Computational prediction and characterisation of miRNAs and their pathway genes in human schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium.

BACKGROUND Key genes control the infectivity of the Schistosoma haematobium causing schistosomiasis. A method for understanding the regulation of these genes might help in developing new disease strategies to control schistosomiasis, such as the silencing mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). The miRNAs have been studied in schistosome species and they play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes, and in parasite-host interactions.

New insights into tomato microRNAs.

Cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is one of the most common fruits in the global food industry. Together with the wild tomato Solanum pennellii, it is widely used for developing better cultivars. MicroRNAs affect mRNA regulation, inhibiting its translation and/or promoting its degradation.

Hemorrhoidal laser procedure: short- and long-term results from a prospective study.

Background: We report the results of 2-year regular use of the hemorrhoidal laser procedure (HeLP) in 97 patients with symptomatic second- to third-grade hemorrhoids with minimal or moderate internal mucosal prolapse.

Methods: Data on duration of the procedure, perioperative complications, postoperative pain, downgrading of hemorrhoids, resolution or persistency, and recurrence of hemorrhoidal disease (HD) were prospectively collected.

Results: No significant intraoperative complications occurred.

Experimental axonopathy induced by immunization with Campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharide from a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

New Zealand white rabbits were immunized with a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from a Campylobacter jejuni HS:19 strain isolated from a GBS patient expressing GM1 and GD1a-like epitopes, Freund's adjuvant (group I) and Freund's adjuvant plus keyhole lympet hemocyanin (KLH) (group II). Both groups showed high titers of anti-LPS and anti-GM1 and lower titers of anti-GD1b and anti-GD1a antibodies. Weakness and axonal degeneration in sciatic nerves was detected in 1/11 of group I and 6/7 of group II.

The incidence of thyroid carcinoma in multinodular goiter: retrospective analysis.

Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is a relatively rare tumour, but it represents the most frequent form of cancer of the endocrine glands. Epidemiologically ascertained risk factors are ionising radiation, the presence of thyroid adenoma and multinodular goiter (MNG). Multinodularity of goiter should no longer be considered an indicator of probable benign disease.

Acute motor conduction block neuropathy Another Guillain-Barré syndrome variant.

Objective: To report two patients with an acute exclusively motor neuropathy with conduction blocks.

Methods: Serial electrophysiologic studies were carried out.

Results: Two patients developed symmetric proximal and distal weakness without sensory abnormalities after enteritis.

A rare chromosome 5 heterochromatic variant derived from insertion of 9qh satellite 3 sequences.

A rare chromosome 5 heterochromatic variant not linked to any clinical sign was identified in a three-generation family. After performing conventional cytogenetics characterization, fluorescence in situ hybridization of D9Z1 indicated that the unusually large qh region of chromosome 5 originated from 9qh, whereas the centromere of the variant chromosome was 5-specific as demonstrated by primed in situ DNA labelling. FISH of probes targeting satellite 3 and beta-satellite sequences of 9qh showed that only satellite 3 sequences were present in the variant 5qh region.

[Appendicular mucocele. A report of a case diagnosed preoperatively].

Mucocele of the appendix is an unusual clinical entity. Despite a recognized constellation of findings, the diagnosis is not usually made prior to surgical exploration. A 35 year old man is reported in whom clinical evaluation, including US and CT scans, resulted in the correct preoperative diagnosis confirmed at surgery and leading to appropriate operative decisions.

[Rare colonic occlusions: volvulus of the splenic flexure].

Authors report a case of perforated splenic flexure volvulus, treated with resection, end colostomy and closure of the distal stump. From the revision of literature it comes out the case reported is the 30th recorded till now, the 6th with ischemic complications, and the only one with perforation. Actual pathogenetic trends and various therapeutic options are reported.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: considerations on the technique].

The Authors analyze the single steps of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and describe the technique usually preferred. On the basis of the experience acquired, advantages and disadvantages of each manoeuver and instrument available are pointed out.

Review of norfloxacin in lower urinary tract infections.

A review of worldwide clinical trials with norfloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as our personal experience with 215 assessable patients, is presented. Almost all patients received 400 mg b.i.

[Aneurysms of the gluteal artery (description of a clinical case and review of the literature)].

The authors show a case of superior gluteal artery aneurysm they operated successfully. Starting from this case the Authors review the literature about the etiology, the clinical characteristics, the diagnosis and the various methods of treatment of this lesion.

[Primary gastric lymphoma: our experience (clinical contribution)].

The authors analyze a personal study population (11 cases) of primary gastric lymphoma. Whenever possible, more radical surgery was carried out even in severely debilitated patients. Polychemotherapeutic treatment was given after discharge.

[Biliary pathology in chronic pancreatitis].

The authors expose in a very accurate discussion the biliary pathology during chronic pancreatitis. They divide the biliary lesions into associated with pancreatitis and secondary to chronic pancreatitis. They emphasize the necessity to practise a detailed study of the biliary tract in all patients affected by chronic pancreatitis and the good results showed by a very simple surgical act.

[Carcinoma of the gallbladder. Clinico-statistical considerations].

The Authors shortly describe some essential aspects of the gall-bladder primitive cancer, and state their experience about 19 cases of malignant neoplasms observed out of 2280 operations on biliary duct. They confirm the extremely severe prognosis of such disease due to diagnostic delay. As a conclusion, they affirm the simple cholecystectomy is the choice operation in the precocious forms, and suggest the preventive cholecystectomy in the risk patients for such pathology.

Contemporaneous administration of digitalis and dilazep to subjects with heart failure of ischemic etiology.

The objective of this trial was to determine whether the digitalis-dilazep combination interferes with the inotropic effects of digitalis or produces significant cardiovascular modifications. Twenty patients suffering from heart failure of ischemic or ischemic plus valvular etiologies, undergoing digitalis treatment for at least 3 weeks, were administered dilazep (300 mg/day). Systolic, diastolic blood pressures and heart rate, supine and standing, QS2I, LVETI, PEPI, PEP/LVET, triple product, and percentage diastole were recorded.

[Fenquizone in the medium term treatment of essential hypertension. Double-blind comparison with chlorthalidone and placebo].

In a double blind study, tolerability and antihypertensive effect of fenquizone were compared with those of chlorthalidone and placebo. In both mild and moderately severe essential hypertension, fenquizone and chlortalidone showed a significant antihypertensive effect; moreover, fenquizone lowered the clinostatic arterial diastolic pressure in a more gradual and continuous way. Differently from chlortalidone, fenquizone had no effects on blood levels of potassium and cholesterol.