Astrocyte TrkB promotes brain injury and edema formation in ischemic stroke.

Following ischemic stroke astrocytes undergo rapid molecular and functional changes that may accentuate tissue damage. In this study we identified the neurotrophin receptor TrkB in astrocytes as a key promoter of acute CNS injury in ischemic stroke. In fact, TrkB protein was strongly upregulated in astrocytes after human and experimental stroke, and transgenic mice lacking astrocyte TrkB displayed significantly smaller lesion volume, lower brain atrophy and better motor performance than control animals after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.

GPR126 is a specifier of blood-brain barrier formation in the mouse central nervous system.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) acquires unique properties to regulate neuronal function during development. The formation of the BBB, which occurs in tandem with angiogenesis, is directed by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Yet the exact molecular interplay remains elusive.

What Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Are Available under the Plant Treaty and Where Is This Information?

Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) are the building blocks upon which global food and nutrition security depend and are key to plant breeding for more resistant crops, but how available are they? To understand what PGRFA are available under the mechanisms created by the International Plant Treaty's access and benefit-sharing, we conducted a comparative analysis of the five largest sources of pooled global data concerning PGRFA, including data conserved by and available to users under the Plant Treaty's access and benefit-sharing (ABS) mechanism. These data sources were the registry of notification letters maintained by the Plant Treaty Secretariat and four international PGRFA databases: Genesys, European Search Catalogue for Plant Genetic Resources (EURISCO), World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (WIEWS) and Global Information System on PGRFA (GLIS). Our analysis revealed that a comprehensive and consistent overview of the PGRFA available under the Plant Treaty's ABS conditions is not available.

Microglia and the Blood-Brain Barrier: An External Player in Acute and Chronic Neuroinflammatory Conditions.

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system that guarantee immune surveillance and exert also a modulating role on neuronal synaptic development and function. Upon injury, microglia get activated and modify their morphology acquiring an ameboid phenotype and pro- or anti-inflammatory features. The active role of microglia in blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and their interaction with different cellular components of the BBB-endothelial cells, astrocytes and pericytes-are described.

Age-induced alterations of granulopoiesis generate atypical neutrophils that aggravate stroke pathology.

Aging accounts for increased risk and dismal outcome of ischemic stroke. Here, we investigated the impact of age-related changes in the immune system on stroke. Upon experimental stroke, compared with young mice, aged mice had increased neutrophil clogging of the ischemic brain microcirculation, leading to worse no-reflow and outcomes.

Harmonization of sensorimotor deficit assessment in a registered multicentre pre-clinical randomized controlled trial using two models of ischemic stroke.

Multicentre preclinical randomized controlled trials (pRCTs) are a valuable tool to improve experimental stroke research, but are challenging and therefore underused. A common challenge regards the standardization of procedures across centres. We here present the harmonization phase for the quantification of sensorimotor deficits by composite neuroscore, which was the primary outcome of two multicentre pRCTs assessing remote ischemic conditioning in rodent models of ischemic stroke.

Functional variation in the non-coding genome: molecular implications for food security.

The growing world population, in combination with the anticipated effects of climate change, is pressuring food security. Plants display an impressive arsenal of cellular mechanisms conferring resilience to adverse environmental conditions, and humans rely on these mechanisms for stable food production. The elucidation of the molecular basis of the mechanisms used by plants to achieve resilience promises knowledge-based approaches to enhance food security.

Preoperative Ultrasound-guided Sub-areolar Biopsy in Predicting Occult Nipple Involvement in Breast Cancer Patients: Proposal for a Methodological Approach.

Background/aim: The prediction of a sub-areolar tissue infiltration in breast cancer (BC) patients could be helpful in selecting the best functional outcome according to several reconstructive oncoplastic or radical techniques. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of preoperative ultrasound (US) guided sub-areolar biopsy (SAB) in detecting occult nipple involvement, in comparison with the definitive pathological examination of tissue after surgery.

Patients And Methods: We prospectively recorded clinical and pathological data of 46 consecutive patients scheduled for breast conserving surgery or nipple-areola sparing mastectomy.

Neutrophils predominate the immune signature of cerebral thrombi in COVID-19 stroke patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events. Ischemic stroke in COVID-19 patients entails high severity and mortality rates. Here we aimed to analyze cerebral thrombi of COVID-19 patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) acute ischemic stroke to expose molecular evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in the thrombus and to unravel any peculiar immune-thrombotic features.

JAB1 deletion in oligodendrocytes causes senescence-induced inflammation and neurodegeneration in mice.

Oligodendrocytes are the primary target of demyelinating disorders, and progressive neurodegenerative changes may evolve in the CNS. DNA damage and oxidative stress are considered key pathogenic events, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, animal models do not fully recapitulate human diseases, complicating the path to effective treatments.

Microglia proliferation plays distinct roles in acquired epilepsy depending on disease stages.

Objective: Microgliosis occurs in animal models of acquired epilepsy and in patients. It includes cell proliferation that is associated with seizure frequency and decreased neuronal cells in human epilepsy. The role of microglia proliferation in the development of acquired epilepsy is unknown; thus, we examined its contribution to spontaneous seizure, neurodegeneration, and cognitive deficits in different disease phases.

Cerebral thrombi of cardioembolic etiology have an increased content of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Background: Inflammation is emerging as an essential trigger for thrombosis. In the interplay between innate immunity and coagulation cascade, neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can promote thrombus formation and stabilization. In ischemic stroke, it is uncertain whether the involvement of the inflammatory component may differ in thrombi of diverse etiology.

Multicentre translational Trial of Remote Ischaemic Conditioning in Acute Ischaemic Stroke (TRICS): protocol of multicentre, parallel group, randomised, preclinical trial in female and male rat and mouse from the Italian Stroke Organization (ISO) Basic Science network.

Introduction: Multicentre preclinical randomised controlled trials (pRCT) are emerging as a necessary step to confirm efficacy and improve translation into the clinic. The aim of this project is to perform two multicentre pRCTs (one in rats and one in mice) to investigate the efficacy of remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) in an experimental model of severe ischaemic stroke.

Methods And Analysis: Seven research laboratories within the Italian Stroke Organization (ISO) Basic Science network will participate in the study.

Cyberbullying and cybervictimization among preadolescents: Does time perspective matter?

Time perspective has been recognized as an important psychological dimension with a pervasive and powerful influence on human behavior. To the authors' knowledge, no studies have focused on the relationship between time perspective and cyberbullying behavior. The first aim of this research is to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between different time perspectives and both cyberbullying and cybervictimization among 6th to 8th grade students.

Father Involvement and Cognitive Development in Early and Middle Childhood: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aims to examine the existing literature concerning the association between father involvement and the development children's cognitive skills during early and middle childhood. Specifically, it analyzes: (1) how the number of researches developed across years; (2) which are the main socio-demographic characteristics of the samples; (3) which are the main focuses examined; and (4) which operational definitions were used to assess father involvement and children cognitive skills. Following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, the articles were searched through PubMed and EBSCO (PsycInfo, PsycArticles, Education Source, Social Sciences Abstract, Family Studies Abstracts, Gender Studies Database and CINAHL complete).

Prostaglandin D2 synthase modulates macrophage activity and accumulation in injured peripheral nerves.

We have previously reported that prostaglandin D2 Synthase (L-PGDS) participates in peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelination during development. We now describe the role of L-PGDS in the resolution of PNS injury, similarly to other members of the prostaglandin synthase family, which are important for Wallerian degeneration (WD) and axonal regeneration. Our analyses show that L-PGDS expression is modulated after injury in both sciatic nerves and dorsal root ganglia neurons, indicating that it might play a role in the WD process.

Heterogeneous risk profiles among B3 breast lesions of uncertain malignant potential.

Background: Most cases of breast lesions of uncertain malignant potential (B3) undergo surgical intervention. We aimed to analyze the outcome of B3 lesion subtypes in a large series of screen-detected cases.

Methods: We screened 2,986 core needle biopsies to classify B3 lesions.

Insights from thrombi retrieved in stroke due to large vessel occlusion.

The recent advances of endovascular procedures to treat stroke due to large cerebral vessel occlusion have made it possible to analyze the retrieved thrombus material. Analysis of cerebral thrombi is emerging as a relevant opportunity to complement the diagnostic workup of etiology, to develop new lytic approaches and to optimize the acute treatment of stroke due to large vessel occlusion. Nonetheless, retrieved thrombi are frequently discarded since their informative potential is often neglected and standards are missing.

Long-term esophageal motility changes after thyroidectomy: associations with aerodigestive disorders.

Background: Patients undergoing thyroidectomy often complain aerodigestive disorders. In a previous study we showed the associations between voice impairment and proximal acid reflux, swallowing impairment and Upper Esophageal Sphyncter (UES) incoordination and the decrease in UES pressure in thirty-six patients observed before and soon afterwards uncomplicated thyroidectomy. This study investigated the state of post-thyroidectomy esophageal motility changes and its associations with these disorders after 18-24 months.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy for hemostasis of acute esophageal variceal bleeding.

Introduction: Currently the most widely used methods for endoscopic control of esophageal varices bleeding are sclerotherapy and rubber band ligation. Although the superiority of band ligation (BL) over endoscopic sclerotherapy (SCL) for the secondary prophylaxis of variceal hemorrhage has been proven, the best approach for acute bleeding remains controversial.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective study between January 2005 and May 2013.

COX-2 expression in lobular in situ neoplasia of the breast: correlation with histopathological grading system according to the Tavassoli classification.

Aims: There is considerable evidence to link cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 to the development of cancer. The aim of this study was to assess COX-2 expression and its subcellular localization in lobular in situ neoplasia (LIN) of the breast and to verify differences in COX-2 expression between different grades of lesions according to the Tavassoli classification.

Methods And Results: We analysed the expression of COX-2 protein by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples of 51 LIN lesions classified into three grades according to the Tavassoli classification.

[Signet-ring cell carcinoma of the Vater's ampulla: report of a clinical case].

We report the case of a sixty-six year-old man admitted at our hospital with a suspected malignant tumor of the ampulla of Vater. The patient underwent a Pylorus-preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy. Histology showed a signet-ring cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure in cervical cancer: a critical point of view.

Objective: To report our experience about the role of sentinel node biopsy in cervical cancer patients while debating provocatory arguments concerning this procedure.

Methods: From June 2001 to February 2003, patients affected by stage IB(1) cervical cancer were submitted to the sentinel node biopsy procedure. Patients were submitted to lymphoscintigraphy and, subsequently, to laparoscopy in order to locate the sentinel lymph node.