6 research outputs found
Altered sphingolipid function in Alzheimer's disease;:a gene regulatory network approach
Sphingolipids (SLs) are bioactive lipids involved in various important physiological functions. The SL pathway has been shown to be affected in several brain-related disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic dysregulation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD as well. Here, we use an integrative approach to better understand the relationship between epigenetic and transcriptomic processes in regulating SL function in the middle temporal gyrus of AD patients. Transcriptomic analysis of 252 SL-related genes, selected based on GO term annotations, from 46 AD patients and 32 healthy age-matched controls, revealed 103 differentially expressed SL-related genes in AD patients. Additionally, methylomic analysis of the same subjects revealed parallel hydroxymethylation changes in PTGIS, GBA, and ITGB2 in AD. Subsequent gene regulatory network-based analysis identified 3 candidate genes, that is, SELPLG, SPHK1 and CAV1 whose alteration holds the potential to revert the gene expression program from a diseased towards a healthy state. Together, this epigenomic and transcriptomic approach highlights the importance of SL-related genes in AD, and may provide novel biomarkers and therapeutic alternatives to traditionally investigated biological pathways in AD.</p
La gravidanza dell’adolescente del 2000: cosa è cambiato in 10 anni?
Gli Autori riferiscono i dati relativi alla gravidanza e al parto di due gruppi di adolescenti, dal 1993 e del 2003.
Scopo del lavoro è stato quello di valutare i risultati ottenuti negli ultimi dieci anni nella popolazione adolescenziale attraverso gli ambulatori e i servizi territoriali al fine di migliorare l’evoluzione della
gravidanza. In realtà è stato dimostrato un notevole decremento di alcune patologie evidenti negli anni ’90, ma purtroppo sono aumentate notevolmente le richieste di interruzione di gravidanza. Gli Autori auspicano che siano incrementate le iniziative di educazione sessuale rivolte agli adolescenti. Ribadiscono, infine, il concetto che nella scelta della modalità del parto, il ricorso al taglio cesareo nelle giovanissime dovrebbe essere quanto più possibile evitato
La nostra esperienza nel trattamento della pubertà precoce
Gli Autori riferiscono i risultati ottenuti in 54 bambine affette da pubertà precoce idiopatica ed in 10 bambine con pubertà anticipata utilizzando gli analoghi del GnRh. I loro risultati sono simili a quanto riportato in letteratura e dimostrano che la terapia è più efficace sulla pubertà precoce rispetto a quella anticipata ed è in genere ben tollerata. Gli Autori insistono sulla necessità di selezionare accuratamente le piccole pazienti prima di cominciare qualsiasi trattamento e ritengono che l'efficacia della terapia possa essere valutata sfruttando parametri clinici
Understanding Factors Associated With Psychomotor Subtypes of Delirium in Older Inpatients With Dementia
Objectives: Few studies have analyzed factors associated with delirium subtypes. In this study, we investigate factors associated with subtypes of delirium only in patients with dementia to provide insights on the possible prevention and treatments. Design: This is a cross-sectional study nested in the \u201cDelirium Day\u201d study, a nationwide Italian point-prevalence study. Setting and Participants: Older patients admitted to 205 acute and 92 rehabilitation hospital wards. Measures: Delirium was evaluated with the 4-AT and the motor subtypes with the Delirium Motor Subtype Scale. Dementia was defined by the presence of a documented diagnosis in the medical records and/or prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or memantine prior to admission. Results: Of the 1057 patients with dementia, 35% had delirium, with 25.6% hyperactive, 33.1% hypoactive, 34.5% mixed, and 6.7% nonmotor subtype. There were higher odds of having venous catheters in the hypoactive (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.18-2.81) and mixed type of delirium (OR 2.23, CI 1.43-3.46), whereas higher odds of urinary catheters in the hypoactive (OR 2.91, CI 1.92-4.39), hyperactive (OR 1.99, CI 1.23-3.21), and mixed types of delirium (OR 2.05, CI 1.36-3.07). We found higher odds of antipsychotics both in the hyperactive (OR 2.87, CI 1.81-4.54) and mixed subtype (OR 1.84, CI 1.24-2.75), whereas higher odds of antibiotics was present only in the mixed subtype (OR 1.91, CI 1.26-2.87). Conclusions and Implications: In patients with dementia, the mixed delirium subtype is the most prevalent followed by the hypoactive, hyperactive, and nonmotor subtype. Motor subtypes of delirium may be triggered by clinical factors, including the use of venous and urinary catheters, and the use of antipsychotics. Future studies are necessary to provide further insights on the possible pathophysiology of delirium in patients with dementia and to address the optimization of the management of potential risk factors