Methylglyoxal affects cognitive behaviour and modulates RAGE and Presenilin-1 expression in hippocampus of aged mice.

Methylglyoxal (MG), a potent glycotoxin that can be found in the diet, is one of the main precursors of Advanced glycation end products (AGEs). It is well known that modifications in lifestyle such as nutritional interventions can be of great value for preventing brain deterioration. This study aimed to evaluate in vivo how an oral MG treatment, that mimics a high MG dietary intake, could affect brain health. From our results, we demonstrated that MG administration affected working memory, and induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress by modulating the Receptor for Advanced glycation end products (RAGE). The gene and protein expressions of RAGE were increased in the hippocampus of MG mice, an area where the activity of glyoxalase 1, one of the main enzymes involved in MG detoxification, was found reduced. Furthermore, at hippocampus level, MG mice showed increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and increased activities of NADPH oxidase and catalase. MG administration also increased the gene and protein expressions of Presenilin-1, a subunit of the gamma-secretase protein complex linked to Alzheimer's disease. These findings suggest that high MG oral intake induces alteration directly in the brain and might establish an environment predisposing to AD-like pathological conditions.

Plant behaviour: an evolutionary response to the environment?

Plants are not just passive living beings that exist in nature. They are complex and highly adaptable species that react sensitively to environmental forces/stimuli with movement, morphological changes and through the communication via volatile molecules. In a way, plants mimic some traits of animal and human behaviour; they compete for limited resources by gaining more area for more sunlight and spread their roots underground. Furthermore, in order to survive and thrive, they evolve and 'learn' to control various environmental stress factors in order to increase the yield of flowering, fertilization and germination processes. The concept of associating complex behaviour, such as intelligence, with plants is still a highly debatable topic among researchers worldwide. Recent studies have shown that plants are able to discriminate between positive and negative experiences and 'learn' from them. Some botanists have interpreted these behavioural data as a form of primitive cognitive processes. Others have evaluated these responses as biological automatisms of plants determined by adaptation to the environment and absence of intelligence. This review aims to explore adaptive behavioural aspects of various plant species distributed in different ecosystems by emphasizing their biological complexity and survival instincts.

Metabolic side effects induced by olanzapine treatment are neutralized by CB1 receptor antagonist compounds co-administration in female rats.

Weight gain is an important side effect of most atypical antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine. Moreover, although many animal models with metabolic side effects have been well defined, the interaction with other pathways has to be considered. The endocannabinoid system and the CB1 receptor (CB1R) are among the most promising central and peripheral targets involved in weight and energy balance. In this study we developed a rat model based 15-days treatment with olanzapine that shows weight gain and an alteration of the blood parameters involved in the regulation of energy balance and glucose metabolism. Consequently, we analysed whether, and by which mechanism, a co-treatment with the novel CB1R neutral antagonist NESS06SM, could attenuate the adverse metabolic effects of olanzapine compared to the reference CB1R inverse agonist rimonabant. Our results showed alterations of the cannabinoid markers in the nucleus accumbens and of orexigenic/anorexigenic markers in the hypothalamus of female rats treated with olanzapine. These molecular modifications could explain the excessive food intake and the resulting weight gain. Moreover, we confirmed that a co-treatment with CB1R antagonist/inverse agonist compounds decreased food intake and weight increment and restored all blood parameters, without altering the positive effects of olanzapine on behaviour. Furthermore, rimonabant and NESS06SM restored the metabolic enzymes in the liver and fat tissue altered by olanzapine. Therefore, CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist compounds could be good candidate agents for the treatment of weight gain induced by olanzapine.

[Complete response to IFN in a case of typical HBV cirrhosis]. / Risposta completa all'IFN in un caso di cirrosi da HBV "tipico".

A rare case of "wild-type" HBV cirrhosis (CHIL A/HBeAG+/HBV-DNA+) with complete response to IFN treatment after 3 successive series based on different types of IFN is reported. In this patient, HBeAg and HBV-DNA negativization after the second treatment with r-alpha-2b-IFN was observed and after the third treatment with lymphoblastoid-IFN HBcAb,-IgM negativization simultaneously with ALT persistent normalization. Over one year after the interruption of the last treatment, HBV clearance with HBsAg elimination and HBsAb, seroconversion was observed. The effectiveness of IFN was histologically confirmed with decrease of the piecemeal necrosis in the liver and presence of light fibrosis whereas the results of 3 previous histological evaluations showed: 1) CPH (1985); 2) CAH lightly active with initial signs of cirrhotic evolution (1988); 3) CAH with presence of nodular cirrhosis in the liver (1991). In particularly selected cases the possibility of a favourable response to the series of IFN treatment is stresses even in more advanced chronic "wild" HBV forms in which there is not evidence of mutants in the viral population.

[Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis: 8 more cases in Italy]. / Dirofilariasi umana sottocutanea: 8 ulteriori casi in Italia.

Eight new cases of Human Subcutaneous Dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria repens in subjects aged 14 to 83 years, 5 men and 3 women, are recorded. The patients were living in Piedmont (5 cases), Tuscany (1), Friuli-Venetia Julia (1) and Apulia (1). The nematodes were immature in 6 cases (2 males and 4 females) and adults in 2 (both females). Microfilariae in the uterus of one of them were detected.

Endemic goiter and thyroid function in central-southern Sardinia. Report on an extensive epidemiological survey.

UNLABELLED: Although the existence of endemic goiter and cretinism in Sardinia is known since to ancient time, scanty information collected according to WHO criteria is available. In the present paper the results of an extensive epidemiological survey carried out in juvenile population living in some rural and/or hilly villages in the provinces of Nuoro and Oristano in Central-Southern Sardinia and in urban area of Cagliari, are reported. In the majority of the villages the mean urinary iodine excretion was lower than 60 micrograms/L; the goiter prevalence ranged between 39% and 61% in the district of Nuoro and between 21% and 56% in the district of Oristano. In the control area the urinary iodine excretion was 105 micrograms/L with a goiter prevalence of 12%. Goiter prevalence was not always inversely related to urinary iodine excretion. No relevant thyroid function alterations were found. IN CONCLUSION: 1) in extraurban areas of Central-Southern Sardinia mild to moderate iodine deficiency and endemic goiter are still a widespread problems; 2) also in urban area endemic goiter prevalence is still higher than 10%; 3) extemporary urinary samples are inadequate for assessing the severity of goiter endemia in mild to moderate iodine deficiency; 4) in mildly affected districts palpation is inaccurate for assessing the prevalence of goiter; 5) no relevant alterations of thyroid function were documented in juvenile population.

[Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis: 8 new cases in northern Italy]. / Dirofilariasi sottocutanea umana: 8 nuovi casi in Italia Settentrionale.

Eight new cases of Human Dirofilariasis in people living in Northern Italy were recorded: 3 from the province of Asti and 2 from Alessandria (Piedmont), 1 from Corsico (Miland, Lombardy) and 2 from Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna). All the patients were adults, 42 to 66 years old, 4 men and 4 women. The localization of the nematode in all the cases was subcutaneous. Signs and symptoms were always mild and consisted in the growth of a 1 to 2 cm large nodule associated with occasional localized itching and oedema, sometimes with reddening. In one case, the sting of a non-specified winged insect was recorded in the anamnesis, in the same spot where the nodule developed. In another case, the nematode came out spontaneously from the lesion. The aetiological agent was always identified as Dirofilaria repens. These 8 new cases confirm the comparatively frequent presence of Human Dirofilariasis in regions of Northern Italy, namely in the Po Valley.

[A case of herpetic meningoencephalitis. Serological and imaging diagnosis]. / Su di un caso di meningoencefalite herpetica. Diagnostica sierologica e per immagini.

The paper reports a case of HSVE observed in a 46-year-old patient with a negative anamnesis for previous HSV infection and with no objective signs of herpetic muco-cutaneous infection at time of hospitalisation. Due to the impossibility of carrying out bioptic and cultural tests, the diagnosis was based on the increased levels of specific anti-HSV1 antibodies in the liquor; these findings were compared to those found in serum, taking into account the increased antibody titres and in particular the ratio between the level of liquor and serum albumin and that of specific antibodies in both liquor and serum. The diagnostic importance of cerebral CT was confirmed by the early revelation of morphostructural alterations during the acute phase. RMN also allowed a more detailed imaging diagnosis to be made. From a therapeutic point of view, the paper confirms the value of acyclovir treatment.

[Hydatidosis of the psoas muscle. Description of a case and review of the literature]. / Hidatidosis del músculo psoas. Descripción de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

A rare case of echinococcus cyst of the psoas muscle is described in a 64-year-old male patient. Following evaluation with echotomography, CT and MRI, he was treated with Albendazole for five months. After there the cyst was evacuated by ultrasound-guided aspiration and he received another course of chemotherapy. Recent evaluation revealed the patient is well and cyst-free.