Intra-abdominal benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma.

International audience: Benign multicystic peritoneal mesotheliomas are rare: pre-operative diagnosis relies on proper imaging. The differential diagnosis includes pseudomyxoma peritonei and other peritoneal cysts. Absence of previous surgical resection offers the best chance of success when complete resection is performed in a specialized center. We report the case of a 43 year-old man with benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma treated by cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Vascular endothelial-derived SPARCL1 exacerbates viral pneumonia through pro-inflammatory macrophage activation

Abstract Inflammation induced by lung infection is a double-edged sword, moderating both anti-viral and immune pathogenesis effects; the mechanism of the latter is not fully understood. Previous studies suggest the vasculature is involved in tissue injury. Here, we report that expression of Sparcl1, a secreted matricellular protein, is upregulated in pulmonary capillary endothelial cells (EC) during influenza-induced lung injury. Endothelial overexpression of SPARCL1 promotes detrimental lung inflammation, with SPARCL1 inducing ‘M1-like’ macrophages and related pro-inflammatory cytokines, while SPARCL1 deletion alleviates these effects. Mechanistically, SPARCL1 functions through TLR4 on macrophages in vitro, while TLR4 inhibition in vivo ameliorates excessive inflammation caused by endothelial Sparcl1 overexpression. Finally, SPARCL1 expression is increased in lung ECs from COVID-19 patients when compared with healthy donors, while fatal COVID-19 correlates with higher circulating SPARCL1 protein levels in the plasma. Our results thus implicate SPARCL1 as a potential prognosis biomarker for deadly COVID-19 pneumonia and as a therapeutic target for taming hyperinflammation in pneumonia

A survey of adoption of endodontic nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation part 1: general dental practitioners in Wales

Objective: To assess adoption of endodontic nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary technology by general dental practitioners and identify factors influencing its uptake. Design: Postal questionnaire. Setting: General dental practitioners working in Wales. Methods: General dental practitioners (n = 584) were approached regarding their usage or otherwise of nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation during root canal shaping. The postal questionnaire took the form of an anonymous survey comprising 13 questions. These questions covered usage parameters, satisfaction, training issues and reasons for avoidance of NiTi instruments. Results: The response rate was 71%. Nickel-titanium rotary instruments were used routinely by 67% of those responding practitioners. Principle factors cited as being implicated in the decision to not adopt NiTi use included cost (65% of responses), lack of training and the perceived risk of instrument fracture. Conclusions: Over two thirds of dental practitioners in Wales use rotary NiTi endodontic technology with the majority having converted to such systems more than three years ago. There was, however, a significant disparity in NiTi usage between solely NHS practitioners (42%) and private practitioners (90%). Continued provision of high quality hands-on practical workshops may be of benefit in facilitating a positive initial NiTi experience in order to assist the transfer to these newer technologies