Differences in biological features of breast cancer between Caucasian (Italian) and African (Tanzanian) populations.

Information on hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) expression in breast cancer is acknowledged as mandatory for prognostic stratification and treatment planning. Data on the biological features of African breast cancers are poor. We decided to compare histopathological and biomolecular characteristics (estrogen and progesterone receptor—ER, PgR, and HER2) of Tanzanian and Italian breast cancers.

Notch signals are required for in vitro but not in vivo maintenance of human hematopoietic stem cells and delay the appearance of multipotent progenitors.

All blood cell lineages start from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which were recently shown to represent a heterogeneous group of cells. In mice, Notch signaling promotes the maintenance of "stemness" as well as the expansion of self-renewing HSCs in vitro. Additionally, human CD34(+) cells were shown to expand in vitro in response to Notch signals.

Comparison of the performance of two spontaneous sedimentation techniques for the diagnosis of human intestinal parasites in the absence of a gold standard.

Performance evaluation of diagnostic tests is critical in the search for accurate diagnoses. A gold standard test is usually absent in parasitology, thus rendering satisfactory assessment of diagnostic accuracy difficult. Moreover, reliability (assessed by the study of repeatability) is a rarely studied characteristic of diagnostic tests.

Results of bronchial artery embolization for the treatment of hemoptysis caused by neoplasm.

Purpose: To describe experience with bronchial artery embolization (BAE) in a cohort of patients with cancer.

Materials And Methods: All consecutive patients with cancer and at least one episode of hemoptysis that required BAE during a 14-year period were included in this observational retrospective review. The endpoints of the study were immediate success, recurrence of hemoptysis, mortality resulting from hemoptysis, and all-cause mortality.

Virus-viroid interactions: Citrus Tristeza Virus enhances the accumulation of Citrus Dwarfing Viroid in Mexican lime via virus-encoded silencing suppressors.

An assay to identify interactions between Citrus Dwarfing Viroid (CDVd) and Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV) showed that viroid titer was enhanced by the coinfecting CTV in Mexican lime but not in etrog citron. Since CTV encodes three RNA silencing suppressors (RSSs), p23, p20 and p25, an assay using transgenic Mexican limes expressing each RSS revealed that p23 and, to a lesser extent, p25 recapitulated the effect observed with coinfections of CTV and CDVd.

Human proT-cells generated in vitro facilitate hematopoietic stem cell-derived T-lymphopoiesis in vivo and restore thymic architecture.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is followed by a period of immune deficiency due to a paucity in T-cell reconstitution. Underlying causes are a severely dysfunctional thymus and an impaired production of thymus-seeding progenitors in the host. Here, we addressed whether in vitro-derived human progenitor T (proT)-cells could not only represent a source of thymus-seeding progenitors, but also able to influence the recovery of the thymic microenvironment.

A novel method for the determination of ascorbic acid and antioxidant capacity in Opuntia ficus indica using in vivo microdialysis.

A simple and rapid method was developed for in vivo simultaneous determination of ascorbic-acid and antioxidant capacity in microdialysates from cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. The method is verified in water-stressed plants, as compared with a well-watered test controls.

LRRK2 affects vesicle trafficking, neurotransmitter extracellular level and membrane receptor localization.

The leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene was found to play a role in the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 encodes a large multi-domain protein that is expressed in different tissues. To date, the physiological and pathological functions of LRRK2 are not clearly defined.

Simultaneous telemetric monitoring of brain glucose and lactate and motion in freely moving rats.

A new telemetry system for simultaneous detection of extracellular brain glucose and lactate and motion is presented. The device consists of dual-channel, single-supply miniature potentiostat-I/V converter, a microcontroller unit, a signal transmitter, and a miniaturized microvibration sensor. Although based on simple and inexpensive components, the biotelemetry device has been used for accurate transduction of the anodic oxidation currents generated on the surface of implanted glucose and lactate biosensors and animal microvibrations.

Ceftriaxone blocks the polymerization of α-synuclein and exerts neuroprotective effects in vitro.

The β-lactam antibiotic ceftriaxone was suggested as a therapeutic agent in several neurodegenerative disorders, either for its ability to counteract glutamate-mediated toxicity, as in cerebral ischemia, or for its ability to enhance the degradation of misfolded proteins, as in Alexander's disease. Recently, the efficacy of ceftriaxone in neuroprotection of dopaminergic neurons in a rat model of Parkinson's disease was documented. However, which characteristics of ceftriaxone mediate its therapeutic effects remains unclear.

Effects of the neurotoxin MPTP and pargyline protection on extracellular energy metabolites and dopamine levels in the striatum of freely moving rats.

The neurotoxin MPTP is known to induce dopamine release and depletion of ATP in the striatum of rats. Therefore, we studied the changes induced by MPTP and pargyline protection both on striatal dopamine release and on extracellular energy metabolites in freely moving rats, using dual asymmetric-flow microdialysis. A dual microdialysis probe was inserted in the right striatum of rats.

Further in-vitro characterization of an implantable biosensor for ethanol monitoring in the brain.

Ethyl alcohol may be considered one of the most widespread central nervous system (CNS) depressants in Western countries. Because of its toxicological and neurobiological implications, the detection of ethanol in brain extracellular fluid (ECF) is of great importance. In a previous study, we described the development and characterization of an implantable biosensor successfully used for the real-time detection of ethanol in the brain of freely-moving rats.

Benefits of smart pumps for automated changeovers of vasoactive drug infusion pumps: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Manual changeover of vasoactive drug infusion pumps (CVIP) frequently lead to haemodynamic instability. Some of the newest smart pumps allow automated CVIP. The aim of this study was to compare automated CVIP with manual 'Quick Change' relays.

Dendritic cell-dependent in vivo generation of autoregulatory T cells by antidiabetogenic MHC class II.

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how certain MHC class II molecules afford dominant resistance to autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, it remains unclear how protective MHC types can blunt autoreactive T cell responses directed against a diverse repertoire of autoantigenic epitopes presented by disease-promoting MHCs. In this study, we show that expression of I-E on dendritic cells (DCs) of NOD mice promotes the differentiation of MHC promiscuous autoreactive CD4(+) clonotypes into antidiabetogenic autoregulatory T cells.

Simultaneous/selective detection of dopamine and ascorbic acid at synthetic zeolite-modified/graphite-epoxy composite macro/quasi-microelectrodes.

The present paper aims to miniaturize a graphite-epoxy and synthetic zeolite-modified graphite-epoxy composite macroelectrode as a quasi-microelectrode aiming in vitro and also, envisaging in vivo simultaneous electrochemical detection of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) neurotransmitters, or DA detection in the presence of AA. The electrochemical behavior and the response of the designed materials to the presence of dopamine and ascorbic acid without any protective membranes were studied by cyclic voltammetry and constant-potential amperometry techniques. The catalytic effect towards dopamine detection was proved for the synthetic zeolite-modified graphite-epoxy composite quasi-microelectrode, allowing increasing the sensitivity and selectivity for this analyte detection, besides a possible electrostatic attraction between dopamine cation and the negative surface of the synthetic zeolite and electrostatic repulsion with ascorbic acid anion.

RANK/RANK-L/OPG in patients with bone metastases treated with anticancer agents and zoledronic acid: a prospective study.

Patients with solid cancer frequently develop bone metastases (BM). Zoledronic acid (Zometa®, ZA), routinely used to treat patients with BM, acts on osteoclasts and also has antitumor properties. We aimed to assess the effect of ZA over time in novel bone turnover markers (RANK/receptor activator of nuclear factor-k B ligand (RANK-L)/ Osteoprotegerin (OPG)) and to correlate these with serum N-terminal telopeptide (NTX).

Small molecules interacting with α-synuclein: antiaggregating and cytoprotective properties.

Curcumin, a dietary polyphenol, has shown a potential to act on the symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as a consequence of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-protein aggregation properties. Unfortunately, curcumin undergoes rapid degradation at physiological pH into ferulic acid, vanillin and dehydrozingerone, making it an unlikely drug candidate. Here, we evaluated the ability of some curcumin by-products: dehydrozingerone (1), its O-methyl derivative (2), zingerone (3), and their biphenyl analogues (4-6) to interact with α-synuclein (AS), using CD and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Switching to anastrozole versus continued tamoxifen treatment of early breast cancer: long term results of the Italian Tamoxifen Anastrozole trial.

The Italian Tamoxifen Anastrozole (ITA) trial investigated the efficacy of switching to anastrozole for women who were already on adjuvant tamoxifen since 2-3years. Relapse-free survival (RFS) was the primary end-point; event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS) and safety were secondary end-points. Herein, we report an update on the long term results of this trial.

Antidiabetogenic MHC class II promotes the differentiation of MHC-promiscuous autoreactive T cells into FOXP3+ regulatory T cells.

Polymorphisms in MHC class II molecules, in particular around β-chain position-57 (β57), afford susceptibility/resistance to multiple autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, through obscure mechanisms. Here, we show that the antidiabetogenic MHC class II molecule I-A(b) affords diabetes resistance by promoting the differentiation of MHC-promiscuous autoreactive CD4(+) T cells into disease-suppressing natural regulatory T cells, in a β56-67-regulated manner. We compared the tolerogenic and antidiabetogenic properties of CD11c promoter-driven transgenes encoding I-A(b) or a form of I-A(b) carrying residues 56-67 of I-Aβ(g7) (I-A(b-g7)) in wild-type nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, as well as NOD mice coexpressing a diabetogenic and I-A(g7)-restricted, but MHC-promiscuous T-cell receptor (4.

Prognostic value of bronchiectasis in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: The prevalence of bronchiectasis is high in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and it has been associated with exacerbations and bacterial colonization. These have demonstrated some degree of prognostic value in patients with COPD but no information about the relationship between bronchiectasis and mortality in patients with COPD is currently available.

Objectives: To assess the prognostic value of bronchiectasis in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.

Calodium hepaticum: household clustering transmission and the finding of a source of human spurious infection in a community of the Amazon region.

Background: Calodium hepaticum (syn. Capillaria hepatica) is a worldwide helminth parasite of which several aspects of transmission still remain unclear. In the Amazon region, the mechanism of transmission based on the ingestion of eggs present in the liver of wild mammals has been suggested as the cause of the spurious infections described.

Dahlia latent viroid: a recombinant new species of the family Pospiviroidae posing intriguing questions about its origin and classification.

A viroid-like RNA has been detected in two asymptomatic dahlia accessions by return and double PAGE. It appeared smaller than Chrysanthemum stunt viroid and Potato spindle tuber viroid, the two members of the genus Pospiviroid, family Pospiviroidae, reported in this ornamental previously. RT-PCR with primers designed for amplifying all pospiviroids produced no amplicons, but RT-PCR with random primers revealed a 342 nt RNA.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node metastases from extrathoracic malignancies.

Intrathoracic lymph node enlargement is a common finding in patients with extrathoracic malignancies. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a technique that is commonly used for lung cancer diagnosis and staging but that has not been widely investigated for the diagnosis of enlarged mediastinal and lobar lymph nodes in patients with extrathoracic malignancies. We conducted a retrospective study of 117 patients with extrathoracic malignancies who underwent EBUS-TBNA for diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node enlargement from October 2005 to December 2009 and compared the EBUS-TBNA findings with the final diagnoses.

IL-2 promotes the function of memory-like autoregulatory CD8+ T cells but suppresses their development via FoxP3+ Treg cells.

IL-2 plays a critical role in both effector T-cell development and FoxP3(+) CD4(+) Treg-cell homeostasis. A reduction in Il2 transcription results in impaired FoxP3(+) CD4(+) Treg-cell recruitment and function, and accounts for the association between murine Il2 and type 1 diabetes (T1D). The progression of T1D elicits a disease-countering negative feedback regulatory loop that involves the differentiation of low-avidity autoreactive CD8(+) T cells into memory-like autoregulatory T cells in a CD4(+) Th-dependent manner.