Nitric oxide and cancer: the emerging role of S-nitrosylation.

Nitric oxide (NO˙) is a short-lived, endogenously produced gas that is highly diffusible across cell membranes and acts as a signaling molecule in the body. The redox state and chemistry of NO˙ facilitate its interaction with various proteins thus regulating various intracellular and intercellular events. One of the key mechanisms by which NO˙ regulates the function of various target proteins is through the coupling of a nitroso moiety from NO-derived metabolites to a reactive cysteine leading to the formation of a S-nitrosothiol (SNO), a process commonly known as S-nitrosylation.

One collective case of type A foodborne botulism in Corsica.

Foodborne botulism is rare in 21st century Western Europe. The purpose of this report is to describe a collective case of type A botulism caused by ingestion of artisanal-produced food (canned green beans and/or salted roast pork). Five of the seven persons who shared the meal presented signs of severe intoxication leading to the fatal respiratory failure in one 18-year-old girl.

VEGFR-3 controls tip to stalk conversion at vessel fusion sites by reinforcing Notch signalling.

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, involves specification of endothelial cells to tip cells and stalk cells, which is controlled by Notch signalling, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2 and VEGFR-3 have been implicated in angiogenic sprouting. Surprisingly, we found that endothelial deletion of Vegfr3, but not VEGFR-3-blocking antibodies, postnatally led to excessive angiogenic sprouting and branching, and decreased the level of Notch signalling, indicating that VEGFR-3 possesses passive and active signalling modalities. Furthermore, macrophages expressing the VEGFR-3 and VEGFR-2 ligand VEGF-C localized to vessel branch points, and Vegfc heterozygous mice exhibited inefficient angiogenesis characterized by decreased vascular branching.

Consensus of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and Spanish Society of Pathology (SEAP) for HER2 testing in gastric carcinoma.

The identification of HER2 alterations in advanced gastric carcinomas is of critical importance in daily clinical practice as such neoplasms require specific treatment with trastuzumab. For these reasons, pathologists and oncologists with expertise in gastric carcinomas and HER2 testing from both organisations (SEAP and SEOM) have endeavoured to discuss and agree on national guidelines for HER2 testing in gastric carcinomas. These guidelines are based on the experience of those who participated in the discussions and also on experience published internationally.

2-Methoxyestradiol inhibits progesterone-dependent tissue factor expression and activity in breast cancer cells.

2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME) is an endogenous metabolite of 17β-estradiol with antiangiogenic and antitumor properties, although its mechanisms of action remain unclear. Progestins in hormone replacement therapy increase the risk of breast cancer. Progesterone also enhances the procoagulant activity and invasive potential of progesterone receptor (PR)-positive breast cancer cell lines, an effect largely mediated by induction of tissue factor (TF), the cellular activator of the coagulation cascade.

Neoadjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy with paclitaxel for the radical surgical treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis in ovarian cancer: a prospective pilot study.

Purpose: The admitted benefits of intraperitoneal chemotherapy during postoperative administration for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian origin are limited by their associated morbidity and restricted diffusion by the presence of multiple intra-abdominal adherences. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the security, effectiveness, and cytoreduction optimization of intraperitoneal paclitaxel administration previously to radical surgery/peritonectomy/HIPEC (hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy) either in monotherapy or combined with intravenous carboplatin.

Methods: Prospective pilot study of 10 patients with ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis in stage IIIc-FIGO without previous treatment.

A phase I study of sunitinib in combination with FOLFIRI in patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: This study evaluated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of sunitinib, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, combined with FOLFIRI (irinotecan 180 mg/m2 given over 90 min i.v. and l-leucovorin 200 mg/m2 given over 120 min on day 1, followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m2 bolus and then 2400 mg/m2 infused over 46 h) in untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Treatment recommendations for metastatic colorectal cancer.

Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) represents an important health problem in which several biological predictive and prognostic factors have been identified, including clinical features and molecular markers that might influence the response to treatment. Actually, certain prognostic factors are considered key elements, along with disease extent, for deciding the therapeutic approach. However, a distinction between resectable/potentially resectable and unresectable patients must be made in order to establish an adequate therapeutic strategy.

Effect of a new thermal treatment in combination with saprobic fungal incubation on the phytotoxicity level of alperujo.

Byproducts generated from food industries, such as olive oil mills, have been studied to decrease harmful pollution and their environmental consequences. In this work, a new thermal pretreatment and saprobic fungal incubation to detoxify alperujo (two-phase olive mill waste) have been evaluated in view of its use as fertilizer in agriculture. The sequential use of both methods simplifies the thermal conditions and incubation times of the fungal treatment.

Development of a methodology to quantify tamoxifen and endoxifen in breast cancer patients by micellar liquid chromatography and validation according to the ICH guidelines.

A simple micellar liquid chromatographic procedure is described to determine tamoxifen and endoxifen in plasma. For the analysis, tamoxifen and endoxifen solutions were diluted in water and UV-irradiated for 20 min to form the photocycled derivative with a phenanthrene core which shows intense fluorescence. Samples were then directly injected, thus avoiding long extraction and experimental procedures.

Progesterone utilizes distinct membrane pools of tissue factor to increase coagulation and invasion and these effects are inhibited by TFPI.

Tissue factor (TF) serving as the receptor for coagulation factor VII (FVII) initiates the extrinsic coagulation pathway. We previously demonstrated that progesterone increases TF, coagulation and invasion in breast cancer cell lines. Herein, we investigated if tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) could down-regulate progesterone-increased TF activity in these cells.

Antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic activity in vitro of extracts from selected fruits and vegetables.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is known to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the information regarding the antithrombotic activity (antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic) of fruits and vegetables is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the antithrombotic activity of extracts from fruits and vegetables widely consumed in central Chile.

Cytomegalovirus infection in severe burn patients monitoring by real-time polymerase chain reaction: A prospective study.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been shown to occur not rarely in critically ill patients in the past decade. However, little data are available on CMV infection in burn patients whereas their susceptibility to CMV infection has been proved.

Methods: We prospectively assessed CMV viremia by real-time polymerase chain reaction and clinical outcome in immunocompetent burn patients with total burn surface area greater than 15%.

VEGF targeted therapy in acute myeloid leukemia.

The cooperation of two classes of mutations in hematopoietic cells is hypothesized in a multistep pathogenesis model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Class I mutations confer a proliferative and/or survival advantage, whereas Class II mutations block hematopoietic differentiation and impair apoptosis in AML cells. In addition to these two classes of mutations, a relevant role for angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of AML has been recently proposed.

Efficiency of DNA typing methods for detection of smoked paprika "pimenton de la vera" adulteration used in the elaboration of dry-cured Iberian pork sausages.

The purpose of this work was to develop a PCR method for the identification of smoked paprika "Pimentón de la Vera" adulteration with paprika elaborated from varieties of pepper foreign to the la Vera region, in central western Spain. Three autochthonous varieties of pepper, Jaranda, Jariza, and Bola, and the varieties Papri Queen, Papri King, Sonora, PS9794, and Papri Ace, foreign to the La Vera region, were used in the study. Analyses of the ITS and 5.

Maintenance of normothermia during burn surgery with an intravascular temperature control system: a non-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Hypothermia remains one of the major factors limiting surgery in extensively burned patients. We evaluated the effectiveness of an intravascular rewarming technique using CoolGard 3000™ system and Icy™ catheter to maintain normothermia during surgeries of severe burned patients and compared these findings to a historical control group.

Methods: This was a controlled non-randomised trial conducted between March 2008 and August 2009.

Characterization by volatile compounds of microbial deep spoilage in Iberian dry-cured ham.

In the present study, volatile compounds of spoiled dry-cured Iberian ham with deep spoilage or "bone taint" were analyzed and correlated with level of spoilage and the microorganisms detected. Volatile compounds extracted by a solid phase micro-extraction technique were assayed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The spoiled hams were evaluated sensorially, and the correlations among volatile compounds, spoilage level, and microbial counts were studied.

UGT1A and TYMS genetic variants predict toxicity and response of colorectal cancer patients treated with first-line irinotecan and fluorouracil combination therapy.

Background: The impact of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and UDP-glucoronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) germline polymorphisms on the outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil (irinotecan/5FU) is still controversial. Our objective was to define a genetic-based algorithm to select patients to be treated with irinotecan/5FU.

Methods: Genotyping of TYMS (5'TRP and 3'UTR), UGT1A1(*)28, UGT1A9(*)22 and UGT1A7(*)3 was performed in 149 metastatic CRC patients treated with irinotecan/5FU as first-line chemotherapy enrolled in a randomised phase 3 study.

Advanced oxidation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) by Trametes versicolor.

Advanced oxidation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-, m-, and p-xylene (BTEX) by the extracellular hydroxyl radicals (*OH) generated by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor is for the first time demonstrated. The production of *OH was induced by incubating the fungus with 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DBQ) and Fe3+-EDTA. Under these conditions, *OH were generated through DBQ redox cycling catalyzed by quinone reductase and laccase.

Role of primary miRNA polymorphic variants in metastatic colon cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan.

MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs that can block mRNA translation and influence mRNA stability. Recent evidence indicates that miRNA variations can affect drug resistance, efficacy, and metabolism, opening new avenues of pharmacogenomics research. We investigated associations between polymorphisms in both miRNA-containing genomic regions (primary and precursor miRNA) and in genes related to miRNA biogenesis with clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients treated with 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan (CPT-11).