Non-demyelinating optic neuropathy: clinical entities.

Alternative causes of optic neuritis (ON), other than primary demyelination or non-demyelinating optic neuropathies which can mimic acute ON, should be rigorously considered if a patient with presumed ON does not follow the typical clinical course or has a normally appearing brain on magnetic resonance imaging. A thorough differential diagnosis includes viral and bacterial optic neuropathies, ischemic optic neuropathies, Devic's neuromyelitis optica, compressive or infiltrative optic neuropathies, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and toxic and deficiency optic neuropathies. All patients should undergo a complete neuroophthalmological examination to help exclude other diseases mimicking ON.

Highly active antiretroviral-treated HIV-infected children show fat distribution changes even in absence of lipodystrophy.

Background: Combined use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows a precise estimate of regional body composition and intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAT). Data on body composition in HIV-infected children (HIV+) receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with (LD+) and without (LD-) lipodystrophy are lacking.

Methods: DXA scans were performed in 34 HIV+: six LD+, 28 LD- and 34 pair-matched (age, sex and body mass index) healthy controls (HC): six for LD+ (HC+) and 28 for LD- (HC-).

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of diclofenac in human plasma after solid-phase extraction.

A novel high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantification of diclofenac in human plasma was set up. Samples, added with ibuprofen (used as internal standard) were purified by solid-phase extraction using Abselut Nexus cartridges (Varian) not requiring pre-conditioning. Drugs of interest were eluted directly into the autosampler vials and injected.

Bone mineral loss through increased bone turnover in HIV-infected children treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence and define the aetiology of osteopenia in children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) of total body and lumbar spine (L2-L4) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 40 children vertically infected with HIV: 35 taking HAART and five naive to any antiretroviral treatment (untreated). Six HAART-treated children showed clinical evidence of lipodystrophy.

Quantification of gentamicin in Mueller-Hinton agar by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The aim of this study was to optimise a method for gentamicin determination in an agar matrix and to investigate if and how agar composition can affect the gentamicin diffusion kinetics during the agar diffusion tests for antibiotics sensitivity. Gentamicin was separated by RP-HPLC and detected at 365 nm after pre-column derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Recovery (> or = 79%), linearity (r2 > or = 0.

In vivo gene therapy of metachromatic leukodystrophy by lentiviral vectors: correction of neuropathology and protection against learning impairments in affected mice.

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lipidosis caused by deficiency of arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Although the genetics of MLD are known, its pathophysiology is not understood. The disease leads to progressive demyelination and early death and no effective treatment is available.

A fast method for calibrating video-based motion analysers using only a rigid bar.

Video-camera systems are widely used in biomechanics and clinical fields to measure the 3D kinematic measurements of human motion. To be used, they need to be calibrated, that is the parameters which geometrically define the cameras have to be determined. It is shown here how this can be achieved by surveying a rigid bar in motion inside the working volume, and in a very short time: less than 15 s on a Pentium III.

Labeling and evaluation of N-[11C]methylated quinoline-2-carboxamides as potential radioligands for visualization of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors.

The novel quinoline-2-carboxamide derivatives N-[methyl-11C]-3-methyl-4-phenyl-N-(phenylmethyl)quinoline-2-carboxamide ([11C]4), (+/-)-N-[methyl-11C]-3-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-4-phenylquinoline-2-carboxamide ([11C]5), and (+/-)-N-[methyl-11C]-3-methyl-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-N-(1-methylpropyl)quinoline-2-carboxamide ([11C]6) were labeled with carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min, beta+ = 99.8%) as potential radioligands for the noninvasive assessment of peripheral benzodiazepine type receptors (PBR) in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET).

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of [11C]ICI 118551 as a putative subtype selective beta2-adrenergic radioligand.

Erytro-(+/-)-1-[2,3-(dihydro-7-methyl-1H-inden-4-yl)oxy]-3-[ iso-propylamino]-2-butanol (ICI 118551) a potent clinically used beta2 adrenergic antagonist, was labelled with carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min) as a potential radioligand for the non-invasive assessment of beta2 adrenergic receptors in the lung with positron emission tomography (PET). The radiolabelled compound was prepared by reductive N-alkylation of its des-isopropyl precursor with [2-11C]acetone.

Evaluation of ceftazidime concentration released in agar from an E test strip.

The aim of this study was to evaluate, using high-performance liquid chromatography, the concentration of ceftazidime in agar released from an E test strip, sampling at the edge of the strip at different points (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 microg/ml) at 6, 15, and 24 h after its deposition on uninoculated plates. From 6 to 24 h, the ceftazidime concentration in agar increased at the graduations 1, 2, and 4 microg/ml (+140, +82, and +58%, respectively), remained fairly constant at 8 microg/ml (-1.9%), and decreased at 16, 32, 64, and 128 microg/ml (-25, -44, -36, and -58%, respectively).

Engagement of CD30 shapes the secretion of cytokines by human gamma delta T cells.

CD30 is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, previously shown to be expressed on Hodgkin's lymphoma cells and on normal activated lymphocytes. We here show that CD30 is highly expressed on recently activated human gamma delta T cells. Elevated surface levels of this molecule persisted in long-term cultures of gamma delta cells, without further cell stimulation.

Processing and release of human proinsulin-cleavage products into culture media by different engineered non-endocrine cells: a specific assessment by capillary electrophoresis.

The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic pathway to mature insulin through the intermediate forms (32-33 split, 65-66 split, des31,32 and des64,65) in human or murine cells engineered for the release of wild-type human proinsulin and in a genetically mutated one, in the search for a new approach for an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus cure by gene therapy. Primary human fibroblasts, myoblasts and stabilized cell lines (HepG2 and NIH3T3) were transduced either with a retroviral vector coding for wild-type proinsulin or for a genetically mutated one, carrying cleavage sites sensitive to furin. The pattern of all the proinsulin cleavage products released into the cell culture supernatants was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis.

Supraventricular arrhythmia following lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer and its treatment with amiodarone.

Objective: From January 1998 to February 1999, 160 patients undergoing lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer were studied to define factors that increase the risk of postoperative supraventricular arrhythmia (SA) and to assess the effectiveness of amiodarone as an antiarrhythmic drug.

Methods: All patients were monitored intraoperatively and postoperatively up to day 3. Onset of SA was documented with ECG.

Evaluation of [O-methyl-(11)C]fluvoxamine as a tracer for serotonin re-uptake sites.

We evaluated [(11)C]fluvoxamine as a tracer for the serotonin re-uptake site. Studies of the distribution of the tracer in rat and primate brain showed adequate uptake of [(11)C]fluvoxamine, but failed to reveal regions with known high density of serotoninergic re-uptake sites. Pretreatment with unlabeled fluvoxamine did not substantially change the distribution.

Diagnosis of persistent ovarian carcinoma with three-step immunoscintigraphy.

The diagnosis of recurrent ovarian carcinoma is usually determined at surgical re-exploration since the main non-invasive diagnostic tests have low accuracy. It would be desirable to have a high accuracy non-invasive diagnostic procedure. With this aim, we have assessed the utility of three-step immunoscintigraphy.

Multi-step purification strategy for RANTES wild-type and mutated analogues expressed in a baculovirus system.

RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), a C-C chemokine, is one of the major HIV-suppressive factors produced by CD8+ T cells. Wild-type RANTES and genetically modified analogues were expressed in a baculovirus system and purified from cell culture supernatants employing a multi-step strategy based on affinity and RP-HPLC. Quantification and purity control of the final proteins were carried out by capillary electrophoresis using the synthetic or the recombinant wild-type RANTES as a reference.

A cultural effect on brain function.

We present behavioral and anatomical evidence for a multi-component reading system in which different components are differentially weighted depending on culture-specific demands of orthography. Italian orthography is consistent, enabling reliable conversion of graphemes to phonemes to yield correct pronunciation of the word. English orthography is inconsistent, complicating mapping of letters to word sounds.

Treatment of hyperfiltering blebs with Nd:YAG laser-induced subconjunctival bleeding.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of a new technique to manage hyperfiltering blebs after penetrating glaucoma surgery.

Methods: Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser bursts were used to induce bleeding in conjunctival and episcleral vessels in the bleb area to achieve local delivery of autologous blood.

Results: In the three cases reported here in which this technique was used, the treatment was successful and safe, leading to resolution of hypotony and reduction of the bleb with no complications.

FDG/PET and spiral CT image fusion for medistinal lymph node assessment of non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: To assess the potential usefulness of 18F-FDG/PET and spiral-CT images concurrent assessment and coregistration in staging mediastinal lymph node involvement in patients with non small cell lung cancer.

Methods: 28 patients waiting to undergo surgical treatment underwent spiral-CT and PET examinations on the same day. The results of the two studies were interpreted separately, together (CT&PET) and following their fusion in a single image (CT+PET).

Interference of lupus anticoagulants in prothrombin time assays: implications for selection of adequate methods to optimize the management of thrombosis in the antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome.

Background And Objective: Prolonged anticoagulation aiming at International Normalized Ratio (INR) values > 3.0 has been recommended for patients with thrombosis and the antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome. We evaluated the influence of anticoagulant antibodies in two different prothrombin time (PT) assays carried out on plasma from lupus anticoagulant patients on oral anticoagulation.

Xotx1 maternal transcripts are vegetally localized in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Xotx1 is a Xenopus homeobox gene related to the Drosophila gene orthodenticle (otd). We previously reported that Xotx1 transcripts are already present in unfertilized egg. Here we report that maternal Xotx1 mRNA is vegetally localized during oogenesis.

Optical coherence tomography in idiopathic epiretinal macular membrane surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images for surgical indication, intraoperative management and postoperative outcome of patients with idiopathic epiretinal macular membrane (IEMM).

Methods: 28 selected eyes underwent surgery for removal of IEMM. The patients' mean age was 57.

Generation of nitric oxide by the inducible nitric oxide synthase protects gamma delta T cells from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced apoptosis.

Gamma delta T cells are early recruited into mycobacterial lesions. Upon microbial Ag recognition, gamma delta cells secrete cytokines and chemokines and undergo apoptosis via CD95/CD95 ligand (CD95L) interaction, possibly influencing the outcome of infection and the characteristics of the disease. In this paper we show that activated phagocytes acquire, upon challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the ability to inhibit M.

Expression of CXCR4, the receptor for stromal cell-derived factor-1 on fetal and adult human lympho-hematopoietic progenitors.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a CXC chemokine produced by stromal cells that acts as a chemoattractant for human CD34+ progenitor cells. We investigated the expression of CXCR4, the receptor for SDF-1, on CD34+ cells from different hematopoietic sites and developmental stages. CXCR4 was detected by flow cytometry on 37 % of fetal bone marrow (BM) [gestation weeks (gw) 14-23] and 40% of adult BM CD34+ cells.