Atypical processing of gaze cues and faces explains comorbidity between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

This study investigated the neurobiological basis of comorbidity between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We compared children with ASD, ADHD or ADHD+ASD and typically developing controls (CTRL) on behavioural and electrophysiological correlates of gaze cue and face processing. We measured effects of ASD, ADHD and their interaction on the EDAN, an ERP marker of orienting visual attention towards a spatially cued location and the N170, a right-hemisphere lateralised ERP linked to face processing. We identified atypical gaze cue and face processing in children with ASD and ADHD+ASD compared with the ADHD and CTRL groups. The findings indicate a neurobiological basis for the presence of comorbid ASD symptoms in ADHD. Further research using larger samples is needed

Gene Expression Programs of Mouse Endothelial Cells in Kidney Development and Disease

Endothelial cells are remarkably heterogeneous in both morphology and function, and they play critical roles in the formation of multiple organ systems. In addition endothelial cell dysfunction can contribute to disease processes, including diabetic nephropathy, which is a leading cause of end stage renal disease. In this report we define the comprehensive gene expression programs of multiple types of kidney endothelial cells, and analyze the differences that distinguish them. Endothelial cells were purified from Tie2-GFP mice by cell dissociation and fluorescent activated cell sorting. Microarrays were then used to provide a global, quantitative and sensitive measure of gene expression levels. We examined renal endothelial cells from the embryo and from the adult glomerulus, cortex and medulla compartments, as well as the glomerular endothelial cells of the db/db mutant mouse, which represents a model for human diabetic nephropathy. The results identified the growth factors, receptors and transcription factors expressed by these multiple endothelial cell types. Biological processes and molecular pathways were characterized in exquisite detail. Cell type specific gene expression patterns were defined, finding novel molecular markers and providing a better understanding of compartmental distinctions. Further, analysis of enriched, evolutionarily conserved transcription factor binding sites in the promoters of co-activated genes begins to define the genetic regulatory network of renal endothelial cell formation. Finally, the gene expression differences associated with diabetic nephropathy were defined, providing a global view of both the pathogenic and protective pathways activated. These studies provide a rich resource to facilitate further investigations of endothelial cell functions in kidney development, adult compartments, and disease

Clinical and molecular practice of European thoracic pathology laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic The past and the near future

BackgroundThis study evaluated the consequences in Europe of the COVID-19 outbreak on pathology laboratories orientated toward the diagnosis of thoracic diseases.Materials and methodsA survey was sent to 71 pathology laboratories from 21 European countries. The questionnaire requested information concerning the organization of biosafety, the clinical and molecular pathology, the biobanking, the workload, the associated research into COVID-19, and the organization of education and training during the COVID-19 crisis, from 15 March to 31 May 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.ResultsQuestionnaires were returned from 53/71 (75%) laboratories from 18 European countries. The biosafety procedures were heterogeneous. The workload in clinical and molecular pathology decreased dramatically by 31% (range, 3%-55%) and 26% (range, 7%-62%), respectively. According to the professional category, between 28% and 41% of the staff members were not present in the laboratories but did teleworking. A total of 70% of the laboratories developed virtual meetings for the training of residents and junior pathologists. During the period of study, none of the staff members with confirmed COVID-19 became infected as a result of handling samples.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on most of the European pathology laboratories included in this study. Urgent implementation of several changes to the organization of most of these laboratories, notably to better harmonize biosafety procedures, was noted at the onset of the pandemic and maintained in the event of a new wave of infection occurring in Europe

Ficus deltoidea (Mas cotek) extract exerted anti-melanogenic activity by preventing tyrosinase activity in vitro and by suppressing tyrosinase gene expression in B16F1 melanoma cells

Ficus deltoidea (Mas cotek) water extract has been widely used for woman health in Malaysia. Our investigation focused to identify anti-melanogenic efficacy of F. deltoidea since it has been known to have strong anti-oxidant activities. Anti-melanogenic effect of F. deltoidea extract was analyzed using cultured B16F1 melanoma cells. Cytotoxicity of the extract was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and determined the highest concentration of the extract that did not affect cell viability as 0.1% (w/v). a-MSH-induced melanin synthesis was significantly inhibited with dose-dependent manner by treatment of F. deltoidea leave extract, which was comparable to that of kojic acid. The extract directly inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity and intracellular tyrosinase activity of B16F1 as well. The inhibition of intracellular tyrosinase activity was found to be exerted at the protein expression level when analyzed by immunoblot and tyrosinase zymography. The expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was also reduced by the F. deltoidea extract. In conclusion, F. deltoidea extract has strong anti-melanogenic activity that is exerted by direct inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity and by down-regulation of the expression of genes involved in the melanogenesis pathways. Collectively, data shown in this study strongly suggest that F. deltoidea extract has potential to be used as a novel depigmenting agent for cosmetics

Can plasma creatinine levels guide initiation of dialysis?

Clinical epidemiolog

Câncer do reto médio: avaliação do procedimento cirúrgico

A conduta no tratamento cirúrgico do câncer do reto médio é ainda controversa. Vários procedimentos cirúrgicos foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, em noventa doentes operados durante o período de fevereiro de 1990 a junho de 1997. Deste total, 43 (47,7%) doentes eram do sexo feminino e 47 (52,3%) do masculino. A idade variou entre 20 e 90 anos, com média de 60,2 anos. Os principais sintomas e sinais foram puxo e tenesmo, hematoquesia e emagrecimento. O tempo decorrido desde o início dos sintomas até o diagnóstico variou de dois a 24 meses, com média de 7,5 meses. A amputação abdômino-perineal do reto foi realizada em 17 doentes (18,8%) e a complicação mais freqüente foi a deiscência da ferida perineal, em 47% dos casos. Um doente (1,1 %) foi submetido a proctocolectomia total, evoluindo sem intercorrências. A operação de Hartmann foi feita em 26 doentes (28,8%), ocorrendo 7,6% de morbidade e 7,6% de mortalidade, em virtude de complicações clínicas. Em 26 doentes (28,8%), foi realizada ressecção anterior seguida de anastomose. Em dez (11,1%), foi realizada anastomose manual e não houve complicações. Nos outros 16 (17,7%) foi feita anastomose mecânica, havendo três deiscências e um óbito, relacionado a complicações clínicas. Em oito doentes (8,8%), foi realizada ressecção com abaixamento coloanal, ocorrendo 50% de complicações, devido à necrose e à retração do cólon abaixado. Houve apenas um óbito relacionado à complicação cirúrgica. Em 12 doentes (13,3%) não foi efetuada a ressecção do tumor, em decorrência de precárias condições clínicas dos mesmos e falta de critérios de ressecabilidade da lesão. Concluímos que o procedimento cirúrgico adequado no tratamento do câncer do reto médio depende de estadiamento criterioso, considerando o grau de diferenciação celular, a presença de metástase, a condição local do tumor, a situação clínica do doente e a experiência da equipe cirúrgica