MicroRNA-532-5p Regulates Pericyte Function by Targeting the Transcription Regulator BACH1 and Angiopoietin-1

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β-catenin and PPAR-γ levels in bone marrow of myeloproliferative neoplasm: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

In accordance with increased proliferation in myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), the goal is to evaluate the immunoexpression of: β-catenin, PPAR-γ and Ki67 protein, to compare them with bone marrow ultrastructural characteristics in patients with MPN. Immunoexpression and electron microscopy of bone marrow was analyzed in 30 Ph-negative MPN patients, including per 10 patients with polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The quantity of β-catenin immunoreactive cells was significantly higher in PV then in ET (p < 0.01) or PMF group of patients (p < 0.01) and also in ET versus PMF group of patients (p < 0.01). Erythroid lineage showed absent β-catenin staining without immunoreactivity in nucleus. In contrast, immunoreactivity for PPAR-γ was localized mostly in megakaryocytes and the highest number of PPAR-γ immunopositive cells was detected in PMF group of patients. In addition, the proliferative Ki67 index was significantly increased in the PMF and PV patients compared to patients with ET. Also, the megakaryocytes showed abnormal maturation in PMF group of patients as determined by ultrastructural analysis. These results indicated that PV dominantly expressed β-catenin and proliferation marker Ki67 in bone marrow, while PMF is linked preferentially to PPAR-γ immunopositive megakaryocytes characterized by abnormal maturation.     

Evaluation of Primary Stability of Self‐Tapping and Non‐Self‐Tapping Dental Implants. A 12‐Week Clinical Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between surgical techniques and implant macro‐design (self‐tapping/non‐self‐tapping) for the optimization of implant stability in the low‐density bone present in the posterior maxilla using resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Materials and Methods: A total of 102 implants were studied. Fifty‐six self‐tapping BlueSkyBredent® (Bredent GmbH&Co.Kg®, Senden, Germany) and 56 non‐self‐tapping Standard Plus Straumann® (Institut Straumann AG®, Waldenburg, Switzerland) were placed in the posterior segment of the maxilla. Implants of both types were placed in sites prepared with either lateral bone‐condensing or with bone‐drilling techniques. Implant stability measurements were performed using RFA immediately after implant placement and weekly during a 12‐week follow‐up period. Results: Both types of implants placed after bone condensing achieved significantly higher stability immediately after surgery, as well as during the entire 12‐week observation period compared with those placed following bone drilling. After bone condensation, there were no significant differences in primary stability or in implant stability after the first week between both implant types. From 2 to 12 postoperative weeks, significantly higher stability was shown by self‐tapping implants. After bone drilling, self‐tapping implants achieved significantly higher stability than non‐self‐tapping implants during the entire follow‐up period. Conclusions: The outcomes of the present study indicate that bone drilling is not an effective technique for improving implant stability and, following this technique, the use of self‐tapping implants is highly recommended. Implant stability optimization in the soft bone can be achieved by lateral bone‐condensing technique, regardless of implant macro‐design.     

Sleep-dependent changes in the coupling between heart period and arterial pressure in newborn lambs

This study assessed whether sleep-dependent changes in the relationship between heart period (HP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) occur in newborn life. Electrodes for electrocorticographic, electromyographic, and electrooculographic monitoring and an arterial catheter for blood pressure recordings were implanted in 11 newborn lambs. HP and MAP beat-to-beat values were computed from 120-s blood pressure recordings during quiet wakefulness, active sleep, and quiet sleep. For each recording, the time shift at which the maximum of the HP versus MAP cross-correlation function was attained was identified. For each lamb and wake-sleep state, an average correlation coefficient was then computed corresponding to the median value of such time shifts. The maximum of the cross-correlation function was attained with HP lagging behind MAP. The corresponding mean correlation coefficient was significantly higher in quiet sleep (0.51 +/- 0.05) than either in quiet wakefulness (0.31 +/- 0.05) or in active sleep (0.29 +/- 0.03). Sleep-related differences in the correlation between HP and MAP were maintained after HP and MAP data were low-pass filtered at 0.3 Hz to remove their fast ventilatory oscillations. In conclusion, data indicate that the relationship between spontaneous fluctuations in HP and those in MAP is sleep-state dependent in newborn lambs. A positive HP versus MAP correlation with HP lagging behind MAP is consistent with baroreflex control of HP. Heart rhythm thus may be more tightly controlled by the baroreceptor reflex and less dependent on central autonomic commands in quiet sleep than either in quiet wakefulness or in active sleep.     

Vascular thoracic outlet syndrome

Abstract The surgical treatment of 30 cases of vascular thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) in 25 patients is presented. Patients included 17 women and 8 men with average age of 26.1 years. The causes of compression were cervical rib (n = 16), soft tissue anomalies (n = 12), and scar tissue after clavicle fracture (n = 2). Ten subclavian artery aneurysms containing intraluminal thrombus as well as one subclavian artery occlusion were found. All such cases had multiple distal arterial embolization. Presenting features of cases with arterial TOS included: hand ischemia (n = 11), transient ischemic attack (TIA) (n = 1), and claudication or vasomotor phenomena during the arm hyperabduction (n = 11). Two patients with venous TOS developed hand edema during arm hyperabduction, and five other patients had axillary-subclavian venous thrombosis. In all cases decompressive procedures using a combined supraclavicular and infraclavicular approach were performed. Decompression was achieved by cervical rib excision (n = 12), combined cervical and first rib excision (n = 4), and first rib excision (n = 14). In all cases division of all soft tissue elements was also accomplished. Associated vascular procedures included resection and replacement of 10 subclavian artery aneurysms, one subclavian-axillary and one axillary-brachial bypass, as well as nine brachial embolectomies. All five cases with axillary-subclavian vein thrombosis before decompression were treated with anticoagulant therapy. The mean follow-up period was 3 years and 2 months (range 1 to 6 years). Two pleural entry injuries and two transient brachial plexus injuries were noted. All reconstructed arteries were patent during the follow-up period. Complete resolution of symptoms with a return to full activity was noticed in all cases with arterial TOS and in two cases with venous TOS without axillary-subclavian vein thrombosis. In cases with axillary-subclavian vein thrombosis relief of symptoms was mild, and there were limitations on daily activity. Vascular TOS is seen less frequently than the neurogenic form; however, in most cases it requires surgical treatment. We prefer a combined supraclavicular and infraclavicular approach because it offers complete exposure of the subclavian artery, cervical and first ribs, and all soft tissue anomalies. Electronic Publication     

Overview of current approaches for treating word retrieval deficits demonstrates need for focused research questions and appraisal of the methodological quality of evidence

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Schweng Casarin, F., Branco, L., Pereira, N., Kochhann, R., Gindri, G., & Paz Fonseca, R. (2014). Rehabilitation of lexical and semantic communicative impairments: An overview of available approaches. Dementia & Neuropsychologia, 8, 266–277. Sources of funding and disclosures of interest: Several of the authors received a CAPES scholarship for Master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral studies. The authors report no conflicts of interests.     

Behavioural and neural changes after a “choice” therapy for naming deficits in aphasia: preliminary findings

Background: Anomia, difficulty producing words, is a pervasive symptom of many individuals with aphasia. We have developed a treatment for naming deficits—the Phonological Components Analysis (PCA) protocol—that has proven efficacious in improving word-finding abilities for individuals with post-stroke aphasia.

Aims: The aim of this investigation is to present preliminary findings exploring the potential influence of choice—that is the active engagement of a participant in therapy—on our PCA treatment.

Methods & Procedures: Five individuals with aphasia were treated in one of two conditions—Choice or No Choice. Potential changes in neural activation as a function of the treatment were also investigated. Two individuals (one from each condition) underwent functional MRI (fMRI) pre- and post-therapy.

Outcomes & Results: All the individuals demonstrated a significant treatment effect immediately post-treatment and at a 4-week follow-up and four of the five participants at an 8-week follow-up. Three also demonstrated generalisation to untrained items. Unfortunately, no clear-cut patterns emerged to allow us to make claims about the influence of choice, per se, on the behavioural manifestations of improved naming. Interestingly, the participant from the Choice condition showed neural activation changes post-treatment in frontal and parietal regions that were not evident for the participant in the No Choice condition. Moreover, these changes were accompanied by a larger treatment effect for that individual and generalisation to a novel naming task.

Conclusion: The efficacy of PCA treatment for naming deficits is further supported. In addition, the neuroimaging data suggest the possibility that active engagement of an individual in his/her therapy (in this case choosing phonological attributes of a target word) may exercise executive functions important for success in treating anomia. Also, continued exploration of task factors that may promote even better treatment effects using this protocol is warranted, as is continued investigation of the neural underpinnings associated with treatment effects.