A novel biotechnology product for the degradation of biofilm-associated polysaccharides produced by Streptococcus mutans

In this study we evaluated the activity of ABR preparation, a first-in-class agent obtained through fermentation process by genetically unmodified Bacillus spp., in breaking down polysaccharide produced by Streptococcus mutans, primary coloniser of tooth surface and abundant in dental biofilms. Our results showed that ABR preparation is able in degrading sugars formed by S. mutans, both in broth culture and onto teeth surface. Its activity is not influenced by the presence of saliva, commercial mouthwashes or oral disinfectants. ABR preparation has the potential to remove preformed plaque and counteract its development, thus offering conservative control of gingival and periodontal disease.

Volatile fingerprinting of chestnut flours from traditional Emilia Romagna (Italy) cultivars

The volatile profile of nine monocultivar chestnut flours, obtained from fruits grown in Italy (Parma province), was characterised by a head-space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with GC-MS technique. The volatile fraction was composed of 44 main compounds belonging to different classes, mainly aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, furans and terpenes. Aldehydes, in particular hexanal, are the most abundant components. In order to better understand the origin of the different volatile compounds during the drying and milling processes, samples of fresh fruit were also analysed by the same technique and the data obtained were statistically and critically compared in order to get a picture of the volatile evolution in chestnut from fresh fruit to flour. Finally, the nine monocultivar flours were chemometrically classified on the basis of the main odour descriptors associated with the volatile fingerprinting.

SOS1 over-expression in genital skin fibroblasts from hirsute women: a putative role of the SOS1/RAS pathway in the pathogenesis of hirsutism

Hirsutism is the development of androgen-dependent terminal body hair in women in places in which terminal hair are normally not found. It is often associated with hyperandrogenemia and/or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the existence of uncommom hirsutism forms that are not related to altered androgen plasma levels lead also to the definition of - idiopathic hirsutism. Although the pathophysiology of hirsutism has been linked to increasing 5-alpha reductase (SRD5A) activity and to an alteration of the androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional machinery, many aspects remain unclear. In particular, the relationships between androgens and local factors are poorly understood. In the present paper, we selected for a genital skin biopsy, 8 women affected with severe hirsutism (Ferriman-Gallway score greater than 25) but with normal plasma androgen levels, with the exception of slightly higher serum 3alpha-diol-glucuronide levels, and 6 healthy controls and analyzed their androgen- and insulin-specific transcriptional profile using a specific custom low density microarray (AndroChip 2, GPL9164). We identified the over-expression of the Son of Sevenless-1 (SOS1) gene in all of the hirsute skin fibroblast primary cell cultures compared to control healthy women. Since SOS1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that couples receptor tyrosine kinases to the RAS signaling pathway that controls cell proliferation and differentiation, we further analyzed SOS1 expression, protein level and RAS signaling activation pathway in an in vitro model (NHDF, normal human dermal fibroblast cell line). NHDF treated for 24 h with different concentrations of DHT and T showed an increase in SOS1 levels (both mRNA and protein) and also an activation of the RAS pathway. Our in vivo and in vitro data represent a novel preliminary observation that factors activating SOS1 could act as local proliferative modulators linked to the androgen pathway in the pilosebaceous unit. SOS1 over-expression may play a role in the regulation of the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in the skin, in the hair follicle proliferation and cell cycle, suggesting new perspectives in understanding the pathogenesis of idiopathic hirsutism.

Mushrooms versus fungi: natural compounds from Lentinula edodes inhibit aflatoxin biosynthesis by Aspergillus parasiticus

Although the strategies routinely adopted to limit production of carcinogenic aflatoxins by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus in foods and feeds can be quite effective, they are often neither environmentally friendly, nor non-toxic for end users. Polysaccharides and glycoproteins, particularly β-glucans from the basidiomycete Lentinula edodes, already known for their health-promoting effects on animals and humans, have previously demonstrated the ability to inhibit aflatoxin biosynthesis by stimulating the antioxidant defences of the toxigenic fungus. Here the results of a study regarding the influence on polysaccharide production by L. edodes of oxidative stress induced using paraquat (PQ) treatment are reported. Paraquat 0.5 and 1 mM resulted in an enhancement of the expression of the β-glucan synthase gene Lefks1 and a consequent stimulating effect (about 30-35%) on β-glucans production. Moreover, oxidative-stress (PQ) induced polysaccharides have a higher aflatoxin inhibiting capacity in two different strains of A. parasiticus in comparison with non-induced polysaccharides. This more efficient inhibition might be explained by a higher content of β-glucans because 1H-NMR analysis revealed no obvious qualitative differences between PQ-induced and non-induced polysaccharides. The results obtained show promise for improving the quantity and efficiency of L. edodes extracts in order to achieve enhanced control over aflatoxin biosynthesis in foods and feeds using health-promoting and environmentally-friendly compounds.

Classification of Pecorino cheeses using electronic nose combined with artificial neural network and comparison with GC-MS analysis of volatile compounds

An electronic nose based on an array of 6 metal oxide semiconductor sensors was used, jointly with artificial neural network (ANN) method, to classify Pecorino cheeses according to their ripening time and manufacturing techniques. For this purpose different pre-treatments of electronic nose signals have been tested. In particular, four different features extraction algorithms were compared with a principal component analysis (PCA) using to reduce the dimensionality of data set (data consisted of 900 data points per sensor). All the ANN models (with different pre-treatment data) have different capability to predict the Pecorino cheeses categories. In particular, PCA show better results (classification performance: 100%; RMSE: 0.024) in comparison with other pre-treatment systems.

Influence of psychological symptoms on home-recorded sleep-time masticatory muscle activity in healthy subjects

The present investigation attempts to describe the correlation between sleep-time masticatory muscle activity (MMA) and psychological symptoms by the use of a four-channel electromyography (EMG) home-recording device in a group of 15 healthy volunteers completing a battery of psychometric questionnaires for the assessment of anxiety, depression and anger. The integrated EMG signal was adopted to quantify the work (μV × s) produced by each of the four muscles (bilateral masseter and temporal) during the 5-h recording span and per each 1-h increment. The duration of MMA events and the muscle work during the first hour of sleep was related to trait anxiety scores for both masseter (P = 0·007) and temporalis muscles (P = 0·022). Trait anxiety was also significantly correlated to the total amount of MMA duration (in seconds) of the temporalis muscles (r = 0·558; P = 0·031). The present investigation provides support to the hypothesis that the duration of sleep-time masticatory muscle activity, especially during the early phases of a night's sleep, may be related to anxiety trait and not to anxiety state, depression or anger. These findings may support the view that features related to the individual management of anxiety, viz. trait, are likely to be more important than acute episodes of anxiety, viz. state, in the aetiology of sleep-time masticatory muscle activity. The role of other psychological symptoms is likely to be less important.

Acupuncture in clinical and experimental reproductive medicine: a review

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture has been used as treatment for infertility for hundreds of years, and recently it has been studied in male and female infertility and in assisted reproductive technologies, although its role in reproductive medicine is still debated.

AIM

To review studies on acupuncture in reproductive medicine, in experimental and clinical settings.

METHODS

Papers were retrieved on PubMed and Google Scholar and were included in the review if at least the abstract was in English.

RESULTS

There is evidence of benefit mainly when acupuncture is performed on the day of embryo transfer (ET) in the live birth rate. Benefit is also evident when acupuncture is performed for female infertility due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). There is some evidence of sperm quality improvement when acupuncture is performed on males affected by idiopathic infertility. Experimental studies suggest that acupuncture effects are mediated by changes in activity of the autonomic nervous system and stimulation of neuropeptides/neurotransmitters which may be involved in the pathogenesis of infertility.

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture seems to have beneficial effects on live birth rate when performed on the day of ET, and to be useful also in PCOS as well as in male idiopathic infertility, with very low incidence of side effects. However, further studies are necessary to confirm the clinical results and to expand our knowledge of the mechanisms involved.

A pilot study on the transcriptional response of androgen- and insulin-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by testosterone administration in hypogonadal men

The aim of the present study is to determine whether testosterone (T) administration changes the expression profile of androgen- and insulin-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). To this end, we evaluated the gene expression profile of 19 genes (AKT2, CCND1, GSK3ALPHA, IGF1, GSK3BETA, FOXO3, IL6, IGFBP2, UGT2B17, ARA55, CREBBP, CYP11A, HSD17B1, HSD17B7, UGT2B7, SELADIN 1, CLU, PGC1, AKR1C1) selected according their function in the androgen pathways, in a series of 11 hypogonadal men pharmacologically treated with T. We noted that 7 genes were differentially expressed, five of them were up-regulated (AKT2 FC=2.39, CREBBP FC=11.2, GSK3beta FC=5.6, UGT2B7 FC=4.49, UGT2B17 FC=2.88) and two were down-regulated (ARA55 FC= -2.0, CYP11A FC= -2.47). This experience suggests that androgen- and insulin-related genes can be considered useful blood genomic biomarkers for specific steroid drugs.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura mimicking an acute meningoencephalitis

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare, threatening disease characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and organ dysfunction, e.g., neurological impairment and renal insufficiency. We describe a patient with neurological impairment mimicking a meningoencephalitis in whom a thorough clinical evaluation along with appropriate laboratory tests led us to identify an underlying thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The successful outcome of this patient was based on plasma exchange and immunosuppressive treatment. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with any neurological abnormalities, anaemia and unexplained thrombocytopenia.

Paradental cyst of the first molar: a report of two cases

OBJECTIVE

The paradental cyst is an uncommon lesion associated with the permanent mandibular first or second molar in children just prior to tooth eruption. The purpose of this article is to present two cases of paradental cyst affecting the buccal aspect of permanent mandibular first molar of both young patients. We also discuss diagnosis, treatment and radiographic findings of the cases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In both cases was made only the enucleation of cyst without extraction of the adjacent tooth. Lesional samples were sent for histopathologic analysis.

RESULTS

The histopathologic analysis of both cases, revealed a lining of hyperplastic, nonkeratinized squamous epithelium with heavy, dense inflammatory cell infiltrate in the epithelium and connective tissue wall. The histopathology associated with macroscopic and radiographic examination permitted the definitive diagnosis of a paradental cyst on the mandibular left first molar. A follow-up of 1 year was carried out in both cases and no recurrences was noted; in the first case was observed the correct eruption of the mandibular permanent left first molar.

CONCLUSIONS

A clinicopathologic correlation, incorporating the surgical, radiographic, and histological finding, is required to obtain the final diagnosis of paradental cyst. Today, the treatment of choice is simple enucleation and thorough curettage of the cyst without extraction of the involved tooth.

Long-term follow up of patients affected by pulmonary carcinoid at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan: a retrospective analysis

Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung involve an heterogeneous group of tumors representing a wide range of histological variants, from well-differentiated typical carcinoid (TC) tumors to poorly differentiated small cell carcinomas. The epidemiology, clinical outcome, and management of these neoplasms differ significantly from other lung malignancies. The main aim of this report consists in describing the single Center experience of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan on neuroendocrine lung tumors, with an emphasis on bronchopulmonary carcinoid subtypes. From 1986 to 2009, 91 cases of carcinoid tumors were diagnosed; these were divided in two series, according to typical (66 patients) or atypical [25] histotypes. These two groups were compared in relation to various features, including pathologic classification, clinical behavior, treatment modalities and long-term survival. At the moment of diagnosis 11 patients had locally advanced/metastatic disease, while 80 patients showed non metastatic disease. The comparative analysis between typical and atypical series disclosed significant differences in terms of long-term survival; in fact, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 98 % and 94 % for the first carcinoid series versus 76 % and 18 % for the atypical series, respectively (p<0.001). The median overall survival (OS) was 76 months (range 3-182) for atypical carcinoids and has not yet been reached for TCs patients.

Displacement of a dental implant into the maxillary sinus: case series

Dental implants placed in the maxilla risk failure because of the low density of the maxillary bone and the shortness of the maxillary ridge. Moreover, inadequate implant preparation, drilling or installation can easily lead to complications related to the maxillary sinuses. Displacement of dental implants into the maxillary sinus can cause serious complications, but there are few reports of such cases. The aim of this paper is to present three cases of a migrated dental implants into the maxillary sinus: in the first two cases the dental implant was found close to the medial wall of the maxillary sinus and was removed through a surgical approach, whereas in the third case the dental implant was spontaneously expelled from the nasal cavities through the mucociliary clearance. The most frequent adverse effect is the local infection of tissue around the implant. For this reason, implants placed close to the maxillary sinus offer a route for infection from the oral cavity to the sinus. While in some cases implant migration causes sinusitis in other, the patients remain asymptomatic; anyway, the treatment depends on the symptoms of maxillary sinusitis. In the third case the dental implant was spontaneously expelled from the nasal graves. Our report illustrates that a powerful mechanism of mucociliary action can cause relatively heavy objects within the maxillary sinus to migrate naturally to the sinus ostia against gravitational force and then to be expelled from the nasal cavities.

Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), or secondary hypogonadism, is a clinical condition due to an impairment of the pituitary function, characterized by low testosterone plasma levels associated with normal or low FSH and LH plasma levels. An impairment of gonadotropin secretion and, therefore, a reduced efficiency of spermatogenesis was reported to be frequently associated to conditions different from the classical causes of secondary hypogonadism. These conditions (metabolic, endocrine and eating disorders, physical exercise etc.) have been associated with a non-classical form of HH that could be called "functional" HH (FHH). FHH differs from the classical one by the evidence that gonadotropin levels are in the low-normal range, but are inadequate for the testosterone levels, that often are also in the low-normal range. This commentary aims at reviewing knowledge on the forms of male HH in order to indicate and discuss clinical context, diagnostic and therapeutic approach in the less known non-classical form, i.e. FHH.