Circulating cell free DNA and citrullinated histone H3 as useful biomarkers of NETosis in endometrial cancer.

Background: Cancer mortality is mainly caused by organ failure and thrombotic events. It has been demonstrated that NETosis, a chromatin release mechanism implemented by neutrophils, may contribute to these lethal systemic effects. Our aim was to investigate NETosis biomarkers in endometrial cancer (EC).

STAT3 induces breast cancer growth via ANGPTL4, MMP13 and STC1 secretion by cancer associated fibroblasts.

In the tumor microenvironment, Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) become activated by cancer cells and increase their secretory activity to produce soluble factors that contribute to tumor cells proliferation, invasion and dissemination to distant organs. The pro-tumorigenic transcription factor STAT3 and its canonical inducer, the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, act conjunctly in a positive feedback loop that maintains high levels of IL-6 secretion and STAT3 activation in both tumor and stromal cells. Here, we demonstrate that STAT3 is essential for the pro-tumorigenic functions of murine breast cancer CAFs both in vitro and in vivo, and identify a STAT3 signature significantly enriched for genes encoding for secreted proteins.

Analysis of MYO-Inositol effect on spermatozoa motility, in hyper viscous ejaculates and in patients with grades II and III varicocele.

The goal of this study is to evaluate MYOInositol effects on spermatozoa motility, in patients' ejaculates with severe varicocele or hyper viscosity. The study included normal viscosity ejaculate from 30 patients affected by varicocele and hyper viscosity ejaculate from 33 patients without any testicular pathologies. All selected samples showed sperm concentration > 2 million/ml and progressive motility < 32%.

Involvement of seminal leukocytes, reactive oxygen species, and sperm mitochondrial membrane potential in the DNA damage of the human spermatozoa.

Measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing leukocytes in semen has been a standard component of the semen analysis, but its true significance remains still unknown. In this study, we have correlated the number of seminal leukocytes to various semen parameters. We found a negative correlation between the leukocyte number and sperm concentration (rs  = -0.

Improved blastocyst formation with reduced culture volume: comparison of three different culture conditions on 1128 sibling human zygotes.

Purpose: The aim of the present randomized, comparative study was to evaluate the effect of reduced culture volumes on sibling human embryo development.

Methods: Firstly, sibling injected oocytes obtained from 88 out of 165 consenting couples undergoing infertility treatment were cultured either in large (35 μl) or in small drops (15 μl) of culture medium. Secondly, sibling injected oocytes from 77 couples were cultured either in large (35 μl) or in mini drops (7 μl).

Comparative genomic hybridization selection of blastocysts for repeated implantation failure treatment: a pilot study.

The aim of this study is to determine if the use of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) by array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) and transfer of a single euploid blastocyst in patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) can improve clinical results. Three patient groups are compared: 43 couples with RIF for whom embryos were selected by array CGH (group RIF-PGS), 33 couples with the same history for whom array CGH was not performed (group RIF NO PGS), and 45 good prognosis infertile couples with array CGH selected embryos (group NO RIF PGS). A single euploid blastocyst was transferred in groups RIF-PGS and NO RIF PGS.

Traditional intracytoplasmic sperm injection provides equivalent outcomes compared with human zona pellucida-bound selected sperm injection.

The capability of human zona pellucida (ZP) to bind selectively to normal functional sperm with normal chromatin has been reported widely in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ZP-binding sperm selection may represent a method to retrieve superior spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Patients were divided into two groups: a ZP-ICSI and a conventional ICSI group.

Cell death in fetal oocytes: many players for multiple pathways.

We devised a short-term culture system allowing us to define novel characteristics of programmed cell death (PCD) of fetal oocytes and to underscore new aspects of this process. Mouse fetal oocytes cultured in conditions allowing meiotic progression underwent apoptotic degeneration as revealed by TUNEL staining, DNA ladder, Annexin V binding, PARP cleavage and, usually, caspase activation. TEM observations show, however, recurrent atypical apoptotic morphologies characterized by the absence of chromatin margination and nuclear fragmentation; oocytes with autophagic and necrotic features are also observed.

Analysis of programmed cell death in mouse fetal oocytes.

We report a short-term culture system that allows to define novel characteristic of programmed cell death (PCD) in fetal oocytes and to underscore new aspects of this process. Mouse fetal oocytes cultured in conditions allowing meiotic prophase I progression underwent apoptotic degeneration waves as revealed by TUNEL staining. TEM observations revealed recurrent atypical apoptotic morphologies characterized by the absence of chromatin margination and nuclear fragmentation; oocytes with autophagic and necrotic features were also observed.

Isolation of apoptotic mouse fetal oocytes by AnnexinV assay.

Expression of phosphotidylserine by fetal oocytes in culture renders significant numbers of such cells able to bind AnnexinV-coated microbeads and allows their separation from Annexin V-negative oocytes on a Magnetic Cell Separation (MACS) column in a magnetic field. The majority of oocytes (> or =75%) which bound Annexin V-coated microbeads were viable, as indicated by their propidium iodine (PI) negativity. However, they showed apoptotic morphologies and were found to be TUNEL-positive.

Role of endogenous reverse transcriptase in murine early embryo development.

We report that a reverse transcriptase (RT) activity is present in early cleavage stage embryos as determined by a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection assay. In an attempt to establish whether this activity plays a role in early embryonic development, we have blocked the endogenous RT by two independent approaches: (1) embryos were exposed to nevirapine, a highly specific nonnucleoside inhibitor of RT activity; (2) anti-RT antibody was microinjected into the nucleus of one blastomere of 2-cell embryos. When embryos were exposed to nevirapine in the developmental window between late 1-cell and 4-cell stages, development was arrested before the blastocyst stage.

Influence of the hormonal status on somatic, psychopathological and mood symptoms in climacteric women.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of hormonal status on somatic, psychopathological and mood symptoms in climacteric women.

Method: 122 postmenopausal women have been evaluated by the PISA-system and P.O.

[Territorial research on the availability of phytoestrogen rich foods].

Background: To verify the availability of foods containing phytoestrogens, the quality of available products, the degree of knowledge of these foods by dealers, the willingness of dealers to give cooperation in preparation of the MENFIS study, a study assessing the efficacy of a phytoestrogen rich diet on the long term effects of menopause.

Methods: Perspective research by questionnaires carried out in the herbalist's shops of Bari.

Results: For the aims of the study the herbalist's shops resulted in being the most suitable, because they were the most supplied with these products and with natural foods, with a high degree of knowledge of these foods and a helpfulness towards the users, perhaps because of the strong motivation towards this type of diet.

[Recruitment strategies for a randomized clinical study].

Background: To value the level of acceptance of the Memphis Study, (a random clinical study suggested verifying the efficacy of a diet enriched with phytoestrogens to prevent menopausal problems), and underlining the reasons which induce the acceptance or refusal of the study.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Methods: Meeting groups have been held with 82 women needing Day Hospital treatment for Menopause at III Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Bari.

Spontaneous and induced release of prostaglandins, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by placental tissue from normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

Problem: The objective of this study was to clarify the role of the main proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and how these cytokines affect one another and the production of prostaglandins (PGs).

Method Of Study: The concentrations of cytokines and PGs in supernatants of placental tissue from preeclamptic and normal women were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The concentrations of the PGs from unstimulated preeclamptic placental tissue were significantly higher compared to the concentrations of PGs from normal unstimulated placental tissue.

[Phytoestrogen-containing food and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases].

Food phytestrogens and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporotic and cardiovascular disease. Phytestrogens are diphenolic compounds, widely found in plants and foods, with structural and biological estrogen-like similarities. Their anti-estrogenic effects are well known and studied due to the possibility to prevent some tumors such as breast and prostate cancer.

[Severe preeclampsia. Appropriate management and socio-cultural factors].

Background: Preeclampsia in its severe form is characterized by a high incidence of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Its prevention is therefore one of the fundamental goals of modern obstetrics.

Methods: Twenty-two women with severe preeclampsia have been perspectively examined and compared with 66 women without preeclampsia with the aim to evaluate the effect of the prenatal care and the influence of sociocultural variables.

Postmenopausal users of long-term hormonal replacement therapy: social-cultural features.

Objective: To study of influence of social-cultural factors on the effects of long-term hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in preventing cardiovascular disease and menopausal osteoporosis.

Method: We examined, perspectively the social-cultural features of 394 postmenopausal women who attended the menopausal out-patient department and were eligible for long term HRT.

Results: The HRT users were thinner and younger, with earlier menopause, physically more active, healthier, with more oophorectomies and with more professional work.

[Breast cancer in pregnancy. Resistance to screening].

Background: An increasing number of women decide to become pregnant after 30 years of age, an age which begins to superimpose that of greater incidence of breast cancer, and therefore an ever-increasing number of women are destined to become pregnant during the growth of their cancers. Pregnancy associated breast cancer has a worse prognosis, but this prognosis is caused mainly from a delay in the diagnosis; for this reason the aims of this study have been to ascertain the reasons for this delay.

Methods: A sample of 500 pregnant women at term at the age of over 30 years spontaneously applied to the II Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Bari, were perspectively examined through a questionnaire about non-instrumental breast checks carried out during the pregnancy.

[The multipara today: a socio-biological analysis].

Objective: To evaluate if and in which way work affects the choice of pregnancy and what is the outcome of pregnancy in multipara.

Methods: A retrospective study of 820 women who delivered at the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology II at the University of Bari, in the period 1993-1996 was performed.

Sexuality in the climacterium.

A retrospective study on 421 women who spontaneously attended the Menopausal Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction at Bari University has been carried out to evaluate the incidence of the decrease of libido in climacterium and factors that affect it. The results show a high incidence of decreased libido (46%) and a correlation with age, dyspareunia and housewife status.

Smoking and menopause.

A retrospective study on 293 women who attended the Physiopathology of Human Reproduction menopausal out-patient clinic at Bari University Hospital throughout 1995, has been carried out to evaluate correlations between smoking and climacteric syndrome. From the data we have discovered an earlier onset of menopause in the smokers. Fewer smokers were married and they worked more, drank more, and were more educated.

[Incidence of climacteric syndrome].

A retrospective study on 300 women who attended the menopausal out-patient clinic of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction at Bari University Hospital from 1994 to 1995, was carried out to evaluate the incidence of climacteric syndrome in premenopause together with its correlations with the social and cultural environment. The results don't show differences between spontaneous and surgical menopause, and minor differences with premenopause. No relationship has been discovered between the onset of the menarche and the onset of spontaneous menopause.