Multimodal EEG-MRI in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) remains challenging; currently the best discriminator is striatal dopaminergic imaging. However this modality fails to identify 15-20% of DLB cases and thus other biomarkers may be useful. It is recognised electroencephalography (EEG) slowing and relative medial temporal lobe preservation are supportive features of DLB, although individually they lack diagnostic accuracy.

Centella asiatica and lipoic acid, or a combination thereof, inhibit monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells from umbilical cords of gestational diabetic women.

Background And Aims: Diabetes mellitus is associated with inflammatory endothelial activation and increased vascular leukocyte adhesion molecule expression, both playing a prominent role in the development of vascular complications. Centella asiatica (CA) and Lipoic Acid (LA) have shown anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties in a variety of experimental models; however, their action on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), chronically exposed to hyperglycemia and pro-inflammatory environment during pregnancy, is still unknown.

Methods And Results: In HUVECs from umbilical cords of gestational diabetic (GD) or healthy (C) women, both CA and LA affected tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced inflammation, being associated with a significant decrease in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression (western blot) and exposure (flow cytometry), as well as monocyte-HUVECs interaction (adhesion assay).

Revisiting P300 cognitive studies for dementia diagnosis: Early dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer disease (AD).

Aims Of The Study: Earlier P300 studies were conducted when the prevalence of dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) was unknown. Our study aims to examine whether P300 abnormalities are present in DLB and to evidence possible differences between DLB and Alzheimer's disease (AD). A second aim of this study is to look for correlations between P300 recordings and EEG, as abnormal EEG variability has been described in DLB.

Lipoxin and aspirin-triggered lipoxins.

Lipoxins and their 15 epimers, aspirin triggered lipoxins (ATL), are eicosanoids derived from sequential lipoxygenase (LO) metabolism of arachidonic acid. The main routes of lipoxin biosynthesis involve cooperation between 15- and 5-LO, and between 12- and 5-LO. ATL are generated by interactions between 5-LO and aspirin-acetylated cyclooxygenase-2.

Severe outcome of pharyngeal-cervical-brachial pure motor axonal neuropathy.

We present two further cases of the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) form of GBS, with unfavourable outcome, showing dramatic dissociation between upper and lower body Symptoms. Both patients showed rapidly progressive motor denervation with disappearance of Compound Muscle Action Potentials (CMAPs) in upper limbs muscles. Sensory Nerve Action Potentials (SNAPs) were instead normal.

Regulation of major histocompatibility complex gene expression in thyroid epithelial cells by methimazole and phenylmethimazole.

Increased expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I genes and aberrant expression of MHC class-II genes in thyroid epithelial cells (TECs) are associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases. Previous studies have shown that methimazole (MMI) reduces MHC class-I expression and inhibits interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma or IFNG as listed in the MGI Database)-induced expression of the MHC class-II genes in TECs. The action of MMI on the MHC class-I genes is transcriptional, but its mechanism has not been investigated previously.

Chronic hyperglicemia and nitric oxide bioavailability play a pivotal role in pro-atherogenic vascular modifications.

Diabetes is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and macrovascular complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this disease. Although our understanding of vascular pathology has lately greatly improved, the mechanism(s) underlying enhanced atherosclerosis in diabetes remain unclear. Endothelial cell dysfunction is emerging as a key component in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular abnormalities associated with diabetes.

EEG comparisons in early Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease with dementia patients with a 2-year follow-up.

EEG abnormalities have been reported for both dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although it has been suggested that variations in mean EEG frequency are greater in the former, the existence of meaningful differences remains controversial. No evidence is as yet available for Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD).

Lipoxin receptors.

Lipoxins (LXs) represent a class of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites that carry potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, LXA4 and LXB4 being the main components of this series. LXs are generated by cooperation between 5-lipoxygenase (LO) and 12- or 15-LO during cell-cell interactions or by single cell types. LX epimers at carbon 15, the 15-epi-LXs, are formed by aspirin-acetylated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cooperation with 5-LO.

Modulatory effects of heparin on cellular accumulation and cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in MRP1-overexpressing HL60/doxo cells.

Background: The overexpression of multidrug resistance protein (MRP1), associated with high levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH), is a well characterized mechanism of multidrug resistance (MDR) in several malignancies. Various chemosensitizers have been used in vitro to modulate the MRP1 activity, but the high toxicity limits their clinical application. Unfractionated heparin (UFH), is frequently used to prevent thrombo-embolic complications in cancer patients.

Serum and mucosal cytokine profiles in patients with active Helicobacter pylori and ischemic heart disease: is there a relationship?

This study is designed to investigate, for the first time, circulating and gastric mucosal levels of IL1-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and matched controls, according to the presence or absence of active Helicobacter pylori infection. Furthermore, in order to evaluate whether modified lipid profile was associated to an increased cardiovascular risk, this was determined in the same groups. Cytokine levels were measured using ELISA in 58 patients with IHD and 52 controls.

The haematocrit and platelet target in polycythemia vera.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder whose major morbidity and mortality are thrombohaemorragic events and progression to acute leukaemia or myelofibrosis. Whether the haematocrit and platelet count predict such complications remains unclear. The European Collaboration on Low-dose Aspirin in Polycythemia Vera prospective study included 1638 PV patients.

Diagnostic accuracy of D-dimer test for exclusion of venous thromboembolism: a systematic review.

Background: The reported diagnostic accuracy of the D-dimer test for exclusion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) varies. It is unknown to what extent this is due to differences in study design or patient groups, or to genuine differences between D-dimer assays.

Methods: Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of the D-dimer test in the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism were systematically searched for in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases up to March 2005.

Transcriptional regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I gene by insulin and IGF-I in FRTL-5 thyroid cells.

Increased major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene expression in nonimmune cell 'target tissues' involved in organ-specific diseases may be important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This possibility in part evolves from studies of cultured thyrocytes where properties appear relevant to the development of thyroid autoimmune disease. In FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells in continuous culture, hormones and growth factors that regulate cell growth and function specifically decrease MHC class I gene expression.

Lipid mediators: lipoxin and aspirin-triggered 15-epi-lipoxins.

Lipoxins (LX) and their 15-epimers, aspirin triggered lipoxins (ATL) are emerging as major promoters of resolution of the inflammatory reaction. These eicosanoids, that carry a tetraene chromophore, derive from sequential lipoxygenase (LO) metabolism of arachidonic acid. Three principal routes of LX/ATL biosynthesis have been uncovered.

The future of traditional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in the treatment of inflammation and pain.

Prostanoids act leading roles in a myriad of physiologic and pathologic processes because these autacoids participate in the amplification of biological responses induced by innumerable stimuli. The formation of prostanoids is operated by two synthases named cyclooxygenase(COX)-1 and COX-2. Traditional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs) give rise to antipyretic, analgesic, and antiinflammatory actions, through their reversible clogging of the COX channel of COX-2 - apart from aspirin which modifies irreversibly the catalytic activity of COX-2.

Combined use of clinical pretest probability and D-dimer test in cancer patients with clinically suspected deep venous thrombosis.

Background: The value of the D-dimer (DD) test in combination with the clinical pretest probability (PTP) has not been evaluated in cancer patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT), whereas this group of patients usually accounts for 10-25% of clinically suspected DVT.

Methods: A cohort of 2066 consecutive patients with clinically suspected DVT was investigated. Patients were judged to be positive or negative for DVT according to the outcomes of serial compression ultrasound and a 3-month follow-up period with imaging test verification of the symptomatic cases.

Selective insulin resistance affecting nitric oxide release but not plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 synthesis in fibroblasts from insulin-resistant individuals.

Objective: Insulin activates several processes potentially dangerous for the arterial wall and hyperinsulinemia might be atherogenic. However, other insulin effects are protective for the vessel wall and thus anti-atherogenic. Aim of this study was to investigate whether insulin effects on potentially pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic processes were differently affected in cells from insulin-resistant individuals.

Lipoxin analogs and lipoxin formation in vivo.

The definition of lipoxin bioactions in vivo and of lipoxin levels in humans, under physiological and pathological conditions, represents a main task toward the clinical use of lipoxins. The introduction of lipoxin stable analogs and of new methodology for immunological measurements of lipoxin A4 in human fluids is significantly contributing to fulfill this task. This chapter reviews the current literature on the use of lipoxin analogs, in vivo, and on measurements of lipoxin A4 in health and disease.

D-Dimer test in cancer patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The safety of a D-dimer (DD) measurement in cancer patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) is unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the DD test in consecutive patients with clinically suspected PE with and without cancer.

Methods: The diagnostic accuracy of DD (Tinaquant D-dimer) was first retrospectively assessed in an unselected group of patients referred for suspected PE (n = 350).

Inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance by unfractionated heparin: a new potential chemosensitizer for cancer therapy.

Anticoagulant treatment with heparins is frequently used to prevent venous thromboembolism in cancer patients. In the present study, we investigated the ability of unfractionated heparin (UFH) to inhibit P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) on human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB231) and its doxo-resistant subline. Results were a compared to the classic reversing agent, Verapamil (Ver), used, as reference at 50 microM concentration.

Acute akinesia in Parkinson disease.

Objective: To assess acute akinesia in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) ("acute akinesia" defined as a sudden deterioration in motor performance that persists for > or =48 hours despite treatment).

Methods: The study population was a cohort of 675 patients followed regularly for 12 years in the authors' outpatient clinic. All patients were studied when acute akinesia led to hospitalization.

Increased expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 as a stabilizing factor in human atherosclerotic plaques.

Background And Purpose: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a growth factor/cytokine involved in vascular remodeling and atherogenesis. Recent studies in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice have demonstrated a pivotal role of TGF-beta in the maintenance of the balance between inflammation and fibrosis in atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, inhibition of TGF-beta signaling has been shown to accelerate plaque formation and its progression toward an unstable phenotype in mice.