Activation of the neck muscles from the ipsi- or contralateral hemisphere during voluntary head movements in humans. A reaction-time study.

Reaction times (RTs) of EMG onset of agonist right and left sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and splenius (SPL) muscles in response to acoustic (AC) or unilateral somatosensory (SS) stimulation were measured in normal subjects, during head rotation (to the right or to the left) and flexion. No significant difference was present in the AC-RT of SCM muscles of the two sides between rotations or flexion. The same was true for the SPL. Under the tactile condition, in which the stimulus was delivered to one index finger, the RTs of both agonist muscles were shorter during head rotation toward the stimulus than away from it: the SCM contralateral to the stimulated finger was faster than the ipsilateral SCM, while the reverse was true for the SPL. During flexion, the SS-RTs of the SCM of both sides were similar, and similar in turn to the SCM-RT during rotation away from the stimulus. When the stimulus was delivered to the shoulder, the RT difference between the agonist SCMs disappeared. The delay in the activation of the SCM ipsilateral to the stimulated finger is compatible with the interhemispheric transmission time in the absence of callosal connection between the hand areas of the primary somatosensory cortex. The data favour the hypothesis that SCM activation during voluntary head rotation is controlled by the ipsilateral hemisphere.     

Immunolocalization of different tubulin epitopes in the spermatozoon of Bacillus rossius (Insecta, Phasmatodea)

The existence of distinct tubulins in microtubules forming the sperm axoneme has been demonstrated in various species, whereas little is known about the distribution of tubulin variants in insect spermatozoa. In the present study, a panel of specific antibodies has been used to investigate the presence and localization of tubulin isotypes and post-translationally modified tubulins in the spermatozoon of the stick insect Bacillus rossius. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunogold staining showed differences in labelling in the mature sperm and that the tubulin epitopes localized differentially in the axoneme. In particular, the tyrosinated alpha-tubulin mainly occurs on doublets. These results provide an insight into the molecular composition of the microtubules forming the sperm axoneme of B. rossius and suggest that the structural specificity could reflect distinct functional roles within axonemal microtubules.     

High-degree abnormalities of nuclear DNA distribution in SIg negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia with vacuolated blasts

Among 65 consecutive patients with untreated adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), six had peculiar clinical and cytologic features. Bone marrow and circulating blasts were large and showed prominent vacuolization, with variable degree of granular periodic acid-Schiff positivity in the cytoplasm. All patients had marked spleen and liver enlargement with cholestasis and without either lymph node or central nervous system disease. They achieved complete response to chemotherapy, and their median survival was longer than 12 months. Blast cells were studied for immunologic markers, propidium iodide flow cytofluorometric DNA content, and in vitro tritiated thymidine labeling index (3H-TdR LI). These showed a "null" phenotype in two cases, contained intracytoplasmic immunoglobulins (Cy mu) in two and were positive for CALL and Ia antigens in two others (one of which also contained Cy mu). Surface immunoglobulins (SIg) were found on less than 12% of cells, and T-cell markers were absent. In five cases, one or two stem lines with highly abnormal modal DNA content were found to coexist with diploid blasts. The 3H-TdR LI was high (8.5%-15.5%). Abnormal cell lines, after being cleared by chemotherapy, were found again at relapse. Additional cell lines appeared during the course of the disease in one patient, having different sensitivity to cytostatics. These cases of ALL apparently derive from B-cells not yet expressing SIg and have an exceptionally high incidence of aneuploid cell lines.     

An open-randomized clinical trial of selegiline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Based on the hypothesis that free radicals play a general role in the neurodegenerative process in motor neuron disease, we tested selegiline in a group of patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to examine whether it might modify the progression of the disease. Patients were admitted if they were 25–80 years old and had a confirmed diagnosis of ALS with symptoms lasting no longer than 24 months. Patients with familial ALS, pure progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis or progressive muscle atrophy were excluded; a total of 111 patients were recruited. Fifty-three patients were randomly assigned to receive the drug (selegiline 10 mg/day orally for 6 months) and the remaining 58 were considered ALS controls. Mortality was similar in the two groups (4 and 5 patients respectively), though the difference was not statistically significant. Among the survivors, mean MRC and Norris disability scores and forced vital capacity were fairly similar in the two groups at all times and no statistically significant difference between treated and untreated patients was found. The results did not change when the data were related to age, duration and characteristics of onset of the disease. The rate of progression was significantly more rapid in patients with bulbar symptoms in both groups. Our data do not show any significant effect of selegiline in modifying the progression of ALS.     

Multiparametric assessment of the cell-cycle effects of tamoxifen on mcf-7 human breast-cancer cells

Tamoxifen (TAM)-induced changes in proliferation kinetics of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 were investigated using dual parameter flow cytometry (FCM) of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunolabelling and of the expression of cell-cycle related proteins (the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA, and the non proliferation-specific protein, Statin), versus the DNA content. Single-parameter FCM DNA histograms confirmed that after 96 hours of treatment with 10(-7) M TAM the fraction of S-phase cells decreased significantly, with a simultaneous accumulation of cells in the G(0)/G(1) range of DNA content. In dual-parameter FCM cytograms, the fraction of BrdU-positive cells after TAM exposure was significantly lower than in the controls, and no unlabeled S-phase cells were found. The TAM-induced block in G(0)/G(1) phase was paralleled by a decrease in the number of cells with a DNA content typical of the S-phase expressing PCNA, and by an increase in Statin-positive (G(0)) cells. Upon readdition of 10(-9) M 17 beta-estradiol (E2) to the TAM-treated cultures, BrdU-labelling as well as PCNA expression levels increased significantly, whereas the fraction of Statin-positive cells remained higher than in the controls. The results obtained confirm that the TAM-induced inhibition of cell growth is associated with major changes in the cell cycle parameters of MCF-7 cells, and provide experimental evidence that two main mechanisms are operating: the accumulation of cells in G(1), before the onset of S-phase, and the exit of some cells from the cycling compartment; however, some of those that are blocked at G(0); cannot be totally reversed by estrogens and may be permanent; These data should be taken into account in the attempt to combine the antiestrogen treatment with chemotherapy more effectively.     

The Italian multicenter experience with edaravone in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Journal of Neurology - The aim of the study is to analyze the ALS disease progression and respiratory function of Italian patients treated with edaravone (EVN), as well as the adherence to, and the...     

The anterolateral ligament: A cadaveric study in fetuses

The aim of this study was to determine the presence and morphology of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee in a sample of fetuses. We hypothesized that the ALL is present in sample fetuses and its origin is not related to repetitive stresses throughout life. Forty fresh‐frozen knees from cadaveric fetuses were dissected using a standard technique. The ALL and other structures in the anterolateral compartment of the knee were identified. The details of the femoral and tibial attachments, course and relationships with anatomical structures of the ALL were identified, recorded, and quantitatively characterized. The ALL was identified in 100% of the dissected knees. We found three anatomical patterns regarding the femoral attachment: (1) Proximal and posterior to the fibular collateral ligament (55%); (2) Together with the fibular collateral ligament (25%); and (3). Anterior and distal to it (20%). The ALL was extracapsular with an oblique course attaching into the anterolateral aspect of the tibia, midway between the midpoint of Gerdy's tubercle and the fibular head. The ALL has a strong attachment to the lateral meniscus, creating two fascicles: proximal or meniscofemoral and distal or meniscotibial. The ALL is a constant, extracapsular anatomical structure in the anterolateral compartment of the knee, present from the later prenatal period of life. Its morphology shows three different patterns of femoral attachment in relation to the fibular collateral ligament position, a strong attachment in the lateral meniscus, and a constant tibial attachment. Clin. Anat. 30:625–634, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Brachial vessel injuries: high morbidity and low mortality injuries

Introduction  

Reports of arterial injuries from both the civilian and military arenas report the brachial artery as the most frequently injured vessel, accounting for approximately 25–33% of all peripheral arterial injuries. The brachial artery is surrounded by important peripheral nerves —the median, ulnar and radial, and also parallels the humerus and associated veins. Due to its close proximity to these structures, associated nerve and osseous injuries are frequent with residual neuropathy from such nerve injuries, often the main sources of permanent disability.     

Advances in stem cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disease that targets motoneurons. Cell-based therapies have generated widespread interest as a potential therapeutic approach but no conclusive results have yet been reported either from pre-clinical or clinical studies.

Areas covered: This is an integrated review of pre-clinical and clinical studies focused on the development of cell-based therapies for ALS. We analyze the biology of stem cell treatments and results obtained from pre-clinical models of ALS and examine the methods and the results obtained to date from clinical trials. We discuss scientific, clinical, and ethical issues and propose some directions for future studies.

Expert opinion: While data from individual studies are encouraging, stem-cell-based therapies do not yet represent a satisfactory, reliable clinical option. The field will critically benefit from the introduction of well-designed, randomized and reproducible, powered clinical trials. Comparative studies addressing key issues such as the nature, properties, and number of donor cells, the delivery mode and the selection of proper patient populations that may benefit the most from cell-based therapies are now of the essence. Multidisciplinary networks of experts should be established to empower effective translation of research into the clinic.