Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors and Nuclear Receptors Gene Expression in Infertile and Fertile Men from Italian Areas with Different Environmental Features.

Internal levels of selected endocrine disruptors (EDs) (i.e., perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (MEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA)) were analyzed in blood/serum of infertile and fertile men from metropolitan, urban and rural Italian areas.

Exposure to endocrine disrupters and nuclear receptor gene expression in infertile and fertile women from different Italian areas.

Within the PREVIENI project, infertile and fertile women were enrolled from metropolitan, urban and rural Italian areas. Blood/serum levels of several endocrine disrupters (EDs) (perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS; perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA; di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate, DEHP; mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, MEHP; bisphenol A, BPA) were evaluated concurrently with nuclear receptors (NRs) gene expression levels (ERa, ERb, AR, AhR, PPARg, PXR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Infertile women from the metropolitan area displayed significantly higher levels of: BPA compared to fertile women (14.

Correlation of endocrine disrupting chemicals serum levels and white blood cells gene expression of nuclear receptors in a population of infertile women.

Significant evidence supports that many endocrine disrupting chemicals could affect female reproductive health. Aim of this study was to compare the internal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in serum samples of 111 infertile women and 44 fertile women. Levels of gene expression of nuclear receptors (ER α , ER β , AR, AhR, PXR, and PPAR γ ) were also analyzed as biomarkers of effective dose.

The influence of endocrine disruptors in a selected population of infertile women.

Several studies report that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) able to interfere with endocrine homeostasis may affect women's reproductive health. We analyzed EDC serum levels and nuclear receptors (NRs) expression in order to have an indication of the internal dose of biologically active compounds and a measurement of indicators of their effects, as a result of the repeated uptake from environmental source. The percentage of patients with detectable bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations was significantly higher in the infertile patients compared with fertile subjects.

Exposure and effective dose biomarkers for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in infertile subjects: preliminary results of the PREVIENI project.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been used as surfactants in various industry and consumer products. PFOS/PFOA are very persistent in the environment and bioaccumulate in humans. They are potential reproductive and developmental toxicants and are considered to be emerging endocrine disrupters (EDs).

The proteomic approach in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease affecting about 2% of the population over 65 years. Etiopathogenetic mechanisms of PD are not fully understood, although a number of factors contributing to the selective degeneration of substantia nigra neurons have been identified, including mitochondrial dysfunction, proteasomal impairment, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and inflammation. Although a global view of the disease at the molecular level can be obtained only from the biochemical analysis of the affected human tissue, difficulties in obtaining human specimens of the affected area have limited substantially the number of reports published to date.

Freezing and hypokinesia of gait induced by stimulation of the subthalamic region.

We report a case of a Parkinson's disease patient treated by bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, who developed freezing and hypokinesia of gait induced by stimulation through a left-side misplaced electrode which was more antero-medial than the planned trajectory. Subsequently, correct repositioning of the left electrode afforded complete relief of gait disturbances. Freezing and hypokinesia of gait may be side effects of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic region due to current spreading antero-medially to the subthalamic nucleus.

alpha-Synuclein protects SH-SY5Y cells from dopamine toxicity.

Dopaminergic human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were stably transformed to increase expression of alpha-synuclein, a Parkinson's disease-related protein. Transformed cells were more resistant to oxidative insults, showing a cytoprotective role of alpha-synuclein. The expression of redox chaperonins (DJ-1, HSP70, and 14-3-3) was evaluated by Western blotting.

Electroencephalographic responses to intraoperative subthalamic stimulation.

This study reports the effects of intraoperative stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus on brain electrical activity in advanced Parkinson's patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study about electroencephalographic responses in the very early phase of deep brain stimulation, during the implantation of the electrodes. We found an increase of gamma band bilaterally over the sensorimotor cortex in the range 45-55 Hz, which was associated with clinical improvement as assessed by means of muscle rigidity decrease.

Modifications of the iron-neuromelanin system in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder with a mainly sporadic aetiology, although a number of monogenic familiar forms are known. Most of the motor symptoms are due to selective depletion of dopaminergic, neuromelanin-containing neurones of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Neuromelanin is the dark insoluble macromolecule that confers the black (substantia nigra) or grey (locus coeruleus) colour to monoaminergic basal ganglia.

Electrophysiological findings of peripheral neuropathy in newly diagnosed type II diabetes mellitus.

This study was aimed at assessing the electrophysiological signs of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes mellitus (DM) type II patients at diagnosis. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) of median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial and sural nerves were performed in 39 newly diagnosed DM subjects and compared to those of 40 healthy controls. Metabolic indices were also investigated.

Pergolide versus levodopa monotherapy in early Parkinson's disease patients: The PELMOPET study.

Dopamine agonists are used as initial treatment in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) to reduce incidence and severity of motor complications. This paradigm is based on long-term studies, allowing "rescue" therapy with levodopa. The present strict monotherapy study (PELMOPET, the acronym for the pergolide-versus-L-dopa-monotherapy-and-positron-emission-tomography trial) evaluated the efficacy and safety of pergolide versus levodopa without levodopa "rescue" medication.

Expectation enhances autonomic responses to stimulation of the human subthalamic limbic region.

Recent studies show that the placebo component of a treatment can be investigated by administering therapies either overtly or covertly, without the administration of any placebo. Here, we analyze the effects of open (i.e.

Subclinical electrophysiological alterations of phrenic nerve in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Alterations of the phrenic nerve (PN) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) have been described in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). This study was aimed at assessing the relationship between PN and respiratory function in CIDP patients without clinical signs of respiratory failure. Bilateral PN and right median nerve conduction studies were carried out along with blood gas analysis and PFTs: maximal inspiratory pressure; maximal expiratory pressure; forced vital capacity.

Proteome analysis of human substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease.

Protein expression has been compared in human substantia nigra specimens from Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and from controls, and 44 proteins expressed in this midbrain region were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. Among them, nine showed changes in their abundance. L and M neurofilament chains are less abundant in PD specimens, whereas peroxiredoxin II, mitochondrial complex III, ATP synthase D chain, complexin I, profilin, L-type calcium channel delta-subunit, and fatty-acid binding protein are significantly more present in PD samples than in controls.

Transdermal apomorphine permeation from microemulsions: a new treatment in Parkinson's disease.

We studied absorption, efficacy, and tolerability in Parkinson's disease (PD) of a new preparation of apomorphine included in a microemulsion and administered by transdermal route (Apo-MTD). Twenty-one PD patients were treated with levodopa plus oral dopamine-agonists (T0), with levodopa alone (T1), finally with levodopa plus Apo-MTD (T2). Apo-MTD provided therapeutic plasma levels for many hours, improved Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III scores, and reduced total duration of off periods compared to T0 and T1.

High-dose, frequently administered interferon beta therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis must be maintained over the long term: the interferon beta dose-reduction study.

Long-term trials have demonstrated the continued efficacy of interferon (IFN) beta treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) during prolonged administration. The objective of the work was to evaluate the effects of reducing IFN beta administration frequency and total weekly dose in patients with RR MS who have achieved clinical and MRI disease activity stabilization during long-term IFN beta-1b treatment. Prospective 1-year follow-up of 27 RR MS patients on long-term 250 microg every other day (standard dose) IFN beta-1b treatment were randomized either to gradually reduce dose to 30 microg once-a-week IFN beta-1a (13 patients), or to continue on IFN beta-1b standard dose (14 patients).

Placebo-responsive Parkinson patients show decreased activity in single neurons of subthalamic nucleus.

Placebo administration is known to affect the brain both in pain and in Parkinson disease. Here we show that placebo treatment caused reduced activity in single neurons in the subthalamic nucleus of placebo-responsive Parkinsonian patients. These changes in activity were tightly correlated with clinical improvement; no decrease in activity occurred when the clinical placebo response was absent.

Autonomic and emotional responses to open and hidden stimulations of the human subthalamic region.

We performed a microstimulation study of the subthalamic region of Parkinsonian patients who underwent bilateral electrode implantation in the subthalamic nuclei and whose heart rate and heart rate variability were recorded. The stimulation of the dorsalmost region, which includes the zona incerta and the dorsal pole of the subthalamic nucleus, produced autonomic responses that were constant over time. In fact, hidden stimulations (the patient is not aware of being stimulated) and open stimulations (the patient is aware of being stimulated) always induced the same responses.

Effects of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus on sleep architecture in parkinsonian patients.

Patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) often complain of disturbed sleep resulting from nighttime motor disabilities such as nocturnal akinesia, tremor and rigidity, motor behaviour during REM sleep or periodic leg movements (PLM) during sleep. Sleep may also be affected by dopaminergic and anticholinergic drugs or coexisting depressive syndrome. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of subthalamic nucleus (STN) effectively reduces PD motor disability.

Temporal changes in movement time during the switch of the stimulators in Parkinson's disease patients treated by subthalamic nucleus stimulation.

Objective: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a very effective therapy for the advanced phase of Parkinson's disease (PD). The functional inhibition of this nucleus is responsible for a significant improvement of cardinal motor symptoms of PD. The aim of the study was the assessment of the effectiveness of STN DBS on bradykinesia by the analysis of movement time (MT) in 2 conditions: with the stimulators turned on ('stim-on') or off ('stim-off').

Residual substantia nigra neuromelanin in Parkinson's disease is cross-linked to alpha-synuclein.

The pigmentation of substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurons is due to the presence of neuromelanin, an irregular macromolecular pigment belonging to the family of melanins. Depletion of neuromelanin in Parkinson's disease is typically indicated by loss of brown color in this area. Unlike that from controls, the pigment extracted from substantia nigra of parkinsonian patients seems to be mainly composed by highly cross-linked, protease-resistant proteic material and the neuromelanin macromolecule appears to be a minor presence.