Olfactory Marker Protein in the Human Carotid Body

Background: Transduction mechanisms of the hypoxic chemoreflex elicited by carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor cells remain unclear. Recent studies direct attention to the plausible link between CB and olfactory chemoreceptor functions.Methods: Here we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the distribution and localization of olfactory marker protein (OMP) in human CB. Carotid bodies were collected post-mortem from hospital patients aged 27-76 years who died from reasons unre-lated to chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disorders. We used specific antibodies to selectively identify CB cells and OMP in tissue sections. The binding of antibodies to target antigens was visualized with the Ultra Vision detection system.Results: We show that OMP is abundantly present in the cytoplasm of CB chemoreceptor cells. The presence of OMP in these cells indicates that the olfactory system may participate in shaping the chemosensory CB function.Conclusions: The findings support the notion that the transduction mechanisms of chemoreceptive systems contain a degree of homology, irrespective of the anatomical localization and the functional role these systems fulfill. The ectopic presence of OMP in CB broadens the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying chemosensory responses

Shadows and Lights: Perspectives of Training and Education in Neurosurgery for Undergraduate Students

IntroductionNeurosurgical education should start during medical school to involve more students, favoring the recruitment of the most prepared and motivated ones and spreading this subject to the future medical generations. Despite multiple investigations, a dedicated educational plan does not exist. This study aims to assess the undergraduates' interests, needs, and perceptions of this subject. Materials and MethodsThe survey was structured to collect demographic data of the participants, and to explore their interest in neurosurgery, their consideration of its importance in medical school, their opinions about the role of this subject in medical education, their needs in this training, and, the usefulness of this subject for their future career. ResultsA total of 156 students participated in the survey. Interest in neurosurgery was shown by 76 (48.7%) participants, however, this subject was also perceived as intimidating by 86 (55.1%). Attending the first 2 years of medical school (p < 0.02), previous interest in neuroscience (p < 0.01), and in a surgical subject (p < 0.01) were the factors associated with a greater interest in this subject. Neurosurgery should be included in all students' education, according to 117 (75.0%) participants and practical operating room training should involve all students, according to 96 (61.5%). The most effective learning methods were considered internship (134, 85.9%), followed by participation in meetings or seminars (113, 72.4%). Online seminars were considered useful by 119 participants (76.3%). Neurosurgery was assessed as a potentially interesting career by 99 students (63.5%), who also considered that it can increase their preparation for other subjects (116, 74.4%). ConclusionsNeurosurgery was positively considered by medicals students, who, however, also perceived it as intimidating and hardly approachable. Demonstration that knowledge of neurosurgical concepts can improve their preparation also in general medical settings and, not only in the field of neuroscience, can be useful to promote their interest toward this subject. A combination of lectures and practical internships is considered an effective learning method, which can be fruitfully associated with new technologies

SMARCB1/INI1 loss in skull base conventional chordomas: a clinicopathological and molecular analysis

Introduction: The loss of SMARCB1/INI1 protein has been recently described in poorly differentiated chordoma, an aggressive and rare disease variant typically arising from the skull base. Methods: Retrospective study aimed at 1) examining the differential immunohistochemical expression of SMARCB1/INI1 in conventional skull base chordomas, including the chondroid subtype; 2) evaluating SMARCB1 gene deletions/copy number gain; and 3) analyzing the association of SMARCB1/INI1 expression with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. Results: 65 patients (35 men and 30 women) affected by conventional skull base chordoma, 15 with chondroid subtype, followed for >48 months after surgery were collected. Median age at surgery was 50 years old (range 9-79). Mean tumor size was 3.6 cm (range 2-9.5). At immunohistochemical evaluation, a partial loss of SMARCB1/INI1 (>10% of neoplastic examined cells) was observed in 21 (32.3%) cases; the remaining 43 showed a strong nuclear expression. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed in 15/21 (71.4%) cases of the chordomas with partial SMARCB1/INI1 loss of expression. Heterozygous deletion of SMARCB1 was identified in 9/15 (60%) cases and was associated to copy number gain in one case; no deletion was found in the other 6 (40%) cases, 3 of which presenting with a copy number gain. No correlations were found between partial loss of SMARCB1/INI1 and the clinicopathological parameters evaluated (i.e., age, tumor size, gender, tumor size and histotype). Overall 5-year survival and 5-year disease-free rates were 82% and 59%, respectively. According to log-rank test analysis the various clinico-pathological parameters and SMARCB1/INI1 expression did not impact on overall and disease free-survival. Discussion: Partial loss of SMARCB1/INI1, secondary to heterozygous deletion and/or copy number gain of SMARCB1, is not peculiar of aggressive forms, but can be identified by immunohistochemistry in a significant portion of conventional skull base chordomas, including the chondroid subtype. The variable protein expression does not appear to correlate with clinicopathological parameters, nor survival outcomes, but still, it could have therapeutic implications

Topical corticosteroid phobia in parents of pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis: a multicentre survey

BACKGROUND: Families of children affected with atopic dermatitis (AD) often report fear and anxiety regarding treatment with topical corticosteroids (TCS), which may lead to reduced compliance. The objective of our study was to measure, through a standardized questionnaire, fear of TCS in families of pediatric patients with AD and to identify items associated with fear. METHODS: Families of pediatric patients with AD were enrolled in 9 Italian centers of pediatric dermatology. Enrolled parents were invited to fill in a questionnaire including questions on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and 3 sets of questions on corticosteroid phobia (general fear, specific fears, behaviours regarding TCS). Determinants of the level of general fear were investigated through multivariable analysis. RESULTS: A total of 300 outpatients with AD were enrolled. Most parents (80%) had a high instruction level. Eighty-one percent reported to have a certain amount of fear of TCS. At the multivariable analysis, fear of TCS was associated with the following items: believing that TCS treatment advantages do not overweight disadvantages (P = 0.011); believing that TCS may be dangerous independently from the specific side effect (P < 0.001). Moreover, TCS fear was associated with fear of applying too much cream (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: TCS phobia is widespread among Italian families of children with AD. Fear of TCS is associated with fear of applying too much cream, thus increasing the risk of poor compliance and treatment failure. Therapeutic education of families on the use of TCS should be implemented. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13052-017-0330-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Phospholipases in Gliomas: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives from Bench to Bedside

Phospholipases are essential intermediaries that work as hydrolyzing enzymes of phospholipids (PLs), which represent the most abundant species contributing to the biological membranes of nervous cells of the healthy human brain. They generate different lipid mediators, such as diacylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, and arachidonic acid, representing key elements of intra- and inter-cellular signaling and being involved in the regulation of several cellular mechanisms that can promote tumor progression and aggressiveness. In this review, it is summarized the current knowledge about the role of phospholipases in brain tumor progression, focusing on low- and high-grade gliomas, representing promising prognostic or therapeutic targets in cancer therapies due to their influential roles in cell proliferation, migration, growth, and survival. A deeper understanding of the phospholipases-related signaling pathways could be necessary to pave the way for new targeted therapeutic strategies

Patient satisfaction with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate cutaneous foam for the treatment of plaque psoriasis: The LION real-life multicenter prospective observational cohort study

Topical treatment is the mainstay for mild or moderate psoriasis, but patients are generally little satisfied. Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) cutaneous foam has shown to improve signs and symptoms in plaque psoriasis patients. This study assessed patient's satisfaction with Cal/BD foam in a real-life Italian dermatological clinical practice. A multicenter, 4-week observational prospective cohort study enrolled, in 17 Italian dermatology clinics, adult patients with plaque psoriasis on the body and/or scalp. Treatment satisfaction was assessed by 9-item Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9), preference over previous treatments by Patient Preference Questionnaire (PPQ), and change in disease state by Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). Overall 256 patients were eligible, with a mean (SD) age of 55.6 (15.4) years, 59.4% were males. Psoriasis severity was mild in 52.0% of patients, moderate in 43.3%, and severe in 4.7%. Scalp involvement was present in 36.7% of patients. Previous antipsoriatic treatments had been received by 80.5% of patients. TSQM-9 median (25th–75th percentile) scores were 83.3 (66.7–88.9) for effectiveness, 77.8 (66.7–88.9) for convenience, and 78.6 (64.3–92.9) for global satisfaction. Mean (SD) PASI value decreased from 7.3 (4.8) to 2.1 (2.7) after 4 weeks. More than 90% of patients previously treated for psoriasis evaluated the Cal/BD foam more effective, easier to use and better tolerated compared to previous topical treatments at PPQ. This observational study provides real-life evidence of a high level of satisfaction with effectiveness and convenience of the Cal/BD foam in a cohort of plaque psoriasis patients, with an objective improvement in PASI

Subliminally Perceived Odours Modulate Female Intrasexual Competition: An Eye Movement Study

Background: Evidence suggests that subliminal odorants influence human perception and behavior. It has been hypothesized that the human sex-steroid derived compound 4,16-androstadien-3-one (androstadienone) functions as a human chemosignal. The most intensively studied steroid compound, androstadienone is known to be biologically relevant since it seems to convey information about male mate quality to women. It is unclear if the effects of androstadienone are menstrual cycle related. Methodology/Principal Findings: In the first experiment, heterosexual women were exposed to androstadienone or a control compound and asked to view stimuli such as female faces, male faces and familiar objects while their eye movements were recorded. In the second experiment the same women were asked to rate the level of stimuli attractiveness following exposure to the study or control compound. The results indicated that women at high conception risk spent more time viewing the female than the male faces regardless of the compound administered. Women at a low conception risk exhibited a preference for female faces only following exposure to androstadienone. Conclusions/Significance: We contend that a woman’s level of fertility influences her evaluation of potential competitors (e.g., faces of other women) during times critical for reproduction. Subliminally perceived odorants, such as androstadienone, might similarly enhance intrasexual competition strategies in women during fertility phases not critica