GM1 ganglioside reduces edema and monoaminergic neuronal changes following experimental focal ischemia in rat brain

Seventy-two hours following a middle cerebral artery occlusion, the associated increase in water content on the ischemic side was significantly reduced by the exogenous administration of monosialoganglioside GM1 (30 mg/kg, i.p.). The levels of dopamine and serotonin on the ischemic side were approximately 50% and 80% of those on the contralateral non-ischemic side, respectively. Treatment with GM1 (5 times during the first 48 h after occlusion) produced a significant reduction in the levels of dopamine and serotonin loss. The present findings are compatible with the observed protective action of the exogenously administered GM1 following ischemic brain injury.     

Postpartum unconscious dynamics emerging from the Lüscher color test in Ethiopian women

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of the Lüscher color test (LCT), a psychological instrument based on theory that colors are selected in unconscious way and that the color sensory perception of color is objective and universal. The research has involved 24 Ethiopian women, which delivered at the Getche Health Center in Gurage. It seemed to be relevant for the majority of Ethiopian women identify the rejected color (58.66%), the gray, than the favorite color, the yellow 33.33%). The yellow color suggests that they better express their personality in a physical context, while the gray color indicates that they want to live this experience intensely. This exploratory work lays the foundations for further studies in disadvantaged women, both in developing low-income Countries as well as in industrialized Countries characterized by an high level of emigration, and for clinical applications by the complete LCT version.     

Early imaging marker of progressing glioblastoma: a window of opportunity

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - Therapeutic intervention at glioblastoma (GBM) progression, as defined by current assessment criteria, is arguably too late as second-line therapies fail to extend...     

Prognostic and predictive value of tumour angiogenesis in ovarian carcinomas

Experimental studies suggest that angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ascites and progression of ovarian cancer. To evaluate the association of intratumoral microvessel density (IMD) with the conventional clinicopathologic features and to determine the capability of these factors in predicting responsiveness to platinum-based chemotherapy and overall survival (OS) we studied 112 ovarian carcinomas. IMD was determined using the anti-CD31 antibody and immunocytochemistry. In the entire series, we correlated IMD with the other features. In the subgroup of patients with FIGO stage III-IV (60 cases), we correlated the factors studied, determined prior of treatment, with response to therapy and prognosis. The median IMD value, in the “hot spot”, in the entire series was of 48 microvessels/field. IMD values were significantly higher in mucinous carcinomas than in the other histologic types. In FIGO stage III-IV patients IMD, age and performance status (PS) were significantly associated with the probability of pathologic response to chemotherapy in univariate analysis. However, only IMD and PS retained significance in multivariate analysis. The overall capability of the 2 variables to predict response was high. In FIGO stage III-IV patients IMD, age, PS, the amount of post-operative residual disease (PORD), histologic type and response to chemotherapy were significant prognostic indicators of OS in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis only histologic type, PORD and PS retained significance. The overall capability of these 3 variables to predict OS was satisfactory. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Isolated cutaneous mucormycosis in a pediatric renal transplant recipient

Mucormycosis is a rare and potentially life‐threatening infection, typically affecting immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of an adolescent boy who developed primary isolated cutaneous mucormycosis in the early period following kidney transplantation. Surgical excision was performed using intraoperative fungal staining to obtain clear margins, followed by topical and systemic antifungal therapy. A skin graft was then applied to the excised area with good healing, and the patient made a full recovery.     

Biochemical Changes on Storage of Blood

Abstract. The rate of reduction of ferrihemoglobin within the erythrocytes and the oxygen affinity of red cells have been measured as a function of time of blood storage. The efficiency of the ferrihemoglobin-reducing systems decreases with time of storage as measured both in presence of glucose or lactate as substrates. The well-known increase with ageing of the oxygen affinity (as measured by p1/2) for blood stored in ACD is observed when the p1/2 is determined in Tris-HCl buffer and parallels the decay of the rate of ferrihemoglobin reduction. However, the increase in oxygen affinity is not observed when the p1/2 is measured in phosphate buffer; this is explained as being due to the replacement of the originally hemoglobin-bound DPG by phosphate ions entering the red cell.