Aortic coarctation in the elderly: how many errors lie behind an unexpected diagnosis?

A65-year-old woman was admitted to our department because of chest pain and untreated hypertension. She had been well until 6 years previously when a diagnosis of hypertension was made. She reported poor control of blood pressure associated with leg weakness in coincidence with tentatively aggressive anti-hypertensive therapy. Aclinical diagnosis of aortic coarctation was made [1], and a spiral TC study revealed a stenosis of the aorta 2 cm below the origin of the subclavia; a 2 cm aneurysm was present in the proximity of the stenosis (Fig. 1, white arrow) and epiaortic arteries were dilated

2D-DIGE analysis of ovarian cancer cell responses to cytotoxic gold compounds

Cytotoxic gold compounds hold today great promise as new pharmacological agents for treatment of human ovarian carcinoma; yet, their mode of action is still largely unknown. To shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms, we performed 2D-DIGE analysis to identify differential protein expression in a cisplatin-sensitive human ovarian cancer cell line (A2780/S) following treatment with two representative gold(III) complexes that are known to be potent antiproliferative agents, namely AuL12 and Au2Phen. Software analysis using DeCyder was performed and few differentially expressed protein spots were visualized between the three examined settings after 24h exposure to the cytotoxic compounds, implying that cellular damage at least during the early phases of exposure is quite limited and selective reflecting the attempts of the cell to repair damage and to survive the insult. The potential of novel proteomic methods to disclose mechanistic details of cytotoxic metallodrugs is herein further highlighted. Different patterns of proteomic changes were highlighted for the two metallodrugs with only a few perturbed protein spots in common. Using MALDI-TOF MS and ESI-Ion trap MS/MS, several differentially expressed proteins were identified. Two of these were validated by western blotting: Ubiquilin-1, responsible for inhibiting degradation of protein such as p53 and NAP1L1, a candidate marker identified in primary tumors. In conclusion, we performed a comprehensive analysis of proteins regulated by AuL12 and Au2Phen, providing a useful insight into their mechanisms of action

In vitro and in vivo antitumoral effects of combinations of polyphenols, or polyphenols and anticancer drugs: Perspectives on cancer treatment

Carcinogenesis is a multistep process triggered by genetic alterations that activate different signal transduction pathways and cause the progressive transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell. Polyphenols, compounds ubiquitously expressed in plants, have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties, all of which are beneficial to human health. Due to their ability to modulate the activity of multiple targets involved in carcinogenesis through direct interaction or modulation of gene expression, polyphenols can be employed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. However, the main problem related to the use of polyphenols as anticancer agents is their poor bioavailability, which might hinder the in vivo effects of the single compound. In fact, polyphenols have a poor absorption and biodistribution, but also a fast metabolism and excretion in the human body. The poor bioavailability of a polyphenol will affect the effective dose delivered to cancer cells. One way to counteract this drawback could be combination treatment with different polyphenols or with polyphenols and other anti-cancer drugs, which can lead to more effective antitumor effects than treatment using only one of the compounds. This report reviews current knowledge on the anticancer effects of combinations of polyphenols or polyphenols and anticancer drugs, with a focus on their ability to modulate multiple signaling transduction pathways involved in cancer

The natural history of ankylosing spondylitis in the 21st century

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the axial skeleton and evolves in stiffnes followed by ankylosis and disability. However, it may be difficult to exactly establish the natural history of the disease and the influence of risk factors of progression, since most patients are treated with various pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic agents, which may potentially influence the natural progression of the disease. In this context, we report here a very interesting case of a 40 year old man, presented to our outpatient clinic, 28 years after the onset of AS. Previously for personal reasons, did not choose not to undergo any treatment. This case allows us to evaluate the natural radiological progression of the disease and the influence of predictive risk factors