The role of the general practictioner in the management of urinary calculi.

Background: The prevalence of kidney stones tends to increase worldwide due to dietary and climate changes. Disease management involves a high consumption of healthcare system resources which can be reduced with primary prevention measures and prophylaxis of recurrences. In this field, collaboration between general practitioners (GPs) and hospitals is crucial.

Genome analysis of sphingolipid metabolism-related genes in Tetrahymena thermophila and identification of a fatty acid 2-hydroxylase involved in the sexual stage of conjugation.

Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids present in all eukaryotes. Tetrahymena thermophila is a ciliate that displays remarkable sphingolipid moieties, that is, the unusual phosphonate-linked headgroup ceramides, present in membranes. To date, no identification has been made in this organism of the functions or related genes implicated in sphingolipid metabolism.

Arterial hypertension and female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.

Purpose: To evaluate female sexual dysfunction in hypertensive postmenopausal women and the effects of antihypertensive therapy.

Materials And Methods: Female sexual dysfunction was assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in three groups of postmenopausal patients: normotensive women (group A: 240 women), hypertensive women without therapy (group B: 220 women), hypertensive women on therapy (group C: 80 women).

Results: The incidence of female sexual dysfunction was increased in group B compared to groups A and C.

Highlighting chromosome loops in DNA-picked chromatin (DPC).

Growing evidence supports the concept that dynamic intra- and inter-chromosomal links between specific loci contribute to the creation of cell-type specific gene expression profiles. Therefore, analysis of the establishment of peculiar functional correlations between sites, also distant on linear DNA, that govern the transcriptional process appears to be of fundamental relevance. We propose here an experimental approach showing that 17β-estradiol-induced transcription associates to formation of loops between the promoter and termination regions of hormone-responsive genes.

Identification of a functional estrogen-responsive enhancer element in the promoter 2 of PRDM2 gene in breast cancer cell lines.

The retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc-finger (RIZ) gene, also known as PRDM2, encodes two protein products, RIZ1 and RIZ2, differing for the presence of a 202 aa domain, called PR domain, at the N-terminus of the RIZ1 molecule. While the histone H3 K9 methyltransferase activity of RIZ1 is associated with the negative control of cell proliferation, no information is currently available on either expression regulation of the RIZ2 form or on its biological activity. RIZ proteins act as ER co-activators and promote optimal estrogen response in female reproductive tissues.

Expression of RIZ1 protein (Retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger protein 1) in prostate cancer epithelial cells changes with cancer grade progression and is modulated in vitro by DHT and E2.

The nuclear protein methyl-transferase Retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger protein 1 (RIZ1) is considered to be a downstream effector of estrogen action in target tissues. Silencing of RIZ1 expression is common in many tumors. We analyzed RIZ1 expression in normal and malignant prostate tissue and evaluated whether estradiol (E2) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment modulated RIZ1 in cultured prostate epithelial cells (PEC).

Silencing of YY1 downregulates RIZ1 promoter in human osteosarcoma.

RIZ1 isoform, but not RIZ2, is commonly silenced in many types of tumors. In osteosarcoma cells, RIZ1 protein is very abundant. The silencing of YY1 protein, a recent target gene in osteosarcoma cells, reduced the expression of RIZ1 protein.

Modulation of RIZ gene expression is associated to estradiol control of MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation.

The retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc-finger (RIZ) gene, a member of the nuclear protein methyltransferase superfamily, is characterized by the presence of the N-terminal PR domain. The RIZ gene encodes for two proteins, RIZ1 and RIZ2. While RIZ1 contains the PR (PRDI-BF1 and RIZ homologous) domain, RIZ2 lacks it.

The Zn-finger domain of RIZ protein promotes MCF-7 cell proliferation.

In order to understand the oncogenic properties of retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger (RIZ) gene products, we produced an MCF-7-derived cell line expressing a fusion protein containing the zinc-finger (aa 359-497) domain of RIZ protein (MCF-7/znf). The Zn-finger domain contains three of the eight putative Zn-finger motifs and is located in proximity of the E1A-like domain containing the Rb protein-binding motif. The MCF-7/znf cells showed a higher growth rate than the parental or the control cell lines, both in hormone-deprived conditions or upon estrogen stimulation.

[Frequency of ischemic cardiopathy in different types of work activities].

The Authors refer the Health Surveillance outcomes on 3185 workers of Campania region from 1996 to 2001: CHD frequencies and relationship between the individual (age, BMI, smoking, serum cholesterol) and the occupational risks factors (work strain and shift). All risk factors increase the frequencies of CHD, but the work strain and the shift determinate an upper increase of the relative risk. The Authors suggest far reaching programs of Health Surveillance, useful to define and to control the specific work risks and to improve the worksite health promotion.

Traffic pollutants affect fertility in men.

Background: Given the lack of consensus about the effect of traffic-derived pollutants on male fertility, we evaluated semen quality in men occupationally exposed to traffic.

Methods: Semen quality was investigated in 85 men employed at motorway tollgates and in 85 age-matched men living in the same area. Semen, circulating sex hormones, methaemoglobin, sulphaemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin, lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) protoporphyrin were assayed.

Cytokine pattern in postmenopause.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the pattern of serum cytokine production in postmenopausal women and the relationship with the hormonal status. A group of fertile women served as controls.

Methods: Eighty-two women in apparent good health, non-smokers and without a history of hormone replacement therapy, were enrolled for the study.

Serum concentration of free T3, free T4 and TSH in healthy children.

Objective: It is rare that manufacturers report age-related FT3, FT4 and TSH normal ranges in healthy children.

Study Design: Using a solid phase time-resolved fluoroimmunometric method, we determined serum FT3, FT4 and TSH in 3,360 healthy children, age 2-16 years, that we grouped into two age ranges (2-7 yr and 9-16 yr).

Results: Boys' and girls' mean serum thyroid hormone values substantially overlap in all age groups.

Differentiation of myeloid cell lines correlates with a selective expression of RIZ protein.

Background: The retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger gene RIZ is expressed in two forms (RIZ1 and RIZ2) that differ for the presence near the N-terminus of RIZ1 of a conserved domain, defined PR (PRDI-BF1-RIZ homology), homologous to a similar domain present in other proteins recognized as tumor suppressor gene products. The RIZ1 form is usually absent or expressed at low levels in tumor cells, whereas RIZ2 is frequently expressed. We investigated a possible involvement of RIZ1 in differentiation control using a myeloid cell maturation model that is easily modulated by retinoids and other agents.

Serum anti-p53 antibodies in lung cancer: comparison with established tumor markers.

As reported earlier, p53 antibodies are detected in the sera of patients with different types of cancer, including lung cancer. In contrast, in the serum of healthy subjects the presence of anti-p53 antibodies is extremely rare. We collected the venous blood samples of 109 patients affected with lung cancer (LC): 57 patients (46 M, 11 F) with non-small-cell carcinoma (NSCLC), 52 others (40 M, 12 F) with small-cell carcinoma (SCLC).

Loss of estrogen receptor beta expression in malignant human prostate cells in primary cultures and in prostate cancer tissues.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) beta and alpha genes in normal (N) and malignant (C) primary cultures of human prostate epithelial cells (PEC) and fibroblasts (PFC) and in the prostate tissue donors. Both ERbeta and ERalpha messenger ribonucleic acids were found by RT-PCR analysis in six NPECs and normal prostate tissues and in only one of six CPECs and in the respective cancer tissue donor. The other five CPECs and related cancer tissue donors and all normal and cancer PFCs expressed ERalpha messenger ribonucleic acid alone.

Estradiol induces functional inactivation of p53 by intracellular redistribution.

Estrogen treatment of MCF-7 cells grown in serum-free medium induced a modification of the intracellular distribution of p53 protein. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining showed that p53 was localized in the nucleus of untreated cell and that after 48 h of hormone treatment, it was mostly localized in the cytoplasm. This effect was blocked by the antiestrogen ICI182,780.

Gamma1- and gamma2-syntrophins, two novel dystrophin-binding proteins localized in neuronal cells.

Dystrophin is the scaffold of a protein complex, disrupted in inherited muscular dystrophies. At the last 3' terminus of the gene, a protein domain is encoded, where syntrophins are tightly bound. These are a family of cytoplasmic peripheral membrane proteins.

The retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger protein RIZ is a downstream effector of estrogen action.

Co-immunoprecipitation experiments in cell extract from cultured cells or target tissues indicated that estrogen receptor was complexed with the retinoblastoma binding protein RIZ in a ligand-dependent manner. Mapping of interaction sites indicated that in both proteins the same regions and motifs responsible for the interaction of transcriptional co-activator and nuclear receptors were involved. In cultured cells, estradiol induced a redistribution of RIZ protein within the nucleus and in the cytoplasm.

Identification of a DNA binding protein cooperating with estrogen receptor as RIZ (retinoblastoma interacting zinc finger protein).

Double-stranded DNA fragments were selected from a random pool by repeated cycles of estrogen receptor-specific immunoprecipitation in the presence of a nuclear extract and PCR amplification (cyclic amplification and selection of target, CAST, for multiple elements). Fragments were cloned and sequence analysis indicated the 5-nucleotide word TTGGC was the most recurrent sequence unrelated to the known estrogen responsive element. Screening a HeLa cell expression library with a probe designed with multiple repeats of this sequence resulted in the identification of a 1700-aa protein showing a complete homology with the product of the human retinoblastoma-interacting zinc-finger gene RIZ.

Serum-soluble E-cadherin fragments in lung cancer.

Aims And Background: E-cadherin, also known as uvomorulin or cell-CAM 120/80, is one of the subclasses of cadherins, CA(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules. Several recent studies have suggested that loss of E-cadherin may be associated with tumor progression, such as in lung, gastric, hepatocellular, breast and prostatic carcinoma. Assessment of E-cadherin serum levels in lung cancer showed a relation to histologic type.

Interaction of vault particles with estrogen receptor in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell.

A 104-kD protein was coimmunoprecipitated with the estrogen receptor from the flowtrough of a phosphocellulose chromatography of MCF-7 cell nuclear extract. mAbs to this protein identified several cDNA clones coding for the human 104-kD major vault protein. Vaults are large ribonucleoprotein particles of unknown function present in all eukaryotic cells.

Identification of the Syrian hamster cardiomyopathy gene.

The BIO14.6 hamster is a widely used model for autosomal recessive cardiomyopathy. These animals die prematurely from progressive myocardial necrosis and heart failure.