Implementing tandem mass spectrometry as a routine tool for characterizing the complete purine and pyrimidine metabolic profile in urine samples.

Purines and pyrimidines are the basic constituents of DNA and RNA and constitute the basis of at least 50 other important compounds that serve equally vital but separate roles as integral components of intracellular mononucleotide pools. They maintain the supply of these basic components to the different nucleotide pools through an extremely efficient mechanism involving the degradation and recycling of the daily waste products of normal cell turnover. We have developed an LC-MS/MS diagnostic and routine monitoring method for known defects due to both purine and pyrimidine metabolism in a single analysis.

Multidisciplinary surgical approach to a surviving infant with sirenomelia.

Sirenomelia is an extremely complex and rare malformation with different degrees of lower-extremities fusion associated with gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, vascular, cardiopulmonary, and central nervous system malformations. In the English literature, there are only 5 reports of infants surviving with this condition. In our case, a 2540-g female infant was born with normal vital signs, no facial dysmorphism, and a complete soft tissue fusion of the lower limbs, from perineum to ankles.

Electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometric investigation of phenylpropanoids and secoiridoids from solid olive residue.

This work is focused on the recovery and structural characterisation of bioactive compounds from SOR (solid olive residue), a low cost and widely available by-product in the Mediterranean basin. In the light of the interesting biological activities attributed both to secoiridoid and phenylpropanoids, the aim of this work was to carry out a systematic tandem mass spectrometric study for the identification and characterisation of these two class of compounds extracted from SOR derived from Coratina, a cultivar widely diffused in the south of Italy. Five phenylpropanoids, in addition to verbascoside, and two new secoiridoids were identified.

Formaldehyde determination in seawater. Preliminary application to coastal samples at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica).

A sensitive spectrofluorimetric-FIA (flow injection analysis) method for formaldehyde (HCHO) determination was improved with the aim of analysing seawater samples. The fluorescence emission versus HCHO concentration shows a linear pattern from sub microg L(-1) to about 1000 microg L(-1). The reproducibility at 15 ppb level is about 2%.

Chemical composition and physical features of summer aerosol at Terra Nova Bay and Dome C, Antarctica.

During the 2002-2003 austral summer field season, aerosol samples were collected at a coastal (Terra Nova Bay--Northern Victoria Land) and an inland site (Dome C--East Antarctic Plateau). The sampling was carried out by stacked filter units made up of two filters at different porosity (5.0 and 0.

Solid olive residues: insight into their phenolic composition.

Solid olive residues (SOR) are byproducts of the olive-milling process, but they have an increasing importance in the pharmaceutical industry due to their rich content of biophenols. Such compounds are studied widely for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, but there is a lack of information about their quantitative recovery. This research highlighted the key role played both by the selection of the cultivar and by the degree of olive fruit ripening on the phenolic content on the SOR.

In vivo and in vitro effects of simvastatin on inflammatory markers in pre-dialysis patients.

Background: The beneficial effects of statins in reducing cardiovascular events have been attributed predominantly to their lipid-lowering effects, recent studies suggest that these effects might be due to their anti-inflammatory properties. We here investigate the in vivo and in vitro effects of simvastatin on cytokine production in pre-dialysis chronic renal failure patients.

Methods: Our clinical study has been designed as a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study.

Abi1 regulates the activity of N-WASP and WAVE in distinct actin-based processes.

Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) and WAVE are members of a family of proteins that use the Arp2/3 complex to stimulate actin assembly in actin-based motile processes. By entering into distinct macromolecular complexes, they act as convergent nodes of different signalling pathways. The role of WAVE in generating lamellipodial protrusion during cell migration is well established.

Vascularized proximal fibular epiphyseal transfer for distal radial reconstruction.

Background: Treatment of the loss of the distal part of the radius, including the physis and epiphysis, in a skeletally immature patient requires both replacement of the osseous defect and restoration of longitudinal growth. Autologous vascularized epiphyseal transfer is the only possible procedure that can meet both requirements.

Methods: Between 1993 and 2002, six patients with a mean age of 8.

Hand reconstruction using the thin anterolateral thigh flap.

Background: Perforator flaps have been introduced for various kinds of reconstruction and resurfacing; in particular, the free thin anterolateral thigh flap is becoming one of the most preferred options for reconstruction of soft-tissue defects.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2002, the authors used this flap as a free flap for nine cases for covering hand defects after burn, crushing injuries, or severe scar contracture release. There were eight men and one woman, the mean age of the patients was 31 years, and the size of the flaps ranged from 7 x 3.

Evaluation of the phenolic content in the aerial parts of different varieties of Cichorium intybus L.

Fresh aerial parts of different chicory varieties: green chicory (c.v. "Catalogna"), two red chicory varieties ("radicchio rosso di Chioggia" and "radicchio rosso di Treviso"), and Witloof or Belgian endive were analyzed by HPLC/DAD/MS.

Atypical ductal hyperplasia of the breast: the controversial management of a borderline lesion: experience of 47 cases diagnosed at vacuum-assisted biopsy.

The present paper describes our experience of 47 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) diagnosed at vacuum-assisted biopsy. From June 1999 to December 2003, 47 consecutive diagnoses of non-palpable ADH of the breast were made by 11-gauge vacuum-assisted biopsy (Mammotome). Of these, 17 were subjected to surgical excision and 11 underwent a second Mammotome at the site of the previous vacuum-assisted biopsy.

Ternary CdSxSe 1-x deposited on Ag(111) by ECALE: synthesis and characterization.

Morphology and electronic properties of CdS, CdSe, and the ternary compounds of formula CdSxSe(1-x) deposited on Ag(111) by ECALE have been characterized as a function of the composition. The number of the attainable x values is limited by the necessity of using well-defined CdS/CdSe deposition sequences. However, the quantitative analysis carried out by XPS and electrochemical stripping experiments indicates that the ECALE method has a good control on composition.

Epiphyseal transplant: harvesting technique of the proximal fibula based on the anterior tibial artery.

Epiphyseal transplants in children were introduced into clinical practice about 20 years ago. Among possible donor sites, the proximal fibula is definitely the most popular choice, and has been used mainly for reconstruction of the proximal humerus and distal radius. Provided that an adequate blood supply both to the physis and to the diaphysis must be restored in order to obtain acceptable axial growth of the transferred fibula and a bone fusion at the osteotomy site, the choice of feeding pedicle is still a controversial issue.

The effect of growth regulators and sucrose on anthocyanin production in Camptotheca acuminata cell cultures.

The effect of different concentrations of growth regulators and sucrose on anthocyanin production in cell suspension cultures of Camptotheca acuminata Decaisne (Nyssaceae) was described for the first time and qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. Anthocyanin production was significantly greater in the presence of kinetin, compared to benzyladenine, with the greatest concentration observed in the presence of 2 microM kinetin. No significant differences in anthocyanin production were observed when comparing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid to alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, except when using 2 microM, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, which resulted in greater anthocyanin production.

WASP-related proteins, Abi1 and Ena/VASP are required for Listeria invasion induced by the Met receptor.

Internalisation of the pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes involves interactions between the invasion protein InlB and the hepatocyte growth factor receptor, Met. Using colocalisation studies, dominant-negative constructs and small interfering RNA (siRNA), we demonstrate a cell-type-dependent requirement for various WASP-related proteins in Listeria entry and InlB-induced membrane ruffling. The WAVE2 isoform is essential for InlB-induced cytoskeletal rearrangements in Vero cells.

Role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulatory isoforms in development and actin rearrangement.

Class Ia phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are heterodimers of p110 catalytic and p85 regulatory subunits that mediate a variety of cellular responses to growth and differentiation factors. Although embryonic development is not impaired in mice lacking all isoforms of the p85alpha gene (p85alpha-/- p55alpha-/- p50alpha-/-) or in mice lacking the p85beta gene (p85beta-/-) (D. A.

Metalloproteinase-7 contributes to joint destruction in Staphylococcus aureus induced arthritis.

Septic arthritis induced by Staphylococcus aureus causes a rapid destruction of joint cartilage and periarticular bone. The mechanisms behind this phenomenon are not fully understood. Earlier studies have shown that cytokines and metalloproteinases are of importance in bone metabolism.

The effect of ventral nerve cord severance and male castration on female mating behavior, clutch size, and maternal care in the ring-legged earwig.

Mating is critical for the expression of oviposition and maternal care in the earwig, Euborellia annulipes; additionally, mating diminishes receptivity to additional mating and promotes a decline in juvenile hormone synthesis at the end of the gonadotrophic cycle (in contrast to most insect species wherein mating stimulates juvenile hormone production). We report here that severance of the ventral nerve cord of virgin females similarly promoted egg deposition and maternal care of eggs, diminished mating receptivity, and elicited a timely decline in juvenile hormone biosynthesis. Mating of intact females to adult males that were castrated as larvae did not abolish oviposition; however, clutch size was reduced, and no eggs developed.

Reconstruction of large posttraumatic skeletal defects of the forearm by vascularized free fibular graft.

Vascularized bone graft is most commonly applied for reconstruction of the lower extremity; indications for its use in the reconstruction of the upper extremity have expanded in recent years. Between 1993-2000, 12 patients with segmental bone defects following forearm trauma were managed with vascularized fibular grafts: 6 males and 6 females, aged 39 years on average (range, 16-65 years). The reconstructed site was the radius in 8 patients and the ulna in 4.

Determination of chlorite in drinking water by differential pulse voltammetry on graphite.

The chlorite ion is an unavoidable by-product of the disinfection of drinking water by means of chlorine dioxide. The maximum concentration values of chlorite accepted in many countries' regulations range from 0.2 to 1.

Vascularized proximal fibular epiphyseal transfer for distal radial reconstruction.

Background: Treatment of the loss of the distal part of the radius, including the physis and epiphysis, in a skeletally immature patient requires both replacement of the osseous defect and restoration of longitudinal growth. Autologous vascularized epiphyseal transfer is the only possible procedure that can meet both requirements.

Methods: Between 1993 and 2002, six patients with a mean age of 8.

Abi1 is essential for the formation and activation of a WAVE2 signalling complex.

WAVE2 belongs to a family of proteins that mediates actin reorganization by relaying signals from Rac to the Arp2/3 complex, resulting in lamellipodia protrusion. WAVE2 displays Arp2/3-dependent actin nucleation activity in vitro, and does not bind directly to Rac. Instead, it forms macromolecular complexes that have been reported to exert both positive and negative modes of regulation.

Imaging of vascularized fibula autograft placed inside a massive allograft in reconstruction of lower limb bone tumors.

Objective: Bone allografts and vascularized fibula autografts were combined (the fibula inside the massive allograft) for skeletal reconstruction in a homogeneous group of patients. To verify the biologic behavior of the grafts, we followed the series using conventional radiography and CT analysis.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four patients with bone tumors had intercalary segments of tibia or femur reconstructed and were followed up for 36-120 months.