0000000001192534
AUTHOR
A Pitruzzella
Changes in immunohistochemical levels and subcellular localization after therapy and correlation and colocalization with CD68 suggest a pathogenetic role of Hsp60 in ulcerative colitis.
In an earlier work, the role of heat shock protein (Hsp60) in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) was suggested by its significant increase in the pathological mucosa parallel with an increase in inflammatory cells. More data in this direction are reported in this work. We analyzed by immunohistochemistry biopsies of colon tissue from 2 groups of patients with UC and treated with either 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) alone or in combination with a probiotic. We looked for inflammatory markers and Hsp60. Both the treatments were effective in reducing symptoms but the group treated with both 5-ASA and probiotics showed better clinical results. Amelioration of symptoms was associated wi…
Serotonin-Dopamine interaction in Nicotine Addiction: Focus on 5-HT2C Receptors
Central dopaminergic systems play a critical role in the regulation of normal and abnormal behaviors. Recent evidence suggests that a dysfunction of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmitter systems contribute to various pathological conditions. Substantial evidence indicates that the mesolimbic pathway, particularly the DA cells innervating accumbal areas, is implicated in the reward value of both natural and drug reinforcers, such as sexual behavior or psychostimulants, respectively. Nicotine, the major psychoactive agent present in tobacco, acts as a potent addictive drug both in humans and laboratory animals. The locomotor activation and the reinforcing effects of nicotine may…
A BRIEF DISSECTION'S GUIDE TO NORMAL MEDIASTINAL ANATOMY
The purpose of this article is to show the mediastinal dissection method used during the stage performed by a group of students from the Univrersity of palermo that, during the sumer of 2017, had the opportunity to spend a period of 4 weeks at the Department of Anatomy of The University of malta. The students were guided to practice dissection of some corpes to study various mediastinal organs. This experience permitted to the students to verify practically what they lernt in the books, and reperesented a unique opportunity for them to perform practice with cadavers, that is actually very difficult to do in italian universities.
Characterization of a novel three-dimensional outgrowth model of human bronchial mucosa
Recently it has been hypothesized that a reactivation of the epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit (EMTU) of the respiratory mucosa, caused by extensive epithelial damage, may be responsible for the pathogenesis of asthma. However, most research on this subject so far has been limited by the unavailability of in vitro models correctly mimicking the three-dimensional architecture of the properly differentiated human bronchial mucosa. For this reason, we have developed a novel 3D outgrowth model, obtained from bronchial biopsies and composed of both human bronchial epithelial cells (goblet and columnar cells) and fibroblasts with their basement membrane. Here we present the preliminary data obt…
A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE ANATOMICAL DISSECTION OF THE STOMACH
The purpose of this article is to write a short guide on the macroscopic anatomy of the stomach, describing its structures, its relationships within the abdominal cavity and the dissection methods used during the internship performed by a group of students from the University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, at the University of Malta, Msida, Malta, during the summer of 2018. Indeed,, they had the opportunity to spend a period of two weeks at the department of Anatomy in the Maltese University for studying and practining on some corpses, with the aim of improving their anatomical knowledge.