Vitelliform dystrophy and pattern dystrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium: concomitant presence in a family.

We describe three siblings presenting unusual pigmented dystrophic lesions of the fovea. The first sibling showed macroreticular dystrophy associated with butterfly shaped dystrophy in one eye and associated with vitelliform cyst in the other eye. The second showed the atrophic outcome of a vitelliform cyst with development of subretinal neovascular membrane in one eye and a radial pigmented macular dystrophy in the other eye. The third sibling had bilateral macular vitelliform lesions. This vitelliform patterned dystrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium may represent a new form that should be classified near Best's disease and the pattern dystrophies.     

Implementing and complying with the Smoke-free Hospitals Project in Catalonia, Spain.

The objective of the study was to describe the implementation of measures for preventing tobacco consumption developed in the Catalan Network of Smoke-free Hospitals. Information from 25 hospitals that are actively involved in the Catalan Network of Smoke-free Hospitals (April 2004) was used. The degree of implementation of the Smoke-free Hospitals Project was analysed by means of the Self-Audit Questionnaire of the European Network for Smoke-free Hospitals; each hospital was analysed globally and according to the duration of its Network membership (<1 year: implementation stage; > or =1 year: consolidation stage). In terms of global indicators, there were high levels of commitment (64.8%), communication (74.7%), tobacco control (77.4%) and implementation of smoke-free environments (81.0%). A lower degree of implementation (<50%) was found in education and training, health promotion and healthy workplaces. According to the duration of Network membership, significant differences were observed for communication, environment, healthy workplaces and follow-up. Deficits were observed in areas such as specialist training and cessation support, and further input is required here. By identifying areas needing attention, providing a guide for policy development and by administering it periodically, one can ensure that progress is kept on track.     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in human colorectal cancer: correlation with tumor angiogenesis

To investigate the potential involvement of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway in colorectal carcinogenesis, we correlated the expression and the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with the degree of tumor angiogenesis in human colorectal cancer. Tumor samples and adjacent normal mucosa were obtained from 46 surgical specimens. Immunohistochemical expression of iNOS, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 was analyzed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections. iNOS activity and cyclic GMP levels were assessed by specific biochemical assays. iNOS protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis. iNOS and VEGF mRNA levels were evaluated using Northern blot analysis. Both iNOS and VEGF expressions correlated significantly with intratumor microvessel density (r(s) = 0.31, P = 0.02 and r(s) = 0.67, P < 0.0001, respectively). A significant correlation was also found between iNOS and VEGF expression (P = 0.001). iNOS activity and cyclic GMP production were significantly higher in the cancer specimens than in the normal mucosa (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively), as well as in metastatic tumors than in nonmetastatic ones (P = 0.002 and P = 0.04, respectively). Western and Northern blot analyses confirmed the up-regulation of the iNOS protein and gene in the tumor specimens as compared with normal mucosa. NO seems to play a role in colorectal cancer growth by promoting tumor angiogenesis.     

Interleukin-6 gene alleles affect the risk of Alzheimer's disease and levels of the cytokine in blood and brain

Two different polymorphic regions of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene were investigated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-demented controls. The -174 C allele in the promoter region of IL-6 gene was over-represented in AD patients compared to controls and significantly increased the risk of AD. Moreover, the -174 CC genotype was associated with a high risk of the disease in women. The D allele of a variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) was in strong linkage disequilibrium with the -174 C allele and slightly increased AD risk. On the other hand, the frequency of the VNTR C allele was decreased in patients with AD and was negatively associated with the risk of developing AD. Both the -174 CC and VNTR DD genotypes were also associated with increased IL-6 levels in the blood and brain from AD. These findings suggest that IL-6 may play a multifaceted role in AD by affecting the turnover of the cytokine.     

Age-dependent changes in the susceptibility to apoptosis of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes with virgin or memory phenotype

Susceptibility to apoptosis changes with age and most of the available data on lymphocytes refer to mitogen stimulated cells. We studied this susceptibility in quiescent, purified CD4+ or CD8+ T cells from a group of Italian old people compared with a group of young people. We found that an apoptotic agent such as 2-deoxy-D-ribose (dRib), which acts via glutathione depletion and oxidative stress, was more effective in CD4+ T cells from young donors, while no difference was found in CD8+ T cells. On the contrary, another agent such as TNF-alpha, which acts via receptor engagement, was more effective in CD8+ T cells from old subjects, and no difference was found in CD4+ T cells. When marker of activation-memory were investigated, no difference between young and old subjects was found when dRib was used. Differently, when TNF-alpha was used, memory and activated CD4+ T cells from old donors were less sensitive than younger counterparts, while memory CD8+ T cells from old donors were more sensitive than younger counterparts. This suggests that age-related changes in susceptibility to apoptosis of resting T cells largely depend on the type of the apoptotic stimulus which is used as well as on the memory phenotype of the cells. These results may also account, at least in part, for the deep remodelling of T cell repertoire that occurs during ageing.     

Ion release and chromosomal damage from total hip prostheses with metal-on-metal articulation

A prospective multicentric study was carried out in patients having metal-on-metal METASUL components (Sulzer Medica, Winterthur, Switzerland) in order to check the following null hypotheses: H1: The concentration of Co, Cr, Ni, and Mb in blood and urine is not modified by the implant of a hip prosthesis with METASUL components at 6 months. H2: The incidence of markers of chromosomal damage [sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei (Mni)] in lymphocytes is not modified by the implant of METASUL components at 6 months. H3: The concentrations of Co, Cr, Ni, and Mb in blood and urine did not correlate with the incidence of the markers of chromosomal damage. The measurements showed a 2-fold increase of Co in blood, a 10-fold increase of Co in urine, a 1.5-fold increase of Cr in the blood, and a 3-fold increase of Cr in the urine at a follow-up of 6 months from the operation; there was also a significant increase in the Ni blood concentration at the 7 day checkup. The study cohort did not show any modification in the frequency of markers of chromosomal damage in the peripheral lymphocytes at any of the observation times. The amount of the SCEs and Mni recorded at all the observation times did not correlate with each other or with any of the ion levels measured in the blood and in the urine.     

Surface properties and cell response of low metal ion release Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy after multi-step chemical and thermal treatments

Ti-6Al-7Nb samples treated by innovative multi-step chemical and thermal processes were characterized in order to evaluate their surface properties and cell interaction. The main object was to asses if the treatments were effective in order to obtain a surface presenting at the same time bone-like apatite induction ability, low metal ion release, good cell response and high protein binding. The morphology, crystallographic structure, porosity and wettability of the treated materials were investigated, as well as their interaction with simulated body fluid during soaking for different times. Cytotoxicity, protein adsorption tests and in vitro fibroblast and osteoblast-like cell cultures were also performed.     

In vitro characterisation of zirconia coated by bioactive glass

An in vitro evaluation of a biomedical device, which combines the mechanical properties of zirconia substrates with the bioactivity of two different glass layers (AP40 and RKKP), was performed. In this work, data on different kinds of analysis were reported both on as-sintered zirconia samples and on RKKP- and AP40-coated zirconia substrates. Structure, composition and morphology of the apatite layer growth on the coated samples after 30 days of soaking in an acellular simulated body fluid, serum protein adsorption, fibroblasts and human osteoblast-like cells adhesion, growth, morphology and biochemical aspects were studied. Results of soaking test in SBF, revealed the growth of an apatite layer on the surface of the glass-coated samples. Proteins adsorbed to the materials were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and results evidenced that the two glass-coated materials bound a higher amount of total protein than did the zirconia substrate. Fibroblasts and osteoblast-like cells cultured on RKKP- and AP40-coated zirconia showed a higher proliferation rate, leading to confluent cultures with higher cell density and a generally better expression of osteoblast alkaline phosphatase activity in comparison with zirconia substrate. In conclusion, our results indicate that the surface chemical characteristics of the two glass coatings AP40 and RKKP, with no great differences between them, substantially enhance zirconia integration with bone cells at least in vitro. This effect may be of significance in the stability of glass-coated zirconia orthopaedic and dental implants.