27 research outputs found
EFFICACY OF ARGENTUM-QUARTZ SOLUTION IN THE TREATMENT OF PERIANAL FISTULAS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY
No full textObjective: Nowadays, an optional and effective medical surgery remains the gold standard for perianal fistulas. Hereby we reported preliminary rsults in favor of using Argentum-Quartz solution for both primary and recurrent perianal fisrtulas. Methods: Three patients with intersphimncter and extrasphinteric fistulas were enrolled. Argentum-Quartz solution was administrated twice a week for sa period of 4 weeks, followed by a pause of 8 days and then another 4 weeks of treatment, totally 16 administrations. After treatment, all patients were monitored for 4-months follow-up. Results: Complete closures of 2 extrasphinteric fistulas and a partial closure with absence of inflammation and superative phenomena in the intraspinteric fistula were both manifested. Conclusions: Selective treatment of perianal fistulas with argentum-quartz solution is safe and effective. and may represent a reliable alternative
Incidence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative therapy
No full textSummaryHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a never-ending public health problem. Many studies have investigated the incidence of HCV infection among dialysis patients, but there have only been a few epidemiological studies in renal conservative therapy. We studied 320 subjects with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease living in Sicily, Italy. The incidence of HCV infection was 6.25%. In Europe, incidence ranges from 0.2% to 3.5%. It appears that the incidence of HCV infection is higher in the studied patient population than in the population as a whole
Modulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Churg-Strauss syndrome respiratory mucosa: potential monitoring parameters
No full textChurg-Strauss (CSS) syndrome is rare and of unknown etiology. It is associated with vasculitis, blood eosinophilia and granulomatosis, and affects multiple organs and systems at various stages of the disease. Specific diagnostic and monitoring tests are not yet available. This study aims to assess the changes in MMP-2 and MMP-9 along with the histopathological alterations in two cases of CSS, as possible potential diagnostic and monitoring criteria. Two adult male patients were diagnosed with CSS in the otorhinolaryngology clinic in the University of Palermo, based on multiple clinical and histopathologic criteria. Biopsies of respiratory mucosa were taken after the consent of the patients, processed for routine histopathology and immunohistochemistry as well as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Similar biopsies were also taken from a non- CSS patient. The Assessment of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was performed using both immunohistochemistry and qPCR techniques. Histopathological alterations in the respiratory mucosa were consistent with vasculitis and granulomatous tissue formation, in addition to inflammatory cell infiltration with abundance of eosinophils. Immunohistochemistry assay performed on the samples derived from the two CSS patients showed a relative and remarkable increase of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 compared to controls. Such an increase was consistent with the qPCR results which depicted a significant increase between 20 and 30% for both MMP-2 and MMP-9, respectively. Since the secretion of MMPs is an essential step in angiogenesis, could these enzymatic factors be used as parameters to diagnose or monitor the evolution of CSS? The small number of samples analyzed in this study does not allow us to suggest a general statement correlating the increase in expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 to the appearance or evolution of vasculitis; it is only speculative
“Flânerie”, Corporeality and Film in Music-Hall: Georges Méliès in the World of Modernist City Pleasures
No full textArtykuł stanowi propozycję namysłu nad „rozbitą przestrzenią” music-hallu, rozpatrywaną jako przykład nowej przestrzeni miejskiej, w której na początku XX w. kino jest przedmiotem regularnej konsumpcji w warunkach podobnych do tych, w jakich zachodzi praktyka flânerie. Starając się przywrócić kino architekturze „przechodniej”, jaką kreuje music-hall, autor bada ideę mobilności widzów, wychodząc od tych sposobów zajmowania przestrzeni i korzystania z niej, które podkreślają rolę widzenia i patrzenia (la vision), przechadzania się bez celu i konsumpcji. Okazuje się, że analizowane pod tym kątem filmy Georges’a Mélièsa, jak i te z udziałem Harry’ego Houdiniego, zajmują centralne miejsce w układzie atrakcji zmierzających do ponownego rozbudzenia w widzach strachu przed wypadkiem, a w szczególności przed „kolizją” między tym, co żywe, a tym, co mechaniczne, w przestrzeni, która – jak się wydaje – chroni publiczność przed zagrożeniami bulwarów.The article deals with the notion of “broken space” in music-hall, analysed as an example of new urban space, in which, in the beginning of the 20th century, cinema is an object of regular consumption under conditions similar to these in which the practice of flänerie takes place. Trying to restore cinema to the “transient” architecture that music-hall creates, the author explores the idea of audience mobility, starting from the ways in which space is occupied and used, which emphasize the role of seeing and looking (la vision), and aimless wandering without consumption. It turns out that the films by George Melies and those with the participation of Harry Houdini analysed from this angle, take central place in the constellation of attractions aiming at re-awakening the fear of an accident among the spectators, especially between that which is alive and the mechanical, in space, which it would appear, protects the public from the dangers of the boulevards
Metabolomic analysis of plasma from Alzheimer disease patients
No full textAlzheimer Disease is a degenerative disease characterized by
progressive impairment of cognitive function. The main feature
of AD the generation of an abnormal peptide, beta amyloid 42
(Ab42) from Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP). Ab42 is the main
constituent of neurotangles and amyloid plaques, microscopic lesions
found in AD patients brain. Ab42 triggers an inflammatory
response that is responsible for most of the observed tissue damage.
The diagnosis of AD is a complex task, mostly based on imaging
techniques and clinical evaluation of the patient’s neurological
and cognitive functions. The search for plasma biomarkers able to
detect early mild cognitive impairment is one of the recent attempt
the supply the clinician with new diagnostic tools.
In this study we focused on a gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry
(GC-MS) analysis coupled to chemometric automated
metabolomic analysis of AD plasma samples compared with plasma
of healthy subjects of comparable age and gender. Sera from
twenty AD and twenty controls have been subjects to a procedure
optimized to extract short chain organic acids, sugars and some
fatty acids that can be detected by GC coupled to ion trap/MS detection.
The method allowed the detection of over five thousands
of individual ions that have been collected and measured by the
XCMS software. After automated peak detection and alignment by
XCMS, peaks have been normalized by a set of internal standards
(C13 Leucine, C13 palmitic acid) and clustered into putative compounds
by a homemade software. About 80 compounds were differentially
expressed between AD and controls. After manual verification
of the automated data, most of the compounds have been
excluded since they represent column leakage or method artifacts,
but some compounds represent true plasma constituents that are
under investigation. Current findings will be presented after putative
compound identification by the AMDIS/NIST software
DYSMICROBISM, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE AND THYROIDITIS: ANALYSIS OF THE LITERATURE
No full textThe human body is colonized by a large number of microbes that are collectively referred to as the microbiota. They interact with the hosing organism and some do contribute to the physiological maintenance of the general good health thru regulation of some metabolic processes while some others are essential for the synthesis of vitamins and short-chain fatty acids. The abnormal variation, in the quality and/or quantity of individual bacterial species residing in the gastrointestinal tract, is called dysmicrobism. The immune system of the host will respond to these changes at the intestinal mucosa level which could lead to Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). This inflammatory immune response could subsequently extend to other organs and systems outside the digestive tract such as the thyroid, culminating in thyroiditis. the goal of the present study is to review and analyze data reported in the literature about thyroiditis associated with IBD such as Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohns Disease (CD). It was reported that similarities of some molecular bacterial components with molecular components of the host considered among the factors causing IBD through an autoimmune reaction which could involve other non-immune cell types. The axis dysmicrobism-IBD-autoimmune reaction will be investigated as a possible etiopathogenic mechanism to Autoimmune Thyroiditis. if such is the case, then the employment of specific probiotic strains may represent a useful approach to moderate the immune system
DISMICROBISM IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISESE AND COLORECTAL CANCER: CHANGES IN RESPONSE OF COLOCYTES
No full textPatients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of 10%-15% developing colorectal cancer (CRC) that is a common disease of high economic costs in developed countries. the CRC has been increasing in recent years and its mortality rates are very high. Multiple biological and biochemical factors are responsible for the onset nad progression of this pathology. moreover, it appears absolutely necessary to investigate the environmental factors favoring the onset of CRC and the production of colonic healt. the gut microflora, or microbiota, has an extensive diversity both quantitatively and qualitatively. in utero, the intestine of the mammalian fetus is sterile. Al birth, the intestinal microbiota in acquired by ingestion maternal anal or vaginal organisms, ultimately developing into a stable community, with marked variations in microbial composition between individuals. the development of IBD is often associated with qualitative and quantitative disorders of the intestinal microbial flora (dysbiosis). the healthy human gut arbours about 10 different bacterial species distributed in colony forming units which colonize the gastrointestinal tract. The intestinal microbiota plays a fundamental role in helath and the progeression of diseases such as IBD and CRC. in Healthy subjects, the main control of intestinal bacterial colonization occurs through gastric acidity but other factors such as endoluminal temperature, competition between different bacterial strains, peristalsis and drugs can influence the intestinal microenvironment. the microbiota exerts diverse physiological functions to include; growth inhibition of pathogenic microrganisms, synthesis of compounds useful for the trophysm of colonic mucosa, regulation of the intestinal lymphoid tissue and synthesis of amino acids. furthermopre, mucus seems to play an important role in protecting the intestinal mucosa and maintaining its integrity. changes in the microbiota composition are mainly influenced by diet and age, as well as genetic factors. Increasing evidence indicates that dysbiosis favors the production of genotoxins and metabolities associated with carcinogeneasis and induces dysregulation of the immune response wich promotes and sustains inflammation in IBD leading to carcinogenesis. a disequilibrium in gut microflora composition leads to the specific activation of gut associated lymphoid tissue. the associated chronic inflammatory process associated increases the risk of developing CRC. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diasease are the two major IBDs characterized by an early onset and extraintestinal manifestations, such as rheumatoid arthtritis. the pathogenesis of both diseases is complex and not yet fully known. however, it is widely accepted that an inappropriate immune response to microbial flora can play a pivotal role in IBD pathogenesis
Comment to case report encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS): Presentation without preceding symptoms
No full textFlânerie, cielesność i film w music-hallu : Georges Méliès w świecie modernistycznych przyjemności miejskich
No full textThe article deals with the notion of “broken space” in music-hall, analysed as an example of new urban space, in which, in the beginning of the 20th century, cinema is an object of regular consumption under conditions similar to these in which the practice of flânerie takes place. Trying to restore cinema to the “transient” architecture that music-hall creates, the author explores the idea of audience mobility, starting from the ways in which space is occupied and used, which emphasize the role of seeing and looking (la vision), and aimless wandering without consumption. It turns out that the films by George Méliès and those with the participation of Harry Houdini analysed from this angle, take central place in the constellation of attractions aiming at re-awakening the fear of an accident among the spectators, especially between that which is alive and the mechanical, in space, which it would appear, protects the public from the dangers of the boulevards
