Residential exposure to magnetic fields from transformer stations and risk of childhood leukemia.

Background: Several studies have documented an increased risk of leukemia among children exposed to magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines, with some evidence of dose-response relation. However, findings in some studies have been inconsistent, and data on the effects of different sources of exposure are lacking. In this study, we evaluated the relation of childhood leukemia risk to exposure to magnetic fields from transformer stations.

NRF2 connects Src tyrosine kinase to ferroptosis resistance in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is a severe brain tumor characterized by an extremely poor survival rate of patients. Glioblastoma cancer cells escape to standard therapeutic protocols consisting of a combination of ionizing radiation and temozolomide alkylating drugs that trigger DNA damage by rewiring of signaling pathways. In recent years, the up-regulation of factors that counteract ferroptosis has been highlighted as a major driver of cancer resistance to ionizing radiation, although the molecular connection between the activation of oncogenic signaling and the modulation of ferroptosis has not been clarified yet.

Dissociative experiences of compartmentalization are associated with food addiction symptoms: results from a cross-sectional report.

Purpose: Studies have shown significant associations of dissociative symptoms with both eating and addictive disorders; however, the different forms of dissociation have been relatively understudied in relation to food addiction (FA). The main aim of this study was to investigate the association of certain forms of dissociative experiences (i.e.

Changes of consultation-liaison psychiatry practice in Italian general hospitals: A comparative 20-year multicenter study.

Introduction: Conducted under the auspices of the Italian Society of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (SIPC) the aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) activity in Italy (SIPC-2-2018) over the past 20 years by comparing with data from the first Italian nation-wide study (SIPC-1-1998).

Methods: We collected data on CLP visits of 3,943 patients from 10 Italian hospitals over a period of 1 year. Data were compared with those from the SIPC-1 1998 study (4,183 participants).

Poor sleep quality may contribute to dysfunctional illness perception, physical and emotional distress in hospitalised patients: results of a national survey of the Italian Society of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.

Distress associated with physical illness is a well-known risk factor for adverse illness course in general hospitals. Understanding the factors contributing to it should be a priority and among them dysfunctional illness perception and poor sleep quality may contribute to it. As poor sleep quality is recognised as a major risk factor for health problems, we aimed to study its association with illness perception and levels of distress during hospitalisation.

The association between social media addiction and eating disturbances is mediated by muscle dysmorphia-related symptoms: a cross-sectional study in a sample of young adults.

Purpose: Although the association between problematic use of the internet and eating disorders (EDs) in young adults has been previously established, its underlying mechanisms have not been completely clarified. It has been suggested that exposure to idealized very thin and toned body images (e.g.

Prefrontocerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation increases amplitude and decreases latency of P3b component in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder.

Introduction: Neurocognitive impairments have been observed in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) even during the euthymic phase of the disease, potentially representing trait-associated rather than state-associated characteristics of the disorder. In the present study, we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to cerebellar and prefrontal cortices to improve the neurophysiological performances of patients with euthymic BD.

Methods: Twenty-five outpatients with BD underwent open-label prefrontocerebellar tDCS for 3 consecutive weeks.

Prefronto-cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation improves visuospatial memory, executive functions, and neurological soft signs in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder.

Objective: The aim of the study was to improve neuropsychological functioning of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD) using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to cerebellar and prefrontal cortices.

Methods: Twenty-five BD outpatients underwent prefrontal (anodal) and cerebellar (cathodal) tDCS for 3 consecutive weeks. All participants were assessed through the Rey Complex Figure Test delay and copy and the Neurological Examination Scale at baseline and after therapy with tDCS.

Beta1 integrin deletion from the basal compartment of the mammary epithelium affects stem cells.

The mammary gland epithelium comprises two major cell types: basal and luminal. Basal cells interact directly with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and express higher levels of the ECM receptors, integrins, than luminal cells. We show that deletion of beta1 integrin from basal cells abolishes the regenerative potential of the mammary epithelium and affects mammary gland development.

E-cadherin mRNA expression analysis in evaluating the natural history of urothelial bladder cell carcinoma: results from a long-term follow-up study.

Many studies have indicated that the E-cadherin (E-CAD) expression loss is associated with the loss of cellular differentiation and increased cellular invasiveness and can be correlated with poor prognosis in urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the urinary bladder. The aim of this study was to define the role of E-CAD mRNA expression on recurrence, progression and survival in UC of the urinary bladder over a long follow-up period. From 30 patients with bladder UC, enrolled in our previous study, 27 were selected for this study.

The potential role of high or low birthweight as risk factor for adult schizophrenia.

Objective: Obstetric complications may be an important factor in the development of schizophrenia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of these complications in the development of schizophrenia in adult life, with particular attention to the potential role of birth weight.

Method: We carried out a case-control study, comprising schizophrenics and patients with diseases of the schizophrenia spectrum as cases, and their healthy male brothers as controls.

Integrins in mammary gland development and differentiation of mammary epithelium.

Integrins are major extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors that can also serve for some cell-cell interactions. They have been identified as important regulators of mammary epithelial cell growth and differentiation. Their ability to promote cell anchorage, proliferation, survival, migration, and the induction of active ECM-degrading enzymes suggests that they play an essential role in normal mammary morphogenesis, but, on the other hand, reveals their potential to promote tumor progression.

Severity of obstetric complications and risk of adult schizophrenia in male patients: a case-control study.

Objective: Obstetric complications may be an etiologically important factor in the development of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the risk for developing schizophrenia in adult life is increased in individuals with more severe obstetric complications at birth.

Methods: To this end, mothers were interviewed to gather data about obstetric complications.

A genetic link between Tbx1 and fibroblast growth factor signaling.

Tbx1 haploinsufficiency causes aortic arch abnormalities in mice because of early growth and remodeling defects of the fourth pharyngeal arch arteries. The function of Tbx1 in the development of these arteries is probably cell non-autonomous, as the gene is not expressed in structural components of the artery but in the surrounding pharyngeal endoderm. We hypothesized that Tbx1 may trigger signals from the pharyngeal endoderm directed to the underlying mesenchyme.

Tbx1 mutation causes multiple cardiovascular defects and disrupts neural crest and cranial nerve migratory pathways.

TBX1 is the major candidate gene for DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). Mouse studies have shown that the Tbx1 gene is haploinsufficient, as expected for a DGS candidate gene, and that it is required for the development of pharyngeal arches and pouches, as predicted by the DGS clinical phenotype. However, a detailed analysis of the cardiovascular phenotype associated with Tbx1 mutations has not been reported.

Genetic factors are major determinants of phenotypic variability in a mouse model of the DiGeorge/del22q11 syndromes.

The del22q11 syndrome is associated with a highly variable phenotype despite the uniformity of the chromosomal deletion that causes the disease in most patients. Df1/+ mice, which model del22q11, present with reduced penetrance of cardiovascular defects similar to those seen in deleted patients but not with other del22q11-like findings. The reduced penetrance of cardiovascular defects is caused by the ability of mutant embryos to recover from a fourth pharyngeal arch artery growth abnormality that is fully penetrant in early embryos.

Molecular detection of microsatellite instability in basal cell carcinoma.

Several studies have shown that the presence of genetic instability can be associated to carcinogenesis process. The detection of microsatellite instability (MI) that consists of an expansion and/or deletion of DNA within repeat sequences, may constitute a sensitive marker for the presence of gene mutations. A series of 18 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) consecutive patients was examined for the presence of alteration in 12 DNA microsatellite markers, in order to better understand the molecular significance of MI in the genesis and progression of BCC.

Molecular alterations of E-cadherin gene: possible role in human bladder carcinogenesis.

E-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein which mediates a calcium dependent homophilic interaction among epithelial cells. The altered expression and gene mutations of E-cadherin adhesion molecule have been frequently observed in various tumors. Several invasive carcinomas showed cell-cell adhesion loss although the tumor cells expressed considerable amounts of E-cadherin protein.

Computed tomography study of pineal calcification in schizophrenia.

Computed tomography studies concerning pineal calcification (PC) in schizophrenia have been conducted mainly by one author who correlated this calcification with several aspects of the illness. On the basis of these findings the aim of the present study was to analyze size and incidence of pineal gland calcification by CT in schizophrenics and healthy controls, and to verify the relationship between pineal calcification and age, and the possible correlation with psychopathologic variables. Pineal calcification was measured on CT scans of 87 schizophrenics and 46 controls divided into seven age subgroups of five years each.

Choroid plexus calcification as a possible clue of serotonin implication in schizophrenia.

Choroid plexus calcification (CPC) was measured on computed tomography (CT) scans of 87 schizophrenics and 46 controls divided into age subgroups. We studied the relationship between presence and size of CPC and age in both groups, whilst in the schizophrenic group we also investigated the possible correlation between CPC size and age of onset and duration of illness, duration of formal education, psychopathological features of the illness as well as some neuroradiological brain measures. CPC size correlated with age in healthy controls but not in schizophrenics.

[Familial occurrence and obstetric complications in siblings discordant for schizophrenia].

Obstetric complications seem to play a relevant role in the development of schizophrenia. This study aimed to assess whether not only frequency but also severity of obstetric complications was different in schizophrenic patients when compared with their healthy siblings. Furthermore, we examined whether a family history positive for schizophrenia was related to an increased frequency or severity of obstetric complications in healthy siblings.

Vesical-renal reflex: diuresis and natriuresis activated by intravesical capsaicin.

In the last years the role of capsaicin sensitive innervation, in the activation of the micturition reflex, has been reported in many papers. In our experience, upon the intravesical administration of capsaicin in humans, we noticed an increase of diuresis. No interaction is known about the sensory innervation of the bladder and renal function, so we studied the possibility of the existence of a vesical-renal reflex arc.

Imipramine and fluoxetine prevent the stress-induced escape deficits in rats through a distinct mechanism of action.

A large body of evidence indicates that brain monoamines are involved in the pathogenesis of mental depression, as well as in the mechanism of action of most antidepressant treatments. The present report shows that long-term exposure to imipramine (IMI) or fluoxetine (FLX) was equally potent in preventing the escape deficits produced in rats by repeated unavoidable shocks. The acute administration of SCH 23390, a selective D1 dopamine receptor blocker, shortly before the inescapable shock session, entirely prevented IMI effect on escape performance, but only partially prevented that of FLX.

A comparison between medial meniscus repair, partial meniscectomy, and normal meniscus in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees.

A clinical, radiographic, and scintigraphic comparative study was performed on 57 consecutive successful patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions for chronic laxity. Patients were divided into 3 matched groups according to the medial meniscal treatment. Group A included 18 patients with medial meniscal repairs; Group B, 19 patients with partial medial meniscectomies; and Group C, 20 patients with normal menisci (controls).