Cytokines in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

The levels of interleukin 1beta, interleukin 6, and interleukin 10 were elevated in the serum of patients with dementia. No statistically significant correlation was recorded in the interleukin levels among patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Also, no significant correlation was observed in the interleukin levels in the serum and the severity of dementia. However, a significant correlation was found between IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels and age. The levels of IL-1beta and IL-6 were positively correlated with hypertension, and IL-2 levels were negatively correlated. No correlation was found between depressive symptoms and levels of cytokines in the serum.

[Medical-surgical integrated approach in the treatment of non-paraneoplasic hyperparathyroidism: our experience]

OBJECTIVE

Hyperparathyroidism is a generalized alteration of calcium, phosphorus and bone metabolism due to an increased secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). In addition to the paraneoplastic ectopic type, we can distinguish three eutopic types of hyperparathyroidism, i.e., the primary form, mostly due to a benign or malignant tumor of parathyroid gland, the secondary form, typical of kidney disease and tertiary form, due to the progression of secondary forms. There is not agreement, in medical literature, on the treatment of these patients. To establish the correct therapeutic approach in patients with hyperparathyroidism, we have followed a group of symptomatic subjects suffering from primary, secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism, taking into account the therapeutic needs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We followed for 12 months 155 patients suffering from primary, secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism; 82 were in end stage kidney disease, 93 were hypertensive. Subjects with primary forms has been treated, before parathyroidectomy, with idration (physiological solution of NaCl), bisphosphonates i.v. (pamidronate 60-90 mg in 4-6h) and, if serum calcium was higher than 12 mg/dl, loop diuretics (furosemide 40 mg/day). Subjects with secondary forms has been treated with hypophosphoric diet, phosphate bindings (calcium carbonate 1 g/day) and oral calcitriol (1 microg/d) before subtotal parathyroidectomy. After surgery it was administered support therapy with calcium gluconate (40 ml/day) and vitamin D (2.5mg/d) until serum calcium normalization.

RESULTS

There were 55 cases of post surgery hypertensive attack treated with clonidine (300 microg/d); 8 months later there was not relapses but in all patients there was reduction of serum calcium concentration that required a substitutive treatment (calcium 1 g/day and calcitriol 1 microg/day). There was 1 case of heavy hypocalcemic state treated with calcium gluconate i.v. (40 ml/day).

CONCLUSIONS

A correct approach to a non-paraneoplastic hyper-parathyroid patient need of an integration of both current medical and surgical options. In primary forms the first option is the surgical approach supported by medical treatment. In secondary forms medical approach is preferable to control renal and vascular complications, while surgical therapy is to prefer in non-responders to medical therapy forms.

Short communication: new alleles of the bovine kappa-casein gene revealed by resequencing and haplotype inference analysis

We tested the hypothesis that extensive undiscovered genetic diversity exists in important functional genes from domestic and wild cattle species (Bos spp.). We resequenced 483 bp of a key exon (exon IV) from the kappa (kappa)-casein gene (CSN3) for a panel of samples of domestic cattle from 8 countries and a close relative species, the gayal (Bos frontalis). Six single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. Haplotype inference revealed 12 haplotypes, of which 8 were newly discovered. Among these 8 new haplotypes, 5 differed by one nonsynonymous mutation and 3 differed by one silent mutation from previously well-characterized CSN3 alleles. From those, one was shared by the gayal and Zebu, was different from CSN3*B at position Ile136Thr, and showed a close phylogenetic relationship with the banteng, gaur, and yak. The other 7 new haplotypes were detected in our panel of worldwide local cattle breeds but were absent from previously reported commercial breeds. These results support the hypothesis that genetic diversity at the coding region of CSN3 has been underestimated. This study also highlights how important it is to resequence functionally important genes in worldwide local cattle breeds, many of which are threatened by extinction or replacement by commercial breeds.

The insulin receptor: a new anticancer target for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) and thiazolidinedione-PPARgamma agonists

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Ligand activation of PPARgamma is associated with differentiation and inhibition of proliferation in the normal and malignant cells. Herein, we studied the effects of PPARgamma and the PPARgamma agonists thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on the insulin receptor (IR), a cell membrane tyrosine kinase receptor protein, whose role is of paramount importance in mediating the metabolic and growth-promoting effects of the peptide hormone insulin. Overexpression of the PPARgamma1 in human hepatocellular (HepG2) cells was associated with decreased IR gene transcription and protein expression levels, and these reductions were more evident in the presence of TZDs. Since no PPARgamma response elements were identified on the IR promoter, we postulated that PPARgamma adversely affects the IR gene transcription by perturbing the assembly and stability of the transcriptionally active multiprotein-DNA complex identified previously, which includes the high-mobility group A1 protein, the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor (Sp1), the CAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPbeta), and, in some cell lines, the developmentally regulated activator protein-2 (AP-2) transcription factor. Using glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays combined with electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that by interacting with Sp1, C/EBPbeta, and AP-2, PPARgamma can prevent Sp1/AP-2 protein-protein association and inhibit binding of Sp1 and C/EBPbeta to DNA, thus reducing IR gene transcription. Our results demonstrate that IR is a new target gene of PPARgamma, and support a potential use of TZDs as anti-proliferative agents in selected neoplastic tissues overexpressing IRs.

Retrospective study of relapsed ALL in a single institution in Brazil

20018

Background: With contemporary protocols, 25–30% of children with ALL who achieve first complete remission (CR1) are expected to relapse. Although the majority of patients can achieve a second complete remission (CR2) with re-induction chemotherapy, only a few will maintain prolonged clinical remission. To study the pattern of ALL relapse in our institution, we performed a retrospective analysis of such events between 1994 and 2006. Methods: In the study period, 65 out of 292 (22%) patients treated at our institution for ALL suffered isolated or combined relapse. Median age was 7.2 years (range 0.4–18.2 years); 65% were male. Patients were analyzed according to immunophenotype, WBC, site of relapse and time to relapse. Kaplan-Meier life-table analyses were used to estimate survival; differences were assessed by the log-rank test. Results: Of 63 relapsed ALL that were immunophenotyped, 65% were B-cell precursors and 35% were T-cell. WBC was >50,000/mm3 in 47% of patients; 54% of them had isolated bone marrow (BM) relapse, 23% combined relapse and 23% isolated extramedullary (EM) relapse (11CNS and 4 testicular relapse); 58% had very early relapse (VER) (<18 months from CR1), 17% early relapse (ER) (18–30 months from CR1) and 25% late relapse (LR) (>30 months from CR1). The therapeutic approach was chemotherapy in 60 patients and BMT in five. CR2 was achieved in 63% of patients. Of these, 35% had a second relapse. Death rate was 66% with median follow-up of 5,3 months; 40% had cumulative survival rate = 4 years. Initial imunophenotype and WBC did not affect outcome. Patients with isolated EM relapse presented a significant superior outcome when compared with those with combined relapse (p=0.024). There was no difference in survival between isolated BM and combined relapse. As for the time to relapse, there was significant inferior outcome for patients with VER when compared with ER (p=0.0089) and LR (p=0.0041). However, there was no difference in survival between ER and LR group. Conclusions: In our casuistic, time to relapse was the main predictor of outcome. Despite continuous improvement in therapy of childhood ALL, survival rate of relapsed patients remains disappointing.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Reelin immunoreactivity and morphological analysis of the human visual cortex

Reelin is a secreted glycoprotein with a crucial role in development of the Central Nervous System. In adults, its function remains unclear but it may be involved in the modulation of synaptic plasticity. Having in mind this possible property of reelin, the authors decided to study the distribution of reelin immunoreactivity in the neurons of the human adult primary visual cortex and compare the findings with morphological analysis (Golgi method) of neuronal networks. The distribution of reelin in the primary visual cortex is different from other cortical area examined; reelin is mostly present in the neurons of second and sixth layer.

Temporal and spatial changes in mercury concentrations in the North Atlantic as indicated by museum specimens of glacier lanternfish Benthosema glaciale (Pisces: Myctophidae)

Museum specimens of glacier lanternfish Benthosema glaciale were used to investigate long-term variations in mercury concentration of mesopelagic organisms from the North Atlantic. B. glaciale is an abundant mesopelagic fish species in the boreal and sub-polar pelagic regions of the North Atlantic, playing an important role in the cycling of energy in the oceanic food webs of these systems. We used 35 museum specimens of lanternfish, collected from the Gulf Stream biogeographic region between 1936 and 1993, to test for long-term variations in mercury concentrations. In addition, we studied the mercury concentrations throughout the geographical range of the species, using 105 specimens collected around 1970s. Mercury concentrations were similar over time; however there was evidence of a noteworthy increase in mercury contamination during the World War II (1941) followed by a general decrease with lowest concentrations being found in 1954 and 1993. Significant differences were found between the different studied areas, probably reflecting different degrees of anthropogenic contamination. The results presented here indicate that museum myctophids may be suitable for the assessment of historical changes in mercury contamination of marine ecosystems.

Traitement arthroscopique de l’épicondylalgie d’origine tendineuse

The purpose of the study was to report our experience in a preliminary series of patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment of tennis elbow in order to appreciate effectiveness of this method. Between September 2000 and February 2004, we treated arthroscopically fourteen patients with epicondylitis which failed to respond to medical treatment given for a mean duration of 15.8 months. We used the technique described by Baker in 1999. Briefly, the external capsule was sectioned followed by section of the extensor carpi radialis brevis and extensor digitorum communis insertions on the epicondyle. Section was continued until muscle fibers were visible. Mean patient age was 45 years (range 36-55). Five patients were victims of occupational accidents and one had an occupational disease. One patient suffered from fibromyalgia. All patients were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 11.5 months. We used the Mayo Clinic score to assess outcome which was excellent or good in nine patients, fair in one and poor in four. Despite these modest preliminary results, arthroscopy appears to be well indicated for this pathological condition. The ideal treatment remains a question of discussion.

Fibronectin fragments active in chondrocytic chondrolysis can be chemically cross-linked to the alpha5 integrin receptor subunit

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether fibronectin fragments (Fn-f) known to enhance cartilage matrix degradation and to alter chondrocyte metabolism, bind on the chondrocyte cell surface close enough to the alpha(5)beta(1) fibronectin (Fn) receptor to be chemically cross-linked to it.

DESIGN

Biotinylated Fn-fs were added to chondrocytes, followed by cross-linking with dithiobissulfosuccinimidyl propionate, and the resultant alpha(5) complexes trapped on to antialpha(5)-agarose. Adherent material was analysed by probing with avidin-HRP. In a more specific approach in which only proximal targets could be cross-linked, photoaffinity labeled Fn-fs or Fn were added to cells, the derivatives activated and the cross-linked material analysed. Interaction of biotinylated Fn-fs and Fn with insolubilized alpha(5)beta(1) receptor was also visualized and quantified.

RESULTS

Biotinylated Fn-fs and Fn, but not a control of BSA, were cross-linked to alpha(5) protein in the presence of the propionate. Photoaffinity label Fn-f and Fn, but not BSA, were cross-linked to alpha(5) protein as well. Interaction was decreased by addition of an excess of unlabeled Fn-f or Fn. Fn-fs bound to alpha(5)beta(1)-agarose, although the affinity was 30-fold weaker and the stoichiometry 20-fold greater when the smallest Fn-f was compared to native Fn.

CONCLUSIONS

These data are consistent with a role for the alpha(5) subunit in Fn-f activities and suggest that the Fn-fs bind proximal or directly to alpha(5) receptors. The weaker, higher stoichiometry interaction of Fn-fs with receptor suggests that fragmentation has allowed de novo interactions not possible in native Fn.

Alterations of the FLT3 gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia: association with diagnostic characteristics and analysis of clinical outcome in patients treated with the Italian AIDA protocol

Alterations in the FLT3 gene, including internal tandem duplications (ITDs) and D835 mutations occur frequently in acute myelogenous leukemia. We investigated the prevalence and clinico-biological correlations of FLT3 ITDs and D835 mutations in 90 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) receiving the AIDA protocol. Twenty patients in which both presentation and relapse material was available were analyzed sequentially. Thirty-three patients (37%) harbored the ITD, and seven (7.7%) the D835 mutation in blasts obtained at diagnosis. Presence of ITDs was strongly associated with high WBC count (P = 0.0001), M3 variant (P = 0.0004), and the short (BCR3) PML/RARalpha isoform (P = 0.003). There was no difference in response to induction in the two ITD+ve and ITD-ve groups, while a trend towards inferior outcome was observed for ITD+ve cases when analyzing disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse risk (RR). These differences, however, did not reach statistical significance. Sequential studies showed variable patterns in diagnostic and relapse material, ie ITD (-ve/-ve, +ve/+ve, +ve/-ve, -ve/+ve) and D835 (-ve/-ve, +ve/-ve, -ve/+ve). Our results indicate that FLT3 alterations are associated in APL with more aggressive clinical features and suggest that these lesions may not play a major role in leukemia progression.

Antisense oligonucleotides to the integrin receptor subunit alpha(5) decrease fibronectin fragment mediated cartilage chondrolysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate involvement of the integrin alpha(5) subunit of the classical fibronectin receptor in cartilage chondrolytic activities of fibronectin fragments (Fn-f).

DESIGN

Bovine chondrocytes and cartilage explants were cultured in the presence of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), or sense (SO) or scrambled sequence oligonucleotide (SCO) corresponding to the bovine alpha(5) subunit. The effects of the oligonucleotides on mRNA and protein expression of the alpha(5) subunit were analysed by rtPCR and Western blotting, respectively. To test effects on Fn-f activities, three different Fn-f were first added to serum or serum-free cultures, followed by addition of oligonucleotides and the effects on Fn-f mediated proteoglycan (PG) degradation, cartilage PG depletion and PG and general protein synthesis suppression were tested.

RESULTS

The ASO decreased alpha(5) mRNA and protein expression to 69% and 55%, respectively, in monolayer cultures and decreased protein expression 67% in cartilage explants, while SO and SCO were ineffective. The ASO partially reversed the ability of the Fn-fs to suppress PG and general protein synthesis in cartilage explant and high density chondrocyte cultures. Concentrations of ASO from 1 nM to 5 microM effectively suppressed Fn-f activities in particular assays and the effects were reversible, while SO and SCO were not significantly effective. ASO also suppressed, in a dose-dependent and reversible fashion, the ability of the Fn-fs to enhance degradation and release of PG from cartilage explants. The ASO were also effective in suppressing the ability of an antibody to the alpha(5) subunit to enhance PG degradation, but were ineffective in blocking endotoxin or IL-1beta enhanced degradation.

CONCLUSIONS

These data implicate the alpha(5) integrin subunit in Fn-f mediated activities, consistent with a role for the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin in this pathway.

Oxidative stress and signal transduction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: insights into ageing, apoptosis and diseases

In yeast, as in higher eukaryotes, reactive oxygen species are produced as normal by-products of cellular metabolism. Under physiological conditions, the cell defence mechanisms are able to avoid molecular damages. This balance is disturbed when yeast cells are exposed to diverse environmental stress conditions, such as the presence of oxidants, heat shock, ethanol and metal ions. The increased production of reactive oxygen species is sensed by the cell, leading to the induction of defence mechanisms - the oxidative stress response. The present review discusses the mechanisms by which reactive oxygen species are sensed and the signalling pathways that are coupled with changes in genomic expression programs. Yeast has been used as an eukaryotic cell system to characterise the molecular mechanisms underlying the oxidative stress response. Furthermore, yeast has been utilised to elucidate the role of oxidative stress in ageing, apoptosis, and diseases, such as familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Friedreich's ataxia.

Adaptive response of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to reactive oxygen species: defences, damage and death

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been extensively utilised to address the mechanisms underlying the oxidative stress response. The antioxidant defences can be induced either by respiratory growth or in the presence of pro-oxidants. The cell response involves the transcriptional control of genes by protein regulators that have been recently identified and post-translational activation of pre-existing defences. The current state of the art regarding the induction of antioxidant defences during respiratory growth and by exposure to hydrogen peroxide is reviewed.

Clinical trial with Secnidazole in a single dose in Venezuelan children infected by Giardia intestinalis

The aim of this work was to evaluate in an open, noncomparative study the use of secnidazole in oral suspension given to Venezuelan children infected with Giardia intestinalis, from a community in Carapita, a slum area in Caracas. Seventy children from 2 to 11 years old (38 males and 32 females) were treated with a single oral dose of secnidazole (30 mg/Kg of body weight), after clinical and parasitological evaluation to make the diagnosis of active giardiasis. The effectiveness of treatment was determined by clinical examination and parasitological evaluation of feces samples 15 days after treatment. The results showed 95% of clinical cure with a significant decrease of the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms. The parasitological cure was 98%, there were 4 failures at the end of treatment. Side effects observed after treatment were of mild intensity, lasting only few hours. These results show that a simple dose of secnidazole in an oral suspension is an effective, safe and well tolerated treatment for giardiasis in children and that this drug may be used as a mass treatment in risk populations.

[Prevalence of cutaneous lesions in Freixo de Espada à Cinta]

Incidence or prevalence studies on cutaneous lesions in general populations are not available. The community observed by the authors (Freixo de Espada à Cinta, North-Eastern Portugal) is relatively closed. A pre-tested questionnaire for socio-demographic and clinical information was used and a physical observation was conducted in January and February 1994 by the Dermatology Team of Santo António General Hospital, Oporto. The analysis was supported by independent tests (Pearson and Fisher chi 2, Student-t, Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis). The Spearman correlation coefficient was also used. The results indicated that 51.9% of 1000 subjects analysed were in phototype III. Concerning specific pathologies, the following percentages were observed: melanocytic nevi 81.2; hemangiomas 26.5; androgenetic alopecia 20.5; deshydrotic eczema 12.7; seborrheic keratosis 11; solar keratosis 9.6; acne vulgaris 9.5; seborrheic dermatitis 6.9; superficial mycosis 6.4; other dermatitis 5.5; vascular spiders 4.4; vulgar psoriasis 1.9; vulgar warts 1.5; pediculosis and scabiosis 1.2.; herpes simplex 0.9; impetigo 0.7; tumours (neoplasias) 0.7; dysplastic nevi 0.6; urticaria 0.3. More than nine nevi were counted in 50% of the subjects observed. A difference was observed (p < 0.05) concerning the presence of nevi, mycosis, hemangiomas, non-specific dermatitis, vascular spider and solar keratosis according to sex. The females had more nevi in number than males (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.03). According to age there was a difference concerning the presence of nevi, superficial mycosis, deshydrotic eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, tumours, hemangiomas, non-specific dermatitis, vascular spider, solar keratosis (with linear augmentation by age) and seborrheic keratosis. Nevi increased with ageing (Rs = 0.10 p < 0.001) and a greater number were observed in age groups 0-9 and 60 or more years. Acne was observed in 9.4% of the females and 9.7% of the males, 46.2% in the 15-29 year-old age group. This study indicated that the population had a mean of nine nevi. Psoriasis was similar to that mentioned in other studies: about 1% in the United States of America. Atopic dermatitis (5.5%) is below the values for the northern population (> = 15%), but above that indicated for the English and American population. Nevertheless, the values of the present study were higher than those in the latter populations, when children until seven years old were considered. The Freixo de Espada à Cinta population above 60 years had solar keratosis in 30.6%, a value three times higher than the previous decade (10.9%); reference values were not found. Contrary to the literature, an association was not established between phototype and solar keratosis. Cutaneous tumours were observed in 0.7% of the cases.

Intraventricular administration of substance p increases the dendritic arborisation and the synaptic surfaces of Purkinje cells in rat's cerebellum

Substance P was infused in the lateral ventricles of twenty Lewis rats for twenty days. On the twentieth day the animals were sacrificed and the cerebellar cortex was processed for electron microscopy. The ultrastructural morphometric analysis revealed that the Purkinje cell dendritic arborisation and the number of the synapses between the parallel fibres and the Purkinje cell dendritic spines were much higher than in control animals. Numerous unattached spines of the secondary and tertiary dendritic branches of the Purkinje cells were also seen in the molecular layer either free or surrounded by astrocytic sheath. The increased number of synapses between the Purkinje cell dendrites and the parallel fibres in the animals, which received substance P intraventricularly, in correlation to control animals, supports a neurotrophine-like activity of the substance P in the mammalian cerebellum, enforcing the pre-programmed capability of the Purkinje cells to develop new synaptic surfaces.

Effects of emotional reactivity on inhibitory avoidance in the elevated T-maze

The possibility of the presence of inter-individual emotional differences and the memory performance of rats was examined in the elevated T-maze. Two kinds of aversively motivated behaviors, inhibitory avoidance and escape learning, were measured. Based on the number of trials to achieve a learning criterion, rats were divided into two subgroups with either low or high avoidance reactivity (LAR or HAR, respectively). Retention test avoidance latencies showed that HAR animals had better avoidance memory (Mann-Whitney rank sum test, P = 0.0035). No such differences were found for the escape component of this test. These data suggest that individual emotional differences affect inhibitory avoidance performance, which may help to explain the dispersion of the data observed in other studies using this paradigm.

Haemoglobin concentrations and infection by Giardia intestinalis in children: effect of treatment with secnidazole

The blood concentrations of haemoglobin were investigated in 82 children aged 2-9 years. Fifty-seven (31 boys and 26 girls) were stool-positive for Giardia intestinalis but the other 25, used as controls, were negative. The mean (S.D.) haemoglobin concentration among the infected children was significantly lower pre-treatment than that for the control group [11.6 (1.2) v. 12.6 (1.5) g/dl; P < 0.05]. Treatment of the infected children with a single oral dose of secnidazole (30 mg/kg) led to a significant increase in their mean haemoglobin level 15 days later, from 11.6 (1.2) g/dl pre-treatment to 12.4 (1.2) g/dl post-treatment (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the therapeutic control of giardiasis could be important in programmes to combat anaemia in children living in endemic areas.

Measuring emotional memory in the elevated T-maze using a training-to-criterion procedure

The elevated T-maze, an ethologically based test, has been used to investigate the effects of anxiolytic drugs on memory and the relationships between neural systems involved in such modulation. This test allows the measurement in the same rat of two kinds of aversively motivated behaviors--inhibitory avoidance and one-way escape. The apparatus consists of three arms of equal dimensions, elevated 50 cm from the floor. One arm is enclosed by walls and stands perpendicular to the two open arms. Placing the rat at the end of the enclosed arm and recording the time to withdraw from this arm during three consecutive trials assesses inhibitory avoidance. Soon afterwards, the rat is placed at the end of one of the open arms and the time to leave this arm recorded as escape response. Three days later memory is assessed by reexposing the rats to the maze. One critical question raised by these studies is whether the anterograde amnesia induced by anxiolytic drugs could be due to insufficient learning during training or to amnesia. The present work investigated whether the introduction of a multitrial training-to-criterion procedure could overcome this question. For this purpose, rats were tested as many times as needed to stay in the enclosed arm continuously for 300 s (avoidance learning to criterion). Results from Experiment 1 showed that rats trained to a learning criterion shows significantly better retention performance. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of pretraining diazepam (DZP) treatment on this training-to-criterion protocol. The results indicate that DZP did not affect acquisition performance but induced a dose-dependent impairment of the inhibitory avoidance in the memory test. One-way escape (latency to enter the enclosed compartment from the open arms) was not affected by DZP. These results rule out the possibility that the impairment of inhibitory avoidance memory in the elevated T-maze could be due to lack of learning during training, and support the hypothesis that the disruptive effects of DZP are on processes involved in long-term storage of information.