Use of Radium-223 Dichloride in Patients With Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Induced by Zoledronic Acid: Report of 2 Cases.

Bisphosphonates, a group of inorganic pyrophosphate analogues that prevent the loss of bone density, are commonly used in patients with bone metastases; the calcium-mimetic a-emitter radium-223 dichloride (Ra223) is a bone-targeting therapy used in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)-related bone metastases. Both treatments reduce pain and disability; Ra223 is associated with significantly improved overall survival in mCRPC. Patients who receive bisphosphonate therapy are at risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw, especially in those who do not undergo an accurate oral evaluation and sanitation before the beginning of therapy, and in patients who present with conditions that facilitate the development of this problem, such as inadequate oral and dental care, lack of prophylactic antimicrobial mouth rinsing, patient comorbidity, or suboptimal suturing after tooth extraction. Although there is possible synergism between bisphosphonates and Ra223 therapy, there is no consensus about the use of Ra223 in patients with previous/current osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by zoledronic acid. However, our experience suggests that Ra223 therapy might not be contraindicated in patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by zoledronic acid if an appropriate multidisciplinary approach is followed, and we report 2 cases of patients with current or previous osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by zoledronic acid, who were treated with Ra223 for mCRPCrelated bone metastases. Multidisciplinary management, including accurate clinical and radiological evaluation before beginning therapy with Ra223, together with oral sanitation and periodic controls during treatment, allowed successful administration of Ra223 while reducing side effects, with absent or minimal worsening of osteonecrosis

Preliminary Investigation of LED Lighting as Growth Light for Seedlings from Different Tree Species in Growth Chambers

The influence of light quality on growth and metabolic activity during pre-cultivation (in miniplug containers) of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and wild cherry (Prunus avium) plants was investigated. Seedlings were grown in a growth chamber for a month under light-emitting diode (LED) light or fluorescent light. The LED lamps (Valoya) used in this study emitted a continuous spectrum thanks to a mixture of blue, green, red and far-red LEDs. Our results showed that plant response to light quality seems to be related to the plant species. In particular, in beech seedlings fresh and dry weight, shoot height and leaf area were greatest when plants were cultured under LED light, and lowest under fluorescent lamps. Furthermore, we found that LED-induced reduction of chlorophyll contents in beech and holm oak leaves resulted in an increase of the carboxylase capacity of Rubisco in the same plant species suggesting an improvement of light-use-efficiency in these plants. These results indicate that LED light may be suitable for the culture of plants in tightly controlled environments. The comparison of malondialdehyde levels between LED and fluorescent grown plants strongly supports this idea

Hormone Receptor Expression Variations in Normal Breast Tissue: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Observational Study

Normal breast tissue undergoes great variations during a woman’s life as a consequence of the different hormonal stimulation. The purpose of the present study was to examine the hormonal receptor expression variations according to age, menstrual cycle, menopausal state and body mass index. To this purpose, 49 tissue samples of normal breast tissue, obtained during surgery performed for benign and malignant conditions, were immunostained with Estrogen (ER), Progesterone (PR) and Androgen receptors (AR). In addition, Ki67 and Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein were studied. The data obtained revealed a great variability of hormone receptor expression. ER and AR generally increased in older and post-menopausal women, while young women presented a higher proliferative rate, evaluated with Ki67. PR increase was observed in women with BMI higher than 25. The different hormonal receptor expression could favor the development of breast cancer

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field