Peripheral leukocyte profile in people with temporal lobe epilepsy reflects the associated proinflammatory state

INTRODUCTION: Markers of low-grade peripheral inflammation have been reported amongst people with epilepsy. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unknown. We attempted to characterize peripheral immune cells and their activation status in people with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and healthy controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty people with TLE and 19 controls were recruited, and peripheral blood lymphocyte and monocyte subsets evaluated ex vivo by multi-color flow cytometry. People with TLE had higher expression of HLA-DR, CD69, CTLA-4, CD25, IL-23R, IFN-γ, TNF and IL-17 in CD4(+) lymphocytes than controls. Granzyme A, CTLA-4, IL-23R and IL-17 expression was also elevated in CD8(+) T cells from people with TLE. Frequency of HLA-DR in CD19(+) B cells and regulatory T cells CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) producing IL-10 was higher in TLE when compared with controls. A negative correlation between CD4(+) expressing co-stimulatory molecules (CD69, CD25 and CTLA-4) with age at onset of seizures was found. The frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) cells was also positively correlated with age at onset of seizures. CONCLUSION: Immune cells of people with TLE show an activation profile, mainly in effector T cells, in line with the low-grade peripheral inflammation

Clinical Practice: Giant Cell Tumour of the Jaw Mimicking Bone Malignancy on Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography (3D CT) Reconstruction

A wide range of diseases may present with radiographic features of osteolysis. Periapical inflammation, cysts and benign tumours, bone malignancies, all of these conditions may show bone resorption on radiograph. Features of the surrounding bone, margins of the lesion, and biological behaviour including tendency to infiltration and root resorption, may represent important criteria for distinguishing benign tumours from their malign counterpart, although the radiographic aspect of the lesion is not always predictive. Therefore a critical differential diagnosis has to be reached to choose the best management. Here, we report a case of giant cell tumour (GCT) whose radiological features by computed tomography (CT) suggested the presence of bone malignancy, whereas the evaluation of a routine OPT scan comforted us about the benign nature of the lesion. A brief review of the literature on such a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm is also provided

Clinical Practice: Giant Cell Tumour of the Jaw Mimicking Bone Malignancy on Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography (3D CT) Reconstruction

A wide range of diseases may present with radiographic features of osteolysis. Periapical inflammation, cysts and benign tumours, bone malignancies, all of these conditions may show bone resorption on radiograph. Features of the surrounding bone, margins of the lesion, and biological behaviour including tendency to infiltration and root resorption, may represent important criteria for distinguishing benign tumours from their malign counterpart, although the radiographic aspect of the lesion is not always predictive. Therefore a critical differential diagnosis has to be reached to choose the best management. Here, we report a case of giant cell tumour (GCT) whose radiological features by computed tomography (CT) suggested the presence of bone malignancy, whereas the evaluation of a routine OPT scan comforted us about the benign nature of the lesion. A brief review of the literature on such a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm is also provided

A percepção da família sobre sua presença em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica e Neonatal

O estudo, de abordagem qualitativa, teve por objetivo compreender como as famílias percebem a própria presença na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica e neonatal, e a aceitação dessa presença por parte dos profissionais de saúde. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada a 14 pais de crianças internadas na UTI pediátrica e neonatal de dois hospitais na Região Noroeste do Paraná. Para a interpretação dos dados, optou-se pela análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelaram o sofrimento vivenciado pelos pais, as alterações que ocorreram na dinâmica familiar em face da hospitalização do filho, e a percepção dos benefícios da sua permanência junto à criança, do acolhimento e dos cuidados recebidos. Concluiu-se que os pais valorizam o fato de os profissionais demonstrarem respeito e atenção para com eles e a criança, criando elos de afetividade e confiança, além de gratidão pelo cuidado.Este estudio, de abordaje cualitativo, tuvo por objetivo comprender como las familias perciben su propia presencia en la unidad de terapia intensiva pediátrica y neonatal, y, la aceptación de esa presencia por parte de los profesionales de la salud. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de entrevista semiestructurada a 14 padres de niños internados en la UTI pediátrica y neonatal de dos hospitales en la Región Noroeste de Paraná. Para la interpretación de los datos se optó por el análisis de contenido. Los resultados revelaron el sufrimiento experimentado por los padres, las alteraciones que ocurrieron en la dinámica familiar frente a la hospitalización del hijo y la percepción de los beneficios de su permanencia junto al niño, del acogimiento y del cuidado recibidos. Se concluyó que los padres valorizan el hecho de los profesionales demonstrar respeto y atención para con ellos y el niño, creando vínculos de afecto y confianza, además de gratitud por el cuidado.This qualitative-based study aimed to understand how families perceive their own presence at the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as the acceptance of their presence by healthcare workers. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 parents of children admitted to the pediatric and neonatal ICU at two hospitals in northwestern Paraná State, Brazil. Content analysis was chosen to interpret the data. The results revealed the suffering experienced by parents, the alteration of family dynamics resulting from the child's hospitalization, and the perception of the benefits of remaining close to the child in terms of welcoming and quality of care. It was concluded that parents value the professionals' respect and attention towards the child, thus creating bonds of affection, trust and gratitude for the care received

The contributions of muscarinic receptors and changes in plasma aldosterone levels to the anti-hypertensive effect of Tulbaghia violacea

Background: Tulbaghia violacea Harv. (Alliaceae) is used to treat various ailments, including hypertension (HTN) in South Africa. This study aims to evaluate the contributions of muscarinic receptors and changes in plasma aldosterone levels to its anti-hypertensive effect. Methods: In the acute experiments, methanol leaf extracts (MLE) of T. violacea (30–120 mg/kg), muscarine (0.16 -10 μg/kg), and atropine (0.02 - 20.48 mg/kg), and/or the vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and normal saline (NS)) were respectively and randomly administered intravenously in a group of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) weighing 300 to 350 g and aged less than 5 months. Subsequently, T. violacea (60 mg/kg) or muscarine (2.5 μg/kg) was infused into eight SHRs, 20 min after atropine (5.12 mg/kg) pre-treatment. In the chronic (21 days) experiments, the SHRs were randomly divided into three groups, and given the vehicle (0.2 ml/day of DMSO and NS), T. violacea (60 mg/kg/day) and captopril (10 mg/kg/day) respectively into the peritoneum, to investigate their effects on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and plasma aldosterone levels. Systolic BP and HR were measured using tail-cuff plethysmography during the intervention. BP and HR were measured via a pressure transducer connecting the femoral artery and the Powerlab at the end of each intervention in the acute experiment; and on day 22 in the chronic experiment. Results: In the acute experiments, T. violacea, muscarine, and atropine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced BP dose-dependently. T. violacea and muscarine produced dose-dependent decreases in HR, while the effect of atropine on HR varied. After atropine pre-treatment, dose-dependent increases in BP and HR were observed with T. violacea; while the BP and HR effects of muscarine were nullified. In the chronic experiments, the T. violaceatreated and captropril-treated groups had signicantly lower levels of aldosterone in plasma when compared to vehicle-treated group. Compared to the vehicle-treated group, significant reduction in BP was only seen in the captopril-treated group; while no difference in HR was observed among the groups. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that stimulation of the muscarinic receptors and a reduction in plasma aldosterone levels contribute to the anti-hypertesive effect of T. violacea.IS