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Surface-enhanced Raman scattering is a well-established technique for molecular detection at low concentration, which is becoming increasingly popular in the field of biotechnology and health sciences. Since the process is understood in depth, the technique is becoming reliable. In this contribution, we consider another aspect of SERS besides molecular detection, focusing on the binding mechanisms of a complex system such as a protein to the noble metal substrates required by the technique itself. We also show that using a solid nanostructured substrate produced by controlled pulsed laser deposition SERS enables label-free detection of a protein. This is checked on lysozyme as a well-known prototype. Use of solid substrates with controlled morphology proves advantageous over colloidal systems for SERS applications. Moreover, such substrates are superior in terms of shelf life, packaging and ease of shipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate pravastatin modulation on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) migration across endothelial monolayers. Eleven hypercholesterolaemic patients were treated with pravastatin 20 mg/day. At baseline (T0), after 40 days (T40) and after 6 months (T6 months) of treatment total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, as well as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and metalloproteinases-9 plasma levels were evaluated. At the same time points the effect of pravastatin on migration of PBMCs through a monolayer of murine brain endothelial cells was studied both in basal conditions and after endothelial stimulation with recombinant mouse TNF-α 10 ng/ml for 24 h. Seven volunteers were used as healthy controls. Significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides as well as inhibition of transmigration were observed. PBMCs transmigration in patients prior to pravastatin therapy was higher than in healthy controls. These results suggest that pravastatin could be of benefit in a spectrum of diseases characterised by extravasation of PBMCs into the central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated transverse myelitis is rare in immunocompetent patients. We report a 73-year-old man with no evidence of immune compromise, who developed acute transverse myelitis. Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis indicated central nervous system inflammation, and spinal MRI showed weak signal hypointensity in T1, hyperintensity in T2 and DP between C7 and T2, but no contrast enhancement. High CSF anti- CMV IgG index with normal CSF IgG index indicated intact blood-brain barrier, and supported the diagnosis of CMV-induced myelitis in an immunocompetent patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Endothelia from the brains of four patients undergoing neurosurgery, including one multiple sclerosis (MS) patient, were studied in vitro to determine cytokine and chemokine production; the release of soluble adhesion molecules was also investigated. The same procedure was repeated on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in order to detect possible district-specific differences. After isolation, the endothelium was cultured and stimulated with γ-interferon (IFN), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and LPS. The results showed that brain endothelium, in our experimental conditions, does not produce interleukin (IL)-10 and produces lower amounts of IL-1β and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) than HUVECs do; no differences were detected in soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) production. MCP-1 mRNA was detected both without and after stimulation with TNF-α and γ-IFN in HUVECs and MS human brain endothelial cells (HBECs), while in non-MS-HBECs it was found only after γ-IFN stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been postulated that chronic pain and chronic migraine in particular, can be connected to immunologic disturbances. Moreover the psychiatric comorbidity is often responsible of migraine chronification, but also of developing of particular immune function alterations. The role of the immune system in migraine precipitation is still under debate also if speculations about the evidence of infections in migraine patients has been performed, but not always corroborated by clinical and scientific explanations. In this report we present an evaluation of specific immune parameters in patients suffering from different forms of migraine respect to controls in order to determine possible alterations in immune function: speculations about the evidenced abnormalities are attempted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migraine, particularly migraine with aura, is a risk factor for ischaemic stroke. The mechanisms underlying this association are obscure. One hypothesis is that shared risk factors may be the cause of this association. Over the last decade, studies have suggested an association between migraine and genetic abnormalities in coagulation factors which play an important role in stroke pathogenesis. Although the results of studies on various prothrombotic conditions are conflicting, findings suggest a higher frequency of some genetic abnormalities in migraine with aura patients. Thus, persistent hypercoagulability may explain the tendency for these patients to develop thromboembolic cerebrovascular events, especially when they are exposed to additional procoagulant stresses. Further studies on larger samples are required to test this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]