The aging brain, a key target for the future: The protein kinase C involvement

The brain represents the primary centre for the regulation and control of all our body activities, receiving and interpreting sensory impulses and transmitting information to the periphery. Most importantly, it is also the seat of consciousness, thought, emotion and especially memory, being in fact able to encode, store and recall any information. Memory is really what makes possible so many of our complex cognitive functions, including communication and learning, and surely without memory, life would lose all of its glamour and purpose. Age-associated mental impairment can range in severity from forgetfulness at the border with pathology to dementia, such as in Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, one of the most relevant observations of research on brain aging relates to data indicating that age-related cognitive decline is not only due to neuronal loss, as previously thought; instead, scientists now believe that age-associated functional changes have more to do with the dysfunctions occurring over time. Within this context a prominent role is certainly played by signal transduction cascades which guarantee neuronal cell to elaborate coordinated responses to the multiple signals coming from the outside and to adapt itself to the environmental changes and requests. This review will focus the attention on protein kinase C pathway, with a particular interest on its activation process, and on the role of protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions to selectively localize the cellular responses. Furthermore, information is emerging and will be discussed on the possibility of mRNA stabilization through PKC activation. This review will also approach the issue on how alterations of these molecular cascades may have implications in physiological and pathological brain aging, such as Alzheimer's disease.     

Learning by counting blood platelets in population studies: survey and perspective a long way after Bizzozero

Summary

Platelet count represents a useful tool in clinical practice to discriminate individuals at higher risk of bleeding. Less obvious is the role of platelet count variability within the normal range of distribution in shaping the individual's disease risk profile. Epidemiological studies have shown that platelet count in the adult general population is associated with a number of health outcomes related to hemostasis and thrombosis. However, recent studies are suggesting a possible role of this platelet index also as an independent risk factor. In this review of adult population studies, we will first focus on known genetic and non‐genetic determinants of platelet number variability. Next, we will evaluate platelet count as a marker and/or a predictor of disease risk and its interaction with other risk factors. We will then discuss the role of platelet count variability within the normal distribution range as a contribution to disease and mortality risk. The possibility of considering platelet count as a simple, inexpensive indicator of increased risk of disease and death in general populations could open new opportunities to investigate novel platelet pathophysiological roles as well as therapeutic opportunities. Future studies should also consider platelet count, not only platelet function, as a modulator of disease and mortality risk.

     

Photoacoustic dual-scan mammoscope: results from 38 patients

We have developed a photoacoustics-based imaging system, the dual-scan mammoscope (DSM), that combines optical contrasts with acoustic detection, to obtain the angiographic features in human breast. In this study, we investigated whether the system can differentiate malignant tumor and healthy breast. We have imaged 38 patients with various tumor types and compared results of tumor-bearing breast with healthy breast for each patient. We also compared the photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging results with clinical US. Vascular features in and around the tumor mass were visualized. We found that tumor-bearing breast contained vessels of larger caliber and exhibited stronger variations in the background signals than those in the contralateral healthy breasts. Preliminary data on photoacoustic and ultrasound images also indicate that the technique has potential in differentiating different tumor types. Overall, our results indicate that combining photoacoustic and ultrasound images can improve breast cancer screening.     

Malignant intraventricular meningioma: literature review and case report

Malignant intraventricular meningiomas (IVMs) are very rare with only a few reported cases. A midline search up to December 2020 selected 40 articles for a total of 65 patients. The inclusion criteria were series and case reports in English language, as well as papers written in other languages, but with abstracts written in English. Malignant IVMs at the first diagnosis (group A, 50 patients) and those with anaplastic transformation from previous WHO grades I and II tumors (group B, 15 patients) were separately analyzed. The unique personal case among 1285 meningiomas (0.078%) is also added. Malignant IVMs mainly occur in women (61%) with a median age of 45 years and are mainly located in the lateral ventricle (93%) and trigonal region (74%), with no cases in the fourth ventricle. Irregular borders (80%), heterogeneous enhancement (83%), and perilesional edema (76%) are the most frequent radiological findings. The histology was mainly pure anaplastic (85%), whereas papillary (7%), rhabdoid (5%), and mixed forms (3%) are very rare. The CSF spread was found in 60% of the cases. The prognosis is very dismal, with an overall median survival of 17.5 months after surgery for the anaplastic forms. Malignant IVMs at initial diagnosis (group A) show better overall survival (25 months) than those occurring from anaplastic transformation of lower grade tumors (group B) (10.1 months).

     

Compressive Strength Assessment of Soil–Cement Blocks Incorporated with Waste Tire Steel Fiber

The rapid growth in waste tire disposal has become a severe environmental concern in recent decades. Recycling rubber and steel fibers from wasted tires as construction materials helps counteract this imminent environmental crisis, mainly improving the performance of cement-based materials. Consequently, the present article aims to evaluate the potential use of waste tire steel fibers (i.e., WTSF) incorporated in the manufacture of soil–cement blocks, considering their compressive resistance as a primary output variable of comparison. The experimental methodology applied in this study comprised the elaboration of threefold mixtures of soil–cement blocks, all of them with 10% by weight in Portland cement, but with different volumetric additions of WTSF (i.e., 0%, 0.75%, and 1.5%). The assessment’s outcomes revealed that the addition of 0.75% WTSF does not have a statistically significant influence on the compressive resistance of the samples. On the contrary, specimens with 1.5% WTSF displayed a 20% increase (on average) in their compressive strength. All the tested samples’ results exhibited good agreement with the minimum requirements of the different standards considered. The compressive resistance was evaluated in the first place because it is the primary provision demanded by the specifications for applying soil–cement materials in building constructions. However, further research on the physical and mechanical properties of WTSF soil–cement blocks is compulsory; an assessment of the durability of soil–cement blocks with WTSF should also be carried out.     

Effect of Whey Proteins on Malnutrition and Extubating Time of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a severe pandemic, starting from early 2020. Intensive care (ICU) management of the COVID-19 disease is difficult with high morbidity and mortality. Early nutritional support, especially with whey protein, seems to be crucial in this medical case. Thus, we aimed to assess the effects of an adequate nutritional protocol rich in whey protein on nutritional and inflammatory status, extubating time, and mortality of critically ill COVID-19 patients (CICP). Methods: A prospective single-center exploratory observational study was undertaken on 32 consecutive CICP admitted to the ICU of Santa Maria Hospital, Terni, Italy, and treated with whey protein-enriched formula. Patients’ demographics, nutritional status, indexes of inflammation, daily pre-albumin serum levels, duration of mechanical ventilation, and mortality were recorded. Results: Thirty-two patients were enrolled. Ninety-five percent of them showed a gradual reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) values and increase in pre-albumin levels after the whey protein-enriched formula. Prealbumin levels were not correlated with a better nutritional status but with a shorter extubating time and better survival. Conclusions: An adequate administration of whey protein during COVID-19 patients’ ICU stays can provide fast achievement of protein targets, reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation, and improving inflammatory status and ICU survival. Further prospective and large-scale, controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.