Characterization of chimpanzee-hamster hybrids by chromosome painting

A panel of chimpanzee-human somatic cell hybrids was characterized by dual Alu-PCR of the chimpanzee DNA in the hybrid and subsequent hybridization of the labeled PCR products to human and chimpanzee chromosomes. In addition to the identification of the intact chimpanzee chromosomes retained in each hybrid, chromosome fragments were identified that will be useful in regional mapping. This technique also revealed the presence of centric inversions.     

Development of an ELISA test for determination of the urinary trypsin inhibitor: analytical performance and applications

Increased urinary excretion of urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) has been reported in various inflammatory conditions and in Alzheimer's subjects, but its diagnostic potential remains to be elucidated. A reliable and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for the determination of the UTI in human urine was developed. This assay was performed using 96-well microtiter plates. The plate surface is coated with an anti-UTI polyclonal antibody, the urine sample was added in a dilution range, and the detection was achieved using the enzyme-conjugated antibody. The assay was quantified by the build-up of colored product upon the addition of the substrate. Recoveries were 93%, and the intra- and inter-assay CVs were 4.25% and 21%, respectively. The ELISA showed parallelism of standard and urine samples and no significant interference by the biological matrix. The usefulness of the assay has been demonstrated by applying it to urine samples from Alzheimer's disease patients, and comparing with negative controls. UTI urinary levels are significantly increased in Alzheimer's subjects.     

Th2- and to a lesser extent Th1-type cytokines upregulate the production of both CXC (IL-8 and gro-alpha) and CC (RANTES,eotaxin, eotaxin-2, MCP-3 and MCP-4) chemokines in human airway epithelial cells

BACKGROUND: Both CXC and CC chemokines play an important role in leukocyte recruitment. However, a systematic examination of their production by human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) has not been carried out. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Th1- and Th2-type cytokines regulate chemokine production in HAECs. METHODS: HAECs were grown from both nasal and bronchial tissue and subsequently stimulated with either Th1- or Th2-type cytokines. RESULTS: Constitutive mRNA expression for gro-alpha, IL-8 and RANTES was seen in both human nasal and human bronchial epithelial cells. IL-4 was the strongest stimulus for both gene expression and protein production of the chemokines RANTES, IL-8 and gro-alpha, while both IL-13 and IFN-gamma were weaker inducers of these chemokines, with the exception of gro-alpha (IL-13 was a strong stimulus for gro-alpha production). TNF-alpha synergized with IL-4, and to a lesser extent with IFN-gamma and IL-13, to release RANTES, IL-8 and gro-alpha. IL-4 and to a lesser extent IL-13 and IFN-gamma stimulated the production of MCP-3 and -4, eotaxin and eotaxin-2 immunoreactivities. However, no induction of the mRNAs encoding these chemokines was observed, suggesting that they may be released from a preformed pool within the HAECs. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that when released into the airways, Th2- and to a lesser extent Th1-type cytokines may stimulate recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils through the release of CC (RANTES, MCP-3 and -4, eotaxin and eotaxin-2) and CXC chemokines (gro-alpha and IL-8).     

Lack of association between angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism and sporadic Alzheimer's disease

Epidemiological and pathogenetic evidences suggest a strong association between vascular risk factors and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). In agreement with the vascular hypothesis of AD, the role of various candidate genes for atherosclerosis has been investigated, leading to conflicting results. In order to clarify the significance of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in a group of patients with sAD, we conducted a case-control study including 149 cases and 149 age and sex matched controls. All subjects were genotyped for ACE and Apolipoprotein E (APOE). There were no significant differences in ACE genotype or allele frequencies between cases and controls, even after stratification for APOE4 carrier status. Our data suggest that the ACE I/D polymorphism is not associated to genetic susceptibility in sAD patients.     

Obesity and Circulating Levels of Vitamin D before and after Weight Loss Induced by a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet

Background: Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, also influencing bone tissue. Several studies have reported that vitamin D blood levels were significantly lower in people with obesity, probably due to its uptake by the adipose tissue. Clinical studies that investigated the changes of circulating levels of vitamin D following weight loss reported controversial data. A very low-calorie ketogenic diet is acknowledged as a reliable treatment to achieve a rapid weight loss. Therefore, we investigated the effect of weight loss, consequent to a very low-calorie ketogenic diet, on vitamin D blood concentrations. Methods: A cohort of 31 people with obesity underwent a very low-calorie ketogenic diet for 10–12 weeks. The serum concentrations of vitamin D, parathormone, calcium and phosphorous were measured before and after weight loss; they were compared to a control group of 20 non-obese, non-diabetic, age- and gender-matched persons. Results: Patients with obesity had a higher habitual intake of vitamin D than the control group (p < 0.05). However, the vitamin D blood levels of the obese group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.005) and they increased after weight loss (p < 0.001). At baseline, vitamin D blood concentrations of the persons with obesity were significantly correlated with both fat mass–kg (r = −0.40; p < 0.05) and body mass index (r = −0.47; p < 0.01). Following very low-calorie ketogenic diet, the change in vitamin D serum concentrations was correlated only with the change in fat mass–kg (r = −0.43; p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study confirmed that patients with obesity have lower vitamin D levels that normalize after significant weight loss, supporting the hypothesis that vitamin D is stored in the adipose tissue and released following weight loss.     

Mitogenic activity of steroidogenesis-inducing protein (SIP) during hypoxic stress of human ovarian carcinoma cells

Steroidogenesis-inducing protein (SIP) is a novel growth factor isolated from human ovarian follicular fluid. While the steroidogenic and mitogenic effects appear to be restricted towards gonadal cell types, we have recently demonstrated that SIP is also a potent mitogen for cell lines derived from ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas. Here, we demonstrate that SIP reverses hypoxia-induced cell proliferation arrest of the human ovarian carcinoma cell line SKA, as determined by flow cytometry and cell proliferation assays. Concomitant with this reversal of proliferation arrest is an increase in expression of cyclins D and E and a reduction in expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. Pretreatment of hypoxic SKA cells with SIP is also shown to increase Taxol sensitivity of these cells by two-fold. These studies further characterize the mitogenic activity of SIP at the molecular level and suggest that this protein may be an effective biological response modifier for ovarian carcinoma cells.     

Radiosurgery in the treatment of the glottic plane carcinoma

During the last 20 years, various conservative surgical techniques have been proposed to treat larynx cancer. On the basis of our various experiences and of the ultrastructural data on the tissues treated with radiowaves, we decided to also use radiosurgery in operations under direct microlaryngoscopy. We select 18 patients suffering from epidermoid carcinoma. These patients had been referred to our ENT clinic at the Polichnico of Palermo between 1999 and 2001. The authors describe the surgical procedures used and emphasize the advantages of radiosurgery in the treatment of larynx cancer.     

Influence of patient personality in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Individualized treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on genetic/serologic factors is increasingly accepted. Moreover, patients are more actively involved in the management of their disease. However, personality has received little attention with respect to perception of the need and adherence to treatment. Our objective was to evaluate whether patient personality was associated with the acceptance or rejection of more aggressive early treatment. We performed a cross-sectional study in two hospitals with early arthritis clinics where sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic variables are systematically recorded. Patients completed Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, Pain-Related Self-Statement Scale and Pain-Related Control Scale. Aggressive treatment was considered if patients received more than two DMARDs or biological agents during the first year of follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of aggressive treatment. One hundred seventy-six RA patients were included (80 % women, disease begin median age 55 years). Treatment was considered aggressive in 57.9 % of the sample. Scores were high in extraversion in 50.8 % of patients, neuroticism in 29.5 % and psychoticism in 14.7 %. Neuroticism was the only factor associated with aggressive treatment, which was less probable (p = 0.04, OR = 0.40). Neuroticism also decreased the possibility of receiving a combination of biologics and DMARDs (p = 0.04, OR = 0.28). Patients with high scores on neuroticism are more worried, obsessive and hypochondriac, leading them to reject more aggressive therapy. It is important to educate about their disease so that they will accept more aggressive approaches in clear cases of poor outcome.