New panel of microsatellite alterations detectable in the EBC for lung cancer prognosis.

Our research group demonstrated, in a precedent study, the prognostic power of the 3p microsatellites alterations (MAs) detectable in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in NSCLC patients. The analysis of genetic markers in the EBC might have precious clinical and economic consequences when inserted in diagnostic and follow up programs for lung cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of a new panel of MAs in the EBC of patients with NSCLC.

BIM and mTOR expression levels predict outcome to erlotinib in EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer.

BIM is a proapoptotic protein that initiates apoptosis triggered by EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). mTOR negatively regulates apoptosis and may influence response to EGFR TKI. We examined mRNA expression of BIM and MTOR in 57 patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC from the EURTAC trial.

Mitochondrial DNA alteration in obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSAS) is a disease associated with the increase of cardiovascular risk and it is characterized by repeated episodes of Intermittent Hypoxia (IH) which inducing oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. Mitochondria are cell organelles involved in the respiratory that have their own DNA (MtDNA). The aim of this study was to investigate if the increase of oxidative stress in OSAS patients can induce also MtDNA alterations.

Exhaled HPV infection in lung cancer: role of MA at 3p.

Background And Aims: Lung cancer has recently been associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. The most important event associated with HPV infection in cancer foresees HPV DNA integration into the host genome. Sites of integration such as the fragile site FRA3B adjacent to the FHIT frequently undergo microsatellite alterations (MAs).

Aspergillus spp. colonization in exhaled breath condensate of lung cancer patients from Puglia Region of Italy.

Background: Airways of lung cancer patients are often colonized by fungi. Some of these colonizing fungi, under particular conditions, produce cancerogenic mycotoxins. Given the recent interest in the infective origin of lung cancer, with this preliminary study we aim to give our small contribution to this field of research by analysing the fungal microbiome of the exhaled breath condensate of lung cancer patients from Puglia, a region of Italy.

The hsp 16 gene of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus is differently regulated by salt, high temperature and acidic stresses, as revealed by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis.

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are ubiquitous conserved chaperone-like proteins involved in cellular proteins protection under stressful conditions. In this study, a reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) procedure was developed and used to quantify the transcript level of a small heat shock gene (shs) in the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, under stress conditions such as heat (45 °C and 53 °C), bile (0.3% w/v), hyperosmosis (1 M and 2.

Occurrence, characterization and antimicrobial resistance of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus isolated from meat and dairy products.

Staphylococcus aureus is considered to be one of the leading causes of food-borne illnesses. Milk, dairy products and meats are often contaminated with enterotoxigenic strains of this bacterium. Foodstuff contamination may occur directly from infected food-producing animals or may result from poor hygiene during production processes, or the retail and storage of foods, since humans may carry the microorganism.