Social modulation of risky decision-making in rats (Rattus norvegicus) and tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.).

Both human and non-human animals frequently deal with risky decisions in a social environment. Nevertheless, the influence of the social context on decision-making has been scarcely investigated. Here, we evaluated for the first time whether the presence of a conspecific influences risk preferences in rats and in tufted capuchin monkeys. Subjects received a series of choices between a constant, safe option and a variable, risky option, both alone (Alone condition) and when paired with a conspecific (Paired condition). The average payoff of the risky option was always lower than that of the safe option. Overall, the two species differed in their attitude towards risk: whereas rats were indifferent between options, capuchins exhibited a preference for the safe option. In both species, risk preferences changed in the Paired condition compared to the Alone condition, although in an opposite way. Whereas rats increased their risk preferences over time when paired with a conspecific, capuchins chose the risky option less in the Paired condition than in the Alone condition. Moreover, whereas anxiety-like behaviours decreased across sessions in rats, these behaviours where more represented in the Paired condition than in the Alone condition in capuchins. Thus, our findings extends to two distantly-related non-human species the evidence, so far available for human beings, that a decrease in anxiety corresponds to an increase in risk preferences, and vice versa. This suggests that the modulation of risk preferences by social influences observed in rats and capuchin monkeys may rely on a common, evolutionarily ancient, mechanism.

Increased glomerular cell (podocyte) apoptosis in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus: role in the development of diabetic glomerular disease.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Podocyte loss by apoptosis, in addition to favouring progression of established diabetic nephropathy, has been recently indicated as an early phenomenon triggering the initiation of glomerular lesions. This study aimed to assess the rate of glomerular cell death and its relationship with renal functional, structural and molecular changes in rats with experimental diabetes. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and coeval non-diabetic control animals were killed at 7 days and at 2, 4 and 6 months for the assessment of apoptosis, renal function, renal structure and the expression of podocyte markers and apoptosis- and cell cycle-related proteins. RESULTS: Glomerular cell apoptosis was significantly increased in diabetic vs non-diabetic rats at 4 months and to an even greater extent at 6 months, with podocytes accounting for 70% of apoptosing cells. The increase in apoptosis was preceded by increases in proteinuria, albuminuria and mean glomerular and mesangial areas, and by reductions in glomerular cell density and content of synaptopodin and Wilms' tumour protein-1. It coincided with the development of mesangial expansion and glomerular sclerosis, and with the upregulation/activation both of tumour protein p53, which increased progressively throughout the study, and of p21 (also known as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, CIP1 and WAF1), which peaked at 4 months and decreased thereafter. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Glomerular cell (podocyte) apoptosis is not an early feature in the course of experimental diabetic glomerulopathy, since it is preceded by glomerular hypertrophy, which may decrease glomerular cell density to the point of inducing compensatory podocyte hypertrophy. This is associated with reduced podocyte protein expression (podocytopathy) and proteinuria, and ultimately results in apoptotic cell loss (podocytopenia), driving progression to mesangial expansion and glomerular sclerosis.

Ablation of the gene encoding p66Shc protects mice against AGE-induced glomerulopathy by preventing oxidant-dependent tissue injury and further AGE accumulation.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: AGEs have been implicated in renal disease associated with ageing, diabetes and other age-related disorders. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote formation of AGEs, which cause AGE-receptor-mediated ROS generation with activation of signalling pathways leading to tissue injury and further AGE accumulation. ROS generation is regulated by the Src homology 2 domain-containing transforming protein C1 (Shc1) isoform p66(Shc), whose deletion has been shown to protect from tissue injury induced by ageing, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and ischaemia-reperfusion by preventing oxidative stress. This study was aimed at assessing the role of p66(Shc) in the modulation of oxidative stress and oxidant-dependent renal injury induced by AGEs. METHODS: For 10 weeks, male p66 (shc) knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were injected with 60 microg/day albumin modified or unmodified by N epsilon-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML). Mice were then killed for the assessment of renal function and structure, as well as systemic and renal tissue oxidative stress. RESULTS: Upon CML injection, KO mice, in contrast to WT mice, showed no or only mild forms of proteinuria, glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial expansion, glomerular sclerosis, renal/glomerular cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix upregulation. Moreover, KO mice had lower circulating and tissue AGEs than WT mice and unchanged plasma isoprostane 8-epi-prostaglandin-F(2alpha) levels, renal/glomerular CML, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, AGE receptor and NAD(P)H oxidase 4 (NOX4) content (and expression of the corresponding genes), and nuclear factor kappaB activation (NFkappaB). Mesangial cells from KO mice exposed to CML showed no or slight increase in ROS levels and NFkappaB activation, again at variance with WT cells. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These data indicate that p66(Shc) participates in the pathogenesis of AGE-dependent glomerulopathy by mediating AGE-induced tissue injury and further AGE formation through ROS-dependent mechanisms involving NFkappaB activation and upregulation of Nox4 expression and NOX4 production.

[Bone marrow changes in HIV-positive patients (clinical, cytological, histological, and ultrastructural study of 57 cases)]. / Alterazioni osteomidollari in pazienti HIV positivi (studio clinico, citologico, istologico ed ultrastrutturale su 57 casi).

The authors take into consideration clinical, cytological, histological and ultrastructural pattern of 57 HIV+ patients. They want to quantify bone marrow alterations and research their relation with haematological pattern of these patients. They think that peripheral haematological deficit is related with cellular and stromal alterations of the bone marrow. In fact there are many morphological cellular alterations. The most characteristic are that of megakaryocytes. The alterations of these cells are, probably, responsible for bone marrow early sclerosis of these patients. The plasma cells are also numerous and activated. They respect an immunological response.

Successful excision of hemorrhagic cavernous angioma in a patient with severe factor VII deficiency: perioperative treatment with factor VII concentrate.

A case of an uncomplicated neurosurgical procedure in a patient affected by a rare bleeding disorder is described. The interest is twofold: first because of the possible influence of underlying coagulopathy in disclosing the vascular anomaly. And second although surgery in factor VII deficiency has been reported before, with and without replacement therapy, to our knowledge, this is the first neurosurgical case in which factor VII concentrate was used. This treatment allowed safe surgery and protected the patient from complications associated with plasma and protrombin complex use.

Recent experience in the management of meningeal hemangiopericytomas.

Although the histogenesis of meningeal hemangiopericytomas (HMP) remains controversial, both biological and clinical evidence seems to identify these neoplasms as a separate entity with respect to meningiomas. In order to assess the current prognosis of HMP we reviewed our personal experience limited to the last decade (1986-1995): during this period 7 patients (4M, 3F) were treated by surgery alone or surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy. In spite of meticulous attempts at radical resection, the tumors recurred in all but two cases with a mean interval of 85 months, and a total of 18 operations were performed (2.57/patient; range 1-4). Massive intratumoral hemorrhage determined acute deterioration and required emergency surgery in two cases while in one patient diffuse visceral metastases were discovered at autopsy. Five patients are still alive at follow-up but only 2 of them are in good neurological conditions and without evidence of disease. These results are similar to those reported in other series. In view of our results we conclude that intracranial hemangiopericytomas still have a dismal prognosis. Advances in neuroimaging, neuroanesthesia, microneurosurgery and adjuvant therapy do not seem to have significantly affected the recurrence rate, quality of life and mortality.

Retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma. A case report.

The isolated retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma unassociated with Von Recklinghausen's disease is an unusual neoplasm, representing 0.01% of all retroperitoneal malignant neoplasms, with a poor prognosis, and an average survival at 5 years of 50% in patients treated by radical exeresis. At present, it is impossible, without histologic and immunohistochemical examinations, to differentiate it from other isolated retroperitoneal sarcomatous neoplasms. The authors report a case of retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma 20 cm in diameter in a 62-year-old woman surgically treated by radical exeresis. Postoperative complications were absent, and the patient, discharged from the hospital on the 12th postoperative day, died 8 months later of diffuse metastases, without local relapse. Despite the patient's short survival, the authors believe radical surgery to be the best therapeutic choice. Only surgery can establish a final diagnosis and can offer the best chance of survival and a significant and sometimes prolonged relief of symptomatology.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage from cavernous angioma of the cauda equina: case report.

A case of spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage from a cavernous angioma of the cauda equina is reported. The patient was a 28-year-old man who complained of a sudden low-back pain and neck stiffness. Laminectomy at L1-L2 was performed with total removal of the tumor.

[DNA index and bronchopulmonary neoplasms]. / DNA index e neoplasie broncopolmonari.

The authors take into consideration 40 cases of lung neoplasms in order to see the relationship between DNA index examined by image analysis, and histological grading we deduced from the results that DNA index agrees with the grading and better points out the biological pattern of the neoplasm, beharing differently in each histological type.

[Correlation between C219 and drug resistance in lung neoplasms]. / Correlazione tra C219 e chemioresistenza nelle neoplasie del polmone.

The authors take into consideration 19 cases of lung neoplasm to see the relationship of clinical behaviour and C219. They found a cutoff (25%) to separate drug resistant by drug sensibility. Marker sensitivity was 84.2% and relation with PCNA was negative (-0.384).

[Chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis]. / Epatite cronica e cirrosi epatica.

The Authors consider 349 liver biopsies; 32 of these showed cirrhosis. Patients with chronic hepatitis are at high risk for evolution to cirrhosis. Our aim is to establish the markers HBsAg and HBcAg comparing this with the risk groups and with the possible causes of cirrhosis.

[Evaluation of NOR changes in patients with chronic active hepatitis treated with IFN and untreated]. / Valutazione delle variazioni dei NOR in pazienti con ECA trattati con IFN e non trattati.

The Authors consider 30 patients with ECA; 15 of these were treated with IFN and 15 were not treated. The Authors think that the statistically significant difference between patient groups, is a parameter of the pharmacological effects on the horx.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage from multiple neurofibromas of the cauda equina: case report.

The authors report a case of spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by neurofibromas of the cauda equina. An examination of the literature revealing 13 similar cases and an analysis of this case showing three neurofibromas of the cauda equina prompted an hypothesis emphasizing the origin of bleeding and the difficulties associated with a correct diagnosis.

[Behavior of estrogen and progesterone receptors in intracranial meningioma]. / Osservazioni sul comportamento dei recettori per gli estrogenied il progesterone nel meningioma intracranico.

Observation on value of estrogen and progesterone receptors in intracranial meningiomas. The authors take into consideration twenty intracranial meningiomas reperted in patients that differ for age, sex and histological pattern of the lesions, for value receptor content and their variability with mentioned variants. They report receptors contents of meningiomas and its variability with age and histological pattern.

[Assessment of the estrogen and progesterone receptor status of meningiomas. A preliminary study of 10 cases]. / Valutazione dello stato recettoriale per gli estrogeni ed il progesterone dei meningiomi. Studio preliminare su 10 casi.

Ten cases of intracranial meningiomas in patient who differed by age, sex and histological characteristics of the lesion have been considered for the purpose of evaluating the lesion's receptor capacity and the changes in it with the above variations. Receptors were found and they varied with age and histological features.

[A case of primary cardiac tumor in childhood. Echographic and anatomo-pathologic study]. / Un caso di tumore primitivo cardiaco in età pediatrica. Studio ecografico ed anatomo-patologico.

Primary cardiac tumors are rare in children. The benign forms constitute 90% of cases, with often fatal clinical course due to the origin site. Here is reported a case of fibroelastic hamartoma in a four month baby, with multiple malformations, in which the initial signs have been alterations of ECG and of the cardiac profile at Rx chest. Bidimensional echocardiography suggested the correct diagnosis, revealing the mass in the interventricular septum. Cardiac catheterization excluded connections with coronary arteries. The baby died before cardiosurgical operation, probably because of a hyperkinetic ventricular arrhythmia. Anatomo-pathologic examination discusses the diagnosis of this tumor versus other kinds, defining our case as a fibroelastic hamartoma.

[Anatomico-clinical aspects of a case of squamous cell carcinoma arising from a lateral cyst of the neck]. / Considerazioni anatomo-cliniche su un caso di carcinoma squamoso insorto su una cisti laterale del collo.

After a consultation of the literature on branchial cleft defects and double neoplastic pathology, it was decided to report the case of a patient given a cystectomy for bladder cancer (1983) and referred to hospital four years later with branchial cyst that had developed into epidermoid cancer.