Subdiagnosis, but not presence of vestibular symptoms, predicts balance impairment in migraine patients - a cross sectional study.

Background: Vestibular symptoms and balance changes are common in patients with migraine, especially in the ones with aura and chronic migraine. However, it is not known if the balance changes are determined by the presence of vestibular symptoms or migraine subdiagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify if the migraine subdiagnosis and/or the presence of vestibular symptoms can predict balance dysfunction in migraineurs.

Oral poly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated human recombinant lysozyme control of lung metastases in mice.

Human recombinant lysozymes (rHLZs), particularly hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL), are promising agents for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. However, in a similar but improved fashion to what has already been demonstrated using HEL, the PEGylation of an rHLZ leads to a new drug that appears to protect against spontaneous lung metastasis development in mice bearing mammary carcinoma (MCa). The oral administration of 25-100 mg/kg/day of rHLZ-PEG (HEL-equivalent dose) to CBA female mice, admixed with daily food for 14 consecutive days, significantly reduced the growth of the primary tumour by up to 30% and of lung metastasis weight by up to 95%, as compared to the untreated controls.

Orally administered microencapsulated lysozyme downregulates serum AGE and reduces the severity of early-stage diabetic nephropathy.

Aim: Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease in developed countries and is related to chronic hyperglycaemia. The increased production and tissue deposition of advanced glycation end products (AGE) are known to play a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney damage. This study was undertaken to determine if lysozyme (LZ), microencapsulated in orally administrable chitosan-coated alginate microspheres (MS), is effective against the early changes seen in the initial stages of diabetic nephropathy.

Synthesis of 11-aryl-5H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines and their benzodiazepine and A1 adenosine binding activity.

In the context of a research program aimed at elucidating the properties of the 5H-imidazo[2,1-c][1.4]benzodiazepine system, a series of 11-aryl-5H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines (3a-i) and their 10,11-dihydro-derivatives (4a-i) has been synthesized. The synthetic strategy includes the preparation of the aryl-[1-(2-nitrobenzyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl]methanones (5a-i) followed by their reduction and subsequent cyclization.

Mixed cryoglobulinemia secondary to visceral Leishmaniasis.

We describe a case of type II mixed cryoglobulinemia, with monoclonal IgMkappa rheumatoid factor, associated with visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. Involvement of Leishmania antigen(s) in the formation of cryoprecipitable immune complexes was suggested by the fact that cryoglobulinemic vasculitis subsided after antiparasite therapy and that anti-Leishmania antibodies, as well as rheumatoid factor, were enriched in the cryoprecipitate. We observed 2 additional patients with visceral leishmaniasis and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.