Electromiography (EMG) plays a key role in the evaluation of patients with neuromuscular diseases. It can be considered an extension of the neurological examination. So it must be individualized and ...based on differential diagnosis. We have analized data about EMG performed in a period of four months in the Unit of Neurophysiopatology of University of Bari and Foggia. Data collected show that in this period we have received 807 EMG bookings: we have performed 604 exams (75%) of whom 405 exams had pertinence with differential diagnosis (50%), 199 (25%) had no pertinence; 203 patients (25%) did not turn up for the exam. At Neurophysiopathology of Foggia we have received 540 EMG booking: we have performed 504 neurophysiological studies. In the total amount of EMG performed 326 had pertinence (60%), 178 had no pertinence (33%) and 36 patients did not turn up for the exam (7%). Data collected show that physicians, medical practictioners, neurologists and other specialists share similar difficulties to make a correct differential diagnosis in the field of neuromuscular diseases and that EMG can be the most useful test in clarifying the diagnosis only after a correct clinical examination.
Migraine and movement disorders d’Onofrio, F.; Barbanti, P.; Petretta, V. ...
Neurological sciences,
05/2012, Letnik:
33, Številka:
Suppl 1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
A large series of clinical and experimental observations on the interactions between migraine and the extrapyramidal system are available. Some previous studies reported high frequency of migraine in ...some basal ganglia (BG) disorders, such as essential tremor (ET), Tourette’s syndrome (TS), Sydenham’s chorea and more recently restless legs syndrome (RLS). For example, the frequency of migraine headache in a clinic sample of TS patients was found nearly fourfold more than that reported in the general population. To the best of our knowledge, no controlled studies have been conducted to determine a real association. ET and migraine headache have been considered comorbid diseases on the basis of uncontrolled studies for many years. In a recent Italian study, this comorbid association has been excluded, reporting no significant differences in the frequency of lifetime and current migraine between patients with ET and controls. Among mostly common movement disorders, RLS has been recently considered as possibly comorbid with migraine. Studies in selected patient groups strongly suggest that RLS is more common in migraine patients than in control populations, although no population-based study of the coincidence of migraine and RLS has yet been identified. The exact mechanisms and contributing factors for a positive association between migraine and RLS remain unclear. A number of possible explanations have been offered for the association of RLS and primary headache, but the three most attractive ones are a hypothetical dopaminergic dysfunction and dysfunctional brain iron metabolism, a possible genetic linkage and a sleep disturbance. More recently, the role of BG in pain processing has been confirmed by functional imaging data in the caudate, putamen and pallidum in migraine patients. A critical appraisal of all these clinical and experimental data suggests that the extrapyramidal system is somehow related to migraine. Although the primary involvement of extrapyramidal system in the pathophysiology of migraine cannot as yet be proven, a more general role in the processing of nociceptive information and/or maybe part of the complex behavioral adaptive response that characterizes migraine may be suggested.
Triptans: over the migraine Cologno, D.; Mazzeo, A.; Lecce, B. ...
Neurological sciences,
05/2012, Letnik:
33, Številka:
Suppl 1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Migraine is a chronic, recurrent, disabling condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Proper acute care treatment for migraineurs is based on triptans, a class of specific medications ...approved over 20 years ago. Triptans are serotonin (5-HT1B/1D) receptor agonists that are generally effective, well tolerated and safe. Seven triptans are available worldwide, although not all are available in every country, with multiple routes of administration, giving to doctors and patients a wide choice. Despite the similarities of the available triptans, pharmacological heterogeneity offers slightly different efficacy profiles. Triptans are not pain medications, they are abortive migraine medications which cannot prevent migraines. In addition to migraine attacks, triptans are also helpful for cluster headaches. If they are useful in other primary headaches rather than migraine and cluster headache it is yet to be addressed. In the literature there are only limited controlled clinical data to support a migraine-selective activity for triptans. Reports are available about efficacy of triptans to stop attacks of other types of primary headache, such as tension type headache, hypnic headache and other rare forms of primary headaches. On the other hand, sumatriptan failed to treat the indomethacin-responsive primary headache disorders like chronic paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua, nor was it effective in the myofascial temporal muscle pain or in atypical facial pain. Why triptans are effective in so different types of primary headaches remain unclear. Up to date, it is not clear whether the antimigrainous activity of the triptans involves an action only in the periphery or in the CNS as well. Probably we should consider triptans as “pain killers” and not only as “migraine killers”. We clearly need additional studies on triptans as putative analgesics in well-accepted animal and clinical models of acute and chronic somatic pain.
CD155 is an adhesion molecule belonging to the Nectin/Nectin-like family often overexpressed on tumor cells and involved in many different processes such as cell adhesion, migration and ...proliferation. In contrast to these pro-tumorigenic functions, CD155 is also a ligand for the activating receptor DNAM-1 expressed on cytotoxic lymphocytes including Natural Killer (NK) cells and involved in anti-tumor immune response. However, during tumor progression inhibitory receptors for CD155 are up-regulated on the surface of effector cells, contributing to an impairment of their cytotoxic capacity. In this review we will focus on the roles of CD155 as a ligand for the activating receptor DNAM-1 regulating immune surveillance against cancer and as pro-oncogenic molecule favoring tumor proliferation, invasion and immune evasion. A deeper understanding of the multiple roles played by CD155 in cancer development contributes to improving anti-tumor strategies aimed to potentiate immune response against cancer.
Problems and perspectives on wine stoppers. 3 Synthetic stoppers and micro-oxygenation Leoci, B. (Lecce Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Studi Aziendali Giuridici ed Ambientali); Ruberti, M. (Lecce Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Studi Aziendali Giuridici ed Ambientali)
Industrie delle Bevande (Italy),
(Nov-Dec. 2005), Letnik:
34, Številka:
200
Magazine Article
Available researches and testing results do not yet permit to express a final and global evaluation on the long-term performances of synthetic stoppers, used in oenology, especially as regards their ...oxygen permeability. In fact, the manufactures of these closures use many different plastics (PE, PP, TPE, EVA, etc.) and additives (blowing and plasticizing agents, catalysts, lubricants, etc.), that obviously give rise to production of stoppers with very different properties and extremely variable quality grades. This situation consequently damages the public image of these products, causing great economic losses for all the actors of the sector. For these reasons, many other researches are necessary to know the exact oxidative needs of different wines, during their ageing in bottle, and to estimate the chemical-physical performances, expressed in terms of efficacy/efficiency and suitability to the specific use, of the many current bottling systems. Besides, the adoption of precise rules of good productive practices and minimum common technical requirements, together with the promotion of aimed information campaigns, could help to solve many commercial problems and to improve qualitative standards of these important cork stoppers substitutes
I risultati delle ricerche sperimentali, condotte finora, non consentono di esprimere un giudizio compiuto e globale sul comportamento, nel tempo, delle chiusure sintetiche, utilizzate in enologia, specie in relazione alla loro permeabilità all´ossigeno. Infatti, i vari produttori di tappi sintetici utilizzano differenti materie plastiche (PE, PP, TPE, EVA, ecc.) e additivi (agenti espandenti, plastificanti, catalizzatori, lubrificanti, ecc.), che danno origine ovviamente a prodotti con caratteristiche molto variegate e livelli di qualità estremamente variabili; in alcuni casi, addirittura, al limite della utilizzabilità. Tutto ciò si risolve in gravi danni d´immagine del prodotto e inevitabili danni economici per tutta la filiera. Si rendono, quindi, necessari ulteriori approfondimenti scientifici, sia per determinare i fabbisogni ossidativi dei vini durante l´affinamento in bottiglia, sia per valutare, nel lungo periodo e in modo adeguato, le prestazioni chimico-fisiche, espresse in termini di efficacia/efficienza e idoneità all´impiego, dei diversi sistemi di chiusura utilizzati in enologia. Anche l´adozione di norme di buona pratica produttiva e l´avvio di campagne di informazione mirate potrebbero sicuramente aiutare a far luce sulla problematica, a scoraggiare i produttori meno seri e a elevare complessivamente gli standard qualitativi del prodotto
Problems and perspectives on wine stoppers. 2: Technical cork stoppers and their components Leoci, B. (Lecce Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Studi Aziendali Giuridici ed Ambientali); Ruberti, M. (Lecce Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Studi Aziendali Giuridici ed Ambientali)
Industrie delle Bevande (Italy),
(Sep-Oct 2005), Letnik:
34, Številka:
199
Magazine Article
Natural cork stoppers have many good characteristics and represent, especially according to consumers, the best closures for high-quality wines. Unfortunately, the annual world production of natural ...cork is rather limited, seasonal and extremely variable for quantity, quality and prices. Therefore, in order to solve such problems and to meet the growing world demand of wine stoppers, new closure systems, such as technical stoppers, synthetic and semi-synthetic stoppers, crown caps, screw caps, etc., have been developed. All these different stoppers, clearly, must offer performances comparable to those of the natural cork stoppers (possibly, without their defects) and must not transfer hazardous substances to wine or modify its organoleptic characteristics. However, the great variety of utilized chemical compounds increases the risks of contamination. New and deep researches and normative laws are therefore needed. In this paper, the AA examine the main problems concerning the materials (adhesives and lubricants) used for the production of technical cork stoppers. Further papers will report the results of studies on other closures
I tappi di sughero naturale hanno numerosi pregi e rappresentano, per molti, il mezzo ideale per l´imbottigliamento di vini di qualità. Tuttavia, il fatto che il sughero sia un prodotto naturale e come tale soggetto a limitatezza, stagionalità, ciclicità ed estrema variabilità (sia nel prezzo, sia in qualità) e che nel mondo la domanda di tappi sia in costante crescita, ha stimolato lo sviluppo di nuovi tipi di chiusure (tappi tecnici, sintetici, tappi a corona, tappi a vite, ecc.). Tutte queste chiusure, ovviamente, devono offrire prestazioni comparabili a quelle dei tappi di sughero naturale (possibilmente, senza i loro difetti), non devono cedere sostanze pericolose o alterare le caratteristiche organolettiche del vino. Ciò nonostante, la stessa grande varietà di tappi utilizzabili non fa che incrementare il numero delle sostanze chimiche impiegate per produrli e, quindi, anche le potenziali fonti di contaminazione. In questa nota, sono esaminate le principali problematiche inerenti i composti chimici più usati (adesivi e lubrificanti) per la produzione dei tappi di sughero tecnici, rimandando ad articoli successivi la trattazione di quelle riguardanti le altre tipologie di tappi
Natural cork, for its physical properties and consumers acceptance, is still today, after several centuries, the preferred material as wine stoppers. However, in the last years, the discovery that it ...could transmit off-flavours to wine and the availability of more effective synthetic stoppers exposed the entire cork sector to the risk of a deep crisis, with possible serious repercussions, not only economic and occupational, but also environmental, especially for the European Countries. Cork producers, with great effort, have been able to react to these challenges, adopting new and more efficient quality control systems and productive standards and solving their problems, first of all the so-called "cork taint", fighting against its major cause: the 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA). Objective of this paper is to offer an overview on the possible present and future solutions about such problem (showing the ways of formation, analysis and removing of TCA from cork and wine) and the probable short-medium term repercussions on the entire cork sector
Il sughero naturale, per le sue qualità intrinseche, ma anche per quelle semplicemente ipotizzate dai consumatori, è ancora oggi, dopo secoli di utilizzo, il materiale preferito per la tappatura del vino. Tuttavia, negli ultimi anni, la scoperta che esso poteva trasmettere al vino odori e sapori sgradevoli e l´affacciarsi sul mercato di tappi sintetici sempre più validi rischiavano di far entrare in crisi profonda l´intero settore, con conseguenti gravi ricadute non solo economiche e occupazionali, ma anche ambientali e di tutela del territorio, e questo specie nei Paesi europei. I produttori di sughero, con grandi sforzi, sono riusciti a reagire efficacemente a tali sfide, adottando nuove metodologie di controllo di qualità e nuovi standard produttivi e cercando di risolvere i vari problemi: primi fra tutti, quelli relativi alle cause responsabili del cosiddetto "gusto di tappo" e alle sostanze coinvolte, tra le quali il TCA è sicuramente la più importante. Obiettivo di questa nota è fare luce sulle possibili soluzioni attuali e future riguardo a quest´ultima problematica e sulle probabili ripercussioni a breve-medio termine sull´intera filiera del sughero
Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is associated with various cardiovascular diseases and in particular with atherosclerosis and plaque instability. However, the molecular pathways that ...govern EndMT are poorly defined. Specifically, the role of epigenetic factors and histone deacetylases (HDACs) in controlling EndMT and the atherosclerotic plaque phenotype remains unclear. Here, we identified histone deacetylation, specifically that mediated by HDAC9 (a class IIa HDAC), as playing an important role in both EndMT and atherosclerosis. Using in vitro models, we found class IIa HDAC inhibition sustained the expression of endothelial proteins and mitigated the increase in mesenchymal proteins, effectively blocking EndMT. Similarly, ex vivo genetic knockout of Hdac9 in endothelial cells prevented EndMT and preserved a more endothelial-like phenotype. In vivo, atherosclerosis-prone mice with endothelial-specific Hdac9 knockout showed reduced EndMT and significantly reduced plaque area. Furthermore, these mice displayed a more favorable plaque phenotype, with reduced plaque lipid content and increased fibrous cap thickness. Together, these findings indicate that HDAC9 contributes to vascular pathology by promoting EndMT. Our study provides evidence for a pathological link among EndMT, HDAC9, and atherosclerosis and suggests that targeting of HDAC9 may be beneficial for plaque stabilization or slowing the progression of atherosclerotic disease.
Three undescribed Amarylidaceae alkaloids, named gigantelline, gigantellinine and gigancrinine, were isolated from Crinum jagus (syn. = Crinum giganteum) collected in Senegal, together with the ...already known sanguinine, cherylline, lycorine, crinine, flexinine and the isoquinolinone derivative hippadine. Gigantelline, gigantellinine and gigancrinine were characterized as 4-(6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolin-4-yl)-phenol, its 7-O-demethyl-5ꞌ-hydroxy-4ꞌ-methoxy derivative and 5,6a,7,7a,8a,9-hexahydro-6,9a-ethano1,3dioxolo4,5-joxireno2,3-bphenanthridin-9-ol, respectively, by using spectroscopic (1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR and HRESIMS) and chemical methods. Their relative configuration was assigned by NOESY NMR spectra and NMR calculations, while the absolute configuration was assigned using electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments and calculations. Sanguinine, cherylline, crinine, flexinine, and the isoquinolinone hippadine, were isolated for the first time from C. jagus. Cherylline, gigantellinine, crinine, flexinine and sanguinine inhibited the activity of AChE in a dose-dependent manner, and inhibition by sanguinine was remarkably effective (IC50 = 1.83 ± 0.01 μM). Cherylline and hippadine showed weak cytotoxicity at 100 μM.
Three new alkaloids, named gigantelline, gigantellinine and gigancrinine, together with five already known alkaloids and one isoquinolinone, were isolated from Crinum jagus (syn. = Crinum giganteum) collected in Senegal. Their anti-acetylcholinesterase and cytotoxic activities were evaluated. Display omitted
•Three new alkaloids were isolated from Crinum jagus collected in Senegal.•The previously undescribed gigantelline and gigantellinine belong to the rare tetrahydroisoquinoline-type alkaloids.•Gigancrinine, an undescribed crinine-type alkaloid, was isolated together with five known alkaloids and one isoquinoline.•Acetylcholinesterase AChE inhibitory potential and cytotoxic activity were evaluated.•Cherylline, gigantellinine, crinine, flexinine and sanguinine inhibited AChE.
Dengue fever, caused by dengue virus (DENV), is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease and is endemic in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, with an increasing incidence in ...temperate regions. The closely related flavivirus Zika virus (ZIKV) can be transmitted vertically in utero and causes congenital Zika syndrome and other birth defects. In adults, ZIKV is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome. There are no approved antiviral therapies against either virus. Effective antiviral compounds are urgently needed. Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) are a specific class of nitrogen-containing compounds produced by plants of the Amaryllidaceae family with numerous biological activities. Recently, the AA lycorine was shown to present strong antiflaviviral properties. Previously, we demonstrated that Crinum jagus contained lycorine and several alkaloids of the cherylline, crinine, and galanthamine types with unknown antiviral potential. In this study, we explored their biological activities. We show that C. jagus crude alkaloid extract inhibited DENV infection. Among the purified AAs, cherylline efficiently inhibited both DENV (50% effective concentration EC50, 8.8 μM) and ZIKV replication (EC50, 20.3 μM) but had no effect on HIV-1 infection. Time-of-drug-addition and -removal experiments identified a postentry step as the one targeted by cherylline. Consistently, using subgenomic replicons and replication-defective genomes, we demonstrate that cherylline specifically hinders the viral RNA synthesis step but not viral translation. In conclusion, AAs are an underestimated source of antiflavivirus compounds, including the effective inhibitor cherylline, which could be optimized for new therapeutic approaches.
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