Spontaneous intracranial hypotension : two steroid-responsive cases

Purpose: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is characterised by orthostatic headache, low cerebrospinal fluid pressure and diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement after intravenous gadolinium contrast administration. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often plays a crucial role for correct diagnosis. Case description: We described two similar cases of SIH, whose clinical and imaging features are typical for this pathology. At MRI brain scan, both patients showed diffuse and intense pachymeningeal enhancement and moderate venous distension and epidural vein engorgement. The two patients were treated with bed rest and oral steroid therapy, with complete and long-lasting symptomatic relief. Conclusions: Orthostatic nature of headache is the most indicative clinical feature suggesting SIH; contrast-enhanced MRI provides definite imaging diagnostic findings. Conservative treatment coupled to steroid therapy is often sufficient to obtain complete disappearance of symptoms

Transcranial alternating current stimulation to the inferior parietal lobe decreases Mu suppression to egocentric, but not allocentric hand movements

Egocentric vs. allocentric perspective during observation of hand movements has been related to self-other differentiation such that movements observed from an egocentric viewpoint have been considered as self-related while movements observed from an allocentric viewpoint have been considered as belonging to someone else. Correlational studies have generally found that egocentric perspective induces greater neurophysiological responses and larger behavioural effects compared to an allocentric perspective. However, recent studies question previous findings by reporting greater (μ) suppression and greater transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induced motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) during observation of allocentric compared to egocentric movements. Furthermore, self-other differentiation has been generally related to activity within the inferior parietal lobe (IPL), but direct evidence for a causal and functional role of IPL in self-other differentiation is lacking. The current study was therefore designed to investigate the influence that IPL exerts on self-other differentiation. To this aim, we measured the impact of individually adjusted alpha-tuned transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied over IPL on μ-suppression during hands movement observation from an egocentric and allocentric perspective. Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded during movement observation before and immediately after tACS. Results demonstrated that tACS decreased μ-reactivity over sensorimotor (but not visual) regions for egocentric (but not allocentric) movement observation providing direct evidence for a causal involvement of IPL in the observation of self- but not other-related hands movement

Supplement: "Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914" (2016, ApJL, 826, L13)

This Supplement provides supporting material for Abbott et al. (2016a). We briefly summarize past electromagnetic (EM) follow-up efforts as well as the organization and policy of the current EM follow-up program. We compare the four probability sky maps produced for the gravitational-wave transient GW150914, and provide additional details of the EM follow-up observations that were performed in the different bands

Riqualificazione Piazza dei Bruzi e aree limitrofe, Cosenza, Concorso nazionale di progettazione, primo premio

Il progetto riafferma l’unicità di Piazza dei Bruzi per la città di Cosenza, rendendola luogo delle centralità. Il Centro Civico svolge una doppia funzione: si apre verso la città nuova recuperando al tempo stesso il senso della storia dell’antico insediamento del centro storico, oltre il fiume. La vasca con l’elmo - modellato da Mimmo Paladino e realizzato con una fusione in bronzo - posta sulla grande Piazza Civica, segna il percorso verso il nuovo Sagrato della chiesa di San Nicola, alle spalle del Palazzo di Città, recuperato grazie alla pedonalizzazione dell’intero comparto, re-instaurando un rapporto bilanciato tra i due importanti spazi urbani

sigma Receptor modulation of noradrenergic-stimulated pineal melatonin biosynthesis in rats

Because sigma receptors are richly concentrated in the rat pineal gland, the present study was performed to investigate their possible role in the modulation of melatonin production. To this purpose, we assessed in vivo the effects of the sigma-receptor ligands 1,3-di(2-tolyl) guanidine and (+)-N-allylnormetazocine on the rat pineal gland activity during either the daytime or the nighttime. Compared with vehicle, 1,3-di (2-tolyl)guanidine and (+)-N-allylnormetazocine potentiated the enhancement of N-acetyltransferase activity and pineal melatonin content induced by isoproterenol administration during the daytime, whereas they did not affect the diurnal basal biosynthetic activity of the gland. Conversely, at night, 1,3-di(2-tolyl)guanidine and (+)-N-allylnormetazocine enhanced significantly the physiological increases in both pineal N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin levels. This enhancement was prevented by pretreatment with rimcazole, a specific sigma-receptor antagonist. These findings suggest that, in rats, the activation of pineal sigma-receptor sites does not affect the biosynthetic activity of the pineal gland during daytime, whereas it pontentiates the production of melatonin when the gland is noradrenergically stimulated either by isoproterenol administration or by the endogenously released norepinephrine at nighttime

Gingival Recessions and Periodontal Status after Minimum 2-Year-Retention Post-Non-Extraction Orthodontic Treatment

The objectives of this study were to assess gingival recessions (GR) and periodontal status in patients previously treated with non-extraction orthodontic treatment and retention at a follow-up of a minimum of two years after the end of treatment. Data from patients aged between 16 and 35 years with a previous non-extraction orthodontic treatment and at least 2 years of retention and full records before and after treatment were collected. The casts were digitalized using the 3Shape TRIOS® intraoral scanner and the Viewbox4 software was used for the measurements. The following parameters were scored: inclination of the lower and upper incisors (IMPA and I^SN) and anterior crowding (Little index). The included patients were recalled for a clinical periodontal follow-up examination and the following parameters were evaluated: buccal and lingual GR (mm) of incisors and canines, bleeding of probing score, plaque score, and gingival phenotype. The digital cast analysis showed a mean Little index of 7.78 (SD 5.83) and 1.39 (SD 0.79), respectively, before and after treatment. The initial and final cephalometric analyses showed an I^SN of 103.53° and 105.78° (SD 7.21) and IMPA of 91.3°and 95.1°, respectively. At the follow-up periodontal visits, the patients showed an overall low oral hygiene with bleeding at probing in 66.6% and plaque in the anterior area in 76.2% of patients. From the total examined 240 teeth of the frontal sextants, three patients had GR (from 1 to 6.5 mm): in the upper arch two at canines and one at central incisor, whereas in the lower arch two at central and one at lateral incisors. The gingival phenotype was thick in 55% of cases. The lingual-to-lingual retainers at follow-up were present in 61.9% of patients. A slight increased risk for buccal GR development was found only in correlation with the presence of fixed retainer and thin gingival phenotype mainly in patients with gingivitis. Thus, non-extraction orthodontic treatment performed with controlled forces and biomechanics seems to not affect the development of GR or the periodontal health after retention

miR-1915 and miR-1225-5p Regulate the Expression of CD133, PAX2 and TLR2 in Adult Renal Progenitor Cells

Adult renal progenitor cells (ARPCs) were recently identified in the cortex of the renal parenchyma and it was demonstrated that they were positive for PAX2, CD133, CD24 and exhibited multipotent differentiation ability. Recent studies on stem cells indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of noncoding small RNAs that participate in the regulation of gene expression, may play a key role in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Distinct sets of miRNAs are specifically expressed in pluripotent stem cells but not in adult tissues, suggesting a role for miRNAs in stem cell self-renewal. We compared miRNA expression profiles of ARPCs with that of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and renal proximal tubular cells (RPTECs) finding distinct sets of miRNAs that were specifically expressed in ARPCs. In particular, miR-1915 and miR-1225-5p regulated the expression of important markers of renal progenitors, such as CD133 and PAX2, and important genes involved in the repair mechanisms of ARPCs, such as TLR2. We demonstrated that the expression of both the renal stem cell markers CD133 and PAX2 depends on lower miR-1915 levels and that the increase of miR-1915 levels improved capacity of ARPCs to differentiate into adipocyte-like and epithelial-like cells. Finally, we found that the low levels of miR-1225-5p were responsible for high TLR2 expression in ARPCs. Therefore, together, miR-1915 and miR-1225-5p seem to regulate important traits of renal progenitors: the stemness and the repair capacity. © 2013 Sallustio et al

Latest pharmacotherapy options for benign prostatic hyperplasia

INTRODUCTION: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a very common condition in men over 50 years, often resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Medical therapy aims at improving quality of life and preventing complications. The range of drugs available to treat LUTS is rapidly expanding. AREAS COVERED: Silodosin is a relatively new α1-adrenoreceptor antagonist that is selective for α1A-adrenergic receptor. While causing smooth muscle relaxation in the lower urinary tract, it minimizes blood pressure-related adverse effects. Tadalafil, a PDEs type 5 inhibitor, is a drug recently approved for the treatment of BPH/LUTS that challenges the standard therapy with α1-blockers, especially in men with concomitant erectile dysfunction (ED). Mirabegron is the first β3-adrenoceptor agonist approved for the treatment of symptoms of overactive bladder. BPH-related detrusor overactivity (DO) may be successfully targeted by mirabegron. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists, intraprostatic injections with NX-1207 and vitamin D3 receptor analogues exerted beneficial effects on LUTS but need further evaluation in clinical studies. EXPERT OPINION: Choosing the right treatment should be guided by patients' symptoms, comorbidities and potential side effects of available drugs. Silodosin is a valid option for elderly and for people taking antihypertensive drugs. BPH patients affected by ED can target both conditions with continuous tadalafil therapy. The encouraging data on mirabegron use in BPH-DO have to be further assessed in larger prospective randomized clinical trials