (OR 4.18, 95% CI 1.01–17.29) or vancomycin plus cefepime OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.08–11.24). No significant differences were estimated for the secondary outcomes. Credibility of outcomes was judged as moderate, mainly due to imprecision and inter-study heterogeneity. Conclusions: The combination of vancomycin and piperacillin–tazobactam is associated with higher acute kidney injury rates than its parallel use with meropenem or cefepime. Current evidence is exclusively observational and is limited by inter-study heterogeneity. Randomized controlled trials are needed to verify these results and define preventive strategies to minimize nephrotoxicity risk. © 2020 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Emergence of health-related smartphone applications and their wide dissemination in public as well as healthcare practitioners has undergone criticism under the scope of public health. Still, despite methodological issues curbing the initial enthusiasm, availability, safety and, in certain cases, documented efficacy of these measures has secured regulatory approval. Bearing in mind these pitfalls, we describe the necessary steps towards implementation of deep learning techniques in the specific clinical context of women's health and infertility in particular. © 2019 by the authors.

Introduction: Red cell distribution width to platelet ratio (RPR) may be a useful marker for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease (CLD). We sought to investigate its value in fibrosis-related outcomes in a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy. Areas covered: We searched MEDLINE (1966–2019), Clinicaltrials.gov (2008–2019), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (1999–2019), Google Scholar (2004–2019) and WHO (International Clinical Trials Register Platform) databases using a structured algorithm. The articles were assessed by Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool (QUADAS-2). In over 1,800 patients for each outcome, pooled sensitivity and specificity for a) significant fibrosis, b) advanced fibrosis and c) cirrhosis were: a) 0.635 and 0.769 with an AUC of 0.747, b) 0.607 and 0.783 with an AUC of 0.773, c) 0.739 and 0.768 with an AUC of 0.818 respectively. Similar results were found for chronic hepatitis B in all outcomes. Subgroup analysis indicated a high specificity for advanced fibrosis detection in primary biliary cirrhosis. Sensitivity analysis did not alter the results. Expert opinion: RPR is a good predictor of fibrosis, especially as severity of chronic liver disease progresses. Future research should elucidate its value in specific etiologies of chronic liver disease. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Background: The immune system appears to be dysregulated in schizophrenia (SZ). The potential prognostic or diagnostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an inexpensive proxy marker for a wide spectrum of conditions, has not been established in SZ. We seek to investigate a) whether NLR is increased in SZ patients, b) if this difference in more prominent in relapsed SZ or first-episode psychosis. Methods: A structured algorithm was applied in MEDLINE (1946–2018), PsychInfo, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (1999–2018), PSYNDEX (1984–2017) and Clinicaltrials.gov (2008–2018) databases. Results: Through the database search, 1023 articles were screened. Ten studies (804 SZ patients, 671 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. In SZ patients, the NLR was increased by 0.65 (95% CI: 0.54, 0.86, p < 10−5). This difference was significant in both acute relapse and first-episode psychosis subgroups. Studies of moderate and high quality also showed a significant NLR increase in SZ patients (I2 = 0%). Meta-regression analysis showed that the polymorphonuclear count and antipsychotic use may confound the result. In leave-one-out meta-analysis, no study altered the significance of the result when omitted. Conclusions: NLR in SZ patients is increased, both in chronic disease and in first-episode psychosis. Baseline characteristics, such as polymorphonuclear count and antipsychotic use, may affect its accuracy. The application of this marker in clinical practice requires the description of its normal values in the general population, its potential change after antipsychotic administration and its correlation with disease activity. A large-scale, prospective study design would resolve these issues. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

There is evidence showing a positive correlation between prenatal androgens and their effect on the development of central nervous system and the autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) phenotype in offspring of mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We applied a systematic review to investigate whether women with PCOS have increased odds of having a child with ASD, while, secondarily, if these women themselves are at high risk of having the disease. Major databases from inception until 14th October 2018 were searched. The primary outcome measure was the odds of an ASD diagnosis in children of mothers with diagnosed PCOS, while the secondary outcome was the odds of ASD diagnosis in women with PCOS. Scheduled subgroup analyses were according to the time of birth and maternal age. We assessed the odds ratio (OR), using a random-effects model; heterogeneity was assessed by I2 and τ2 statistics. The quality of the evidence was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Ten studies were eligible for inclusion, including a total of 33,887 ASD children and 321,661 non-ASD children. Diagnosed PCOS was associated with a 1.66 times increase in the odds of ASD in the offspring [95% CI: 1.51, 1.83, p = 1.99 × 10−25, 7 studies, I2 = 0%, τ2 = 0]. Women with PCOS were 1.78 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD (95% CI: 1.10, 2.87, p = 0.0179, 5 studies, I2 = 85.4%, τ2 = 0.2432). Additional analyses did not change the initial result. The overall quality of the evidence was high. The pooled effects size displayed low heterogeneity (I2 = 0%) for the primary outcome. While the heterogeneity in the secondary outcome appears to attenuate when only high quality studies are synthesized, still the result exhibits significant heterogeneity. Τhe available data allowed a subgroup analysis only for classification system for PCOS diagnosis and showed a significant increase of ASD diagnosis in the offspring of women with Read Code and ICD diagnosed PCOS. In conclusion, the available evidence suggests that women with PCOS have increased odds of having a child with ASD, an effect size estimate based on a large number of patients from studies of good quality. Regarding the evidence on the prevalence of ASD in PCOS women, results suggest that women with PCOS are more likely to be diagnosed with ASD. © 2019, Springer Nature Limited.

Aim of the study: To investigate the association of personality traits with the severity of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in a predominantly Greek population. Material and methods: A questionnaire-based study of women from the Menopause Clinic of a University Hospital in Athens, Greece. Sociodemographic parameters were documented through a structured interview. All women completed the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) for the assessment of severity of menopausal symptoms, the Hot Flush Beliefs Scale (HFBS) for the assessment of how women were coping with their symptoms and the Big Five Inventory questionnaires for the assessment of personality traits. Associations between baseline parameters and menopausal symptoms were assessed with univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results: One hundred women were included. Employed women had lower MRS sub-scores (psychological p < 0.001, somatic p < 0.047, urogenital p < 0.008). Married women scored higher in the psychological and somatic domains. Women of university educational level coped significantly better with hot flushes (β coefficient [SE]: 0.72 [0.25], p < 0.01) and night sweats (0.57 [0.19], p < 0.01) than women of primary education, although the significance of these findings was not replicated when taking into account confounders. Regarding personality traits, women with low openness (–0.33 [0.11], p < 0.01) and empathy (–0.83 [0.37], p = 0.03) and high agreeableness (1.13 [0.21], p < 0.001) had more severe menopausal symptoms. In contrast, women with high agreeableness could better cope with their menopausal symptoms (–0.75 [0.36], p = 0.04). These associations were independent of sociodemographic factors. Conclusions: Personality traits, especially agreeableness, openness and empathy are associated with menopausal symptoms and functionality in postmenopausal women. These associations might serve as indicators of women at risk of experiencing more severe VMS. © 2019 Termedia Publishing House Ltd.. All rights reserved.

We propose a study protocol capable of improving clinical outcomes following medically assisted reproduction (MAR) in infertile women with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The proposed research derives from the published evidence on the positive impact from endometrial injury (EI) and the beneficial nature of the intervention towards improved implantation rates. We primarily refer to the cluster of events and hypotheses, such as the mechanical cascade, the inflammatory response per se, the events accompanying wound healing, the immune cell recruitment and protein involvement, alterations in gene expression and the neo-angiogenesis theories, which have been previously investigated for this purpose. We are also exploring the possible problems in MAR cycles with negative outcomes in PCOS and endometriosis patients and we are proposing potential mechanisms on how this intervention might work. Our hypothesis states that the EI before the initiation of the MAR cycle can affect clinical pregnancy rates in patients with the aforementioned pathologies. © 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

Preeclampsia is a multi-system hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, with significant rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity. It represents a major cause of preterm birth, as definitive treatment demands fetal delivery. Although its pathophysiology is complicated, placental hypoxia and endothelial dysfunction constitute established pathogenetic steps of the disease. Inflammation is considered to be a crucial mediator of preeclampsia process, as an imbalance between TH1, TH2, and TH17 immune responses is observed. The present review accumulates current knowledge about the contribution of interleukins in preeclampsia, summarizing the pathways through which each interleukin exerts its function in the disease. Also, the role of genetic polymorphisms is explored and the predictive efficacy of maternal serum interleukin levels is evaluated. Finally, recommendations about the safe interpretation of the outcomes, as well as guidance for future research, are provided. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Nanoparticles prepared from biodegradable polymers, such as poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), represent a new approach for vaccine delivery due to their ability to be taken up by phagocytes and activate immune responses. In this study, fluorescently labelled bovine serum albumin (BSA-FITC)-loaded PLGA nanoparticles, of an average size ∼300 nm were prepared and examined for their ability to be taken up by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) in vitro and thus to promote their maturation and activation. The synthesized nanoparticles did not exhibit any cytotoxic or hemolytic effect and were taken up by BM-DCs efficiently, in a time and dose dependent manner. The localization of BSA-FITC loaded PLGA nanoparticles both in the acidophilic cellular compartments and the cytoplasm resulted in the maturation of BM-DCs expressing higher levels of costimulatory and MHC class II molecules in comparison to empty PLGA nanoparticles. However, the absence of IL-12 or IL-10 production indicates partial activation of BM-DCs suggesting the necessity of an adjuvant addition in order to facilitate DCs functionalization. Copyright © 2013 American Scientific Publishers. All rights reserved.