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This article discusses the use of line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) in diagnosing graphite tattoos. Graphite tattoos are exogenous lesions that occur when graphite from a pencil penetrates the skin or mucosa. The diagnosis of graphite tattoos is typically based on patient history and clinical examination, but LC-OCT can provide additional information by showing hyper-reflective particles in the mid dermis. This non-invasive imaging technique could be a useful tool in identifying graphite tattoos, particularly in children, and reducing the need for invasive procedures. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: Thirty-eight purebred Iberian sows were used in two consecutive trials to determine the influence of different nutritional strategies applied to the litters on body composition and retention of some trace minerals in the body of suckling piglets weaned at 35d of age. Exclusively milk feeding (M), conventional suckling (CS) and intermittent suckling (IS) were studied. Only litters on CS and IS treatments had free access to creep feed from day 15 onwards. Those of the CS group had continuous access to their dams. Piglets on the IS treatment were progressively separated from the sow during 6h, 8h and 10h on days 29–30, 31–32 and 33–34, respectively. Eight piglets at birth (4 per trial replicate) and one piglet per litter on day 35 of age were slaughtered and used to study whole-body content of Fe, Cu and Zn, and its distribution in the different body compartments. Mineral retention was calculated following the comparative slaughter procedure. Average contents of these trace elements in Iberian sows’ milk were Fe 1.65, Cu 1.46 and Zn 11.10mg/kg, whereas those analyzed in creep feed were Fe 240, Cu 170 and Zn 2900mg/kg (as fed). The body concentration of Fe at weaning was unchanged between groups, although Fe stored in liver tended to be higher in IS piglets (32.3, 30.5 and 50.0mg/kg for M, CS and IS piglets respectively, P=0.101). No differences (P>0.05) were observed in whole-body or liver concentration of Cu between groups, although Cu concentration was increased (P<0.01) in some body compartments (blood and head/feet/tail) in CS and IS compared to M piglets. Significant effect of the feeding regimen was found in body levels of Zn in weaned piglets, as retention and body content resulted progressively increased as follows: IS>CS>M groups (P<0.001), with significant differences for all body parts. Zn liver concentration increased around 3-fold in creep fed piglets compared to milk fed piglets (53, 149 and 157mg/kg for M, CS and IS piglets, respectively, P=0.029). It may be concluded that stimulation of consumption of solid feed containing pharmacological levels of these trace elements in the suckling piglet may lead to some changes in body content of Fe and Cu at weaning, and increases greatly Zn body levels. Beneficial consequences of these nutritional practices warrant to be evaluated, as they cause substantial increase in environmental contamination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Given the importance of proline and its metabolism in resistance to abiotic stress, the objective of this work was to study the influence of temperature and solar radiation on proline metabolism in the exocarp fraction of cherry tomato fruits. Solanum lycopersicum cv. Naomi plants were grown in an experimental greenhouse. Three fruit samples were taken over the entire production period. The first sampling was at the beginning of harvest [85 d after transplanting (DAT)], the second at mid-harvest (160 DAT), and the third at the end of harvest (229 DAT). Temperature and solar radiation values peaked during the third sampling, which coincided with an increase in lipid peroxidation (lipoxygenase activity) and malondialdehyde content, indicating the presence of oxidative stress during this period. However, yield values did not vary during the production cycle of cherry tomatoes. An increase in proline content was found at 229 DAT, with two enzymes responsible for proline synthesis: Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (OAT). In contrast to previous work, proline dehydrogenase (PDH), which degrades proline, also increased its activity during this period. Under these conditions, the accumulation of proline, and proline degradation by PDH, could be considered to be a mechanism for resistance to stress by eliminating O2 and forming H+ ions. This would limit any major formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and thus cell necrosis, reducing losses in productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanin-1 is an epithelial ectoenzyme with pantetheinase activity and generating the amino-thiol cysteamine through the metabolism of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). Here we show that Vanin-1-/- mice, which lack cysteamine in tissues, exhibit resistance to oxidative injury induced by whole-body γ-irradiation or paraquat. This protection is correlated with reduced apoptosis and inflammation and is reversed by treating mutant animals with cystamine. The better tolerance of the Vanin-1-/- mice is associated with an enhanced gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity in liver, probably due to the absence of cysteamine and leading to elevated stores of glutathione (GSH), the most potent cellular antioxidant. Consequently, Vanin-1-/- mice maintain a more reducing environment in tissue after exposure to irradiation. In normal mice, we found a stress-induced biphasic expression of Vanin-1 regulated via antioxidant response elements in its promoter region. This process should finely tune the redox environment and thus change an early inflammatory process into a late tissue repair process. We propose Vanin-1 as a key molecule to regulate the GSH-dependent response to oxidative injury in tissue at the epithelial level. Therefore, Vanin/pantetheinase inhibitors could be useful for treatment of damage due to irradiation and pro-oxidant inducers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Emotion regulation (ER) is defined as the processes through which emotional awareness and experience are monitored, evaluated, maintained, and modified (Thompson, 1994). Difficulties with these processes have been proposed to increase risk for psychopathology. Disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) and somatic symptoms disorders (SSD) are characterized by an inability to express and modulate emotional states. Research aims to understand how ER influences mental health. Objectives We focus on two strategy of ER: Cognitive Reappraisal, involves changing the way one thinks about a situation in order to change its emotional impact; Expressive Suppression involves suppressing or hiding external expressions of emotion from others (John and Gross, 2004) Aims We assess ER in order to examine the relation with SSD and DBD in childhood and with their parents. Methods The sample consists of 188 subjects divided in four groups: n = 41 children with DBD (M = 10.78 years, SD = 2.11); n = 50 parents (36 mothers and 14 fathers) of children with DBD; n = 44 children with SSD (M = 11.98 years, SD = 2.04); n = 53 parents (40 mothers and 11 fathers) of children with SSD. Were administered the ERQ (Balzarotti et al., 2010) for parents and ERQ-CA (Gullone and Taffe, 2012) for children. Results DBD children reported higher levels of Suppression than SSD subjects; high levels of Suppression were reported in mother SSD and in father DBD. Conclusion This study extended previous research in childhood, including both mothers and fathers. The findings contribute to a greater understanding of the development of ER, which has important implications for psychological wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The quality of adult–infant attachment plays an essential role in influencing the children's well-being (Groh et al., 2012). Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) has been found as particularly influenced by the presence of unavailability in the parental caregiving. It is widely attested that parents’ attachment states of mind predict the attachment patterns of their children. Nonetheless, the investigation of the attachment organization during the middle childhood shows inconsistent data. Moreover, a paucity of studies focused on the role of father's attachment in this period still remains. Objectives This pilot study investigates the attachment patterns of children with DBD and those of their parents. Aims The aims are to verify the presence of: (1) an over-representation of Disorganized attachment in these children; (2) an over-representation of Irresolution with respect to abuse or loss in one or both their parents. Methods The sample consists of 33 subjects: n = 11 children with DBD and n = 22 parents. The children completed the Child Attachment Interview (Shmueli-Goetz et al., 2000) and the parents completed the Adult Attachment Interview (George et al., 1985). Results Findings showed: (1) a significant presence of Disorganized attachment with respect to both parents in the children; (2) an over-representation of Insecure states of mind in their parents; (3) a more significant presence of Disorganization in the fathers than in the mothers. Conclusion This focus on the topic of intergenerational transmission of attachment in a specific clinical sample enriches the research, underlining the more pronounced role of fathers’ attachment configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture with thrombosis is a major cause of cardiovascular events. The natural history of plaque progression is still unknown and the plaque destabilization unpredictable. We have recently suggested that P2X7 purinergic receptor expressed in carotid plaques (CP) might play a role a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. P2X7 activation by ATP leads to a broad spectrum of effects, including membrane blebbing, tissue factor (TF)-dependent thrombosis in mice, metalloproteases (MMPs) activation and release. MMPs deregulation may alter extracellular matrix network, affect vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration, contributing to plaque rupture. To study the P2X7 pathway role in MMPs regulation and in CP progression to thrombosis we developed functional models. We setup and characterized an ex-vivo tissue culture model, using human explants from either atherosclerotic (CP) or not (internal mammary artery, IMA) vessels of patients submitted to carotid endoarterectomy or to coronary artery bypass surgery. The preservation of vascular features in ex-vivo culture was verified at different time points (from 24 hours to 15 days) by evaluating the morphology (Hematoxylin/Eosin, Movat's), and the expression of wall cells (aSMA, sm22, Vimentin, CD68, FSP1) and extracellular matrix markers (Collagen type I), of P2X7, MMP9 and TF by confocal microscopy and/or biochemistry. ATP quantification and gel zymography in tissue protein extracts and culture supernatants evaluated the metabolic activity and the MMPs-related gelatinolysis of cultured vessels. A time frame of 4 days was identified as the maximum for structurally and functionally preserved vessel ex-vivo culture; functional loss was seen at day7, morphology alteration at days 10 and 15. P2X7 and MMP9 were previously detected in CP intima-media, thus to perform targeted functional studies we obtained VSMC from ateromasic areas of CP and from IMA. IMA fragments released cells for up to 3 months, CP for up to 2 months. VSMC were characterized similarly to tissue cultures; when freshly-explanted or at passage1, VSMC displayed P2X7, MMP9 molecules expression and gelatinolytic activity. At further passages P2X7 was undetected or unmounted on membrane, MMP9 expression and gelatinolysis absent. Treatment with ATP (50-200mM, 24hours), P2X7 antagonists (KN62, A74003) affected cell metabolism and gelatinolysis but not P2X7 expression. Our data showed that CP and IMA ex-vivo cultures and primary VSMC in vitro cultures represent suitable functional models to investigate the role of P2X7-MMP9 pathway in vascular pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Atherosclerosis is a dynamic progressive disease of the large arteries characterized by accumulation of lipids, inflammatory and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and extracellular matrix. In situ growth or embolization of arterial thrombi following a plaque rupture may lead to acute coronary syndrome and stroke. Fibrous cap rupture may expose thrombogenic material, initiating platelet aggregation and coagulation pathways. These thrombotic changes result from activation of the clotting cascade by tissue factor (TF) and coagulation contact phase. Aim of the project is to study Carotid Plaque (CP) thrombogenicity and the vascular wall components responsible for thrombus formation. CP (n=12) from patients submitted to endoarterectomy for significant stenosis and internal mammary artery fragments (n=4, controls not atherosclerotic) from individuals undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were snap-frozen and sectioned. Thrombogenesis induced by CP was evaluated ex-vivo under flow conditions using healthy volunteer blood drawn into citrate anticoagulant. Recalcified blood was perfused over CP cryosections at constant flow velocity and 37 °C, and the volume of platelet aggregates and fibrin deposited onto the surface was measured in real time by confocal videomicroscopy. The areas with same XY coordinates than those analyzed in blood flow experiments were relocalized in serial cryosections, to identify by histology (Movat's, Hematoxylin/Eosin) and confocal microscopy the vascular cell phenotypes and wall components involved in thrombus formation. Thrombi formed mainly over endothelium/intima layer (including fibrous cap); were abundant in the media rich in SMC and in foam cells, in the presence of FSP1, collagen type I, proteoglycans, fibrinogen and TF. The fibro-necro-calcific core was quite unreactive, except when TF was present. IMA wall layers were reactive with analogous pattern but showed a different amount of thrombus formation. Addition to blood before perfusion of anti-human TF monoclonal antibody, or antibody blocking factor XI activation, or a combination of them reduced the volume of platelet aggregates, and of fibrin to a different extent in the different vascular layers. These data suggest an in-situ role of vascular cells and matrix, as well as of intra-tissue TF in thrombus formation over CP, involving both TF and contact phase coagulation pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]