HIV infection and frequency of micronucleus in human peripheral blood cells.

PURPOSE: People living with HIV have higher rates of malignancies than the general population in the era of active antiretroviral therapy (ART). Genotoxic effects of HIV infection and/or ART that can induce neoplastic development are not yet well known. A prospective cohort study to investigate DNA damage measured through the micronuclei (MN) frequency in HIV-patients has been performed. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 52 HIV-patients treated with ART and 55 healthy controls. RESULTS: By the comparison of MN frequency, a significant difference between HIV-patients (15.5 ± 9.8) and controls (6.0 ± 3.6) (p < 0.001) has been revealed. In univariate linear regression analysis, HCV infection (r = 0.31; p < 0.001), HIV-RNA (r = 0.29; p < 0.03) and duration of infection (r = - 0.16; p < 0.25) were associated with MN frequency; while only viral load (VL) significantly correlates (r = 0.29; p < 0.05) in a multiple regression model. CONCLUSIONS: The association of VL with MN frequency supports a genotoxic effect of HIV infection.

Pulmonary lymphatic vessel morphology: a review.

Our understanding of lymphatic vessels has been advanced by the recent identification of relatively specific lymphatic endothelium markers, including Prox-1, VEGFR3, podoplanin and LYVE-1. The use of lymphatic markers has led to the observation that, contrary to previous assumptions, human lymphatic vessels extend deep inside the pulmonary lobule, either in association with bronchioles, intralobular arterioles or small pulmonary veins. Pulmonary lymphatic vessels may thus be classified into pleural, interlobular (in interlobular septa) and intralobular. Intralobular lymphatic vessels may be further subdivided in: bronchovascular (associated with a bronchovascular bundle), perivascular (associated with a blood vessel), peribronchiolar (associated with a bronchiole), and interalveolar (in interalveolar septa). Most of the intralobular lymphatic vessels are in close contact with a blood vessel, either alone or within a bronchovascular bundle. A minority is associated with a bronchiole, and small lymphatics are occasionally present even in interalveolar septa, seemingly independent of blood vessels or bronchioles. The lymphatics of the interlobular septa often contain valves, are usually associated with the pulmonary veins, and connect with the pleural lymphatics. The large lymphatics associated with bronchovascular bundles have similar characteristics to pleural and interlobular lymphatics and may be considered conducting vessels. The numerous small perivascular lymphatics and the few peribronchiolar ones that are found inside the lobule are probably the absorbing compartment of the lung responsible for maintaining the alveolar interstitium relatively dry in order to provide a minimal thickness of the air-blood barrier and thus optimize gas diffusion. These lymphatic populations could be differentially involved in the pathogenesis of diseases preferentially involving distinct lung compartments.

Could MRI visualize the invisible? An Italian single center study comparing magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL), super microsurgery and histology in the identification of lymphatic vessels.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of limb magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL) to differentiate lymphatic vessels from pathological veins, collect a specimen of the identified lymphatic vessel during operations of super microsurgical lymphatic-venular anastomosis (s-LVA) and perform immunohistochemical stainings to confirm the nature of the collected vessels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients presenting lymphedema were enrolled in this study. Five patients reported lower limb lymphedema and 15 patients reported upper limb lymphedema. All patients had the indication for s-LVA and underwent preoperative MRL imaging of the affected limb. A total of 57 lymphatic vessels were identified by MRL and used to guide s-LVA: all these vessels have also been used to perform an intraoperative biopsy for immunohistochemical evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 53/57 vascular structures resulted compatible with lymphatic vessels at the immunohistochemical study performed with D2-40 antibody; 3/57 specimen showed the absence of the D2-40 antibody. A significant association was found between preoperative MRL and immunohistochemical marker D2-40 on collected specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the articles in the international literature report the concomitant presence of both lymphatic and venous vessels at MRL. However, no one in literature describes the possibility to differentiate venous vessels from lymphatic vessels, and this is a crucial issue for the correct evaluation of the lymphatic system in patients with limb lymphedema undergoing a future surgical correction. In the present study, MRL allowed to identify active lymphatic vessels. MRL was predictive to determine preoperatory lymphatic vessels and to perform successful s-LVA in lymphedema patients. This is the first study to prove the nature of the vessels identified at the preoperative MRL with immunohistochemical stainings.

Treatment of experimental esophagogastric myotomy with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 15 years, many studies demonstrated the myogenic regenerative potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC), making them an attractive tool for the regeneration of damaged tissues. In this study, we have developed an animal model of esophagogastric myotomy (MY) aimed at determining the role of autologous MSC in the regeneration of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) after surgery. METHODS: Syngeneic BM-MSC were locally injected at the site of MY. Histological and functional analysis were performed to evaluate muscle regeneration, contractive capacity, and the presence of green fluorescent protein-positive BM-MSC (BM-MSC-GFP(+) ) in the damaged area at different time points from implantation. KEY RESULTS: Treatment with syngeneic BM-MSC improved muscle regeneration and increased contractile function of damaged LES. Transplanted BM-MSC-GFP(+) remained on site up to 30 days post injection. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that MSC maintain their phenotype and no differentiation toward smooth or striated muscle was shown at any time point. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Our data support the use of autologous BM-MSC to both improve sphincter regeneration of LES and to control the gastro-esophageal reflux after MY.

[Influence of prenatal hospitalization on parental stressful experience in the case of a premature birth]. / Influence d'une hospitalisation prénatale sur les facteurs de stress parentaux lors d'une naissance prématurée.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of prenatal hospitalization before a premature birth, on the parental stressful experience, parental symptoms of post-traumatic stress and quality of parent-infant interaction during the hospitalization in neonatology. POPULATION: 51 preterm infants born and 25 full term infants control. Four groups: controls, premature without prenatal hospitalization, premature with a short (<8 days) prenatal hospitalization and premature with a long (≥ 8 days) prenatal hospitalization. INSTRUMENTS: the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU, Miles et al., 1993 [14]) and the Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire (PPQ, Quinnell and Hynan, 1999 [16]). RESULTS: When prenatal hospitalization of the mother occurred, parents acknowledged increased stress induced by the environmental factors during the infant's hospitalization. Furthermore, mothers from the group with a short prenatal hospitalization presented significantly more symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Parents presenting more symptoms of post-traumatic stress describe a significantly more difficult interaction with their infant in neonatology. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the necessity to deliver special care to women hospitalized shortly (<8 days) prior to the delivery of their premature baby. This group is at high risk of presenting post-traumatic stress symptoms, which could have a negative impact on the quality of parent-infant interactions.

Promoting secure attachment: evaluation of the effectiveness of an early intervention pilot programme with mother-infant dyads in Santiago, Chile.

BACKGROUND: Research indicates that the early attachment patterns of babies could influence their socio-emotional development and prevent the emergence of problematic behaviours in the child later in life. Many studies in the field of early attachment interventions have promoted a secure attachment bond between mother and infant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an early pilot intervention programme designed to promote a secure attachment bond in mother-infant dyads belonging to a population seeking regular treatment at urban health centres in Santiago, Chile. METHODS: Primipara mothers were randomly assigned to two intervention conditions: a secure attachment promotion programme (experimental group = 43) or an educational talk (control group = 29). The Strange Situation Assessment was used to collect data on the attachment patterns of babies. RESULTS: The results show that after the intervention, there were more babies with secure attachment in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings represent a preliminary step towards evaluating interventions aimed at promoting secure attachment in Chilean mother-child dyads. While the effect of the intervention is not significant, the effect size obtained is respectable and consistent with other meta-analytic findings.