Combining glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inhibitors with VPA or histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors with lithium synergistically increased FGF-21 mRNA levels, supporting that synergistic effects of lithium and VPA are mediated via GSK-3 and HDAC inhibition, respectively. Exogenous FGF-21 protein completely protected aging neurons from glutamate challenge. This neuroprotection was associated with enhanced Akt-1 activation and GSK-3 inhibition. Lithium-VPA co-treatment markedly prolonged lithium-induced Akt-1 JNK-IN-8 activation and augmented GSK-3 inhibition. Akt-1 knockdown markedly decreased FGF-21 mRNA levels and reduced the neuroprotection induced by FGF-21 or lithium-VPA co-treatment. In addition, FGF-21 knockdown

reduced lithium-VPA co-treatment-induced Akt-1 activation and neuroprotection against excitotoxicity. Together, our novel results suggest that FGF-21 is a key mediator of the effects of these mood stabilizers and a potential new therapeutic target for CNS disorders.”
“Objective: The high rate of positive margins after transoral KU-57788 DNA Damage inhibitor laser microsurgery (TLM) remains a matter of debate. This study investigates the

effect of intraoperative narrow band imaging (NBI) examination on the incidence of positive superficial surgical margins in early glottic cancer treated by TLM. Methods: Between January 2012 and October 2013, 82 patients affected by Tis-T1a glottic cancer were treated with TLM by type I or II cordectomies. Intraoperative NBI evaluation was performed using 0-degree and 70-degree rigid telescopes. Surgical

specimens were oriented by marking the superior edge with black ink and sent to a dedicated pathologist. Comparison between the rate of positive superficial margins in the present cohort and in a matched historical control group treated in the same way without intraoperative NBI was calculated BLZ945 in vitro by chi-square test. Results: At histopathological examination, all surgical margins were negative in 70 patients, whereas 7 had positive deep margins, 2 close, and 3 positive superficial margins. The rate of positive superficial margins was thus 3.6% in the present group and 23.7% in the control cohort (P smaller than .001). Conclusion: Routine use of intraoperative NBI increases the accuracy of neoplastic superficial spreading evaluation during TLM for early glottic cancer.”
“The present investigation reports the preparation and characterization of the thermally stable poly(vinyl alcohol)/(PolY(amide-imide)-SiO2) nanocomposite (PVA/PAI-SiO2 NC) films. For this reason, the surface of SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) was modified with N-trimellitylimido-L-methionine and subsequently, 5 wt.% of modified SiO2 NPs were dispersed in the PAI matrix via sonochemical reaction. The resulting NC was studied by different techniques. Finally, the PAI-SiO2 NC was employed as nanofiller and was incorporated into the PVA matrix for the enhancement of its mechanical and thermal properties.