Airway distensibility with lung inflation after allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.

The ability to reverse induced-bronchoconstriction by deep-inhalation increases after allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), despite a decreased total lung capacity (TLC). We hypothesized that this effect may be due to an increased airway distensibility with lung inflation, likely related to an increment in lung stiffness. We studied 28 subjects, 2 weeks before and 2 months after HSCT.

Prognostic factors in CLL.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a clinically heterogeneous disease, as some patients progress rapidly toward the more advanced studies, whereas others survive for a long period without the need for treatment. This heterogeneity of clinical course was somehow unexplained until studies on the CLL cell features disclosed that the CLL clones were heterogeneous and were characterized by different phenotypic and genotypic features in the different patients. On the basis of these observations, it was determined in retrospective studies that clones characterized by unmutated IGHV genes, and/or CD38 and/or ZAP-70 expression conferred a more severe prognosis to the CLL patients.

The role of nuclear matrix proteins binding to matrix attachment regions (Mars) in prostate cancer cell differentiation.

In tumor progression definite alterations in nuclear matrix (NM) protein composition as well as in chromatin structure occur. The NM interacts with chromatin via specialized DNA sequences called matrix attachment regions (MARs). In the present study, using a proteomic approach along with a two-dimensional Southwestern assay and confocal laser microscopy, we show that the differentiation of stabilized human prostate carcinoma cells is marked out by modifications both NM protein composition and bond between NM proteins and MARs.

Deficient production of IL-1 receptor antagonist and IL-6 coupled to oxidative stress in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome monocytes.

Objective: To determine whether dysregulated production of cytokines downstream of interleukin (IL)-1 participates in the pathophysiology of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS).

Methods: Primary monocytes from patients with CAPS, unstimulated or after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and other Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, were examined for signs of stress and production of IL-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and IL-6 in comparison with monocytes from patients with autoimmune diseases and from healthy donors.

Results: Unstimulated CAPS monocytes showed mild signs of stress including elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and fragmented mitochondria.

Comparing treatments for endometriosis-related pain symptoms in patients with migraine without aura.

Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder defined by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Several studies have found an epidemiological correlation between endometriosis and migraine, probably due to the association of both diseases with female hormones. Progestins or combined oral contraceptives are the first-line medical therapy in women with endometriosis; however, it is well known that in some women the use of combined oral contraceptives could exacerbate migraine.

Mussel micronucleus cytome assay.

The micronucleus (MN) assay is one of the most widely used genotoxicity biomarkers in aquatic organisms, providing an efficient measure of chromosomal DNA damage occurring as a result of either chromosome breakage or chromosome mis-segregation during mitosis. The MN assay is today applied in laboratory and field studies using hemocytes and gill cells from bivalves, mainly from the genera Mytilus. These represent 'sentinel' organisms because of their ability to survive under polluted conditions and to accumulate both organic and inorganic pollutants.

Comparison between Two Different Two-Stage Transperineal Approaches to Treat Urethral Strictures or Bladder Neck Contracture Associated with Severe Urinary Incontinence that Occurred after Pelvic Surgery: Report of Our Experience.

Introduction. The recurrence of urethral/bladder neck stricture after multiple endoscopic procedures is a rare complication that can follow prostatic surgery and its treatment is still controversial. Material and Methods.

Breast implant infections after surgical reconstruction in patients with breast cancer: assessment of risk factors and pathogens over extended post-operative observation.

Background: Infection is a severe potential complication of breast implant positioning in women with cancer. There still is some degree of uncertainty regarding optimal antibiotic prophylaxis regimens, infecting pathogens, and risk factors associated with infection during long-term followup of these patients.

Methods: We performed a systematic clinical review to assess infecting microorganisms and risk factors among patients undergoing reconstructive procedures for breast cancer between January 2005 and February 2007.

The micronucleus assay as a biological dosimeter in hospital workers exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation.

The health risk associated with low levels of ionizing radiation is still a matter of debate. A number of factors, such as non-target effects, adaptive responses and low-dose hypersensitivity, affect the long-term outcome of low-dose exposures. Cytogenetic bio-dosimetry provides a measure of the absorbed dose, taking into account the individual radiation sensitivity.

Upcoming strategies for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Prognosis for advanced and metastatic melanoma is poor, with a 5-year survival of 78, 59 and 40% for patients with stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC, respectively, and a 1-year survival of 62% for M1a, 53% for M1b and 33% for M1c. The unsatisfactory results of actual standard therapies for metastatic melanoma highlight the need for effective new therapeutic strategies. Several drugs, including BRAF, KIT and MEK inhibitors, are currently being evaluated after promising data from Phase I and Phase II studies; Vemurafenib, a BRAF-inhibitor agent, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation after a significant impact on both progression-free and overall survival was demonstrated compared with dacarbazine in a Phase III trial.

Cardiovascular and renal effects of hyperuricaemia and gout.

A number of epidemiological studies have reported an association between serum uric acid levels and a wide variety of high-risk conditions including hypertension, insulin resistance, and kidney and cerebro-cardiovascular disease. All things considered, serum uric acid may induce cardiovascular and kidney events both directly and indirectly by promoting other well-known mechanisms of damage. While asymptomatic hyperuricemia is currently not considered to be an indication for urate lowering therapy, there is growing evidence indicating a linear relationship between pharmacological reduction in serum uric acid and incidence of cardiovascular and renal events.

A randomized prospective trial to assess the impact of transurethral resection in narrow band imaging modality on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence.

Background: Narrow band imaging (NBI) is an optical enhancement technology that filters white light into two bandwidths of illumination centered on 415nm (blue) and 540nm (green). NBI cystoscopy can increase bladder cancer (BCa) visualization and detection at the time of transurethral resection (TUR). NBI may therefore reduce subsequent relapse following TUR.

MDCT findings of aortic branch artery pseudoaneurysms associated with type B intramural haematoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prevalence, morphological characteristics and evolution of aortic branch artery pseudoaneurysms associated with type B aortic intramural haematoma (IMH) using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 14 patients (nine men; mean age 64.6±9.

Centrosomal and mitotic abnormalities in cell lines derived from papillary thyroid cancer harboring specific gene alterations.

Background: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma offers a good model to investigate the possible correlation between specific gene mutations and chromosome instability. Papillary thyroid neoplasms are characterized by different mutually exclusive genetic alterations, some of which are associated with aneuploidy and aggressive phenotype.

Results: We investigated the centrosome status and mitotic abnormalities in three thyroid carcinoma-derived cell lines, each maintaining the specific, biologically relevant gene alteration harbored by the parental tumors: RET/PTC1 rearrangement in TPC1; heterozygous and homozygous BRAFV600E mutation in K1 and in B-CPAP, respectively.