Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy as initial presentation of pheocromocytoma. A clinical case.

Introduction: Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy is a rapidly reversible form of acute heart failure triggered by stressful events that occur more frequently in postmenopausal women. A central role is supposed to be played by catecholamines and the association with pheocromocytoma is rare.

Case Presentation: We describe a patient admitted for abdominal pain and suffering of hypertension pharmacologically treated.

Reversible binding of metal ions onto bacterial layers revealed by protonation-induced ATR-FTIR difference spectroscopy.

The ability of microorganisms to adhere to abiotic surfaces and the potentialities of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy have been exploited to study protonation and heavy metal binding events onto bacterial surfaces. This work represents the first attempt to apply on bacteria the recently developed method known as perfusion-induced ATR-FTIR difference spectroscopy. Such a technique allows measurement of even slight changes in the infrared spectrum of the sample, deposited as a thin layer on an ATR crystal, while an aqueous solution is perfused over its surface.

Synchronous pattern distinguishes resting tremor associated with essential tremor from rest tremor of Parkinson's disease.

Rest tremor associated with essential tremor (ET) is a condition that poses challenges in diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated tremor parameters in PD and ET patients with rest tremor. Fifteen patients with PD and 15 patients with ET underwent electrophysiological examination to evaluate characteristics of muscle bursting in rest postures.

Detection and molecular characterization of Mycobacterium celatum as a cause of splenitis in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

Mycobacterium celatum is a slow growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium described mainly as occurring in human patients. Only two cases of infection with this pathogen have been reported previously in animals. A 5-year-old, neutered male ferret was presented with progressive weight loss and muscle atrophy.

A serological and molecular study of Leishmania infantum infection in cats from the Island of Ibiza (Spain).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Leishmania infantum infection within a feline population by serologic and molecular methods and to identify associated risk factors. One hundred five cats living outdoors were studied. Sera were tested for IgG antibodies against L.

Early detection of mercury contamination by fluorescence induction of photosynthetic bacteria.

The induction (sudden dark-to-light transition) of fluorescence of photosynthetic bacteria has proved to be sensitive tool for early detection of mercury (Hg(2+)) contamination of the culture medium. The major characteristics of the induction (dark, variable and maximum fluorescence levels together with rise time) offer an easier, faster and more informative assay of indication of the contamination than the conventional techniques. The inhibition of Hg(2+) is stronger in the light than in the dark and follows complex kinetics.

Rate of CD4+ cell count increase over periods of viral load suppression: relationship with the number of previous virological failures.

Background: Although the kinetics of CD4(+) cell counts have been extensively studied in antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients, data on individuals who have failed combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) are lacking.

Methods: This analysis was based on the ICONA Foundation Study. Subjects with > or = 1 episode of viral suppression after starting first-line cART were included (n = 3537).

Assessment of an internal reference gene in Rhodobacter sphaeroides grown under cobalt exposure.

Aim of this study is the identification of an appropriate internal reference gene to quantify gene transcripts isolated from Rhodobacter (R.) sphaeroides cells grown in presence of high concentrations of cobalt ions. RNA was isolated using a commercial kit protocol ad-hoc modified.

Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges encapsulating camptothecin: physicochemical characterization, stability and cytotoxicity.

Camptothecin (CAM), a plant alkaloid and a potent antitumor agent, has a limited therapeutic utility because of its poor aqueous solubility, lactone ring instability and serious side effects. Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (NS) are a novel class of cross-linked derivatives of cyclodextrins. They have been used to increase the solubility of poorly soluble actives, to protect the labile groups and control the release.

Electrospray technique for solid lipid-based particle production.

Background: Different preparation methods for the production of lipid micro- and nanoparticles as controlled release formulations have been widely developed. Novel techniques are attracting increasing attention for their preparation.

Method: The objective of the present investigation was to produce solid lipid-based micro-nanospheres using the electrohydrodynamic atomization (electrospraying) and to evaluate whether it is a suitable method to prepare drug-loaded particles.

Modulation of extracellular matrix by nutritional hepatotrophic factors in thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis in the rat.

Nutritional substances associated to some hormones enhance liver regeneration when injected intraperitoneally, being denominated hepatotrophic factors (HF). Here we verified if a solution of HF (glucose, vitamins, salts, amino acids, glucagon, insulin, and triiodothyronine) can revert liver cirrhosis and how some extracellular matrices are affected. Cirrhosis was induced for 14 weeks in 45 female Wistar rats (200 mg) by intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (200 mg/kg).

Clinicopathological findings, molecular detection and characterization of Babesia gibsoni infection in a sick dog from Italy.

A 4-year-old intact female American Pit Bull Terrier from Italy descendant of an American-born bitch was evaluated for anorexia, lethargy, weakness, and intermittent vomiting. On physical examination, the dog was dehydrated, had pale mucous membranes, hunched posture and abdominal pain. A moderate anemia was observed.

Preparation and characterization of dextran nanobubbles for oxygen delivery.

Dextran nanobubbles were prepared with a dextran shell and a perfluoropentan core in which oxygen was stored. To increase the stability polyvinylpirrolidone was also added to the formulation as stabilizing agent. Rhodamine B was used as fluorescent marker to obtain fluorescent nanobubbles.

Impact of metabolic complications on antiretroviral treatment adherence: clinical and public health implications.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an effective strategy for preventing disease progression of HIV infection, particularly when patients adhere closely to the treatment regimen. However, ART medications can cause side effects, including metabolic complications that can impact patients' adherence levels. Selected chronic complications associated with ART include lipodystrophy, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and bone disorders such as osteopenia/osteoporosis.

Solid lipid nanoparticles produced through a coacervation method.

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) of fatty acids (FAs) were prepared with a new, solvent-free technique based on FAs precipitation from their sodium salt micelles in the presence of polymeric non-ionic surfactants: this technique was called 'coacervation'. Myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic and behenic acid were employed as lipid matrixes. Spherical shaped nanoparticles with mean diameters ranging from 250 to approximately 500 nm were obtained.

Historical resistance profile helps to predict salvage failure.

Background: This study compared the predictive value for treatment failure of extended resistance detected in the current genotype resistance test (GRT) versus those from GRT history in patients with multiple combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) failures.

Methods: Patients who underwent three GRT between 1999 and 2007 were included. Extended resistance at genotypic sensitivity score (GSS) using the Rega 7.

Characterisation of RC-proteoliposomes at different RC/lipid ratios.

Reconstitution of membrane proteins in phospholipid vesicles allows the investigation of such macromolecules in a biomimetic simplified environment. The often employed micelle-to-vesicle-transition method for proteoliposome preparation is a fast and reproducible technique. In this, communication is shown that the lipid/protein ratio influences the size of the proteoliposomes and the actual protein reconstitution.

Effect of suppressing HIV viremia on the HIV progression of patients undergoing a genotype resistance test after treatment failure.

Background: Treatment guidelines for multi-experienced HIV patients have recently evolved from aiming to preserve immunity to achieving virological success, largely due to the availability of new antiretroviral drugs and drug classes. To assess the role of viral suppression on clinical progression following a genotypic resistance test (GRT), we have examined a database on patients failing to respond to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Methods: Patients undergoing a GRT after failure to respond to cART between January 1999 and May 2006 were followed up to December 2006.

Detection of erythrocyte binding IgM and IgG by flow cytometry in sick dogs with Babesia canis canis or Babesia canis vogeli infection.

The aim of this study was to examine by means of flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) if sick dogs infected with Babesia canis canis (B. c. canis) or Babesia canis vogeli (B.

Dynamics of NRTI resistance mutations during therapy interruption.

Abstract To date, very little information is available regarding the evolution of drug resistance mutations during treatment interruption (TI). Using a survival analysis approach, we investigated the dynamics of mutations associated with resistance to nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) during TI. Analyzing 132 patients having at least two consecutive genotypes, one at last NRTI-containing regimen failure, and at least one during TI, we observed that the NRTI resistance mutations disappear at different rates during TI and are lost independently of each other in the majority of patients.

Treatment with the fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide influences the appearance of mutations in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 regulatory protein rev.

The gp41-encoding sequence of the env gene contains in two separate regions the Rev-responsive elements (RRE) and the alternative open reading frame of the second exon of the regulatory protein Rev. The binding of Rev to the RRE allows the transport of unspliced/singly spliced viral mRNAs out of the nucleus, an essential step in the life cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In this study, we have investigated whether the fusion-inhibitor enfuvirtide (ENF) can induce mutations in Rev and if these mutations correlate with the classical ENF resistance gp41 mutations and with viremia and CD4 cell count.

Soluble proteome investigation of cobalt effect on the carotenoidless mutant of Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

Aims: To investigate the surviving capability of Rhodobacter sphaeroides under phototrophic conditions in the presence of high cobalt concentration and its influence on the photosynthetic apparatus biosynthesis.

Methods And Results: Cells from R. sphaeroides strain R26.

Babesia canis canis and Babesia canis vogeli clinicopathological findings and DNA detection by means of PCR-RFLP in blood from Italian dogs suspected of tick-borne disease.

The aims of this study were to determine the presence of Babesia spp. in blood samples from Italian dogs with clinical signs compatible with tick-borne diseases by means of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and describe the clinicopathological findings of dogs with Babesia infection. We evaluated the majority of canine babesiosis cases by means of clinical history, physical examination, hematological, biochemical, serum electrophoresis, urinalysis and hemostatic tests.

Preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles from W/O/W emulsions: preliminary studies on insulin encapsulation.

A method to produce solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) from W/O/W multiple emulsions was developed applying the solvent-in-water emulsion-diffusion technique. Insulin was chosen as hydrophilic peptide drug to be dissolved in the acidic inner aqueous phase of multiple emulsions and to be consequently carried in SLN. Several partially water-miscible solvents with low toxicity were screened in order to optimize emulsions and SLN composition, after assessing that insulin did not undergo any chemical modification in the presence of the different solvents and under the production process conditions.