26 research outputs found
Familial Uncombable Hair Syndrome: Ultrastructural Hair Study and Response toBiotin
Abstract: We report a family affected to the fourth generation by uncombable
hair syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by unruly, dry,
blond hair with a tangled appearance. The family pedigree strongly supports
the hypothesis of autosomal dominant inheritance; some members of the
family had, apart from uncombable hair, minor signs of atopy and ectodermal
dysplasia, such as abnormalities of the nails. The diagnosis was confirmed
by means of extensive scanning electron microscopy. A trial with oral biotin
5 mg/daywas started on two young patients with excellent results as regards
the hair appearance, although scanning electron microscopy did not show
structural changes in the hair. After a 2-year-period of follow-up, hair normality
was maintained without biotin, while nail fragility still required biotin
supplementation for control
Systemic thromboembolism from a misdiagnosed non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis in a patient with lung cancer: A case report
Thromboembolic events are frequent in patients with cancer, commonly involving the venous and pulmonary circulation. The arterial system is rarely implicated in embolism and, when involved, a cardiogenic origin should always be excluded. In the present study, a case of a patient who developed multiple embolic events concomitantly with the diagnosis of locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer with high expression levels of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in >50% of tumor cells is reported. A cardiac defect interpreted as a patent foramen ovale required low molecular weight heparin administration. Despite the anti-coagulant therapy, before first-line anticancer treatment with pembrolizumab immunotherapy could be administered due to high PD-L1 expression levels, a new hospitalization was required due to the onset of novel ischemic manifestation. New transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a previously misdiagnosed vegetation of the mitral valve that caused systemic embolization. The lack of any sign of infection led to the diagnosis of a non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), whose embolic sprouting gave rise to the widespread ischemic events. No active anticancer treatment was feasible due to the rapid progression of the disease. NBTE can evolve quickly, eventually preventing any chance of treatment targeting the primary cause, which in the present study was lung cancer. If NBTE can be correctly diagnosed sooner then there may be the potential for anticancer therapy that does not worsen the hypercoagulability state, thus improving cancer-associated survival
Re-education of Tumor-Associated Macrophages by CXCR2 Blockade Drives Senescence and Tumor Inhibition in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent a major component of the tumor microenvironment supporting tumorigenesis. TAMs re-education has been proposed as a strategy to promote tumor inhibition. However, whether this approach may work in prostate cancer is unknown. Here we find that Pten-null prostate tumors are strongly infiltrated by TAMs expressing C-X-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CXCR2), and activation of this receptor through CXCL2 polarizes macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Notably, pharmacological blockade of CXCR2 receptor by a selective antagonist promoted the re-education of TAMs toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Strikingly, CXCR2 knockout monocytes infused in Ptenpcâ/â; Trp53pcâ/â mice differentiated in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-releasing pro-inflammatory macrophages, leading to senescence and tumor inhibition. Mechanistically, PTEN-deficient tumor cells are vulnerable to TNF-α-induced senescence, because of an increase of TNFR1. Our results identify TAMs as targets in prostate cancer and describe a therapeutic strategy based on CXCR2 blockade to harness anti-tumorigenic potential of macrophages against this disease. © 2019 The Author(s) Di Mitri et al. show that CXCR2 blockade in prostate cancer triggers TAMs re-education, leading to tumor inhibition. CXCR2-KO monocytes infused in Ptenpcâ/â; Trp53pcâ/â tumor-bearing mice differentiate into TNFα-releasing pro-inflammatory macrophages that induce senescence in tumor cells. PTEN-null tumors display higher sensitivity to TNF-α-induced senescence because of TNFR1 upregulation
Ruolo ecologico delle comunitĂ biotiche del suolo e strategie di prevenzione del disturbo antropico
A pulmonary infection by Actinomyces odontolyticus and Veillonella atypica in an immunocompetent patient with dental caries
Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic granulomatous infection, frequently associated with immunocompromised states, but it can also affect healthy people. Here, we report a case of a pulmonary infection by Actinomyces odontolitycus and Veillonella atypica due to a dental caries in an immunocompetent 65-year-old man patient
CHERATOSI PILARE ATROFIZZANTE DEL VOLTO FAMILIARE E CISTI TRICHILEMMALI MULTIPLE: UNA NUOVA ASSOCIAZIONE?
A pulmonary infection by Actinomyces odontolyticus and Veillonella atypica in an immunocompetent patient with dental caries
Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic granulomatous infection, frequently associated with immunocompromised states, but it can also affect healthy people. Here, we report a case of a pulmonary infection by Actinomyces odontolitycus and Veillonella atypica due to a dental caries in an immunocompetent 65-year-old man patient
A pulmonary infection by Actinomyces odontolyticus
Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic granulomatous infection, frequently associated with immunocompromised states, but it can also affect healthy people. Here, we report a case of a pulmonary infection by Actinomyces odontolitycus and Veillonella atypica due to a dental caries in an immunocompetent 65-year-old man patient
Identifying priority sites for insect conservation in forest ecosystems at high resolution: the potential of LiDAR data
Focusing conservation efforts on priority areas is crucial for maximizing the effects of the limited available resources. Unfortunately, there is often a conflict between the optimal spatial scale for conservation measures and data available for planning.
We tested the potential contribution of LiDAR data in providing high-resolution environmental predictors for conservation
planning. We used detailed samples of ground beetles communities and high-resolution environmental data (i.e. land
morphology, forest structure, and water availability) for modeling the habitat suitability for each species. All the specific
models were combined to define priority areas for the conservation of carabids at the local level and to clarify the effect of
each environmental feature on the forest suitability for ground beetles. The highest levels of suitability were obtained in less
steep and north facing zones and in those where trees are taller, total volume of trees is larger, and tree density is lower. These parameters should be taken into account in sustainable forest management options aimed to preserve carabid communities.
Moreover, our approach allowed to find exactly where, within the considered forest stands, the adoption of these measures
would be particularly efficient. Our study is a demonstrative case that can be adapted to different taxa and different areas for
improving the efficacy of forest management and of biodiversity conservation initiatives