Clinical characteristics and outcomes of autoimmune pancreatitis based on serum immunoglobulin G4 levels: A single-center, retrospective cohort study

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a complex, poorly understood disease gaining increasing attention. "Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of AIP Based on Serum IgG4 levels," investigated AIP with a focus on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 levels. The 213 patients with AIP were classified according to serum IgG4 levels: Abnormal (elevated) and normal. Patients with higher IgG4 levels exhibited a more active immune system and increased relapse rates. Beyond IgG4, the IgA levels and age independently contributed to relapse risk, guiding risk assessment and tailored treatments for better outcomes. However, limitations persist, such as no IgA correlation with IgG4 levels, absent data on autoantibody-positive AIP cases critical for Asian diagnostic criteria, and unexplored relapse rates in high serum IgG AIP by subtype. Genetic factors and family histories were not addressed. As the understanding and referral of seronegative AIPs increase, there's a growing need for commercially available, highly sensitive, and specific autoantibodies to aid in diagnosing individuals with low or absent serum IgG4 levels.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt With or Without Gastroesophageal Variceal Embolization for the Prevention of Variceal Rebleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

The role of variceal embolization (VE) during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for preventing gastroesophageal variceal rebleeding remains controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to compare the incidence of variceal rebleeding, shunt dysfunction, encephalopathy, and death between patients treated with TIPS alone and those treated with TIPS in combination with VE.

Methods

We performed a literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases for all studies comparing the incidence of complications between TIPS alone and TIPS with VE. The primary outcome was variceal rebleeding. Secondary outcomes include shunt dysfunction, encephalopathy, and death. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the type of stent (covered vs. bare metal). The random-effects model was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of outcome. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Eleven studies with a total of 1,075 patients were included (597: TIPS alone and 478: TIPS plus VE). Compared to the TIPS alone, the TIPS with VE had a significantly lower incidence of variceal rebleeding (RR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43 - 0.81, P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed similar results in covered stents (RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36 - 0.86, P = 0.008) but there was no significant difference between the two groups in the subgroup analysis of bare stents and combined stents. There was no significant difference in the risk of encephalopathy (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.66 - 1.06, P = 0.13), shunt dysfunction (RR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.64 - 1.19, P = 0.40), and death (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.65 - 1.17, P = 0.34). There were similarly no differences in these secondary outcomes between groups when stratified according to type of stent.

Conclusions

Adding VE to TIPS reduced the incidence of variceal rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis. However, the benefit was observed with covered stents only. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate our findings.

CD34 microvascularity in low-grade glioma: correlation with 5-aminolevulinic acid fluorescence and patient prognosis in a multicenter study at three specialized centers

OBJECTIVE

Early markers are urgently needed in low-grade glioma (LGG) evaluation to rapidly estimate the individual patient's prognosis and to determine the optimal postoperative management. Generally, visible 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence is present in only a few LGGs. Recently, the authors identified visible 5-ALA fluorescence as a powerful intraoperative marker for unfavorable outcome in LGG treatment. However, its precise histopathological correlate is unclear. Neoangiogenesis represents a crucial event in tumor evolution, and CD34 is an established marker for vascular endothelial progenitors potentially indicating tumor progression. The aim of this study was thus to correlate 5-ALA fluorescence and CD34 microvascularity as well as to investigate the prognostic value of CD34 in a large series of LGGs.

METHODS

In this retrospective study including 3 specialized centers, patients with histopathologically confirmed isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutated LGGs (WHO grade II) receiving 5-ALA prior to resection were included. During surgery, the presence of visible fluorescence was analyzed and one representative tumor sample from the area with the maximum fluorescence effect (tumor with focal fluorescence or nonfluorescing tumor) was selected for each LGG. All fluorescing or nonfluorescing tumor samples were stained for CD34 and semiquantitatively analyzed for microvascular proliferation patterns (physiological vessels, branching capillaries, or microvessel clusters) as well as automatically quantified for CD34 microvessel density (MVD) by standardized histomorphometry software. These semiquantitative/quantitative CD34 data were correlated to the fluorescence status and patient outcome including progression-free survival (PFS), malignant transformation-free survival (MTFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

In a total of 86 LGGs, visible fluorescence was found during surgery in 13 (15%) cases. First, the semiquantitative CD34 score significantly correlated with intraoperative fluorescence (p = 0.049). Accordingly, the quantitative CD34 MVD was significantly higher in tumors showing fluorescence (p = 0.03). Altogether, the semiquantitative CD34 score showed a strong correlation with quantitative CD34 MVD (p < 0.001). At a mean follow-up of 5.4 ± 2.6 years, microvessel clusters in semiquantitative analysis were a prognostic marker for poor PFS (p = 0.01) and MTFS (p = 0.006), but not OS (p = 0.28). Finally, quantitative CD34 MVD > 10 vessels/mm2 was a prognostic marker for poor PFS (p = 0.01), MTFS (p = 0.008), and OS (p = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate that CD34 microvascularity is associated with intraoperative 5-ALA fluorescence and outcomes in patients with LGG. Thus, visible fluorescence in LGGs might indicate increased CD34 microvascularity, serving as an early prognostic marker for unfavorable patient outcome that is already available during surgery.

A Literature Review of Major Clinical Trials That Contributed to Treatment Protocols of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea

The most common reason for seeing a gastroenterologist is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS was thought to be a functional disease; however, there are now numerous alternative pathophysiologic pathways that can explain the symptoms. The pathophysiology of IBS is diverse and not well understood. Most current first-line treatments for IBS target the primary symptom and mainly impact one symptom in the symptom complex. The purpose of this study was to summarize the data on new medicines used to treat IBS. We conducted a bibliographic search in Google Scholar and PubMed focused on medication clinical trials in IBS with diarrhea. New medications for IBS with diarrhea target important pathways in the pathophysiology of these disorders, improving both the abnormal bowel habit and other significant symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloating.

A Data-Driven Approach to Predicting 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Induced Fluorescence and World Health Organization Grade in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Gliomas

BACKGROUND

A growing body of evidence has revealed the potential utility of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) as a surgical adjunct in selected lower-grade gliomas. However, a reliable means of identifying which lower-grade gliomas will fluoresce has not been established.

OBJECTIVE

To identify clinical and radiological factors predictive of intraoperative fluorescence in intermediate-grade gliomas. In addition, given that higher-grade gliomas are more likely to fluoresce than lower-grade gliomas, we also sought to develop a means of predicting glioma grade.

METHODS

We investigated a cohort of patients with grade II and grade III gliomas who received 5-ALA before resection at a single institution. Using a logistic regression-based model, we evaluated 14 clinical and molecular variables considered plausible determinants of fluorescence. We then distilled the most predictive features to develop a model for predicting both fluorescence and tumor grade. We also explored the relationship between intraoperative fluorescence and diagnostic molecular markers.

RESULTS

One hundered seventy-nine subjects were eligible for inclusion. Our logistic regression classifier accurately predicted intraoperative fluorescence in our cohort with 91.9% accuracy and revealed enhancement as the singular variable in determining intraoperative fluorescence. There was a direct relationship between enhancement on MRI and the likelihood of observed fluorescence. Observed fluorescence correlated with MIB-1 index but not with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) status, 1p19q codeletion, or methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate a strong correlation between enhancement on preoperative MRI and the likelihood of visible fluorescence during surgery in patients with intermediate-grade glioma. Our analysis provides a robust method for predicting 5-ALA-induced fluorescence in patients with grade II and grade III gliomas.

An in vitro study of Ocimum sanctum as a chemotherapeutic agent on oral cancer cell-line

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most commom cancer in the world. If remain untreated for several years, it may be fatal. Hence, it is important to prevent and treat OSCC at an early stage. In this study the effect of aqueous and dry leaves extract of Ocimum sanctum was observed on Ca9-22 cell line, which is an OSCC cell line. For this, Ca9-22 cell line was cultured and maintained. After 24 h, the cells were treated with aqueous and dry leaves extract of Ocimum sanctum plant. Viability of the cancerous cells were studied by 3-(4, 5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and neutral red uptake (NRU) assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), lethal concentration₂₅ (LC₂₅), lethal concentration₅₀ (LC₅₀) and highest permissive concentration (HPC) was calculated by probit computational method. Experimentally, the MIC value was 5 mg/L, whereas the HPC was 30 mg/L of the plant extract in aqueous state. For the dry extract the MIC was 5 mg/L whereas the HPC was 35 mg/L for both MTT and NRU assays. For MTT assay LC values: 7.41 (LC₂₅), 14.79 (LC₅₀) and 26.91 mg/L (LC₇₅) for aqueous extract and 12.58 (LC₂₅), 20.89 (LC₅₀), 29.51 mg/L (LC₇₅) for dry extract. For NRU assay LC values were 10.23 (LC₂₅), 14.79 (LC₅₀) and 20.89 mg/L (LC₇₅) aqueous extract, and 16.59 (LC₂₅), 23.44 (LC₅₀), 30.19 mg/L (LC₇₅) dry extract of the plant. From the above study it was concluded that, Ocimum sanctum have anti-cancerous activity. It can further be used for therapeutic purposes.

Is Visible Aminolevulinic Acid-Induced Fluorescence an Independent Biomarker for Prognosis in Histologically Confirmed (World Health Organization 2016) Low-Grade Gliomas?

BACKGROUND

Approximately 20% of low-grade gliomas (LGG) display visible protoporphyrin fluorescence during surgery after 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) administration.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if fluorescence represents a prognostic marker in LGG.

METHODS

Seventy-four consecutive patients with LGG (World Health Organization 2016) were operated on with 5-ALA. Fluorescent tissue was specifically biopsied. Tumor size, age, Karnofsky index, contrast-enhancement, fluorescence, and molecular factors (IDH1/IDH2-mutations, Ki67/MIB1 Index, 1p19q codeletions, ATRX, EGFR, p53 expression, and O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promotor methylation), were related to progression-free survival (PFS), malignant transformation-free survival (MTFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Sixteen of seventy-four LGGs (21.6%) fluoresced. Fluorescence was partially related to weak enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging and increased (positron emission tomography)PET-FET uptake, but not to Karnofsky Performance Score, tumor size, or age. Regarding molecular markers, only EGFR expression differed marginally (fluorescing vs nonfluorescing: 19% vs 5%; P = .057). Median follow-up was 46.4 mo (95% confidence interval [CI]: 41.8-51.1). PFS, MTFS, and OS were shorter in fluorescing tumors (PFS: median 9.8 mo, 95% CI: 1.00-27.7 vs 45.8, 31.9-59.7, MTFS: 43.0 [27.5-58.5] vs 64.6 [57.7-71.5], median not reached, P = .015; OS: 51.6, [34.8-68.3] vs [68.2, 62.7-73.8], P = .002). IDH mutations significantly predicted PFS, MTFS, and OS. In multivariate analysis IDH status and fluorescence both independently predicted MTFS and OS. PFS was not independently predicted by fluorescence.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report investigating the role of ALA-induced fluorescence in histologically confirmed LGG. Fluorescence appeared to be a marker for inherent malignant transformation and OS, independently of known prognostic markers. Fluorescence in LGG might be taken into account when deciding on adjuvant therapies.

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid in Modifying Tensile Strength of Nonabsorbable Suture Materials: An In Vitro Study

Background and Aims:

In periodontics and other surgical disciplines, sutures play a detrimental role in healing of wound. The use of chemical adjuncts to boost healing has been experimented in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of hyaluronic acid rinse in influencing the tensile strengths of commonly used sutures.

Materials and Methods:

Two commonly used nonabsorbable suture materials, silk and polyamide, were used for this in vitro study. Tensile strengths of the suture materials were determined by pre- and post-immersion in hyaluronic acid (test) and chlorhexidine (control). A Tinius Olsen Universal Testing Machine was used to assess the tensile strength of the samples. The variables were assessed for normality using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann–Whitney U test (for quantitative data within two groups) were used for quantitative data comparison of all the clinical indicators. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.

Results:

Polyamide showed better stability in terms of tensile strength when compared to silk. Hyaluronic acid as a chemical adjunct did not alter the tensile strengths of both suture materials pre- and post-immersion.

Conclusion:

This in vitro study has shown a promising property of hyaluronic acid with relation to stabilization of tensile strength of suture materials, which needs to be evaluated in clinical settings.

Monitoring diclofenac adsorption by organophilic alkylpyridinium bentonites

Organoclays have been applied as efficient adsorbents for pharmaceutical pollutants from aqueous solution. In this work, dodecylpyridinium chloride (C₁₂pyCl) and hexadecylpyridinium chloride (C₁₆pyCl) cationic surfactants were used for the preparation of organobentonites destined for diclofenac sodium (DFNa) adsorption, an anionic drug widely detected in wastewater. The organofunctionalization of the clay samples was performed under microwave irradiation at 50 °C for 5 min with surfactant amounts of 100% and 200% in relation to the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the pristine bentonite. The amount of incorporated ammonium salts based on CHN elemental analysis was higher for all samples prepared with 200% of the CEC. The basal spacings of the organoclays ranged from 1.54 to 2.13 nm, indicating the entrance of organic cations into the interlayer spacing of the clay samples, and the spacing depended on the size of the alkyl organic chain. The hydrophobic character of the organobentonites was verified by thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The adsorption isotherms showed that the drug capacity adsorption was influenced by the amount of surfactant incorporated into the bentonite, the packing density and the arrangement of the surfactants in the interlayer spacing. Zeta potential measurements of the organobentonites and FTIR analysis after drug adsorption suggested that electrostatic and nonelectrostatic interactions contributed to the mechanism of adsorption.

Diffuse Astrocytoma, IDH-Wildtype: A Dissolving Diagnosis

The histological and molecular features and even the mere existence of diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-wildtype, remain unclear. We therefore examined 212 diffuse astrocytomas (grade II WHO) in adults using IDH1(R132H) immunohistochemistry followed by IDH1/IDH2 sequencing and neuroimaging review. DNA methylation status and copy number profiles were assessed by Infinium HumanMethylation450k BeadChip. Only 25/212 patients harbored tumors without IDH1/IDH2 hotspot mutations and without contrast enhancement. By DNA methylation profiling, 10/25 tumors were classified as glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, and an additional 7 cases could not be classified using methylome analysis, but showed genetic characteristics of glioblastoma. Histologically, all of these 17 tumors were low-grade diffuse astrocytomas. Nevertheless, 10/17 patients experienced early malignant progression. Other methylation classes included diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M-mutant, diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-mutant, pilocytic astrocytoma, and normal or reactive brain tissue (total n = 8). In conclusion, no convincing diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-wildtype, was identified. Most IDH-wildtype tumors showing histopathological and radiological features of low-grade diffuse astrocytoma exhibit molecular and clinical features of high-grade glioma and may represent an early stage of primary glioblastoma. Our findings have implications for the biology, classification and neuropathological diagnosis of diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-wildtype in adults.

Combined intracavitary thermotherapy with iron oxide nanoparticles and radiotherapy as local treatment modality in recurrent glioblastoma patients

Background

There is an increasing interest in local tumor ablative treatment modalities that induce immunogenic cell death and the generation of antitumor immune responses.

Methods

We report six recurrent glioblastoma patients who were treated with intracavitary thermotherapy after coating the resection cavity wall with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (“NanoPaste” technique). Patients underwent six 1-h hyperthermia sessions in an alternating magnetic field and, if possible, received concurrent fractionated radiotherapy at a dose of 39.6 Gy.

Results

There were no major side effects during active treatment. However, after 2–5 months, patients developed increasing clinical symptoms. CT scans showed tumor flare reactions with prominent edema around nanoparticle deposits. Patients were treated with dexamethasone and, if necessary, underwent re-surgery to remove nanoparticles. Histopathology revealed sustained necrosis directly adjacent to aggregated nanoparticles without evidence for tumor activity. Immunohistochemistry showed upregulation of Caspase-3 and heat shock protein 70, prominent infiltration of macrophages with ingested nanoparticles and CD3⁺ T-cells. Flow cytometric analysis of freshly prepared tumor cell suspensions revealed increased intracellular ratios of IFN-γ to IL-4 in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ memory T cells, and activation of tumor-associated myeloid cells and microglia with upregulation of HLA-DR and PD-L1. Two patients had long-lasting treatment responses > 23 months without receiving any further therapy.

Conclusion

Intracavitary thermotherapy combined with radiotherapy can induce a prominent inflammatory reaction around the resection cavity which might trigger potent antitumor immune responses possibly leading to long-term stabilization of recurrent GBM patients. These results warrant further investigations in a prospective phase-I trial.

Cyanobacterial formation of intracellular Ca-carbonates in undersaturated solutions

Cyanobacteria have long been thought to induce the formation of Ca-carbonates as secondary by-products of their metabolic activity, by shifting the chemical composition of their extracellular environment to conditions favoring mineral precipitation. Some cyanobacterial species forming Ca-carbonates intracellularly were recently discovered. However, the environmental conditions under which this intracellular biomineralization process can occur and the impact of cyanobacterial species forming Ca-carbonates intracellularly on extracellular carbonatogenesis are not known. Here, we show that these cyanobacteria can form Ca-carbonates intracellularly while growing in extracellular solutions undersaturated with respect to all Ca-carbonate phases, that is, conditions thermodynamically unfavorable to mineral precipitation. This shows that intracellular Ca-carbonate biomineralization is an active process; that is, it costs energy provided by the cells. The cost of energy may be due to the active accumulation of Ca intracellularly. Moreover, unlike cyanobacterial strains that have been usually considered before by studies on Ca-carbonate biomineralization, cyanobacteria forming intracellular carbonates may slow down or hamper extracellular carbonatogenesis, by decreasing the saturation index of their extracellular solution following the buffering of the concentration of extracellular calcium to low levels.

The Value of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid in Low-grade Gliomas and High-grade Gliomas Lacking Glioblastoma Imaging Features: An Analysis Based on Fluorescence, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 18F-Fluoroethyl Tyrosine Positron Emission Tomography, and Tumor Molecular Factors

BACKGROUND:

Approximately 20% of grade II and most grade III gliomas fluoresce after 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) application. Conversely, approximately 30% of nonenhancing gliomas are actually high grade.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to identify preoperative factors (ie, age, enhancement, 18F-fluoroethyl tyrosine positron emission tomography [¹⁸F-FET PET] uptake ratios) for predicting fluorescence in gliomas without typical glioblastomas imaging features and to determine whether fluorescence will allow prediction of tumor grade or molecular characteristics.

METHODS:

Patients harboring gliomas without typical glioblastoma imaging features were given 5-ALA. Fluorescence was recorded intraoperatively, and biopsy specimens collected from fluorescing tissue. World Health Organization (WHO) grade, Ki-67/MIB-1 index, IDH1 (R132H) mutation status, O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status, and 1p/19q co-deletion status were assessed. Predictive factors for fluorescence were derived from preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and ¹⁸F-FET PET. Classification and regression tree analysis and receiver-operating-characteristic curves were generated for defining predictors.

RESULTS:

Of 166 tumors, 82 were diagnosed as WHO grade II, 76 as grade III, and 8 as glioblastomas grade IV. Contrast enhancement, tumor volume, and ¹⁸F-FET PET uptake ratio >1.85 predicted fluorescence. Fluorescence correlated with WHO grade (P < .001) and Ki-67/MIB-1 index (P < .001), but not with MGMT promoter methylation status, IDH1 mutation status, or 1p19q co-deletion status. The Ki-67/MIB-1 index in fluorescing grade III gliomas was higher than in nonfluorescing tumors, whereas in fluorescing and nonfluorescing grade II tumors, no differences were noted.

CONCLUSION:

Age, tumor volume, and ¹⁸F-FET PET uptake are factors predicting 5-ALA-induced fluorescence in gliomas without typical glioblastoma imaging features. Fluorescence was associated with an increased Ki-67/MIB-1 index and high-grade pathology. Whether fluorescence in grade II gliomas identifies a subtype with worse prognosis remains to be determined.

ABBREVIATIONS:

5-ALA, 5-aminolevulinic acid

CRT, classification and regression tree

¹⁸F-FET PET, 18F-fluoroethyl tyrosine positron emission tomography

FLAIR, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery

GBM, glioblastoma multiforme

O⁶-MGMT, methylguanine DNA methyltransferase

ROC, receiver-operating characteristic

SUV, standardized uptake value

WHO, World Health Organization

[The cerebellum as a major player in motor disturbances related to Autistic Syndrome Disorders]

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders associated with disturbances in communication, social interactions, cognition and affect. ASD are also accompanied by complex movement disorders, including ataxia. A special focus of recent research in this area is made on the striatum and the cerebellum, two structures known not only to control movement but also to be involved in cognitive functions such as memory and language. Dysfunction within the motor system may be associated with abnormal movements in ASD that are translated into ataxia, abnormal pattern of righting, gait sequencing, development of walking, and hand positioning. This line of study may generate new knowledge and understanding of motor symptoms associated with ASD and aims to deliver fresh perspectives for early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies against ASD.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

Despite the relative paucity of research in this area (compared to the social, linguistic, and behavioural disturbances in ASD), there is evidence that the frontostriatal motor system and/or the cerebellar motor systems may be the site of dysfunction in ASD. Indeed, the cerebellum seems to be essential in the development of basic social capabilities, communication, repetitive/restrictive behaviors, and motor and cognitive behaviors that are all impaired in ASD. Cerebellar neuropathology including cerebellar hypoplasia and reduced cerebellar Purkinje cell numbers are the most consistent neuropathologies linked to ASD. The functional state of the cerebellum and its impact on brain function in ASD is the focus of this review. This review starts by recapitulating historical findings pointing towards an implication of the cerebellum, and to a lesser extent the basal ganglia structures, in TSA. We then detail the structure/function of the cerebellum at the regional and cellular levels before describing human and animal findings indicating a role of the cerebellum and basal ganglia in ASD.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL FINDINGS

Several studies have attempted to identify the nature of the motor system dysfunction in ASD, and it became apparent that the motor fronto-striatal and cerebellar systems are major sites of dysfunction in this psychiatric illness. Anomalies in these structures have been revealed both at the anatomical and functional levels in human patients as well as in animal models. These models are obtained by manipulation of genes that are often implicated in glutamate transmission, by lesions of brain structures among which the cerebellum, by pharmacological treatment with drugs such as the Valproate or by maternal infections with bacterial membrane extracts of double stranded RNA mimicking a viral infection.

CONCLUSION

The "cognitive approach" has dominated ASD research for three decades and led to the design of interventional strategies, which have yielded satisfactory results. Nevertheless, new approaches and alternative hypotheses on the aetiology and diagnosis of ASD are needed. Research focused on motor rather than psychiatric symptoms may have a greater potential to elucidate the neurobiological basis of ASD.

Silylation of leached-vermiculites following reaction with imidazole and copper sorption behavior

Organically modified vermiculites were synthesized by previous silylation of three leached vermiculites, V0.3Cl, V0.5Cl and V0.8Cl, under anhydrous conditions following reaction with imidazole (Im), which acted as chelating agent for copper retention. Elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, (29)Si and (13)C NMR and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements were used to characterize pristine, leached and organofunctionalized solids. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to evaluate the surface after copper sorption. Parameters such as contact time, pH and initial cation concentration for the adsorption of Cu(II) ions were investigated. The adsorption equilibrium data were fitted using the Langmuir isotherm model and the monolayer adsorption capacities were 2.38, 2.52 and 2.69mmolg(-1) for V0.5Cl-Im, V0.3Cl-Im and V0.8Cl-Im, respectively, at pH 6.0 and 298K for a time reaction of 80min. The sorption rates were described by pseudo-second-order kinetics. The chloropropyl imidazole vermiculites are promising adsorbents for the rapid removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) in cancer: Novel biased signaling and targets for therapy

Despite the fact that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate numerous physiological processes and represent targets for therapeutics for a vast array of diseases, their role in tumor biology is under appreciated. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) form a family which belongs to GPCR class A. PAR1&2 emerge with a central role in epithelial malignancies. Although the part of PAR1&2 in cancer is on the rise, their underlying signaling events are poorly understood. We review hereby past, present, and future cancer-associated PAR biology. Mainly, their role in physiological (placenta-cytotophobalst) and patho-physiological invasion processes. The identification and characterization of signal pleckstrin homology (PH)-domain-binding motifs established critical sites for breast cancer growth in PAR1&2. Among the proteins found to harbor important PH-domains and are involved in PAR biology are Akt/PKB as also Etk/Bmx and Vav3. A point mutation in PAR2, H349A, but not R352A, abrogated PH-protein association and is sufficient to markedly reduce PAR2-instigated breast tumor growth in vivo as also placental extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion in vitro is markedly reduced. Similarly, the PAR1 mutant hPar1-7A, which is unable to bind PH-domain, inhibits mammary tumors and EVT invasion, endowing these motifs with physiological significance and underscoring the importance of these previously unknown PAR1 and PAR2 PH-domain-binding motifs in both pathological and physiological invasion processes.

Cell transplantation in the damaged adult brain

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder in Europe, affecting more than two million people between 50 and 70 years of age. The current therapeutic approaches are of symptomatic nature and fail to halt the progressive neurodegenerative course of the disease. The development of innovative and complementary approaches to promote cellular repair may pave the way for disease-modifying therapies which may lead to less suffering for the patients and their families and finally to more cost-effective therapies. To date, cell replacement trials in PD aiming at replacing lost dopamine neurons were mainly focused on placing the transplanted cells within the target site, the striatum, and not within the lesioned site, the substantia nigra (SN). This was based on the misconception that the adult brain constitutes a non-permissive barrier not allowing the outgrowth of long distance axons originating from transplanted embryonic neurons. A growing body of evidence is challenging this concept and proposing instead to place the graft within its ontogenic site. This has been performed in several lesional animal models for various traumatic or neurodegenerative pathologies of the brain. For instance, transplanted neurons within the lesioned motor cortex were shown to be able to send distant and appropriate projections to target areas including the spinal cord. Similarly, in an animal model of PD, mesencephalic embryonic cells transplanted within the lesioned SN send massive projections to the striatum and, to a lesser extent, the frontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens. This has lead to the proposal that homotopic transplantation may be an alternative in cell-based therapies as transplanted neurons can integrate within the host brain, send projections to target areas, restore the damaged circuitry, increase neurotransmitter levels and ameliorate behavior. We will discuss also the potential of replacing embryonic neuronal cells by stem cell derived neurons as the use of embryonic cells is not without an ethical and logistical burden; in this line many have thrived to derive neurons from embryonic stem cells (ESC) in order to use them for cell transplantation. These studies are already yielding important information for future approaches in the field of cell therapies in PD but also in other neurodegenerative disorders where cell transplantation therapy may be considered. While the field of cell replacement therapies has been recently called into question with contrasting results in transplanted PD patients, these new sets of findings are raising new hopes and opening new avenues in this rejuvenated field.

Brain regions associated with the reversal of cocaine conditioned place preference by environmental enrichment

In addition to the known preventive effects of environmental enrichment (EE) on drug addiction, we have recently shown that EE can also have "curative" effects and eliminate addiction-related behaviors in mice and rats. In the present study, using Fos immunohistochemistry, we investigated brain regions involved in the elimination of cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) produced by a 30-day exposure to EE. A first group of mice was conditioned to cocaine in the CPP apparatus, a second group that served as control received cocaine in a cage different from the CPP apparatus and a third control group received only saline injections. At the end of conditioning, we kept mice abstinent in the animal facility, housing them in standard environments (SE) or EE for 30 days and then we tested them for expression of CPP. SE, but not EE mice, conditioned to cocaine showed long-lasting preferences for the cocaine-paired compartment. Expression of CPP was paralleled by significant increases in the expression of Fos in the anterior cingulate cortex, the lateral caudate putamen, the shell of the nucleus accumbens, the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, the basolateral and central nuclei of amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the ventral tegmental area. In contrast, EE mice showed levels of expression of FOS similar to control groups. These results demonstrate that EE can eliminate context-induced cocaine seeking and that this effect appears associated with a general reduction in the activation of several brain regions implicated in relapse.

Evaluation of neck node metastasis from oral cancer in an Indian population: A comparative pilot study

Introduction: Cervical node metastasis in oral cancer is an indicator of advanced disease. It is therefore important to evaluate neck node involvement as a predictor of progression and treatment planning.

Materials & Methods: Eleven patients with age range between 38 to 63 years (median age 54 years) undergoing neck dissection simultaneously with the resection of primary intraoral squamous cell carcinoma formed the basis of the present study. A pre-operative assessment of neck by clinical examination, ultrasonography and computed tomography scan was done, which was then compared to the histopathological assessment. The histopathological examination formed the reference.

Results: The percentage of sensitivity by clinical examination was 46%. The percentage of sensitivity by ultrasonogram was 69%. The percentage of sensitivity by computed tomography (CT scan) was 85%. These were against the histopathological examination.

Conclusion: The study reported an error of almost 50% for the clinical examination alone. The margin of error decreases when combining ultrasonography or CT scan in the examination. However, in the existing economic condition in India, even the use of CT scan can be prohibitive. Nevertheless, it is advised to combine other diagnostic modalities during the clinical examination of cervical metastasis.

The periodontal treatment needs of Libyan school children in Kufra and Tobruk

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to examine the oral hygiene and periodontal status in a large sample of Libyan school children and to establish baseline data for further studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out in 2015 Libyan school children aged 7 to 16 years. The clinical examinations included measurement of oral hygiene status, gingivitis, periodontal pocket depth, and evaluation of periodontal treatment need. The correlation between these variables was analyzed.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference between the boys and girls in oral hygiene status. The overall mean gingival score for the total study sample was 0.05. In children (15 and 16 years old) from rural areas, 4.9% had signs of periodontal pocketing; the comparable figure for both urban and rural areas was 4.1%. Only 4% of 15 and 16 year old children were found to require complex periodontal treatment.

CONCLUSION

Though the oral hygiene index was generally good, some of the children had mild gingival inflammation and periodontal pocketing.

Evidence for a major role of endogenous fibroblast growth factor-2 in apoptotic cortex-induced subventricular zone cell proliferation

In the adult mammalian brain, neural stem cells persist in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of lateral ventricles. It is well established that cortical damage leads to SVZ cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation. We have previously demonstrated in rat that, when treated with the apoptosis-inducing agent staurosporine, cortex explants release heat-labile factors that promote SVZ cell culture proliferation. In the present report, we investigated in vitro mechanisms involved in cortex injury-triggered neurogenesis in the rat. We demonstrated, using immunoblotting analysis and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 enzyme-linked sandwich immunosorbent assay, that treatment of cortex explants with apoptosis-inducing agents increases the release of FGF-2. We next determined the effects of apoptotic cortex-released factors in regulating SVZ cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation by using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and microtubule-associated protein 2 immunostaining assays, respectively. We found that conditioned media derived from staurosporine-treated cortex explants enhanced SVZ cell culture proliferation and differentiation by over 50 and 80%, respectively. Finally, we showed that immunodepletion of FGF-2 or pharmacological blockade of FGF-2 receptor by SU5402 completely abolished staurosporine-treated cortex mitogenic activity on SVZ cultures but did not alter its activity on neuronal cell differentiation. Altogether, the present report establishes that the release of endogenous FGF-2 by apoptotic cortex explants plays a major role in the induction of SVZ cell proliferation but not neuronal differentiation, which probably depends on the release of other as yet unidentified cortical factors.

Cocaine-induced sensitization is associated with altered dynamics of transcriptional responses of the dopamine transporter, tyrosine hydroxylase, and dopamine D2 receptors in C57Bl/6J mice

RATIONALE

Behavioural sensitization is a long lasting phenomenon that has been proposed to be involved in drug addiction. Although the expression of cocaine-induced sensitization has been associated with the activity of the mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, little is known about the transcriptional adaptations of these neurons to a new challenge with cocaine long after cessation of repeated exposure to the drug.

OBJECTIVES

We studied the time course of the mRNA levels of three main regulatory elements of dopaminergic transmission after a challenge with cocaine (15 mg/kg) that followed 21 days of withdrawal from a cocaine pretreatment (20 mg/kg, ip, every 2 days for 21 days) in C57Bl/6J mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were placed 45 min in activity chambers and were killed 45 min, 2 h or 24 h after the challenge injection. Dopamine transporter (DAT), D2 auto-receptor (D2) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA levels were assessed by in situ hybridization in the ventral tegmental area and the substantia nigra compacta.

RESULTS

As compared to vehicle challenge, cocaine challenge in vehicle pretreated mice induced a rapid increase (+208%) in DAT mRNA (45 min) followed by a delayed decrease (-70%) (24 h), while TH and D2 mRNA were both increased (+45%) 24 h after the challenge. In cocaine pretreated mice, cocaine-induced short-term increase and long-term decrease in DAT mRNA levels were amplified (+328%) and reduced (-40%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated exposure to cocaine alters the transcriptional response of DA neurons to a new cocaine challenge long after cessation of repeated exposure to the drug. They point to the DAT mRNA as a major responsive element to a new presentation of cocaine.

Green nanocomposites: synthesis and characterization

A series of intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites montmorillonite-ulvan was prepared. Ulvan, extracted from the green algae, is a water-soluble polysaccharide biopolymer. Depending on the drying process, air or freeze drying, ulvan were inserted in the interlayer space or adsorbed on the both sides of inorganic layers. The crystallization of water molecules bounded to the ulvan induced the delamination of the layers during the lyophilization. Thermogravimetric experiments show a high percentage (approximately 51%) of organic matter for the freeze dried samples and a lowest one (approximately 17%) for the air dried solids. X-Ray Diffraction patterns exhibit a d(001) varying with the content of organic matter. When the delamination occurs, the (001) reflection disappears. Transmission electron microscopy micrographs show individual layers for the highest amount of ulvan.

Gene expression regulation following behavioral sensitization to cocaine in transgenic mice lacking the glucocorticoid receptor in the brain

Several findings suggest that glucocorticoid hormones influence the propensity of an individual to develop cocaine abuse. These hormones activate two related transcription factors, the glucocorticoid receptor and the mineralocorticoid receptor. We have shown previously that mice carrying a mutation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene specifically in neural cells, glucocorticoid receptor knock-out in the brain, show a dramatic decrease in cocaine-induced self-administration and no behavioral sensitization to this drug, two experimental procedures considered relevant models of addiction. Here, we investigated in glucocorticoid receptor knock-out in the brain mice the consequences of this mutation at the level of the expression of neuropeptide, dopamine receptor and glutamate receptor subunit mRNAs. We quantified mRNA levels in the cortex, striatum and accumbens under basal conditions and following acute or repeated cocaine treatments. Our results show that, under basal conditions, neuropeptide (substance P, dynorphin) and dopamine receptor (D1, D2) mRNAs were decreased in glucocorticoid receptor knock-out in the brain mice in the dorsal striatum but not in the accumbens. However, cocaine-induced changes in the levels of these mRNAs were not modified in glucocorticoid receptor knock-out in the brain mice. In contrast, mutant mice showed altered response in mRNA levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate, GLUR5 and GLUR6 glutamate receptor subunits as well as of enkephalin following cocaine administration. These modifications may be associated to decrease of behavioral effects of cocaine observed in glucocorticoid receptor knock-out in the brain mice.

Consequences of endocrine disrupting chemicals on reproductive endocrine function in birds: establishing reliable end points of exposure

It has been difficult to establish reliable indices of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) appropriate for a variety of avian species because of a vast array of reproductive strategies. Data from mammals, reptiles and fish provide insight on likely mechanisms of action for EDCs. However, many of the effects of EDCs are weaker than the actions of the native hormones, making it difficult to assess adverse effects in domestic and wild birds. It is clear that differential sensitivity to EDCs exists across species, due to the timing and mode of exposure, compound toxicity and age of the individual. Our studies on EDCs are conducted in the quail model system, with focus on reproductive endocrine, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses. Studies have included EDC exposure, either by egg injection or via diet. Results from egg injection studies showed the following: (1) estradiol administered by embryonic day 12 demasculinized male sexual behavior, altered hypothalamic neurotransmitters and reduced hen day production and fertility in a dose dependent fashion, (2) methoxychlor (MXC) or vinclozolin impaired male sexual behavior in adult quail and (3) DDE exposure impaired reproductive and immune related end points. Two-generation studies were conducted on Japanese and northern bobwhite quail with dietary methoxychlor (MXC) exposure (0, 5 and 10 ppm) beginning in adults (P1), continuing in their offspring (F1), with F2 offspring raised on control diet. MXC exposure impaired male sexual behavior, hypothalamic catecholamines and plasma steroid hormones. Moreover, MXC exposure had reproductive consequences observable at both the lower and higher doses of MXC in F1 and F2 generations. These data demonstrate that embryonic EDC exposure interferes with sexual differentiation of neural systems that direct reproduction.

New Method for DNA Microarrays Development: Applied to Human Platelet Antigens Polymorphisms

DNA microarrays are a powerful experimental tool for the detection of specific genomic sequences and are invaluable to a broad array of applications: clinical diagnosis, personalized medicine, drug research and development, gene therapy, food control technologies, and environmental sciences. Alloimmunization to human platelet antigens (HPAs) is commonly responsible for neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, post-transfusional purpura and platelet transfusion refractoriness. Using DNA microarrays, we developed a diagnosis to type the biallelic HPA-1 platelet group. The region for the human genomic DNA sequence that contains the polymorphism responsible for HPA-1 alleles was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expected DNA fragments were hybridized on DNA microarrays, and the data were analyzed using specially developed software. Our initial results show that the two HPA-1 antigens polymorphisms containing a single base difference were detected using DNA microarrays.

Implementation of DNA chips obtained by microprojection for diagnostic and personalized medicine

It is expected that rapidly emergent new fields of application for DNA chips will be Diagnostic and Personalized Medicine. These new applications will require a limited number of probes, generally from 100 to 1000. So, after a brief review of the existing techniques to manufacture DNA chips, which are efficient for R&D applications and which often require a higher number of probes, we shall first report some advances in the silanization of the substrates and the grafting of probes to improve the robustness and the reliability of the devices. Then we shall discuss two manufacturing processes working at the scale of a nanoliter of reactant: ex situ and in situ fabrication by microprojection. We shall see how these processes are complementary and may be used to design and produce chips, at a large scale, for these new applications.

Attenuation of neuropathic manifestations by local block of the activities of the ventrolateral orbito-frontal area in the rat

Clinical and recent imaging reports demonstrate the involvement of various cerebral prefrontal areas in the processing of pain. This has received further confirmation from animal experimentation showing an alteration of the threshold of acute nociceptive reflexes by various manipulations in the orbito-frontal cortical areas. The present study investigates the possible involvement of this area in the modulation of neuropathic manifestations in awake rats. Several groups of rats were subjected to mononeuropathy following the spared nerve injury model, known to produce evident tactile and cold allodynia and heat hyperalgesia. The activity of the ventrolateral orbital areas was selectively blocked by using either chronic or acute injection of lidocaine, electrolytic lesion, or chemical lesion with kainic acid or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). The effects of these manipulations were compared with those following lesion of the somatic sensorimotor cortical areas. Local injection of lidocaine resulted in a reversible depression of all neuropathic manifestations while electrolytic or chemical lesions elicited transient attenuation affecting mainly the heat hyperalgesia and to a lesser extent the cold allodynia. The magnitude of the observed effects with the different procedures used can be ranked as follows: 6-OHDA<lesion<electrolytic lesion<kainic acid lesion<lidocaine injection. The observed effects were transient despite the permanence of the lesions while lesion of the somatosensorimotor cortices produced sustained reduction of the neuropathic manifestations. Our results correlate well with the established connections of the ventrolateral orbital area with the thalamic nucleus subnucleus involved in the procession of thermal nociception. The transient effects reported following permanent lesions in the orbital areas may reflect its flexible role in pain modulation. This observation provides further evidence on the plasticity of the neural networks involved in the regulation of nociceptive behavior.

Motor behaviour deficits and their histopathological and functional correlates in the nigrostriatal system of dopamine transporter knockout mice

Chronic dysregulation of dopamine homeostasis has been shown to induce behavioural impairment in dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice arising from the dysfunction of the mesolimbic and hypothalamo-infundibular system. Here, we assessed whether there are also any motor consequences of a chronic and constitutive hyperdopaminergia in the nigrostriatal system in dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice. For this, we analysed motor performances using tests assessing balance, coordinated motor skills (rotarod, pole test), stride lengths and locomotor activity. Dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice were markedly hyperactive in the open field with central compartment avoidance, as previously shown. However, sensorimotor integration was also found to be altered in dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice which displayed a reduced fore- and hind-limb mean stride length, impaired motor coordination on the pole test and reduced rearings in the open field. Moreover, dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice showed a slower task acquisition on the rotarod. Six-week-old dopamine transporter knockout wild type mice having the same femur size as adult dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice ruled out a possible size-effect bias. Whilst there was no significant difference in the striatal volume, we found a slight but significant reduction in neuronal density in the striatum but not in the nucleus accumbens of dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice. There was a reduced binding in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of dopamine(1) receptors ([(3)H]SCH 23390) and dopamine(2) receptors ([(3)H]YM-09151-2). There was no significant difference in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra between dopamine transporter knockout mutant mice and dopamine transporter knockout wild type mice. These results suggest an impaired functioning of the nigrostriatal system in dopamine transporter knockout mutant hyperdopaminergic mice, as illustrated by motor and sensorimotor integration deficits, despite their apparent hyperactivity. These dysfunctions may arise from combined striatal cell loss and/or functional changes of dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Opioid receptor gene expression in dopamine transporter knock-out mice in adult and during development

Dopamine transporter knock-out mice display locomotor hyperactivity due to increased extracellular striatal levels of dopamine. Hyperdopaminergic activity within this mesolimbic pathway is involved in the rewarding properties of morphine which are also increased in these mice. Due to the hyperdopaminergia, profound alterations in gene expression for dopamine receptors and neuropeptides are observed in the caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens. Here we investigated (1) the levels of mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptors mRNAs in normal mice from gestational day 13 (G13) to adult, and (2) the adaptive changes in the expression of these receptors in mice lacking the dopamine transporter. Our results show that, in wild-type mice, mu-opioid receptor mRNA expression appears early during development (G13) with a homogeneous distribution that evolves towards a patchy distribution in adult. Delta-opioid receptor mRNA appears only at G17 and kappa-opioid receptor mRNA is not observed before adulthood. The levels of delta-opioid receptor mRNA are not modified during development in knock-out mice compared to wild-type, but are increased in adult caudate putamen (+39%, P<0.05) and nucleus accumbens (+66%, P<0.05) at a time when these receptors are believed to be functional. The mu- and kappa-opioid receptors mRNA levels are not modified in the adult knock-out mice. In addition, we observed no differences in any opioid receptor mRNA level in dopamine transporter knock-out mice during prenatal ontogeny compared to wild-type. Our results constitute a detailed neuroanatomical description of opioid receptor mRNA expression from the time of their appearance during prenatal development until adulthood. Furthermore, we show here that chronic constitutive hyperdopaminergia only affects delta-opioid receptor mRNA levels in adult. Even if the propensity of knock-out mice to show increased rewarding properties to morphine seems to be mainly due to the substantial and further increase in hyperdopaminergic activity following drug treatment, the involvement of increased delta-opioid receptor mRNA levels in this behavior remains to be elucidated.

Prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection and Immunogenicity of HBV Vaccine in Children with Down's Syndrome

The prevalence of Hepatitis A, B and C infection was assessed in sixty children with Down's syndrome (DS) and compared with sixty children with normal mentality by screening for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCVand HAV-Ig. Both groups had received three doses of recombinant DNA hepatitis vaccine at 0,1 and 6 months of age.

None of the children in either group were found to have any hepatitis viral antiginaemia, hepatitis marker or to have chronic viral hepatitis.

Hepatitis B vaccine protective efficacy which was es-tablished by the presence of anti-HBs >10 mil], was sig-nificantly lower in the DS than the control group (28.3% Vs 85%,p < 0.001).

None of the children in the DS group, after the age of seven years, had protective anti-HBs level as compared to 79% of the children in the control group.

Booster doses are not recommended for normal chil-dren even if they lose their antibody to HBV vaccine be-cause of the presence of immune memory. However, in children with DS, because of their immune deficiency, low vaccination response, and their predisposition to chronic hepatitis infection especially at school age, we recommend booster HBV vaccination for them at school entry.

Oral yeast carriage correlates with presence of oral epithelial dysplasia

Previous studies have suggested a link between the presence of Candida albicans and the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of the present study was to assess the presence and level of colonisation of oral yeast in patients undergoing an incisional oral mucosal biopsy in order to assess whether the amount of oral yeast present correlated with the presence and degree of oral epithelial dysplastic or neoplastic change. Two hundred and twenty-three patients who were undergoing an incisional biopsy for the diagnosis of an oral mucosal lesion were enrolled in this study. Mouth swills were obtained from each patient for the presence and amount of oral yeast present. Some of the patients (44.6%) had a histopathological diagnosis of either oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) or OSCC and the frequency of oral yeast carriage was significantly greater (P<0.001) in these patients than those without histopathologically detected dysplastic or neoplastic oral lesions. Furthermore, significantly (P<0.001) more patients with OED or OSCC had a higher number of yeast (over 1000 cfu/ml) in their oral cavity than patients without any evidence of epithelial dysplasia or neoplasia histopathologically. The degree of epithelial dysplasia present in these patients also correlated with higher amounts of yeast in the oral cavity (P=0.017). The results of the present study reveal that there is an interaction between oral carriage of yeast and oral epithelial dysplasia, however it remains unclear how yeast infection influences the development and progression of dysplasia.

Galpha(olf) levels are regulated by receptor usage and control dopamine and adenosine action in the striatum

In the striatum, dopamine D(1) and adenosine A(2A) receptors stimulate the production of cAMP, which is involved in neuromodulation and long-lasting changes in gene expression and synaptic function. Positive coupling of receptors to adenylyl cyclase can be mediated through the ubiquitous GTP-binding protein Galpha(S) subunit or through the olfactory isoform, Galpha(olf), which predominates in the striatum. In this study, using double in situ hybridization, we show that virtually all striatal efferent neurons, identified by the expression of preproenkephalin A, substance P, or D(1) receptor mRNA, contained high amounts of Galpha(olf) mRNA and undetectable levels of Galpha(s) mRNA. In contrast, the large cholinergic interneurons contained both Galpha(olf) and Galpha(s) transcripts. To assess the functional relationship between dopamine or adenosine receptors and G-proteins, we examined G-protein levels in the striatum of D(1) and A(2A) receptor knock-out mice. A selective increase in Galpha(olf) protein was observed in these animals, without change in mRNA levels. Conversely, Galpha(olf) levels were decreased in animals lacking a functional dopamine transporter. These results indicate that Galpha(olf) protein levels are regulated through D(1) and A(2A) receptor usage. To determine the functional consequences of changes in Galpha(olf) levels, we used heterozygous Galpha(olf) knock-out mice, which possess half of the normal Galpha(olf) levels. In these animals, the locomotor effects of amphetamine and caffeine, two psychostimulant drugs that affect dopamine and adenosine signaling, respectively, were markedly reduced. Together, these results identify Galpha(olf) as a critical and regulated component of both dopamine and adenosine signaling.