RECURRENT LENTIGO MALIGNA: CONSERVATIVE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT WITH IMIQUIMOD OR REPEATED SURGERY? A LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP DERMOSCOPIC CASE STUDY.

A case of recurrent lentigo maligna in a 45-year-old woman is presented. The disease relapsed several times following the surgical excision of the lesion. An alternative treatment with imiquimod 5% cream was then used. After 4 years of follow-upfrom the last surgery, this treatment achieved total clearance of the lesion. The problems of lentigo maligna diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Scrotal cutaneous metastasis from rectal squamous cell carcinoma: a rare evolution into a rare tumor.

The scrotum is a rare site for metastases and represents less than 1% of the body's total surface area. Clinically, metastatic deposits in the scrotum can present in a variety of ways. They may appear as solitary cutaneous nodules, papules, plaques, or generalized induration or edema. Indeed, scrotum metastasis may be mistaken for other skin lesions since several dermatologic conditions can present with inflammation or dermatitis of the scrotum. Properly diagnosing cutaneous metastasis requires histopathological examination since the clinical appearances are, as described, highly variable and non-specific. We present a 63-year-old man with painless nodules on the scrotal skin. Excisional biopsy of the nodules revealed a metastasis from rectal squamous cell carcinoma. The incidence of this kind of tumors is estimated around 0.1-0.25 per 1000 colorectal neoplasms.

Author Correction: Essential oils sensory quality and their bioactivity against the mosquito Aedes albopictus.

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Essential oils sensory quality and their bioactivity against the mosquito Aedes albopictus.

Repellents are a main tool to prevent the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases that represents a threat for millions of people worldwide. Plant-based products are very promising, low-toxic and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic repellents. Here, we performed an olfactory screening of the essential oils (EOs) of Artemisia verlotiorum Lamotte (Asteraceae), Lavandula dentata L. (Lamiaceae), and Ruta chalepensis L. (Rutaceae) for their possible use as ingredients in topical repellents. The EOs smell profiles were then matched with their repellence against the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera Culicidae). To obtain a more complete bioactivity description, we also tested the EOs oviposition deterrence and the larvicidal activity. The best smell profile was associated with A. verlotiorum EO, while R. chalepensis EO showed the lowest overall pleasantness. All the EOs had a significant activity as skin repellent against Ae. albopictus, deterred the oviposition in the field, and exerted a clear larvicidal activity. Beside the best smell profile, A. verlotiorum EO showed also the longest lasting repellent effect, assuring the complete protection of the treated skin against Ae. albopictus for a time 60% longer than the synthetic repellent DEET.

Considerations about Occlusion of the Intracranial Distal Internal Carotid Artery.

Occlusion of the intracranial distal internal carotid artery (ICA) is one of the most critical conditions among the cases of acute stroke in the anterior circulation. The introduction of selective endovascular treatment first using thrombolytic agents replaced later by the mechanical thrombectomy using various devices has improved the prognosis in a certain number of these patients. Among the factors influencing the prognosis of these patients, one is the collateral circulation which in these cases is mainly characterized by leptomeningeal anastomoses. The collateral can, however, be impaired, by distal embolization and by anomalies of the Circle of Willis: the aim of this study is to describe these aspects.

Gas-phase synthesis of Mg-Ti nanoparticles for solid-state hydrogen storage.

Mg-Ti nanostructured samples with different Ti contents were prepared via compaction of nanoparticles grown by inert gas condensation with independent Mg and Ti vapour sources. The growth set-up offered the option to perform in situ hydrogen absorption before compaction. Structural and morphological characterisation was carried out by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The formation of an extended metastable solid solution of Ti in hcp Mg was detected up to 15 at% Ti in the as-grown nanoparticles, while after in situ hydrogen absorption, phase separation between MgH2 and TiH2 was observed. At a Ti content of 22 at%, a metastable Mg-Ti-H fcc phase was observed after in situ hydrogen absorption. The co-evaporation of Mg and Ti inhibited nanoparticle coalescence and crystallite growth in comparison with the evaporation of Mg only. In situ hydrogen absorption was beneficial to subsequent hydrogen behaviour, studied by high pressure differential scanning calorimetry and isothermal kinetics. A transformed fraction of 90% was reached within 100 s at 300 °C during both hydrogen absorption and desorption. The enthalpy of hydride formation was not observed to differ from bulk MgH2.

A distinct MR imaging phenotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: correlation between T1 magnetization transfer contrast hyperintensity along the corticospinal tract and diffusion tensor imaging analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In the search for a diagnostic marker in ALS, we focused our attention on the hyperintense signal intensity in T1 MTC MR images along the CST, detected in some patients and not found in other patients with ALS and in control subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the hyperintense signal intensity in T1 MTC images and white matter damage. To this purpose, we studied potential heterogeneities in DTI values within our patients by using TBSS without a priori anatomic information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 43 patients with ALS and 43 healthy control subjects, the presence or absence of T1 MTC hyperintense signal intensity was evaluated. With a DTI analysis with a TBSS approach, differences in FA distribution between the 2 groups (patients with T1 MTC hyperintense signal intensity and patients without it) compared with each other and with control subjects were investigated. RESULTS: We found regional differences in white matter FA between patients with T1 MTC hyperintense signal intensity (37.2%) and patients without it. Patients with T1 MTC abnormal signal intensity showed lower FA strictly limited to the motor network and the posterior aspect of the body of the CC without extramotor FA reductions, whereas patients without this sign showed FA reductions in several confluent regions within and outside the CST and in the whole CC. CONCLUSIONS: T1 MTC hyperintense signal intensity in the CST and posterior CC, when present, is specific for ALS and represents, among patients with ALS, a possible distinct phenotype of presentation of the disease with prominent UMN involvement.

Application of taste reactivity to study the mechanism of alcohol intake inhibition by the tachykinin aminosenktide.

Tachykinin NK-3 receptor agonists reduce alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats; the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) is highly sensitive to their effect. Tachykinins and their receptors are widely distributed in gustatory pathways and NK-3 receptor agonists have been reported to modify taste reactivity to salt solutions in rats. The present study evaluated whether the TK NK-3 receptor agonist aminosenktide (NH2-SENK) influences taste reactivity to ethanol solutions. Genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats were employed. In response to the intraoral infusion (0.8 ml in 1 min) of 10, 20, 40, or even 60% ethanol solution, ethanol-naive rats showed a large number of ingestive reactions and a much lower number of aversive reactions. Two min before the intraoral infusion of 10 or 40% ethanol, NH2-SENK was injected either into the lateral ventricle (LV) or into the NBM. Doses of NH2-SENK that markedly reduce alcohol intake, 125 ng/rat into the LV or 5 ng/site into the NBM, did not modify the ingestive reactions and, in some instances, reduced the aversive reactions to ethanol solutions in ethanol-naive rats. Injections of 125 ng/rat into the LV failed to modify taste reactions in ethanol-experienced rats. The present results show that msP rats have an innate hedonic evaluation of ethanol solutions, even of high concentration. Moreover, they indicate that reduction of ethanol intake induced by TK NK-3 receptor agonists in alcohol-preferring rats does not depend on influences on gustatory processes.

Sex difference in sensitivity to exogenous oxytocin in different models of sodium appetite in the rat.

Brain oxytocin (OT) has been suggested to be involved in the inhibition of sodium appetite in the rat. Sodium depleted male rats showed no decrease in sodium intake after they were given a pulse intracerebroventricular (pICV) injection of either OT (1 microgram/microliter) or the selective OT agonist Tyr4-Gly7OT (1 microgram/microliter). Administration of the OT selective antagonists, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-[Orn8]vasotocin and Compound VI [d(CH2)5,Tyr(Me)2,Thr4,Tyr-NH2(9)]OVT (1 microgram/microliter), did not further increase their sodium intake. On the other hand, sodium appetite of sodium depleted female rats were inhibited by the same dose of pICV OT but not by the selective agonist Tyr4-Gly7 OT (1 microgram/microliter). The reduction od sodium appetite in female rats may have been in part due to the competitive behavior of grooming that followed the OT injection. Nevertheless, the OT inhibition in females of the need-free sodium intake and of the sodium appetite that occurs after furosemide but not in adrenalectomized or DOCA treated rats, argue for a mechanism independent from angiotensin or aldosterone alone related sodium appetite and the mechanism involved in the suppression of these salt intakes remain to be clarified.

[The effect of the angiotensin III (Sar1, Ile7) Ang III, on water intake of Wistar rats]. / Effetti dell'analogo della angiotensina III, [Sar1, Ile7] AngIII, sulla assunzione di acqua nel ratto Wistar.

A[Sar1, Ile7] AngIII, an angiotensin III analogue apparently devoid of any affinity for vascular angiotensin II (AngII) receptors, inhibits AngII-induced drinking but neither affects cellular dehydration-induced drinking nor produces any intake of water in water replete rats, suggesting that the dipsogenic effect of AngII is not of vascular origin. Thus, [Sar1, Ile7] AngIII is an interesting tool to study the central effects of AngII.

Acute hemodynamic effects of intravenous diperdipine, a new dihydropyridine derivative, in coronary heart disease.

The acute hemodynamic effects of a new dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, diperdipine, which is suitable for intravenous administration, were studied by right and left cardiac catheterization in 16 patients with coronary heart disease. Diperdipine markedly reduced systemic vascular resistance and improved stroke index and left ventricular ejection fraction. Mean pulmonary artery and wedge pressures were slightly increased as a possible consequence of enhanced venous return, whereas right atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures were not significantly changed. Nevertheless, an increase in preload was clearly indicated by an augmented left ventricular end-diastolic volume index after administration of diperdipine. Left ventricular contractility, which was estimated by the end-systolic pressure-volume ratio and by dP/dt max was not significantly changed, though analysis of individual data suggests a minimally negative inotropic effect. However, such a minor effect on left ventricular contractility was largely counterbalanced by the marked reduction of afterload, which produced a sharp improvement of stroke index. Enhancement of left ventricular ejection fraction and reduction in systemic vascular resistance were inversely and directly correlated to control values. Overall, diperdipine was well tolerated, but one patient had a major untoward reaction that consisted of an ischemic episode that was possibly related to drug administration. In conclusion, intravenous diperdipine appears to be a potent arteriolar dilating agent that does not affect left ventricular contractility.

[Physalaemin-like N-terminal fragments of mammalian tissues, PHLIP-7 and PHLIP-8 do not modify drinking behavior and sodium appetite in rats]. / I frammenti N-terminali fisalemino-simili di tessuti di mammifero, PHLIP-7 e PHLIP-8, non modificano "drinking behaviour" e appetito per il sodio nel ratto.

PHLIP-7 and PHLIP-8, two peptides reproducing at least in part the N-terminal aminoacid sequence of physalaemin, have been identified in mammalian tissues. These peptides produce alterations of fighting behaviour in the mouse, but are devoid of any behavioural activity in the rat. This suggests that PHLIP-7 and PHLIP-8 have no affinity for brain receptors involved in the behavioural effects evoked by tachykinins in the rat, and that the brain of this animal is lacking in receptors for the N-terminal sequence of tachykinins.

Mapping of brain sites sensitive to the antidipsogenic effect of tachykinins.

The present study investigated the sensitivity of 12 forebrain and midbrain structures to the antidipsogenic effect of eledoisin, physalaemin and substance P on angiotensin-induced drinking. The three tachykinins elicited the most potent effects when injected into the nucleus preopticus medialis, the nucleus anterior hypothalami and the subfornical organ. In other sites (nuclei lateralis, ventromedialis and posterior hypothalami, nucleus septi lateralis, nucleus interpeduncularis and substantia grisea periventricularis) the effect was lower, and most of these sites showed different sensitivity to the three tachykinins. Finally, the nucleus septi medialis, the nucleus preopticus lateralis and the substantia nigra were refractory to the three tachykinins. These results show that: (1) the antidipsogenic effect of tachykinins can be elicited not only in forebrain, but also in midbrain structures such as the substantia grisea periventricularis and the nucleus interpeduncularis; (2) the distribution of brain sites sensitive to the antidipsogenic effect of substance P and physalaemin is always overlapping, while this is not true for eledoisin. This probably reflects selective distribution and/or activation of distinct subtypes of tachykinin receptors.

Hypotensive effect in dogs and rats of intravenous injections of the alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist benoxathian.

The hypotensive effect of the alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist benoxathian has been evaluated in rats and dogs, in comparison to that evoked by WB 4101 and prazosin. In anaesthetized dogs, i.v. injection of benoxathian (25-100 micrograms/kg), WB 4101 (5-25 micrograms/kg) and prazosin (50 micrograms/kg) produced an immediate fall in diastolic blood pressure, which reached a maximum at about 30 sec after drug administration. Whereas the hypotensive effect of prazosin persisted up to 3 hr following injection, the effect of both benoxathian and WB 4101 completely disappeared after 30-60 min. The hypotensive effect of benoxathian was dose-dependent. Pressor responses to i.v. noradrenaline (5 micrograms/kg), adrenaline (5 micrograms/kg) and phenylephrine (20 micrograms/kg) were markedly inhibited (60-75%) by benoxathian (100 micrograms/kg) whilst the pressor response to angiotensin II (0.05 micrograms/kg) was not reduced, but indeed slightly increased. The hypotensive effect of benoxathian (100 micrograms/kg) was abolished following pre-treatment with prazosin (50 micrograms/kg) or hexamethonium (1000 micrograms/kg). In anaesthetized rats similar results were obtained although recovery in blood pressure from the initial drop after i.v. injection of the drugs was slower than in dogs. Benoxathian was slightly more toxic than WB 4101 in rats. In conclusion, present findings show that benoxathian causes a profound hypotensive effect in dogs and in rats through postsynaptic alpha-adrenoreceptor blockade; however its effect, as well as that of WB 4101, is shorter lasting than that of prazosin.