The interplay between inflammatory cytokines and the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of synaptic transmission.

Excessive glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission and secondary excitotoxicity have been proposed as key determinants of neurodegeneration in many neurological diseases. Soluble mediators of inflammation have recently gained attention owing to their ability to enhance glutamate transmission and affect synaptic sensitivity to neurotransmitters. In the complex crosstalk between soluble immunoactive molecules and synapses, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a central role, exerting an indirect neuroprotective action by inhibiting cytokine-dependent synaptic alterations, and a direct neuroprotective effect by limiting glutamate transmission and excitotoxic damage.

Cingulate neglect in humans: disruption of contralesional reward learning in right brain damage.

Motivational valence plays a key role in orienting spatial attention. Nonetheless, clinical documentation and understanding of motivationally based deficits of spatial orienting in the human is limited. Here in a series of one group-study and two single-case studies, we have examined right brain damaged patients (RBD) with and without left spatial neglect in a spatial reward-learning task, in which the motivational valence of the left contralesional and the right ipsilesional space was contrasted.

Proteinase activated-receptors-associated signaling in the control of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer in the world and the second cause of cancer-related death. Gastric carcinogenesis is a multifactorial process, in which environmental and genetic factors interact to activate multiple intracellular signals thus leading to uncontrolled growth and survival of GC cells. One such a pathway is regulated by proteinase activated-receptors (PARs), seven transmembrane-spanning domain G protein-coupled receptors, which comprise four receptors (i.

[General practitioner's role in immunization practice: prevention, counseling and protection of patients at risk].

In Italy, General Practitioner (GP) plays a key role in directing patients in immunization practice, especially those at risk, who might benefit most from vaccine protection. The numerous GP's specific activities in this field include vaccine administration, reporting of adverse reactions, check of vaccination status, counseling, identification of at-risk patients, recommendation for post-exposure prophylaxis, self and ambulatory staff immunization. GP is one the main health professionals in charge of patients care and has the task to ensure both diseases prevention and health care costs restraint.

Peripheral B cell depletion and central proinflammatory cytokine reduction following repeated intrathecal administration of rituximab in progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

B cells and/or the enhanced inflammatory milieu in the subarachnoid space are supposed to have a role in cortical pathology of progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). The efficacy of intravenous rituximab to deplete circulating B cells is remarkable in MS, and its intrathecal delivery could target compartmentalized inflammation in PMS. We describe the central and peripheral effects of repeated intrathecal rituximab administrations in a patient with severe PMS.

Mutations in ZBTB20 cause Primrose syndrome.

Primrose syndrome and 3q13.31 microdeletion syndrome are clinically related disorders characterized by tall stature, macrocephaly, intellectual disability, disturbed behavior and unusual facial features, with diabetes, deafness, progressive muscle wasting and ectopic calcifications specifically occurring in the former. We report that missense mutations in ZBTB20, residing within the 3q13.

Absolute rate constants for hydrogen atom transfer from tertiary amides to the cumyloxyl radical: evaluating the role of stereoelectronic effects.

A time-resolved kinetic study of the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions from a series of alkanamides to the cumyloxyl radical (CumO(•)) was carried out. With N,N-dialkylformamides HAT preferentially occurs from the formyl C-H bond, while in N-formylpyrrolidine HAT mostly occurs from the ring α-C-H bonds. With the acetamides and the alkanamides almost exclusive HAT from the C-H bonds that are α to nitrogen was observed.

Early administration of donor lymphocyte infusions upon molecular relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia: a study by the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT.

Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia relapsing after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be treated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors and/or by donor lymphocyte infusions. The best strategies and timing of administration of lymphocytes are unclear. We analyzed 155 patients who relapsed after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with disease detectable only by molecular methods and who subsequently received lymphocytes.

The autonomic balance predicts cardiac responses after the first dose of fingolimod.

Background: Predictive markers of cardiac side effects would be helpful for the stratification and individualized monitoring of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients prescribed with fingolimod.

Objective: To test whether the autonomic balance predicts a cardiac response after the first dose of fingolimod.

Methods: A total of 55 consecutive relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients underwent 'head-up tilt', Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing and handgrip tests before their first dose of fingolimod.

Behavioral and electrophysiological effects of endocannabinoid and dopaminergic systems on salient stimuli.

Rewarding effects have been related to enhanced dopamine (DA) release in corticolimbic and basal ganglia structures. The DAergic and endocannabinoid interaction in the responses to reward is described. This study investigated the link between endocannabinoid and DAergic transmission in the processes that are related to response to two types of reward, palatable food and novelty.

Structural and medium effects on the reactions of the cumyloxyl radical with intramolecular hydrogen bonded phenols. The interplay between hydrogen-bonding and acid-base interactions on the hydrogen atom transfer reactivity and selectivity.

A time-resolved kinetic study on the reactions of the cumyloxyl radical (CumO(•)) with intramolecularly hydrogen bonded 2-(1-piperidinylmethyl)phenol (1) and 4-methoxy-2-(1-piperidinylmethyl)phenol (2) and with 4-methoxy-3-(1-piperidinylmethyl)phenol (3) has been carried out. In acetonitrile, intramolecular hydrogen bonding protects the phenolic O-H of 1 and 2 from attack by CumO(•) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) exclusively occurs from the C-H bonds that are α to the piperidine nitrogen (α-C-H bonds). With 3 HAT from both the phenolic O-H and the α-C-H bonds is observed.

Interleukin-8 is associated with acute and persistent dysfunction after optic neuritis.

Background: Acute optic neuritis is often in association with multiple sclerosis (MS). Proinflammatory cytokines trigger neuronal damage in neuroinflammatory disorders but their role in optic neuritis is poorly investigated.

Objective: The objective of this work is to investigate the associations of intrathecal contents of proinflammatory cytokines with transient and persistent dysfunctions after optic neuritis.

Hydrogen atom transfer from 1,n-alkanediamines to the cumyloxyl radical. Modulating C-H deactivation through acid-base interactions and solvent effects.

A time-resolved kinetic study on the effect of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) on the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions from 1,n-alkanediamines (R2N(CH2)nNR2, R = H, CH3; n = 1-4), piperazine, and 1,4-dimethylpiperazine to the cumyloxyl radical (CumO(•)), has been carried out in MeCN and DMSO. Very strong deactivation of the α-C-H bonds has been observed following nitrogen protonation and the results obtained have been explained in terms of substrate basicity, of the distance between the two basic centers and of the solvent hydrogen bond acceptor ability. At [substrate] ≤ 1/2 [TFA] the substrates exist in the doubly protonated form HR2N(+)(CH2)nN(+)R2H, and no reaction with CumO(•) is observed.

Treatment options to reduce disease activity after natalizumab: paradoxical effects of corticosteroids.

Aim: Natalizumab (NTZ) discontinuation leads to multiple sclerosis (MS) recurrence, but represents the only known strategy to limit the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in JCV seropositive patients. Here, we compared the clinical and imaging features of three groups of patients who discontinued NTZ treatment.

Methods: We treated 25 patients with subcutaneous INFβ-1b (INF group), 40 patients with glatiramer acetate (GA group), and 40 patients with GA plus pulse steroid (GA+CS group).

Prospective memory impairment and executive dysfunction in prefrontal lobe damaged patients: is there a causal relationship?

Background: The prospective memory (PM) construct is aimed at capturing cognitive operations involved in the successful accomplishment of delayed intentions. It is generally agreed that PM impairment occurs in patients with prefrontal lobes damage.

Objective: To evaluate if there is a causal role of a deficit of executive abilities (failures of planning, set-shifting, selective attention, or working memory) over the PM impairment.

High sensitivity of flow cytometry improves detection of occult leptomeningeal disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Conventional cytology (CC) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fails to demonstrate malignant cells in up to 45 % of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL/LL) in whom occult leptomeningeal disease is present. Flow cytometry (FCM) is considered more sensitive than CC, but clinical implications of CC negativity/CC positivity are not yet established. CSF samples from 38 adult patients with newly diagnosed ALL/LL were examined.

Activating mutations in RRAS underlie a phenotype within the RASopathy spectrum and contribute to leukaemogenesis.

RASopathies, a family of disorders characterized by cardiac defects, defective growth, facial dysmorphism, variable cognitive deficits and predisposition to certain malignancies, are caused by constitutional dysregulation of RAS signalling predominantly through the RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) cascade. We report on two germline mutations (p.Gly39dup and p.

Growth factors and synaptic plasticity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

During multiple sclerosis (MS) inflammatory attacks, and in subsequent clinical recovery phases, immune cells contribute to neuronal and oligodendroglial cell survival and tissue repair by secreting growth factors. Animal studies showed that growth factors also play a substantial role in regulating synaptic plasticity, and namely in long-term potentiation (LTP). LTP could drive clinical recovery in relapsing patients by restoring the excitability of denervated neurons.