Search results for "WES"

Review: Neuroradiological aspects of infantile spasms

1987

With the modern noninvasive brain imaging methods, cerebral lesions of different types and degrees can frequently be determined in infants with West syndrome. In CT examinations preceding the spasms and the ACTH therapy, "idiopathic" forms of infantile spasms were rare. The CT findings consistent with perinatal or postnatal encephalopathy were more frequent than those found with embryonic or fetal lesions alone. The fact that pathognomonic changes cannot be determined, may reflect the low specificity of CT diagnosis in infants with chronic CNS diseases. A slight and mostly transient enlargement of CSF spaces during ACTH therapy is a probable side-effect of the medication. In infants with pe…

Can headache impair intellectual abilities in children? An observational study

2012

Maria Esposito,1 Antonio Pascotto,1 Beatrice Gallai,3 Lucia Parisi,2 Michele Roccella,2 Rosa Marotta,4 Serena Marianna Lavano,4 Antonella Gritti,5 Giovanni Mazzotta,6 Marco Carotenuto11Center for Childhood Headache, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Naples, 2Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, Palermo, 3Unit of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Perugia, Perugia, 4Department of Psychiatry, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, 5Suor Orsola Benincasa University, Napoli, 6Unit of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Azienda Sanitaria Locale 4, Terni, ItalyBackgrou…

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome attributable to West Nile encephalitis: a case report

2014

Introduction Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome is a very rare neurological disorder associated with some viral infections and exceptionally with the West Nile virus. Case presentation A 57-year-old Caucasian woman presented with fever, dizziness, balance difficulties, vomiting, dancing eye, altered speech, tremor, generalized myoclonus and failure to rise or stand. Our objective is to describe a patient with West Nile infection, which was identified both in her serum and cerebrospinal fluid and was associated with encephalitis and opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome. Conclusions Opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome continued for 4 weeks after onset, when she died. There was no evidence for any…

Inhibiting proliferation in KB cancer cells by RNA interference-mediated knockdown of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression.

2011

The enzyme Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) catalyzes the methylation of nicotinamide and other pyridines, playing a pivotal role in the biotransformation and detoxification of many drugs and xenobiotic compounds. Several tumours have been associated with abnormal NNMT expression, however its role in tumour development remains largely unknown. In this study we investigated expression levels of Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase in a cancer cell line and we evaluated the effect of shRNA-mediated silencing of NNMT on cell proliferation. Cancer cells were examined for NNMT expression by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. A HPLC-based catalytic assay was performed to asses…

Treating cancer in older and oldest old patients.

2015

The so-called “silver tsunami” is a metaphor that the individuals 65 and older represent the most rapidly growing segment of the Western world population. Aging is an ongoing process that leads to the loss of functional reserve of multiple organ systems, increased susceptibility to stress, it is associated with increased prevalence of chronic disease, and functional dependence. Determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, this process is highly individualized and poorly reflected in chronologic age. The heterogeneity and the complexity of the older old population represent the main challenge to the treatment of cancer in those patients. We should discern "fit" elderly i…

2015

The pathogenesis of glaucoma, a common neurodegenerative disease, involves an immunologic component. Changes in the natural autoantibody profile of glaucoma patients were detected, showing not only up-regulated but also down-regulated immunoreactivities. In recent studies we were able to demonstrate that the antibody changes have a large influence on protein profiles of neuroretinal cells. Furthermore we could demonstrate neuroprotective potential of one of the down-regulated antibodies (γ-synuclein antibody). Anti-GFAP antibody is another antibody found down-regulated in glaucoma patients. Since GFAP expression is intensified in glaucomatous retina, the aim of this study was to detect the …

Growth hormone protects human lymphocytes from irradiation-induced cell death

2003

1. Undesired effects of cancer radiotherapy mainly affect the hematopoietic system. Growth hormone (GH) participates in both hematopoiesis and modulation of the immune response. We report both r-hGH cell death prevention and restoration of secretory capacities of irradiated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in vitro. 2. r-hGH induced cell survival and increased proliferation of irradiated cells. Western blot analysis indicated that these effects of GH were paralleled by increased expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. 3. r-hGH restored mitogen-stimulated release of IL-2 by PBL. Preincubation of irradiated lymphocytes with the growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonists B2036 an…

Regulatory evaluation of Glybera in Europe — two committees, one mission

2013

Representing the first gene therapy to be approved in the Western world, alipogene tiparvovec (Glybera; Uniqure) has recently been said to have had a “substantial impact from a regulatory perspective” (Nature Rev. Drug Discov. 11, 664; 2012) 1 . The therapy was granted marketing authorization in the European Union for the treatment of lipoprotein lipase deficiency, which results in a clinically heterogeneous condition with a risk of potentially life-threatening pancreatitis 2 , at the end of 2012. The decision followed a positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) 3

Down-regulation of microglial cyclo-oxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by lipocortin 1

1999

Activated microglial cells are believed to play an active role in most brain pathologies, during which they can contribute to host defence and repair but also to the establishment of tissue damage. These actions are largely mediated by microglial secretory products, among which are prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO). The anti-inflammatory protein, lipocortin 1 (LC1) was reported to have neuroprotective action and to be induced by glucocorticoids in several brain structures, with a preferential expression in microglia. In this paper we tested whether the neuroprotective effect of LC1 could be explained by an inhibitory effect on microglial activation. We have previously shown that ba…

What Is the Specific Significance of Dream Research for Philosophy of Mind?

2014

Three examples: Altered states as contrast classes, self-model phase transitions in lucidity, and the devastating epistemological consequences of cognitive corruption.