Asymptomatic calcifying fibrous pseudotumor compressing heart cavities

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor is a rare benign lesion composed mostly of dense hyalinized colagen with multiple dystrophic or psammomatous calcifications and variable lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. Children and young adults are most commonly affected by this tumor of uncertain pathogenesis. This is a case of an asymptomatic young woman with calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of the pericardium compressing heart cavities. Partial resection and marsupialization of the mass was performed.     

Gal‐3 regulates the capacity of dendritic cells to promote NKT‐cell‐induced liver injury

Galectin‐3 (Gal‐3), an endogenous lectin, exhibits pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory effects in various disease conditions. In order to explore the role of Gal‐3 in NKT‐cell‐dependent pathology, we induced hepatitis in C57BL/6 WT and Gal‐3‐deficient mice by using specific ligand for NKT cells: α‐galactosylceramide, glycolipid Ag presented by CD1d. The injection of α‐galactosylceramide significantly enhanced expression of Gal‐3 in liver NKT and dendritic cells (DCs). Genetic deletion or selective inhibition of Gal‐3 (induced by Gal‐3‐inhibitor TD139) abrogated the susceptibility to NKT‐cell‐dependent hepatitis. Blood levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐12) and their production by liver DCs and NKT cells were also downregulated. Genetic deletion or selective inhibition of Gal‐3 alleviated influx of inflammatory CD11c⁺CD11b⁺ DCs in the liver and favored tolerogenic phenotype and IL‐10 production of liver NKT and DCs. Deletion of Gal‐3 attenuated the capacity of DCs to support liver damage in the passive transfer experiments and to produce pro‐inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Gal‐3‐deficient DCs failed to optimally stimulate production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in NKT cells, in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, Gal‐3 regulates the capacity of DCs to support NKT‐cell‐mediated liver injury, playing an important pro‐inflammatory role in acute liver injury.     

Nanoparticle layers controlling drug release from emulsions.

The influence of interfacial layers of silica nanoparticles on the release kinetics of a model lipophilic drug (di-butyl-phthalate (DBP)) from polydimethylsiloxane droplets in water is reported. The nanoparticle layers are formed by self-assembly from solution and their structure is controlled by nanoparticle hydrophobicity and the solution conditions. For DBP loading levels resulting in released concentrations below the solubility limit, release is rapid from uncoated droplets whereas significant sustained release is facilitated by rigid interfacial layers of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. Activation energies for release are in the range 580-630kJmol(-1), which is ten times greater than for barriers introduced by typical polymeric stabilisers. In contrast, at higher DBP loading levels (total concentration greater than the solubility level), both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanoparticle layers increase the rate and extent of dissolution compared with uncoated droplets and pure DBP solutions. Nanoparticle layers are shown to significantly influence the release kinetics of lipophilic drugs from oil in water emulsions: either sustained or enhanced release properties can be introduced depending on the nanoparticle layer type and drug loading level. Thus, nanoparticle layers may be engineered to facilitate a range of release behaviours and offer great potential in the delivery of poorly soluble drugs.     

SGLT2 inhibitors: a focus on cardiac benefits and potential mechanisms

Heart Failure Reviews - This paper highlights the cardioprotective potential of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SLGT2i), as well as several most discussed mechanisms responsible for...     

Magnetic resonance urography in children – when and why?

Background

The aim of the study was to determine the potential of magnetic resonance urography (MRU) in evaluation of paediatric urinary tract pathologies.

Patients and methods.

Twenty-one paediatric urological patients were evaluated with T1, T2 prior and after and 3D gradient echo sequences after the contrast administration. Results were compared with findings obtained with ultrasound which was performed to all of patients, intravenous urography performed to 14 patients with the diagnosis of hydronephrosis and voiding cystouretrography performed to 6 patients where hydronephrosis was suspected to be caused by vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

Results

MRU not only established the cause of hydronephrosis in all 14 cases (5 ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stenosis, 1 functional stenosis, 3 residual hydronephrosis, 1 combination of UPJ and vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ) stenosis with hydromegaureter, 2 fetal ureters and 3 insufficient broad ureteral orifices), but gave additional information about existing pathological conditions in all of patients compared to other previously performed examination (1 caliceal lithiasis, 4 UPJ stenosis, 1 VUJ stenosis, 1 neurogenic bladder, 1 hypotonic ureter, 1 urinary infection, 1 duplication of pelvis and ureter, 1 urinary retention and 1 fetal ureter). Other MRU findings were: 3 polycystic kidney disease, 1 caliceal cyst, 2 simple renal cysts, 1 long hypotonic twisted ureters and 1 hypertrophied column of Bertini.

Conclusions

Because of the ability to acquire high contrast and spatial resolution images of the whole urinary tract in any orthogonal plane, MRU enables a precise detection and differentiation of pathological urological conditions. We believe that in the future, because of its advantages, MRU will replace traditional methods in the evaluation of urinary tract pathologies.     

Higher serum triglyceride level in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with lower infarct volume on CT brain scans

We investigated the relationship between serum triglyceride level and acute ischemic stroke severity using infarct volume on CT brain scans as a marker. A total of 121 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients (53 males and 68 females, age 47-93 years) with anterior circulation (75%), posterior circulation (9%) or lacunar infarcts (16%) were examined. All patients were admitted within 24 h of the symptom onset, and CT scans were taken over the subsequent 24-72 h. With adjustment for the infarct type, age, sex, timing of CT imaging (24-36, >36-48 or >48-72 h since admission), atrial fibrillation, hypertension, fasting cholesterol and glucose levels, a higher (> or =1.70 mmol/l) fasting serum triglyceride level (within 24 h after admission) was associated with a lower infarct volume (p = 0.014). In line with a recent report on milder clinical symptoms in acute ischemic stroke patients with higher triglycerides, the results suggest an independent association between serum triglyceride level and stroke severity.