Senescence Reprogramming by TIMP1 Deficiency Promotes Prostate Cancer Metastasis

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Modulation of neuroinflammation and memory dysfunction using percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in mice

Background

The vagus nerve is involved in regulating immunity and resolving inflammation. Current strategies aimed at modulating neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, in many cases, are limited and ineffective.

Percutaneous angioplasty in clinical management of renovascular hypertension: initial and long-term results

Between January 1980 and July 1983, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was attempted on 137 stenotic renal arteries in 100 patients. At termination of follow-up studies (3-39 months, mean of 16 months), 70% of those treated for hypertension had benefited from the procedure. Stenosis secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia responded better than stenosis from arteriosclerosis (85% and 65% of the patients, respectively). Benefit was minimal for those with stenosis of the renal artery ostium or renal insufficiency. Determining levels of renal vein renin before angioplasty is helpful in selecting patients; following angioplasty, this has considerable significance in predicting the success of the procedure.     

Right pulmonary artery development after modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) in infants with pulmonary atresia, VSD and confluent pulmonary arteries

The ideal palliation for infants with pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect and confluent pulmonary arteries should promote normal development of the pulmonary artery branches. In 26 patients who survived a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) in the first year of life, the right pulmonary artery was measured before and after operation by two dimensional (2D) echocardiography. In each patient its size was compared to the normal value for the same body surface area. The patients were divided according to this ratio and according to the real size (mm). Although increased in all cases but two, the size of the right pulmonary artery remained remarkably less than normal in patients with an initially small right pulmonary artery. In view of these results, early palliative enlargement of the right ventricular outflow tract is probably advisable in infants with diminutive pulmonary arteries who do not show adequate pulmonary branch development after MBTS.     

Approach to the patient with hyponatraemia: A quantitative and pathophysiologic approach

Summary: Hyponatraemia is a common electrolyte abnormality that signals an expanded intracellular fluid (ICF) volume in most cases (e.g. absence of hyperglycaemia). the approach to the patient with hyponatraemia that is outlined in this paper is based on its pathophysiology and emphasizes a quantitative analysis. Both the change in ICF volume and the content of sodium (Na) in the extracellular fluid (ECF) are calculated while the volume of ECF is assessed clinically. to perform the calculations, the normal ICF and ECF volumes from body composition are estimated. the next step is to determine the basis for water retention (usually the reason why antidiuretic hormone [ADH] is released) and then the basis for the Na imbalance. Therapy is dictated by the presence or absence of severe symptoms: if the patient is symptomatic, the plasma Na concentration should be raised by 3-5 mmol/L in 1 h. If not, the aim of therapy is to correct the water surplus and Na deficit slowly (aim for a rise in plasma Na concentration of 6–12 mmol/L per day). Changes in the ICF composition must also be considered. If there is a deficit of potassium (K), therapy with K salts (KCI instead of NaCI) will be required. A case example is provided to illustrate these points.     

Evaluation of metabolic status in amiodarone-induced thyroid disorders: plasma coenzyme Q10 determination

In previous works we have demonstrated that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels have a significant inverse correlation with thyroid hormone concentration in patients with spontaneous hyper- or hypothyroidism. In order to verify whether this correlation is maintained in patients on long-term amiodarone therapy, in whom thyroid metabolism is altered by the iodine contained in the drug, we have studied 30 patients with thyroid dysfunction induced by chronic amiodarone treatment. We have distinguished four groups of patients: group A (n = 8): patients with true hyperthyroidism induced by drug administration; group B (n = 11): patients with mild hyperthyroid symptoms, but isolated thyroxine increase or dissociation between different indexes of thyroid function; group C (n = 5): patients with normal thyroid hormone levels, but increased TSH levels; group D (n = 6): patients who appeared really clinically euthyroid, with normal thyroid hormone levels and normal TSH response to TRH. In group A patients, plasma CoQ10 levels averaged 0.49 +/- 0.03 micrograms/ml, significantly lower than those in normal subjects and similar to those observed in spontaneous hyperthyroid patients. In group B patients, CoQ10 levels were in the normal range (0.88 +/- 0.10 microgram/ml). In group C patients, CoQ10 levels were lower than those in normal subjects and similar to those of group A patients (0.49 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml); they differed, in regards to CoQ10 values, in comparison with spontaneous primary hypothyroid patients, who had very high levels of plasma CoQ10. Finally, in group D patients, CoQ10 levels were in the normal range (0.77 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Collagen type VI in the human bone marrow microenvironment: a strong cytoadhesive component

Collagen type VI, which forms characteristic microfibrillar structures, is assembled from three individual alpha(VI) chains that form a short triple helix and two adjacent globular domains. Expression of all three alpha (VI) collagen chains in the human bone marrow (BM) microenvironment could be detected by chain-specific antibodies in tissue sections and in the adherent stromal layer of long-term BM cultures. In functional studies, collagen type VI was shown to be a strong adhesive substrate for various hematopoietic cell lines and light-density BM mononuclear cells. The adhesive site within the molecule seems to be restricted to the triple helical domain of all three alpha (VI) chains, because individual alpha (VI) chains were not active in the attachment assays. Adhesion of the hematopoietic cell lines to collagen VI was dose-dependent and could be inhibited by heparin. Although the triple helix contains several RGD sequences, adhesion of the hematopoietic cell types to collagen VI could be blocked neither by RGD-containing peptides nor by a neutralizing antibody to the beta 1 integrin subunit. In combination with an antiadhesive substrate, the binding properties of collagen VI could be downregulated. These data suggest that this collagen type may play an important role in the adhesion of hematopoietic cells within the BM microenvironment.