Low dose oral administration of cytokines for treatment of allergic asthma

Many inflammatory diseases are characterized by an imbalance among lymphocyte populations, in particular Th1, Th2 and the recently described Th17 cells. The Th1/Th2 imbalance is linked to many factors, but certainly the role of cytokines is essential.In Th2 diseases IL-4 expression is predominant, while Th1 pathologies are characterized by high expression of IFN-γ and IL-12. Though today the therapeutical proposal for many inflammatory diseases aims to re-establish normal levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines, the pharmacological use of cytokines, which are very active molecules, is limited by the possible collateral effects. Therefore, our study aims to determine, in a murine model of allergic asthma, the possible therapeutic activity of low dose cytokines solutions, mechanically activated. We found that oral administration of low doses IL-12 plus IFN-γ is able to solve the bronchial hyperresponsiveness condition of mice, establishing normal cytokine levels. The anti-asthma activity was confirmed by histological analysis of lungs and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid cell count. Serum ovalbumin-specific IgE was also significantly inhibited by treatment with low dose activated cytokines solution. These findings may suggest a novel approach to diseases which involve a Th1/Th2 imbalance.     

The day when the echocardiographist went mushrooming…

We report a case of partial congenital absence of the pericardium associated with severe aortic stenosis on a bicuspid valve in a 72-year-old man. Diagnosis was based on echocardiography and confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging, and the patient benefited from pericardioplasty and aortic valve replacement.     

Executive functions and basic symptoms in adolescent antisocial behavior: A cross-sectional study on an Italian sample of late-onset offenders

Executive cognitive functions (ECFs) and other cognitive impairments, such as lower IQ and verbal deficits, have been associated with the pattern of antisocial and delinquent behavior starting in childhood (early-onset), but not with late-onset antisocial behavior. Beyond objective measures of ECF, basic symptoms are prodromal, subjectively experienced cognitive, perceptual, affective, and social disturbances, associated with a range of psychiatric disorders, mainly with psychosis. The goal of the present study was to examine ECF and basic symptoms in a sample of late-onset juvenile delinquents.     

External validation of a nomogram predicting mortality in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To develop nomograms predicting cancer‐specific and all‐cause mortality in patients managed with either surgery or no surgery for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The models were developed in 205 patients with ACC and externally validated using 207 other patients with ACC, identified in the 1973–2004 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. The predictors comprised age, gender, race, stage and surgery status. Nomograms based on Cox regression model‐derived coefficients were used for predicting the cancer‐specific and all‐cause mortality, and were tested using area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

In cancer‐specific analyses, the median survival of patients within the development cohort was 26 months, vs 71 months in the external validation cohort (P < 0.001). In overall survival analyses, the median values were 21 vs 32 months for, respectively, the development and the external validation cohort (P < 0.001). Three variables (age, stage and surgical status) were included in the nomograms predicting cancer‐specific and all‐cause mortality. In the external validation cohort, the nomograms achieved between 72 and 80% accuracy for prediction of cancer‐specific or all‐cause mortality at 1–5 years after either surgery or diagnosis of ACC for non‐surgical patients.

CONCLUSION

Our models are the first standardized and individualized prognostic tools for patients with ACC. Their accuracy was confirmed within a large external population‐based cohort of patients with ACC.     

High Complexity of Plasmodium vivax Infections in Symptomatic Patients from a Rural Community in Central Vietnam Detected by Microsatellite Genotyping

Fourteen published and three newly identified polymorphic microsatellites were used to genotype 69 Plasmodium vivax samples obtained from 39 patients detected over a period of two years who lived in a rural community of central Vietnam. All samples were polyclonal with an average expected heterozygosity of 0.86. Among the 39 patients, 16 experienced 1–5 recurrent episodes of P. vivax malaria, most of them (83%) with a different genotype profile compared with previous infections. The minimal set of microsatellites required for differentiating the genotype profiles of the recurrent infections compared with the full set of 17 microsatellites was explored. A combination of five markers was sufficient to identify all recurrent infections with an unrelated or different genotype profile compared with all previous episodes.     

PML risk is the main factor driving the choice of discontinuing natalizumab in a large multiple sclerosis population: results from an Italian multicenter retrospective study

Journal of Neurology - Natalizumab (NTZ) is an effective treatment for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). However, patients and physicians may consider discontinuing NTZ therapy...     

Late epileptic seizures following cerebral venous thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Neurological Sciences - Identifying late epileptic seizures (LS) following cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) can be useful for prognosis and management. We systematically reviewed the literature to...     

School teachers can effectively manage primary prevention of adult cardiovascular disease. The Stradella Project

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether school teachers educated about Primary Prevention of Adult Cardiovascular Disease (PPCVD) could help their students improve their blood lipid profile. METHOD: Five teachers voluntarily received training about PP-CVD. Thirteen classes of a single high school in Stradella (north Italy) were randomized to receive a 2-month course on PP-CVD (PP-classes; 150 pupils) by their teachers or to a control group (control classes; 130 pupils) during 2004. In all students body weight and fasting venous blood concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-CHOL, LDL-CHOL, and triglycerides were determined before and 6 months after the completion of the PP-CVD course. RESULTS: Six months after the PP-CVD course, males had significant improvements of all baseline lipid parameters whereas females had improved HDL-CHOL and TC/HDL ratio. No improvements were observed in the control class students. Body weight was unchanged in both groups of students 6 months after the PP-CVD course or the control course. CONCLUSION: This investigation shows that well-trained school teachers are able to manage PP-CVD education so that students can really improve their lipid profile as a consequence of autonomous changes in dietary habits.