Fronto-temporal vulnerability to disconnection in paediatric moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: In patients with moderate and severe paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), we investigated the presence and severity of white matter (WM) tract damage, cortical lobar and deep grey matter (GM) atrophies, their interplay and their correlation with outcome rating scales. METHODS: Diffusion tensor (DT) and 3D T1-weighted MRI scans were obtained from 22 TBI children (13 boys; mean age at insult = 11.6 years; 72.7% in chronic condition) and 31 age-matched healthy children. Patients were tested with outcome rating scales and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). DT MRI indices were obtained from several supra- and infra-tentorial WM tracts. Cortical lobar and deep GM volumes were derived. Comparisons between patients and controls, and between patients in acute (<6 months from the event) vs. chronic (≥6 months) condition were performed. RESULTS: Patients showed a widespread pattern of decreased WM FA and GM atrophy. Compared to acute, chronic patients showed severer atrophy in the right frontal lobe and reduced FA in the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus and corpus callosum (CC). Decreased axial diffusivity was observed in acute patients versus controls in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and CC. Chronic patients showed increased axial diffusivity in the same structures. Uncinate fasciculus DT MRI abnormalities correlated with atrophy in the frontal and temporal lobes. Hippocampal atrophy correlated with reduced WISC scores, whereas putamen atrophy correlated with lower functional independence measure scores. CONCLUSIONS: The study isolated a distributed fronto-temporal network of structures particularly vulnerable to axonal damage and atrophy that may contribute to cognitive deficits following TBI.

Prevalence of respiratory colonisations and related antibiotic resistances among paediatric tracheostomised patients of a long-term rehabilitation centre in Italy.

Patients with brain injury are prone to bacterial colonisations because of mechanical ventilation during intensive care and the long-term retention of tracheostomical tubes during rehabilitation. Reduced levels of isolation, typical of rehabilitation, could also contribute to propagate colonisations. We evaluated the presence of bacteria through different stages of healthcare, their antibiotic resistances and their clinical impact in a rehabilitation setting. This retrospective study included all tracheostomised patients referred to the paediatric brain injury unit of the Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea (Italy) over a six-year period. Data were collected from antibiograms regarding the presence of bacterial species and antibiotic resistances; clinical data were collected from medical records. Antibiograms revealed bacteria and antibiotic resistances typical of intensive care, while prevalence patterns were characteristic for each species (P. aeruginosa and S. aureus prevailing in the acute setting, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii and others in rehabilitation). Despite very frequent antibiotic resistances, consistent with Italian averages, we observed a limited clinical impact for these colonisations. We analysed risk factors correlating to the development of respiratory symptoms and found a role for the acute clinical course after brain injury (having undergone neurosurgery; duration of intensive care stay) as well as for rehabilitation (duration of coma). Our data suggest that, in a long-term perspective, an appropriate balance is yet to be found between patient isolation and social interactions, to control respiratory colonisations and antibiotic resistances without compromising rehabilitation. They also suggest that regular containment measures should be complemented by thorough training to non-medic personnel and parents alike.

Pharyngeal spasticity due to dantrolene.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Dantrolene can be combined with baclofen to better treat spasticity, but may cause muscular weakness and dysphagia. We instead describe a pharyngeal spasm due to dantrolene. CASE SUMMARY: A 12-year-old male received dantrolene 3 mg/kg/day in adjunct to baclofen 2 mg/kg/day, to improve spasticity. After 5 days of full-dose dantrolene, his dysphagia worsened and he developed pharyngeal spasm. Dantrolene was suspected for an adverse reaction and removed. The patient subsequently improved. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Causality analysis determined a probable relationship between dantrolene and pharyngeal spasm. This may be due to direct muscle contraction by dantrolene, an effect seen previously in vitro.

What do we need to obtain high quality circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for routine diagnostic test in oncology? - Considerations on pre-analytical aspects by the IFCC workgroup cfDNA.

The analysis of circulating cell free DNA is an important tool for the analysis of tumor resistance, tumor heterogeneity, detection of minimal residual disease and detection of allograft rejection in kidney or heart transplant patients. The proper use of this technique is important, and starts with considering pre-analytic aspects. The current paper addresses some important technical considerations to ensure the proper and harmonized use of cfDNA techniques.

Fluoroquinolone heteroresistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: detection by genotypic and phenotypic assays in experimentally mixed populations.

Heteroresistance - the simultaneous presence of drug-susceptible and -resistant organisms - is common in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the limit of detection (LOD) of genotypic assays to detect gatifloxacin-resistant mutants in experimentally mixed populations. A fluoroquinolone-susceptible M. tuberculosis mother strain (S) and its in vitro selected resistant daughter strain harbouring the D94G mutation in gyrA (R) were mixed at different ratio's. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against gatifloxacin were determined, while PCR-based techniques included: line probe assays (Genotype MTBDRsl and GenoScholar-FQ + KM TB II), Sanger sequencing and targeted deep sequencing. Droplet digital PCR was used as molecular reference method. A breakpoint concentration of 0.25 mg/L allows the phenotypic detection of ≥1% resistant bacilli, whereas at 0.5 mg/L ≥ 5% resistant bacilli are detected. Line probe assays detected ≥5% mutants. Sanger sequencing required the presence of around 15% mutant bacilli to be detected as (hetero) resistant, while targeted deep sequencing detected ≤1% mutants. Deep sequencing and phenotypic testing are the most sensitive methods for detection of fluoroquinolone-resistant minority populations, followed by line probe assays (provided that the mutation is confirmed by a mutation band), while Sanger sequencing proved to be the least sensitive method.

New trend in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

The presence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma represents a source of genetic material which can be obtained non-invasively. To date, the translation of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis from research into clinical practice has been rather fragmented, and despite the advances in improving the analytical sensitivity of methods, distinguishing between fetal and maternal sequences remains very challenging. Thus, the field of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases has yet to attain a routine application in clinical diagnostics. On the contrary, fetal sex determination in pregnancies at high risk of sex-linked disorders, tests for fetal RHD genotyping and non-invasive assessment of chromosomal aneuploidies are now available worldwide.

Increased expression of beta-chemokines in muscle of patients with inflammatory myopathies.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are muscle diseases of autoimmune pathogenesis characterized by mononuclear cell infiltration within muscle tissue. Since immune cell homing and accumulation at the site of antigenic challenge is usually mediated by chemokines, we evaluated the expression of 2 beta-chemokines--monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha)--by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction in muscles of polymyositis, inclusion body myositis, and dermatomyositis patients, and related their expression to immunopathological alterations in muscle. MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha transcripts were detected by PCR in all IIM muscles, but not in controls. By immunohistochemistry, the chemokines were found in all IIM muscle sections located in infiltrating inflammatory cells and also in neighboring extracellular matrix. The extent to which extracellular matrix was filled by each chemokine differed in each disease. In view of the known ability of chemokines to bind extracellular matrix and their possible synthesis by extracellular matrix components, we suggest that chemokine storage in the extracellular matrix can act as a microenvironmental factor amplifying lymphocyte activation and migration, thereby maintaining the autoimmune attack against unknown muscle antigens.

Clinical correlations in 16 patients with total or partial laminin alpha2 deficiency characterized using antibodies against 2 fragments of the protein.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with classic congenital muscular dystrophy have been found to have partial or total deficiency of the alpha2 chain of laminin 2 (merosin). This deficiency has mostly been studied using only 1 antibody against a fragment of the protein. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the expression of laminin alpha2 in the skeletal muscle of patients with laminin alpha2 deficiency using antibodies against 2 different portions of the protein and to correlate the immunochemical findings with clinical phenotype. METHODS: We studied 4 patients with total lack of laminin alpha2 and 12 with partial laminin alpha2 deficiency with immunohistochemical techniques and Western blot analysis. We used antibodies recognizing an 80-kd fragment toward the C-terminus and a 300-kd fragment toward the amino-terminal. Patient characteristics examined were functional compromise, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography of the brain, electromyography, evoked potentials, and creatine kinase levels. RESULTS: In 4 patients, immunohistochemical analysis revealed no reactivity to either antibody; in 2 patients, the 300-kd fragment alone was partially expressed; in 2 patients, the 80-kd fragment alone was partially expressed; and in 8 patients, both fragments were partially expressed. Immunoblot analysis revealed bands of reduced intensity and normal molecular weight generally corresponding to the immunohistochemical findings. Absence of both fragments or of one with reduction of the other always produced a severe clinical phenotype, while a milder clinical phenotype was observed when both fragments were partially expressed. CONCLUSIONS: Extent of laminin alpha2 deficiency in most cases correlates with clinical phenotype but not with peripheral and central white matter abnormalities. Skin biopsy specimens may reveal laminin alpha2 deficiency in patients who have normal laminin alpha2 levels in muscle biopsy specimens.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 and fibrosis in congenital muscular dystrophies.

We evaluated transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression in the muscle of four laminin alpha2-negative, four laminin alpha2-positive and seven partial laminin alpha2-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) patients, and compared it to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and controls. TGF-beta1 mRNA levels in skeletal muscle from laminin alpha2-negative and laminin alpha2-positive CMD patients were significantly greater than in controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively), while in partial laminin alpha2-deficient muscular dystrophy patients the amount was not significantly higher than in controls (P > 0.1). The TGF-beta1 values were lower than those found in DMD, although the extent of fibrosis was greater in CMD than in DMD and controls. Our findings suggest that TGF-beta1 is involved in CMD muscle fibrosis, but differently from what we observed in DMD muscles as it seems not to be the major player in connective tissue proliferation.

Pixantrone (BBR2778) reduces the severity of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Pixantrone is less cardiotoxic and is similarly effective to mitoxantrone (MTX) as an antineoplastic drug. In our study, pixantrone reduced the severity of acute and decreased the relapse rate of chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats. A marked and long-lasting decrease in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD45RA+ blood cells and reduced anti-MBP titers were observed with both pixantrone and MTX. In vitro mitogen- and antigen-induced T-cell proliferation tests of human and rodents cells evidenced that pixantrone was effective at concentrations which can be effectively obtained after i.v. administration in humans. Cardiotoxicity was present only in MTX-treated rats. The effectiveness and the favorable safety profile makes pixantrone a most promising immunosuppressant agent for clinical use in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Feasibility study for a microchip-based approach for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases.

Fetal DNA in maternal plasma may represent a source of genetic material for prenatal noninvasive diagnosis of genetic diseases. We evaluated a cohort of physiological pregnancies to determine if fetal DNA can be retrieved at any gestational week in sufficient quantity to be analyzed with advanced mutation detection technologies. We performed fetal DNA quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the SRY gene in 356 women sampled from 6 to 40 gestational weeks. Fetal DNA was retrieved at any week. All female fetuses were correctly identified. In 5 of 188 (2.6%) male-bearing pregnancies, no amplification was obtained. For noninvasive testing, complete clearance of fetal DNA after delivery is mandatory. Long-term persistence was not detected in women with previous sons or abortions. These findings confirm that maternal plasma may represent the optimal source of fetal genetic material. For noninvasive diagnosis of genetic diseases, we evaluated microchip technology. The detection limit for a minority allele determined by diluting a mutated DNA into a wild-type plasma sample was 5 genome equivalents, indicating that the test might be applied to the identification of paternally inherited fetal alleles in maternal plasma. The addition of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to either the PCR reaction or the chip hybridization mixture allowed approximately 50% inhibition of wild-type allele signals.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 phosphorylated neurons in the tele- and diencephalon of rat after visceral pain stimulation: an immunocytochemical study.

We aimed at verifying whether extracellular signal-regulated kinases (erks) 1 and 2 are activated, i.e. phosphorylated, in forebrain neurons after visceral pain stimulation (VPS). Ether and urethane anaesthetized rats received an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid or were left untreated (ECT, UCT). After 2 h the animals were perfused. Paraffin embedded brain sections immunoreacted with an antibody selective for the phosphorylated erks. The light microscope analysis revealed only a few labelled neurons in ECT, while in UCT, positive cells were detected. In VPS rats (VPSR) positive cells were mainly distributed in regions, such as the hypothalamic anterior and thalamic paraventricular midline nuclei, amygdala, hippocampal and parahippocampal, insular and perirhinal cortex, involved in nociception and/or visceral activities. Our data suggest an association of erks activation with the emotional component of nociception; moreover, they show that erks activation is not suppressed by anaesthesia.

Circulating nerve growth factor level changes during oxaliplatin treatment-induced neurotoxicity in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Oxaliplatin neurotoxicity represents a clinically-relevant problem and its etio-pathogenesis is still unknown. We explored the possible role of some neuronal growth factors ("neurotrophins") during the course of oxaliplatin sensory neuronopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our rat model two different doses of oxaliplatin were used (2 and 3 mg/kg i.v. twice weekly for 9 times). The neurotoxicity of the treatment was assessed with neurophysiological and pathological methods and serum neurotrophin levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Both oxaliplatin-treated groups showed the neurophysiological and neuropathological changes which mimic the chronic effects of oxaliplatin administration in humans, e.g. reversible sensory impairment due to dorsal root ganglia neuron damage. These changes were associated with a significant and dose-dependent reduction only in the circulating level of nerve growth factor (NGF), which returned to normal values after neurophysiological and pathological recovery. CONCLUSION: This specific association between neurological impairment and NGF modulation indicates that NGF impairment has a role in the neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin.

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy reduces the severity of Lewis rat experimental allergic encephalomyelitis through a modulation of the function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Extra corporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is an immunomodulating procedure used in several nonneurological diseases which, similarly to multiple sclerosis, are likely to be due to T-cell-mediated autoimmunity and it is probable that ECP can modulate the normal activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Using the Lewis rat experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of human multiple sclerosis (MS) we examined the effect of extracorporeal UV-A irradiation on psoralen-activated PBMC. In our experiment the comparison between the two groups of animals (ECP or sham-treatment) evidenced that the ECP treatment reduced the severity of EAE on clinical grounds and this result was confirmed by the pathological examination. The changes in the titers of anti-myelin antigen antibodies typical of EAE were also modulated by the procedure. Ex vivo examination evidenced a significant reduction in tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) released by PBMC after lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation in culture. We conclude that ECP modifies the normal activity of PBMC during the course of EAE and it is possible that one of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action of ECP is correlated to a down-regulation of T-helper 1 lymphocytes activity.

Resveratrol, map kinases and neuronal cells: might wine be a neuroprotectant?

Alcohol is noxious to the brain and peripheral nervous system. However, wine contains substances that may have positive biological and pharmacological effects. Resveratrol is the most studied and probably the most active of these substances. This naturally occurring compound, which is present in wine and grapes, reduces oxidative stress in neuronal-like cell cultures. We have shown that resveratrol induces phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members, extracellular regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2, in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in vitro at much lower concentrations than those found in the plasma of rats after oral wine administration. MAP kinases are involved in numerous different aspects of signal transduction in the cells. In particular, phosphorylation of ERK2 has been related to the synaptic changes at the basis of memory and learning processes. These findings, together with our own, on resveratrol-induced activation of MAP kinases in human neuronal-like cells, and previously published epidemiological studies which have demonstrated an inverse relationship between moderate wine intake and dementia, suggest that wine (not alcohol) may have a positive effect on nervous cells.

Psychological and adjustment problems due to acquired brain lesions in childhood: a comparison between post-traumatic patients and brain tumour survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To define and differentiate psychological and adjustment problems due to brain injury or brain tumour in children and adolescents. METHODS: Two groups of patients with acquired brain lesions (24 post-traumatic patients and 22 brain tumour survivors), ranging in age between 8-15 years, received a psychological evaluation, including the Child Behaviour Checklist for Ages 4-18 (CBCL) and the Vineland Behaviour Adaptive Scales (VABS). RESULTS: Both groups showed psychological and social adjustment problems. Post-traumatic patients were more impaired than brain tumour survivors. Social adjustment problems were associated to externalizing problems in post-traumatic patients and internalizing problems in brain tumour surviving patients. CONCLUSIONS: These differences in psychological and behavioural disorders between the two groups must necessarily be considered when developing psychological treatment, rehabilitation plan and social re-entry.

Inhibition of basophil histamine release by tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors.

It has been demonstrated that tyrosine kinase (TK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) are involved in IgE-mediated stimulation of human basophils; conversely, little is known about the biochemical pathways activated by IL-3 and GM-CSF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of TK and PI3-K inhibitors on basophil histamine release induced by anti-IgE, IL-3 and GM-CSF. Since IL-3 and GM-CSF cause histamine release from normal human basophils only when the inhibitory effect of extracellular Na(+) has been removed, peripheral blood leukocytes were suspended in isotonic solutions containing either 140 mM NaCl or 140 mM N-methyl-D-glucamine(+). After stimulation with anti-IgE, IL-3 or GM-CSF, histamine release was measured by an automated fluorometric method. The effects of preincubation with four different TK inhibitors (AG-126, genistein, lavendustin A, tyrphostin 51) and one PI3-K inhibitor (wortmannin) were evaluated. AG-126, genistein and lavendustin A exerted a significant dose-dependent inhibitory effect on basophil histamine release induced by anti-IgE (either in high or in low Na(+) medium), IL-3 and GM-CSF. Among the TK inhibitors, lavendustin A exerted the most potent activity, followed by AG-126 and genistein. Tyrphostin 51 caused a weak inhibition of histamine release induced by IL-3, GM-CSF and anti-IgE in a low Na(+) medium, but not in a physiological Na(+)-containing medium. The PI3-K inhibitor wortmannin exerted the most effective inhibitory activity on the histamine release induced by the three agonists. The combined effects of lavendustin A and wortmannin were less than additive, suggesting that TK and PI3-K are involved in the same activation pathway in human basophils. These results suggest a possible role of TK and PI3-K in basophil histamine release induced by anti-IgE, IL-3 and GM-CSF. TK and PI3-K are indeed potential therapeutic targets for antiallergic drugs.

Selective effect of closed-head injury on central resource allocation: evidence from dual-task performance.

Two dual-task experiments are reported bearing on the issue of slower processing time for severe chronic closed-head injury (CHI) patients compared to matched controls. In the first experiment, a classical psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm was employed, in which two sequential stimuli, a pure tone and a colored dot, were presented at variable stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs), each associated with a distinct task. The task on the tone required a speeded vocal response based on pitch, and the task on the colored dot required a speeded manual response based on color. In the second experiment, either one or three masked letters was presented, followed by a pure tone at variable SOAs. The task on the letters required a delayed report of the letters at the end of each trial. The task on the tone required an immediate manual response based on pitch. In both experiments, both CHI patients and matched controls reported an SOA-locked slowing of the speeded response to the second stimulus, a PRP effect. The PRP effect was more substantial for CHI patients than for matched controls, suggesting that a component of the slower processing time for CHI patients was related to a selective increase in temporal demands for central processing of the stimuli.

A mitochondrial tRNA(His) gene mutation causing pigmentary retinopathy and neurosensorial deafness.

We have identified a heteroplasmic G to A mutation at position 12,183 of the mitochondrial transfer RNA Histidine (tRNA(His)) gene in three related patients. These phenotypes varied according to mutation heteroplasmy: one had severe pigmentary retinopathy, neurosensorial deafness, testicular dysfunction, muscle hypotrophy, and ataxia; the other two had only retinal and inner ear involvement. The mutation is in a highly conserved region of the T(psi)C stem of the tRNA(His) gene and may alter secondary structure formation. This is the first described pathogenic, maternally inherited mutation of the mitochondrial tRNA(His) gene.