TSC1 and TSC2: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Its Related Epilepsy Phenotype

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by a multisystemic involvement. In TSC, reduced function of TSC1 and TSC2 genes products (hamartin and tuberin, respectively) leads to an hyperactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and to a consequent cell growth dysregulation. In TSC patients, neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations, especially epilepsy and neuropsychiatric comorbidities such as autism or intellectual disability, represent the most disabling features. In particular, epilepsy occurrs up to 80% of patients, is often drug resistant and is frequently associated with neurological impairment. Due to the burden of this morbidity, different treatment strategies have been proposed with the purpose to make patients epilepsy free, such as the use of different antiepileptic drugs like vigabatrin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, and levetiracetam. More recently, a mTOR inhibitor (i.e. everolimus) has showed promising results in terms of seizures reduction.

Physicochemical study of diethylmethylammonium methanesulfonate under anhydrous conditions

The protic ionic liquid diethylmethylammonium methanesulfonate ([DEMA][OMs]) was analyzed in depth by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) under anhydrous conditions. Karl Fischer titration, NMR, and FT-IR spectra confirmed the high purity of [DEMA][OMs]. The melting point (37.7 °C) and the freezing point (14.0 °C) obtained by DSC agree well with the values determined by BDS (40.0 °C and 14.0 °C). The dc conductivity (σ_dc) above the melting/freezing point obeys the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) equation well, and thus, the proton conduction in [DEMA][OMs] is assumed to be dominated by the vehicle mechanism. In contrast, the σ_dc below the melting/freezing point can be fitted by the Arrhenius equation separately, and therefore, the proton conduction is most likely governed by the proton hopping mechanism. The non-negligible influence of previously reported low water content on the physicochemical properties of [DEMA][OMs] is found, indicating the importance of reducing water content as much as possible for the study of "intrinsic" properties of protic ionic liquids.

QCM-D Study of Time-Resolved Cell Adhesion and Detachment: Effect of Surface Free Energy on Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes

Cell-material interactions are crucial for many biomedical applications, including medical implants, tissue engineering, and biosensors. For implants, while the adhesion of eukaryotic host cells is desirable, bacterial adhesion often leads to infections. Surface free energy (SFE) is an important parameter that controls short- and long-term eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell adhesion. Understanding its effect at a fundamental level is essential for designing materials that minimize bacterial adhesion. Most cell adhesion studies for implants have focused on correlating surface wettability with mammalian cell adhesion and are restricted to short-term time scales. In this work, we used quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and electrical impedance analysis to characterize the adhesion and detachment of S. cerevisiae and E. coli, serving as model eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells within extended time scales. Measurements were performed on surfaces displaying different surface energies (Au, SiO₂, and silanized SiO₂). Our results demonstrate that tuning the surface free energy of materials is a useful strategy for selectively promoting eukaryotic cell adhesion and preventing bacterial adhesion. Specifically, we show that under flow and steady-state conditions and within time scales up to ∼10 h, a high SFE, especially its polar component, enhances S. cerevisiae adhesion and hinders E. coli adhesion. In the long term, however, both cells tend to detach, but less detachment occurs on surfaces with a high dispersive SFE contribution. The conclusions on S. cerevisiae are also valid for a second eukaryotic cell type, being the human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells on which we performed the same analysis for comparison. Furthermore, each cell adhesion phase is associated with unique cytoskeletal viscoelastic states, which are cell-type-specific and surface free energy-dependent and provide insights into the underlying adhesion mechanisms.

A compact device for simultaneous dielectric spectroscopy and microgravimetric analysis under controlled humidity

Water plays a key role in the functioning of natural and synthetic molecular systems. Despite several hydration studies, different techniques are employed individually for monitoring different physical features such as kinetics, dynamics, and absorption. This study describes a compact hydration cell that enables simultaneous dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and mass loss/uptake measurements in thin organic layers under controlled humidity conditions and in a wide temperature range. This approach enabled us to correlate the physical quantities obtained during the same experiment by complementary techniques. To demonstrate the performance of this device, a 200 nm thick poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) layer was measured at various relative humidity levels (0%-75%), temperatures (25-75 °C), and frequencies (DRS: 0.1 Hz-1 MHz) to study how hydration and dehydration processes affect its molecular dynamics. The results show the capability of this setup to study the changes in the PMMA film regarding the kinetics and molecular dynamics upon variation of the water content.

New approaches in hepatitis B vaccination for celiac disease

Celiac disease (CD) is a gluten-induced immune-mediated disorder that has been associated with a defective response to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination. This unresponsiveness could lead to a world health problem, because non-responder patients could represent a reservoir of HBV-susceptible people that will persist as healthy carriers, leading to the diffusion of the disease. This article presents a literature review of both intramuscular (IM) and intradermal (ID) routes for boosters in celiac patients. We used PubMed database and generated the odds ratio (OR) of the response on the basis of electronic searches of clinical trials. Although our results confirm the positive response of celiac patients to IM vaccination, the ID route seems to be better than the conventional one, since it could provide a saving in cost and a greater immunogenicity.

Hepatitis B vaccine by intradermal route in non responder patients: An update

Vaccination is the main prophylactic measure to reduce the mortality caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in healthy subjects since the immune response to hepatitis B recombinant vaccination occurs in over 90% of general population. Individuals who develop an anti-HBs titer less than 10 mIU/mL after primary vaccination cycle are defined “no responders”. Many factors could cause a non response to the HBV vaccination, such as administration of the vaccine in buttocks, impaired vaccine storage conditions, drug abuse, smoking, infections and obesity. Moreover there are some diseases, like chronic kidney disease, human immunodeficiency virus infection, chronic liver disease, celiac disease, thalassaemia, type I diabetes mellitus, down’s syndrome and other forms of mental retardation that are characterized by a poorer response to HBV vaccination than healthy subjects. To date it is still unclear how to treat this group of patients at high risk of hepatitis B infection. Recent studies seem to indicate that the administration of HBV recombinant vaccine by the intradermal route is very effective and could represent a more useful strategy than intramuscular route. This review focuses on the use of anti hepatitis B vaccine by intradermal route as alternative to conventional intramuscular vaccine in all non responder patients. A comprehensive review of the literature using PubMed database, with appropriate terms, was undertaken for articles in English published since 1983. The literature search was undertaken in September 2013.

Two rare cases of benign hyperlipasemia in children

Gullo’s syndrome is a newly identified condition characterized by a chronic elevation of pancreatic amylase and/or lipase in the absence of pancreatic disease. Until now, only one case of benign isolated hyperlipasemia in children has been recorded. We describe two children with benign and not familial increase of serum lipase. Case 1: a six year old girl presented with occasional discovery of serum lipase elevation. Medical history was silent for pancreatic hyperenzymemia. The screening for possible causes for elevated lipase (genetic, autoimmune and infectious diseases) was normal. The serum lipase increased three fold over the upper limit (193 U/L; reference range 0-60 U/L), with daily fluctuation of values. Both ultrasound scan and magnetic resonance imaging were normal. The genetic mutation associated with chronic pancreatitis was negative. We followed up this patient for two years with blood tests every six months and she did not show any signs or symptoms of pancreatic disease, except for the high level of lipase serum. Case 2: an eight year old girl complained of nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain in the epigastric region after eating for the last two weeks. Full blood count, electrolytes, C-reactive protein, liver and renal function were normal. Serum lipase was 96 U/L (reference range 0-60 U/L). The screening for the possible causes of pancreatic disease was negative. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract, ultrasound, computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging were normal. One year after the presentation of the symptoms, the patient became asymptomatic although the level of serum lipase continued to be high.

Liver disease in cystic fibrosis: an update

CONTEXT

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most widespread autosomal recessive genetic disorder that limits life expectation amongst the Caucasian population. As the median survival has increased related to early multidisciplinary intervention, other manifestations of CF have emerged especially for the broad spectrum of hepatobiliary involvement. The present study reviews the existing literature on liver disease in cystic fibrosis and describes the key issues for an adequate clinical evaluation and management of patients, with a focus on the pathogenetic, clinical and diagnostic-therapeutic aspects of liver disease in CF.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A literature search of electronic databases was undertaken for relevant studies published from 1990 about liver disease in cystic fibrosis. The databases searched were: EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

CF is due to mutations in the gene on chromosome 7 that encodes an amino acidic polypeptide named CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator). The hepatic manifestations include particular changes referring to the basic CFTR defect, iatrogenic lesions or consequences of the multisystem disease. Even though hepatobiliary disease is the most common non-pulmonary cause of mortality in CF (the third after pulmonary disease and transplant complications), only about the 33%of CF patients presents clinically significant hepatobiliary disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver disease will have a growing impact on survival and quality of life of cystic fibrosis patients because a longer life expectancy and for this it is important its early recognition and a correct clinical management aimed at delaying the onset of complications. This review could represent an opportunity to encourage researchers to better investigate genotype-phenotype correlation associated with the development of cystic fibrosis liver disease, especially for non-CFTR genetic polymorphisms, and detect predisposed individuals. Therapeutic trials are needed to find strategies of fibrosis prevention and to avoid its progression prior to development its related complications.

Growth and optical properties of silver nanostructures obtained on connected anodic aluminum oxide templates

Ag nanostructures are grown by AC electrodeposition on anodic alumina oxide (AAO) connected membranes acting as templates. Depending on the thickness of the template and on the voltage applied during the growth process, different Ag nanostructures with different optical properties are obtained. When AAO membranes about 1 μm thick are used, the Ag nanostructures consist in Ag nanorods, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanotubes departing from the nanorods and filling the pores almost for the whole length. When AAO membranes about 3 μm thick are used, the nanostructures are Ag spheroids, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanowires that do not reach the upper part of the alumina pores. The samples are characterized by angle resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-vis and Raman spectroscopies. A simple NaOH etching procedure, followed by sonication in ethanol, allows one to obtain an exposed ordered array of Ag nanorods, suitable for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, while in the other case (3 μm thick AAO membranes) the sample can be used in localized surface plasmon resonance sensing.

Recent developments in durum wheat chromosome engineering

Transfer of alien chromosome segments from various Triticeae species into cultivated wheats, commonly referred to as "chromosome engineering", is currently benefiting from the recent, impressive advancements in molecular genetics, cytogenetics and genomics, which are providing new insights into the genetic and physical organization of even complex plant genomes, such as those of the Triticeae. The powerful analytical tools presently available are making the assessment of desired genotypes in the course of chromosome engineering far more precise and effective than in the past, thus giving this transfer strategy renewed and increased potential for meaningful practical achievements. Examples are given here of the application of such tools to the engineering of the durum wheat genome with small alien segments containing genes with beneficial impact on disease resistance and quality traits.

[Mediastinal thymoma (presentation of 2 cases)]

The Authors report on two cases of mediastinal thymoma. Clinical and anatomicopathological aspects are discussed.

Photosensitized effects of furocoumarins: the possible role of singlet oxygen

The capacity of various furocoumarins to generate singlet oxygen in aqueous solution has been determined. The antiproliferative and the skin-photosensitizing activities of the same furocoumarins did not show any correlation with the capacity to generate the singlet oxygen, while these photobiological properties could be correlated with the capacity of furocoumarins to induce photolesions to the DNA.

Studies on the interaction between steffimycins and DNA

The complexes formed between steffimycins and DNA were studied using various physicochemical techniques. The binding process has been followed spectrophotometrically or fluorimetrically. The binding parameters n and K, evaluated according to McGhee and Von Hippel, show a good affinity of these antibiotics for the macromolecule. Flow dichroism measurements showed that in the complex with DNA, the antracycline moiety of the steffimycins is intercalated between two base pairs of the macromolecule. The binding experiments with various polydeoxyribonucleotides and with various DNA samples, having different base pair compositions, suggest that an alternate sequence of A-T, such as that of poly[d(A-T)] . poly[d(A-T)], represents a good receptor site for the binding of steffimycins to DNA. The lack of in vivo activity of these antibiotics is discussed.

Splenomegaly with carcinoma of the colon and rectum

Scans of the liver and spleen were reviewed for patients with carcinoma of the large intestine. The patients were divided into groups, depending upon the size of the liver and spleen. Those with enlarged spleens tended to have an increased survival time compared with those without splenomegaly. It is postulated that splenomegaly is a good predictor of survival when used with the Dukes' classification and that the increased size of the spleen is on an immunologic basis.