Macrophage tumor cell interaction is enhanced by C3 fragments.

We tested the capacity of Lewis Lung carcinoma cells (3LL) to activate the alternative pathway of complement and to bind the C3 fragments on the plasma membrane. C3 fragments were detected by cytofluorometry and by immunoblotting. In time, the fixed C3b molecules were further cleaved into iC3b. The presence of C3b/iC3b on the target enhanced the formation of conjugates with macrophages. In spite of increased contacts, macrophages from tumor bearing mice were not cytotoxic. Only preactivated macrophages, by in vivo treatment with Corynebacterium parvum, were shown to be cytotoxic; this function was potentiated when the target cells were opsonized with C3b/iC3b.     

Caffeine increases maximal anaerobic power and blood lactate concentration

Summary The aim of this study was to specify the effects of caffeine on maximal anaerobic power (W _max). A group of 14 subjects ingested caffeine (250 mg) or placebo in random double-blind order. TheW _max was determined using a force-velocity exercise test. In addition, we measured blood lactate concentration for each load at the end of pedalling and after 5 min of recovery. We observed that caffeine increasedW _max [964 (SEM 65.77) W with caffeine vs 903.7 (SEM 52.62) W with placebo;P<0.02] and blood lactate concentration both at the end of pedalling [8.36 (SEM 0.95) mmol · l^–1 with caffeine vs 7.17 (SEM 0.53) mmol · l^–1 with placebo;P<0.011 and after 5 min of recovery [10.23 (SEM 0.97) mmol · l^–1 with caffeine vs 8.35 (SEM 0.66) mmol · l^–1 with placebo;P<0.04]. The quotient lactate concentration/power (mmol · l^–1 · W^–1) also increased with caffeine at the end of pedalling [7.6 · 10^–3 (SEM 3.82 · 10^–5) vs 6.85 · 10^–3 (SEM 3.01 · 10^–5);P<0.01] and after 5 min of recovery [9.82·10^–3 (SEM 4.28 · 10^–5) vs 8.84 · 10^–3 (SEM 3.58 · 10^–5);P<0.02]. We concluded that caffeine increased bothW _max and blood lactate concentration.     

Morphological variability of pterion in the human skull

The pterion is one of the most interesting bone meeting points in craniofacial osteology and its complex morphology derives from the fact that is the contact point of the facial skeletal elements, skull base and calvarium. Knowledge of its peculiar morphology is mandatory for the pterional approach used in microsurgery and surgery. The Authors studied 506 adult, human skulls where the pterion was accurately reconstructed on polyethylene sheets. They report their data on the morphological analysis and classify the forms. They focussed their attention on the presence of wormian bones at the level of the sphenoparietal suture, on the peculiar existing morphology and reviewed the literature on these classifications. The Authors also evaluated the length of the sphenoparietal suture, the minimum gap between the frontal and temporal, the influence of pteric bones on pterion variability and any correlations between measurements and cranial indexes.     

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome and pulmonary hypertension: an unusual association

INTRODUCTION: Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare congenital systemic angiodysplasia with multiple vascular malformations in the skin, gastrointestinal tract and, less often, in other internal organs and the brain. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old man with past history of BRBNS was admitted to our hospital for progressive dyspnea and fatigue. Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) was diagnosed. He then developed acute abdominal pain and dyspnea, dying in a few hours due to sudden cardiac arrest. Postmortem examination demonstrated angiomatous lesions located in the skin, small bowel, heart, lungs, liver and thyroid. The lesions were slightly raised, soft and compressible and microscopically consisted of dilated vascular channels lined by a flattened endothelium. The vascular wall was formed by several layers of smooth muscle cells, intermixed with abundant aggregates of elastic lamellae and thin collagen fibers. Luminal thrombi were a frequent finding. In the small bowel, we identified the presence of an abnormally large artery directly opening into a thin-walled venous channel. The most striking finding in the lungs was the presence of thrombi of varying age in the lumen of segmental and elastic arteries, as well as muscular arteries and arterioles. Severe medial hypertrophy of muscular arteries and muscolarization of arterioles were also present. Intimal proliferative lesions and plexiform lesions were never observed. CONCLUSION: The pulmonary findings are consistent with recurrent thromboembolic events from shunts in the visceral lesions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BRBNS with visceral arterovenous (AV) fistulae complicated by thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PH).     

Listening to patients' needs to improve their subjective quality of life

BACKGROUND: Subjective quality of life has gained a crucial role as a global measure of outcome in mental health care. This study aimed to investigate the impact of meeting needs for care, as assessed by both patients and mental health professionals, to improve the subjective quality of life in a sample of patients receiving community-based psychiatric care. METHOD: The study was conducted using a 4-year prospective longitudinal design. A cohort of patients from the South-Verona Community-based Mental Health Service (CMHS) was assessed at baseline and follow-up using, among other social and clinical measures, the Camberwell Assessment of Need (both staff and patient versions) and the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. Predictors of changes of subjective quality of life were explored using block-stratified multiple regression procedures. RESULTS: Improvement in patients' clinical conditions as well as the reduction in patient-rated unmet needs in the social domain predicted an increase in subjective quality of life over 4 years; changes in staff-rated needs did not show any association with changes in subjective quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting self-perceived social needs, beyond symptoms reduction, seems to be of particular importance for ensuring a better quality of life for people with mental disorders. If the main goal of mental health care is to improve the quality of life of users, a policy of actively addressing patient-rated needs should be implemented.     

Clinical,immunological, and molecular analysis in a large cohort of patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia: an Italian multicenter study

A questionnaire-based retrospective clinical and immunological survey was conducted in 73 males with a definite diagnosis of X-linked agammaglobulinemia based on BTK sequence analysis. Forty-four were sporadic and 29 familial cases. At December 2000, the patients' ages ranged from 2 to 33 years; mean age at diagnosis and mean duration of follow-up were 3.5 and 10 years respectively. After the mid-1980s all but 2 were on intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) substitution therapy, with residual IgG >500 mg/dl in 94% of the patients at the time of enrollment. Respiratory infections were the most frequent manifestation both prior to diagnosis and over follow-up. Chronic lung disease (CLD) was present in 24 patients, in 15 already at diagnosis and in 9 more by 2000. The cumulative risk to present at diagnosis with CLD increased from 0.17 to 0.40 and 0.78 when the diagnosis was made at the ages of 5, 10, and 15 years respectively. For the 9 patients who developed CLD during follow-up, the duration of follow-up, rather than age at diagnosis; previous administration of intramuscular immunoglobulin; and residual IgG levels had a significant effect on the development of CLD. Chronic sinusitis was present in 35 patients (48%), in 15 already at diagnosis and in 20 by 2000. Sistemic infections such as sepsis and meningitis/meningoencephalitis decreased over follow-up, probably due to optimal protection provided by high circulating IgG levels reached with IVIG.     

Deletion of the mental retardation gene Gdi1 impairs associative memory and alters social behavior in mice

Non-specific mental retardation (NSMR) is a common human disorder characterized by mental handicap as the only clinical symptom. Among the recently identified MR genes is GDI1, which encodes alpha Gdi, one of the proteins controlling the activity of the small GTPases of the Rab family in vesicle fusion and intracellular trafficking. We report the cognitive and behavioral characterization of mice carrying a deletion of Gdi1. The Gdi1-deficient mice are fertile and anatomically normal. They appear normal also in many tasks to assess spatial and episodic memory and emotional behavior. Gdi1-deficient mice are impaired in tasks requiring formation of short-term temporal associations, suggesting a defect in short-term memory. In addition, they show lowered aggression and altered social behavior. In mice, as in humans, lack of Gdi1 spares most central nervous system functions and preferentially impairs only a few forebrain functions required to form temporal associations. The general similarity to human mental retardation is striking, and suggests that the Gdi1 mutants may provide insights into the human defect and into the molecular mechanisms important for development of cognitive functions.