Role of canonical Wnt signaling in endometrial carcinogenesis

While the role of Wnt signaling is well established in colorectal carcinogenesis, its function in gynecologic cancers has not been elucidated. Here, we describe the current state of knowledge of canonical Wnt signaling in endometrial cancer (EC), and its implications for future therapeutic targets. Deregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in EC occurs by inactivating β-catenin mutations in approximately 10-45% of ECs, and via downregulation of Wnt antagonists by epigenetic silencing. The Wnt pathway is intimately involved with estrogen and progesterone, and emerging data implicate it in other important signaling pathways, such as mTOR and Hedgehog. While no therapeutic agents targeting the Wnt signaling pathway are currently in clinical trials, the preclinical data presented suggest a role for Wnt signaling in uterine carcinogenesis, with further research warranted to elucidate the mechanism of action and to proceed towards targeted cancer drug development.     

Role of alpha-synuclein in synaptic glutamate release

Defective mobilization of dopamine from the reserve pool has been reported in both alpha-synuclein knockout mice (KO) and pPrp-A30P transgenic mice. The present study extends these findings to glutamate release. Standard hippocampal slices were prepared from KO, pPrp-A30P, and C57BL/6J wild type (WT1) mice, as well as from mice with transgenic overexpression of wild type human alpha-synuclein (pSyn-hASY) and their negative littermates (WT2), and field responses were measured in CA3 in response to mossy fiber stimulation. The input/output curves indicated no differences in basal synaptic transmission between groups. Paired-pulse facilitation was significantly weaker in both transgenic alpha-synuclein lines and KO mice compared to their controls. High-frequency stimulation induced LTP only in transgenic mice. Frequency-facilitation was absent in KO mice and different from other mouse lines. These findings support the idea that lack of alpha-synuclein impairs mobilization of glutamate from the reserve pool. However, transgenic expression of A30P mutated or wild type alpha-synuclein does not appear to prevent endogenous mouse alpha-synuclein to carry out this function.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis and Characterization of Yttrium-Doped MgFe2O4 Spinel

In this study, an environmentally friendly sol-gel synthetic approach was used for the preparation of yttrium-doped MgFe₂O₄. Two series of compounds with different iron content were synthesized and A-site substitution effects were investigated. In the first series, the iron content was fixed and the charge balance was suggested to be compensated by a partial reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ or formation of interstitial O²⁻ ions. For the second series of samples, the iron content was reduced in accordance with the substitution level to compensate for the excess of positive charge, which accumulates due to replacing divalent Mg²⁺ with trivalent Y³⁺ ions. Structural, morphological and magnetic properties were inspected. It was observed that single-phase compounds can only form when the substitution level reaches 20 mol% of Y³⁺ ions and iron content is reduced. The coercivity as well as saturation magnetization decreased with the increase in yttrium content. Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to investigate the iron content in both tetrahedral and octahedral positions.     

Surgical management of extracranial meningioma presenting in the parapharyngeal space in a pediatric patient

Extracranial meningiomas are reported to occur from 0.9% to 2% of cases. The presentation of this rare parapharyngeal space meningioma reflects the difficulty in diagnosing parapharyngeal space tumors especially in the pediatric population. Furthermore, the histopathological features of this meningioma offer a learning experience. We describe our multi disciplinary team approach to management and surgical techniques employed to treat this tumor.     

Use of the omental free flap for reconstruction of degloving hand and foot injuries: two case reports

Different techniques are used for reconstruction of degloving hand or foot injuries, however the best option has not been found yet. In this paper we present two clinical cases when degloving hand and foot injuries were successfully covered with the omental free flap.     

Dyspnea perception and reversibility of methacholine-induced unlimited airway narrowing in asthmatics.

The hypothesis was that asthmatics might experience impaired perception of dyspnea and salbutamol-induced reversibility during unlimited airway narrowing. A total of 38 asthmatics (18 to 59 years of age) were examined. All patients underwent the methacholine challenge test. According to the dose-response curve to methacholine, they were categorized as having either unlimited airway narrowing (UAN group) (n = 20) or response plateau (RP group) (n = 18). Reversibility of methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction was measured 20 minutes after the inhalation of 400 microg of salbutamol to compare postbronchodilator FEV1 with baseline FEV1. Dyspnea perception was evaluated using the Borg Scale to calculate a perception score at a 20% decrease in FEV1 (PS20) and the slope alpha of the regression line between the changes in Borg scores and the reduction in FEV1 as percentage of the baseline value. Subjects in the UAN group exhibited significantly lower PS20 compared with the RP group (1.45+/- 0.23 vs. 2.84 +/- 0.35, p = 0.002); the mean of the slope values was higher in the RP group than it was in the UAN group (0.150 +/- 0.015 vs. 0.095 +/- 0.006, p = 0.003). Salbutamol-induced reversibility was significantly lower in the UAN group (81 +/- 1.4 % of baseline FEV1) compared with patients from the RP group (91 +/- 1.1% of baseline FEV1; p < 0.001). In conclusion, asthmatics during methacholine-induced unlimited airway narrowing exhibit diminished perception of dyspnea and lower bronchial reversibility to the baseline 20 minutes after inhalation of salbutamol. This suggests that more careful monitoring of the lung function for timely recognition of asthma deteriorations and adequate bronchodilatory therapy during severe acute attacks should be recommended for such patients.     

HIV seroprevalence among new TB patients in the civilian and prisoner populations of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine

After the Russian Federation, Ukraine is the country of the Former Soviet Union experiencing the greatest epidemics of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, although complete official data are not available. This study investigates the prevalence of HIV among new TB patients in the civilian and penitentiary populations of Donetsk Oblast. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of 1507 new patients with TB (1351 civilians, 156 prisoners) between January and June 2006. The prevalence of HIV among patients with TB was 15.5% (95% confidence interval 13.7-17.6) and 23.7% (95% CI 17.3-31.2) in the civilian and penitentiary sectors, respectively. Reported injecting drug use was the strongest independent predictor for HIV infection, followed by young age (25-44 y). Being prisoners was also found a significant independent predictor for HIV infection (OR: 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1). In conclusion, the prevalence of HIV in the TB population is the highest ever reported in Ukraine, almost 2 times higher than the World Health Organization estimates for 2005 (7.9%), and 3 percentage points higher than the official data reported. These findings call for urgent measures to control HIV and, consequently, HIV-related TB.