Effect of an oxidative stress on methionine and S-adenosylmethionine metabolism in cultured bovine eye lens

The sulphonium compound [Formula: see text] (AdoMet) plays a central role in many metabolic reactions of cellular metabolism, acting both as a propylamine donor in the biosynthesis of polyamines as well as a methyl donor in the transmethylation reactions. Moreover, AdoMet is a key intermediate of the transsulphuration pathway by which methionine is converted into cysteine, a precursor of glutathione. The aim of this study was to investigate the methionine and AdoMet metabolism in bovine lenses cultured in the presence of labelled methionine, upon treatment with H(2)O(2), as the experimental model for studying the molecular mechanisms responsible for the onset of senile cataract. The results reveal that one of the earliest changes following an oxidative stress is a severe impairment of protein synthesis. As far as the synthesis of AdoMet is concerned, a small but significant decrease in the conversion of labelled methionine into AdoMet occurs in treated lenses compared to the controls. In order to verify if the decreased AdoMet synthesis would lead in turn to alterations of methyl transfer reactions, we examined changes in the levels of various macromolecular methylations, such as protein methyl esterification and phospholipid methylation. The data clearly indicate that both the synthesis of AdoMet and the methyl transfer reactions could be significantly affected in eye lens upon an oxidative stress, suggesting that these alterations could be one of the biochemical events related to the ethiology of senile cataract. Finally, the question of whether or not H(2)O(2)-induced alterations of methionine and AdoMet metabolism could, in turn, affect some closely related metabolism, such as glutathione-associated reactions, is also discussed.     

Determinants of burden in an Italian sample of Alzheimer's patient caregivers

The association between caregiver's stress and depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of Alzheimer's patients and caregivers was evaluated in 63 primary caregivers consecutively recruited at the Alzheimer's Dementia Research and Care Unit of Brescia, northern Italy. Family caregivers' informal support was also evaluated. Patients' behavioral disturbances, and the number of persons who lived in the household were the main correlates of caregivers' stress. The greater the number of persons, the lower the report of caregiver stress. Lower frequency of visits of friends or relatives, caregivers' poor health and higher age, and the presence of patients' behavioral disturbances were the main determinants of caregivers' depressive symptoms. Cognitive impairment of patients was not correlated to caregivers' distress. Our study underlines that the imperatives of dementia and caregiving appear to be so significant that they have similar consequences in the Italian population as well as in other very different cultures. Factors related to primary caregivers, other than patients' behavior, such as informal supports or caregivers' health and age, should be taken into account in the evaluation of caregivers' burden.     

Influence of the assessment of defect severity and intravenous nitrate administration during tracer injection on the detection of viable hibernating myocardium with data-based quantitative technetium 99m-labeled sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography

Background

This study aimed to verify whether the assessment of defect severity and the infusion of nitrates during tracer injection improve the capability of data-based ^99mTc-labeled sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to recognize hibernating myocardium.

Methods and Results

Of 66 asynergic coronary territories in 40 patients with left ventricular dysfunction, 28 had postrevascularization functional recovery (hibernating) and 38 had unchanged dysfunction (fibrotic). Defect severity was lower in the hibernating than in the fibrotic territories on both baseline (p<0.01) and nitrate SPECT (p<0.002). Nitrate was superior to baseline SPECT to differentiate the hibernating from the fibrotic territories (sensitivity 96% vs 75%, p<0.05; receiver-operating characteristic curve area 0.75 vs 0.63, p<0.001) and to identify the patients with improved left ventricular ejection fraction (receiver-operating characteristic curve area 0.68 vs 0.58; p<0.05).

Conclusions

The analysis of defect severity in combination with nitrate infusion clearly improves the value of ^99mTc-labeled sestamibi SPECT for the recognition, of hibernating myocardium and the prediction of postrevascularization recovery.     

Failure of antepartum maternal cultures to predict the infant's risk of exposure to herpes simplex virus at delivery

In 414 pregnant women with a history of recurrent genital herpes simplex infection, we studied the correlation between asymptomatic viral shedding in late pregnancy and at the time of delivery. Antepartum cultures for asymptomatic reactivation of herpes simplex virus were positive in 17 of the 414 women (4.1 percent). None of these women had positive cultures at the time of delivery. Cultures of specimens obtained at delivery from 5 of 354 asymptomatic mother-infant pairs (1.4 percent) were positive for asymptomatic excretion of herpes simplex virus. None of these women had had antepartum cultures that documented asymptomatic excretion of herpes simplex virus, despite the fact that culturing was repeatedly performed during the four weeks before delivery. Asymptomatic shedding of herpes simplex virus occurred with the same frequency at delivery, whether or not any episodes of symptomatic recurrence were noted during the pregnancy (1.4 vs. 1.3 percent). We conclude that antepartum maternal cultures do not predict the infant's risk of exposure to herpes simplex virus at delivery.     

Saliva as a source of feline leukemia virus antigen for diagnosis of disease.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) p27 in saliva was tested for its accuracy and sensitivity in diagnosing FeLV infections. Saliva and serum samples from 564 clinical cases were tested with a 99.2% specificity. The overall accuracy of the saliva ELISA reactive to the serum ELISA was 97.9%. Experimentally, the ELISA saliva was the least sensitive in diagnosing early FeLV infections. However, the overall accuracy, ease of use, and simplicity of the test support its use as a screening procedure in clinical practice.     

Inhibitors of the lipoxygenase pathway specifically block orthopoxvirus replication

Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), BW755c, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid were found to specifically interfere with the replication of cowpox virus (an orthopoxvirus) both in vivo and in vitro. Further studies in vitro showed that the drugs ETYA and BW755c were effective in inhibiting the replication of two additional orthopoxviruses, ectromelia and vaccinia viruses, but not human parainfluenza virus-3. In ETYA-treated and cowpox virus-infected cells, early and late gene expression were near normal levels, whereas the assembly of virus-specific membranes was severely reduced. These results are compatible with a model of orthopoxvirus replication that has an obligate requirement for arachidonic acid or one of its metabolic forms, possibly in the assembly of virus-specific membranes.     

Correction to: Association of XRCC3 rs1799794 polymorphism with survival of glioblastoma multiforme patients treated with combined radio-chemotherapy

Investigational New Drugs - A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10637-021-01097-3     

Magnetic-resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment of non-spinal osteoid osteoma in children: multicentre experience

Pediatric Radiology - Osteoid osteoma is a benign and painful musculoskeletal tumour that usually affects children. Current standard treatment is CT-guided radiofrequency ablation, a minimally...     

A validation study of the CarerQol instrument in informal caregivers of people with dementia from eight European countries

Quality of Life Research - Informal care constitutes an important part of the total care for people with dementia. Therefore, the impact of the syndrome on their caregivers as well as that of...