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Background: Despite the efforts of the World Health Organization, some childhood viral diseases, for which there is already an effective vaccine, have not yet been eradicated. Among these, we find varicella, mumps, measles, and rubella, which although in most cases have a benign course, can in some cases be responsible for infectious outbreaks, especially in nosocomial settings. The aim of this study was to verify the immunological situation of a cohort of trainee obstetricians in Campania regarding varicella, mumps, measles, and rubella to be used as an example for the evaluation of possible preventive strategies to avoid infectious outbreaks., Methods: All the samples collected and sent to the laboratory were eligible for analysis and have been included in the study. Specific IgG for varicella, measles, mumps, and rubella were assayed on serum samples taken from 517 trainee obstetricians using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The seropositivity results were statistically analyzed by correlating them to age group and gender., Results: The results obtained show that a percentage of trainee obstetricians tested do not have an effective immunological coverage against at least one of the vaccine-preventable diseases considered, especially for mumps., Conclusions: Therefore, it is proposed to extend surveillance to other professionals in contact with frail patients and increase awareness of vaccination campaigns., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

In recent years, some treatments for esthetic and pathologic skin conditions have increasingly been based on the use of non-ablative neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser due to its greater penetration ability than other types of lasers, few contraindications, minimal side effects, no damage for epidermidis and the rapid recovery of the treated patients. The skin is frequently exposed to many stressors such as radiation, toxic substances, metabolites, foods, mechanical insults, and allergen exposition that cause oxidative damage and have a decisive influence on the aging process. The imbalance between reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and the malfunctioning of the antioxidant defense system promotes the establishment of an excessive inflammatory process, which can induce various diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The present study investigated the cytoprotective function of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser against stress aging and cell injury in HaCaT cells. We evaluated the effect of the laser on antioxidant defenses, inflammation, metalloproteinases' expression, and the AhR-Nrf2 pathway. Q-switched Nd:YAG is able to upregulate the AhR pathway and the expression of IL-6 and TGF-β, which are involved in wound repair process, and to downregulate the expression of MMP-2 and 9, so preventing the collagen degradation. Q-switched Nd:YAG can stimulate the cellular antioxidant defenses by activating the AhR-Nrf2 system., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

The skin serves as the first barrier against pathogen attacks, thanks to its multifunctional microbial community. Malassezia furfur is a commensal organism of normal cutaneous microflora but is also a cause of skin diseases. It acts on different cell pattern recognition receptors (TLRs, AhR, NLRP3 inflammasome) leading to cellular damage, barrier impairment, and inflammatory cytokines production. Lactobacillus spp. Is an endogenous inhabitant of healthy skin, and studies have proven its beneficial role in wound healing, skin inflammation, and protection against pathogen infections. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the ability of live Lactiplantibacillus plantarum to interfere with the harmful effects of the yeast on human keratinocytes (HaCat) in vitro. To enable this, the cells were treated with M. furfur , either alone or in the presence of L. plantarum . To study the inflammasome activation, cells require a stimulus triggering inflammation (LPS) before M. furfur infection, with or without L. plantarum. L. plantarum effectively counteracts all the harmful strategies of yeast, reducing the phospholipase activity, accelerating wound repair, restoring barrier integrity, reducing AhR and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and, consequently, releasing inflammatory cytokines. Although lactobacilli have a long history of use in fermented foods, it can be speculated that they can also have health-promoting activities when topically applied.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that is used against cognitive impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the rTMS therapeutic effects are still only partially investigated. Maladaptive plasticity, glial activation, and neuroinflammation, including metalloproteases (MMPs) activation, might represent new potential targets of the neurodegenerative process and progression from MCI to AD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of bilateral rTMS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on plasmatic levels of MMP1, -2, -9, and -10; MMPs-related tissue inhibitors TIMP1 and TIMP2; and cognitive performances in MCI patients. Patients received high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS (MCI-TMS, n = 9) or sham stimulation (MCI-C, n = 9) daily for four weeks, and they were monitored for six months after TMS. The plasmatic levels of MMPs and TIMPs and the cognitive and behavioral scores, based on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Apathy Evaluation Scale, were assessed at baseline (T0) and after 1 month (T1) and 6 months (T2) since rTMS. In the MCI-TMS group, at T2, plasmatic levels of MMP1, -9, and -10 were reduced and paralleled by increased plasmatic levels of TIMP1 and TIMP2 and improvement of visuospatial performances. In conclusion, our findings suggest that targeting DLPFC by rTMS might result in the long-term modulation of the MMPs/TIMPs system in MCI patients and the neurobiological mechanisms associated with MCI progression to dementia.

Escherichia coli is one of the commensal species most represented in the intestinal microbiota. However, there are some strains that can acquire new virulence factors that enable them to adapt to new intestinal niches. These include enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) that is responsible for the bacillary dysentery that causes severe diarrheal symptoms in both children and adults. Due to the increasing onset of antibiotic resistance phenomena, scientific research is focused on the study of other therapeutic approaches for the treatment of bacterial infections. A promising alternative could be represented by antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), that have received widespread attention due to their broad antimicrobial spectrum and low incidence of bacterial resistance. AMPs modulate the immune defenses of the host and regulate the composition of microbiota and the renewal of the intestinal epithelium. With the aim to investigate an alternative therapeutic approach, especially in the case of antibiotic resistance, in this work we created a line of intestinal epithelial cells able to express high concentrations of AMP human β-defensin-2 (HBD-2) in order to test its ability to interfere with the pathogenicity mechanisms of EIEC. The results showed that HBD-2 is able to significantly reduce the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines by intestinal epithelial cells, the invasiveness ability of EIEC and the expression of invasion-associated genes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Fusco, Savio, Perfetto, Mattina and Donnarumma.)

Addressing behavior problems in clinical practice requires diagnostic expertise as well as excellent client skills in communication, gained by experience. This issue was addressed by introducing clinical behavior to first-year veterinary students. The program was implemented over four successive terms (2017-2019) at St. George's University School of Veterinary Medicine. The clinical practice hour was introduced after a brief first-year clinical behavior course (7 lectures). Students were divided into 6-8 person teams. In a class demonstration with a student and his/her dog having behavior problems, two students served as clinicians; a third student, as a scribe, recorded case details. They discussed signalment, history, presenting problems, and possible treatment approaches for 25 minutes; then, the class divided into the assigned teams to develop their specific treatment plans and write up and submit team case reports. During each term, the student Animal Welfare and Behavior Committee organized an optional behavior workshop (enrollment was 24 veterinary students from years 1 through 3). Participation in the workshop included an introductory session and two clinical sessions. Four dog and/or cat cases were scheduled for each of the two sessions. Six students addressed each case: three students were lead clinicians. Workshop evenings concluded with a discussion of all cases. Students were presented a certificate of completion. Students gained early experience in clinical communication, behavior problems, and case write-ups. The abundance of students' pets with behavior problems made this a context that simplified recruiting real cases, but variations could be adapted as appropriate in other communities.

The intestinal mucosa is composed of a monolayer of epithelial cells, which is highly polarized and firmly united to each other thanks to the presence of proteins complexes, called Tight junctions (TJs). Alteration of the mucus layer and TJs causes an increase in intestinal permeability, which can lead to a microbial translocation and systemic disorders. Candida albicans , in addition to its role of commensal, is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for disseminated candidiasis, especially in immunocompromised subjects where the dysbiosis leads to damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier . In this work, we used a line of intestinal epithelial cells able to stably express the genes that encodes human beta defensin-2 (HBD-2) and -3 (HBD-3) to monitor the invasion of C. albicans in vitro. Defensins are a group of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found in different living organisms, and are involved in the first line of defense in the innate immune response against pathogens. The results obtained show that the presence of antimicrobial peptides improves the expression of TJs and increases the Trans Epithelial Electrical Resistence value. In addition, the invasive ability of C. albicans in transfected cells is significantly reduced, as well as the expression levels of genes involved in the apoptotic pathway. Through the study of interaction between antimicrobial peptides and microbiota we will be able in the future to better understand the mechanisms by which they exert the host defense function against intestinal pathogens., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Fusco, Savio, Donniacuo, Perfetto and Donnarumma.)

Skin represents an interface between internal and external environment; it protects human body by regulating the water loss and the maintenance of body temperature, defending against irritant and pathogen agents, and against physical, chemical, and UV damage. It provides to essential physiological functions, such as the important antioxidant defense capacity; its protective/defensive function is performed by a high number of proteins, and shows important functions in maintenance of skin barrier homeostasis. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts play a pivotal role to determine or prevent skin aging in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli, modulating cytokines and several biochemical factors. Non-ablative technologies are playing an increasing role in the management of skin aging, inducing a dermal remodeling without a visible epidermal damage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Q-switched 1064 Nd-YAG laser (Medlite Conbio C6 Nd-YAG laser, Cynosure USA) in skin barrier function, analyzing the constituents which are strongly altered in aging skin. Particularly, we evaluated the expression of filaggrin, TGase, HSP70, and aquaporins, on HaCaT cells. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines has been investigated too.As a second step of the study, we analyzed the modulation of the rejuvenation molecular markers on human skin fibroblasts (HDFs) stimulated with keratinocytes conditioned medium (KCM).Our results demonstrated that Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser acts on the skin barrier function, increasing the expression of aquaporins, filaggrin, TGase, and HSP70, modulating the proinflammatory cytokines. In fibroblasts stimulated with keratinocytes conditioned medium (KCM) and irradiated with Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, we can observe a reduction of MMP-1 and an increase in procollagen, collagen type I, and elastin. Our results highlight that Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser treatment could represent an effective weapon to fight skin aging.

For the management of Staphylococci coagulase-negative infection, often related to biofilm formation, rapid and accurate identification is necessary in choosing a correct antibiotic therapy. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is becoming increasingly important for bacterial identification over traditional methods. Our aim was to validate the use of MALDI to discriminate Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm-producing strains. Clinical strains coming from suture wires were identified and their protein profiles were compared to that obtained from two ATCC reference strains (biofilm producer and non-producer). MALDI identified the eighteen isolates as S. epidermidis , combining sixteen profiles with the biofilm producer and two with the non-producer, confirming the results of crystal violet assay. Our data highlight that MALDI can be considered a good tool to discriminate between biofilm-producer and non-producer strains of S. epidermidis , thus helping to establish an effective antibiotic therapy.

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the inflammatory response is often steroid-resistant, likely since oxidative stress and cigarette smoking impair histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) activity. Since it has been demonstrated that statins may restore the HDAC2 activity in cultured human endothelial cells, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of statins in reversing the steroid-resistance induced by oxidative stress. We evaluated the effects of simvastatin and dexamethasone on HDAC2 expression and activity, and the role of mevalonate and Rho/ROCK pathways in A549 cells, a human lung type II epithelial cell line stressed with H 2 O 2 . Our results documented that H 2 O 2 significantly reduced the HDAC2 expression and activity. In H 2 O 2 treated cells dexamethasone was unable to restore the activity of HDAC2, whereas simvastatin restored both the expression and the activity of this enzyme. Our data also showed that mevalonate reduced the activity of HDAC2 whereas Y27632, a Rho/ROCK inhibitor, had no effect on HDAC2 activity when co-administered with simvastatin. Our data suggest that statins could have the potential to restore corticosteroid sensitivity in A549 cells. The evidences of this study suggest that, although both mevalonate and Rho/ROCK pathways are involved in the detrimental effect elicited by oxidative stress, statins may restore the function and expression of depleted HDAC2 via modulating the mevalonate cascade, at least in A549 cells. In conclusion, the modulation of histone acetyltransferase/deacetylase activity may lead to the development of novel anti-inflammatory approaches to inflammatory lung diseases that are currently difficult to treat., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen commensal in the oral cavity, vagina, and healthy skin. Common therapeutic options for fungal infections are topical or systemic antifungal drugs. Recently, in cutaneous pathologies, lasers and light-based treatments have emerged showing few contraindications and minimal side effects. The Q-switched (Nd-YAG) laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm has been shown to be useful in dermatology, dentistry, and some other medical specialties. It is used to treat onychomycoses, warts, and wounds and in some other treatments. We analyzed the effect of Q-switched (Nd-YAG) laser 1064 nm on human keratinocytes infected with C. albicans. In particular, we evaluated the effect of laser on invasiveness of C. albicans and on inflammatory and protective response of HaCaT cells infected. The results obtained did not show inhibitory, fungicidal, or fungistatic effects of laser on yeast; in addition, laser did not affect HaCaT vitality. HaCaT cells infected with C. albicans and irradiated with laser showed a reduction of invasiveness of TNF-α and IL8 gene expression and an increase of immunomodulatory cytokines such as TGFβ. Furthermore, laser induces a significant over-expression of HSP70B (heat shock protein) and of HBD-2 (Human β defensin-2) in HaCaT infected with C. albicans, compared to the untreated control. The use of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in skin mycosis caused by C. albicans reduces yeast invasiveness in keratinocytes, downregulates inflammatory activities, and facilitates cytoprotection and antimicrobial defense. Our results offer a promising therapeutic strategy in the management of skin candidiasis, also in combination with conventional therapies.

In the published online version of the article, the authors' given and family names were incorrectly captured. The corrected names are shown in the author group section above.

The use of raw materials obtained by waste and processed through innovative industrial methodologies has generated an industry of about a trillion dollars in a short time, and in the near future will provide resources and services for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in order to ensure a better and fairer welfare for the human race. The production of nano-fiber chitin non-woven tissue is in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and European Union (EU) bio-economic programs: 100% biodegradable, ecological, and therefore useful in decreasing dependence on fossil fuel resources. The aim of our study is the evaluation of different formulations of a non-woven tissue obtained from electrospinning of a mixture of nanochitin fibrils, lignin, and poly (ethylene) oxide (PEO) on the restoration of damaged tissues. Wound repair is a complex process that involves epithelial and immune cells and includes the induction of metalloproteinases, inflammatory mediators, and angiogenic factors. Our in vitro results have shown that all of the realized chitin nanofibrils-bio-lignin non-woven tissues tested as nontoxic for human keratinocytes (HaCat) cells. Furthermore, the bio-composites that included bio-lignin at 0.1% have been able to modulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, IL-1α, and IL8), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and human beta-defensin 2 (HBD-2) expression in HaCat cells, suggesting an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory role. Taken together, our results suggest that our chitin nanofibrils-bio-lignin non-woven tissue represents a skin-friendly tool that is able to favor a correct and fast wound repair., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

We have recently demonstrated that the specific inhibition of nuclear factor-κB by a decoy oligonucleotide (dec-ODN) delivered through inhalable large porous particles (LPP) made of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) may be highly beneficial for long-term treatment of lung inflammation. Nevertheless, besides chronic inflammation, multifunctional systems aimed to control also infection are required in chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF). In this work, we tested the hypothesis that engineering PLGA-based LPP with branched poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) may improve LPP properties for pulmonary delivery of dec-ODN, with particular regard to the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections. After getting insight into the role of PEI on the technological properties of PLGA-based LPP for delivery of dec-ODN, the putative synergistic effect of PEI free or PEI released from LPP on in vitro antimicrobial activity of tobramycin (Tb) and aztreonam (AZT) against P. aeruginosa was elucidated. Meanwhile, cytotoxicity studies on A549 cells were carried out. Results clearly demonstrate that the dry powders have promising aerosolization properties and afford a prolonged in vitro release of both dec-ODN and PEI. The encapsulation of PEI into LPP results in a 2-fold reduction of the minimum inhibitory concentration of AZT, while reducing the cytotoxic effect of PEI. Of note, the developed ODN/PLGA/PEI LPP persisted at lung at least for 14 days after intratracheal administration in rats where they can provide sustained and combined release of dec-ODN and PEI. dec-ODN will likely act as an anti-inflammatory drug, while PEI may enhance the therapeutic activity of inhaled antibiotics, which are commonly employed for the treatment of concomitant lung infections.

Defensins are a group of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found in different living organisms, and are involved in the first line of defense in the innate immune response against pathogens. The increase in the resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics and the need for new antibiotics has stimulated interest in the use of AMPs as new therapeutic agents. The inducible nature of human defensin genes suggests that it is possible to increase the endogenous production by utilizing small molecules of various origins to enhance, even selectively, the expression of these peptides. In the light of their role in immunomodulation, angiogenesis, wound healing, inflammation and cancer, as well as their antimicrobial activity, it is possible induce their expression or create analogs with increased specific activity or various degrees of selectivity, or obtain human defensins with genetic engineering to optimize the potency and safety in order to reduce cytotoxicity and potential proinflammatory activity and susceptibility to protease and salt. Restoring the balance between immunostimulating and immunosuppressive molecules may be an important strategy to correct expression defects in specific diseases.

Arbidol (ARB) is an antiviral drug that has broad-spectrum activity against a number of viral infections. To date, there are no specific data regarding its effects against a herpesvirus. Here, the in vitro antiviral effect of ARB and structurally related derivatives were evaluated in HaCat cells on different steps of herpes simplex virus type 1 replication: adsorption, entry and post-entry. The simplified pyrrolidine analogue, 9a2, showed the best antiviral activity in vitro by reducing the plaque numbers by about 50% instead of 42% obtained with ARB at the same concentration. Furthermore, we have reported that all tested compounds evaluated for their immunomodulatory activity showed the ability to reduce the viral proteins VP16 and ICP27 and to modify the virus-induced cytokine expression, allowing the host cell a more efficient antiviral response., (© 2014 The Authors.)

Malassezia spp. are saprophyte yeasts involved in skin diseases with different degrees of severity. The aim of our study was to analyze the response of human epidermal keratinocytes to Malassezia globosa and restricta strains evaluating the host defence mechanisms induced by Malassezia spp. colonization. Our results showed a different modulation of the inflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokine pathways obtained with the different strains of Malassezia tested. In addition, this expression is altered by blocking the TLR2 receptor. In comparison with M. furfur, M. globosa and restricta displayed an unexpected and striking cytotoxicity on keratinocytes. The differences observed could be related to the different modalities of interaction between keratinocytes and Malassezia strains, but also to their growth condition. Taken together, these results indicate that M. globosa or M. restricta colonization exert a different control on the cytokine inflammatory response activated in the human keratinocyte in which TLR2 might be involved. M. globosa and M. restricta may play a synergistic role in the exacerbation of skin diseases in which both are found.