Diagnostic evaluation of serial sections of labial salivary gland biopsies in Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disease. The detection of chronic inflammatory infiltrates containing >50 lymphocytes (lymphocytic focus) per 4 mm2 tissue in minor salivary gland biopsies is a diagnostic parameter of the disease. The aim of the study was to examine if an increase in the tissue area of a single minor labial salivary gland biopsy through serial histological sections in patients affected by primary Sjögren's syndrome could facilitate the detection of the diagnostic focus score (grades >1 or >2). METHODS: We observed 24 labial salivary gland biopsies from patients affected by primary Sjögren's syndrome, diagnosed according to the clinical-laboratory cri…

Probiotic mixture supplementation in the preventive management of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced inflammation in a murine model

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by inflammatory conditions of the intestine. Probiotic bacteria (PB) can have beneficial effects in several gastrointestinal disorders. The objectives of this study were: (i) to provide an acute experimental IBD model induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in CD-1 mice, and (ii) to assess the preventive effects of Citogenex (Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterum lactis) supplementation on intestinal tissues and microbiota. Mice were inoculated intrarectally with saline, ethanol or different TNBS solutions. 1%TNBS induced clinical signs of colitis (P less than 0.01) and histological damage (P less than 0.01). Based on these r…

Experiences that “reach the heart”. Taking part in a whole body dissection course at the University of Malta

This article summarizes the activities of the four-week whole body dissection course the main authors participated in in August 2016 at the dissection hall of the University of Malta (UoM). Our team comprised 10 second-year medicine students from University of Palermo chosen among who had passed the Human Anatomy exam brilliantly. The need to move to the UoM to take part in such activity derives from the lack of practice approach in Italian schools of medicine, focused mostly on the theoretical studies, neglecting practical experience. The heart dissection reveal itself as a huge opportunity to finally apply our anatomical knowledge, improving it and enabling us to compare images took from …

Human temporomandibular joint morphogenesis

Temporomandibular joint morphogenesis was studied. Ranging in age of fetuses examine was from 6 to 14 weeks’ gestation. Our results showed the condyle so first element that appear between 6° and 8° week (condylar blastema). After a week appear temporal elements. Disk appear at the same time of glenoid blastema and its reaches an advanced differentiation before of the condyle and temporal element, so these don’t effect mechanical compression on mesenchimal where we find the disk. So we think that the disk result of genetic expression and it isn’t the result of mechanical compression. The inferior joint cavity appear to 12 week. The superior joint appear to 13-14 week. In conclusion, the appe…

IBD, malignancy and oral microbiota: Analysis of the literature

The human microbiota, in adults, varies in number and species based on the location in the gastrointestinal tract. The highest concentration is at the intestinal level, where mainly Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and proteobacteria are found. Instead, in the oral cavity, five major phyla exists. Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria. Variations in the microbiota cause bysbiosis, which is responsible to a great extent for the onset of many diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). In some cases (8-10%) IBD has shown oral manifestations that may reflect a change in the composition of the oral microbiota. Th…

Topical capsaicin application and axon reflex vasodilatation of the tongue: Neurogenic involvement in burning mouth syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of topical capsaicin application on human lingual mucosa and to assess if neurogenic inflammation might have a role in the pathogenesis of lingual diseases. Thirty patients (16 males and 14 females; mean age: 41.46 +/- 11.8 years; range: 23-60) were examined in our laboratory. The neurogenic inflammation was experimentally induced in the lingual mucosa close to 1) the left margin of the tongue and 2) the right margin of the tongue after ipsilateral nerve trunk anesthesia. The characteristics of lingual microcirculation were observed using computerized videocapillaroscopic techniques. The vasodilatation was observed close to the left margin o…

Vasodilatation of human gingiva and neurogenic inflammation

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic Inflammation (NI) is the consequence of amyelinic-sensitive neuron activation. Recent studies on rats proved that NI could be experimentally induced by topical capsaicin application. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of topical capsaicin application on human periodontal mucosa and to assess if NI might have a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. METHODS: 15 patients were examined in our laboratory. NI was experimentally induced in the gingival mucosa close to: (1) the interdental papilla corresponding to the upper central incisors; (2) the interdental papilla corresponding to the lower left lateral incisor and canine after ipsilateral nerve…

NO and Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI): Immunohistochemical Evaluation of iNOS and eNOS Isofroms in the Venous Ulcers. Clinical and Therapeutical Possible Implications

Capillaroscopic and histologic examination of the human labial mucosa: A new non invasive methodology compared with the histological exam

The aim of our study is to compare the capillaroscopic examination in vivo with the histological examination in vitro of labial microcirculation in healthy subjects. Methods. Twenty-nine subjects (19 females, 10 males; mean±SD age 55.61±2.55; range 45-65 years) were examined in our laboratory. The characteristics of labial microcirculation were examined using computerised videomicroscopic techniques and histological exam. Results. The results obtained with both methods showed some analogies: in fact, the differences in capillary diameter were in the range of ±0.3 µ; regarding capillary density as well, a variation of ±2 capillaries per mm2 was found. Comparing the results obtained with both…

ORAL LEOKOPLAKIA:TOPICAL ISOTRETIONIN TREATMENT

Colorectal cancer: An update on the effects of lycopene on tumor progression and cell proliferation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Various factors, including oxidative stress, where excessive productions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) occur, contribute to its pathogenesis. Numerous studies have investigated the effect of antioxidant substances derived from food such as fruits and vegetables; however, data on Lycopene are still rare. Studies on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells and on animal models have shown that lycopene has effects on cell proliferation and on the progression of the CRC by interacting with various cellular signaling pathways. This analysis of the literature focused on the antioxidant effect of lycop…

HSP-MOLECULAR CHAPERONES IN CANCER BIOGENESIS AND TUMOR THERAPY: AN OVERVIEW

Molecular chaperones, many of which are heat-shock proteins (HSPs), are an important class of molecules with various functions. Pathological conditions in which chaperones become etiological and/or pathogenic factors are called chaperonopathies, and are classified into by defect, by excess, and by "mistake". In the latter case, the chaperone is structurally and functionally normal but paqrtecipates in pathwais that favor diseases, aòlthough in some cases the chaperone may have post-translational modifications that may lead it to change its location and function and, thus, to become pathogenic. For example, HSP-chaperones are involved in acrcinogenesis in various ways, so that some forms of …

Oral necrotizing microvasculitis in a patient affected by Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) was first described in 1967 by Kawasaki, who defined it as ?mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome?. KD is an acute systemic vasculitis, which mainly involves medium calibre arteries; its origin is unknown, and it is observed in children under the age of 5, especially in their third year. The principal presentations of KD include fever, bilateral nonexudative conjunctivitis, erythema of the lips and oral mucosa, changes in the extremities, rash, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Within KD, oral mucositis ? represented by diffuse mucous membrane erythema, lip and tongue reddening and lingual papillae hypertrophy with subsequent development of strawberry tongue ? can occur both i…

Helicobacter pylori and Barrett’s esophagus: a protective factor or a real cause?

Nothwithstanding the definite aethiopathogenetic path of certain diseases, the relationship between Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) and barrett's esophagus (BE), a condition that increases the risk for dysplasia and consequently adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction, remains uncertain. this paper reviews the current scientific literature with emphasis on the protective correlation between H. Pylori infection and BE, and demonstrates that a causal relathionship has not been disproved with certainty. Furthermore, H. Pylori infection could pose a risk for the onset of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which could in turn trigger BE, a precancerous lesion and…

Pouchitis: A tridimensional view

The preferred surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is represented by proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). However, patients with UYC who have undergone IPAA are prone to develop several complications, which include surgery related/mecchanical complications; inflammatory or infectious disoreders; dysplasia or neoplasia; and systemic or metabolic disorders. Pouchitis, which is defined as the acute and/or chronic inflammation of the ileal reservoir, represent the most common long-term adverese sequela after IPAA. Gut microbiota play a pivotal role in the initiation and disease progression of pouchitis. Pouchitis can be clas…

ANF IN THE PAROTID GLAND IN RABBIT.

It is well known that the presence of a particular type of granule population has been discovered in the atrial cardiocytes which represent the major site of synthesis of atrial natriuretic factor. The ANF has potent natriuretic, diuretic and vasoactive functions. However, ANF evidence occurs in extracardiac tissues such as the brain, intestine, lymphoid organs and in various glands involved in water and salt regulation adrenals, pancreas, lacrimal and salivar glands with respect to salivary glands the literature reportes that ANF presence was found in the acinar cells and on the contrary in the ductal cells. In order to eliminatethese discordances researchers conducted a previous study on …

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in pregnancy: analysis of the possible effects of the disease on the fetus and the newborn and therapeutic approaches

The Inflammatory Bowel Diseases(IBD), are a group of inflammatory diseases characterized by the presence of chronic inflammation, i the absenc of infectious ethiology. The two most well-known diseases in this group are: Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). In cases where iti is not possible to distinguish between CD and UC, it is called Indeterminated Colitis. IBD can affect women pregnant. The causes of IBD are unknown, and the clinical course of the sdisease is characterized by phases of activity and remission. UC is a chronic inflammation of the mucosa of the colon and involving predominantly the left colon and rectum. It is associatred with presence of blood and mucus in th…