Immunosenescence: a review.

Aging involves the morphological and functional integrity of all organs, including the cellular and humoral immunological functions. The main alterations can be listed as follows: (i) Thymic involution resulting in the decreased number of lymphoid precursor T- and B-cells. (ii) Reduced proliferative capacity of T-cells; loss of lymphocyte subgroups as a consequence of the shortening of telomeres.

Solid-phase synthesis of MEN 11270, a new cyclic peptide kinin B2 receptor antagonist.

An efficient synthesis of the cyclic decapeptide MEN 11270 [H-DArg1-Arg2 Pro3-Hyp4-Gly5-Thi6-Dab7-DTic8-Oic9-Arg10 c(7gamma - 10alpha)] was developed. Two three-dimensional orthogonal strategies were applied and compared: Fmoc/Tos/Boc (procedure A) and Fmoc/Pmc/Dde (procedure B). Both resulted in a 23-step strategy comprising the stepwise solid-phase chain assembly of the linear protected peptide, partial deprotection, solution-phase cyclization and final full deprotection.

Effect of the aromatase inhibitor, MEN 11066, on growth of two different MCF-7 sublines.

The racemate compound MEN 11066 (1-[(benzofuran-2-yl)(4'-cyanophenyl)methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole) and its enantiomers, (+)-MEN 11623 and (-)-MEN 11622, showed potent and selective aromatase activity on human placental microsomes. In addition, to better evaluate their potency as anticancer drugs, the compounds were assayed on testosterone-induced cell proliferation to measure their ability in inhibiting oestrogen-dependent tumour growth. Two different sublines originated from the human breast carcinoma MCF-7 were used.

Functional characterization of osteoblasts and osteoclasts from alkaline phosphatase knockout mice.

Tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) knockout (ko) mice manifest defects in bone mineralization that mimic the phenotypic abnormalities of infantile hypophosphatasia. In this article, we have searched for phenotypic differences between calvarial osteoblasts and osteoclasts in wild-type (wt), heterozygous and homozygous TNAP null mice. In vitro release of 45Ca from calvarial bones, with and without stimulation with parathyroid hormone (PTH), revealed no functional difference between osteoclasts from the three TNAP genotypes.

Osteoblast tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase antagonizes and regulates PC-1.

Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) is essential for bone matrix mineralization, but the central mechanism for TNAP action remains undefined. We observed that ATP-dependent (45)Ca precipitation was decreased in calvarial osteoblast matrix vesicle (MV) fractions from TNAP-/- mice, a model of infantile hypophosphatasia. Because TNAP hydrolyzes the mineralization inhibitor inorganic pyrophosphate (PP(i)), we assessed phosphodiesterase nucleotide pyrophosphatase (PDNP/NTPPPH) activity, which hydrolyzes ATP to generate PP(i).

The care of elderly, terminally ill oncological patients in caregiving sanitary residences.

A panoramic survey is outlined regarding the care system of terminally ill oncologic patients with particular regard to the elderly. National and international experiences are considered offering a caregiving service out of hospital, in small dwelling centers being able to relieve the sufferings of the last days of life. The caregiving sanitary residences and hospices are inserted in a network of services for the elderly oncological patients, representing an adequate answer for the problems.

The comorbidities of elderly oncologic patients.

The scope of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of comorbidity in elderly subjects with neoplastic diseases, and to compare it to those without tumor pathologies. Three groups of patients have been considered: (A)35 elderly oncological patients; (B)38 young/adult oncological patients; (C)25 elderly patients without oncological pathology. After clinical evaluation and pathohistological diagnostic analysis, the concomitant pathologies have been estimated by means of two methods: (i)the Satariano's score; and (ii)the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).

Two cases of prenatal analysis for the pathogenic T to G substitution at nucleotide 8993 in mitochondrial DNA.

We report the outcome of two prenatal analyses for the T to G mutation at nucleotide 8993 in the mitochondrial DNA. This mutation is associated with neurogenic muscle weakness, ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP) and the neurodegenerative condition, Leigh syndrome. One prospective mother was the sister of a severely affected individual, and had previously had an unaffected child and a stillborn child.

The efficacy of perioperative steroid therapy in pediatric primary palatoplasty.

Objective: To determine if perioperative steroid therapy benefits pediatric primary palatoplasty patients.

Design: A prospective, double-blind, randomized trial with a placebo control.

Setting: An academic medical center.

[Carcinoma of the gastric stump].

After having emphasized that carcinoma of the gastric stump represents a "major" risk in patients undergoing gastric resection, the authors describe the physiopathology of the new anatomical and functional status of the gastroenteric apparatus and underline the probable etiopathogenetic stages attributable to carcinogenesis. They then describe the treatment of this neoplasia with a marked aggressive character and conclude with the affirmation that the surgeon's efforts must be focused on the correct execution of gastroresection and the follow-up of gastro-resected patients in order to allow the early identification of precancerous conditions and therefore the commencement rational oncological prophylaxis.

Structural characterization and independent folding of a chimeric glycoprotein comprising granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and erythropoietin sequences.

MEN 11300 is a hybrid glycoprotein of 297 amino acids obtained by fusion of the cDNA encoding GM-CSF with the cDNA encoding EPO followed by transfection of the hybrid gene into CHO cells. The oligonucleotide construct incorporated a spacing sequence between the two individual cDNAs which encodes eight amino acids constituting a linker peptide intended to separate the GM-CSF and EPO moieties. The recombinant MEN 11300 protein was submitted to a detailed structural characterization including the verification of the entire amino acid sequence, the assignment of the disulfide bridges pattern, the identification of the glycosylation sites and the definition of the glycosidic moiety, including site-specificity.

[Factors involved in gingival hyperplasia caused by diphenyl hydantoin].

Background: The objective of this clinical study is to evaluate the relationship between the degree of the phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth (GO) and factors like bacterial plaque, the "individual predisposition" to develop GO and multiple drug based therapy.

Materials And Methods: During a one year period we examined 20 epileptic patients taking phenytoin alone or in association with other drugs; they underwent initial therapy and in some cases periodontal surgery.

Results: The long-term control showed that a better oral hygiene and an association of drugs may reduce the gingival overgrowth but not eliminate it.

Physical relationship between satellite I and II DNA in centromeric regions of sheep chromosomes.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes representing sheep satellite I and satellite II DNAs shows a different distribution of the two repetitive DNA families in the centromeric region of most chromosomes. The single signal per chromosome produced by the satellite I probe suggests close proximity of this DNA family to the primary constriction. Satellite II produces two separate signals on the sister chromatids, and large blocks of satellite II DNA constitute most of the short arm of all acrocentric chromosomes.

Production of recombinant human GM-CSF-EPO hybrid proteins: in vitro biological characterization.

Selective lineage differentiation depends upon the combined action of several colony-stimulating factors. Here we describe 3 human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-erythropoietin (GM-CSF-EPO) hybrid proteins generated by recombination of the relevant cDNAs. The expression vector containing the murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV) promoter and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene was used for the expression of the hybrid genes in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

A diary model for monitoring blood pressure in the elderly.

Activity can significantly change blood pressure. Twenty four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Holter method) was introduced to optimize diagnosis and the changes in blood pressure. It was flanked by the purpose to use diaries to correlate symptoms and pressure changes, pressure changes and psychophysical activity, life style and drugs.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the complications].

The authors report their experience of 48 consecutive cases of colecystectomy performed using a videolaparoscopic technique. Laparoscopic surgery was not successful in only two patients in whom it was necessary to resort to laparotomy; bile duct injury occurred in one patient. On the basis of their experience the authors conclude by affirming that this videolaparoscopic technique may be applied to almost all patients requiring cholecystectomy since it offers considerable advantages over traditional techniques.

Expression and characterization of a mouse/human chimeric antibody specific for EGF receptor.

Murine antibodies which recognize the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-r) are good candidates for therapy and diagnosis of tumors overexpressing this receptor. Here we report the isolation of the variable regions from a murine monoclonal antibody anti-EGF-r (Mint5), the procedure to obtain the mouse/human chimeric antibody (chMint5) and its expression in COS, NS0 and CHO cells. The approach followed to construct chMint5 is based on the use of consensus primers specific for the ends of the variable regions.

[Tutors and assistants for apprenticeship for students in the university diploma course in nursing science].

The article presents the results of a work carried out by a group of nurses dealing with nursing education, both graduate (Hospital School and then University) and post graduate, since about ten years. The Authors have defined role, functions, spheres of activity, hierarchic and functional relationships, qualifications and abilities of the two new professional figures quoted in the document agreed between Lombardia Region and Lombardia Universities about the new university diploma courses in Nursing Sciences: the tutor and the clinical instructor. In order to do such a work the Authors started from the literature review.

Comparison of ambulatory and clinical blood pressures, and their correlation with organic heart damage, in the elderly.

Casual blood pressure (BP) measurements may sometimes indicate the presence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but the correlations between BP values and the subsequent occurrence of such complications are low. This may depend on the known inability of casual BP measurements to reflect accurately the 24-hour mean and overall profile of the BP. In this study, electrocardiography (ECG) of left ventricular muscle mass was related to various measures of BP during circadian ambulatory BP monitoring in 156 hypertensive and non-hypertensive elderly patients.

Ophthalmoplegia, demyelinating neuropathy, leukoencephalopathy, myopathy, and gastrointestinal dysfunction with multiple deletions of mitochondrial DNA: a mitochondrial multisystem disorder in search of a name.

This article describes a 37-year-old woman with progressive external ophthalmoplegia, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic intractable diarrhea. Laboratory studies disclosed lactic acidosis, ragged red fibers lacking cytochrome c oxidase, high-normal muscular mitochondrial enzymes, demyelinating neuropathy, leukoencephalopathy and multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions. This is the fourth patient described with this clinical syndrome, which represents a separate entity among multisystemic mitochondrial disorders.

[Barrett esophagus. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects].

The authors, after a dissertation on the aetiopathogenesis of "Barrett's oesophagus", dwell on the precancerous nature of this pathology involving the oesophageal-gastric junction. Its frequent association with cancer explains the necessity for an accurate follow-up in these patients: many investigations can be useful, the radiological study of oesophagus and stomach, manometry, pH-metry, but an irrefutable diagnosis can only be achieved through endoscopy, which makes possible a histological examination of the bioptic fragments. The authors also deal with the ideal therapeutic strategy and differentiate the cases in which the pharmacological therapy is more appropriate from those that need a surgical approach.

[Carcinoma of the gallbladder. State of the art].

The authors examine the most interesting data about gallbladder cancer. They emphasize the difficulties of an useful approach to this pathology: an early diagnosis is quite impossible and the surgical treatment very disappointing.

[Sexuality of the aging male].

The paper discusses data reported in the literature concerning the sexual behaviour of elderly males and examines the role played by anatomical alterations to the genital tract, erection physiology and psycho-physical performance. The Authors review the current possibilities of treatment for sexual therapy in elderly males.