Equally vs. unequally keyed blocks in forced-choice questionnaires: Implications on validity and reliability.

Forced-choice (FC) questionnaires have gained scientific interest over the last decades. However, the inclusion of unequally keyed item pairs in FC questionnaires remains a subject of debate, as there is evidence supporting both their usage and avoidance. Designing unequally keyed pairs may be more difficult when considering social desirability, as they might allow the identification of ideal responses.

TSPO Modulates Oligomeric Amyloid-β-Induced Monocyte Chemotaxis: Relevance for Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Neuroinflammation is one of the cardinal mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). with amyloid-β (Aβ) playing a critical role by activating microglia to produce soluble inflammatory mediators, including several chemokines. Peripheral monocytes are, therefore, attracted into the central nervous system (CNS), where they change into blood-born microglia and participate in the attempt of removing toxic Aβ species.

[Off-label use of mycophenolate mofetil in immune-mediated diseases].

Background: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a largely used immunosuppressive agent in the prevention of transplant rejection and lupus nephritis. Its use has been extended to other immune-mediated diseases (ID).

Aim: To assess the off-label use of MMF, its performance as a glucocorticoid sparing agent, the therapeutic response, and its adverse effects.

Prednisone and long-term damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: Which is the threshold dose? A pilot study.

Objectives: We aimed to study the daily dose of glucocorticoids in the first month associated with damage after 5 years of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis; and to assess the daily dose of prednisone during the first year, over which damage after 5 years could be predicted.

Methodology: A retrospective cohort study of SLE patients from the diagnosis and up to 5 years of follow-up was performed. Cumulative prednisone doses in the first month (T1m), at 1 year (T12m), and at 5 years (T5y) were calculated.

Irisin and BDNF serum levels and behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer's disease.

Behavioral dysfunctions (BPSD) represent the most important problem in Alzheimer's dementia (AD) management. We assessed the serum levels of two myokines in AD patients, preliminary investigating, as secondary aim, their role as potential biomarkers for agitation/aggression (AA) and aberrant motor behavior (AMB): irisin, since it is able to modify the motor pattern, and BDNF, since it was transcribed following irisin stimulation. Forty AD patients were recruited and characterized according to the expressed neuropsychiatric syndrome.

Multifunctional liposomes interact with Abeta in human biological fluids: Therapeutic implications for Alzheimer's disease.

The accumulation of extracellular amyloid beta (Abeta42) both in brain and in cerebral vessels characterizes Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Recently, the possibility to functionalize nanoparticles (NPs) surface with Abeta42 binding molecules, making them suitable tools for reducing Abeta42 burden has been shown effective in models of AD. Aim of this work consisted in proving that NPs might be effective in sequestering Abeta42 in biological fluids, such as CSF and plasma.

[Embolic stroke by thrombotic non bacterial endocarditis in an Antiphospholipid Syndrome patient].

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired thrombophilia, considered a systemic autoimmune disorder. We report a patient with APS who presented multiple cerebral infarcts (stroke) as a complication of a thrombotic non bacterial endocarditis. We review the literature focused on the physiological mechanism that produce this disease and its complications.

[Hydroxychloroquine for autoimmune diseases].

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is by far the most frequently used antimalarial for the management of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. It has immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and antithrombotic properties and it diminishes the risk of malignancies. The most important mechanisms to explain the immunomodulatory actions are its ability to reduce inflammatory pathways and Toll-like receptors activation.

MEF2D and MEF2C pathways disruption in sporadic and familial ALS patients.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuro-muscular disease characterized by motor neuron loss. MEF2D and MEF2C are members of the myocyte enhancer factor 2 family (MEF2), a group of transcription factors playing crucial roles both in muscle and in neural development and maintenance; for this reason, a possible involvement of MEF2 in ALS context has been investigated. Since the transcriptional activity of each tissue specific MEF2 isoform is conserved in different cell types, we chose to assess our parameters in an easily accessible and widely used experimental tool such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 30 sporadic ALS patients (sALS), 9 ALS patients with mutations in SOD1 gene (SOD1+) and 30 healthy controls.

Reaction of rat subcutaneous connective tissue to a mineral trioxide aggregate-based and a zinc oxide and eugenol sealer.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the subcutaneous connective tissue reaction in rats to a mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)-based endodontic sealer Fillapex (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil) and compare it with Grossman sealer (Farmadental, Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Methods: Sterile medical-grade silicone tubes containing the test materials were implanted in 24 Wistar rats. After 10, 30, and 90 days, the animals (n = 8 per period) were euthanized, and the implants along with their surrounding tissues were dissected, fixed, and processed for histologic evaluation.

Frequency and distribution of teeth requiring endodontic therapy in an Argentine population attending a specialty clinic in endodontics.

Objectives: To determine the frequency and distribution of 975 teeth in need of endodontic treatment in an Argentine patient pool and to compare the results with previously published surveys.

Methods: Of the 975 teeth from 860 individuals (age range 7-86 years) were endodontically treated during 2007 by postgraduate students enrolled in a specialisation programme in Endodontics. All patients were examined clinically and radiographically.

Kinking of carotid arteries is not a mechanism of cerebral ischemia: a functional evaluation by Doppler echography.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the hemodynamic behavior of carotid kinking, as assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography at baseline and during neck movements, and their relation to neurological symptoms.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 consecutive patients with non-atheromatous carotid kinking in whom diagnostic color Doppler ultrasonography investigation of neck vessels had been requested for clinical suspicion of atherosclerotic disease were evaluated. To evaluate if there were significant changes of blood velocities as a consequence of kinking, for each carotid artery we recorded systolic and diastolic velocities both in the segments proximal to kinking, as well as intra-kinking.

Chronic cola drinking induces metabolic and cardiac alterations in rats.

Aim: To investigate the effects of chronic drinking of cola beverages on metabolic and echocardiographic parameters in rats.

Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups and allowed to drink regular cola (C), diet cola (L), or tap water (W) ad libitum during 6 mo. After this period, 50% of the animals in each group were euthanized.

Histomorphometry of umbilical cord blood vessels in preeclampsia.

The authors hypothesized that preeclampsia may change the phenotype of umbilical cord vessels. Segments of umbilical cords were obtained from 29 pregnant women (20 healthy and 9 with preeclampsia), which were histomorphometrically assessed. Birth weight was 2928 ± 613 g for the control group vs 1749 ± 656 g for the preeclampsia group (P<.

Subcutaneous connective tissue reaction to methacrylate resin-based and zinc oxide and eugenol sealers.

Introduction: An evaluation was made of the connective tissue reaction in rats after subcutaneous implantation of methacrylate resin-based sealers (EndoREZ [Ultradent Products, Inc, South Jordan, UT] with a polymerization accelerator and RealSeal [Sybron Dental Specialties, Orange, CA]) and Pulp Canal Sealer (Sybron Dental Specialties), a zinc oxide and eugenol-based sealer used as the control.

Methods: Silicone tubes containing the test materials were implanted in 24 Wistar rats. Solid silicone rods of the same size served as the negative controls.

Titanium compacts produced by the pulvimetallurgical hydride-dehydride method for biomedical applications.

Titanium powder production by the hydride-dehydride method has been developed as a non-expensive process. In this work, commercially pure grade two Ti specimens were hydrogenated. The hydrided material was milled in a planetary mill.

Coronary intimal thickening in newborn babies and

We performed a morphological characterization of intimal thickenings in coronary arteries in the very early stages of life to obtain insights into initial coronary atherogenesis. We examined specimens from 67 infants who had died of noncardiac causes within their first year of life. Serially cut sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Azan, Alcian blue, acetic orceine, and immunotypified for CD68, CD34, and alpha-smooth muscle (SM) actin.

Are kinking and coiling of carotid artery congenital or acquired?

Dolichoarteriopathies consist of tortuosity, kinking, or coiling of the extracranial carotid arteries. Some authors consider these alterations a consequence of atherosclerotic vessel remodeling, while others ascribe them to anatomical variations of embryological origin. The objective was to establish whether carotid dolichoarteriopathies belonged to a congenital origin or to acquired conditions.

Rat subcutaneous tissue response to modified Portland cement, a new mineral trioxide aggregate.

The purpose of this study was compare the biocompatibility of modified Portland cement (CPM) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in a subcutaneous rat model. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were used. Three silicon tubes were placed on the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of each animal: one tube contained MTA, one tube contained CPM and the other was an empty tube.

Pig pancreatic islet transplantation into spontaneously diabetic dogs.

Introduction: Pig islet xenotransplantation represents an attractive way to solve our human organ shortage. In this preclinical protocol, we implanted adult porcine islets microencapsulated in alginate-polylysin into insulin-dependent diabetic dogs.

Methods: Pancreata were obtained from animals weighing 100 to 150 kg in a slaughterhouse.

Carotid barochemoreceptor pathological findings regarding carotid plaque status and aging.

Background: Carotid barochemoreceptor pathological lesions have been studied in animals, but few human necropsies have been performed. Therefore, data rely on case patients following surgery, radiotherapy and carotid endarterectomy. Almost no data are available regarding whether the effect of aging prevails over pathological conditions, despite the classic description that glomic fibrosis increases with age.

Prognostic impact of Chagas disease in the United States.

A prior publication from our group reported the fact that Chagas disease is underdiagnosed. This review will summarize several aspects of Chagas disease in the United States including modes of transmission, which will demonstrate that clinicians should be more aware of the disease and its consequences. Trypanosoma cruzi is present in many animal species spread throughout most of the United States.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields as adjuvant therapy in bone healing and peri-implant bone formation: an experimental study in rats.

The objective of this study was to determine whether short exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) accelerates bone repair and peri-implant bone formation in a rat tibial model at different times. Sixty Wistar rats were employed. Sterile custom fabricated commercially pure cylinder threaded titanium implants were placed in the right tibial crest, and an osteotomy was performed in the left tibial crest of each animal.