Il linguaggio come forma del presente: l'uso delle parole per essere. L’esperienza con i pazienti affetti da malattia di Alzheimer

Riassunto: La localizzazione delle aree del linguaggio da parte di Broca ha consentito di sviluppare la neurobiologia del linguaggio. Certamente oggi molto è noto dello sviluppo, dell’evoluzione e della complessità che costituisce il meccanismo neurale di tale processo. A dispetto della grande quantità di nozioni acquisite, tuttavia, non siamo ancora in grado di rispondere alla domanda: perché parliamo? L’autore, prendendo spunto dalla propria esperienza con pazienti affetti da malattia di Alzheimer, propone una ipotesi che possa dare almeno in parte risposta a tale domanda. L’ipotesi sulla quale si fonda la proposta poggia sul concetto che “noi parliamo” (il linguaggio è) in quanto espressione del tempo presente di ciascuno di noi.Parole chiave: Malattia di Alzheimer; Linguaggio; Tempo; Presente; Afasia. Language as a Form of the Present: The Use of Words to be. Experiences with Patients affected by Alzheimer’s DiseaseAbstract - Broca’s localization of language areas led to great developments in the neurobiology of language, clarifying the neural mechanisms which underpin the development, evolution and complexity of language. Despite this, we are still unable to answer a basic question: why do we talk? The author proposes an original hypothesis based on his experience with Alzheimer’s disease patients. which offers a partial explanation. His main hypothesis is that “we talk” (language is) to live (with) our present.Keywords: Alzheimer’s Disease; Language; Time; Present; Aphasia

Apathy as Marker of Frail Status

Frailty is a complex and dynamic condition associated with aging. This condition is characterised by the difficult adaptation of an old subject to new challenges occurring during life. Frailty is supposed to be due to the progressive decrease of physiological reserves and multiorgan and multisystem change. It coincides with a reduced or absent resilience. In general comorbidities like hypertension, heart disease, inflammation and infectious diseases are potential risk factors for and psychophysical decline. The aim of this work is to highlight the importance of impaired cognition as factor predisposing to frailty. The authors are convinced and suggest that the presence of neurobehavioral disturbance like apathy associated to impaired executive function could be the major predisposing factor for frailty and unsuccessful aging. Unfortunately available literature largely underestimates the presence of these factors. Thus to better identify markers of frailty, a good neuropsychological assessment and the evaluation of behavioural disturbances are suggested

The treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur with Endovis nail

n/

P2Y1 receptor switches to neurons from glia in juvenile versus neonatal rat cerebellar cortex

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the CNS, several P2 receptors for extracellular nucleotides are identified on neurons and glial cells to participate to neuron-neuron, glia-glia and glia-neuron communication.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this work, we describe the cellular and subcellular presence of metabotropic P2Y₁receptor in rat cerebellum at two distinct developmental ages, by means of immunofluorescence-confocal and electron microscopy as well as western blotting and direct membrane separation techniques. At postnatal day 21, we find that P2Y₁receptor in addition to Purkinje neurons, is abundant on neuronal specializations identified as noradrenergic by anatomical, morphological and biochemical features. P2Y₁receptor immunoreactivity colocalizes with dopamine β-hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, neurofilament light chain, synaptophysin and flotillin, but not with glial fibrillary acidic protein for astrocytes. P2Y₁receptor is found enriched in membrane microdomains such as lipid rafts, in cerebellar synaptic vesicles, and is moreover visualized on synaptic varicosities by electron microscopy analysis. When examined at postnatal day 7, P2Y₁receptor immunoreactivity is instead predominantly expressed only on Bergmann and astroglial cells, as shown by colocalization with glial fibrillary acidic protein rather then neuronal markers. At this age, we moreover identify that P2Y₁receptor-positive Bergmann fibers wrap up doublecortin-positive granule cells stretching along them, while migrating through the cerebellar layers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Membrane components including purinergic receptors are already known to mediate cellular contact and aggregation in platelets. Our results suggesting a potential role for P2Y₁protein in cell junction/communication and development, are totally innovative for the CNS.</p

Gender specific medicine in liver diseases: a point of view.

Gender medicine focuses on the patho-physiological, clinical, prevention and treatment differences in diseases that are equally represented in men and women. The purpose of gender medicine is to ensure that each individual man and woman receives the best treatment possible based on scientific evidence. The concept of “gender” includes not only the sexual characteristics of individuals but also physiological and psychological attributes of men and women, including risk factors, protective/aggravating effects of sexual hormones and variances linked to genetics and corporal structures that explain biological and physiological differences between men and women. It is very important to consider all the biological, physiological, functional, psychological, social and cultural characteristics to provide patients with individualized disease management. Herein, we critically analyze the literature regarding gender differences for diseases and acquired conditions of the most representative hepatic pathologies: primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, non alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, and viral chronic hepatitis B and C. The last section addresses hemochromatosis, which is a prevalent iron overload disorder in the Caucasian population. This review aims to describe data from the literature concerning viral chronic hepatitis during pregnancy, management during pregnancy and delivery, and new effective drugs for the prevention of maternal infection transmission without significant adverse effects or complications

Geophysical study of the hydrothermal reservoir in the Panza area (Ischia, Italy)

The aim of the present work is the reconstruction of the main geometric pattern and the characterisation with geophysical parameters of geological structures lying at small and medium depths in an area of the Ischia island (Italy), where a sensible hydrothermal activity is present

Urinary proteomic profiles of prostate cancer with different risk of progression and correlation with histopathological features

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common tumor in men with extremely variable outcome, varying from latent or indolent form to very aggressive behavior. High grade tumors, expansions exceeding the prostatic capsule into the surrounding soft tissues and spreading through lymph vascular channels, represent the most consistent unfavorable prognostic factors. However, accuracy in the prediction of the disease progression is sometimes difficult. Along with new molecular diagnostic techniques and more accurate histopathological approaches, proteomic studies challenge to identify potential biomarkers predictive of PCa progression. In our study we analyzed the urinary proteomes of 42 patients affected by PCa through two-dimensional electrophoresis associated with mass spectrometry. Proteomic profiles were correlated to histopathological features including pTNM stage and tumor differentiation in order to provide new promising markers able to define more accurately the PCa aggressiveness and driving new therapeutic approaches

Comparison between early-onset and late-onset alzheimer's disease patients with amnestic presentation: CSF and 18F-FDG PET study

BACKGROUND/AIMS To investigate the differences in brain glucose consumption between patients with early onset of Alzheimer's disease (EOAD, aged ≤65 years) and patients with late onset of Alzheimer's disease (LOAD, aged >65 years). METHODS Differences in brain glucose consumption between the groups have been evaluated by means of Statistical Parametric Mapping version 8, with the use of age, sex, Mini-Mental State Examination and cerebrospinal fluid values of AΒ1-42, phosphorylated Tau and total Tau as covariates in the comparison between EOAD and LOAD. RESULTS As compared to LOAD, EOAD patients showed a significant decrease in glucose consumption in a wide portion of the left parietal lobe (BA7, BA31 and BA40). No significant differences were obtained when subtracting the EOAD from the LOAD group. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study show that patients with EOAD show a different metabolic pattern as compared to those with LOAD that mainly involves the left parietal lobe