Histochemical characteristics of diphosphate nucleoside consumption in cat and rat nervous system.

Consumption of diphosphate nucleosides is investigated by histochemical methods in rat and cat nervous system. Results show NDP-ase is effectively in histological sections from animals previously perfused with glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde. Histochemical reaction is increased in presence of Ca++, Mg++, Mn++ or imidazole and inhibited by L-DOPA and Noradrenaline in incubation medium. A comparative study of TPP-ase and NDP-ase activities to dilucidate the identity of both enzymes is described.     

Extra-Nodal Lymphomas of the Head and Neck and Oral Cavity: A Retrospective Study

Disease Overview: Lymphomas, both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, are one of the most common cancers in the head and neck area. The extra-nodal variant of lymphoma is rare, but it is the most common non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (ENHL). Furthermore, it is difficult to diagnose due to its non-specific clinical and radiological features, which can mimic other benign or malignant clinical manifestations. The study: This retrospective study involved 72 patients affected by head and neck ENHL in the period between 2003 and 2017. All patients underwent a diagnostic-therapeutic procedure according to the guidelines, and a 5-year follow-up. Based on the location of the swelling at the time of diagnosis, patients were divided into two groups: oral and non-oral ENHLs. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier analysis with the log-rank test. In addition, Fisher’s exact test was applied to the two groups to evaluate and compare variances (the acceptable significance level was set at p < 0.05). Conclusion: ENHL with oral localization is much more aggressive than ENHL with non-oral localization, with a death rate of 40% (versus 4.76 for the non-oral one). In fact, between the two groups, there is a statistically significant difference in mortality, with a p-value of 0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively.     

Fibra dietaria y microbiota,revisión narrativa de un grupo de expertos de la Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología

Dietary fiber intake is one of the most influential and efficacious strategies for modulating the gut microbiota. Said fiber can be digested by the microbiota itself, producing numerous metabolites, which include the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs have local and systemic functions that impact the composition and function of the gut microbiota, and consequently, human health. The aim of the present narrative review was to provide a document that serves as a frame of reference for a clear understanding of dietary fiber and its direct and indirect effects on health.The direct benefits of dietary fiber intake can be dependent on or independent of the gut microbiota. The use of dietary fiber by the gut microbiota involves several factors, including the fiber's physiochemical characteristics. Dietary fiber type influences the gut microbiota because not all bacterial species have the same capacity to produce the enzymes needed for its degradation. A low-fiber diet can affect the balance of the SCFAs produced. Dietary fiber indirectly benefits cardiometabolic health, digestive health, certain functional gastrointestinal disorders, and different diseases.     

ANT1 is reduced in sporadic inclusion body myositis

To investigate ANT1 and NF-κB expression in inclusion body myositis (IBM) muscle and to verify their possible roles in the pathogenesis of the disease, we collected muscle samples from five patients with IBM, polimyositis (PM) and controls. p65 form of NF-κB was analyzed using immunocytochemistry, Western blot and EMSA. Western blot of ANT1 was performed and confirmed by gene expression study. Mann–Whitney test was used for groups comparisons. NF-κB (p65) was found over-expressed both with western blot and EMSA, either in IBM or PM patients versus controls (p < 0.01). Expression of ANT1 were lower in IBM samples versus both PM and controls (p < 0.01). ANT1 reduction and NF-κB over-expression in IBM muscle could explain the lack of apoptosis in such disease. Normal ANT1 expression in PM could be related to the scarcity of mitochondrial abnormalities in the disease, but it could also suggest that these two conditions diverge in activating different anti-apoptotic pathways.     

L’altezza della rotula dopo osteotomia tibiale prossimale: confronto fra tecnica di addizione mediale e sottrazione laterale

The clinical and radiographic results of patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis or axial malalignment of the knee surgically treated with two different techniques of osteotomy of the proximal tibia were analysed. The patients, matched for age, sex and deformities, were divided into two groups: 47 cases treated with closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy and 40 cases with open-wedge high tibial osteotomy. For each case the height of the patella was measured by the Caton Method before surgery and at the last follow-up (at least 1 year after surgery). The purpose of this study was to analyse and search for any possible correlation between the variation of the patella and the degree of correction of the mechanical axis. It was concluded that patellar height after final osteotomy of the proximal tibia is modified and depends on the surgical technique used. Our study has shown a more frequent loss of patellar height with open-wedge high tibial osteotomy rather than closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy, the latter followed by a rather high rate of patellar elevation.     

Different ploidy levels of megakaryocytes generated from peripheral or cord blood CD34+ cells are correlated with different levels of platelet release

Ploidy could be the key to understanding megakaryocyte (MK) biologyand platelet production. Human CD34⁺ cells purified fromumbilical cord blood (CB) and peripheral blood (PB) were investigatedon their capability to give rise, in a serum-free medium containingthrombopoietin, to MKs and platelets. CB-MKs showed reducedpolyploidization and platelet number compared with PB-MKs, but asimilar membrane phenotype. Most CB-MKs showed a 2N content of DNA(~80%) and only 2.6% had 8N, whereas 40% of the PB cells had 8N ormore. Platelets were substantially released in PB culture from day 12;at day 14 the CB-derived MKs were able to release platelets although ata reduced level (~35%), correlating with their reduced size. Adirect correlation was demonstrated by sorting polyploid cells fromPB-MKs and evaluating the platelets released in the supernatant.Furthermore, the study analyzed the expression and distribution ofcyclin D3 and cyclin B1. Cyclin D3 protein was increased in PB incomparison to CB-MKs; in PB culture most cells rapidly became positive,whereas in CB-derived cells cyclin D3 expression was evident only fromday 9 and in a reduced percentage. Cyclin B1 was essentially localizedat the nuclear level in the CB and was expressed during the wholeculture. In PB-MKs, at day 9, a reduction was observed, correlatingwith an advanced ploidy state. The data indicate the inability of the CB-MKs to progress in the endomitotic process and a direct correlation between DNA content and platelet production.     

Prevalence of depression among memory clinic patients as measured by the Cornell Scale of Depression in Dementia

Objectives: Depression in dementia is common, but the prevalence rates differ according to the populations studied and which diagnostic tools are being used. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of depression among patients referred to a memory clinic or an outpatient clinic as measured by the Cornell Scale of Depression in dementia (CSDD) and to investigate which factors are associated with depression.

Method: The CSDD was completed for 1470 patients on their first visit to a memory clinic or an outpatient clinic. The prevalence of depression using three different cut-off points was calculated. Logistic regression and correlation analyses were performed.

Results: Half of the patients had dementia. The mean CSDD was 6.7 (SD: 5.3) for the whole group, and 50.2% had a score above 5, whereas 37.5% had depression defined as a CSDD score above 7, and 14.1% had a score above 12. The mean scores were higher among those with dementia other than Alzheimer's disease, those with previous depression, and those with greater impairment in the activities of daily living (ADL). In the logistic regression analyses, younger age, ADL dysfunction, and previous depression were significantly associated with higher CSDD scores.

Conclusion: We found that depressive symptoms are common among patients referred for a dementia assessment in specialist health care. The strongest factors associated with depressive symptoms were younger age, ADL impairment, and previous depression.