Stimulation and resection of Vidian nerve in patients with chronic hypertrophic non-allergic rhinitis: effect on histamine content in nasal mucosa

Parasympathetic innervation of nasal mucosa plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hypertrophic non-allergic rhinitis (C.H.N.A.R.). The present study investigated the effect of Vidian nerve stimulation and resection on the histamine contents and on the morphological pattern in mucosal samples of patients with C.H.N.A.R. Vidian nerve stimulation determines a significant decrease in histamine content in the samples examined; microscopical observations showed significant variations in the glandular, stromal and vascular components.The changes indicate an enhanced secretory activity, intensive vasodilatation and active degranulation of mast cells, which were significantly decreased in number in the samples obtained after 90 sec of stimulation.The neurectomy of the Vidian nerve resolves quite completely the clinical symptomatology and in parallel decreases the mucosal histamine contents, which are increased in patients with C.H.N.A.R. before the operation in comparison with the normal controls.     

Epidemiology,characterization, and diagnosis of neuropsychiatric events in systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction: Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is characterized by a heterogeneity of clinical manifestations. The absence of diagnostic criteria and the lack of clinical trials is a challenge in clinical practice.

Areas covered: A literature review was performed to describe epidemiology, characterization (clinical, immunological, and imaging), diagnosis and treatment of NPSLE. Classification criteria have been the first step towards a uniform definition. More recently, different attribution models have been developed to help to determine if the NP event is due to SLE. Disease activity is a major risk factor for NP events. Cytokines and autoantibodies are associated with NP events, however, only a few studies have identified risk factors for individual NP events.

Expert opinion: Further research needs to search for and validate biomarkers for NPSLE and individual NP events, including neuroimaging findings, attribution models, and serologic markers. This will be a fundamental step in planning randomized control trials in the treatment of NPSLE to improve outcome.     

Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy as a Model of Food Allergies

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies in infants, and its prevalence has increased over recent years. In the present paper, we focus on CMA as a model of food allergies in children. Understanding the diagnostic features of CMA is essential in order to manage patients with this disorder, guide the use of an elimination diet, and find the best moment to start an oral food challenge (OFC) and liberalize the diet. To date, no shared tolerance markers for the diagnosis of food allergy have been identified, and OFC remains the gold standard. Recently, oral immunotherapy (OIT) has emerged as a new therapeutic strategy and has changed the natural history of CMA. Before this, patients had to strictly avoid the food allergen, resulting in a decline in quality of life and subsequent nutritional, social, and psychological impairments. Thanks to the introduction of OIT, the passive approach involving rigid exclusion has changed to a proactive one. Both the heterogeneity in the diagnostic process among the studies and the variability of OIT data limit the comprehension of the real epidemiology of CMA, and, consequentially, its natural history. Therefore, well-planned randomized controlled trials are needed to standardize CMA diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies.     

Cementless Hemiarthroplasty for Intracapsular Femoral Neck Fractures in the Octa- and Nonagenarians

BackgroudCurrent evidence supports the use of cemented hemiarthroplasty for treatment of intracapsular femoral neck fractures since it is associated with a lower risk of implant-related complications. However, many medical centers employ the cementless technique for the frail elderly population because it is faster and has lower cardiovascular risks and perioperative mortality. This observational study reports the outcomes of cementless bipolar hemiarthroplasty for intracapsular femoral neck fractures in patients aged 80 years and older.MethodsA total of 424 patients (female, 77.1%) with a mean age of 86.9 years were operated for intracapsular femoral neck fractures between January 2009 and December 2017. Of those, 66.7% had an American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3 or more. All operations were performed with the posterolateral surgical approach and all patients received a cementless stem. Intraoperative and perioperative values and in-hospital outcomes were evaluated, and clinical and radiographical follow-up was done at 40 days, 90 days, and when possible between 5 months and 12 months postoperatively. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate if there were factors affecting mortality.ResultsThe mean operative time was 50 minutes. There were no deaths intraoperatively. Intraoperative periprosthetic fractures occurred in 2.1% of the cases with 66.7% of them fixed through cerclage wires intraoperatively. The median length of hospitalization was 11 days (interquartile range, 8.75–15) and 2.4% of patients died while in hospital after surgery. Approximately 91.5% of patients presented with perioperative anemia. Only 1.9% of the complications were related to the implant, 62.5% of which were dislocations. More than 90% of patients were ambulatory either autonomously or with support at each follow-up assessment. Age, male sex, and higher ASA score were related to increased mortality.ConclusionsDespite some limitations, this observational study underlines that a cementless femoral stem of modern design can give good clinical outcomes, thus being an appropriate solution especially for the frail elderly.     

Lack of prognostic significance of the monoclonal antibody Ki-S1, a novel marker of proliferative activity,in node-negative breast carcinoma

In a series of 205 node-negative breast cancers (NNBC), we determined staining by the novel antibody Ki-S1, a marker of tumor cell proliferation, in order to test its association with other prognostic variables and its prognostic significance. Ki-S1 was determined in routinely formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples. Ki-S1 gave a nuclear staining in the majority of the carcinomas (188 of 205), with percentages of reacting nuclei ranging from 2% to 90% (median value of 7%). In 107 tumors frozen sections were available to also assess the Ki-67 antibody. Among these, 94 had a nuclear staining of cancer cells ranging from 5% to 80% (median value of 7%). In 46 tumors we also determined the MIB-1 antibody. The percentage of MIB-1 nuclear staining ranged from 1% to 50% (median value of 20%). There was no significant relationship between Ki-S1 and the other two cell kinetic markers. Ki-S1 labeling was significantly associated only with tumor size (p = 0.03).With a median follow-up of 6 years, Ki-S1 had no significant prognostic value for either relapse-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS)(Ki-S1 as continuous logarithmic variable; p = 0.86 and p = 0.23, respectively). For RFS the following variables had a significant prognostic value: Ki-67 ( 10% vs > 10%; p = 0.037); progesterone receptor (PgR) expression (– vs +/++; p = 0.041); tumor size (pT1 vs pT2–3; p = 0.042) and grading (GI vs GII–III; p = 0.047). For OS, tumor size (p = 0.0044), age (continuous variable; p = 0.0060), and Ki-67 (p = 0.043) were significantly prognostic.In multivariate analysis (final model), only tumor size retained a significant and independent prognostic value for RFS (p = 0.0042). For OS, both tumor size (p = 0.0029) and age ( 55 years vs > 55 years; p = 0.041) retained significance in the multivariate model.In conclusion, Ki-S1 does not seem to have prognostic relevance in this series of NNBC. Possible hypotheses to explain this observation are discussed.     

Radiological Investigations in Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Patients

In our Institute we have performed 124 vertical banded gastroplasties. Patients with a follow-up beyond 3 months were studied with a barium meal, in order to evaluate the efficiency of surgery and the eventual complications. Seventy-nine patients have had one or more X-ray investigations at various times after surgery (for a total of 136 studies). The first 20 patients were routinely studied at 1, 2 and 3 years after the operation; the next 32 patients were studied for features such as vomiting, poor weight loss or low food intake; the last 27 patients were studied with an early overlook beginning 3 months after surgery. We noted gastroesophageal reflux in eight (10.1%) cases, outlet dilatation in four (5%) cases, outlet substenosis (diameter 6-8 mm) in 13 (16.4%) cases, outlet stenosis (diameter ≤5 mm) in four (5%) cases, peanut-type deformation in three (3.7%) cases, and staple-line disruption in 17 (21.5%) cases. The staple-line disruption was correlated in the first part of the series with a reinforcement of such a suture, while the last 27 patients, with vertical stapling carried out with a 4-row stapler without reinforcement, did not present any disruption. The radiographic examination gives information about weight loss and side effects.     

Presence of functionally active β-adrenoceptors in rat mast cells

Summary The correlation between the binding of a -adrenoceptor antagonist, (–)[³H]-dihydroalprenolol (DHAP), and the adrenergic inhibition of histamine release by acetylcholine and by compound 48/80 was studied with isolated purified rat mast cells and in rat mast cell crude membrane fractions.Acetylcholine-evoked histamine release was inhibited by catecholamines, in the order isoprenaline > adrenaline > noradrenaline. Pretreatment of cells with (–)alprenolol antagonized the inhibitory effect of isoprenaline on acetylcholine-induced histamine release.40/80-evoked histamine release was bocked by isoprenaline at significantly higher concentrations than those required to inhibit cholinergic histamine release. The inhibitory effect of isoprenaline was equally antagonized by preincubating mast cells with (–)alprenolol.Specific binding sites for DHAP have been demonstrated in rat mast cell membranes. The specific binding of DHAP was inhibited by adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists according to the stereospecificity of these compounds.A close correlation between the binding-inhibitory potency of various adrenergic compounds and the data obtained in the pharmacological experiments was found, thus indicating the presence of -adrenoceptors in rat mast cells.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 activation mediates the proangiogenic effect of nitric oxide in colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Up-regulation of both inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes has been reported in colorectal cancer. We aimed at evaluating the possible interaction between the nitric oxide and COX-2 pathways, and its effect on promoting tumor angiogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Expression of iNOS, COX-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 was analyzed in tumor samples and corresponding normal mucosa obtained from 46 surgical specimens. We also evaluated iNOS activity, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP production in the same specimens. Nitrite/nitrate levels, and PGE(2) and VEGF production were assessed in HCT116 and HT29 colon cancer cell lines after induction and selective inhibition of the two enzyme pathways. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between iNOS and COX-2 immunohistochemical expression. PGE(2) production significantly correlated with iNOS activity and cGMP levels. A significant correlation was also found among PGE(2) production, microvessel density, and VEGF expression. Coinduction of both iNOS and COX-2 activities occurred after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment in HCT116 and HT29 cells. Inhibition of iNOS by 1400W significantly reduced both LPS- and EGF-induced PGE(2) production. Treatment with LPS, EGF, and arachidonic acid significantly increased VEGF production in the iNOS-negative/COX-2-positive HT29 cells. This effect was completely reversed by treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed a prominent role of nitric oxide in stimulating COX-2 activity in colorectal cancer. This interaction is likely to produce a cooperative effect in promoting angiogenesis through PGE(2)-mediated increase in VEGF production.