Maria Grazia Caporali

Cross-reactive antibody responses to the 2009 A/H1N1v influenza virus in the Italian population in the pre-pandemic period

To assess in Italy the pre-pandemic susceptibility of the general population to the 2009 A/H1N1v influenza virus, 587 serum samples collected in 2004 were analyzed using haemagglutination-inhibition (HI), single-radial-haemolysis (SRH) and microneutralisation (MN) assays. Serum samples were stratified by age group, gender, and geographic area. Overall, using HI assay, the proportion of subjects showing antibodies cross-reacting with 2009 A/H1N1v virus at seroprotection level (>or=1:40) was estimated to be 6.7%, 12.4%, and 22.4% in individuals born between 2004 and 1949, 1948 and 1939, 1938 and 1909, respectively. With a HI antibody titre of >or=1:10, in the same birth cohort, the seroprotection levels were 13.5%, 19.2%, and 58.2%, respectively. The results suggest that the Italian population was not fully naïf to the current pandemic virus and that the possible previous exposure and immune response increases with age.

Behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of the quinolinic acid rat model of Huntington's disease in rats

The influence of bilateral intrastriatal injection of quinolinic acid (QA, 300 nmol) was studied in male Wistar rats. Behavioral and electrophysiological experiments were conducted in 15 lesioned plus 15 vehicle-injected (control) animals. With respect to control animals, QA-lesioned rats showed marked, statistically significant alterations from both the behavioral (greater motor activation in response to d-amphetamine, place-learning deficit in the Morris water maze), and the electroencephalographic (reduced voltage amplitude and EEG power at the level of frontal cortex) points of view. In addition, a significant loss in body weight and a marked striatal gliosis (GFAP staining) were observed in lesioned rats. Conversely, QA-lesioned rats did not show modifications in posttetanic potentiation (P.T.P.) or long-term potentiation (L.T.P.) in CA1 hippocampal area. The present results confirm that QA lesions of rat striatum may be regarded as a suitable model of Huntingtons disease (HD).

Akinesia due to catecholamine depletion in mice is prevented by caffeine. Further evidence for an involvement of adenosinergic system in the control of motility.

Abstract— The administration of reserpine with α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine (2.5 and 200 mg kg−1 i.p., 24 and 3 h before the test, respectively) induced a marked akinesia in mice. This effect was significantly and dose‐dependently reversed by the methylxanthine, caffeine. The anti‐akinetic effect of caffeine within a pattern of catecholamine depletion has been interpreted as a dopamine mimetic activity of this drug. The possible involvement of the adenosine system in this effect of caffeine is discussed.

Detection of a chikungunya outbreak in Central Italy, August to September 2017

An autochthonous chikungunya outbreak is ongoing near Anzio, a coastal town in the province of Rome. The virus isolated from one patient and mosquitoes lacks the A226V mutation and belongs to an East Central South African strain. As of 20 September, 86 cases are laboratory-confirmed. The outbreak proximity to the capital, its late summer occurrence, and diagnostic delays, are favouring transmission. Vector control, enhanced surveillance and restricted blood donations are being implemented in affected areas.

Serotype Distribution, Antibiotic Susceptibility, and Genetic Relatedness of Neisseria meningitidis Strains Recently Isolated in Italy

The availability of new polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C prompted European National Health authorities to carefully monitor isolate characteristics. In Italy, during 1999-2001, the average incidence was 0.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Serogroup B was predominant and accounted for 75% of the isolates, followed by serogroup C with 24%. Serogroup C was isolated almost twice as frequently in cases of septicemia than in cases of meningitis, and the most common phenotypes were C:2a:P1.5 and C:2b:P1.5. Among serogroup B meningococci, the trend of predominant phenotypes has changed from year to year, with a recent increase in the frequency of B:15:P1.4. Only a few meningococci had decreased susceptibility to penicillin, and, in the penA gene, all of these strains had exogenous DNA blocks deriving from the DNA of commensal Neisseria flavescens, Neisseria cinerea, and Neisseria perflava/sicca. Fluorescent amplified fragment-length polymorphism analysis revealed the nonclonal nature of the strains with decreased susceptibility to penicillin.

CGS 21680 antagonizes motor hyperactivity in a rat model of Huntington's disease.

Abstract The influence of CGS 21680 (2-[ p -(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino]-5′-ethylcarboxamido-adenosine), and adenosine A 2 receptor agonist, was tested in an animal model of Huntingtons disease. Male Wistar rats received bilateral intrastriatal injections of quinolinic acid and then, 1 and 2 weeks later, they were treated with intrastriatal CGS 21680 (3 μg/2 μl) or saline. While quinolinic acid-lesioned rats not treated with CGS 21680 showed the typical motor hyperresponsiveness to d -aphetamine (1 mg/kg i.p.), the intrastriatal injection of CGS 21680 completely prevented this effect.

Nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions impair mossy fiber system in rat hippocampus: a quantitative histochemical and ultrastructural study

Lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) cause depletion of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the cerebral cortex and behavioral changes consisting of impaired ability to learn avoidance tasks. Since hippocampal mossy fibers (MF) are involved in the elaboration of passive avoidance responses, we analyzed MF by means of Timms histochemical technique and electron microscopy, to find out whether monolateral lesions of NBM had any effect on MF system. NBM-lesioned rats, 3 weeks after lesioning, showed a significant and progressive decrease in the density of Timm staining as well as significant changes of the morphology of synapic boutons of the MF. These results suggest that, although NBM does not send direct projections to the hippocampus, lesions of this nucleus may have a neurodegenerative effect on the intrahippocampal pathway involved in avoidance responses.

Capture-recapture estimation of underreporting of legionellosis cases to the National Legionellosis Register: Italy 2002.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of underreporting to the Italian National Legionellosis Register (NLR). For the year 2002, all cases of Legionellosis notified to the NLR were compared with cases recorded in the hospital discharge record (HDR) database. The number of unreported cases and the total number of cases in the population were estimated using the capture-recapture method with two independent data sources. Seventeen out of 21 Italian regions participated in the study. Overall, underreporting was estimated to be 21.4% and was found to be significantly greater in the Centre-South (28.2%) than in the North (20.0%). However, even after taking into account the higher degree of underreporting, a significantly lower incidence of the disease is registered in central-southern Italy. The hypothesis, which needs to be verified, is that, in addition to underreporting, under-diagnosis of legionellosis is more widespread in this geographical area.

The role of the purinergic system in the control of stereotypy: Relationship to D-1/D-2 dopamine receptor activity

A behavioral study on the stereotypy induced by caffeine and carbamazepine or caffeine and haloperidol was assessed in adult male rabbits. The stereotypy induced by caffeine + carbamazepine was not reduced by pretreatment with haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) or SCH 23390 (0.01 mg/kg). N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA, 0.01 mg/kg), an A2 adenosine receptor agonist, completely prevented the appearance of caffeine + carbamazepine-, but not of caffeine + haloperidol-induced stereotypy. An EEG investigation was also performed in order to evaluate the influence of the blockade of D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors on the desynchronized tracing induced by caffeine (50 mg/kg). Neither haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) nor SCH 23390 (0.01 mg/kg) were able to influence this EEG effect of caffeine. Present data support the hypothesis that A2 adenosine receptors may be involved in the control of pathological movements. The relationship between the purinergic system and D-1/D-2 dopamine receptors is also discussed.

Effects of SCH 23390 on thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced behaviour in rabbits

The influence of the dopamine D-1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, on thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-induced behaviour was assessed in adult male rabbits. SCH 23390 prevented the effects of TRH (100 micrograms i.c.v.), starting at a very low dose (0.01 mg/kg i.v.). This finding seems to indicate that dopamine D-1 receptors are involved in TRH-induced behaviour.