Biomedical subjects

Carlo Saitta

Publications and source records attributed to Carlo Saitta.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Longitudinal evaluation reveals a complex spectrum of virological profiles in hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is often associated with severe forms of liver disease. However, comprehensive studies are lacking, and scant information is available regarding the virological behavior over time in coinfected patients. This study enrolled 133 untreated HBV/HCV-positive patients (male/female = 102/31; median age 51 years [range: 22-83 years]) who were longitudinally followed up for 1 year with bimonthly evaluation of HBV/HCV viremia levels and liver biochemistry. Thirty of these patients had triple infection with hepatitis Delta virus (HDV), while 103 patients were HDV-negative. In the HDV-negative group, active infection with both HBV and HCV was revealed in 24 cases, inactive infection by both viruses was seen in 15 cases, active HBV/inactive HCV was seen in 15 cases, and inactive HBV/active HCV was seen in 49 cases. However, 32 subjects (31%) presented dynamic virological profiles characterized by fluctuation of HBV and/or HCV viremia levels that at different time points were over or under the cutoff limits. Consequently, a correct diagnosis could be performed in these subjects only by serially repeating the virological tests 1 year apart. Similarly, 15 of the 30 HDV-positive subjects showed active HBV and/or HCV infection, with fluctuating virological patterns in 8 cases. In conclusion, this study showed that the virological patterns in HBV/HCV coinfection are widely divergent and have dynamic profiles. A careful longitudinal evaluation of the viremia levels of both viruses is essential for making a correct diagnosis and tailoring the appropriate therapeutic schedule in coinfected patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Tissue factor expression and activity are not increased in peripheral monocytes isolated from uncomplicated hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Systemic hypertension is one of the main risk factors for atherothrombosis. Tissue factor (TF) is found in the adventitia of blood vessels and in the lipid core of atherosclerotic plaques, and is specifically expressed on monocyte or macrophage cell membrane surfaces. TF plays a pivotal role in blood clotting physiology and is involved in pro-inflammatory action and atherosclerotic plaque destabilization. OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated whether there is any relationship between TF messenger RNA expression and activity in blood monocytes isolated from hypertensive patients with clinical signs of atherosclerosis, uncomplicated hypertensive individuals and normotensive control subjects. METHODS: Eighty subjects (41 men and 39 women, mean age 41 +/- 12 years) with untreated essential hypertension and 41 control subjects matched for sex and age were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified according to whether they had a normal (</= 1 mm, 41 patients) or abnormal (> 1 mm, 39 patients) intima-media thickness (IMT). RESULTS: TF mRNA expression and activity in hypertensive individuals with no carotid atherosclerosis were no different from control subjects in unstimulated and stimulated monocytes. Abnormal IMT patients showed a higher TF mRNA expression compared with normal IMT hypertensive subjects (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that TF mRNA and activity levels in monocytes obtained from uncomplicated hypertensive individuals are comparable with those of normotensive subjects, whereas atherosclerotic hypertensive patients showed increased levels of these parameters.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) gene mutations screening in a sample of Mediterranean population.

The main role of superoxide dismutases (SODs) is to eliminate reactive oxygen species in cells and tissues. Extracellular SOD (EC-SOD/SOD3) is a major superoxide scavenger and it is located on cell surfaces and primarily in extracellular matrix, and binds heparan sulfates by its carboxyterminal portion. Human EC-SOD gene is located on chromosome 4 and comprises three exons and two introns. The SOD3 coding sequence is entirely located within exon 3 and has missense polymorphisms. The Arg213Gly mutation affects the function of the carboxyterminus and correlates with several diseases. In this work, we explored genetic variants within EC-SOD gene of subjects living in southern Italy. Four new variations were detected: one was silent mutation, while three were missense variations that give rise to amino acid substitutions at position 131 (F>C), 160 (V>L) and 202 (R>L) in the mature product. The Arg213Gly variant was not found. The missense mutations in the DNA of assayed 2400 chromosomes had frequencies of 5.34% for the F131C variation, 0.25% for the V160L variation and 0.84% for the R202L variation. The effect of these alterations on the metabolic activity and diseases remains to be further explained.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Antioxidant effect of atorvastatin is independent of PON1 gene T(-107)C, Q192R and L55M polymorphisms in hypercholesterolaemic patients.

BACKGROUND: Serum paraoxonase (PON1), a high density lipoprotein (HDL)-bound antioxidant enzyme, plays a role in atherosclerosis. An increase in PON1 activity has been reported following statin treatment. OBJECTIVE: In the present study the following factors were evaluated: the influence of PON1 gene Q192R, L55M and T(-107)C polymorphisms on the response of LDL oxidisability and PON1 activity to atorvastatin treatment. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: 205 Sicilian subjects with primary hypercholesterolaemia (HCh) and 69 healthy subjects as controls were concurrently enrolled. Hypercholesterolaemic patients were randomly divided into two groups: an atorvastatin group (10 mg/day atorvastatin) and a placebo group. Lipid profile, markers of LDL resistance to in vitro oxidation (lag-phase, oxidation rate and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), vitamin E content in LDL, PON1 activity and genotypes in both HCh and control subjects were determined at baseline. The same parameters were measured again after 3 weeks of treatment in both the atorvastatin and placebo groups. RESULTS: HCh subjects showed significantly lower LDL resistance to oxidation, vitamin E content and PON1 activity levels than controls. A strong association was found among PON1 T(-107)C genotypes, LDL susceptibility to oxidation, vitamin E content and PON1 activity. After treatment, the atorvastatin group displayed a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels, and LDL susceptibility to oxidation, and an increase in vitamin E content and PON1 activity, compared with baseline values. Unlike PON1 activity levels, no difference among PON1 gene polymorphisms and reduction in markers of LDL oxidisability was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results show, for the first time, that atorvastatin is able to improve the resistance to LDL oxidation independently of PON1 gene polymorphism.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗

PubMed2004

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase is not associated with carotid intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolemic Sicilian individuals.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a complex, chronic disease that usually arises from the converging action of several pathogenic processes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and the accumulation of oxidized LDL. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is a LDL- and HDL-bound enzyme that hydrolyzes and inactivates PAF and prevents LDL-cholesterol oxidation, thus delaying the onset of atherosclerotic disease. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between variants of the PAF-AH gene polymorphisms Arg92His, Ile198Thr, and Ala379Val and the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in 190 hypercholesterolemic Sicilian individuals. Carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT) was measured as an indicator of early atherosclerotic disease. The participants were classified according to having normal (< or =1 mm) or abnormal (> or =1 mm) IMT and were also investigated for physical characteristics and biochemical indices, including PAF-AH activity. RESULTS: PAF-AH activity and LDL concentrations were significantly correlated in hypercholesterolemic patients, but plasma PAF-AH activity and HDL were not significantly correlated in either IMT group. No significant differences were detected among the PAF-AH gene polymorphisms in both groups after correction for age, sex, body mass index, plasma glucose and lipid concentrations, PAF-AH activity, blood pressure, and smoking habits. The analysis of PAF-AH genotype distribution showed no significant differences in percentage of 92, 198, and 379 genotypes in both IMT groups. CONCLUSION: Our data provided no evidence that PAF-AH polymorphisms influence PAF-AH activity and atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic Sicilian patients.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

PubMed2004

The paraoxonase promoter polymorphism (-107)T>C is not associated with carotid intima-media thickness in Sicilian hypercholesterolemic patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increased plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects are associated with enhanced LDL oxidation that represents an additional risk for atherosclerotic disease. Human serum paraoxonase (PON1), a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) associated enzyme, has been shown to protect LDL from oxidation, thus playing an important role in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. PON1 gene polymorphisms have been found to be associated with the variations in serum PON1 levels and activities, and with the risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study was performed to evaluate the contribution of the PON1 promoter (-107)T>C and the coding region Gln 192 Arg (Q192R) and Leu 55 Met (L55M) polymorphisms to the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in 208 Sicilian subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: Carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT) was measured as an indicator of early atherosclerotic disease. The subjects were classified according to whether they have a normal ( 1 mm) IMT. Subjects were also investigated for physical and biochemical parameters, including PON1 activity. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected among the PON1 genotypes with respect to age, sex, BMI, plasma lipids, systolic blood pressure in both groups of patients. There were significant differences between PON1 genotypes with respect to PON1 activity. The 192QQ, 55MM and (-107)TT genotypes showed lower PON1 activity compared to the RR, LL and CC genotypes. The PON1 (-107)T>C genotype distribution in both IMT groups showed no significant differences in percentage of TT, CT and CC genotypes. Similar results were obtained analyzing the Q192R and L55M genotype frequencies. Stepwise forward logistic regression analysis confirmed the lack of association between PON1 genotypes and carotid abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data provided no evidence of a significant association between either PON1 promoter (-107)T>C or coding region, Q192R and L55M, polymorphisms and early carotid atherosclerosis in Sicilian hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Aryldialkylphosphatase↗

PubMed2004

Association between serum paraoxonase (PON1) gene promoter T(-107)C polymorphism, PON1 activity and HDL levels in healthy Sicilian octogenarians.

Age is associated with an enhanced low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and atherosclerosis, thus, subjects over 80 years without cardiovascular disease provide a model to investigate the protective factors against atherosclerosis. Serum paraoxonase (PON1), an high density lipoprotein (HDL)-bound enzyme, prevents LDL oxidation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of the PON1 promoter T(-107)C and coding region Gln192Arg (Q192R) and Leu55Met (L55M) polymorphisms to the resistance to develop cardiovascular events in Sicilian healthy octogenarians. Distribution of PON1 genotypes and activity, and biochemical parameters, were compared between 100 octogenarians and 200 adults. Individuals in the elderly group displayed significant higher levels of HDL-C (P < 0.001) and PON1 activity (P < 0.001). The analysis of PON1 genotypes distribution showed an higher percentage of (-107)CC among octogenarians compared with controls. A significant difference among T(-107)C genotypes respect to PON1 activity and HDL-C levels occurred in both groups. The CC genotype was associated with higher PON1 activity and HDL levels compared to the TT genotypes. In conclusion, our results provide a strong evidence that in healthy Sicilians ageing may be characterized by a low frequency of PON1 (-107)T 'risk' allele and by an high frequency of favourable genotypes such as (-107)CC, influencing PON1 activity and HDL-C levels.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection: additive players in chronic liver disease?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share modes of transmission and their combined infection is a fairly frequent occurrence particularly in areas where the two viruses are endemic and among subjects with a high risk of parenteral infections. Moreover, the number of coinfected patients is likely higher than is usually thought. In fact, many studies have shown that HBV genomes may also be present in HBsAg-negative patients, particularly in those with HCV-related chronic hepatitis. This condition is commonly called "occult HBV infection". Much evidence suggests that coinfection by HBV and HCV may have considerable clinical relevance. In particular, this condition is generally believed to be a factor favouring the progression of liver fibrosis toward cirrhosis and the development of liver cancer, and in case of both overt and occult HBV infection. In spite of its potential clinical impact, however, there is few information about the possible interplay between the two viruses. Here, we concisely reviewed the available data on the virological and clinical features of the dual HBV/HCV infection prospecting the aspects that should be highlighted in the nearest future for improving the knowledge on this important field of the hepatology.

DNA, Viral↗