Proinflammatory cytokines released from monocytes/macrophages, in particular tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and IL-8 seem to play an important role in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease). Endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides, derived from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria interact with CD14 on surface membrane of macrophages, thus triggering a signal cascade, which leads to the production and release of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-alpha. Therefore, in IBD, lipopolysaccharides could play a pathogenic role. In this respect, plasma endotoxins have been demonstrated in a not negligible percentage of patients with ulcerative colitis and in their unaffected relatives. The presence of circulating endotoxins could be due, at least in part, to the impaired natural immunity in either patients with ulcerative colitis or in their first degree unaffected relatives. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein, which binds to the lipid A region of lipopolysaccharide with a high affinity and this interaction prevents the binding of lipopolysaccharide to CD14, thus inhibiting the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, based on the possible pathogenic role exerted by endotoxins in ulcerative colitis, lactoferrin may deserve attention as a possible therapeutical agent in experimental models of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
-Background -The genetic heterogeneity of the HBV genome has been established and eight genotypes can be classifi ed according to the criterion of ≥8% differences in the complete nucleotide sequence of the viral genome. Aims -To evaluate the prevalence of HBV-infection in a population of immigrants and to determine in patients with detectable serum HBV-DNA the HBV-genotypes.
Recently, a significant cluster of pneumonia caused by a novel betacoronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2) was described initially in China and then spread throughout the world. Like other coronaviridae, the viral transmission occurs mainly through droplets. In addition, the virus has been detected in different clinical specimens, suggesting a potential transmission by other routes, including blood transfusion. However, the potential risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via blood products is still unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors from South-Eastern Italy. Moreover, in the seropositive donors, we searched for the presence of the virus in nasopharyngeal swabs and in plasma samples. Overall, 1,797 blood donors from the Apulia region were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, using a commercially available assay. Only 18/1,797 donors (1.0%) tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies; in none of them SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected in nasopharyngeal swabs and in plasma samples. Our results indicate that most of the blood donors in Apulia remained uninfected during this wave of the pandemic; further, none had detectable virus both in nasopharyngeal swabs and in blood samples. The risk to carry and transmit the virus by healthy and asymptomatic blood donors is probably very low.
Background: Italy has been the first among western countries to experience SARS-CoV-2 spread during which the southern regions were also heavily affected by the pandemic. To understand and monitor properly the evolution of COVID-19 pandemic, population based seroprevalence studies are a valid tool for the infection rates and effective prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2. Aim: In this prospective study, we assessed the changes in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rates among non-vaccinated blood donors in South-Eastern Italy over May 2020 to March 2021. Methods: 8,183 healthy blood donors referring to the Transfusion Center at the University Hospital "Riuniti" of Foggia (Italy) for blood donation in the period May 2020-March 2021 were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by Ortho Clinical Diagnostics VITROS ® 3600. None of the considered subjects had a diagnosed symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Results: Overall, 516 resulted positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (6.3%, 95% CI, 0.03-0.15%), 387 (4.7%) were male and 129 (1.7%) female. A statistically significant increase in the seropositive population was found from May 2020 to March 2021 (Fisher's p<0.001). The difference of the seroprevalence was significant in terms of age but not sex (2-sided p<0.05 for age; 2-sided p>0.05 for sex) in both groups. Conclusion: Our study shows a significant increase in the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among blood donors and suggests a potential role of asymptomatic individuals in continuing the spread of the pandemic. These results may contribute to establishing containment measures and priorities in vaccine campaigns.
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