Multiresponse biomarker evaluation of interactions between methylmercury and Arochlor 1260 in quail

The single and combined effects of methylmercury and Arochlor 1260 were investigated in experimental quail treated chronically with the two compounds at low and high doses. A series of metabolic and biochemical biomarkers were evaluated together with mercury and PCB accumulation to pinpoint the effects of treatment with one or both chemicals. Methylmercury alone was associated with a decrease in serum cholesterol. Less PCBs were accumulated in tissues when Arochlor 1260 was combined with methylmercury than when the former was administered alone. Liver monooxygenase (MFO) activity was depressed 50% more in the presence of methylmercury than with Arochlor 1260 alone. Single or combined treatment with high doses of the two compounds resulted in similar degrees of DNA damage. This approach was found to provide a good picture of the interaction between environmental contaminants.     

Use of capillary electrophoresis and poly(ethylene oxide) as the coating agent for the determination of substances related to heroin addiction and treatment

The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify morphine, codeine, methadone, and 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine using capillary electrophoresis in urine specimens. Adequate peak separation was achieved using nearly neutral pH phosphate buffer and poly(ethylene oxide) as the coating agent. This dynamic coating of the inner surface of the capillary was obtained by rinsing with a solution containing this compound. The electroosmotic flow and the interactions between analytes and the capillary wall surface were reduced, while resolution and reproducibility were thus improved. Detection limits were appropriate for usual analytical requirements in forensic laboratories.     

A new approach for video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy “the caudal position”

Background

Despite a general agreement about effectiveness of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy the surgical technique is still not standardized, and many technical variations have been described until now. We describe our technique to perform thoracoscopic lobectomy by a caudal approach.

Methods

We studied a position in which the operator stays from the inferior side of the thorax, positioning the patients in a lateral sitting position. This position ensures the operator to enjoy all the benefits of the anterior and posterior approach limiting the disadvantages of both. The surgeon maneuvers are further assisted and simplified by the movement of the surgical bed.

Results

We perform 23 “caudal video assisted-lobectomy” for non-small cell lung cancer. The conversion rate was 0% and we had no complications related with the new approach.

Conclusions

We think that our new position could be considered a further effective technical variation to perform VATS-lobectomy.     

Cardiovascular benefits from ancient grain bread consumption: findings from a double-blinded randomized crossover intervention trial

Ancient grain varieties have been shown to have some beneficial effects on health. Forty-five clinically healthy subjects were included in a randomized, double-blinded crossover trial aimed at evaluating the effect of a replacement diet with bread derived from ancient grain varieties versus modern grain variety on cardiovascular risk profile. After 8 weeks of intervention, consumption of bread obtained by the ancient varieties showed a significant amelioration of various cardiovascular parameters. Indeed, the ancient varieties were shown to result in a significant reduction of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and blood glucose, whereas no significant differences during the phase with the modern variety were reported. Moreover, a significant increase in circulating endothelial progenitor cells were reported after the consumption of products made from the ancient “Verna” variety. The present results suggest that a dietary consumption of bread obtained from ancient grain varieties was effective in reducing cardiovascular risk factors.     

Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular mortality in older type 2 diabetic patients: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Although age does not seem to modify the association of the metabolic syndrome (MS) with cardiovascular risk in middle-aged individuals, no comparison of risks associated with MS between old and middle-aged persons has been reported so far. METHODS: An observational study was performed on a consecutive series of 1716 type 2 diabetic outpatients (age range: 28-96 years). The diagnosis of MS was made following either the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATPIII) or the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. RESULTS: The difference in cardiovascular mortality between patients with and without MS was significant up to the age of 70 years. After adjusting for age and sex, hazard ratios of MS for cardiovascular mortality were 3.03 (95% confidence interval, 1.45-6.29), 1.56 (0.91-2.68), and 1.17 (0.42-3.22) in patients < or =70, 71-80, and >80 years old, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MS is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in middle-aged type 2 diabetic patients, and the clinical utility of this category in older diabetic individuals is questionable.     

Notch3 is activated by chronic hypoxia and contributes to the progression of human prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PC) is still the second cause of cancer‐related death among men. Although patients with metastatic presentation have an ominous outcome, the vast majority of PCs are diagnosed at an early stage. Nonetheless, even among patients with clinically localized disease the outcome may vary considerably. Other than androgen sensitivity, little is known about which other signaling pathways are deranged in aggressive, localized cancers. The elucidation of such pathways may help to develop innovative therapies aimed at specific molecular targets. We report that in a hormone‐sensitive PC cell line, LNCaP, Notch3 was activated by hypoxia and sustained cell proliferation and colony formation in soft agar. Hypoxia also modulated cellular cholesterol content and the number and size of lipid rafts, causing a coalescence of small rafts into bigger clusters; under this experimental condition, Notch3 migrated from the non‐raft into the raft compartment where it colocalized with the γ‐secretase complex. We also looked at human PC biopsies and found that expression of Notch3 positively correlated with Gleason score and with expression of carbonic anhydrase IX, a marker of hypoxia. In conclusion, hypoxia triggers the activation of Notch3, which, in turn, sustains proliferation of PC cells. Notch3 pathway represents a promising target for adjuvant therapy in patients with PC.     

Effect of β-Blockers and Other Antihypertensive Drugs On the Risk of Melanoma Recurrence and Death

ObjectiveTo verify preliminary studies on patients with melanoma exposed to β-blockers that suggested a reduced risk of disease recurrence and death.Patients and MethodsData were obtained from all consecutive patients diagnosed as having melanoma between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2009, at the Department of Dermatology of the University of Florence, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze. Participants were excluded if at baseline they reported a previous diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma or another malignant disease. We also excluded participants with evidence of visceral, lymph nodal, and in-transit metastasis at the time of the diagnosis.ResultsOf 741 consecutive patients with melanoma, 79 (11%) were prescribed β-blockers (for hypertension in most cases) for 1 or more years (treated) and 662 (89%) were not (untreated). The multivariate Cox model indicated that the treated group had improved overall survival after a median follow-up of 4 years (P=.005). For each year of β-blocker use, the risk of death was reduced by 38%. The presence of hypertension, the use of antihypertensive agents for 1 or more years, or the use of other commonly used medicines were not associated with a better outcome for patients with melanoma.ConclusionThe results confirm and strengthen previous findings that β-blocker use is associated with a reduced risk of melanoma recurrence and death. The results also indicate the strong need for a randomized clinical trial to conclusively assess whether β-blockers afford protection against melanoma recurrence and death.