Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-Diaphorase (NADPH-d) Histochemistry Detecting NOS in Healthy and Chronically Inflamed Pulp

The aim of this study was to examine the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity in human dental pulps and determine whether there are changes of the activity in chronically inflamed pulp tissue. Nineteen pulps with clinical diagnosis of chronic pulpitis were collected during endodontic treatment. The healthy controls were obtained from teeth extracted for orthodontic therapy. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histological analysis. Healthy pulps showed stratified odontoblasts in peripheral parts, while in central area there was normal connective tissue. Chronically inflamed pulps showed less expressed stratification of odontoblasts and infiltration of lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, plasma cells and mastocytes. NADPH-d granular reactivity was assessed semi quantitatively under the light microscope by a single observer and scored on an intensity scale from negative reaction to very strong reaction. In healthy human pulps, NADPH-d activity was strong to very strong in odontoblastic layer. Endothelial cells and Schwann cells showed strong NADPH-d reactivity, while the other parts of central area were weakly positive. Similar distribution of reactivity was expressed also in chronically inflamed pulp; moderate to strong reaction was observed in stromal area as result of positive reaction in inflammatory cells and endothelial cells of abundant newly formed capillaries

Perception of Thermal Pain and the Thermal Grill Illusion Is Associated with Polymorphisms in the Serotonin Transporter Gene

AIM: The main aim of this study was to assess if the perception of thermal pain thresholds is associated with genetically inferred levels of expression of the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT). Additionally, the perception of the so-called thermal grill illusion (TGI) was assessed. Forty-four healthy individuals (27 females, 17 males) were selected a-priori based on their 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 ('tri-allelic 5-HTTLPR') genotype, with inferred high or low 5-HTT expression. Thresholds for heat- and cold-pain were determined along with the sensory and affective dimensions of the TGI. RESULTS: Thresholds to heat- and cold-pain correlated strongly (rho  = -0.58, p<0.001). Individuals in the low 5-HTT-expressing group were significantly less sensitive to heat-pain (p = 0.02) and cold-pain (p = 0.03), compared to the high-expressing group. A significant gender-by-genotype interaction also emerged for cold-pain perception (p = 0.02); low 5-HTT-expressing females were less sensitive. The TGI was rated as significantly more unpleasant (affective-motivational dimension) than painful (sensory-discriminatory dimension), (p<0.001). Females in the low 5-HTT expressing group rated the TGI as significantly less unpleasant than high 5-HTT expressing females (p<0.05), with no such differences among men. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrate an association between inferred low 5-HTT expression and elevated thresholds to thermal pain in healthy non-depressed individuals. Despite the fact that reduced 5-HTT expression is a risk factor for chronic pain we found it to be related to hypoalgesia for threshold thermal pain. Low 5-HTT expression is, however, also a risk factor for depression where thermal insensitivity is often seen. Our results may thus contribute to a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of such paradoxical hypoalgesia. The results point to a differential regulation of thermoafferent-information along the neuraxis on the basis of 5-HTT expression and gender. The TGI, suggested to rely on the central integration of thermoafferent-information, may prove a valuable tool in probing the affective-motivational dimension of these putative mechanisms

Essential Medicines at the National Level : The Global Asthma Network's Essential Asthma Medicines Survey 2014

Patients with asthma need uninterrupted supplies of affordable, quality-assured essential medicines. However, access in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. The World Health Organization (WHO) Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Global Action Plan 2013-2020 sets an 80% target for essential NCD medicines' availability. Poor access is partly due to medicines not being included on the national Essential Medicines Lists (EML) and/or National Reimbursement Lists (NRL) which guide the provision of free/subsidised medicines. We aimed to determine how many countries have essential asthma medicines on their EML and NRL, which essential asthma medicines, and whether surveys might monitor progress. A cross-sectional survey in 2013-2015 of Global Asthma Network principal investigators generated 111/120 (93%) responses41 high-income countries and territories (HICs); 70 LMICs. Patients in HICs with NRL are best served (91% HICs included ICS (inhaled corticosteroids) and salbutamol). Patients in the 24 (34%) LMICs with no NRL and the 14 (30%) LMICs with an NRL, however no ICS are likely to have very poor access to affordable, quality-assured ICS. Many LMICs do not have essential asthma medicines on their EML or NRL. Technical guidance and advocacy for policy change is required. Improving access to these medicines will improve the health system's capacity to address NCDs.Peer reviewe

ОБРАЗЫ В АРХИТЕКТУРЕ ДРЕВНЕЙ ГРЕЦИИ И РОССИИ

The figurative component of Ancient Greek culture still has enormous attractive force potential to revival of cultural traditions. And takes especially esteemed and all a recognized place of honor at sources of the European culture. Town-planning art and architecture of Ancient Greek architects, laws of harmony in architecture, music, sculpture, mathematics still are fundamental in the academic education. The unity of outlook of Ancient Greek and Russian architects embodied in a stone and a possibility of preservation and revival of antique heritage in the territory of Russia is presented in article. In article there are offers on creation of the museums and cultural and educational centers in close proximity to ancient antique settlements, for training of education of future generations of professional experts.Образная составляющая древнегреческой культуры обладает до сих пор колоссальной притягательной силой, потенциалом к возрождению культурных традиций и по праву занимает особо почитаемое и всеми признанное почетное место у истоков европейской культуры. Градостроительное искусство и архитектура древнегреческих зодчих, законы гармонии в архитектуре, музыке, скульптуре, математике до сих пор являются основополагающими в академическом образовании, поэтому в статье представлено единство миропонимания древнегреческих и русских зодчих, воплощенное в камне, возможность сохранения и возрождение античного наследия на территории России. В статье представлены предложения по созданию музеев и культурно-образовательных центров в непосредственной близости к древним античным поселениям, для обучения воспитания будущих поколений профессиональных специалисто

ОБРАЗЫ В АРХИТЕКТУРЕ ДРЕВНЕЙ ГРЕЦИИ И РОССИИ

The figurative component of Ancient Greek culture still has enormous attractive force potential to revival of cultural traditions. And takes especially esteemed and all a recognized place of honor at sources of the European culture. Town-planning art and architecture of Ancient Greek architects, laws of harmony in architecture, music, sculpture, mathematics still are fundamental in the academic education. The unity of outlook of Ancient Greek and Russian architects embodied in a stone and a possibility of preservation and revival of antique heritage in the territory of Russia is presented in article. In article there are offers on creation of the museums and cultural and educational centers in close proximity to ancient antique settlements, for training of education of future generations of professional experts.Образная составляющая древнегреческой культуры обладает до сих пор колоссальной притягательной силой, потенциалом к возрождению культурных традиций и по праву занимает особо почитаемое и всеми признанное почетное место у истоков европейской культуры. Градостроительное искусство и архитектура древнегреческих зодчих, законы гармонии в архитектуре, музыке, скульптуре, математике до сих пор являются основополагающими в академическом образовании, поэтому в статье представлено единство миропонимания древнегреческих и русских зодчих, воплощенное в камне, возможность сохранения и возрождение античного наследия на территории России. В статье представлены предложения по созданию музеев и культурно-образовательных центров в непосредственной близости к древним античным поселениям, для обучения воспитания будущих поколений профессиональных специалисто

Factor Analysis of Responses to Thermal, Electrical, and Mechanical Painful Stimuli Supports the Importance of Multi-Modal Pain Assessment

During the last decade, a multi-modal approach has been established in human experimental pain research for assessing pain thresholds and responses to various experimental pain modalities. Studies have concluded that differences in responses to pain stimuli are mainly related to variation between individuals rather than variation in response to different stimulus modalities. In a factor analysis of 272 consecutive volunteers (137 men and 135 women) who underwent tests with different experimental pain modalities, it was determined whether responses to different pain modalities represent distinct individual uncorrelated dimensions of pain perception. Volunteers underwent single painful electrical stimulation, repeated painful electrical stimulation (temporal summation), test for reflex receptive field, pressure pain stimulation, heat pain stimulation, cold pain stimulation, and a cold pressor test (ice water test). Five distinct factors were found representing responses to 5 distinct experimental pain modalities: pressure, heat, cold, electrical stimulation, and reflex-receptive fields. Each of the factors explained approximately 8% to 35% of the observed variance, and the 5 factors cumulatively explained 94% of the variance. The correlation between the 5 factors was near null (median ρ=0.00, range -0.03 to 0.05), with 95% confidence intervals for pairwise correlations between 2 factors excluding any relevant correlation. Results were almost similar for analyses stratified according to gender and age. Responses to different experimental pain modalities represent different specific dimensions and should be assessed in combination in future pharmacological and clinical studies to represent the complexity of nociception and pain experience

Clinical implications of microvascular CT scan signs in COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation

none32noPurpose: COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by the presence of signs of microvascular involvement at the CT scan, such as the vascular tree in bud (TIB) and the vascular enlargement pattern (VEP). Recent evidence suggests that TIB could be associated with an increased duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether microvascular involvement signs could have a prognostic significance concerning liberation from IMV. Material and methods: All the COVID-19 patients requiring IMV admitted to 16 Italian ICUs and having a lung CT scan recorded within 3&nbsp;days from intubation were enrolled in this secondary analysis. Radiologic, clinical and biochemical data were collected. Results: A total of 139 patients affected by COVID-19 related ARDS were enrolled. After grouping based on TIB or VEP detection, we found no differences in terms of duration of IMV and mortality. Extension of VEP and TIB was significantly correlated with ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and crazy paving pattern extension. A parenchymal extent over 50% of GGO and crazy paving pattern was more frequently observed among non-survivors, while a VEP and TIB extent involving 3 or more lobes was significantly more frequent in non-responders to prone positioning. Conclusions: The presence of early CT scan signs of microvascular involvement in COVID-19 patients does not appear to be associated with differences in duration of IMV and mortality. However, patients with a high extension of VEP and TIB may have a reduced oxygenation response to prone positioning. Trial Registration: NCT04411459mixedDalpiaz G.; Gamberini L.; Carnevale A.; Spadaro S.; Mazzoli C.A.; Piciucchi S.; Allegri D.; Capozzi C.; Neziri E.; Bartolucci M.; Muratore F.; Coppola F.; Poerio A.; Giampalma E.; Baldini L.; Tonetti T.; Cappellini I.; Colombo D.; Zani G.; Mellini L.; Agnoletti V.; Damiani F.; Gordini G.; Laici C.; Gola G.; Potalivo A.; Montomoli J.; Ranieri V.M.; Russo E.; Taddei S.; Volta C.A.; Scaramuzzo G.Dalpiaz G.; Gamberini L.; Carnevale A.; Spadaro S.; Mazzoli C.A.; Piciucchi S.; Allegri D.; Capozzi C.; Neziri E.; Bartolucci M.; Muratore F.; Coppola F.; Poerio A.; Giampalma E.; Baldini L.; Tonetti T.; Cappellini I.; Colombo D.; Zani G.; Mellini L.; Agnoletti V.; Damiani F.; Gordini G.; Laici C.; Gola G.; Potalivo A.; Montomoli J.; Ranieri V.M.; Russo E.; Taddei S.; Volta C.A.; Scaramuzzo G