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We describe the case of a 75-year-old woman presenting with spotted fever followed by acute renal failure and septic shock. The infection was caused by Rickettsia typhi, not reported in Calabria district (southern Italy) since World War II. The diagnosis of murine typhus was made 3 days after admission and was based solely on clinical criteria when her worsening condition required a prompt move to the intensive care unit. Therapy with tigecycline was then started immediately and the patient improved dramatically. The diagnosis of murine typhus was confirmed 10 days after admission by immunofluorescence assay. Our case is an example of how the diagnosis of murine typhus is challenging. However, in the case of a disease lacking specific symptoms, clinicians should never forget that, even in geographic areas considered free of flea-borne diseases, the components of the enzootic cycle are present and the diagnosis should never be underestimated., (Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) accomplishes the exchange of ATP from the mitochondrial matrix with cytoplasmic ADP. While investigating the biochemical mechanism of retinoic acid (RA) on the ANT via retinoylation, we have found and subsequently demonstrated a positive influence of Coenzyme A (CoA) on the transport of ATP across the membranes of rat liver mitochondria. CoA enhances ANT activity in a dose-dependent manner modifying the V(max) (673.3+/-20.7 nmol ATP/mgprotein/min versus 155.0+/-1.9 nmol ATP/mgprotein/min), the IC(50) for the specific inhibitor carboxyatractyloside (CATR) (0.142+/-0.012 microM versus 0.198+/-0.011 microM) but not the K(m) (22.50+/-0.52 microM versus 22.19+/-0.98 microM). Data suggest a likely enzymatic involvement in the interaction between ANT and CoA. The effect of CoA is observed in mitochondria from several different tissues.

Ligand activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma and retinoid X receptor (RXR) induces antitumor effects in cancer. We evaluated the ability of combined treatment with nanomolar levels of the PPARgamma ligand rosiglitazone (BRL) and the RXR ligand 9-cis-retinoic acid (9RA) to promote antiproliferative effects in breast cancer cells. BRL and 9RA in combination strongly inhibit of cell viability in MCF-7, MCF-7TR1, SKBR-3, and T-47D breast cancer cells, whereas MCF-10 normal breast epithelial cells are unaffected. In MCF-7 cells, combined treatment with BRL and 9RA up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of both the tumor suppressor p53 and its effector p21(WAF1/Cip1). Functional experiments indicate that the nuclear factor-kappaB site in the p53 promoter is required for the transcriptional response to BRL plus 9RA. We observed that the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in MCF-7 cells displays an ordinated sequence of events, including disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, strong caspase 9 activation, and, finally, DNA fragmentation. An expression vector for p53 antisense abrogated the biological effect of both ligands, which implicates involvement of p53 in PPARgamma/RXR-dependent activity in all of the human breast malignant cell lines tested. Taken together, our results suggest that multidrug regimens including a combination of PPARgamma and RXR ligands may provide a therapeutic advantage in breast cancer treatment.

UVA exposure induces DNA damage that could result in skin carcinogenesis. Antioxidants are usually employed as protective agents to avoid this problem: in particular, both beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol can protect the skin against UVA-induced damage. It is well known that the photochemical instability of these compounds has been a limiting factor for their applications to protect skin. In this study, stearyl ferulate-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SF-SLNs), as vehicles for beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, were formulated to improve the stability of these compounds. The SF-SLNs were characterized for entrapment efficiency, size and shape together with their cytotoxicity and capability to inhibit lipid peroxidation. After treatment with a pro-oxidant and/or exposition to sunlight the antioxidants entrapped in SF-SLNs were extremely stable. The results highlighted how SF-SLNs represent a suitable vehicle for beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol stabilizing and protecting them from degradation. A dermatological formulation in order to prevent skin damages is, therefore, suggested.