A minimally-invasive method for profiling volatile organic compounds within postmortem internal gas reservoirs

International Journal of Legal Medicine - In forensic casework, non-invasive and minimally-invasive methods for postmortem examinations are extremely valuable. Whole body postmortem computed...     

Transanal excision of rectal pyogenic granuloma: case report and literature review

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a benign vascular lesion occurring most commonly on the acral skin of children. It is a capillary hemangioma of lobular subtype, often prone to bleeding. Surgical removal of the lesion is indicated to prevent bleeding and avoid diagnostic uncertainty. We describe a successful surgical removal of a rectal PG with transanal endoscopic microsurgery and review the reports of gastrointestinal tract PG in the international literature.     

Comparison of three PCR assays for the evaluation of interferon-beta biological activity in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The gene expression of the myxovirus-resistant protein A (MxA) gene is a sensitive measure of the biological response of therapeutically applied interferon-beta (IFNbeta) and of its reduced bioavailability due to inhibiting factors such as IFNbeta-induced neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). METHODS: We compared three methods for MxA mRNA quantification in 826 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MxA mRNA measurements were performed using quantitative-competitive (qc)-PCR, real time-PCR, and the new semi-quantitative (sq)-PCR assay (MxA IBRIDOGEN). RESULTS: According to the treatment status (untreated samples versus NAb-negative treated samples), real time-PCR gave the highest specificity (93%). Slightly lower specificities were obtained with qc-PCR and sq-PCR (both 91%). qc-PCR showed the highest sensitivity (97%) compared with both real time-PCR (94%) and sq-PCR (95%). A positive correlation was found between qc-PCR and real time-PCR measurements (rspearman=0.776; p<0.0001), which also showed 90% agreement based on a statistically calculated threshold. Likewise, sq-PCR evaluations showed 84% and 79% agreement with qc-PCR and real time-PCR measurements, respectively. In addition, we showed a concordance of 89% between three sq-PCR kits. CONCLUSIONS: All three methods displayed high specificity for MxA gene expression analysis, allowing the detection of patients in whom IFNbeta did not have any biological action. qc-PCR and real time-PCR are both useful during clinical trials demanding quantitative data of biological activity, whereas sq-PCR could prove useful for routine screening purposes because it is easy to perform and can be done in not specialized laboratories.     

Association of mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis) intake and dietary intervention and effects on oxidative stress biomarkers of dyslipidemic subjects

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of long-term ingestion of mate tea, with or without dietary intervention, on the markers of oxidative stress in dyslipidemic individuals.MethodsSeventy-four dyslipidemic volunteers participated in this randomized clinical trial. Subjects were divided into three treatment groups: mate tea (MT), dietary intervention (DI), and mate tea with dietary intervention (MD). Biochemical and dietary variables were assessed at the beginning of the study (baseline) and after 20, 40, 60, and 90 d of treatment. Participants in the MT and MD groups consumed 1 L/d of mate tea. Those in the DI and MD groups were instructed to increase their intake of fruit, legumes and vegetables and decrease their consumption of foods rich in cholesterol and saturated and trans-fatty acids. Biomarkers of oxidative stress such as antioxidant capacity of serum (ferric reducing antioxidant potential assay), uric acid, reduced glutathione, paraoxonase-1 enzyme, lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), and protein carbonyl were analyzed.ResultsParticipants in the DI group showed a significant decrease in total fat and saturated fatty acid intakes. Those in the DI and MD groups presented a significant increase in vitamin C consumption. For all groups, there was a significant increase in ferric reducing antioxidant potential and reduced glutathione concentrations but no significant changes in LOOH, protein carbonyl, and paraoxonase-1 values. The reduced glutathione concentration was positively correlated with the consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, and vitamin C, whereas levels of LOOH were inversely correlated with intakes of vitamin C and fiber. In addition, LOOH correlated positively with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and inversely with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which had a positive association with paraoxonase-1.ConclusionThe ingestion of mate tea independently of the dietary intervention increased plasma and blood antioxidant protection in patients with dyslipidemia.     

Loco-regional fibrinolysis in the treatment of acute, non-traumatic ischemia of an artery. Use of PTFE, homologous vein, and Dacron in the treatment of acute thrombosis

The acute thrombosis of a bypass graft can always be a common and challenging problem for the vascular surgeon, since surgical revascularization procedures can often result in failure, limb loss and infection. Since over the past 15 years literature reports emphasize the efficacy of intraarterial thrombolytic therapy (IATT) in achieving clot lysis and initial patency of thrombosed arteries and grafts, the purpose of this study is to verify if IATT with urokinase represents a valid alternative procedure to surgery. From our experience of 18 cases of lower limb ischemia, 9 of which graft thrombosis and 9 native artery occlusions, 3 cases of acute thrombosis of lower extremity bypass grafts, successfully treated with IATT are considered. After arteriography proof of lower extremity artery or bypass graft occlusion, thrombolytic therapy with urokinase was delivered at a rate of 100,000 UI/hour for 24/48 hours. At the conclusion of the thrombolytic treatment, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed on any residual stenosis of the bypass graft. In all three cases complete clot lysis within 48 hours was obtained, with patency of the bypass graft at two years follow-up. Urokinase in our experience, has always given good results. In many cases restoration of normal blood flow was obtained in bypass grafts thrombosed a three days. Urokinase has also been helpful in defining the causes of the occlusion (stenosis proximal or distal to the bypass) or of the anastomosis itself. Regional urokinase thrombolytic therapy, even if expensive, represents a primary tool for the vascular surgeon, since excellent results may be obtained, especially in cases where surgery is of high risk.     

Evaluation of commercial kits for the detection and typing of human papillomavirus in cervical swabs

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) detection by MY consensus primers amplification within the L1 region and typing of prevalent genital HPVs by reference and commercial sets of probes was compared by PCR-ELISA systems. The specificity of commercial probes used in the L1 HPV Geno-Kit with respect to the reference probes proved to be 100%, with an overall agreement of 97.6%. The discordant results concerned only the detection of HPV 16, both as single genotype present in the sample and as multiple infections. The analytical sensitivity of the commercial probe for HPV 16 proved to be slightly less sensitive than the reference probe in the hybridisation conditions of the PCR-ELISA system. The L1 PCR-ELISA reference system was evaluated further in comparison with commercial E6/E7 consensus PCR and microplate hybridisation by typing kit. Amplified products of both the L1 and E6/E7 consensus regions were also analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. An overall concordance of 95.2% was found. On account of its specificity and sensitivity the E6/E7 commercial system proved to be particularly useful for diagnostic laboratory, as it detects only the prevalent high risk genotypes. The agarose gel detection can therefore be used as screening test, thus reducing the costs, while the E6 E7 HPV Geno-Kit High Risk can be used when specific typing is required.     

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Constitutively Expressed in the Nervous System of Transgenic Mice Protects Embryonic Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons from Apoptosis

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a potent survival factor for several neuronal populations. It is expressed postnatally by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and by some glial and neuronal cells in the central nervous system. We used the promoter of the neurofilament light chain gene to produce transgenic mice that express CNTF in neurons from the beginning of neuronal differentiation. These transgenic animals may represent a suitable model to identify neuronal cell types responsive to CNTF in vivo and to study the mechanism of action of this neurotrophic factor. We show that dorsal root ganglion neurons of transgenic mice expressing CNTF in neurons are protected from apoptosis during embryonic development: 40% of these cells undergo apoptosis between embryonic day 12.5 and postnatal day 5 in transgenic mice whereas 60% do so in control animals. However, protection from apoptosis does not result in an increase in the total number of neurons at the end of development. We discuss our results with regard to CNTF potentialities in vivo and the significance of programmed cell death during development.     

Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair: our experience with 105 consecutive cases

Conventional repair of incisional hernia is associated with significant complications and a high recurrence rate (30-50%). The laparoscopic approach offers an effective alternative and reduces the recurrences to less than 5%. The aim of this study was to review our experience with laparoscopic incisional hernia repair. Medical records of all patients who underwent laparoscopic incisional hernia repair from January 2002 to December 2006 were reviewed. Demographic and postoperative data were recorded. The study population consisted of 105 patients, 72 females (68.5%) and 33 males (31.5%); the mean age was 56 years (range: 17-83 years). The mean fascial defect size was 116.9 cm2 and the average mesh size used was 256 cm2. Operative time was 118 min and the average hospital stay was 5 days. An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) prosthesis was used In all patients. Perioperative complications occurred in 33 patients (31.4%) including seroma, cellulitis at the trocar site and prolonged ileus. During the follow-up there were 3 hernia recurrences (2.8%). Our study shows that laparoscopic incisional hernia repair resulted in a moderate rate of perioperative complications, a short hospital stay and a low recurrence rate. Hence the laparoscopic technique should be considered an effective and safe alternative to conventional incisional hernia repair.