[Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant woman and newborn infant].

The Chilean Society of Infectology, through its Neonatal Infections Committee in conjunction with the Chilean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, propose a document for the Diagnosis and Management of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Pregnant Woman and Newborn Infant. This guideline suggests the management of mother and child infection, its diagnostic and therapeutic options. Considers the global and Latin American epidemiology, with recommendations for clinical and laboratory evaluation; diagnostic criteria, therapeutic approaches according to the clinical situation, analyzes prevention measures and establishes a national proposal for monitoring this disease.

[Prevalence of anal-vaginal colonization of Streptococcus agalactiae in third trimester of pregnancy and susceptibility to macrolides and lincosamides, in pregnant women controlled at Clínica Alemana Temuco, Southern Chile].

Introduction: Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is the most common agent in early neonatal sepsis. Strategies incorporating universal screening for maternal colonization show the lowest rates of perinatal infection. A significant increase in resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin by GBS has been reported around the world.

Maternal hypercholesterolemia in pregnancy associates with umbilical vein endothelial dysfunction: role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and arginase II.

Objective: Human pregnancy that courses with maternal supraphysiological hypercholesterolemia (MSPH) correlates with atherosclerotic lesions in fetal arteries. It is known that hypercholesterolemia associates with endothelial dysfunction in adults, a phenomenon where nitric oxide (NO) and arginase are involved. However, nothing is reported on potential alterations in the fetoplacental endothelial function in MSPH.

[Streptococcus agalactiae increase in resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin in vaginal-anal colonization in third quarter of pregnancy in one decade of universal screening].

Introduction: Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is the main causative agent of early perinatal sepsis. The acquisition of prevention policies has led to frequent use of intrapartum antibiotics. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is indispensable for defining drugs of choice and alternatives for such prophylaxis.

[Laboratory diagnosis of Treponema pallidum infection in patients with early syphilis and neurosyphilis through a PCR-based test].

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum. The diagnosis is based mainly in clinical presentation and non-specific assays. PCR-based diagnosis has been suggested as an attractive alternative method.

Functional link between adenosine and insulin: a hypothesis for fetoplacental vascular endothelial dysfunction in gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a syndrome compromising the health of the mother and the fetus. Endothelial damage and reduced metabolism of the vasodilator adenosine occur and fetal hyperinsulinemia associated with deficient insulin response and a metabolic rather than mitogenic phenotype is characteristic of this pathology. These phenomena lead to endothelial dysfunction of the fetoplacental unit.

The clinical impact of pathological review on selection the treatment modality for localized prostate cancer in candidates for brachytherapy monotherapy.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of pathological review by pathologist with genitourinary expertise (PGU) on treatment modality of localized prostate cancer, we analyzed Gleason grade (GG) migration and the final treatment decision in a cohort of patients designated for permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB).

Methods: From February 2005 to July 2010, a total of 247 patients with localized prostate cancer diagnosed by local community hospitals were referred to our hospital for PPB monotheray. All pathologic slides of prostate biopsies were reviewed by a single PGU.

Detection and isolation of nanobacteria-like particles from urinary stones: long-withheld data.

Objectives: To report our experimental results on detection and isolation of nanobacteria-like particles (NLP) from urinary stone samples.

Methods: From March 2001 to August 2003, 47 urinary stone samples from Japanese patients and 18 from Paraguayan patients were collected and used for compositional analysis, direct survey of NLP by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their cultural isolation. For the isolation, culturing was carried out using strict aseptic techniques.

Expression of REIC/Dkk-3 in normal and hyperproliferative epidermis.

Dickkopf (Dkk) family members are known as Wnt modulators involved in the development, cell growth/differentiation and cancer. REIC/Dkk-3, which does not interfere with Wnt signalling, has been proposed to be a tumor suppressor gene, but its physiological function has remained unclear. In this study, we analysed the expression of REIC/Dkk-3 in normal interfollicular epidermis (IFE) and hyperproliferative epidermis.

Insulin-stimulated L-arginine transport requires SLC7A1 gene expression and is associated with human umbilical vein relaxation.

Insulin causes endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vascular relaxation, and increases L-arginine transport via cationic amino acid transporter 1 (hCAT-1) and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and activity in human umbilical vein endothelium (HUVEC). We studied insulin effect on SLC7A1 gene (hCAT-1) expression and hCAT-transport activity role in insulin-modulated human fetal vascular reactivity. HUVEC were used for L-arginine transport and L-[(3) H]citrulline formation (NOS activity) assays in absence or presence of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) or L-lysine (L-arginine transport inhibitors).

Intraperitoneal administration of an adenovirus vector carrying REIC/Dkk-3 suppresses peritoneal dissemination of scirrhous gastric carcinoma.

Expression levels of the novel tumor suppressor gene REIC/Dkk-3 are reduced in many human cancers. We have previously showed that an adenovirus vector carrying REIC/Dkk-3 (Ad-REIC) induced apoptosis of cancer cells selectively and exerted bystander antitumor effects via ER stress. We examined possible effects of Ad-REIC in a peritoneal dissemination model of scirrhous gastric carcinoma (SGC).

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitors (HAI-1 and HAI-2) are potential targets in uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitors (HAI-1 and HAI-2) are Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors that have a broad inhibitory spectrum against serine proteases. This study examined the role of HAI-1 and HAI-2 in uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) patients, and in vitro. HAI-1 and HAI-2 was examined in uterine normal smooth muscle, leiomyoma and LMS specimens using immunohistochemistry.

Indications for ureteropyeloscopy based on radiographic findings and urine cytology in detection of upper urinary tract carcinoma.

Objective: To verify the indication of diagnostic ureteropyeloscopy based on clinical features for upper urinary tract urothelial cancer with over 100 patients and over a 10-year series.

Methods: From January 1997 to December 2008, consecutive 129 units in 124 patients underwent ureteropyeloscopy to obtain a definitive diagnosis of upper urinary tract cancer or to rule out a malignancy. Patients were divided into four subgroups based on voided urine cytology and preoperative radiographic findings: group A (n = 8), positive urine cytology and positive radiographic findings; group B (n = 4), positive cytology and negative radiographic findings; group C (n = 55), negative cytology and positive radiographic findings and group D (n = 62), gross hematuria originating from the upper urinary tract with negative cytology and negative radiographic findings.

Down-regulation of BiP/GRP78 sensitizes resistant prostate cancer cells to gene-therapeutic overexpression of REIC/Dkk-3.

We have recently shown that an adenovirus carrying REIC/Dkk-3 (Ad-REIC) exhibits a potent tumor-specific cell-killing function for various human cancers. It has also become evident that some human cancers are resistant to Ad-REIC-induced apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the molecular mechanisms of resistance to Ad-REIC.

The role of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) as a prognostic indicator in cervical cancer.

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) is a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor that has a broad inhibitory spectrum against serine proteases. This is the first study to investigate the role of HAI-1 and its clinical importance in cervical cancer. We attempted to investigate the inhibitory effects of HAI-1 using cervical carcinoma cell lines SiHa with integrated human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and HeLa with integrated HPV 18.

Expression of matriptase and clinical outcome of human endometrial cancer.

Background: Matriptase, a type II transmembrane serine protease is involved in angiogenesis, degradation of extracellular matrix and in progression of some epithelial cancers. The purpose of the present study was to examine matriptase expression and evaluate its clinicopathological significance in endometrial cancer.

Patients And Methods: Matriptase expression was examined in normal endometrium (n=20), endometrial hyperplasia (n=11) and endometrial cancer (n=65) samples.

Overexpression of REIC/Dkk-3 in normal fibroblasts suppresses tumor growth via induction of interleukin-7.

We previously showed that the tumor suppressor gene REIC/Dkk-3, when overexpressed by an adenovirus (Ad-REIC), exhibited a dramatic therapeutic effect on human cancers through a mechanism triggered by endoplasmic reticulum stress. Adenovirus vectors show no target cell specificity and thus may elicit unfavorable side effects through infection of normal cells even upon intra-tumoral injection. In this study, we examined possible effects of Ad-REIC on normal cells.

Expression of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitors (HAI-1 and HAI-2) in ovarian cancer.

In light of the poor prognosis for ovarian cancer, research continues for innovative and efficacious treatment modalities. It is now widely accepted that new approaches for the treatment of ovarian cancers are pivotal to further improve the prognosis of this disease. We investigated the role of HAI-1 and HAI-2, and evaluated their clinical importance in ovarian cancer.

Mechanistic analysis of resistance to REIC/Dkk-3-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells.

We have recently shown that a new therapeutic modality using the REIC/Dkk-3 gene (Ad-REIC) is effective against various human cancers, including those of prostate, testis and breast origins. The aim of the present study was to examine the sensitivity of bladder cancers to Ad-REIC and to clarify the molecular mechanisms that determine sensitivity/resistance. We found that 2 human bladder cancer cell lines, T24 and J82, are resistant to Ad-REIC.

Down-regulation of inhibition of differentiation-1 via activation of activating transcription factor 3 and Smad regulates REIC/Dickkopf-3-induced apoptosis.

REIC/Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3), a tumor suppressor gene, has been investigated in gene therapy studies. Our previous study suggested that REIC/Dkk-3-induced apoptosis mainly resulted from phosphorylation of c-Jun-NH(2) kinase (JNK) in prostate cancer cells. However, the precise mechanisms, especially the molecular mechanisms regulating JNK phosphorylation, remain unclear.

An N-terminal 78 amino acid truncation of REIC/Dkk-3 effectively induces apoptosis.

Overexpression of REIC/Dkk-3 (a tumor suppressor gene) induces cancer cell apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Therefore, the identification of the portion of REIC/Dkk-3 that causes ER stress may be essential for the development of cancer treatment based on REIC/Dkk-3. Here, we made several truncated forms of REIC/Dkk-3 and investigated their therapeutic potentials against prostate cancer.

Hepsin inhibits the cell growth of endometrial cancer.

Currently, several therapeutic approaches including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are available for the treatment of endometrial cancer. However, endometrial cancer cells may survive, resulting in relapse of the disease, and ultimately causing demise of the patient. Hepsin is a cell surface-expressed chymotrypsin-like serine protease and a member of the family of type II transmembrane serine proteases.

Orthotopic ileal neobladder versus sigmoidal neobladder: a "quality of life" (QOL) survey.

To compare the quality of life (QOL) in patients with ileal neobladder and sigmoidal neobladder, a retrospective survey was conducted using a formulated questionnaire. Between January and March 1999, a QOL survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, IPSS, supplemented with detailed questionnaires about continence, sexual function, and patient's satisfaction with the selected urinary diversion method) for 78 patients with orthotopic urinary reservoir (OUR) who were followed-up for more than 3 months after cystectomy. Among 78 patients, 63 had OUR using an ileal segment (male/female=59/4, median age: 70.

Heat shock proteins play a crucial role in tumor-specific apoptosis by REIC/Dkk-3.

We recently showed that overexpression of REIC/Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3), a tumor suppressor gene, induced apoptosis in a tumor cell-specific manner. The aim of the present study was to determine the mechanisms underlying the selective induction of apoptosis. At first, we found a mouse renal carcinoma cell line, RENCA, to be extremely sensitive to an adenovirus carrying REIC/Dkk-3 (Ad-REIC), and we showed that activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was a critical step in cell death, i.