Neurofilament light compared to neuron-specific enolase as a predictor of unfavourable outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

AIM: We compared the prognostic abilities of neurofilament light (NfL) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of various aetiologies. METHODS: We analysed frozen blood samples obtained at 24 and 48 hours from OHCA patients treated in 21 Finnish intensive care units in 2010 and 2011. We defined unfavourable outcome as Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) 3-5 at 12 months after OHCA. We evaluated the prognostic ability of the biomarkers by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs [95% confidence intervals]) and compared these with a bootstrap method. RESULTS: Out of 248 adult patients, 12-month outcome was unfavourable in 120 (48.4%). The median (interquartile range) NfL concentrations for patients with unfavourable and those with favourable outcome, respectively, were 689 (146-1804) pg/mL vs. 31 (17-61) pg/mL at 24 h and 1162 (147-4360) pg/mL vs. 36 (21-87) pg/mL at 48 h, p < 0.001 for both. The corresponding NSE concentrations were 13.3 (7.2-27.3) µg/L vs. 8.5 (5.8-13.2) µg/L at 24 h and 20.4 (8.1-56.6) µg/L vs. 8.2 (5.9-12.1) µg/L at 48 h, p < 0.001 for both. The AUROCs to predict an unfavourable outcome were 0.90 (0.86-0.94) for NfL vs. 0.65 (0.58-0.72) for NSE at 24 h, p < 0.001 and 0.88 (0.83-0.93) for NfL and 0.73 (0.66-0.81) for NSE at 48 h, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Compared to NSE, NfL demonstrated superior accuracy in predicting long-term unfavourable outcome after OHCA.

The role of estrogens in osteosarcopenia: from biology to potential dual therapeutic effects.

Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are two conditions associated with aging and characterized by a simultaneous decline in bone and muscle mass, respectively. These conditions share common risk factors (genetic, endocrine, nutritional and lifestyle factors) and biological pathways that often co-exist in a syndrome known as osteosarcopenia. Among the endocrine causes, estrogens play a critical role, especially in women. Estrogens have been demonstrated to exert a positive effect on bone and muscle development and maintenance. For this reason, menopause is characterized by a loss in bone mineral density and skeletal muscle quality and quantity. To date, studies indicate a positive effect of hormonal therapy on the prevention and management of osteoporosis, to the point that estrogen is prescribed as a first-line treatment for osteoporosis by the major international authorities. While results on sarcopenia are still disputable, such that estrogens are not recommended to prevent muscle loss in postmenopausal women, increased response to anabolic stimuli with estrogen therapy suggests similar beneficial effects on muscle as seen with bone, particularly when combined with resistance exercise.

Abnormalities of acid-base balance and predisposition to metabolic acidosis in Metachromatic Leukodystrophy patients.

Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD; MIM# 250100) is a rare inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of Arylsulfatase A (ARSA). The enzymatic defect results in the accumulation of the ARSA substrate that is particularly relevant in myelin forming cells and leads to progressive dysmyelination and dysfunction of the central and peripheral nervous system. Sulfatide accumulation has also been reported in various visceral organs, although little is known about the potential clinical consequences of such accumulation. Different forms of MLD-associated gallbladder disease have been described, and there is one reported case of an MLD patient presenting with functional consequences of sulfatide accumulation in the kidney. Here we describe a wide cohort of MLD patients in whom a tendency to sub-clinical metabolic acidosis was observed. Furthermore in some of them we report episodes of metabolic acidosis of different grades of severity developed in acute clinical conditions of various origin. Importantly, we finally show how a careful acid-base balance monitoring and prompt correction of imbalances might prevent severe consequences of acidosis.

The NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) polymorphism is a risk factor for frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS)1 C276T polymorphism was shown to increase the risk for frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). In the brain, both NOS1 and NOS3 (endothelial isoform) have been detected. The distribution of NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) and T-786C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was analyzed in a population of 222 patients with FTLD compared with 218 age-matched controls to determine whether they could influence the susceptibility to develop the disease. RESULTS: A statistically significant increased frequency of the NOS3 G894T SNP was observed in patients as compared with controls (40.0 vs. 31.4%, P = 0.011, OR: 1.65, CI: 1.13-2.42). Conversely, the distribution of the T-786C SNP was similar in patients and controls. No differences were observed stratifying according to gender. DISCUSSION: The NOS3 G894T polymorphism likely acts as risk factor for sporadic FTLD, but studies in larger populations are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Thrombopoietic properties of 5-methoxytryptamine plus melatonin versus melatonin alone in the treatment of cancer-related thrombocytopenia.

Recent studies have shown that the hematopoietic system is under neuroendocrine control. In particular, thrombopoiesis has been proven to be stimulated by melatonin, and the pineal indole has been shown to be effective in the treatment of thrombocytopenia resulting from different causes. At present, however, there are no data concerning the possible thrombopoietic activity of pineal indoles other than melatonin. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of a concomitant administration of the pineal indole 5-methoxytryptamine in patients with cancer-related thrombocytopenia who did not respond to melatonin alone. The present study included 30 patients, who were randomized to receive melatonin alone (20 mg/day orally in the evening) or melatonin plus 5-methoxytryptamine (1 mg/day orally in the early afternoon). A normalization of platelet count was achieved in 5/14 (36%) patients treated with melatonin plus 5-methoxytryptamine and in none of the patients treated with melatonin alone (P < 0.05). Moreover, mean platelet number significantly increased only in the patients treated with melatonin plus 5-methoxytryptamine. This preliminary clinical study would suggest that 5-methoxytryptamine, a pineal indole, may also exert thrombopoietic activity. Further studies, however, will be required to establish whether 5-methoxytryptamine may play a direct thrombopoietic activity, or whether it may act by improving melatonin's efficacy.

Molecular changes in hepatocellular dysplastic nodules on microdissected liver biopsies.

The genetic profile of dysplastic hepatocellular nodules arising in cirrhosis is poorly understood. We assessed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MI) in 10 dysplastic nodules (4 low-grade and 6 high-grade) with surrounding cirrhosis and in 10 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Six microsatellite loci were selected and investigated on microdissected needle biopsies. Twenty-four (24.4%) informative loci showed allelic loss, while MI was seen in 3 loci only (3%). The most involved sites were located on chromosomes 4q (54.5%) and 8p (50%). LOH was documented in 16.6%, cirrhotic, 50% low-grade dysplastic nodules (LGDN), 83% high-grade dysplastic nodules (HGDN), and 70% malignant nodules. LOH at multiple loci was increasingly seen from cirrhotic to HGDN, but not from the latter to HCC. The fractional allelic loss (FAL) was significantly increased in dysplastic and neoplastic nodules as compared with cirrhosis (P <.01). The progressive accumulation of genetic changes in cirrhotic, dysplastic, and malignant hepatocellular nodules is in keeping with a multistep process of carcinogenesis; within this spectrum, HGDN can be considered advanced precursors of HCC.

[Long-term follow-up of implantation of foldable silicon posterior lenses]. / Langzeitergebnisse nach Implantation faltbarer Silikon-Hinterkammerlinsen.

BACKGROUND: Prospective analysis of long-term results after small incision no-stitch phacoemulsification with implantation of foldable silicone IOL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 100 consecutive patients we implanted through a 3.2 mm incision a STAAR-silicone IOL model AA4203. Uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, surgically induced astigmatism and postoperative complications were examined at 1 day, 3 months and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: On day 1 postop. 75% of the patients achieved uncorrected visual acuity of 0.5 or more. The mean best corrected visual acuity at day 1 was 0.75 (0.22 SD). The vector analysis of the surgically induced astigmatism does not show any difference between day 1 and 1 year postop. with a mean induced astigmatism of 0.73 dpt. 12 Months after surgery we found 3 cases of cystoid macula edema and 3 cases of clinically significant secondary cataract. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical long-term results after implantation of foldable silicon-IOL are comparable with the results after implantation of rigid PMMA lenses. The optical rehabilitation is much faster and contributes to lower the costs of modern cataract surgery.

[Individual dosimetry and biologic monitoring of workers exposed to low concentrations of aniline]. / Dosimetria individuale e monitoraggio biologico in esposti a basse concentrazioni di anilina.

Low aniline vapours concentration exposure has been studied through either active or passive individual dosimeter, in a group of workmen employed in the production of an antioxidant for the rubber industry. We collected 28 samples, confirming the clear correlation existing between the two methods which was already demonstrated in a previous work. We newly suggest the usefulness of the individual passive dosimeter instead of the traditional vacuum pump system. Meanwhile we have determined bound and free aniline and total aromatic amines, with and without an extractive method on column, on urinary samples collected before and after the workshift. The values so obtained have been compared with the results of the active individual dosimetry. We could demonstrated a statistical significative correlation only between urinary aniline determination and the level of exposure, so confirming the value of this parameter as biological indicator of occupational exposure.

Trithiozine polyneuropathy: clinical, neurophysiological and histopathological study of three cases.

3 peptic ulcer patients, treated for a few weeks with Trithiozine, developed polyneuropathy. The histopathological patterns in the 2 patients in whom sural nerve biopsy was done presented wallerian degeneration of the axons of the myelinated fibers, especially those of larger caliber. The evidence for a iatrogenic toxic etiology is discussed.

Post-anoxic action myoclonus (Lance-Adams syndrome) treated with levodopa and GABAergic drugs.

A case of post-anoxic action myoclonus is reported in which a very good control of the myoclonic jerks was achieved with levodopa, gaba and bacoflen, while the antiepileptic drugs did not seem to be useful.