Low doses of Bisphenol A have pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects, stimulate lipid peroxidation and increase the cardiotoxicity of Doxorubicin in cardiomyoblasts.

Endocrine disrupters are strictly associated to cancer and several cardiovascular risk factors. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupter commonly used in the manufacturing of plastics based on polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride and resins. Our study aims to investigate whether BPA may cause pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory effects on cardiomyoblasts, thus exacerbating the Doxorubicin (DOXO)-induced cardiotoxicity phenomena. We tested the metabolic effects of BPA at low doses analyzing its affections on the intracellular calcium uptake, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and production of nitric oxide and interleukins. Co-incubation of BPA and DOXO significantly reduced the cardiomyoblast viability, compared to only DOXO exposure cells. The mechanisms underlying these effects are based on the stimulation of the intracellular calcium accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Notably, BPA increase the production of pro-inflammatory interleukins involved in cardiovascular diseases as well as in DOXO-Induced cardiotoxicity phenomena. This study provides a rationale for translational studies in the field of cardio-oncology.

Peek cage-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at four levels: clinical and radiographic results.

AIM: The aim of this retrospective clinical and radiographic study was to provide follow-up data on the surgical success and patient outcome of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at four levels. The literature on four-level ACDF is scanty, and the reported series are not enterely comparable because of differences in patient characteristics, types of spinal arthrodesis, and methods for quantitating outcome. METHODS: During the period between January 2003 and January 2005 10 patients (3 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 54.9 years) suffering from cervical myeloradiculopathy due to compressive spondylosys from C3-C4 to C6-C7 underwent PEEK cage-assisted ACDF at four levels. RESULTS: No intra- or postoperative complications were noted. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 24 months (mean 15.8 months). The NCSS score was 9.2+/-1.48 preoperatively and 12.7+/-0.67 at follow-up examination (P<0.05). Preoperatively, the curvature, range of motion (ROM), and height of the foramina of the cervical spine were 16.9+/-5.84 degrees , 27.6+/-3.5 degrees , and 8.1+/-2.33 mm respectively, whereas at follow-up evaluation they were 19.5+/-7.03 degrees (P>0.05), 22.2+/-3.43 degrees (P<0.05), and 10.6+/-1.71 mm (P<0.05) respectively. None of the patients showed pre- or postoperative cervical instability. The fusion rate was 97.5%. CONCLUSION: PEEK cage-assisted ACDF at four levels is an effective procedure for the treatment of patients with spondylotic compression of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots from C3-C4 to C6-C7.

Proposal of a new method for the use of the Rydel-Seiffer tuning fork in the screening of diabetic polyneuropathy. A pilot study.

We investigated the usefulness of a new examiner-independent method based on the duration of vibration sensation following the placement of the Rydel-Seiffer tuning fork over the dorsum of the interphalangeal hallux joint. This method demonstrated the same diagnostic efficacy as the Rydel-Seiffer method coupled with greater ease of use.

Lymphoplasmacyte rich meningioma. A case report and review of the literature.

A peculiar type of meningioma with conspicious plasma-cell components is described. In accordance with the World Health Organization's Histological Typing of Tumours of the Central Nervous System, this rare clinical entity is recently designed as lymphoplasmacyte rich (LPR) meningioma. This type of meningioma is usually accompanied by prominent peripheral blood abnormalities, anemia and/or policlonal gammophaty, that disappear after surgical removal of the tumor. Actually, the origin (neoplastic or inflammatory) of this tumor is unclear; its biological behavior and clinical course are anomalous so it is considered closer to intracranial inflammatory masses rather than typical meningioma. In this paper, a new case of intracranial LPR meningioma occurring in a woman, is reported and a review the literature is made.

Bilateral chronic subdural hematoma associated with meningioma. Case report and review of the literature.

Gross intracranial hemorrhage associated with brain tumor has been reported to range from 3.6-10%. Brain metastases and malignant glioma are the most frequent underlying pathologies. Intracranial hemorrhage related to meningioma is a rare condition. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute subdural hematoma, intratumoral and intraparenchymal hematomas are the most common forms of bleeding associated with meningioma. By contrast, chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) and intraventricular hemorrhage are seen less frequently. The authors report a very rare case of left fronto-parietal convexity meningioma associated with bilateral cSDH in a patient with history of recent minor head trauma and review the literature on hemorrhage associated with meningiomas.

[Liver histopathological characteristics in patients with HCV-positive sera]. / Caracteristicas histopatológicas hepáticas en pacientes con sueros anti HCV reactivos.

In order to have knowledge on the histopathologic characteristics of the HCV infections in our geographical area and its relation with some epidemiologic variables, a series of 54 biopsies of Anti HCV (R) patients was analyzed. The histologic lesions found in this study correspond mostly to patients with relatively early infections, on the contrary to other studies of the some kind. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis were chronic hepatitis 38/54 (70.4%), steatosis 4/54 (7.4%) and 12/54 (22.2%) with no changes. The presence of lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts was the most frequent histological change in this series (66.7%), followed by the alteration in bile ducts (53.7%); they occurred in a significantly higher proportion in the biopsies which had a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (p = 0.02) (p = 0.000002). The presence of steatosis and acidophilic bodies in the acinus were found in nearly one third of the biopsies. This findings suggest that the hepatic damage in the anti HCV reactive patients might take place through immunologic mechanisms and cytopathic direct action. It was not found that histologic changes produced by HCV might differ according to epidemiologic variables (post-transfusional, drug abuse i.v. and sporadic).