Metabolic Markers Following Beta-adrenoceptor Agonist Infusion In Footshock-stressed Rats.

Stress hormones can alter metabolic functions in adipose tissue and liver, as well as the sensitivity of rat white adipocytes and rat atrial responses to beta-adrenergic agonists. In this study, we examined the effects of three daily footshock stress sessions on the plasma corticosterone, glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels of fed, conscious male rats, and on the plasma glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels of the same rats following iv infusions of beta-adrenergic agonists (isoproterenol: 0.4 nmol kg-1 min-1, noradrenaline: 5.0 microg kg-1 day-1, and BRL 37344 ([+/-]-[4-(2-[(2-[3-chlorophenyl]-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]propyl)phenoxy]acetic acid), a selective beta3-adrenoceptor agonist: 0.4 nmol kg-1 min-1). Plasma corticosterone levels increased significantly after each stress session, while triacylglycerol levels increased after the first session and glucose increased after the second and third sessions. Glycerol levels were unaltered after stress. These results suggest that repeated footshock stress may induce a metabolic shift from triacylglycerol biosynthesis to glucose release by hepatic tissue, with glycerol serving as one of the substrates in both pathways. Stressed rats were more sensitive to infusion of noradrenaline plus prazosin and to infusion of isoproterenol, with elevated plasma glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels. The higher sensitivity of stressed rats to isoproterenol and noradrenaline was probably related to the permissive effect of plasma corticosterone. Only BRL 37344 increased plasma glycerol levels in stressed rats, probably because beta3-adrenoceptors are not involved in hepatic triacylglycerol synthesis, thus allowing glycerol to accumulate in plasma.341197-20

Efficacy and safety of nimodipine in subcortical vascular dementia : A randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background and Purpose-Evidence of drug efficacy in vascular dementia (VaD) is scanty. Therapeutic trials should address VaD subtypes. We studied the efficacy and safety of the calcium antagonist nimodipine in subcortical VaD. Methods-242 patients defined as affected by subcortical VaD based on clinical (ICD-10) and computed tomography criteria were randomized to oral nimodipine 90 mg/d or placebo. Results-230 patients (121 nimodipine, mean age 75.2\uc2\ub16.1; 109 placebo, 75.4\uc2\ub16.0) were valid for the intention-to-treat analysis. At 52 weeks, the Sandoz Clinical Assessment Geriatric scale 5-point variation (primary outcome measure) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, patients on nimodipine performed better than placebo patients in lexical production (P<0.01) and less frequently showed deterioration (3 or more point-drop versus baseline) on a Mini-Mental State Examination (28.1% versus 50.5%; \ucf\u872 P<0.01) and Global Deterioration Scale (P<0.05). Dropouts and adverse events were all significantly more common among placebo than nimodipine patients, particularly cardiovascular (30 versus 13; RR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.11 to 4.60) and cerebrovascular events (28 versus 10; RR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.23 to 4.98), and behavioral disturbances requiring intervention (22 versus 5; RR, 3.88; 95% CI, 1.49 to 10.12). A worst-rank analysis, performed to correct for the effect of the high dropout rate in the placebo group, showed additional significant differences in favor of nimodipine in Set Test and MMSE total scores. Conclusions-Nimodipine may be of some benefit in subcortical VaD. Confirming previous results, the safety analysis of this study shows that in this high-risk population, nimodipine might protect against cardiovascular comorbidities

Il dispositivo medico GOCCLES® è in grado di individuare displasie e cancro orale se impiegato nel setting odontoiatrico. Risultati da uno studio multicentrico

Scopo di questo studio è dimostrare che il dispositivo medico GOCCLES® permette di condurre l’esame dell’autofluorescenza del cavo orale nel setting odontoiatrico. Si tratta di uno studio multicentrico non randomizzato su pazienti consecutivi a rischio di cancro orale. I pazienti sono stati sottoposti ad ispezione del cavo orale ad occhio nudo seguita dall’esame dell’autofluorescenza condotto indossando gli occhiali GOCCLES® mentre una lampada fotopolimerizzante illuminava la mucosa orale. Le lesioni sono state definite come qualunque lesione precancerosa del cavo orale visibile ad occhio nudo o area di perdita di fluorescenza visibile con GOCCLES®. Tutte le lesioni persistenti sono state sottoposte a biopsia escissionale o incisionale. Sono stati reclutati 61 pazienti e analizzati i dati da 64 lesioni. Delle 62 lesioni identificate dal dispositivo, 31 erano veramente positive. Il dispositivo ha identificato 31 delle 32 lesioni veramente positive. Una lesione (un carcinoma invasivo) non era visibile ad occhio nudo. Tutte le lesioni classificate come displasia tra moderata e severa e ogni carcinoma sono stati correttamente identificati dal dispositivo. Nel Il 56,7% delle lesioni identificate dal dispositivo mostrava margini più ampi rispetto a quelli visibili ad occhio nudo. Il dispositivo medico GOCCLES® permette di osservare il fenomeno della perdita di fluorescenza in pazienti affetti da displasia o cancro del cavo orale. Ha permesso di effettuare l’esame dell’autofluorescenza con ciascuna lampada fotopolimerizzante testata. I risultati suggeriscono di impiegare GOCCLES® come esame complementare rispetto all’ispezione ad occhio nudo del cavo orale su pazienti a rischio per cancro orale. Il dispositivo permette di identificare lesioni altrimenti visibili o i cui margini sono sottostimati dall’ispezione ad occhio nudo

Where do you live? North versus Central-South differences in relation to Italian patients with oral lichen planus: a cross-sectional study from the SIPMO (Italian Society of Oral Pathology and Medicine)

Background Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immune-mediated inflammatory chronic disease of the oral mucosa, with different patterns of clinical manifestations which range from keratotic manifestations (K-OLP) to predominantly non-keratotic lesions (nK-OLP). The aim of the study was to analyze the differences in the clinical, psychological profile and symptoms between Italian patients of the North and Central-South with K-OLP and nK-OLP. Methods 270 K-OLP and 270 nK-OLP patients were recruited in 15 Italian universities. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Total Pain Rating Index (T-PRI), Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and for Anxiety (HAM-D and HAM-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were administered. Results The Central-South K-OLP (CS-K-OLP) patients reported a higher frequency of pain/burning compared with the K-OLP patients of the North (N-K-OLP) with higher scores in the NRS and T-PRI (p value &lt; 0.001**). The CS-K-OLP and the CS-nK-OLP patients showed higher scores in the HAM-D, HAM-A, PSQI and ESS compared with the Northern patients (p value &lt; 0.001**). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the NRS and T-PRI showed the greatest increase in the R2 value for the CS-K-OLP (DR2 = 9.6%; p value &lt; 0.001**; DR2 = 9.7% p value &lt; 0.001**; respectively) and that the oral symptoms (globus, itching and intraoral foreign body sensation) and PSQI showed the greatest increase in the R2 value for the CS-nK-OLP (DR2 = 5.6%; p value &lt; 0.001**; DR2 = 4.5% p value &lt; 0.001** respectively). Conclusions Pain and mood disorders are predominant in patients with OLP in the Central-South of Italy. Clinicians should consider that the geographical living area may explain the differences in oral symptoms and psychological profile in OLP

Anxiety and depression in keratotic oral lichen planus: a multicentric study from the SIPMO

Objectives: Oral lichen planus with exclusive keratotic reticular, papular, and/or plaque-like lesions (K-OLP) is a clinical pattern of OLP that may be associated with a complex symptomatology and psychological alteration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety (A) and depression (D) in patients with K-OLP, analyzing the potential predictors which can affect mental health status. Methods: Three hundred K-OLP patients versus 300 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in 15 Italian universities. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Total Pain Rating Index (T-PRI), and Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and for Anxiety (HAM-D and HAM-A) were administered. Results: The K-OLP patients showed statistically higher scores in the NRS, T-PRI, HAM-D, and HAM-A compared with the HC (p-value &lt; 0.001**). A and D were found in 158 (52.7%) and 148 (49.3%) K-OLP patients. Strong linear correlations were identified between HAM-A, HAM-D, NRS, T-PRI, and employment status and between HAM-D, HAM-A, NRS, T-PRI, employment status, and female gender. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that HAM-D and HAM-A showed the greatest increase in the R2 value for A and D in the K-OLP patients, respectively (DR2 = 55.5% p-value &lt; 0.001**; DR2 = 56.5% p-value &lt; 0.001**). Conclusions: The prevalence of A and D is higher in the K-OLP patients compared with the HC, also found in K-OLP subjects without pain, suggesting that the processing of pain may be in a certain way independent of the processing of mood. Clinical relevance: Mood disorders and pain assessment should be carefully performed in relation to K-OLP to obtain a complete analysis of the patients

Galloylquinic acid derivatives from Byrsonima fagifolia leaf extract and potential antifungal activity.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Byrsonima fagifolia Niedenzu (Malpighiaceae) and other Byrsonima species are popularly employed in Brazilian traditional medicine in the form of preparations as cicatrizing, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial. Aim of the study: To characterize the phytochemical profile of the hydromethanolic extract obtained from B. fagifolia leaves (BF extract) and to evaluate the toxicity and the antifungal activity. based on extensive analyses of 1D and 2D NMR spectra (HMQC, HMBC and COSY) data. The antifungal effect was determined by the broth microdilution method and the toxicity was evaluated on erythrocytes from sheep?s blood and Galleria mellonella larvae. Results: Phytochemical investigation of the BF extract led to the isolation and characterization of pyrogallol, nbutyl gallate, 3,4-di-O-galloylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-galloylquinic acid, 3,4,5-tri-O-galloylquinic acid, and 1,3,4,5-tetra-O-galloylquinic acid. The BF extract showed high content of galloylquinic acid derivatives reaching more than twenty-times the quercetin derivatives content, according to the quantification by HPLC. These galloylquinic acid derivatives, obtained during this study, and quercetin derivatives, previously isolated, were submitted to the antifungal assays. The BF extract inhibited yeast growth mainly against Cryptococcus spp., at concentrations of 1?16 ?g/mL, comparable to isolated compounds galloylquinic acid derivatives. However, the quercetin derivatives as well as quinic acid, gallic acid, and methyl gallate showed lower antifungal effect compared with galloylquinic derivatives. In addition, the BF extract had no hemolytic effect and no toxicity on G. mellonella

Paracoccidioides brasilinsis-Induced Migration of Dendritic Cells and Subsequent T-Cell Activation in the Lung-Draining Lymph Nodes

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a mycotic disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), that starts with inhalation of the fungus; thus, lung cells such as DC are part of the first line of defense against this microorganism. Migration of DC to the lymph nodes is the first step in initiating T cell responses. The mechanisms involved in resistance to Pb infection are poorly understood, but it is likely that DC play a pivotal role in the induction of effector T cells that control Pb infection. In this study, we showed that after Pb Infection, an important modification of lung DC receptor expression occurred. We observed an increased expression of CCR7 and CD103 on lung DC after infection, as well as MHC-II. After Pb infection, bone marrow-derived DC as well lung DC, migrate to lymph nodes. Migration of lung DC could represent an important mechanism of pathogenesis during PCM infection. In resume our data showed that Pb induced DC migration. Furthermore, we demonstrated that bone marrow-derived DC stimulated by Pb migrate to the lymph nodes and activate a T helper (Th) response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported data showing that Pb induces migration of DC and activate a T helper (Th) response

Preparation and isolation of covalently closed circular rDNA molecules from DNA of Xenopus laevis.

We describe a method leading to the formation of closed circles of rDNA starting from total DNA of Xenopus laevis. Linear DNA molecules were digested with exonuclease 3 and self-annealed. Open circles were enriched and covalently closed by the simultaneous use of polynucleotide kinase, DNA polymerase and polynucleotide ligase. Closed circles of rDNA1 were shown to be alkali-resistant, to have higher density than linear molecules in cesium chloride density gradients containing ethydium bromide, and to have the sedimentation constant expected for a single repeat unit of rDNA comprehensive of its spacer