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Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a major problem in our society. The development of new treatment options for OA is limited, because the pathophysiological mechanisms are not clearly understood, especially on the molecular level. Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is a specific protein channels for water transport; it is expressed in articular chondrocytes, human synovitis, in chondrocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or OA and in chondrocyte-like cells of human intervertebral disc. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of AQP1, through immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry and Western blot, in experimentally induced OA knee menisci. AQP1 was studied in vivo in knee OA menisci from 36 rats that underwent medial or lateral meniscectomy, and in vitro on fibrochondrocytes derived from knee OA menisci rats. OA in rats was experimentally induced and tested by histomorphometric analysis. Histological results demonstrated structural alterations in OA menisci accompanied by a very strong AQP1 immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical staining. The Western blot analysis confirmed a strong expression of AQP1 in OA fibrochondrocytes cells. The results of the present research suggest that an activation of AQP1, induced by the OA process, may represent an endogenous mechanism, which can be used to control the tissue degeneration within OA articular joints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as vascular permeability factor (VPF), is a multifunctional cytokine. It is overexpressed in several conditions, which are characterized by vascular hyperpermeability and angiogenesis. In this investigation, we have evaluated the possibility that VEGF/VPF could be expressed in periapical lesions. We studied 17 periapical granulomas and 6 periapical cysts by immunohistochemistry. An immunopositive reaction for VEGF/VPF was observed in all 23 periapical lesions; however, the intensity of immunostaining by anti-VEGF antibody varied according to histopathological findings. In periapical granulomas without epithelium, almost all of the inflammatory cells were immunoreactive to anti-VEGF/VIP antibody. In periapical granulomas, which had rests of Malassez in them, some inflammatory cells were stained. On the other hand, epithelial cells always were stained by VEGF/VPF antibody, both in periapical lesions with epithelium and in radicular cysts. This study demonstrated that periapical lesions express VEGF/VPF, although with some differences in cell immunolabeling, which correlated to the lesions’ stages of development. Initially, VEGF/VPF would assure angiogenesis and vascular hyperpermeability, resulting in accumulation of inflammatory cells, later it could be involved in cyst fluid accumulation. We hypothesize, therefore, that VEGF/VPF expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periapical granulomas and enlargement of radicular cysts by several mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This brief review will focus on indicators of metabolic control alternative to glucose, ketone body and lactate measurements, specifically reviewed in other articles of this issue. The effects of insulin on protein metabolism are summarized and, the potential clinical relevance of monitoring energy expenditure in diabetic subjects is discussed. Many studies have shown that maintaining a regular physical activity regimen improves quality of life, reduces the risk of mortality from all causes, prevents type 2 diabetes mellitus in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, and enhances glucose control in subjects affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. Monitoring energy expenditure is a novel approach to implement the non-pharmacological treatment of subjects with diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the value of breast MRI and contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) to identify pathologic major response in patients with early-stage breast cancer undergoing pre-operative S-PBI. We conducted a phase II clinical trial enrolling women older than 50, with proven breast invasive non special type carcinoma, hormonal receptors positive/HER2 negative, any grade, tumor size < 3cm, unifocal, without nodal involvement, and candidates to conservative surgery. The Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) comprised the tumor. The Clinical Target Volume (CTV) was equal to GTV. The Planning Target Volume (PTV) was created by adding a 3 mm margin to CTV. The total dose was 30-36 Gy prescribed to the 95% of the PTV. Patients had a breast MRI or CEM 3 months after S-PBI and underwent surgery at 4 months. The radiological response was described as no evidence of disease (rNED) or partial response (rPR) if any residual tumor was detectable. Pathologic response was classified as complete (pCR, absence of residual tumor), near pCR (npCR, <10% invasive tumor left), partial (pPR, <50% tumor left), or stable disease (pSD, no response). Pathologic "major response" included patients with pCR and npCR. Radiology-pathology correlation was conducted and post- S-PBI positive (PPV) and negative predictive (NPV) value calculated. From January 2022 to January 2024, 52 women had S-PBI followed by conservative breast surgery. The analysis was conducting on 46 patients who underwent post-S-PBI breast MRI (n = 41) or CEM (n = 5). The rNED on imaging was reported in 29/46 (63%) cases, while major pathologic response was documented in 15/46 (33%) cases. Among the 29 patients with rNED, there were 14 cases with pCR+npCR, for a NPV of 48%. Among the 17 cases with rPR on imaging, there were 16 cases with residual tumor at pathology (pPR+pSD) for a PPV of 94%. Post S-PBI breast MRI and CEM have high PPV (94%) for detection of residual tumor, although limited NPV (48%) for the detection of major pathologic response. Our results do not support the use of negative pre-operative imaging to avoid breast surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) compounds is associated with increased risk of pulmonary disease. In the present study we have investigated temporal expression of ErbB’s receptors family in A549 cells after exposure to Cr (VI). Treatment with 10μM or 300μM of Na2CrO4 induced apoptotic cell death within 24h. Based on data obtained by ELISA cell death detection method and fluorescence microscopy, the concentration of 10μM was chosen to study the expression of ErbB receptors family. Such concentration reflects a condition of acute toxicity in which cells survived up to 24h. Real time quantitative PCR has been performed to analyze the expression profiles of ErbB family genes following chromium toxicity. The expression of EGFR and ErbB2 receptors was significantly reduced after 1h and 4h of treatment while ErbB2 receptor was significantly increased and EGFR receptor returned to basal value after 24h. Instead, ErbB3 receptor was overexpressed after 1h, returned to basal level after 4h and increased its level after 24h. Exposure to chromium did not change expression level of ErbB4 receptor in A549 cell line. The present data suggests that expression changes in ErbB receptors might have a role in the carcinogenic effects induced by this pneumotoxic agent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Angiosarcoma (AS) of the breast is a rare and highly aggressive vascular cancer. It presents as a primitive or radioinduced form. The case of a 46-year-old woman who underwent quadrantectomy of the breast plus axillary lymphonode dissection and radiotherapy postoperatively (QUART) for ductal infiltrant carcinoma is reported in the following. Ten years later, the patient underwent mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, for local recurrence that was diagnosed as an AS of the breast at final pathological examination. She did not receive any adjuvant treatment due to local post-operative complications related to breast reconstruction. We criticise our thrapeutic approach and we recommend more attention about local recurrence suggesting that tru-cut needle biopsy of local recurrence of the breast after QUART, should be the correct diagnostic approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]