Case Report: Ileo-Ileal Intussusception Secondary to Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp: A Rare Cause of Intestinal Obstruction.

Introduction: Intussusception is a telescoping of a bowel segment into another and it can be a surgical urgency. Most adult intussusceptions arise from a lead point which can be benign or malignant. For this reason, intussusception in adults should undergo surgery.

Recurrent oncocytic adrenocortical carcinoma: implementing diagnostic criteria in a case report with the longest survival.

Introduction: Oncocytic adrenocortical tumors represent a subtype of the adrenal cortex neoplasms. These tumors can be divided into oncocytomas, oncocytic neoplasms of uncertain malignancy and carcinomas (OACs). To date, only 34 cases of OAC have been reported.

Understanding Social Behaviour in a Health-Care Facility from Localization Data: A Case Study.

The most frequent form of dementia is Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a severe progressive neurological pathology in which the main cognitive functions of an individual are compromised. Recent studies have found that loneliness and living in isolation are likely to cause an acceleration in the cognitive decline associated with AD. Therefore, understanding social behaviours of AD patients is crucial to promote sociability, thus delaying cognitive decline, preserving independence, and providing a good quality of life.

Effects of Vitamin E-Stabilized Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene on Oxidative Stress Response and Osteoimmunological Response in Human Osteoblast.

High Crosslink process was introduced in the development of joint prosthetic devices, in order to decrease the wear rate of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), but it also triggers the formation of free radicals and oxidative stress, which affects the physiological bone remodeling, leading to osteolysis. Vitamin E stabilization of UHMWPE was proposed to provide oxidation resistance without affecting mechanical properties and fatigue strength. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant effect of vitamin E added to UHMWPE on oxidative stress induced osteolysis, focusing in particular on the oxidative stress response in correlation with the production of osteoimmunological markers, Sclerostin and DKK-1, and the RANKL/OPG ratio compared to conventional UHMWPE wear debris.

Lag-time in Alzheimer's disease patients: a potential plasmatic oxidative stress marker associated with ApoE4 isoform.

In the brain, Oxidative Stress (OS) contribute to structural and functional changes associated with vascular aging, such as endothelial dysfunction, extracellular matrix degradation, resulting in age-related reduced vasodilatation in response to agonists. For this reason, OS is considered a key factor in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) development and recent evidence correlated oxidative stress with vascular lesion in the pathogenesis of AD, but the mechanism still need to be fully clarified. The etiology of AD is still not completely understood and is influenced by several factors including Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype.

Plasmatic Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products as a New Oxidative Stress Biomarker in Patients with Prosthetic-Joint-Associated Infections?

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most common cause of failure of total joint arthroplasty, but a gold standard for PJI diagnosis is still lacking. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are proinflammatory molecules inducing intracellular oxidative stress (OS) after binding to their cell membrane receptors (RAGE). The aim of this study was to evaluate plasmatic soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), as a new OS and infection marker correlating sRAGE to the level of OS and antioxidant defenses, in PJI, in order to explore the possible application of this new biomarker in the early diagnosis of PJI.

Levels of uric acid in erectile dysfunction of different aetiology.

Erectile dysfunction is a common disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction. The aetiology of ED is often multifactorial but evidence is being accumulated in favor of the proper function of the vascular endothelium that is essential to achieving and maintaining penile erection. Uric acid itself causes endothelial dysfunction via decreased nitric oxide production.

Levels of l-arginine and l-citrulline in patients with erectile dysfunction of different etiology.

Nitric oxide is a physiologic signal essential to penile erection. l-citrulline (l-Cit) is converted into l-arginine (l-Arg), the precursor from which nitric oxide is generated. The level of l-Arg and l-Cit in the field of male sexual function remains relatively underexplored.

Dexamethasone-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Increases O-GlcNAcylation in C2C12 Cells.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a well-known adverse effect of chronic treatment with glucocorticoids and it also occurs when stress conditions such as sepsis and cachexia increase the release of endogenous glucocorticoids. Although the mechanisms of action of these hormones have been elucidated, the possible molecular mechanisms causing atrophy are not yet fully understood. The involvement of the O-GlcNAcylation process has recently been reported in disuse atrophy.

Levels of human erythrocyte membrane-bound and cytosolic glycohydrolases are associated with oxidative stress in erectile dysfunction patients.

Oxidative stress (OS) and production of NO, by endothelium nitric oxide synthetase (eNOS), are involved in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction (ED). Moreover, OS induces modifications of the physicochemical properties of erythrocyte (RBC) plasma membranes and of the enzyme content of the same membranes. Due to their role in signalling early membrane alterations in OS-related pathologies, several plasma membrane and cytosolic glycohydrolases of human RBC have been proposed as new markers of cellular OS.

[Large-bowel obstruction as a result of occult diaphragmatic hernia 11 years after injuries].

Diaphragmatic injury accompanied by herniation through the thoracic cavity is a well documented complication of penetrating or blunt abdominal trauma. It occurs in 3% of abdominal lesions, with strong prevalence for blunt trauma. In the acute setting the diagnosis may be difficult because of the lack of peculiar clinical signs or the wrong interpretation of radiological findings.

Isoflavone supplementation reduces DNA oxidative damage and increases O-β-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity in healthy women.

Phenolic compounds are believed to boost the human antioxidant defense system and health; therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the hypothesis that soy isoflavones (IFs) provide antioxidant protection in healthy women by evaluating DNA resistance to oxidative damage and O-β-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (OGA) activity. An IF supplement (80 mg/d) was given to 9 postmenopausal women and 13 young women for 6 months and then stopped up to the 14th month. The women were allowed to consume their normal diet.

The use of biological mesh to repair one large, contaminated abdominal wall defect due to neoplastic invasion. Report of a case.

We hereby report a case of use of biological mesh to repair one large, contaminated abdominal wall defect due to a sigmoid tumour presented as an abscess infiltrating the abdominal wall. Our patient was a 48-year-old woman. Her medical history was negative for any previous disease or surgical procedure.

[Colonic metastasis from primary carcinoma of the lung. Case report].

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in Western countries. About one-half of patients with lung cancer have metastatic disease at the time of initial diagnosis. Metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract from primary lung cancer has rarely been described.

Whole-blood alpha-D-galactosidase A activity for the identification of Fabry's patients.

Objectives: ERT application to Fabry's disease patients needs sensitive assay method of the missing enzyme (α-d-galactosidase A) to achieve early diagnosis.

Design And Methods: A new fluorimetric assay method of α-d-galactosidase A was developed, using whole blood (WB) from 30 healthy individuals, 7 hemizygous males and 7 heterozygous females with Fabry's disease. This method was compared with the traditional dried blood spot (DBS) method.

O-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase in erythrocytes of Italian air force acrobatic pilots.

Background: Italian air force acrobatic pilots are occupationally susceptible to oxidative stress damage that can lead to overt signs and symptoms of hypoxia. We propose erythrocyte glycohydrolases as new, sensitive markers to assess oxidative stress.

Methods: We measured erythrocyte concentrations of beta-D-glucuronidase (GCR), hexosaminidase, O-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase), plasma membrane fluidity and plasma hydroperoxides from 19 pilots and compared these to 40 matched healthy subjects.

[Giant angiomyolipoma of the kidney not associated with tuberous sclerosis: a case report and review of the literature].

The authors describe a paradigmatic case of a large renal angiomyolipoma not associated with tuberous sclerosis. The lesion was discovered as an incidental finding during abdominal ultrasound for other pathology. Owing to the extent of the lesion and the appreciable risk of spontaneous rupture and bleeding, we opted for surgical treatment.

Oxidative stress in elderly chronic renal failure patients: effects of renal replacement therapies on cell membrane fluidity.

Background: Renal replacement therapies (RRTs) produce a partial loss of antioxidants and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are a major factor involved in alterations of plasma membrane fluidity and endothelial activation, but their role on plasma membrane fluidity in vivo is still unclear. We compared erythrocyte plasma membrane fluidity, ROS and total plasma antioxidant defenses (Lagtime) in aged patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on conservative treatment, peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) before (HD-pre) and after (HD-post) a treatment, to evaluate the role of different RRTs on oxidative stress and plasma membrane fluidity in aged patients.

Methods: We assessed erythrocyte plasma membrane fluidity, plasma lipid hydroperoxide levels and Lag-Time in 11 CRF patients on conservative treatment, 15 on PD, 12 on HD and 30 healthy controls.

Isoenzyme pattern and partial characterization of hexosaminidases in the membrane and cytosol of human erythrocytes.

Objectives: Hexosaminidase activity is present in lysosomes, plasma membrane and cytosol of many human cells. Plasma membrane and cytosolic hexosaminidase is not well characterized, particularly as regards their isoenzyme forms and their relationship with the lysosomal ones.

Design And Methods: Erythrocyte hexosaminidase isoforms were chromatographically separated, characterized and compared to those in the plasma of healthy individuals and in the erythrocytes of a Tay-Sachs patient.

Oxidated low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) and peroxides in plasma of Down syndrome patients.

A low prevalence of coronary artery disease is usually observed in adult Down syndrome (DS) subjects, and these patients rarely die because of atherosclerotic complications. High levels of oxLDL were found in plasma from children and adults with DS. Plasma oxLDL were still increased in elderly with DS, however, difference with controls was not statistically significant.

Erythrocyte glycohydrolases in subjects with trisomy 21: could Down's syndrome be a model of accelerated ageing?

We studied some erythrocyte glycohydrolases, erythrocyte membrane fluidity, plasma hydroperoxides and total antioxidant defences in 23 Down syndrome (DS) individuals in comparison with healthy age-matched and elderly controls. With regard to erythrocyte plasma membrane fluidity, plasma hydroperoxides and total plasma oxidative defences, DS subjects resembled the age-matched controls more than the elderly ones. Membrane glycohydrolases in DS, however, presented a pattern partly similar to age-matched controls and partly to elderly controls.

Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in an "atheroma-free model": Down's syndrome.

Murdoch et al. in 1977 called Down syndrome an "atheroma-free model." In this preliminary study, we investigated advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in 47 age-matched Down syndrome patients and 20 age-matched healthy controls.

Lysosomal leukocyte beta-D-glucuronidase during enzyme replacement therapy in Fabry disease.

Objective: Fabry disease results from a deficiency in the activity of alpha-d-galactosidase A and subsequent accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids in lysosomes. This study investigated whether lysosomal enzymes can indicate biochemical changes in the lysosomal apparatus induced by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).

Design And Methods: Eight patients were monitored by clinical and biochemical tests and several lysosomal glycohydrolases were measured in plasma and leucocytes.

Erythrocyte membrane alterations during ageing affect beta-D-glucuronidase and neutral sialidase in elderly healthy subjects.

In this study, a comparison between elderly (>70 years) and young subjects reveals that elder people are subject to a higher oxidative stress, which causes an increase in plasma hydroperoxide levels (18%) and a decrease in antioxidant defenses (25%). Moreover, the marked decrease of the erythrocyte membrane fluidity observed in elderly subjects was likely to affect the behavior of some membrane glycohydrolases. In fact, a significant decrease of beta-d-glucuronidase and neutral sialidase (30 and 50%, respectively) was detected.

Low levels of occupational exposure to arsenic and antimony: effects on lysosomal glycohydrolase levels in plasma of exposed workers and in lymphocyte cultures.

Background: Heavy metals have been shown to alter the mechanism and release of lysosomal enzymes. In the present study, the activities of lysosomal glycohydrolases were determined in order to evaluate the asymptomatic toxic effects of low levels of exposure to arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) in art glass workers.

Methods: N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta-D-glucuronidase (GCR), alpha- and beta-D-galactosidase, alpha-D-glucosidase, and alpha-D-mannosidase were determined by a fluorimetric assay in the plasma of 26 art glass workers.