Oral Findings in Patients With COVID-19

The aim of this study was to describe oral lesions in a group of patients with COVID-19. We recruited 55 patients, 25 women (45.5%) and 30 men (54.5%), aged between 1 and 89 years with confirmed COVID-19 at different stages of severity. After obtaining informed consent, we examined their mouths and recorded clinical findings. Forty percent of the patients had at least 1 oral lesion. The most common lesions were candidiasis and ulcers (7 patients each); 2 patients had enanthems. Geographic tongue and caviar tongue were also observed. Altered taste, dry mouth, and painful/burning mouth were noted in 60%, 27.3%, and 36.4% of patients, respectively. Oral mucosal alterations and lesions were prevalent in this series of COVID-19 patients. Altered taste and a painful/burning mouth were common symptoms.

Experimental study showed that adding fortifier and extra-hydrolysed proteins to preterm infant mothers' milk increased osmolality

AIM

Measuring milk osmolality after adjustable fortification is clinically relevant, as values exceeding recommended safety thresholds might result in gastrointestinal consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of four fortification levels and storage time on the osmolality of human milk.

METHODS

This was an experimental study using 71 spare samples of fresh breastmilk collected from 31 mothers of preterm infants. Osmolality was measured before and after adding commercial human milk fortifier containing dextrinomaltose and hydrolysed proteins at four different concentrations. Measurements were performed at various points during the 23 hours after fortification.

RESULTS

The mean basal osmolality of the 71 human milk samples was 296 ± 14 milliosmoles (mOsm)/kg, and these remained stable over a period of 23 hours. Just after fortification, the four fortified formulas showed higher osmolalities than the nonfortified human milk, ranging between 384 ± 14 and 486 ± 15 mOsm/kg, respectively (p < 0.01). This osmolality increased significantly from 20 minutes to 23 hours after fortification (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Adding fortifier and extra-hydrolysed proteins to human preterm milk increased osmolality, and these osmolality levels also increased with time. We recommend evaluating the risk of hyperosmolality when a higher fortification level is needed, to avoid gastrointestinal problems.

Somatostatin, cortistatin and their receptors in tumours

Somatostatin (SS) and its synthetic analogs have a role in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours both in terms of symptoms control and antiproliferative activities. These effects are mediated by five SS receptors, widely expressed in both human neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine tumours, which were demonstrated to be diagnostically and therapeutically valuable targets. Cortistatin (CST), a brain cortex peptide, partially homologous to SS and having similar functions is also expressed in peripheral tissues and tumours. CST binds all SS receptors, and, differently from SS, also the ghrelin receptor GHSR1a and the CST specific receptor MrgX2. The expression profile of CST is mostly restricted to neuroendocrine tumours (gastrointestinal, pancreas, lung, parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal). In these tumours, CST probably acts via the SS or ghrelin receptor, the MrgX2 receptor being absent. Thus, in comparison to SS analogs, CST synthetic analogs may represent additional diagnostic/therapeutic tools in those tumours expressing the receptors for SS, for ghrelin or for both peptides.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder involves differential cortical processing in a visual spatial attention paradigm

OBJECTIVE

Inattention is undoubtedly one of the main characteristics of Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nevertheless, a growing corpus of evidence shows that not all attentional processes are affected in this condition. This study aimed to explore the distribution of attentional resources in children with ADHD via a spatially shifted double-oddball visual task.

METHODS

We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) for all visual stimuli. Subjects were instructed to allocate attention in a specific area of visual space while ignoring all stimuli presented outside. Ten male children (age: 9-14; mean = 11.6 +/- 2.1) who met DSM-IV criteria for the ADHD combined subtype participated in the study, along with ten age- and sex-matched healthy controls (9-14; mean = 11.2 +/- 2.3).

RESULTS

ADHD subjects showed late differential cortical responses to initially suppressed irrelevant stimuli. The amplitude of early N1-P1 components were mainly modulated by stimulus location and showed no significant differences between groups, but a late P300-like positivity was clearly evoked in the ADHD group by peripheral stimuli.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that ADHD may not compromise the early attentional spatial filter but rather entails a different distribution of attentional resources at later stages of cortical processing. Perhaps these differences may be attributable to individual differences in attentional mechanisms.

SIGNIFICANCE

ADHD may not affect initial focusing of visual attention but rather the allocation of processing resources in later stages.

Acetylcholinesterase and insect growth inhibitory activities of Gutierrezia microcephala on fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith

From the aerial parts of Gutierrezia microcephala (Asteraceae), four oxyflavones were isolated, namely 5,7,2'-trihydroxy-3,6,8,4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (1); 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3,6,8-trimethoxyflavone (2); 5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-3,6,8,5'-tetramethoxyflavone (3); 5,2'-dihydroxy-3,6,7,8,4',5'-hexamethoxyflavone (4), and an ent-clerodane, bacchabolivic acid (5). Compounds 1-5, the synthetic methyl ester (6), n-hexane and MeOH extracts were evaluated against the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Gedunin, a known insect growth regulator isolated from Cedrela spp. was used as a positive control. When tested for activity on neonate larvae into the no-choice artificial diet bioassay, flavone (1), clerodane (5), its methyl ester (6), MeOH and n-hexane extracts caused significant larval mortality with MC50 of 3.9, 10.7, 3.46, 7.95 and 7.5 ppm at 7 days, respectively, as well as growth reduction. They also increased the development time of surviving larvae and a significant delay in time to pupation and adult emergence. Acute toxicity against adults of S. frugiperda was also found, 5, 6, gedunin and n-hexane extract had the most potent activity with LD50 value of 6.59, 15.05, 10.78, and 12.79 ppm, respectively. In addition, MeOH, n-hexane extracts, 5, 6 and gedunin caused acetylcholinesterase inhibition with 93.7, 100, 90.2, 62.0 and 100% at 50.0 ppm, respectively; whereas 1-4 exhibited only moderate inhibitory activity. Compounds 1, 5 and 6 showed inhibitory activities comparable with gedunin. These compounds could be responsible of the insect growth inhibitory activity of this plant.

[Persistence of the cognitive effects of early stimulation assessed with an animal model]

Human and animal studies have clearly demonstrated the advantageous effects of sensorially enriched rearing environments. Nevertheless, little work has been done concerning the long-lasting persistence of all these behavioral modifications. To undertake this question, a very early enrichment animal model was used. From days 10 to 24 after birth, 28 male albino rats were exposed to a multisensory stimulated environment, while other 28 littermates constituted the control group. At 3 and 6 months old two cognitive abilities were analyzed; the spatial working memory (short term memory) and the latent learning capacity (long term memory). The results evidenced an improved working memory in both 3 and 6 months old rats exposed to the early enriched environment. Moreover, the adult early stimulated group performed as well as younger subjects both on error scores and speed to solve this test. Only in the adult group of rats a superior latent learning capacity of stimulated subjects was evidenced. To conclude, the early enriched environment induced: a) persistent cognitive benefits in the adult rat and b) a more relevant influence on the subsequent behavior of older rather than younger subjects.

[Utility of the copper/zinc ratio in patients with lymphoma or acute or chronic leukemias]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnostic value of serum levels of copper, zinc and the Cu/Zn ratio in patients with hematological malignancies compared to gender- and age-matched control subjects.

METHODS

A total of 44 patients with recently diagnosed and non-treated hematological malignancies were included: 17 lymphoma (11 non-Hodgkin), 15 acute leukemia (10 myeloblastic), and 12 with chronic leukemia (8 granulocytic); 95 healthy subjects were included. Copper and zinc serum levels were measured with a Perkin Elmer (model 2380) atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

RESULTS

Serum copper levels (microgram/dL) were significantly lower in healthy subjects (54.4 +/- 8.9, p < 0.05) compared to patients with lymphoma (93.7 +/- 37.5), acute leukemia (80.6 +/- 44.6) or chronic leukemia (95.7 +/- 28.9) while serum zinc levels (microgram/dL) were significantly higher in healthy control subjects (100.4 +/- 14, p < 0.05) compared to patients with lymphoma (77.2 +/- 22.6), acute leukemia (66 +/- 15.6), or chronic leukemia (74.8 +/- 14.7). The Cu/Zn ratio was significantly lower in healthy subjects (0.54 +/- 0.13, p < 0.05) than in patients with lymphoma (1.21 +/- 0.5), acute leukemia (1.22 +/- 0.7), or chronic leukemia (1.28 +/- 0.4). Twenty three patients died during a mean follow-up period of 13 months and their serum zinc levels were significantly lower (68 +/- 21) than in the living patients (76 +/- 15, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Cu/Zn ratio is significantly higher in patients with lymphoma or acute and chronic leukemias compared to gender- and age-matched control subjects.

Role of sulfhydryl groups in the stimulatory effect of captopril on vascular prostacyclin synthesis

The effect of captopril on vascular prostacyclin production was studied, evaluating which of its components--sulfhydryl (SH) group or proline--is responsible for this effect. Rat aortas were incubated with captopril (10-100 microM), 2-mercaptoethanol or proline (10 microM), and captopril plus the SH-binding reagents N-ethylmaleimide or ethacrynic acid (50 microM). Prostacyclin was measured by radioimmunoassay of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha. Captopril stimulated prostacyclin production. This effect was associated with an enhanced conversion of arachidonate to prostacyclin and was not related to bradykinin. Since 2-mercaptoethanol increased vascular prostacyclin per se and proline did not, the stimulatory effect of captopril appears to be dependent upon the SH group; in addition, both SH blockers, N-ethylmaleimide and ethacrynic acid, antagonized this effect. This study shows that captopril stimulates vascular prostacyclin synthesis directly and that the SH group plays a key role in this action. This stimulation of prostacyclin synthesis may contribute to the antihypertensive action of captopril.

Potentiating effect of aldosterone on the diuretic action of atrial extract

The typical stimulatory effect of a rat heart atrial extract on urinary water, sodium, potassium and kallikrein excretion is significantly increased by a previous administration of aldosterone (0.5 microgram/100 g b. wt) in the rat.

Kallikrein-kinin system in one- and two-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive rats

1. Urinary kallikrein, renal tissue kininogenase activity, and plasma kininogen were measured during the development of hypertension in rats, either with left renal artery clamped and contralateral kidney intact (Goldblatt 2-kidney) or removed (Goldblatt 1-kidney). Plasma urea, plasma volume and blood volume were also measured.

2. In Goldblatt 2-kidney rats, urinary kallikrein was not significantly different from that of sham-operated rats up to the 5th post-operative week even though at this time the Goldblatt 2-kidney animals were hypertensive. Urinary kallikrein started to decrease at week 8. Plasma kininogen was significantly elevated 5 and 10 weeks after surgery and returned to normal by week 15. No changes in renal tissue kininogenase activity were observed. Plasma urea and plasma and blood volumes were normal 5 weeks after, but significantly increased at 10 and 15 weeks after surgery.

3. In Goldblatt 1-kidney rats from the fifth week urinary kallikrein and renal kininogenase activity were significantly decreased compared with unilaterally nephrectomized rats, whereas plasma kininogen, plasma urea and plasma and blood volumes were significantly elevated.

4. These results show important differences in the kallikrein system between the Goldblatt 1-kidney and 2-kidney models of renovascular hypertension in rats.

Effects of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2alpha upon urinary kallikrein excretion in rats

1. In normally hydrated rats prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) in doses of 5 microgram/100 g body weight given subcutaneously every 2 h (three times) induced a significant increase in urinary kallikrein activity, and in sodium, potassium and water excretion for 8 h after the first injection. In moderately hyperhydrated rats loaded 2.5% of body wt. with 0.5% NaCl solution, PGF2alpha produced similar changes in kallikrein activity and electrolyte excretion. 2. In normally hydrated rats prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the same conditions and doses as in 1 had no effect on kallikrein activity, showing a tendency to decrease potassium and water excretion. 3. PGE2 in doses of 5, 12.5 and 25 microgram/100 g body wt. in overhydrated rats given 2.5% and 0.5% NaCl and 5% of tap water/100 g body wt. 1 h later, significantly increased kallikrein activity in the urine collected for 120 min after the injections. A significant decrease in potassium and water excretion was observed with the highest dose. 4. PGF2alpha, had no effect on kallikrein activity in overhydrated rats, but an increase in sodium and a decrease in potassium excretion was seen at the highest dose. 5. The different actions of PGE2 and PGF2alpha may be part of a regulatory mechanism associated with the kallikrein-kinin system which contributes maintainance of extracellular fluid homeostasis.

Renal kallikrein system, volemia, and renal hypertension

Plasma, blood, and urine volumes, renal kallikrein, and arterial pressure were measured in control and renal hypertensive rats in order to study the role of the renal kallikrein system in regulating arterial pressure and its relation with the alterations in water handling observed in hypertension. A decrease in kallikrein content of the kidney (157 +/- 17 versus 236 +/- 16 ng bradykinin equivalents per gram of tissue in control rats) was associated with an increase in plasma volume (38.0 "/- 1.6 versus 32.0 +/- 0.9 ml/kg body weight in control rats) and an increase in urine volume (45.5 +/- 4.9 versus 20.3 +/- 1.6 ml/kg body weight per 24 hours in control rats). No linear correlation was found between these factors and the arterial pressure of hypertensive animals. These findings support the hypothesis that changes in renal kallikrein are more directly related to water and electrolyte metabolism than to the arterial pressure regulation. Our results also suggest an interaction between the kallikrein-kinin and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems. The possible relations of both enzymatic systems to the regulation of arterial pressure and of water-electrolyte handling are summarized schematically.

Renal urinary kallikrein in normotensive and hypertensive rats during enhanced excretion of water and electrolytes

1. Urinary kallikrein excreted by normal rats is significantly increased (P less than 0-001) 2 h after: (a) water loading, (b) water loading plus frusemide, 0-27 mmol (10 mg) per rat, (c) salt loading. In water-loaded rats, 5 i.u. of renin strikingly reduced kallikrein excretion (P less than 0-01) but considerably increased sodium excretion (P less than 0-001). 2. Renal kallikrein, measured by its kininogenase activity within 2 h of water loading, was significantly increased (P less than 0-05); after water loading and frusemide it was 40% decreased (P less than 0-001) and after salt loading it was reduced by approximately 50% (P less than 0-02). Renin did not change renal kallikrein. 3. Severely hypertensive (one-kidney) rats (blood pressure greater than 150 mmHg) showed no increase of urinary kallikrein after water loading, although there was a marked natriuresis, in moderately hypertensive rats (blood pressure less than 150 mmHg) urinary kallikrein was only one-third of that observed in control normotensive rats, after an equal degree of water loading.

The renin-angiotensin system in rats made hypertensive by ligation of the kidney poles (38584)

The renin-angiotensin system was studied in experimental renal hypertension produced by ligation of the poles of the left kidney followed by contralateral nephrectomy. Plasma renin concentration of renin substrate was lower and that of angiotensin I converting enzyme was higher in hypertensive animals. The juxtaglomerular index decreased in the medial zone of the kidney, while heavily granulated areas appeared in the poles. Ligated kidneys of rats that remained normotensive showed juxtaglomerular indices intermediate between the control and the hypertensive rats. Differences in renal renin content between the groups correspond to those for the juxtaglomerular index, but were smaller. No differences between the experimental groups were observed in iso-renin content in the brain; however in all animals with ligated kidney poles, hypertensive or normotensive, there was a tendency for iso-renin in the adrenals, left ventricular myocardium, and especially aorta to be lower than in controls.