PTOV1 is overexpressed in human high-grade malignant tumors

The prostate tumor overexpressed-1 (PTOV1) protein was first described overexpressed in prostate cancer but not detected in normal prostate. PTOV1 expression is associated to increased cancer proliferation in vivo and in vitro. In prostate biopsy, PTOV1 detection is helpful in the early diagnosis of cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relevance of PTOV1 expression to identify aggressive tumors derived from 12 different histological tissues. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing 182 biopsy samples, including 168 human tumors, were analyzed for PTOV1 and Ki67 expression by immunohistochemistry. Tumors of low and high histological grade were selected from lung, breast, endometrium, pancreas liver, skin, ovary, colon, stomach, kidney, bladder, and cerebral gliomas. One TMA with representative tissues without cancer (14 samples) was used as control. PTOV1 expression was analyzed semiquantitatively for the intensity and percentage of positive cells. Ki67 was evaluated for tumors proliferative index. Results show that PTOV1 was expressed in over 95% of tumors examined. Its expression was significantly associated to high-grade tumors (p = 0.014). This association was most significant in urothelial bladder carcinomas (p = 0.026). Overall, the expression of Ki67 was associated to high-grade tumors, and it was significant in several tumor types. PTOV1 and Ki67 were significantly co-overexpressed in all tumors (p = 0.001), and this association was significant in clear cell renal carcinoma (p = 0.005). In conclusion, PTOV1 expression is associated to more aggressive human carcinomas and more significantly to bladder carcinomas suggesting that this protein is a potential new marker of aggressive disease in the latter tumors.     

Computational prediction of type III and IV secreted effectors in gram-negative bacteria

In this review, we provide an overview of the methods employed in four recent studies that described novel methods for computational prediction of secreted effectors from type III and IV secretion systems in Gram-negative bacteria. We present the results of these studies in terms of performance at accurately predicting secreted effectors and similarities found between secretion signals that may reflect biologically relevant features for recognition. We discuss the Web-based tools for secreted effector prediction described in these studies and announce the availability of our tool, the SIEVE server (http://www.sysbep.org/sieve). Finally, we assess the accuracies of the three type III effector prediction methods on a small set of proteins not known prior to the development of these tools that we recently discovered and validated using both experimental and computational approaches. Our comparison shows that all methods use similar approaches and, in general, arrive at similar conclusions. We discuss the possibility of an order-dependent motif in the secretion signal, which was a point of disagreement in the studies. Our results show that there may be classes of effectors in which the signal has a loosely defined motif and others in which secretion is dependent only on compositional biases. Computational prediction of secreted effectors from protein sequences represents an important step toward better understanding the interaction between pathogens and hosts.     

Hemoglobin target in chronic kidney disease: a pediatric perspective

Erythropoietin has transformed the treatment of the anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by preventing the need for blood transfusions and improving the quality of life in all patients, including children. Anemia in children, in the age group 1–19 years, may be defined as hemoglobin (Hgb) levels < 12.1–13.5 g/dl for boys and < 11.4–11.5 g/dl for girls, based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) norms. The prevalence of anemia in children ranges from 31.2% in stage 1 CKD to 93.3% in stages 4 and 5 CKD. The recent publication of trials evaluating the optimal hemoglobin level in adult CKD patients has generated considerable uncertainty about the target Hgb level in children with CKD. It is unclear whether generalizing of results from these trials in adults to children is appropriate. Adequately powered, randomized, controlled studies have not been conducted on children, and none to our knowledge are currently planned. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers scant guidance on the Hgb target level for children, other than implying that it should be no different from that for adults. The purpose of this editorial is to critically scrutinize whether there is a benefit to the normalization of anemia in children with CKD and whether adoption of the results from adult studies is appropriate.     

The importance of the length of the first metatarsal and the proximal phalanx of hallux in the etiopathogeny of the hallux rigidus

The purpose of this study was to determine if the relative length of the first metatarsal and the proximal phalanx of the hallux, in respect to the total foot length, were associated with the incidence of hallux rigidus. For this retrospective study, lateral radiographs from 132 cases with hallux rigidus and a control group of 132 normal feet were reviewed.We measured the following parameters: the index between the foot length and first metatarsal length, the proximal phalanx of the hallux length, and the sum of the first metatarsal length and the proximal phalanx of the hallux length.We found a statistically significant difference (p: 0.002) between the two groups in the Foot L/1st Mtt L index, and no statistical difference in the Foot L/Phalanx L index.We think that a greater length of first metatarsal is involved in the etiopathogeny of hallux rigidus.     

Intralesional administration of epidermal growth factor‐based formulation (Heberprot‐P) in chronic diabetic foot ulcer: treatment up to complete wound closure

Previous studies have shown that an epidermal growth factor‐based formulation (Heberprot‐P) can enhance granulation of high‐grade diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The aim of this study was to explore the clinical effects of this administration up to complete wound closure. A pilot study in 20 diabetic patients with full‐thickness lower extremity ulcers of more than 4 weeks of evolution was performed. Mean ulcer size was 16·3 ± 21·3 cm². Intralesional injections of 75 μg of Heberprot‐P three times per week were given up to complete wound healing. Full granulation response was achieved in all 20 patients in 23·6 ± 3·8 days. Complete wound closure was obtained in 17 (85%) cases in 44·3 ± 8·9 days. Amputation was not necessary in any case and only one relapse was notified. The most frequent adverse events were tremors, chills, pain and ardour at site of administration and local infection. The therapeutic scheme of intralesional Heberprot‐P administration up to complete closure can be safe and suitable to improve the therapeutic goal in terms of healing of chronic DFU.