Alpha-Synuclein Preserves Mitochondrial Fusion and Function in Neuronal Cells.

Dysregulations of mitochondria with alterations in trafficking and morphology of these organelles have been related to Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by brain accumulation of Lewy bodies (LB), intraneuronal inclusions mainly composed of -synuclein (-syn) fibrils. Experimental evidence supports that -syn pathological aggregation can negatively impinge on mitochondrial functions suggesting that this protein may be crucially involved in the control of mitochondrial homeostasis. The aim of this study was to assay this hypothesis by analyzing mitochondrial function and morphology in primary cortical neurons from C57BL/6JOlaHsd -syn null and C57BL/6J wild-type (wt) mice.

A new management for limb graft occlusion after endovascular aneurysm repair adding a vollmar ring stripper: the unclogging technique.

Background: Lower extremity ischemia for limb thrombosis is a well-known adverse event after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), ranging from 2.6-7.4%.

Funnel technique for EVAR: "a way out" for abdominal aortic aneurysms with ectatic proximal necks.

Background: To describe an endovascular technique for proximal stent-graft fixation in patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm and an ectatic aortic neck.

Methods: We describe a method in which using currently available devices in a hybrid assembly offers another option for circumventing the limitations of problematic proximal fixation.

Conclusions: Through four examples, we illustrate the feasibility of placing a straight endograft as proximal extension of a bifurcated or aorto-uni-iliac graft in patients with a dilated proximal aortic neck.

Evaluation of microbiological air quality and of microclimate in university classrooms.

The proliferation of air-diffused microorganisms inside public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and universities, is often indicated as a possible health risk. In this research, we have illustrated the results of an investigation realized to determine the health of the air in some university classrooms, both from a microbiological and a microclimatic viewpoint, during the normal didactic activity of direct lessons. The results obtained have been expressed by means of contamination indices, already used in previous works.

Late reproduction at lower risk in Sardinia island: a case of reproductive longevity?

Population of Sardinia Island is characterized by geographical and historical isolation, a deep-rooted tendency to postpone childbearing, and a demographic and genetic structure largely different from that of continental Italy and other European countries. Based on such differences we investigated whether the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome associated with late reproduction was different between the Sardinian population and two mainland areas (North+Centre and South+Sicily), representative of different Italian socio-economic contexts. In particular we suggest that parents, who show aptitude to late childbearing associated with a reduced risk of adverse pregnancy outcome, enjoy "reproductive longevity".