Pseudoathetosis: report of three patients.

We report on 3 patients with pseudoathetosis, which are involuntary, slow, writhing movements due to loss of proprioception.     

Effect of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on aromatase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in adenomyosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci is affected by previous use of oral contraceptives containing gestodene, and to determine whether changes in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression occur in adenomyosis during the menstrual cycle. PATIENT AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study carried out in paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue obtained from patients with a histological diagnosis of adenomyosis obtained during the proliferative (n = 25) and luteal (n = 10) phases of the menstrual cycle and following the use of continuous oral contraception with gestodene/ethinyl estradiol (n = 7). COX-2 and aromatase expression were measured in both eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Aromatase expression was detected in 80% of the endometrial slices by immunohistochemistry. In positive cases, aromatase was mainly detected in the stromal cells of the eutopic endometrium, whereas in the adenomyotic foci this expression was negative in the majority of the cases. Oral contraceptives containing gestodene, on the other hand, were effective in suppressing aromatase expression in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium. COX-2 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in the glandular epithelium of both eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci and there were no significant changes in its intensity throughout the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: Aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci is suppressed by oral contraceptives containing gestodene. Increased aromatase activity may be responsible for the persistent COX-2 expression during the luteal phase.     

Cementoblastoma related to a primary tooth: a case report

Cementoblastomas are benign lesions of the odontogenic ectomesenchyme that rarely occur related to the primary dentition, especially on the left side of the mandible. This study describes a case of a true cementoblastoma related to the left second primary mandibular molar in a 7-year-old child (the largest one seen in the left side of the mandible). Additionally, the radiographic and histologic findings of the lesion are described in details.     

Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract in different concentrations assessed by skin bioengineering techniques

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The polysaccharide-rich composition of Aloe vera extracts (Aloe barbadensis Miller), often used in cosmetic formulations, may impart moisturizing properties to the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cosmetic formulations containing different concentrations of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract on skin hydration, after a single and a 1- and 2-week period of application, by using skin bioengineering techniques. METHODS: Stable formulations containing 5% (w/w) of a trilaureth-4 phosphate-based blend were supplemented with 0.10%, 0.25% or 0.50% (w/w) of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract and applied to the volar forearm of 20 female subjects. Skin conditions in terms of the water content of the stratum corneum and of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) (Corneometer CM 825 and Tewameter TM 210) were analysed before and after a single and 1- and 2-week period of daily application. RESULTS: After a single application, only formulations supplemented with 0.25% and 0.50% (w/w) of Aloe vera extract increased the water content of the stratum corneum, while after the 2-week period application, all formulations containing the extract (0.10%, 0.25% and 0.50%) had the same effect, in both cases as compared with the vehicle. TEWL was not modified after a single and after 1- and 2-week period of application, when compared with the vehicle. CONCLUSION: Our results show that freeze-dried Aloe vera extract is a natural effective ingredient for improving skin hydration, possibly through a humectant mechanism. Consequently, it may be used in moisturizing cosmetic formulations and also as a complement in the treatment of dry skin.     

Medullar expression of type-A natriuretic peptide receptor in an animal model of hypertension induced by renal mass ablation.

INTRODUCTION: The biological activity of the natriuretic peptide (NP) system is dependent on the balance between NP tissue levels and the local expression of their receptors. In the kidney, the natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPR-A) is the principal receptor mediating NP activity and is mainly expressed in the renal medulla. An increase in circulating NP levels is well documented in chronic renal failure (CRF); however, the renal expression of NPR-A has not been evaluated in this condition. METHODS: Wistar-Han rats were submitted to right nephrectomy plus ablation of both poles of the left kidney (3/4nx; n=27) or were sham operated (Sham; n=22) and followed for up to 26 weeks post surgery. Blood pressure measurements were performed weekly. Two, 10 and 26 weeks after surgery, renal sodium and creatinine excretion were evaluated and the kidneys removed for NPR-A mRNA quantification by real-time PCR. The results of mRNA quantification are expressed in arbitrary units (AU) set as the mean value of the Sham group (Sham=1 AU), after normalization for GAPDH (p<0.05). weeks after surgery) and in elevated fractional sodium excretion (+270%, 26 weeks after surgery). Although sodium intake was similar in 3/4nx and Sham rats, blood pressure was higher in 3/4nx rats and increased progressively throughout the study. This was accompanied by a marked decrease in NPR-A mRNA levels in the renal medulla from 3/4nx animals at 2, 10 and 26 weeks post surgery. Conclusion: In 3/4nx rats, the expression of NPR-A in the renal medulla of the remnant kidney is markedly reduced from 2 weeks up to 26 weeks post surgery. It is suggested that this may contribute to the progressive increase in blood pressure, as well as to the renal fibrosis observed in 3/4nx rats.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the endometrium and its relationship to bleeding in users of continuous oral contraceptives.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate whether or not the presence of irregular bleeding during use of oral contraceptives (OC) is associated with increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational study was carried out in 26 patients who were using gestodene 75 microg/ethinylestradiol 30 microg prior to endometrial resection. The patients were divided into two groups: those with amenorrhea (n = 14) and those who had irregular bleeding (n = 12). The resected endometrium was immunostained for COX-2, Bcl-2 and Ki-67 expression. Routine pathology was carried out using standard hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: Irregular bleeding during OC use was associated with strong COX-2 expression in both glandular and superficial epithelium. There were also more patients in this group with irregular endometrial maturation and higher Ki-67 values. Bcl-2 expression, on the other hand, was not affected by the presence of uterine bleeding. CONCLUSION: The presence of irregular bleeding during OC use is associated with strong COX-2 expression in the endometrium, thereby suggesting a pivotal role of prostaglandins in this process.     

Skin cancers and precancerous lesions in Parkinson's disease patients.

Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of neoplastic and preneoplastic skin lesions in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients when compared with an aged-matched population. We performed a cross-sectional survey in PD patients and in an age-matched control group. Patients and controls were examined by a movement disorder specialist and a dermatologist. 150 PD patients and 146 controls were included. Thirty-five PD patients (23.3%) presented skin lesions that could be classified as neoplastic or preneoplastic vs. 20 subjects in the control group (13.7%) (OR 95%, CI 1.92 [1.05, 3.51]). However, this difference lost statistical significance when adjusted for gender (recruitment of controls was matched just for age with an over representation of males in the PD group). Twenty-nine PD patients (19%) presented actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 4 patients (3%). Although nonconclusive, our results are in agreement with previous studies suggesting an increased risk of skin cancer in PD patients. The frequency of actinic keratosis in PD patients and the associated risk to develop melanoma recommends its screening in future epidemiological studies.     

Hypertrichosis lanuginosa in a mother and son

Hypertrichosis lanuginosa (without gingival hyperplasia) is described in a mother and son; the latter also had photophobia, infantile genitalia, growth retardation, hypotension, low IQ and dental abnormalities (hyperdontia, permanence of deciduous and delayed eruption of permanent teeth). Both have normal dermatoglyphics. Some clinical findings are discussed. The presence of this syndrome in a mother and son supports an autosomal mode of inheritance (with variable expressivity). Hypertrichosis lanuginosa is a pure monomultidysplasia and may be classified with the tricho-odontic sub-group of the ectodermal dysplasias.     

ApoAI deficiency results in marked reductions in plasma cholesterol but no alterations in amyloid-beta pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease-like cerebral amyloidosis

Epidemiological studies suggest links between cholesterol metabolism and Alzheimer's disease (AD), with hypercholesterolemia associated with increased AD risk, and use of cholesterol-lowering drugs associated with decreased risk. Animal models using cholesterol-modifying dietary or pharmacological interventions demonstrate similar findings. Proposed mechanisms include effects of cholesterol on the metabolism of amyloid-beta (Abeta), the protein that deposits in AD brain. To investigate the effect of genetic alterations in plasma cholesterol on Abeta pathology, we crossed the PDAPP transgenic mouse model of AD-like cerebral amyloidosis to apolipoprotein AI-null mice that have markedly reduced plasma cholesterol levels due to a virtual absence of high density lipoproteins, the primary lipoprotein in mice. Interestingly and in contrast to models using non-physiological high fat diets or cholesterol-lowering drugs to modify plasma cholesterol, we observed no differences in Abeta pathology in PDAPP mice of the various apoAI genotypes despite robust differences in plasma cholesterol levels between the groups. Absence of apoAI also resulted in reductions in brain but not cerebrospinal fluid cholesterol, but had no effect on brain apolipoprotein E levels. These and other data suggest that it is perhaps the level of brain apolipoprotein E, not cholesterol per se, that plays a primary role in brain Abeta metabolism.     

Involvement of rat cytochrome 1A1 in the biotransformation of kaempferol to quercetin: relevance to the genotoxicity of kaempferol

Kaempferol is a flavonoid widely distributed in edible plantsand has been shown to be genotoxic to V79 cells in the absenceof external metabolizing systems. The presence of an externalmetabolizing system, such as rat liver homogenates (S9 mix),leads to an increase in its genotoxicity, which is attributedto its biotransformation to the more genotoxic flavonoid quercetin,via the cytochrome P450 (CYP) mono-oxygenase system. In thepresent work we investigated the mechanisms of the genotoxicityof kaempferol further. Special attention has been given to therole of CYP in the genotoxicity of this flavonoid. We studiedthe induction of mutations in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 inthe presence and in the absence of S9 mix and the inductionof chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and micronuclei (MN) by kaempferolin V79 cells in the presence and in the absence of S9 mix. Toevaluate the role of different CYP in the biotransformationof kaempferol we studied the induction of CAs and MN in V79cells genetically engineered for the expression of rat CYP 1A1,1A2 and 2B1. In addition we performed CYP inhibition studiesusing the above-mentioned indicators and high performance liquidchromatography (HPLC) analysis. The results obtained in thiswork suggest that rat CYP 1A1 is, among the cytochromes studied,the one that plays the major role in the transformation of kaempferolinto quercetin. The relevance of these findings to the humansituation is discussed. ⁴To whom correspondence should be addressed