NP7 protects from cell death induced by oxidative stress in neuronal and glial midbrain cultures from parkin null mice

Parkin mutations produce Parkinson's disease (PD) in humans and nigrostriatal dopamine lesions related to increased free radicals in mice. We examined the effects of NP7, a synthetic, marine derived, free radical scavenger which enters the brain, on H(2)O(2) toxicity in cultured neurons and glia from wild-type (WT) and parkin null mice (PK-KO). NP7, 5-10 microM, prevented the H(2)O(2) induced apoptosis and necrosis of midbrain neuronal and glial cultures from WT and PK-KO mice. NP7 suppressed microglial activation and the H(2)O(2) induced drop-out of dopamine neurons(.) Furthermore, NP7 prevented the increased phosphorylation of ERK and AKT induced by H(2)O(2). NP7 may be a promising neuroprotector against oxidative stress in PD.

Land use and mosquito diversity in the Peruvian Amazon

Anthropogenic environmental disturbance is a significant factor driving mosquito community composition. However, researchers subjectively define environmental change creating difficulties for cross-study comparison. To examine the relationship between terrestrial change and mosquito composition, we used remote sensing techniques to define spatially explicit land use categories along a gradient with low (rural), medium (peri-urban), and high (urban) anthropogenic influence in the Peruvian Amazon. We found significant differences in mosquito diversity among land use categories. Our results provide baseline data linking mosquito distribution to land use in the Peruvian Amazon and present an easily replicable method of comparison for future research. Creating standardized methods to measure the impact of human influence on the environment is of particular importance in designing targeted public health policies and in predicting disease risk in rapidly changing environments such as the Amazon.

[Imaging findings in catamenial pneumothorax]

OBJECTIVE

To show the presentation and imaging findings of catamenial pneumothorax.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed the imaging tests (plain-film radiography, computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance [MR]) performed in six women aged between 28 and 44 years with recurrent pneumothorax associated to menstruation. All patients underwent videothoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomy was necessary in three due to the recurrence of the pneumothorax.

RESULTS

CT was performed in three cases and found pleural nodules in two; one of these was confirmed at MR. Pleural endometriosis was only demonstrated at histological examination in one case. Diaphragmatic blebs and bullae were found in five of the six patients.

DISCUSSION

The most common symptoms of catamenial pneumothorax are chest pain, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. The right side is affected in 90% of cases. The radiological findings are pneumothorax, hemothorax, or hydropneumothorax. CT and MR can help to identify the pleural lesions that are not visible on plain-film radiographs and are a very common finding at surgery.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of catamenial pneumothorax should be suspected in fertile-aged women with a history of recurrent pneumothorax coinciding with menstruation. CT and MR can help to identify lesions suspicious of endometriosis.

[Indications, technique and outcomes of the one-time laparoscopic orchidopexy]

The investigation of a male with impalpable testes is one of the most frequent diagnostic indications of laparoscopy and it is accepted as a therapeutic tool for the treatment of the intra-abdominal testis. We have studied thirteen patients being surgically operated by a video-assisted orchidopexy without spermatic vessels section. The technique consists of wide mobilization of the spermatic vessels and the vas deferens from the posterior peritoneum, sectioning the gubernaculum and descending of the testis to the scrotum. In all the cases, the internal groin ring was later closed by means of a laparoscopy. There were no intraoperative complications. In 100% of the cases, the testis was descended to the scrotum. The surgical time oscillated between 40 and 80 minutes (60 minutes mean). At follow-up from 6 months to 4 years, the outcome was satisfactory in 11 patients, whereas in 2 cases the operated testis ascended.

Experimental infection of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) with West Nile virus

Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have shown high West Nile virus (WNV) seroprevalence, and WNV infection has been suggested as a cause of morbidity and mortality in this species. We experimentally infected nine eastern gray squirrels with WNV to determine the clinical effects of infection and to assess their potential role as amplifying hosts. We observed no morbidity or mortality attributable to WNV infection, but lesions were apparent in several organs. We detected mean viremias of 10(5.1) and 10(4.8) plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL on days 3 and 4 post-infection (DPI) and estimated that approximately 2.1% of Culex pipiens feeding on squirrels during 1-5 DPI would become infectious. Thus, S. carolinensis are unlikely to be important amplifying hosts and may instead dampen the intensity of transmission in most host communities. The low viremias and lack of mortality observed in S. carolinensis suggest that they may be useful as sentinels of spillover from the enzootic amplification cycle.

Land use and west nile virus seroprevalence in wild mammals

We examined West Nile virus (WNV) seroprevalence in wild mammals along a forest-to-urban gradient in the US mid-Atlantic region. WNV antibody prevalence increased with age, urbanization, and date of capture for juveniles and varied significantly between species. These findings suggest several requirements for using mammals as indicators of transmission.

[Surgical decannulation of children with suprastomal collapse: review of our experience]

BACKGROUND

Suprastomal tracheal collapse (STC) may interfere with decannulation in tracheostomized patients.

AIM

To evaluate the role of tracheotomy technique in the ethiology of STC, and to analyze our results in the treatment of this complication.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We have studied the clinical charts of tracheostomized patients in our Unit, between 1990 and 2006, who showed significant STC impairing decannulation. The following data have been taken into account: sex, age, tracheotomy indication, surgical technique, endoscopic findings, type of surgical correction, complications, result, and follow-up.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients have showed STC, nine girls and four boys. Average age when tracheotomy was performed was 18 months, and extended ventilatory support was the most common indication (61,5%). Tracheotomy with lateral flaps was the most frequent technique in this group of patients with STC (8 cases), whereas only one patient in whom an anterior vertical tracheal incision was performed showed this complication. In every case bronchoscopy disclosed a suprastomal tracheal obstruction of at least 50% of the lumen. Mean age when surgical decannulation was performed was 36 months (range, 12-147). Two surgical techniques have been used in the treatment of STC: anterior cricoid suspension (12 patients) and reconstruction with autologous cartilage graft (one case). A satisfactory result has been achieved in 92% of cases (one patient showed persistent collapse and the same procedure was repeated). Mean follow-is 8,6 years (range, 2 months-12 years).

CONCLUSIONS

STC is a type of acquired tracheomalacia and presents in around 10% of tracheostomized patients. Bronchoscopy is essential for diagnosis and to rule out other causes of failure in decannulation. Tracheotomy technique seems to have an ethiologic role, and our preferred treatment, when sufficient cartilaginous support is present, is anterior cricoid suspension.

GSTP1 and MTHFR polymorphisms are related with toxicity in breast cancer adjuvant anthracycline-based treatment

We have analyzed several members of drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and other polymorphisms in genes implicated in tumor aggressivity regarding possible links between specific genetic variability in systemic drug bioavailability and toxicity in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant anthracycline-based treatment. PCR-RFLP and sequencing analyses technique were used for evaluating fourteen previously identified polymorphisms in 94 patients. GSTP1A>G and MTHFR 1298A>C genotypes remained as significant predictors in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. GSTP1 polymorphism was linked to haematological GIII-IV toxicity (P = 0.044, HR= 6.4, 95% CI = 1.05 to 39. Increased and significant HR was obtained for MTHFR-1298 AC+CC group when non-haematological toxicities GIII-IV toxicities were evaluated (HR = 24; 95% CI = 2.3 to 254), P = 0.008. Our results suggest that GSTP1 and MTHFR genotypes may be consider relevant and independent factors of toxicity in adjuvant anthracycline-based treatment of breast cancer.

Comparison of growth characteristics and roquefortin C production ofPenicillium roqueforti from blue-veined cheese

The properties of 21 isolates ofPenicillium roqueforti from just as many commercial blue-veined cheeses, purchased from the Argentinean market (domestic and imported products) were comparatively examined. Isolates were investigated for their ability to grow at different temperatures, pH values and concentration of NaCl, as well as for their proteolytic and lipolytic activities, respectively. The potential of these strains to produce roquefortin in vitro, and the actual levels of roquefortin in 10 of these cheeses were analysed by TLC. All strains showed similar growth properties in aspects of salt concentration and pH-value of the medium, and all grew well at 10 °C. Only four strains showed proteolytic activity on casein agar, while all strains were lipolytic on trybutirin agar. After incubation at 25 °C for 16 days, all strains produced roquefortin in Yeast Extract Sucrose (25.6-426.7 μg/g) and in reconstituted (10%) sterile skim milk (26.9-488 μg/g). Roquefortin at >0.1 μg/g was also found in 9 out of 10 analysed samples of blue-veined cheeses (8 from Argentine, 1 from Spain), with a maximum value 3.6 μg/g. During the ripening process of blueveined cheese, production of roquefortin seems to be unavoidable. Care should be taken to select strains with low toxin production characteristics, to minimize potential health risks. Roquefortin C production byP. roqueforti in vitro was not correlated with roquefortin C levels found in cheese.

CYP2D6*4 polymorphism as blood predictive biomarker of breast cancer relapse in patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen

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Background: Polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 2D6 gene affect the plasma concentration of tamoxifen active metabolites (endoxifen). Some drugs are known to be CYP2D6 inhibitors. We aim to determine the relationship between CYP2D6*4 polymorphisms, concomitant CYP2D6 inhibitors use and clinical outcomes of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen (TAM). Patients and Methods: CYP2D6*4 (1934 G>A+1) genotype was determinated from DNA of blood samples using PCR-RFLP technique and Taqman Allelic Discrimination Assay in a series of 84 breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant TAM. CYP2D6 inhibitors were recorded. Chi-square test and logistic regression models were used to determinate association between genotype, use of concomitant CYP2D6 inhibitors and disease relapse rate. Results: In our 84 patients series mean age was 51.5y. (33–71). 14.8% were stage I, 58.0% stage II and 27.2% stage III. 61.4% were nodes positive and 98.7% tumors had positive hormonal receptors. We observed disease recurrence in 36.9% of cases. The mean following-up was 5.5 y. Genotype frequency was: wt/wt (57.1%), wt/*4 (40.5%) and *4/*4 (2.4%). 50% (18 of 36) of patients with the wt/*4 + *4/*4 genotypes had disease relapse compared with 27% (13 of 48) with wt/wt genotype (P= 0.041). Only 6 patients received concomitants CYP2D6 inhibitors, mainly antidepressants, all of them with the wt/*4 genotype. 50% presented disease relapse. Clinical pathological variables were evaluated and significant relation was found between stage and disease relapse by univariate analysis (P= 0.001). We investigated whether CYP2D6*4 genotype and stage to diagnosis could influence in disease relapse. For these analyses we use as reference group the genotype wt/wt. We observed that combined genotype wt/*4 + *4/*4 was more strongly associated with disease recurrence than wt/wt genotype (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0- 7.9) P= 0.049. Conclusions: Breast cancer patients with the CYP2D6 *4/*4 or wt/*4 genotype could have lower benefit of TAM adjuvant treatment and tend to have a higher risk of disease relapse. Pre-treatment CYP2D6 genotype determination from blood sample could predicts TAM clinical outcomes and help to oncologist in treatment decision.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.