Prognostic value of cutaneous reinnervation with GAP-43 in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy

Journal of Neurology - Oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy (OIN) implies axonal damage of both small and large sensory nerve fibers. We aimed at comparing the neurophysiological changes occurred after...     

Relationship between self-perceived driving ability and neuropsychological performance in neurological and psychiatric patients

Neurological Sciences - Neurological and psychiatric patients want to keep driving but several sensory, motor, and cognitive deficits could limit this purpose. However, some drivers...     

Characteristics and time-dependence of cut marks and blunt force fractures on costal cartilages: an experimental study

Purpose

The distinction between cut marks and blunt force injuries on costal cartilages is a crucial issue in the forensic field. Moreover, a correct distinction may further be complicated by decomposition, so the need arises to investigate the distinctive features of lesions on cartilage and their changes over time.

Methods

This study aimed to assess the stereomicroscopic features of cut marks (performed with six different knives) and blunt fractures (performed with a hammer and by means of manual bending) on 48 fragments of human costal cartilages. Moreover, in order to simulate decomposition, the cut and fractured surfaces were checked with stereomicroscopy and through casts after 1 and 2 days, 1 week, and 1, 2 and 4 months of drying in ambient air.

Results

In fresh samples, for single and unique cuts, striations were observed in between 44 and 88 % of cases when non-serrated blades were used, and between 77 and 88 % for serrated blades; in the case of “repeated” (back and forth movement) cuts, striations were detected in between 56 and 89 % of cases for non-serrated blades, and between 66 and 100 % for serrated blades. After only 1 week of decomposition the detection rates fell to percentages of between 28 and 39 % for serrated blades and between 17 and 33 % for non-serrated blades. Blunt force injuries showed non-specific characteristics, which, if properly assessed, may lead to a reliable distinction between different cut marks in fresh samples. The most evident alterations of the structure of the cartilage occurred in the first week of decomposition in ambient air. After one week of drying, the characteristics of cut marks were almost undetectable, thereby making it extremely challenging to distinguish between cut marks, blunt force fractures and taphonomic effects.

Conclusion

The study represents a contribution to the correct assessment and distinction of cut marks and blunt force injuries on cartilages, providing a glimpse on the modifications such lesions may undergo with decomposition.

     

Prognostic role of ERCC1 protein expression in upper tract urothelial carcinoma following radical nephroureterectomy with curative intent

Background

Excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) has been associated with outcomes of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, but was not yet studied in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic role of ERCC1 expression in a large international cohort of UTUC patients.

Methods

Immunohistochemical ERCC1 expression was evaluated in 716 UTUC patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy with curative intent. ERCC1 was considered positive when the H-score was >1.0. Associations with overall survival and cancer-specific survival were assessed using univariable and multivariable Cox models.

Results

ERCC1 was expressed in 303 tumors (42.3 %) and linked with the presence of tumor necrosis (16.2 vs. 10.4 %, p = 0.023), but not with any other clinical or pathological variable. ERCC1 status did not predict cancer-specific survival and overall survival on both univariable (p = 0.70 and 0.32, respectively) and multivariable analyses (p = 0.48 and 0.33, respectively).

Conclusions

ERCC1 is expressed in a significant proportion of UTUC and is linked with tumor necrosis, but its expression appears not to be associated with prognosis following radical nephroureterectomy.

     

Age estimation in the Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus (Montagu 1821) by bone density of the thoracic limb

The determination of age is an important step in defining the life history traits of individuals and populations. Age determination of odontocetes is mainly based on counting annual growth layer groups in the teeth. However, this useful method is always invasive, requiring the cutting of at least one tooth, and sometimes the results are difficult to interpret. Based on the concept that bone matrix is constantly deposited throughout life, we analysed the bone mineral density of the arm and forearm of a series of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu 1821) stranded along the Italian coast of the Adriatic Sea or maintained in confined waters. The bone mineral density values we obtained were evaluated as possible age predictors of the Mediterranean population of this species, considering age as determined by counting growth layer groups in sections of the teeth and the total body length of the animal as references. Comparisons between left and right flipper showed no difference. Our results show that bone mineral density values of the thoracic limb are indeed reliable age predictors in Tursiops truncatus. Further investigations in additional odontocete species are necessary to provide strong evidence of the reliability of bone mineral density as an indicator of growth and chronological wear and tear in toothed-whales.     

Muscarinic receptor-mediated GTP-Eu binding in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex is correlated with spatial memory impairment in aged rats

The present study examined muscarinic receptor/G-protein coupling in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex of young and aged Long-Evans rats characterized for spatial learning ability in the Morris water maze. In a highly sensitive time-resolved fluorometry GTP-Eu binding assay, muscarinic-mediated GTP-Eu binding was severely blunted in hippocampus (-32%) and prefrontal cortex (-34%) as a consequence of aging. Furthermore, the magnitude of decreased muscarinic-mediated GTP-Eu binding was significantly correlated with the severity of spatial learning impairment in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of aged rats and was specifically decreased in the subset of aged rats that were spatial learning impaired when compared to the aged unimpaired and the young rats. Western blot data indicated a preservation of the membrane-bound M1 receptor and the Galphaq/11 protein in both brain regions. These data demonstrate that muscarinic signaling is severely impaired as a consequence of normal aging in a manner that is closely associated with age-related cognitive decline.     

Pneumo- and neurotropism of avian origin Italian highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N1 isolates in experimentally infected mice

An experimental infection of mice was performed in order to investigate the potential for interspecies transmission in mammals of Italian HPAI viruses of the H7N1 subtype. Three avian origin isolates were selected, two strains obtained from ostrich (one of which contained a PB2-627 Lysine residue) and one from a chicken. Following intranasal infection of mice, clinical signs and mortality were recorded in the experimental groups challenged with the two ostrich isolates, while only weight loss was observed in those receiving the chicken strain. Viruses were recovered to a varying extent from respiratory and nervous tissues of infected animals. These results suggest that HPAI viruses, other than H5N1 and H7N7, may have zoonotic implications, and support the consensus that AI infections in poultry are to be eradicated rather than contained.     

Gangliosides, Ab1 and Ab2 antibodies III. The idiotype of anti-ganglioside mAb P3 is immunogenic in a T cell-dependent manner

P3 mAb is an IgM monoclonal antibody specific for N-glycolyl-containing gangliosides. The immunogenicity of the P3 idiotype has been previously described by immunizing syngeneic BALB/c mice with the purified murine IgM or the mouse-human chimeric IgG antibody. In the present work we study the antibody response against the idiotype of P3 mAb through immunization with DNA. We used small immune proteins (SIP) consisting on the idiotype in the scFv format, covalently linked to gamma1CH3, the self-dimerizing domain of murine IgG1. SIPs were previously shown to be appropriate to induce specific anti-idiotypic responses. By gene gun immunization, a polyspecific response was occasionally generated, particularly with the P3 idiotype. A single shot of DNA was sufficient to induce a strong and long-lasting anti-P3 idiotype response. In addition, by delivery of the same DNA construct with a recombinant adeno-associated virus the unique immunogenicity of the P3 idiotype was demonstrated. The requirement of T cells in the anti-P3 idiotype response was indicated by the lack of P3-specific anti-idiotypic antibodies following immunization of both, allogeneic C57BL/6 and athymic BALB/c mice.