Transurethral resection of the prostate with local anesthesia in 100 patients

We performed transurethral resections of the prostate in 100 patients under local anesthesia supplemented when appropriate by intravenous medication. In the first part of the study (40 patients) local anesthesia was infiltrated into the prostate transurethrally only, while in the second part (60 patients) infiltration was performed transurethrally and perineally. Prostate sizes ranged from 5 to 50 gm., and pain control was excellent in the majority of the patients, especially when perineal infiltration was added to the procedure. Of the patients 98 per cent said they would do it again, no patient required conversion to general anesthesia and there were no significant complications relating to the anesthesia. Local anesthesia with intravenous supplementation can be performed successfully in the majority of the patients with small to moderately sized prostate glands.     

IP3 receptor orchestrates maladaptive vascular responses in heart failure

Patients with heart failure (HF) have augmented vascular tone, which increases cardiac workload, impairing ventricular output and promoting further myocardial dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms underlying the maladaptive vascular responses observed in HF are not fully understood. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) control vasoconstriction via a Ca²⁺-dependent process, in which the type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R1) on the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) plays a major role. To dissect the mechanistic contribution of intracellular Ca²⁺ release to the increased vascular tone observed in HF, we analyzed the remodeling of IP3R1 in aortic tissues from patients with HF and from controls. VSMC IP3R1 channels from patients with HF and HF mice were hyperphosphorylated by both serine and tyrosine kinases. VSMCs isolated from IP3R1^VSMC–/– mice exhibited blunted Ca²⁺ responses to angiotensin II (ATII) and norepinephrine compared with control VSMCs. IP3R1^VSMC–/– mice displayed significantly reduced responses to ATII, both in vivo and ex vivo. HF IP3R^1VSMC–/– mice developed significantly less afterload compared with HF IP3R1^fl/fl mice and exhibited significantly attenuated progression toward decompensated HF and reduced interstitial fibrosis. Ca²⁺-dependent phosphorylation of the MLC by MLCK activated VSMC contraction. MLC phosphorylation was markedly increased in VSMCs from patients with HF and HF mice but reduced in VSMCs from HF IP3R1^VSMC–/– mice and HF WT mice treated with ML-7. Taken together, our data indicate that VSMC IP3R1 is a major effector of increased vascular tone, which contributes to increased cardiac afterload and decompensation in HF.     

IgE allergy due to formaldehyde paste during endodontic treatment. Apropos of 4 cases: 2 with anaphylactic shock and 2 with generalized urticaria

We report 4 cases of allergic reaction to formaldehyde-containing root canal sealant after endodontic care: 2 anaphylactic shocks and 2 local reactions with generalized urticaria. Allergic IgE mediated mechanisms were suggested by the clinical presentation, skin tests and high levels of anti-formaldehyde IgE. These infrequent but potentially severe reactions after canal treatment led us to examine the involved mechanisms, the diagnostic procedure and the possibility of prevention in odontostomatology.     

Hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma:An insight into molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infects more than 170 million people worldwide,and thereby becomes a series global health challenge.Chronic infection with HCV is considered one of the major causes of end-stage liver disease including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Although the multiple functions of the HCV proteins and their impacts on the modulation of the intracellular signaling transduction processes,the drive of carcinogenesis during the infection with HCV,is thought to result from the interactions of viral proteins with host cell proteins.Thus,the induction of mutator phenotype,in liver,by the expression of HCV proteins provides a key mechanism for the development of HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).HCC is considered one of the most common malignancies worldwide with increasing incidence during the past decades.In many countries,the trend of HCC is attributed to several liver diseases including HCV infection.However,the development of HCC is very complicated and results mainly from the imbalance between tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes,as well as from the alteration of cellular factors leading to a genomic instability.Besides the poor prognosis of HCC patients,this type of tumor is quite resistance to the available therapies.Thus,understanding the molecular mechanisms,which are implicated in the development of HCC during the course of HCV infection,may help to design a general therapeutic protocol for the treatment and/or the prevention of this malignancy.This review summarizes the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms,which are involved in the development of HCV-associated HCC and the possible therapeutic strategies.     

Polyelectrolyte multilayers functionalized by a synthetic analogue of an anti-inflammatory peptide, alpha-MSH, for coating a tracheal prosthesis

Polyelectrolyte multilayer films made of poly (L-lysine) (PLL) and poly (L-glutamic acid) (PGA) have been functionalized by covalent binding of a synthetic analogue of the anti-inflammatory peptide, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) to PGA to create biologically active coatings for tracheal prostheses. The morphology and in vivo stability of the films were investigated by atomic force microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively. For the in vivo evaluation, 87 rats were implanted and examined for a period superior to 3 months. Histological analysis, performed 1 month after implantation, showed a fibroblast colonization of the periprosthetic side and a respiratory epithelium type on the endoluminal side of the implant for all the polyelectrolyte coatings tested. However, for prostheses modified by PGA ending multilayer films, a more regular and less obstructive cell layer was observed on the endoluminal side compared to those modified by PLL ending films. Systemic anti-inflammatory IL-10 production was only detected in rats implanted with prostheses functionalized by alpha-MSH, demonstrating, in vivo, the anti-inflammatory activity of the embedded peptide into multilayer architectures.