Does the cerebellar sequential theory explain spoken language impairments? A literature review

During the past decades, converging evidence from clinical, neuroimaging and neuroanatomical studies has demonstrated the key role of the cerebellum in the processing of non-motor aspects of language. Although more is known about the way in which the cerebellum participates in the mechanisms involved in written language, there is ambiguous information on its role in other aspects of language, such as in non-motor aspects of spoken language. Thus, to contribute additional insight into this important issue, in the present work, we review several original scientific papers focusing on the most frequent non-motor spoken language impairments evidenced in patients affected by cerebellar pathology, namely, verbal working memory, grammar processing and verbal fluency impairments. Starting from the collected data, we provide a common interpretation of the spoken language disorders in cerebellar patients, suggesting that sequential processing could be the main mechanism by which the cerebellum participates in these abilities. Indeed, according to the cerebellar sequential theory, spoken language impairments could be due to altered cerebellar function to supervise, synchronize and coordinate the activity of different functional modules, affecting the correct optimization of linguistic processing.

Preliminary Clinical Evaluation of free/total PSA Ratio by the IMMULITE® system

The role of free (F) and complexed serum PSA is now under investigation. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical significance of F-PSA and F/Total (T) PSA ratio in a preliminary series of samples from 88 patients with prostate cancer (PC), 113 with benign prostatic disease (BPD), and 98 with non-prostatic disease (NP). We used the F-PSA and third generation T-PSA (DPC, Los Angeles, USA) chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assays with the IMMULITE automated system. At the 10 ng/ml cutoff for T-PSA levels, we obtained a sensitivity of 83% with a specificity of 100% in NP and 80% in BPD. The addition of the FIT ratio –rather than F-PSA levels – was useful to better discriminate PC and BPD in the cases erroneously classified by T-PSA alone: 44/68 samples (65%) were correctly diagnosed. Moreover, the FIT ratio was particularly effective in the critical T-PSA range between 4.1-9.9 ng/ml; 26/40 cases (65%) were correctly evaluated. In conclusion, the FIT ratio seems to be an interesting auxiliary test to T-PSA, to be reserved for selected cases where additional diagnostic information is necessary.

Laser-induced disaggregation of TiO₂ nanofillers for uniform nanocomposites

Exploiting the intrinsic photosensitivity of TiO₂ nanoparticles, we demonstrated how ultraviolet (UV) pulsed laser irradiation of acrylate polymer nanocomposite solutions can separate the initial clusters of these colloidal semiconductor nanorods into clearly distinct units. From the irradiated solutions, optically clear nanocomposite films are obtained which exhibit enhanced optical properties with respect to the nanocomposites obtained without previous UV treatment.

Observation of breatherlike states in a single Josephson cell

We present experimental observation of broken-symmetry states in a superconducting loop with three Josephson junctions. These states are generic for discrete breathers in Josephson ladders. The existence region of the breatherlike states is found to be in good accordance with the theoretical expectations. We observed three different resonant states in the current-voltage characteristics of the broken-symmetry state, as predicted by theory. The experimental dependence of the resonances on the external magnetic field is studied in detail.

First clinical trials for neuromotor analysis

This paper deals with a first test model of DAPHNE system, called DDX, which may measure the reaction time, the velocity of a finger, the force exerted on a button, the tremor of the person, and also the time delay on pronouncing a word which appears in the screen of the display. The system is made by a button and a spring, with sensors which detect all the parameters. Tests on healthy and unhealthy people have been performed to check the validity of the instrument and the possibility to use the results in diagnosis and in therapy.

Antitumour activity of novel taxanes that act at the same time as cytotoxic agents and P-glycoprotein inhibitors

Taxanes antitumour agents such as paclitaxel and docetaxel represent a successful family of chemotherapeutic drugs. Unfortunately, acquired and innate resistance represents a clinical problem for these drugs. We investigated, on a panel of 7 human cancer cell lines, the growth inhibition effect of 3 newly developed taxanes (SB-T-1213, SB-T-1250 and SB-T-101187) with modification at the C10 and C3' positions of the taxane framework. These positions have been previously characterized as critical to make taxanes highly active against cells overexpressing the efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Paclitaxel and docetaxel were used as reference compounds. Results unambiguously indicate the exceptional activity of the novel taxanes toward P-gp positive cells (up to >400 fold higher potency than that of paclitaxel). SB-T-1213 and SB-T-1250 are also substantially more active than the reference compounds against P-gp negative cells. To better understand the mechanisms underlying the enhanced activity of the newly developed taxanes, we performed cell cycle and apoptosis analysis. This study demonstrates that the striking growth inhibition effect exhibited by the novel taxanes is ascribed to their increased ability in inducing apoptosis and G(2)/M cell cycle block. SB-T-1213 and SB-T-1250 are also more active than reference compounds in inducing intracellular accumulation of the beta-tubulin subunits. Finally, it is revealed that these novel taxanes have ability to inhibit the function of the P-gp efflux pump on the basis of the Rhodamine 123 assay. These findings strongly suggest that SB-T-1213, SB-T-1250 and SB-T-101187 represent a new tool to overcome innate or acquired P-gp mediated taxane-resistance.

Our experience with combined hemodialysis-hemoperfusion treatment in chronic uremia

Hemodialysis can remove only substances that are highly diffusable, non protein bound and with small and middle-molecular weights. The combination of Hemodialysis-Hemoperfusion (HD-HF) takes advantage of both techniques. Uremic patient could reduce the number of weekly dialysis sessions. Fourteen uremic patients were submitted twice a week to a combined HD-HP treatment for 16 months. Polymethacrylate coated charcoal was inserted in the dialysis circuit before the dialyzer. The treatment resulted in improvement of: MNCV (30.5 + -6 to 38.7 + -5.6 m/sec.) subjective symptoms (disappearance of pruritus and insomnia) and hematological status (red blood cells 3.1 x 106 to 4.02 x 106; and hematocrits 28.3 to 36.1). Good control of serum biochemistries. Creatinine and urea clearances of 228 and 236 ml/min respectively. Significant removal of middle-molecules uremic toxins determinated by gel-filtration on Sephadex G15. In conclusion, we state that combined HD-HP improves the detoxication possibilities in chronic uremia.