A cross-sectional study on the relationship between hematological data and quantitative morphological indices from kidney biopsies in different glomerular diseases.

Background: The classical approach to the analysis of kidney biopsies is based on semi-quantitative scores of the amount of sclerosis, inflammatory infiltrate, fibrosis and vascular damage. However, advanced renal lesions may be accompanied by a paucity of clinical features and, conversely, important clinical abnormalities may be accompanied by minimal histopathological changes. The objective of this study is to correlate new, semiautomatic, quantitative features of kidney biopsies (e.

Interface Between MTA and Dental Bonding Agents: Scanning Electron Microscope Evaluation.

Aims And Objectives: Nowadays, the material that offers the best sealing characteristic in the field of endodontic treatment is the mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), nevertheless, this material necessities an adhesive bonding agent to perfectly join to the dental surface. The aim of this study was to analyze using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) the possible microgap between the adhesive, MTA, and the dental surface.

Material And Methods: Fourteen extracted molars were divided into two groups - group A was prepared with MTA-component adhesive and group B was prepared with MTA and composite dual etching.

Hepatitis C virus infection and prisoners: Epidemiology, outcome and treatment.

The studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in prison populations are few and mostly cross-sectional. We analyzed prevalently the articles appearing on PubMed in the last ten years. HCV infection is frequent in prisoners, prevalences ranging from 3.

Ambulatory laser-assisted surgery: a multicenter application and experience.

Background: The widespread use of surgical lasers has found place in dermatologic and aesthetic surgery largely because they are well tolerated with a reduced incidence of postoperative haemorrhage and oedema, few associated adverse events and a high rate of patient satisfaction.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1232 consecutive patients was performed on patients undergoing a range of laser treatments between January 2005 and January 2010. A mixed variety of indications for laser use included dermatologic surgeries for the removal of fibromas, angiomas and naevi, aesthetic surgeries for acne, superficial vascular conditions, facial rejuvenations and remodelling and tattoo removals as well as many miscellaneous conditions.

Blunt trauma as a cause of rib chondro-osteitis: a case study.

Rib chondro-osteitis is rare and usually caused by tuberculosis. A 63-year-old man presented with fever, painful swelling, and a burning sensation in the parasternal right submammary region. He had a history of cardiac interventions: percutaneous transcatheter angioplasty with stenting 1 year prior and coronary artery bypass graft surgery 16 years before; therefore, he was on dual antiplatelet therapy.

Range in pulmonary artery systolic pressure among highly trained athletes.

Background: Although the physiologic range of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) has been reported, data on how it is manifested in athletes are limited. The aim of the present study was to explore the full spectrum of PASP and the long-term training impact in a large population of highly trained athletes.

Methods: Six hundred fifteen consecutive athletes (370 endurance-trained athletes [ATEs] vs 245 strength-trained athletes [ATSs]; 28.

Proteasome activity as a target of hormone replacement therapy-dependent plaque stabilization in postmenopausal women.

The molecular mechanisms of the atheroprotective effect evoked by hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women is not well known. Recently, we have demonstrated enhanced activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in human atherosclerotic plaques and evidenced that it is associated with inflammatory-induced plaque rupture. Therefore, we hypothesized that hormone replacement therapy may exert the cardioprotective effects modulating the ubiquitin-proteasome activity.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B: efficacy of current drugs and prospects for the future.

Chronic hepatitis B is an important clinical problem often leading to severe complications. In this review, the results obtained in the last few years with the use of current drugs, such as interferon and nucleo(t)side analogues, are summarized and the problems of obtaining a sustained remission, which is only achieved in a small number of patients, are discussed. The new approaches, such as the use of combinations of drugs, to optimize long-term tolerable treatment are also considered.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system and inflammatory activity in diabetic atherosclerotic plaques: effects of rosiglitazone treatment.

The role of ubiquitin-proteasome system in the accelerated atherosclerotic progression of diabetic patients is unclear. We evaluated ubiquitin-proteasome activity in carotid plaques of asymptomatic diabetic and nondiabetic patients, as well as the effect of rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma activator, in diabetic plaques. Plaques were obtained from 46 type 2 diabetic and 30 nondiabetic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Management of gynaecomastia in patients with prostate cancer: a systematic review.

Patients with prostate cancer are increasingly being offered treatment with non-steroidal antiandrogen monotherapy, which offers potential quality-of-life benefits compared with other treatment. Non-steroidal antiandrogens directly antagonise androgen action in breast tissue, and indirectly increase the oestrogen concentration. Thus, the most troublesome side-effects of monotherapy with these drugs are gynaecomastia and breast pain.

Behavioural, pharmacological, morpho-functional molecular studies reveal a hyperfunctioning mesocortical dopamine system in an animal model of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

Clinical and experimental evidence suggest an involvement of dopamine systems, mainly the mesocorticolimbic one (MCL), in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, it remains to be ascertained whether the systems are hyper- or hypo-functioning, for the implications of the functional state. Indeed, differential functional states of the MCL branches are suggested to be the neural substrate of different ADHD variants.