First Evidence of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Gene and Protein Expression in Rat and Human Thyroid Tissues and Cell Cultures.

Aldosterone (Aldo) exerts its action through binding with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Clinically, a link between primary aldosteronism (PA) and thyroid diseases has been hypothesised. However, the presence and activity of MR on the thyroid have not yet been demonstrated. We investigated the gene/protein expression and activation of MR in primary thyroid cell cultures (normal rat thyroid [FRTL-5] and human papillary thyroid cancer [PTC] cell lines, BCPAP and K1) through qRT-PCR analysis, immunofluorescence, and confocal microscopy. We also studied the effects of Aldo on thyroid-specific and inflammation genes in vitro. Paired human normal and neoplastic thyroid tissues were also studied. We demonstrated both gene and protein expression and activation of MR in normal rat thyroid and human PTC lines. Incubation with Aldo induced an acute increase in IL-6 expression in both the FRTL-5 and BCPAP lines, which was antagonised by spironolactone, and an acute and late upregulation of thyroid-specific genes in FRTL-5. MR was also expressed at both gene and protein levels in normal human thyroid tissues and in PTC, with a progressive decline during neoplastic tumourigenesis, particularly in more aggressive histotypes. We present the first evidence of MR gene and protein expression in both normal and pathological thyroid cells and tissues. We have shown that MR is present and functionally activated in thyroid tissue. Binding of Aldo to MR induces the expression of inflammatory and thyroid-specific genes, and the thyroid may thus be considered a novel mineralocorticoid target tissue.

Price of a Finger.

Background: Traumatic loss of an index finger is offered twice the amount of compensation as compared to a loss of little finger. However, the little finger plays a pivotal role in power grip thus is underestimated in its importance. Our aim was to test our hypothesis that loss of the little finger will result in greater or equal loss of grip strength compared to loss of the index finger. Methods: Grip strength in the power grip position was measured in 12 healthy volunteers using a JAMAR hand dynamometer. Grip strength of their dominant hand was recorded as a mean kg force of three attempts in three grip configurations 1) using all fingers 2) excluding the index finger and 3) excluding the little finger. Grip strength percentage compared to the full hand was calculated and statistical significance was investigated with a two-tailed T-test. Results: Participants' age varied from 19-64 years, with 4 males and 8 females. Mean full hand grip strength was 28.3 kg force; grip strength with index finger excluded was 65.8% and with little finger excluded was 66.2%. There was no significant difference in grip strength percentage when comparing index or little finger exclusion (p = 0.92). Conclusions: We did not find a difference in power grip using a simulated model of index or little finger loss in a healthy volunteer cohort. This should be taken into account in traumatic loss and work compensation.

[Psychophysiology of suicide in prison: a contribution in terms of prevention]. / Psicofisiopatologia del suicidio in carcere: un contributo in termini di prevenzione.

Suicide in detention environment is a phenomenon that affects both prisoners and operators, especially prison service. Currently, in terms of suicide prevention, the interest is shifting from an etiology essentially endogenous to exogenous factors, seeing as the criticality of system has its origin in the lack of knowledge of the "detained person". This work neglects statistics and detection models to look at all those behaviors that are part of suicide, although the suicidal act is not genuine. This view allows to identify areas of risk and it is not just for have a look over "the death event". Aware that no definition is enough to shed light on this phenomenon where subjectivity is elusive, we must always bear in mind the behaviors that precede it and exogenous and endogenous factors. To better understand the phenomenon of suicide in prison it is necessary to be aware of the action that a "totalizing institution" has on the individual.