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Background: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation is one of the most common strategies for the current management of cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter (AFL). The interindividual anatomic variability can influence the duration and outcome of ablation procedure.Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish complication rates in patients undergoing RF catheter ablation for CTI-dependent AFL, assess the role of CTI morphology in procedural success, and determine the anatomic variability of CTI ex vivo.Methods: RF catheter ablation for CTI-dependent AFL was performed in 337 consecutive patients. Angiographically determined CTI morphology was classified as either simple or complex due to pouchlike recesses. Macroscopic and histologic examination of the CTI was performed in 104 heart specimens from consecutive autopsies.Results: Complex CTI anatomy was present in 10.9% of AFL patients. RF application time to achieve bidirectional isthmus block was longer in patients showing pouchlike recesses than in those without (10.7 vs 8.3 min; P= .025). Acute procedure failure or major complications occurred in 3 cases, all with complex CTI anatomy. A pouchlike recess of the CTI was present in 9.6% of autopsy hearts. Histomorphometric analysis of the CTI atrial wall demonstrated that the central level was the thinnest in the 3 sectors and the paraseptal level was the thickest.Conclusion: Although RF catheter ablation is a safe and effective procedure for AFL treatment, CTI anatomic complexity can affect ablation parameters and outcome. Standard definition of CTI morphologic variants is recommended. Preprocedural assessment of CTI anatomy might lead to personalized ablation preventing potential difficulties and complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tullio Terni (1888–1946) was a pioneer of neuroanatomy at the University of Padua. He gave milestone contributions in the knowledge of cardiac innervation with the discovery of the "Terni column", a preganglionic autonomous nervous center. Due to "racial laws" introduced in Italy in 1938 by the Fascist government, he, being Jewish, was expelled from the University of Padua like many others from Italian universities. At the end of the 2nd World War, he was reinstated to his chair of Anatomy, however, having belonged to the Fascist party, he was dismissed from the Lincei Academy. It was a paradox that deteriorated his depression up to the suicide. • Tullio Terni (1888–1946) was a pioneer of neuroanatomy at the University of Padua. • Terni discovered the spinal source of sympathetic innervation in the cardiac system. • Terni gave milestone in cardiac innervation with the discovery of the "Terni column". • The neurons of Terni's column may play a role in several cardiac disease. • Terni anticipated the tanks of zebrafish for modern molecular genetic investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebellum is devoted to motor coordination and cognitive functions. Endoplasmic reticulum is the largest intracellular calcium store involved in all neuronal functions. Intralumenal calcium binding proteins play a pivotal role in calcium storage and contribute to both calcium release and uptake. Calsequestrin, a key calcium binding protein of sarco-endoplasmic reticulum in skeletal and cardiac muscles, was identified in chicken and fish cerebellum Purkinje cells, but its expression in mammals and human counterpart has not been studied in depth. Aim of the present paper was to investigate expression and localization of Calsequestrin in mammalian cerebellum. Calsequestrin was found to be expressed at low level in cerebellum, but specifically concentrated in Calbindin D28- and zebrin- immunopositive-Purkinje cells. Two additional fundamental calcium store markers, sarco-endoplasmic calcium pump isoform 2, SERCA2, and Inositol-trisphosphate receptor isoform 1, IP3R1, were found to be co-expressed in the region, with some localization peculiarities. In conclusion, a new marker was identified for Purkinje cells in adult mammals, including humans. Such a marker might help in staminal neuronal cells specification and in dissection of still unknown neurodegeneration and physio-pathological effects of dysregulated calcium homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The use of organotypic hippocampal slice culture (OHSC) has become a powerful tool for studying cell damage in different neuropathological states, since it reproduces the basic morphological and functional properties of hippocampal neuronal network. However, the conventional OHSCs are established from postnatal animals rather than adult. Here we reevaluated the features of cell death in adult OHSC in detail and found potential utility for the study of neuroprotection. Organotypic culture of hippocampal slices from adult mice under conventional conditions led to a time-dependent and reproducible cell death. Around 6days in vitro (DIV), slices lost 50% of the cells, based on LDH release assessment. The cell death was greater than 90% after DIV 15. The cell loss was linearly correlated (r =0.944, P <0.01) with the time in culture. The electrophysiological responses to the stimulus in the cultured adult slices were accordingly reduced. The cell degeneration during adult OHSC might be utilized as a tool for studying neuroprotective effects in drug development. To illustrate this potential use, adult OHSCs were challenged with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We found that the continuous supplementation of 300ng/ml BDNF promoted cell survival of adult OHSC. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses of neuronal markers, we also demonstrated the pro-survival effects of BDNF on neurons in the adult OHSC system. It is suggested that OHSCs from adult mice might provide an alternative model system for neuronal degeneration, suitable for studying physiological factors and pharmacological compounds contributing to neuronal survival. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Amongst cancers with poor prognosis those originating from breast commonly metastasise to the skeleton for the high affinity of breast cancer cells to bone. A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists were found to be potent anti-tumour agents even if their effect on bone-residing breast cancer has not yet been investigated. An animal model of surgery-induced metastasis was used to mimic the human condition in an attempt to develop a novel effective treatment strategy. Sprague–Dawley rats receiving intra-tibial injections of syngeneic MRMT-1 rat mammary gland carcinoma cells developed cancer-associated osteolytic lesions and structural damage that were monitored by microcomputed tomography imaging and histological analysis. To address the involvement of A3ARs in tumour-related signalling pathway, A3AR expression and functional role were analysed in MRMT-1 cells. The effect of chronic treatment with an A3AR agonist, 2-chloro-N 6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5′-N-methyl-uronamide (Cl-IB-MECA) in comparison with cisplatin, was evaluated on rat tumour growth and bone cancer pain. A3ARs were expressed in MRMT-1 cells and their activation reduced NF-kB, increased p53 expression and apoptosis, inhibited tumour cell proliferation and migration. In vivo Cl-IB-MECA administration, started on day 1 after tumour cell injection, produced a significant reduction in tumour growth and cancer pain. Cl-IB-MECA treatment, performed on days 5 and 10 after the tumour cell inoculation, revealed the capability of A3AR stimulation to partially reduce tumour progression. Our findings highlighted the effectiveness of A3AR stimulation in the inhibition of breast tumour-derived bone metastasis growth strongly suggesting that targeting A3ARs may have promising therapeutic value in the treatment of bone-residing breast cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]