No evidence of association between frontotemporal dementia and major European mtDNA haplogroups.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) inherited variability (haplogroup/sub-haplogroup) is currently emerging as not being neutral with respect to several complex traits like neurodegenerative diseases. Here we investigated the association of European mtDNA haplogroups/sub-haplogroups with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). METHOD AND RESULTS: A case-control study was carried out on 114 patients with FTD (68 sporadic and 46 familial) and 180 controls, matched for age, gender and ethnicity. No association was found. CONCLUSIONS: European mtDNA haplogroups/sub-haplogroups are unlikely to play a major role in the risk of developing the disease.

The effects of APOE and tau gene variability on risk of frontotemporal dementia.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a complex dementing syndrome whose genetic/non genetic risk factors are mostly unknown. Aim of the present work was to investigate whether APOE and/or tau gene variability does affect the risk of FTD. A sample of FTD cases (sporadic: n = 54; familial: n = 46, one subject per family) was collected in a genetically homogeneous population (Calabria, southern Italy) and analyzed in comparison with an age- and sex-matched control group (n = 180) extracted from the same population. Logistic regression analysis showed that APOE gene variability affects the probability of disease, with allele epsilon4 increasing (exp(beta1) = 2.68 with [1.51-4.76] 95% confidence interval; p = 0.001) and allele epsilon2 decreasing (exp(beta1) = 0.28 with [0.12-0.66] 95% confidence interval; p = 0.003) the risk of FTD. On the contrary, tau gene variability was ineffectual (exp(beta1) non significantly different from 1 for either H1 or H2 haplotypes), although a small effect was observed by the H1 haplotype in increasing the protective effect of the epsilon2 allele (p = 0.007).

[Peritoneal reactions caused by starch used regularly for lubricating surgical gloves. Review of the literature]. / Reazioni peritoneali provocate dall'amido correntemente impiegato per la lubrificazione dei guanti chirurgici. Revisione della letteratura.

The contamination of the operating field by a number of substances including the starch used to lubricate surgical gloves is one of the causes of foreign body granuloma formation. The role of starch is particularly clearly documented in the peritoneal cavity where it may provide the basis of a well defined nosological phenomenon, "starch peritonitis", but it has also been reported in most other anatomical districts. The most logical solution to this problem is to use starch-free surgical gloves prepared using another type of lubricant without the aforesaid drawbacks. This paper analyses international clinical and experimental literature focusing on the damaging effects resulting from the introduction of starch into the peritoneal cavity.

A comparison between the hemolytic and antibacterial activities of new quaternary ammonium polymers.

New quaternary ammonium polymers, which in a previous work had shown relevant antibacterial properties, have been investigated as regards to their hemolytic activity (HA) in comparison with a low molecular weight commercial antibacterial agent, Steramine G (SG). All polymers exhibit negligible, or at most modest, HA at dosages and contact times at which SG is strongly hemolytic.

Biomechanical factors in abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture.

Hitherto the size of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has been considered the most important factor in determining the risk of rupture. For this reason most interest has been devoted to physical, echographic and tomographic analyses of the shape of AAA. However, it is known that rupture can also occur in small AAA. Other factors must be considered to have an important role in the natural history of aneurysms. The aim of this study was to characterise the mechanical stress in the wall of an AAA due to pressure in the presence of atherosclerosis, intraluminal thrombus and anatomical restraints. The Finite Elements Method (FEM) was used to determine wall stress distribution. Due to the simplicity of the AAA structure an axisymmetric model has been built. The results of the structural analysis confirms that maximum stress increases with diameter. These effects may be reduced by the presence of intraluminal thrombus, which in the models reduces maximum stress by up to 30%; however this is not the case for dissecting thrombus. On the other hand atherosclerotic plaques cause stress concentration and a significant increase in maximum wall stress. The risk of rupture can increase by about 200%. Finally the investigation shows the FEM is a versatile tool for studying the mechanics of vascular structures. It enables the influence of various parameters on wall stress to be quantified in diagnostic settings, and so could be useful for predicting the rupture of AAA, although at present such predictions are limited by data leakage and by the approximations used in the model.

The association between abdominal aortic aneurysms and chronic leg ischaemia. Prevalence in 125 consecutive patients.

A study was carried out to see if in patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the lower limbs the percentage of abdominal aneurysms is higher than in the general population. One hundred twenty five consecutive patients were studied in two different hospitals and compared with a control group. In the two groups with peripheral vascular diseases the patients had a prevalence of aneurysms of 12%, while in the control group the prevalence was of 3%. All patients were operated on successfully except two of them who are now in follow up with regular ultrasound assessment, one with an aortic aneurysm of 3.2 cm and the other with an aortic diameter of 4 cm and moderate liver failure.

[Importance of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the bacterial colonization of abdominal drains in surgical patients]. / Rilevanza dello Staphylococcus epidermidis nella colonizzazione batterica dei drenaggi addominali in pazienti chirurgici.

Bacterial adherence to biomaterials as an element of clinical relevance is a well-known factor in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Drainages, intravascular catheters, surgical prostheses and other devices are susceptible to bacterial colonization with clinical consequences. In the last few years attention has been paid to coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (S. epidermidis), mainly to some strains able to produce a highly adhesive polysaccharide substance, called glycocalix or slime. This promotes adherence either interbacterial either between bacteria and biologic tissues or synthetic materials acting as a pathogenetic factor in sepsis being able to increase bacterial resistance to phagocytes and antibiotics. Bacterial contamination of 40 abdominal drainage tubes in patients operated in elective and in emergency surgery for various pathology has been evaluated. Sonication of the tip of the drainage was utilized in order to promote the detachment of adherent colonies and its effectiveness was compared to that of microcentrifugation. Culture of 25 drainages (62.5%) showed no bacterial contamination; 7 drainages (17.5%) have proved to be colonized by S. epidermidis, in 4 cases the isolated strains were also methicillin-resistant, 2 of which slime-producing. Out of the 7 drainages colonized by S. epidermidis, 4 were removed from patients operated in emergency: none of the isolated strains was slime-producing. Six drainages (15%) were colonized by Gram+ bacteria (S. fecalis, P-sensible cocci, rods), 1 (2.5%) by E. coli and 1 (2.5%) by P. aeruginosa, S. epidermidis appears to be the chief contaminant of abdominal drainages, especially in emergency surgery; slime production has always been observed in methicillin-resistant strains: this confirms the hypothesis that slime production is typical of specialized, virulent strains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Atherosclerotic aortic-bisiliac aneurysms in two monocorial twins.

Two cases of aorto-bisiliac aneurysms in monocorial twins in their sixties were observed. We report experimental and clinical data from the literature about genetic involvement in the formation of aneurysms, especially when associated with other risk factors. In addition to the genetic factors in the twins we studied, we also found other risk factors, such as hypertension and smoking, which took a long time to affect the patients before the aneurysms were detected.

[Heterotopia of the gastric fundus wall in bilobate gallbladder associated with dilatation of the main bile duct. Description of a case]. / Eterotopia di parete gastrica fundica in colecisti bilobata associata a dilatazione della via biliare principale. Descrizione di un caso.

On the basis of a recent case of fundic gastric heterotopia in the gallbladder, the principal, possible embryogenetic hypotheses of the malformation are described and discussed. The possibility that acid secretion of the gastric glands contained in the ectopic fundic mucosa determined part of the symptomatological and clinical picture accompanying signs of lithiasic cholecystopathy is also evaluated.

Syphilitic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta: report of two cases.

We have described two histologically confirmed syphilitic abdominal aortic aneurysms arising below the renal arteries. Serological tests were negative and the patients had in the past been treated with penicillin and bismuth. We consider that there may be a correlation between atherosclerosis and syphilis in the natural history of some abdominal aortic aneurysms and the hazard of indiscriminate use of antibiotics for the treatment of other inflammatory vessel disease may allow syphilis to develop insidiously.

Ultrasound evaluation of atherosclerosis. Methodological problems and technological developments.

The evaluation of atherosclerosis requires the definition of the object to be measured and of the questions the investigation is required to answer. In the first part of this paper some of the problems that arise when planning and defining evaluation of atherosclerosis are discussed. The second part is a review of the principal methods based on ultrasound technology. The working principles and clinical applications of each method are discussed. The rationale of each type of instrument with respect to others is highlighted.

Hemodynamic factors changing blood flow velocity waveform and profile in normal human brachial artery.

We have investigated the influence of changes of perfusion pressure and local peripheral resistance on blood flow velocity waveform and profile in normal human peripheral arteries. Blood flow velocity and profile were recorded from the distal end of the left brachial artery in ten normal subjects by means of an ultrasonic device. The records were obtained in basal conditions and after blood pressure in the brachial artery and local peripheral vascular resistance were changed, separately or together, by progressive inflation of two arm cuffs, one encircling the proximal half of the left arm and the other the middle part of the left forearm. Both blood flow velocity waveform and profile were shown to be markedly modified by changes in perfusion pressure and local peripheral vascular resistance. Reduction of perfusion pressure decreased both forward and reverse peak velocities, but had the largest effect upon reverse velocity. The upslope and the downslope of the forward velocity wave were left unchanged. Increase in local peripheral vascular resistance markedly augmented reverse peak velocity, whether perfusion pressure was normal or reduced. Increased resistance only slightly influenced peak forward velocity.

[Diagnostic algorithms. Analysis of the factors conditioning their definition. An illustrative case (bilio-pancreatic pathology)]. / Algoritmi diagnostici. Analisi dei fattori condizionanti la loro definizione. Caso esemplificativo (patologia bilio-pancreatica).

A case of biliopancreatic pathology studied with traditional (the old algorithm) and the latest (new algorithm) diagnostic techniques is examined. A comparative analysis reveals the second to be simpler, less expensive and less dangerous to the patient. The hope is expressed that doctors will become better informed of the diagnostic criteria to employ for the purpose of cost reduction.

In vivo recording of blood velocity profiles and studies in vitro of profile alterations induced by known stenoses.

Recordings of blood velocity profiles and their behavior in the time domain in some peripheral human vessels (carotid arteries and limb vessels) are reported. Measurements have been obtained with a pulsed ultrasonic instrument based on the analysis of the cross-correlation function of blood-diffused echoes. The alterations of blood velocity profiles and of the velocity in the time domain, induced by known stenosis, have been studied in vitro as a function of the distance between stenosis and measuring point, and the position of the sample volume along the diameter. These studies may be useful for a better comprehension of blood velocity measurements made with ultrasound equipment for clinical noninvasive diagnostic purposes.