Bovine Decellularized Amniotic Membrane: Extracellular Matrix as Scaffold for Mammalian Skin.

Decellularized membranes (DM) were obtained from bovine amniotic membranes (BAM) using four different decellularization protocols, based on physical, chemical, and mechanical treatment. The new material was used as a biological scaffold for in vitro skin cell culture. The DM were characterized using hematoxylin-eosin assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

[Renal angioleiomyoma with a myogenic and melanocytic immunophenotype, as a variant of angiomyolipoma].

We present a case of a 67 year old male with a cortical nodular tumour of the left kidney. During a year's follow-up with ultrasound and MRI, the tumour was seen to increase in size by 16-20 mm. The nodule was surgically removed.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Bioartificial Polymeric System with Potential Antibacterial Activity: Chitosan-Polyvinyl Alcohol-Ampicillin.

Bio-artificial polymeric systems are a new class of polymeric constituents based on blends of synthetic and natural polymers, designed with the purpose of producing new materials that exhibit enhanced properties with respect to the individual components. In this frame, a combination of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan, blended with a widely used antibiotic, sodium ampicillin, has been developed showing a moderate behavior in terms of antibacterial properties. Thus, aqueous solutions of PVA at 1 wt.

Physical and Morphological Changes of Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) after Using Non-Thermal Plasma-Treatments.

A commercial formulation of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) sheets were surface modified by using non-thermal air at 40 kHz frequency (DC) and 13.56 MHz radiofrequency (RF) at different durations and powers. In order to assess possible changes of PTFE surface properties, zeta potential (ζ), isoelectric points (IEPs) determinations, contact angle measurements as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging were carried out throughout the experimentation.

HaCaT Keratinocytes Response on Antimicrobial Atelocollagen Substrates: Extent of Cytotoxicity, Cell Viability and Proliferation.

The effective and widely tested biocides: Benzalkonium chloride, bronopol, chitosan, chlorhexidine and irgasan were added in different concentrations to atelocollagen matrices. In order to assess how these antibacterial agents influence keratinocytes cell growth, cell viability and proliferation were determined by using MTT assay. Acquired data indicated a low toxicity by employing any of these chemical substances.

Polyphenolic extracts of edible flowers incorporated onto atelocollagen matrices and their effect on cell viability.

The phenolic extract of chives flowers (Allium schoenoprasum, Liliaceae), introduced Sage (Salvia pratensis, Lamiaceae), European elderberry (Sambucus nigra, Caprifoliaceae) and common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae) were characterised by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and incorporated in different concentrations onto atelocollagen thin films. In order to assess the biological impact of these phenolic compounds on cell viability, human immortalised non-tumorigenic keratinocyte cell line was seeded on the thin films and cell proliferation was determined by using an MTT assay. In addition, their antimicrobial activity was estimated by using an agar diffusion test.

Cell proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes on collagen films modified by argon plasma treatment.

Argon plasma treatment was used to modify the surface of atelocollagen films using a plasmochemical reactor. To evaluate the effects of the treatment, the untreated and treated samples were characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Cell growth was carried out by culturing human immortalized keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and proliferation was measured via MTT assay.

Genetic counseling in a case of congenital hemivertebrae.

A case of in utero spondylothoracic dysostoses is diagnosed during a routine third trimester ultrasound scan in a low-risk patient. Ultrasound showed spine deformation, hemivertebrae and crab-like ribs. The newborn had no other associated anomalies except inguinal hernia, and karyotype was normal.

ZNF366 is an estrogen receptor corepressor that acts through CtBP and histone deacetylases.

The regulation of gene expression by estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) requires the coordinated and temporal recruitment of diverse sets of transcriptional co-regulator complexes, which mediate nucleosome remodelling and histone modification. Using ERalpha as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we have identified a novel ERalpha-interacting protein, ZNF366, which is a potent corepressor of ERalpha activity. The interaction between ZNF366 and ERalpha has been confirmed in vitro and in vivo, and is mediated by the zinc finger domains of the two proteins.

T:G mismatch-specific thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG) as a coregulator of transcription interacts with SRC1 family members through a novel tyrosine repeat motif.

Gene activation involves protein complexes with diverse enzymatic activities, some of which are involved in chromatin modification. We have shown previously that the base excision repair enzyme thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) acts as a potent coactivator for estrogen receptor-alpha. To further understand how TDG acts in this context, we studied its interaction with known coactivators of nuclear receptors.

[Systematic review about the usefulness and prognostic value of the p53 oncoprotein and proliferation marker Ki-67 for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma].

Objectives: To perform a systematic review on the expression and prognostic value of the p 53 oncoprotein and Ki 67 proliferation marker in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Methods: A systematic review of cohort, prospective and retrospective studies from 1/1/1990 to 11/24/2003 has been undertaken, performing a bibliographic search both manual and electronic in the main databases. 632 works were found using the keywords "ureter, renal and pelvis tumor", and 14 with "ureter, renal and pelvis tumor, and immunohistochemical".

T:G mismatch-specific thymine-DNA glycosylase potentiates transcription of estrogen-regulated genes through direct interaction with estrogen receptor alpha.

Nuclear receptors (NR) classically regulate gene expression by stimulating transcription upon binding to their cognate ligands. It is now well established that NR-mediated transcriptional activation requires the recruitment of coregulator complexes, which facilitate recruitment of the basal transcription machinery through direct interactions with the basal transcription machinery and/or through chromatin remodeling. However, a number of recently described NR coactivators have been implicated in cross-talk with other nuclear processes including RNA splicing and DNA repair.