Clinical effectiveness of palifermin in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a case–control study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of palifermin, an N-terminal truncated version of endogenous keratinocyte growth factor, in the control of oral mucositis during antiblastic therapy. Twenty patients undergoing allogeneic stem-cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were treated with palifermin, and compared to a control group with the same number of subjects and similar inclusion criteria. Statistical analysis were performed to compare the outcomes in the treatment vs. control groups. In the treatment group, we found a statistically significant reduction in the duration of parenteral nutrition （P=0.002）, duration of mucositis （P= 0.003） and the average grade of mucositis （P= 0.03）. The statistical analysis showed that the drug was able to decrease the severity of mucositis. These data, although preliminary, suggest that palifermin could be a valid therapeutic adjuvant to improve the quality of life of patients suffering： from leukaemia.     

Effect of low-fat diet on development of prostate cancer and Akt phosphorylation in the Hi-Myc transgenic mouse model

This study evaluated the effect of dietary fat on prostate cancer development by using the Hi-Myc mouse transgenic prostate cancer model. Hi-Myc mice develop murine prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPIN) as early as 2 to 4 weeks and invasive adenocarcinoma between 6 and 9 months due to the overexpression of human c-Myc in the mouse prostate. Three-week-old male Hi-Myc mice were placed on high-fat (HF; 42% Kcal) or low-fat (LF; 12% Kcal) diets, and equal caloric intake was maintained until euthanasia at 7 months. The number of mice that developed invasive adenocarcinoma at 7 months was 27% less in the LF diet group (12/28) compared with the HF diet group (23/33, P < 0.05). Epithelial cells in mPIN lesions in the LF group had a significantly lower proliferative index compared with epithelial cells in the HF group (21.7% versus 28.9%, P < 0.05). During the mPIN phase of carcinogenesis (4 months), the LF group had higher serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-1 levels (21.0 +/- 8.9 ng/mL versus 3.2 +/- 0.8 ng/mL, P < 0.05) relative to the HF group. Akt (Ser(473)) phosphorylation, Akt kinase activity, and phosphorylation of downstream targets of Akt in prostates were significantly reduced in the LF diet group compared with the HF group. We conclude that dietary fat reduction delays transition from mPIN to invasive cancer in this Myc-driven transgenic mouse model, possibly through suppression of the IGF-Akt pathway and decreased proliferation of mPIN epithelial cells.     

The Potential Application of Natural Clinoptilolite-Rich Zeolite as Support for Bacterial Community Formation for Wastewater Treatment

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of natural zeolite as support for microbial community formation during wastewater treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal decomposition and differential thermogravimetric curves (TGA/DGT) techniques were used for the physicochemical and structural characterization of zeolites. The chemical characterization of wastewater was performed before and after treatment, after 30 days of using stationary zeolite as support. The chemical composition of wastewater was evaluated in terms of the products of nitrification/denitrification processes. The greatest ammonium (NH₄⁺) adsorption was obtained for wastewater contaminated with different concentrations of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite. The wastewater quality index (WWQI) was determined to assess the effluent quality and the efficiency of the treatment plant used, showing a maximum of 71% quality improvement, thus suggesting that the treated wastewater could be discharged into aquatic environments. After 30 days, NH₄⁺ demonstrated a high removal efficiency (higher than 98%), while NO₃⁺ and NO₂⁺ had a removal efficiency of 70% and 54%, respectively. The removal efficiency for metals was observed as follows (%): Mn > Cd > Cr > Zn > Fe > Ni > Co > Cu > Ba > Pb > Sr. Analysis of the microbial diversity in the zeolite samples indicated that the bacteria are formed due to the existence of nutrients in wastewater which favor their formation. In addition, the zeolite was characterized by SEM and the results indicated that the zeolite acts as an adsorbent for the pollutants and, moreover, as a support material for microbial community formation under optimal conditions. Comparing the two studied zeolites, NZ1 (particle size 1–3 mm) was found to be more suitable for wastewater treatment. Overall, the natural zeolite demonstrated high potential for pollutant removal and biomass support for bacteria community growth in wastewater treatment.     

Furuncular myiasis of the scalp associated with pigmented basal cell carcinoma: First case diagnosed in Albania

We are reporting a case of myiasis associated with pigmented basal cell carcinoma. This is the first reported case from Albania and Balkan peninsula. Correct diagnosis and prompt treatment may prevent a disastrous and destructive course of the disease and may lead to improved quality of life.     

L-thymidine is phosphorylated by herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase and inhibits viral growth.

We have demonstrated that herpes simplex 1 (HSV1) thymidine kinase (TK) shows no stereospecificity for D- and L-beta-nucleosides. In vitro, L enantiomers are not recognized by human TK, but function as specific substrates for the viral enzyme in the order: L-thymidine (L-T) > 2'-deoxy-L-guanosine (L-dG) > 2'-deoxy-L-uridine (L-dU) > 2'-deoxy-L-cytidine (L-dC) > 2'-deoxy- L-adenosine (L-dA). HSV1 TK phosphorylates both thymidine enantiomers to their corresponding monophosphates with identical efficiency and the Ki of L-T (2 microM) is almost identical to the Km for the natural substrate D-T (2.8 microM). The L enantiomer reduces the incorporation of exogenous [3H]T into cellular DNA in HeLa TK-/HSV1 TK+ but not in wild-type HeLa cells, without affecting RNA, protein synthesis, cell growth, and viability. L-T markedly reduces HSV1 multiplication in HeLa cells. Our observations could lead to the development of a novel class of antiviral drugs characterized by low toxicity.     

Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) Applied to Laparoscopic Gastric Banding Patients

Background: The definition of success and failure of a bariatric procedure should include weight loss as well as improvement in comorbidity and quality of life assessment. The Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS), introduced by Oria and Moorhead in 1997, seems to provide a standard for comparison in the surgical treatment of morbid obesity. Methods: 180 morbidly obese and super-obese patients, who underwent laparoscopic gastric banding (lap-band) at our institutions and had a follow-up > 18 months (19-55 months) were evaluated with BAROS. Results: The patients were divided into four outcome groups (failure, fair, good, and excellent) based on a scoring table that adds or subtracts points while evaluating three main areas: percentage of excess weight loss, changes in medical conditions, and assessment of quality of life. Points were deducted for complications and reoperative surgery. Conclusions: The BAROS outcome system has proved to be a useful instrument in evaluating midterm results in our series of lap-band patients.     

MicroRNA-423 may regulate diabetic vasculopathy

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - To test the hypothesis that microRNAs may play a role in diabetic retinopathy, we measured the levels of different markers [microRNAs, vascular endothelial...