Molecular Biomarkers in Sinonasal Cancers: New Frontiers in Diagnosis and Treatment

Purpose of Review: Sinonasal tumors are rare and heterogeneous diseases which pose challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Despite significant progress made in surgical, oncological, and radiotherapy fields, their prognosis still remains poor. Therefore, alternative strategies should be studied in order to refine diagnosis and improve patient care. Recent Findings: In recent years, in-depth molecular studies have identified new biological markers, such as genetic abnormalities and epigenetic variations, which have allowed to refine diagnosis and predict prognosis. As a consequence, new histological entities have been described and specific subgroup stratifications within the well-known histotypes have been made possible. These discoveries have expanded indications for immunotherapy and targeted therapies in order to reduce tumor spread, thus representing a valuable implementation of standard treatments. Summary: Recent findings in molecular biology have paved the way for better understanding and managing such rare and aggressive tumors. Although further efforts need to be made in this direction, expectations are promising

The health benefits of sweet lupin seed flours and isolated proteins

The interest for lupin is continuously growing: one driving force are the numerous studies showing it provides useful health benefits. This review discusses available literature in the area of dyslipidaemia, diabetes, and hypertension prevention, providing hints on the mechanism of action. The addition of lupin protein to the diet of different models of hypercholesterolaemia, such as rat, rabbit, hamster and pig, induce decreases of total and non-HDL cholesterol. The clinical investigations on the cholesterol lowering activity provided controversial results. Those involving hypercholesterolaemic subjects and based on improved lupin foods gave statistically significant total and/or LDL-cholesterol reductions: both protein and fibre are relevant. The moderate hypotensive activity observed in some studies is probably linked to digestion-released ACE-inhibitory peptides. The hypoglycaemic activity, observed in post-prandial studies, is due to gamma-conglutin, a specific protein fraction. All this information suggests that lupin seeds may become a source of ingredients of innovative functional foods

Gold and silver nanoparticle-based colorimetric sensors: New trends and applications

Gold and Silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) are perfect platforms for developing sensing colorimetric devices thanks to their high surface to volume ratio and distinctive optical properties, particularly sensitive to changes in the surrounding environment. These characteristics ensure high sensitivity in colorimetric devices. Au and Ag nanoparticles can be capped with suitable molecules that can act as specific analyte receptors, so highly selective sensors can be obtained. This review aims to highlight the principal strategies developed during the last decade concerning the preparation of Au and Ag nanoparticle-based colorimetric sensors, with particular attention to environmental and health monitoring applications

Avaliação longitudinal do efeito do tempo de prática de Pilates solo na cinemática respiratória.

O método Pilates solo tornou-se popular entre o público saudável como uma opção de atividade física por oferecer aulas em grupo e pelo seu baixo custo em relação ao método Pilates com aparelhos. Considerando que todos os exercícios utilizados no método Pilates solo envolvem o controle da respiração é plausível esperar que sua prática possa trazer alterações benéficas à mecânica respiratória. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar os efeitos do tempo de prática do Pilates solo na cinemática respiratória. Para isso, foi realizada a análise cinemática tridimensional dos movimentos respiratórios de mulheres saudáveis distribuídas em grupo Pilates (n= 10) e Controle (n=07) durante as manobras respiratórias em volume corrente e capacidade vital. A partir das coordenadas 3D de marcadores posicionados sobre o tórax e o abdome foi calculada a mobilidade do tórax superior, tórax inferior e abdome, assim como a contribuição dos compartimentos para a mobilidade total e a coordenação entre eles durante a avaliação inicial (momento zero) e após 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses de treinamento de Pilates solo. A expansibilidade e a contribuição dos compartimentos foram avaliadas pela amplitude da curva de volume em função do tempo e a coordenação pelo ângulo de fase. A expansibilidade total do tronco e do abdome em volume corrente aumentou no grupo Pilates após três meses de treinamento, mas o abdome reduziu a expansibilidade após nove meses. Após doze meses de treinamento com Pilates solo, a expansibilidade total do tronco e do tórax inferior aumentou em manobra respiratória da capacidade vital. O grupo controle aumentou a expansibilidade do tórax inferior após doze meses tanto em volume corrente quanto em capacidade vital. A contribuição do tórax inferior do grupo Pilates aumentou em ambas as manobras respiratórias após nove e doze meses. O grupo controle também aumentou a contribuição do tórax inferior tanto em volume corrente quanto em capacidade vital após nove e doze meses, mas a contribuição do compartimento abdome reduziu após três e doze meses. A coordenação entre os compartimentos (tórax superior vs. tórax inferior) foi menor no grupo Pilates em relação ao grupo controle durante a manobra de volume corrente no período inicial e após seis meses. Esses resultados sugerem uma maior ação do músculo diafragma em ambos os grupos. Porém, a prática de Pilates solo impactou aumento da expansibilidade total do tronco nas manobras respiratórias, o que não foi observado no grupo controle. De maneira geral, doze meses de Pilates solo aumenta a mobilidade toracoabominal de mulheres saudáveis

Orthodontic-surgical treatment: electromyographic and kinesiographic evaluation in follow up period : Experimental study

Introduction. The aim of this study was to investigate muscular function and mandibular kinesiology of patients undergoing orthodontic-surgical treatment by electromyography and kinesiography. Electromyographic evaluation is essential to estimate masticatory forces in patients undergoing combined surgical-orthodontic treatment. Materials and methods. 60 patients referred for orthodontic surgical treatment were included in the study, 43 patients presented a class III while 17 presented a class II. The patients underwent electromyographic and kinesiographic examinations during all the therapeutic orthodontic-surgical phases. Results. The relationship between fundamental electromyographic values and age, weight, asymmetry and activation was weak. A strong and positive relationship was observed between the relaxation percentage after TENS (transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation), the steepness of the post-surgery rehabilitation curve, the initial POC (percentage overlapping coefficient), and for the values in microvolts of the right and left temporal and masseters at the beginning of treatment. Conclusions. Patients with dentofacial deformities corrected by surgical treatment, have a significant positive treatment outcome in respect of masticatory activity and performance electromyographic evaluation on, before, during and follow up period of the analized patients permit to underline that this examination can predict long term stability

Functionalized lactic acid macromonomers polycondensation

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Management of epilepsy in elderly

The prevalence of seizures and epilepsy in the elderly is generally underestimated. Epileptic seizures are not a rare occurrence in the elderly and their prevalence increases with age. The clinical manifestations of seizures, the aetiology, the treatment and the psychosocial impact of the epilepsy diagnosis may differ in the elderly. Differential diagnosis with episodes of unconsciousness and/or fall or other non-epileptic manifestations is often difficult. The presence of comorbidities, the polypharmatherapy and the age-related pharmacokinetic changes can represent a problem for the treatment of epilepsy in the elderly, with a higher risk of adverse effects and potentially inappropriate drug interactions. Epileptic seizures in the elderly can have semiological characteristics similar to those of other age groups. On the other hand, the richness of the electroclinical syndromes of childhood and adolescence is not found in the elderly, and, in particular, idiopathic generalized epilepsies are rarely expressed at this age. Symptomatic seizures related to acute structural injury or metabolic causes are particularly frequent. Therapy management of the elderly with an epileptic seizure should concern not only neurologists, but also general practitioners, geriatricians, and cardiologists, therefore involving a wide range of clinical specialties. This review aims to summarize the management of epilepsy in the elderly, reporting also differences in epidemiology, electroclinical features, aetiology and diagnostic procedures