Proteolytic activity of the purified hormone-binding subunit in the estrogen receptor.

The hormone-binding subunit of the calf uterus estradiol receptor was purified as a hormone-free molecule. Immunoaffinity chromatography with a specific monoclonal antibody was used as the final step. The purified subunit was specifically labeled by radioactive diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The diisopropyl fluorophosphate-labeled amino acid was serine. The purified receptor was able to release the fluorogenic or chromogenic group from synthetic peptides containing phenylalanine at the carboxyl terminus. This occurred only in the presence of estradiol and was hampered by aprotinin and diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Estradiol-dependent hydrolytic activity was also found in the eluate from gel slices after SDS/PAGE of purified receptor. This activity comigrated with the renaturable estradiol-binding activity. The estradiol antagonists 4-hydroxytamoxifen and ICI 164,384 as well as other steroid hormones were unable to activate this hydrolytic activity.     

High and low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation inhibits nociceptive responses induced by CO2 laser stimulation in humans

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) on CO(2) laser evoked potentials (LEPs) in 16 normal subjects. The volar side of the forearm was stimulated by 10 Hz TENS in eight subjects and by 100 Hz TENS in the remainder; the skin of the forearm was stimulated by CO(2) laser and the LEPs were recorded in basal conditions and soon after and 15 min after TENS. Both low and high frequency TENS significantly reduced the subjective rating of heat stimuli and the LEPs amplitude, although high frequency TENS appeared more efficacious. TENS seemed to exert a mild inhibition of the perception and processing of pain induced by laser Adelta fibres activation; the implications of these effects in the clinical employment of TENS remain to be clarified.     

Multifocal Cerebral Hemangio-Endothelioma. Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemangio-endotheliomas (HE) are rare vascular tumours that present histological features and biological behaviour of an intermediate malignancy. We report the first case of primary HE presenting as multiple intracranial masses. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient is a 20-year-old female who presented with paresis of the left arm. Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple lesions in both frontal lobes. Total surgical excision of the tumours was obtained; a histological diagnosis of hemangio-endothelioma was made. Five months later, MRI scan showed new intradiploic skull lesions whereas a scintigraphic study revealed multicentric extracranial bone involvement. Treatment based on interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) administration was undertaken; this produced partial regression of the lesions. Approximately three years after the first operation, the patient is in good clinical condition. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery continues to play the leading role in the treatment of intracranial HE. However, adjuvant therapy with IFN represents a new and well-tolerated therapeutic method for residual intracranial lesions as well as multicentric extracranial disease.     

Using newspaper obituaries to “nowcast” daily mortality: Evidence from the Italian COVID-19 hot-spots

Real-time tracking of epidemic helps governments and health authorities make timely data-driven decisions. Official mortality data, whenever reliable and available, is usually published with a substantial delay. We report results of using newspapers obituaries to “nowcast” the mortality levels observed in Italy during the COVID-19 outbreak between February 24, 2020 and April 15, 2020. Mortality levels predicted using obituaries outperform forecasts based on past mortality according to several performance metrics, making obituaries a potentially valid alternative source of information to deal with epidemic surveillance.     

Occipital condylar fractures: a review

The purpose of this review article is to summarize the epidemiology, pertinent anatomy, mechanisms of injury, and classification systems of occipital condylar fractures (OCFs), as well as their clinical presentation and screening, the importance of computed tomography (CT) for detection, and current treatment options. The authors emphasize the rate of occurrence of OCFs, which may be detected in as many as 16% of patients with craniocervical injury. Clinical presentation is not specific, and OCF is not readily diagnosed at physical examination. Failure to diagnose may result in substantial morbidity, and thus accurate diagnosis is mandatory for both therapeutic and medicolegal implications. The diagnosis is most likely to be made with CT. Thin-section CT technique is the method of choice to evaluate the traumatized craniocervical junction. OCFs should be suspected in all patients sustaining high-energy blunt trauma to the head and/or upper cervical spine, resulting from axial loading, lateral bending and/or rotation, and/or direct blow. Besides a CT study assessing potential intracranial injuries, these patients require CT of the craniocervical junction. Radiologists should be aware of the types of OCFs and associated injuries.     

Cavernous hemangioma extending to extracranial, intracranial, and orbital regions. Case report

Extraaxial cavernous hemangiomas are rare intracranial lesions that can be located in different cranial compartments. Extension across different tissue planes such as the subcutaneous tissue, skull, orbital cavity, intracranial dura mater, and extracranial trigeminal divisions within the same patient has not been previously reported. This 32-year-old woman suffered left exophthalmos, left sixth nerve palsy, and trigeminal neuropathy. Magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed an extensive multicompartmental lesion, with enhancement following Gd administration. A left orbitopterional approach allowed removal of several cavernomatous lesions located in the orbit, frontotemporal dura, and lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. A histologically based diagnosis of extraaxial cavernous hemangioma was made. In the postoperative period the patient experienced a regression of her symptoms. The authors report on a case of cavernous hemangioma with a unique extension to different intracranial/extracranial compartments. Although radical removal of the lesion was not feasible, partial excision allowed for satisfactory clinical control of the patient's symptoms.     

The genetics of exceptional human longevity

There is a substantial distinction to be made between the genetics of aging and the genetics of exceptional longevity. Twin studies suggest that the average set of genetic variations facilitates the average human's ability to live well into their octogenarian years. Other studies indicate that taking full advantage of this average set results in spending the majority of those years in good health. However, many people counteract such genetic endowment with poor health habits, resulting in a substantially lower average life expectancy and relatively more time spent in poor health. To live beyond the octogenarian years, life-span experiments in lower organisms and mammals and population and molecular genetic studies of centenarian sibships suggest that genetic factors play an important role in exceptional longevity. These factors are likely to influence basic mechanisms of aging, which in turn broadly influence susceptibility to age-related illnesses. Lacking genetic variations that predispose to disease, and having variations that confer disease resistance (longevity enabling genes), are probably both important to such a remarkable survival advantage. Recent studies indicate the likelihood that such factors will be elucidated in the near future.