The 2005 Italian Quality Control Study for the evaluation of CD4 cells in centers involved in the treatment of HIV type 1 patients.

We report the results of an external quality control program, including 17 Italian centers involved in the care of patients infected by HIV, to evaluate CD4 T cell count proficiency and reproducibility. The centers received two commercial stabilized blood preparations, one with "normal" and one with "low" CD4 T cell content. The centers were asked to process the samples two times, 1 week apart, with the same procedure used for samples from HIV patients.

Virological characterization of patients treated early is able to control HIV-1 replication after multiple cycles of structured therapy interruption.

This study aimed to define clinical and virological parameters associated with spontaneous control of HIV replication in patients having initiated HAART during primary HIV infection, who underwent structured therapy interruption by two protocols with either fixed or HIV viremia-guided scheme. At the end of the protocol all patients were changed to viremia-guided scheme and observed for 12 months (follow-up). Patients maintaining HIV viremia below the indications for resumption of HAART during the follow-up, were defined controllers, those who had to resume HAART were defined non-controllers.

SV40 and HIV sequences in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with AIDS dementia complex.

Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases that occur in HIV-positive patients are mainly due to HIV itself or to opportunistic microorganisms. Polyomavirus JCV, BKV and SV40 have been associated with encephalopathies in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. To investigate the presence of Polyomavirus DNA sequences in patients affected by CNS disorders, 82 CSF samples from 70 HIV-positive and 12 HIV-negative patients were analyzed by PCR.

Realization and characterization of a two-photon four-qubit linear cluster state.

We report on the experimental realization of a four-qubit linear cluster state via two photons entangled both in polarization and linear momentum. This state was investigated by performing tomographic measurements and by evaluating an entanglement witness. By use of this state we carried out a novel nonlocality proof, the so-called "stronger two observer all-versus-nothing" test of quantum nonlocality.

FHIT oncosuppressor gene expression profile in human anal cancers.

The FHIT gene, a member of the histidine triad gene family, is a tumor suppressor gene exhibiting deletions in the majority of human cancers. Aberrant transcripts of this gene have been found in about 50% of esophageal, stomach and colon carcinomas. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in malignant transformation of the lining cells of the anus.

Chronic sub-lethal oxidative stress by spermine oxidase overactivity induces continuous DNA repair and hypersensitivity to radiation exposure.

In the aging process and in most degenerative diseases, the oxidant by-products of cellular metabolism lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays an important role in switching from cell proliferation to its opposite outcome, cell death. The metabolic pathways in charge of the interconversion and degradation of the polyamines are responsible for oxidant by-products.

Prognostic significance of adiponectin levels in non-metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Circulating adiponectin levels are inversely correlated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study was designed to evaluate the association between adiponectin levels and the clinicopathological variables of CRC and to analyze the possible prognostic value of adiponectin in predicting relapse-free survival.

Patients And Methods: Baseline adiponectin and serum tumor markers were analyzed in 60 patients with non-metastatic CRC followed-up from time of surgery for at least three years or until relapse.

Enhancing the violation of the einstein-podolsky-rosen local realism by quantum hyperentanglement.

Mermin's observation [Phys. Rev. Lett.

Influence of GBV-C infection on the endogenous activation of the IFN system in HIV-1 co-infected patients.

Background: GB virus C (GBV-C) co-infection is associated with a better prognosis in HIV-infected persons. Since interferon activation can be one of the possible mechanisms involved in GBV-C-driven protection against HIV, we compared the endogenous activation of the interferon system in PBMC from GBV-C-positive and -negative patients infected with HIV-1.

Methods: The expression of interferon related genes was analyzed in 20 GBV-C positive and 20 GBV-C-negative HIV-infected patients, comparable in terms of CD4 cell counts and HIV viral loads.

Simian virus 40 sequences in an AIDS patient with a cerebral lesion: a case report.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA sequences were found, by PCR analysis followed by filter hybridization, in the cerebrospinal fluid of a 29-y-old male affected by AIDS with an undefined cerebral lesion. This case illustrates the need to consider the SV40 polyomavirus among viral agents potentially responsible of encephalitis and neurological disorders in AIDS patients.

Multiple effects of somatostatin analogs verified in three cases of metastasized neuroendocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic system.

Aims And Background: In neuroendocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) system, radiolabeled analogs of somatostatin (SST) are useful to the surgeon in different phases of treatment: preoperatively, to identify the lesion with somato-statin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), intraoperatively for localization using a hand-held gamma probe, and postoperatively acting directly to eliminate any residual tumor cells. Additional features of these analogs that are of value in treating such GEP tumors include their antiproliferative potential, which is in the process of being verified, and, above all, their anti-secretory action, so effective in symptom control. In this study the authors, based on their own experience, evaluate the effectiveness of SST analogs in treating GEP endocrine tumors.

Bovine herpesvirus 4 based vector interaction with liver cells in vitro and in vivo.

Gene transfer into hepatocytes is highly desirable for the long-term goal of replacing deficient proteins and correcting metabolic disorders. Bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) based vector capability to transduce rat liver cells in vitro and in vivo was assessed. For the in vitro study, a buffalo rat liver cell line was successfully transduced by BoHV-4 and although did not show toxicity, the immediate early two viral gene was transcribed and cells harboring the intact viral genome could be pharmacologically selected, but no viral replication took place.

Incomplete humeral condylar fracture in two English Pointer dogs.

Incomplete humeral condylar fracture was diagnosed by means of radiology, CT, scintigraphy, arthroscopy and bone biopsy in two English Pointer dogs. In both cases an acute thoracic limb lameness, unrelated to a known episode of major trauma, was observed. Incomplete humeral condylar fracture, mainly described in the Spaniel breeds, has been recently diagnosed in Labrador retrievers, Rottweiler, German Wachtel and other breeds.

Peri-prosthetic bone density after implantation of a custom-made femoral component. A five-year follow-up.

Peri-prosthetic bone loss caused by stress shielding may be associated with aseptic loosening of femoral components. In order to increase primary stability and to reduce stress shielding, a three-dimensional, cementless individual femoral (Evolution K) component was manufactured using pre-operative CT scans. Using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, peri-prosthetic bone density was measured in 43 patients, three months, six months, 3.

Realization of a minimal disturbance quantum measurement.

We report the first experimental realization of an "optimal" quantum device able to perform a minimal disturbance measurement on polarization encoded qubits saturating the theoretical boundary established between the classical knowledge acquired of any input state, i.e., a "classical guess," and the fidelity of the same state after disturbance due to measurement.

Specific features of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients over 70 years of age.

Background And Objectives: Among the geriatric population, there is a lower incidence of thyroid carcinoma (TC), but it accounts for 30% of all thyroid disorders compared to 6-8% in younger subjects. Prognosis, moreover, is worse in the elderly, as demonstrated by the fact that 81% of deaths related to these tumors occur in patients over 55. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the characteristics of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) peculiar to the elderly.

All-versus-nothing nonlocality test of quantum mechanics by two-photon hyperentanglement.

We report the experimental realization and the characterization of polarization and momentum hyperentangled two-photon states, generated by a new parametric source of correlated photon pairs. By adoption of these states an "all-versus-nothing" test of quantum mechanics was performed. The two-photon hyperentangled states are expected to find at an increasing rate a widespread application in state engineering and quantum information.

Realization of an optimally distinguishable multiphoton quantum superposition.

We report the realization of an entangled quantum superposition of M approximately 12 photons by multiple universal cloning of a single-photon qubit via the high gain, quantum-injected optical parametric amplification. The system has been found extremely resilient to decoherence. By quantum tomography, the nonseparability and the quantum superposition are demonstrated for the mesoscopic output state of the dynamic "closed system.

Biological effects of a software-controlled voltage pulse generator (PhyBack PBK-2C) on the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Background: Electrical stimulation (ES) may induce vascular permeability and physiological angiogenesis. ES of rat muscles significantly increases the microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels. Thus, a pilot study was designed to analyze the effects of low-voltage electric impulses on VEGF levels in patients with dystrophic ulcers.