Inhibition of the activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 by triethylene glycol dimethacrylate

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) on the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2). Mouse gingival explants were cultured overnight in DMEM and the expression of secreted enzymes was analyzed by gelatin zymography in buffers containing 5 mM CaCl₂ (Tris-CaCl₂) in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer with the addition of TEGDMA at different concentrations (0.62%, 1.25%, 2.5%, or 5.0% (v/v)). The gelatinolytic proteinase present in the conditioned media was characterized as matrix metalloproteinase by means of specific chemical inhibition. The matrix metalloproteinases present in the conditioned media were characterized as MMP-2 by immunoprecipitation. The eletrophoretic bands were scanned and the transmittance values were analyzed. Data was plotted and submitted to linear regression to investigate MMP-2 inhibition as a function of TEGDMA concentration. Three major bands were detected in the zymographic assays. These bands were characterized as MMP-2. Zymogene (72 kDa), intermediate (66 kDa) and active forms of MMP-2 (62 kDa) were inhibited by TEGDMA in a dose-dependent way. These findings suggest that TEGDMA could inhibit MMP-2 expression even at small concentrations.     

Scavenging effect of lazaroids U78517F,U74389F,U74500A on oxygen free radicals produced by stimulated human polymorphonuclear leucocytes and by chemical method

Authors investigated the scavenger capability of lazaroids, a new group of compounds (21-aminosteroid) that are reported in the literature to have interesting anti-lipid peroxidation properties. Authors tested the degree of scavenger activity related to the oxygen derived free radicals (ODFR) with different methods: 1) chemiluminescence; 2) production of superoxide anion from activated polymorphonuclear cells; 3) production of hydroxyl radical through a chemical procedure. Results showed a global scavenger activity of the three lazaroids (U78517F, U74389F, U74500A) in all the various tests, but differences of intensity of their action were noted among in each compound. We can thus attribute to these compounds a scavenger activity on the oxygen free radicals; this activity may facilitate their already known anti-lipid peroxidation action. Therefore, clinical use of lazaroids can be hypothesized for the diseases in which inflammation plays an important pathogenetic role via the production of oxygen free radicals and the resulting lipid peroxidation associated with tissue damage.     

Dissection and atherosclerosis of carotid arteries in the young: role of the apolipoprotein E polymorphism

Twenty-seven young (<50 years old) patients with spontaneous carotid artery dissection in 11 cases and carotid atherosclerosis in 16 cases were evaluated to determine the apolipoprotein E polymorphism. At the DNA analysis the epsilon3/epsilon3 genotype was observed in all patients with dissection, in 13 of 16 (81.2%) patients with atherosclerosis and in 27 of 30 (90%) controls. Three of 16 (18.8%) patients with atherosclerosis and 3 of 30 (10%) controls presented with the epsilon4/epsilon3 genotype, and this difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, observation of the epsilon4/epsilon3 genotype was not significantly higher in patients with atherosclerosis compared with those with dissection. No homozygote epsilon4/epsilon4, epsilon2/epsilon2 or heterozygote epsilon2 genotype was observed. No correlation was found between the presence of the epsilon4/epsilon3 genotype and vascular risk factors. Therefore, the epsilon4 allele seems to be involved in carotid premature atherosclerosis development whereas it may appear to be protective for artery dissection occurrence. A larger sample size is needed to support this suggestion.     

Tips of totally laparoscopic left hepatectomy

Growing data suggest that minimally invasive approaches in hepatic surgery may improve postoperative outcomes without differences in terms of oncological results compared to open resections. These facts have contributed to the growing adoption of this technique for selected patients.However, expertise in both hepatic and advanced laparoscopic surgery is required in order to safely perform laparoscopic liver resections. We present a video depicting technical details for a totally laparoscopic left hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with left portal vein thrombosis in a cirrhotic patient.     

Effects of prolonged wakefulness combined with alcohol and hands-free cell phone divided attention tasks on simulated driving

Simulated driving ability was assessed following administration of alcohol, at an estimated blood level of 0.05%, and combined prolonged wakefulness, while participants were undertaking divided attention tasks over a hands-free mobile phone. Divided attention tasks were structured to provide a sustained cognitive workload to the subjects. Twenty three young healthy individuals drove 10 km simulated driving under four conditions in a counterbalanced, within-subject design: alcohol, alcohol and 19 h wakefulness, alcohol and 24 h wakefulness, and while sober. Study measures were: simulated driving, self-reported sleepiness, critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), Stroop word-colour interference test (Stroop) and simple visual reaction times (SVRT). As expected, subjective sleepiness was highly correlated with both sleep restriction and alcohol consumption. The combination of alcohol and 24 h sustained wakefulness produced the highest driving impairment, significantly beyond the alcohol effect itself. Concurrent alcohol and 19 h wakefulness significantly affected only driving time-to-collision. No significant changes of study measures occurred following alcohol intake in unrestricted sleep conditions. CFFT, SVRT and Stroop results showed a similar trend in the four study conditions. Thus apparently 'safe' blood alcohol levels in combination with prolonged wakefulness resulted in significant driving impairments. In normal sleep conditions alcohol effects on driving were partially counteracted by the concomitant hands-free phone based psychometric tasks.     

Safety and immunogenicity of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in children with congenital immunodeficiency (DiGeorge syndrome)

Live attenuated vaccines are usually contraindicated in patients with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency. On the other hand, infections due to wild type virus may be particularly severe in patients with low levels of T cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in children with congenital T cell defect (DiGeorge anomaly). Fourteen patients were included in the study. No severe adverse reaction was reported. No difference between patients and controls was found in frequency of seroconversion for both measles (92.9% versus 96.3%) and rubella (92.9% versus 100%). No difference in mean titres of anti-measles (1.62+/-0.54 versus 1.89+/-0.49 index) (p=0.13) or anti-rubella (78.1+/-48.0 versus 72.0+/-41.0 UI/ml, p=0.68) antibodies was found between patients and controls. No decrease in CD4 cells was detected after immunization. MMR vaccine is immunogenic and can be safely used in patients with DiGeorge anomaly, so preventing severe complication due to wild virus infection.