Fasting mimicking diet in mice delays cancer growth and reduces immunotherapy-associated cardiovascular and systemic side effects.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors cause side effects ranging from autoimmune endocrine disorders to severe cardiotoxicity. Periodic Fasting mimicking diet (FMD) cycles are emerging as promising enhancers of a wide range of cancer therapies including immunotherapy. Here, either FMD cycles alone or in combination with anti-OX40/anti-PD-L1 are much more effective than immune checkpoint inhibitors alone in delaying melanoma growth in mice. FMD cycles in combination with anti-OX40/anti-PD-L1 also show a trend for increased effects against a lung cancer model. As importantly, the cardiac fibrosis, necrosis and hypertrophy caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors are prevented/reversed by FMD treatment in both cancer models whereas immune infiltration of CD3+ and CD8+ cells in myocardial tissues and systemic and myocardial markers of oxidative stress and inflammation are reduced. These results indicate that FMD cycles in combination with immunotherapy can delay cancer growth while reducing side effects including cardiotoxicity.

Bimatoprost 0.01% vs bimatoprost 0.03%: a 12-month prospective trial of clinical and in vivo confocal microscopy in glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of two commercially available formulations of bimatoprost eye drops: 0.03 and 0.01% ophthalmic solutions. METHODS: This was a randomized, prospective, parallel-group, open-label, cohort study. A total of 60 glaucoma patients (60 eyes) under bimatoprost 0.03% monotherapy since at least 1 year were enrolled. Selected patients were randomized to receive a single drop of bimatoprost 0.01% (n=30) or bimatoprost 0.03% (n=30) ophthalmic solutions for 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test and repeated measures ANOVA test. RESULTS: Global clinical score (the sum of pruritus, stinging/burning, blurred vision, sticky eye sensation, eye dryness sensation, and foreign body sensation) significantly decreased in the bimatoprost 0.01% group from baseline 4.7 ± 3.8 to 2.9 ± 2.3 (P < 0.001) and 2.5 ± 2.0 (P < 0.001) at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups, respectively. Comparison between groups showed differences at both follow-up visits (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively). In vivo confocal microscopy revealed a significant increase in goblet cell density in the bimatoprost 0.01% group compared with the bimatoprost 0.03% group (P<0.001 at both follow-up visits). All functional parameters and conjunctival hyperemia improved in the bimatoprost 0.01% group at each follow-up visit (P < 0.05) and in comparison with bimatoprost 0.03% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this trial suggest that bimatoprost 0.01% eye drops seem to decrease the ocular discomfort with respect to bimatoprost 0.03% eye drops.

A novel index for predicting macular thickening after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: In this study, we tried to investigate weather or not the preoperative anterior chamber depth, the lens thickness (LT) and the relation between these variables by the ratio (K) of the distance from the corneal peak to the posterior side of the lens (A) (K = A/LT) could be predictive for a surgically induced foveal thickening following uneventful cataract surgery in normal, emmetropic eyes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total amount of 45 eyes, 25 females and 20 males, were enrolled in this study and underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia. A complete ophthalmological examination was performed preoperatively, including refraction, best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, biometry and optical coherence tomography of both eyes. These examinations, with the exception of the biometric examination, were repeated one day, one week and four weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The K ratio was positively correlated with the macular thickness changes after cataract surgery. The Pearson correlation analysis of K ratio and foveal thickness changes was 0.792 (y = 36.457x - 52.558, R2 = 0.6266). CONCLUSIONS: A novel ratio that incorporates preoperative ocular parameters has been described. It could be easily measured in a clinical setting, and appears to be strongly predictive for macular thickening following cataract surgery. Of course, further studies enrolling a larger amount of patients are necessary in order to confirm these preliminary data.

Short-term changes in the optic nerve head and visual field after trabeculectomy.

UNLABELLED: AIMS OR PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term changes in optic nerve head topography and visual field induced by surgical reduction of intraocular pressure. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 56 eyes of 56 patients with uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma despite maximum medical therapy, which underwent trabeculectomy. Optic nerve head evaluations by means of Heidelberg Retina Tomograph, and visual field tests were performed pre-operatively, and at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Differences in intraocular pressure, visual field indices, and Heidelberg Retina Tomograph parameters were evaluated with the t-test for paired data. A linear regression model was calculated to analyze the relationship between intraocular pressure reduction and visual field changes, and optic nerve head changes. RESULTS: Mean intraocular pressure decreased from 24.4 ± 5.0 mm Hg to 12.1 ± 3.1 mm Hg (month 3, P<0.001), and 10.6 ± 2.8 mm Hg (month 6, P<0.001) after trabeculectomy. Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (baseline, 0.19 ± 0.034; month 3, 0.24 ± 0.039, P=0.05; month 6, 0.21 ± 0.037, P=0.05) showed a statistical significant change compared with baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: In this 6-months study, a significant increase in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was detected after glaucoma filtration surgery.

Localized pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a well-recognized lesion that may affect any joint but is frequently found in the knee. It is a rare condition, especially in the localized form, and is still cause for discussion regarding to its pathogenesis and treatment. We report four cases of localized PVNS each one presenting with different clinical signs and symptoms. In one of our cases, a pedunculated mass and villous-like projections of the surrounding synovium were associated. Each case was studied with magnetic resonance imaging, treated arthroscopically, and the diagnosis confirmed by histological examination. Arthroscopy is an effective tool for both diagnosis and treatment.

Epidermal nevus syndrome: MR of intracranial involvement.

Focal thickening of the calvarium, hypoplasia of the white matter, cortical calcifications, and a leptomeningeal drape that enhanced after contrast injection were demonstrated by MR in the parietooccipital region ipsilateral to a facial sebaceous nevus in a patient with epidermal nevus syndrome.

[Acari of food storage facilities. An ecologic and immuno-allergic study]. / Gli acari delle derrate alimentari. Studio ecologico ed immuno-allergologico.

The authors studied the commonest species of storage mites, living in granaries and in house dust. They found nine species of mites belonging to different systematic groups and were identified: Acarus siro, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Glycyphagus domesticus, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Chortoglyphus arcuatus, Androlaelaps casalis, Cheyletus fortis, Cheyletus tenuipilis, Thyreophagus entomophagus. Skin tests were performed on 14 patients with house dust allergy, using extracts of three storage mites, most commonly found in house dust (Acarus siro, Glycyphagus domesticus, Lepidoglyphus destructor) and Euroglyphus maynei, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae. The results of the skin tests have suggested that sensitization to storage mites may be due a degree of cross-reaction between storage species and the two Dermatophagoides.

[Pollen calendar, skin tests and blood levels of total IgE in the city of Leghorn in 1983]. / Calendario dei pollini, tests cutanei, livello sierico IgE totali, nella città di Livorno nell'anno 1983.

In this paper are reported the data concerning the airborne pollen concentrations of Graminacee, Parietaria, Composite and Oleacee collected in Livorno (Italy) during the year 1983. These results were related with clinical assay by means of intracutaneous tests and serum total IgE levels.