Efficacy of two fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for diagnosing malignant pleural effusions.

It is difficult to differentiate tumor cells in pleural fluid from reactive benign mesothelium. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can increase diagnostic accuracy. Two hundred pleural fluid samples were analyzed by using FISH probes for chromosomes 11 and 17.

Spectroscopic evidence of the marine origin of mucilages in the Northern Adriatic Sea.

Vibrational Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-Visible spectroscopies coupled to thermogravimetry were used to characterise the gelatinous aggregates as well as the humin and humic fractions extracted from the aggregates. Spectroscopic analysis made it possible to identify the main classes of compounds present in the samples. The FTIR spectra of the aggregates showed the presence of carbohydrates, saturated aliphatic compounds, aminic, esteric, amidic (proteins) and ketonic compounds, organic and inorganic phosphates, silica and, in some cases, carbonates.

Chemical and biochemical parameters of cultured diatoms and bacteria from the Adriatic Sea as possible biomarkers of mucilage production.

Bacteria and diatom strains from the Adriatic Sea were investigated, under standard and altered environmental conditions, for carbohydrate production and for the presence of specific biomarkers. Algae from P-depleted cultures showed an increase in extracellular carbohydrate production, a significantly lower chlorophyll a content and unchanged total lipid levels. However, the fatty acid composition of algal cultures was severely affected by low P levels, in that, total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids increased and total polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased.

1H-NMR and 13C-NMR lipid profiles of human renal tissues.

Lipids from human renal tissues are studied by means of (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. The total lipid fractions obtained from healthy kidneys, malignant renal cell carcinomas, and benign oncocytomas are characterized and analyzed to elucidate the main differences between the functional and neoplastic tissues. In all cases the lipid components are well identified.

Cholesteryl esters in human malignant neoplasms.

Cholesteryl esters (CholE) were detected in human malignant neoplasms by means of in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Spectroscopic analysis of the total lipid extracts obtained from cerebral tumors revealed appreciable amount of esterified cholesterol in high grade gliomas such as glioblastomas and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, characterized by prominent neovascularity. The finding that no CholE were detected in the healthy brain and in low grade and benign tumors supports a possible correlation between this class of lipids and histological vascular proliferation.