A night of sleep deprivation alters brain connectivity and affects specific executive functions

: Sleep is a fundamental physiological process necessary for efficient cognitive functioning especially in relation to memory consolidation and executive functions, such as attentional and switching abilities. The lack of sleep strongly alters the connectivity of some resting-state networks, such as default mode network and attentional network. In this study, by means of magnetoencephalography (MEG) and specific cognitive tasks, we investigated how brain topology and cognitive functioning are affected by 24 h of sleep deprivation (SD). Thirty-two young men underwent resting-state MEG recording and evaluated in letter cancellation task (LCT) and task switching (TS) before and after SD. Results showed a worsening in the accuracy and speed of execution in the LCT and a reduction of reaction times in the TS, evidencing thus a worsening of attentional but not of switching abilities. Moreover, we observed that 24 h of SD induced large-scale rearrangements in the functional network. These findings evidence that 24 h of SD is able to alter brain connectivity and selectively affects cognitive domains which are under the control of different brain networks

Phenotypic and functional characterization of endothelial progenitor cells isolated from peripheral blood of renal cell carcinoma patients

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are mobilized from either bone marrow or arterial walls to restore blood perfusion to ischemic organs and establish the vascular network within growing tumors [1]. The Ca2+ machinery plays a key role in EPC activation and might serve a molecular target for novel therapies of highly angiogenic tumors, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) [1]. The Ca2+ toolkit is remodelled in EPCs isolated from RCC patients (RCC-EPCs) as respect to healthy donors [2]. The present study was undertaken to evaluate for the first time the functional properties of EPCs isolated from tumor patients by focusing on RCC-EPCs. We extended our analysis at microscopic level by monitoring the sub-cellular structure of RCC-EPCs relative to their Ca2+ signalling fingerprint. Our results showed a striking functional and ultrastructural difference between RCC-EPCs and their normal counterparts, which might be the basis for designing novel, more specific anti-angiogenic treatments

Phenotypic and functional characterization of endothelial progenitor cells isolated from peripheral blood of renal cell carcinoma patients

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are mobilized from either bone marrow or arterial walls to restore blood perfusion to ischemic organs and establish the vascular network within growing tumors [1]. The Ca2+ machinery plays a key role in EPC activation and might serve a molecular target for novel therapies of highly angiogenic tumors, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) [1]. The Ca2+ toolkit is remodelled in EPCs isolated from RCC patients (RCC-EPCs) as respect to healthy donors [2]. The present study was undertaken to evaluate for the first time the functional properties of EPCs isolated from tumor patients by focusing on RCC-EPCs. We extended our analysis at microscopic level by monitoring the sub-cellular structure of RCC-EPCs relative to their Ca2+ signalling fingerprint. Our results showed a striking functional and ultrastructural difference between RCC-EPCs and their normal counterparts, which might be the basis for designing novel, more specific anti-angiogenic treatments

Cell based therapeutic approach in vascular surgery: application and review

Multipotent stem cells - such as mesenchymal stem/stromal cells and stem cells derived from different sources like vascular wall are intensely studied to try to rapidly translate their discovered features from bench to bedside. Vascular wall resident stem cells recruitment, differentiation, survival, proliferation, growth factor production, and signaling pathways transduced were analyzed. We studied biological properties of vascular resident stem cells and explored the relationship from several factors as Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and regulations of biological, translational and clinical features of these cells. In this review we described a translational and clinical approach to Adult Vascular Wall Resident Multipotent Vascular Stem Cells (VW-SCs) and reported their involvement in alternative clinical approach as cells based therapy in vascular disease like arterial aneurysms or peripheral arterial obstructive disease

Our experience in the treatment of Malignant Fibrous Hystiocytoma of the larynx: clinical diagnosis, therapeutic approach and review of literature

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) are both life threatening hemotologic diseases. They are rarely seen to occur simultaneously in one individual patient. Here we demonstrate a case of HS associated with CML in this study. The patient is a young female, diagnosed with HS in 2005, and was given partial embolization of the splenic artery. She got significant remission after the procedure. In 2008, she was found abnormal in blood routine test, after bone marrow routine, chromosome and fusion gene tests, she was diagnosed with CML (chronic phase). She did not receive regular treatment until 3 months prior, and is currently being treated with Dasatimib. She achieved hematological remission, but had no significant improvement in chromosome and fusion gene figures. Due to her severe condition of hemolysis, a splenectomy or an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered

Prevention and treatment of peritoneal adhesions in patients affected by vascular diseases following surgery: a review of the literature

Intra-abdominal adhesions are the most frequently occurring postoperative complication following abdomino-pelvic surgery. Abdominal and pelvic surgery can lead to peritoneal adhesion formation causing infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and intestinal obstruction. Laparoscopy today is considered the gold standard of care in the treatment of several abdominal pathologies as well as in a wide range of vascular diseases. Laparoscopy has several advantages in comparison to open surgery. These include rapid recovery times, shorter hospitalisation, reduced postoperative pain, as well as cosmetic benefits. The technological improvements in this particular surgical field along with the development of modern techniques and the acquisition of specific laparoscopic skills have allowed for its wider utilization in operations with fully intracorporeal anastomoses. Postoperative adhesions are caused by aberrant peritoneal healing and are the leading cause of postoperative bowel obstruction. The use of anti-adherence barriers is currently being advocated for their prevention. The outcome of the investigation showed adhesion formation inhibition without direct detrimental effects on anastomotic healing. Poor anasto-motic healing can provoke adhesions even in the presence of anti-adhesion barriers. This review gives a short overview on the current evidence on the pathophysiology and prevention of peritoneal adhesions