Different peripheral expression patterns of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: The diffuse distribution of nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) in both brain and peripheral immune cells points out their involvement in several pathological conditions. Indeed, the deregulated function of the nAChR was previously correlated with cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The evaluation in peripheral immune cells of nAChR subtypes, which could reflect their expression in brain regions, is a prominent investigation area. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the expression levels of both the nAChR subunits and the main known inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with DLB and AD to better characterize their involvement in these two diseases. RESULTS: Higher gene expression levels of TNFα, IL6 and IL1ß were observed in DLB and AD patients in comparison with healthy controls (HC). In our cohort, a reduction of nAChRα4, nAChRß2 and nAChRß4 was detected in both DLB and AD with respect to HC. Considering nAChR gene expressions in DLB and AD, significant differences were observed for nAChRα3, nAChRα4, nAChRß2 and nAChRß4 between the two groups. Moreover, the acetylcholine esterase (AChE) gene expression was significantly higher in DLB than in AD. Correlation analysis points out the relation between different nAChR subtype expressions in DLB (nAChRß2 vs nAChRα3; nAChRα4 vs nAChRα3) and AD (nAChRα4 vs nAChRα3; nAChRα4 vs nAChRß4; nAChRα7 vs nAChRα3; nAChRα7 vs nAChRα4). CONCLUSIONS: Different gene expressions of both pro-inflammatory cytokines and nAChR subtypes may represent a peripheral link between inflammation and neurodegeneration. Inflammatory cytokines and different nAChRs should be valid and accurate peripheral markers for the clinical diagnosis of DLB and AD. However, although nAChRs show a great biological role in the regulation of inflammation, no significant correlation was detected between nAChR subtypes and the examined cytokines in our cohort of patients.

Gallbladder polyps ultrasound: what the sonographer needs to know.

Gallbladder polyps are protuberances of the gallbladder wall projecting into the lumen. They are usually incidentally found during abdominal sonography or diagnosed on histopathology of a surgery specimen, with an estimated prevalence of up to 9.5% of patients. Gallbladder polyps are not mobile and do not demonstrate posterior acoustic shadowing; they may be sessile or pedunculated. Gallbladder polyps may be divided into pseudopolyps and true polyps. Pseudopolyps are benign and include cholesterolosis, cholesterinic polyps, inflammatory polyps, and localised adenomyomatosis. True gallbladder polyps can be benign or malignant. Benign polyps are most commonly adenomas, while malignant polyps are adenocarcinomas and metastases. There are also rare types of benign and malignant true gallbladder polyps, including mesenchymal tumours and lymphomas. Ultrasound is the first-choice imaging method for the diagnosis of gallbladder polyps, representing an indispensable tool for ensuring appropriate management. It enables limitation of secondary level investigations and avoidance of unnecessary cholecystectomies.

Not all abolished lung sliding are pneumothorax: the case of a particular lung atelectasis.

INTRODUCTION: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is expanding from the field of emergency medicine, also to the pneumological specialist field, becoming part of the diagnostic procedure of lung consolidation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old male was admitted to our emergency department for exertional dyspnea. LUS was performed, thus showing at right hemitorax air interface, A lines pattern, pleural sliding abolished on the whole hemitorax, thus suggesting a pneumothorax, but no evidence of lung point. A scan of lower lung segment showed an absence of the diaphragmatic excursion, suggestive for hemiparalysis of the diaphragm muscle, then confirmed by a subcostal scan. Moreover, at the lower segment of right hemitorax there was mild pleural effusion allowing the visualization of a round-shaped parenchymal consolidation with the absence of air bronchograms. CONCLUSIONS: LUS allowed the visualization of a particular and rare disease such as anthracosis-associated rounded atelectasis, thus leading to a more correct and faster patient management.

From Endothelium to Lipids, Through microRNAs and PCSK9: A Fascinating Travel Across Atherosclerosis.

Lipids and endothelium are pivotal players on the scene of atherosclerosis and their interaction is crucial for the establishment of the pathological processes. The endothelium is not only the border of the arterial wall: it plays a key role in regulating circulating fatty acids and lipoproteins and vice versa it is regulated by these lipidic molecules thereby promoting atherosclerosis. Inflammation is another important element in the relationship between lipids and endothelium. Recently, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been recognized as a fundamental regulator of LDL-C and anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies have been approved for therapeutic use in hypercholesterolemia, with the promise to subvert the natural history of the disease. Moreover, growing experimental and clinical evidence is enlarging our understanding of the mechanisms through which this protein may facilitate the genesis of atherosclerosis, independently of its impact on lipid metabolism. In addition, environmental stimuli may affect the post-transcriptional regulation of genes through micro-RNAs, which in turn play a key role in orchestrating the crosstalk between endothelium and cholesterol. Advances in experimental research, with development of high throughput techniques, have led, over the last century, to a tremendous progress in the understanding and fine tuning of the molecular mechanisms leading to atherosclerosis. Identification of pivotal keystone molecules bridging lipid metabolism, endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis will provide the mechanistic substrate to test valuable targets for prediction, prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis-related disease.

Mantle cell lymphoma: from ultrasound examination to histological diagnosis.

We report the case of a 42-year-old patient referred to our department for the examination of two large, symmetrical inguinal lumps. The ultrasound examination of the swollen lymph node demonstrated a cortical echogenicity greater than the medullary echogenicity, and the vascularization stop around the cortical zone suggested a pathological pattern of mantle cell lymphoma. In this type of lymphoma, lymphocytes are localized in a mantle zone, inducing a thickening of the lumps. Therefore, for the first time, ultrasound examination detected sonographic vascular features of mantle cell lymphoma, allowing the identification of the disease and suggesting the specific histological diagnosis.