Medicina
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Background and objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent variety of all malignant endocrine tumors. It represents a heterogeneous malignancy with various clinical outcomes, emphasizing the need to identify powerful biomarkers with clinical relevance. ⋯ The survival rate was not significantly different among the main subtypes, but we were able to identify a biological adhesion signature with impact in patient prognostic. Conclusions: Taken together, the gene expression signature and particular adhesion signature, along with ITGA10 and MSLN in particular, could be used as a prognostic tool with important clinical relevance.
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Background and Objectives: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that can effectively influences male reproductive performance. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of Solanum lycopersicum essential oil (SL) on diabetes-induced testicular injuries. Materials and Methods: Adult male rats were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 8 in each group). 1: control; 2: diabetic; 3: diabetic + 30 mg/kg of SL essential oil; 4: diabetic + 90 mg/kg of SL essential oil; 5: diabetic + 270 mg/kg of SL essential oil extract. ⋯ The expression of Bcl-2 was downregulated in diabetic testis and resulted in enhanced apoptosis. Following 8 weeks of treatment with SL essential oil, there were noticeable improvements in the structural changes of testis and the restoration of antioxidant defense and testosterone levels in testicular tissue, especially at higher doses. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings reveal that the essential oil of Solanum lycopersicum has potent antioxidant properties and can attenuate the adverse effects of diabetes on male reproduction.
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Atrial Fibrillation (AF) may be diagnosed due to symptoms, or it may be found as an incidental electrocardiogram (ECG) finding, or by implanted devices recordings in asymptomatic patients. While anticoagulation, according to individual risk profile, has proven definitely beneficial in terms of prognosis, rhythm control strategies only demonstrated consistent benefits in terms of quality of life. In fact, evidence collected by observational data showed significant benefits in terms of mortality, stroke incidence, and prevention of cognitive impairment for patients referred to AF catheter ablation compared to those medically treated, however randomized trials failed to confirm such results. The aims of this review are to summarize current evidence regarding the treatment specifically of subclinical and asymptomatic AF, to discuss potential benefits of rhythm control therapy, and to highlight unclear areas.
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Component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) in food allergies is an approach utilized to characterize the molecular components of each allergen involved in a specific IgE (sIgE)-mediated response. In the clinical practice, CRD can improve diagnostic accuracy and assist the physician in many aspects of the allergy work-up. ⋯ Moreover, up until now, none of the identified sIgE cutoff have shown a specificity and sensitivity profile as accurate as the OFC, which is the gold standard in diagnosing food allergies. In light of this, the aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant concepts in the field of CRD in food allergy and to provide a practical approach useful in clinical practice.
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Background and Objectives: Intercellular signaling networks with high complexity cause a spectrum of mechanisms achieving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that still question many uncertainties. Materials and Methods: Immunoreactive cells in bronchial tissue obtained from 40 COPD patients and 49 healthy control subjects were detected by biotin-streptavidin immunohistochemistry method for the following markers of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, MMP-2, TIMP-2, TGF-β1, Hsp-70, hBD-2, hBD-3, hBD-4. Results: Overall the highest numbers (from mostly moderate (++) to abundance (++++)) of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, MMP-2, TIMP-2, TGF-β1 immunoreactive cells were marked increasingly in the blood vessel wall, connective tissue, and bronchial epithelium of COPD-affected lung, respectively. ⋯ Conclusions: COPD-affected lung tissue exhibits mostly inflammatory response patterns of increased IL-1α, IL-4, IL-8, IL-12, and TNF-α, especially in the airway epithelium. Increased MMP-2 and TGF-β1, but decreased Hsp-70, proposes pronounced tissue damage and remodeling in COPD. High numbers of hBD-2 and hBD-3 immunoreactive cells may highlight antimicrobial activity in COPD within stable regulation of local immunity.