Phenotypic map of porcine retinal ganglion cells.

Purpose: Porcine retina is an excellent model for studying diverse retinal processes and diseases. The morphologies of porcine retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have, however, not yet been described comprehensively. The aim of the present study was to créate a classification of the RGCs using the 1, 1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) tracing method.

Mutations in ERCC4, encoding the DNA-repair endonuclease XPF, cause Fanconi anemia.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genomic instability disorder characterized by progressive bone marrow failure and predisposition to cancer. FA-associated gene products are involved in the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). Fifteen FA-associated genes have been identified, but the genetic basis in some individuals still remains unresolved.

CD133 is a selective marker of CRC?

Aim: The aim of our study is to evaluate the surface glycoprotein CD133 as marker of cancer stem cells, as independent prognostic pattern of survival and its positive expression ratio to a chemotherapy increased resistance.

Methods: The study include our patient, affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) and underwent to surgery at University Hospital of Parma, with curative intent, with a follow up of 5 years; 47 cases were considered. All the cancer-case was considered independently by the histological grade.

A dog's life: Multiple trauma and potential abuse in a medieval dog from Guimps (Charente, France).

Rescue excavations carried out around Guimps (Charente, France) in 2011 unearthed several medieval structures, including a silo containing a single dog burial. The animal, a young adult, exhibits numerous skeletal lesions. The excellent preservation of the remains allowed us to carry out a retrospective diagnosis and to demonstrate the presence of two independent pathologies, a radius-curvus and a medial patellar dislocation.

Use of preoperative visceral echo-color-Doppler in patients candidates to colonic surgery: preliminary report.

Aim: Postsurgical paralytic ileus is by definition an ileal paralysis longer than three days (72 hours) after a surgery on the gastrointestinal tract. At colorectal surgery we have performed on all candidates a visceral echo-color-Doppler to find a potential correlation with cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: We have tested patients undergone to colorectal surgical resection performed by laparoscopic and laparotomic surgery, looking for their atherosclerosis status using ultrasound scan, postsurgical complication, bowel digestive function, anastomotic leak.

Osteosarcoma-like divergent differentiation in sarcomatoid renal cell tumor. A rare entity whose diagnosis may be difficult.

A sarcomatoid component can occur in all histologic subtypes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and indicates an aggressive tumor. It is reported in literature that the sarcomatoid component can resemble fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma or rhabdomyosarcoma. We describe the case of a 59-years old patient diagnosed with a chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, presenting a very rare osteosarcoma-like differentiation of the sarcomatoid component.

Schwannoma mimicking a neoplastic thyroid nodule.

Schwannoma is a rare benign tumor of nerve fibers that originates from neuronal sheath cells; it is frequently located extramedullary and about 25-45 % of this type of neoplastic lesion is localized in the head and in the neck. Primary schwannoma of the thyroid gland is very uncommon. We report the case of a 50-year-old female patient affected by schwannoma of the thyroid gland underwent total thyroidectomy for nodule of the left lobe suspicious for neoplasm, without complications.

Preoperative diagnosis of THYR 3 versus follicular lesion: malignant postoperative ratio.

Aim: In the evaluation of nodular thyroid lesions, cytology is the main diagnostic instrument, associated with ultrasound examination.

Methods: We prospectively categorized into a dedicated database, 612 patients submitted to thyroidectomy from January 2009 to December 2011. We selected two groups of patients: the cases with "follicular lesions" and the cases classified as "THYR 3" using Bethesda Classification.

Impact of lymph node ratio in the colorectal cancer staging system.

Aim: Some researchers have proposed the Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) as a prognostic index for post-surgical colorectal cancer follow up.

Material And Method: Two hundred patients with colorectal cancer (ratio F/M of 2:1) were studied. Patients were divided in subgroups according to N-stage and LNR score, subgroups of LNR were made on quartiles.

Transforming and tumorigenic activity of JAK2 by fusion to BCR: molecular mechanisms of action of a novel BCR-JAK2 tyrosine-kinase.

Chromosomal translocations in tumors frequently produce fusion genes coding for chimeric proteins with a key role in oncogenesis. Recent reports described a BCR-JAK2 fusion gene in fatal chronic and acute myeloid leukemia, but the functional behavior of the chimeric protein remains uncharacterized. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays to describe a BCR-JAK2 fusion gene from a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Down-regulated expression of hsa-miR-181c in Fanconi anemia patients: implications in TNFα regulation and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited genetic disorder associated with BM failure and cancer predisposition. In the present study, we sought to elucidate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the hematopoietic defects observed in FA patients. Initial studies showed that 3 miRNAs, hsa-miR-133a, hsa-miR-135b, and hsa-miR-181c, were significantly down-regulated in lymphoblastoid cell lines and fresh peripheral blood cells from FA patients.

Preclinical activity of LBH589 alone or in combination with chemotherapy in a xenogeneic mouse model of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been identified as therapeutic targets due to their regulatory function in chromatin structure and organization. Here, we analyzed the therapeutic effect of LBH589, a class I-II HDAC inhibitor, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In vitro, LBH589 induced dose-dependent antiproliferative and apoptotic effects, which were associated with increased H3 and H4 histone acetylation.

Evaluation of a pilot surgical adverse event detection system for Italian hospitals.

Objective: To devise an adverse event (AE) detection system and assess its validity and utility.

Design: Observational, retrospective study.

Setting: Six public hospitals in Northern Italy including a Teaching Hospital.

Contactin-associated protein 1 (Caspr1) regulates the traffic and synaptic content of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors.

Glutamate receptors of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) type mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the CNS. Synaptic strength is modulated by AMPA receptor binding partners, which regulate receptor synaptic targeting and functional properties. We identify Contactin-associated protein 1 (Caspr1) as an AMPA receptor interactor.

A novel lentiviral vector targets gene transfer into human hematopoietic stem cells in marrow from patients with bone marrow failure syndrome and in vivo in humanized mice.

In vivo lentiviral vector (LV)-mediated gene delivery would represent a great step forward in the field of gene therapy. Therefore, we have engineered a novel LV displaying SCF and a mutant cat endogenous retroviral glycoprotein, RDTR. These RDTR/SCF-LVs outperformed RDTR-LVs for transduction of human CD34(+) cells (hCD34(+)).

Right colon laparoscopic resection with three-trocar access and associated gynecological procedures in patients with colorectal cancer and ovarian metastases.

Background: Right laparoscopic colectomy was introduced to colorectal surgery later than the left colon procedure. Three-trocar laparoscopy has already been used successfully in the treatment of gynecological cancers. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the feasibility of performing an associated gynecological procedure following abdominal laparoscopic exploration and to evaluate the suitability of laparoscopic right colectomy for treating elderly patients.

Use of oxidized and regenerated cellulose in thyroid surgery: a prospective analysis as cause of postoperative hypocalcemia on 485 patients consecutively treated.

Aim: The intraoperative hemorrage determines an higher risk of parathyroid glands lesions, and laryngeal nerve injuries. We have examined if the use of oxidized and regenerated cellulose could be a cause of postoperative hypocalcemia because of the compression on the parathyroid glands or for tissue adhesions

Methods: From June 2009 to December 2010 we have examined 485 patients consecutively treated with total thyroidectomy. The cases examined were divided in two groups on the use of ionized cellulose (group A and B).

Is CD10 a reliable marker of invasive colorectal cancer?

Aim: Previous studies reported that CD10 positive Colorectal Cancer Cells (CRC) characterized by deeply invasive neoplasia.

Materials And Methods: We have examined 50 pts surgically treated for colorectal cancer on at least 5 years follow up. TNM, grading score and survival have been compared to CD10 expression.

Choledocholithiasis and endo-laparoscopic rendezvous. Analysis of 59 consecutive cases.

Background: Choledocholithiasis is a real problem of major clinical importance. The incidence of cholelithiasis is 10-20%.

Materials: We have examined 2907 patients treated with videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy (VLC) between January 2001 and September 2009.

Can we define a role for perisentinel lymph-nodes on breast cancer disease?

Background: The development of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer disease and the increasing of using adjuvant systemic therapy provide a rational reduction of axillary dissection in patients with Sentinel Lymph Nodes free from breast cancer cells. The aim of our study was to assess the state of the perisentinel lymph nodes removed and how these nodes can provide further information about the status of the axillary lymph nodes.

Materials And Methods: We have analysed data about 319 patients undergoing surgery for benign and malignant breast disease from January 2007 to July 2010; 134 cases were subjected to the sentinel lymph node biopsy; 29 cases of these patients had the presence of perisentinel lymph nodes at histological examination.

Laparoscopic proctocolectomy: analysis of long term complications. Case report.

Surgery can be a curative treatment for ulcerative colitis. The correct surgical procedure is a total proctocolectomy and ileo anal J pouch anastomosis (IPAA). This procedure is feasible also in laparoscopic approach after a correct learning curve.

Stem cell gene therapy for fanconi anemia: report from the 1st international Fanconi anemia gene therapy working group meeting.

Survival rates after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for Fanconi anemia (FA) have increased dramatically since 2000. However, the use of autologous stem cell gene therapy, whereby the patient's own blood stem cells are modified to express the wild-type gene product, could potentially avoid the early and late complications of allogeneic HCT. Over the last decades, gene therapy has experienced a high degree of optimism interrupted by periods of diminished expectation.