Targeting Neuroinflammation to Treat Alzheimer's Disease

Over the past few decades, research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) has focused on pathomechanisms linked to two of the major pathological hallmarks of extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid peptides and intra-neuronal formation of neurofibrils. Recently, a third disease component, the neuroinflammatory reaction mediated by cerebral innate immune cells, has entered the spotlight, prompted by findings from genetic, pre-clinical, and clinical studies. Various proteins that arise during neurodegeneration, including beta-amyloid, tau, heat shock proteins, and chromogranin, among others, act as danger-associated molecular patterns, that-upon engagement of pattern recognition receptors-induce inflammatory signaling pathways and ultimately lead to the production and release of immune mediators. These may have beneficial effects but ultimately compromise neuronal function and cause cell death. The current review, assembled by participants of the Chiclana Summer School on Neuroinflammation 2016, provides an overview of our current understanding of AD-related immune processes. We describe the principal cellular and molecular players in inflammation as they pertain to AD, examine modifying factors, and discuss potential future therapeutic targets.

The use of cranial electrotherapy stimulation in the treatment of closed-head-injured patients

This double-blind study sought to discover if cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES), which is a known treatment of depression, anxiety and insomnia in non-head-injured patients, could be an effective, drug-free treatment of stress-related symptoms in the closed-head-injured (CHI) patient. In this study 10 CHI patients treated for 45 min daily, 4 days a week for 3 weeks, responded significantly on all negative mood factors of the Profile Of Mood States, while five sham-treated and six placebo controls did not. While the majority of the patients were known seizure cases, no patient suffered a seizure during CES therapy. No placebo effects were found, nor were any negative effects from CES treatment seen.

[Castleman's disease. A clinical case]

Castleman's disease is an uncommon lymph node syndrome. It is usually a lymphoid hamartoma, rarely systemic. We report a case of Castleman's multicentric disease observed in our hospital and review the literature. In this work we review prognosis, follow-up and therapy of 46 multicentric disease reported in the literature.

[Streptococcus mitis endocarditis. Description of a clinical case]

The diagnostic iter of a case of Streptococcus mitis endocarditis is reported. Bacterial endocarditis was diagnosed in a 32-year-old patient following ultrasound cardiography and microbiological tests. The paper stresses the importance of ultrasound cardiography in the diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis.

[Hereditary spherocytosis and splenectomy]

The case of a sixteen year old girl with hereditary spherocytosis, submitted to splenectomy, is presented. After operation the patient had four serious infections; for this reason she is now treated by antibiotic prophylaxis.

[The new aspect of pneumonia in an area of the Middle Adriatic]

The present work reports the findings of a ten-year, research, the aim of which is to outline current views of pneumonia in a zone of the Middle Adriatic (USL 17-Regione Marche). The study confirmed, in its entirety, a lesser aggressiveness and loss of the "seasonal feature" of today's pneumonias. The high incidence of Atypical Pneumonia (AP) due to viral-like microorganisms (mycoplasma, chlamydia, coxiella, legionella) and an even higher one of unknown etiology is reported. After having analysed the most likely reasons for such a change and its various implications, the authors conclude that this type of research should be extended in order to trace a map of the more common infectious agents in single geographical zones, as an indispensable premise for a more concrete etiological diagnosis and for a more rational choice of the antibiotic.