Nucleolin protein expression in cutaneous melanocytic lesions

Background:  Nucleolin is a major nucleolar argyrophilic protein involved in carcinogenesis. There are only few studies on its tissue expression in human cancer and none in melanoma. We aimed at exploring this protein and its prognostic impact in cutaneous melanocytic lesions.
Methods:  We studied 193 cases including benign, dysplastic and malignant melanocytic lesions. Nuclear positivity was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantified by automated image analysis.
Results:  Most dysplastic and malignant lesions showed high percentages of cells with abnormal patterns of nuclear positivity (Abn+N) consisting in multiple, irregular, positive dots (ID+) and a coarse, irregularly positive nucleoplasm (CNpl+) or both (ID+CNpl+). The patterns CNpl+ and/or ID+CNpl+ were never observed in benign lesions, in which ID+ were also virtually absent. Abn+N% was significantly lower in dysplastic nevi than in primary melanomas and metastases and in primary melanomas than in metastases (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Abn+N was the second powerful prognostic discriminator, after melanoma thickness, and a significantly lower survival was observed in vertical growth phase melanoma patients showing Abn+N in more than 50% of melanoma cells.
Conclusion:  An altered nuclear nucleolin expression seems to accompany melanoma progression. Further investigation on nucleolin functionality and subcellular trafficking could add information on its altered role in melanoma.     

Fragrance material review on cinnamic acid.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of cinnamic acid when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.     

Fragrance material review on cinnamyl alcohol.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of cinnamyl alcohol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.     

Clinical epidemiology and survival of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: Data from the Italian Registry Investigative Neuro AIDS (IRINA)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) remains a relevant clinical problem even in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Aims of the study were to analyze clinical and treatment-related features and the survival probability of PML patients observed within the Italian Registry Investigative Neuro AIDS (IRINA) during a 29-month period of HAART. Intravenous drug use, the presence of focal signs, and the involvement of white matter at neuroradiology increased the risk of having PML. A reduced probability of PML was observed when meningeal signs were reported. Patients starting HAART at PML diagnosis and previously naïve for antiretrovirals showed significantly higher 1-year probability of survival (.58), compared to those continuing HAART (.24), or never receiving HAART (.00). Higher CD4 cell count were associated with a higher survival probability (.45). At multivariate analysis, a younger age, higher CD4, starting HAART at PML diagnosis, the absence of previous acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining events, and the absence of a severe neurologic impairment were all associated with a reduced hazard of death. The use of cidofovir showed a trend towards a reduced risk of death.     

Fractional reduction of somatostatin concentration interacted with rat growth hormone releasing hormone to titrate the magnitude of pulsatile growth hormone and prolactin release in perifusion

Growth hormone (GH) pulses in vivo are associated with increased hypothalamic portal growth hormone releasing hormone (GH-RH) concentration and can be prevented by GH-RH antisera. GH pulses are also associated with prior reduction of portal somatostatin (SRIF) concentrations, although SRIF antisera do not abolish GH pulses. In vitro, pulses of GH-RH as well as SRIF withdrawal are followed by pulses of GH release; the presence of GH-RH enhances post-SRIF GH release. We asked four questions: (1) During combined GHRH-SRIF exposure in vitro, must SRIF withdrawal be complete to produce a pulse of GH release, or is there a threshold diminution of SRIF which permits it? (2) When pulsatile GH release does occur, is it an all-or-none phenomenon, or is it titratable by fractional reduction of SRIF? (3) Does varying the GH-RH concentration while administering SRIF systematically alter GH release in response to fractional SRIF reduction? (4) Given a small but distinct effect of GH-RH on release of stored prolactin (PRL) in this system, does fractional SRIF reduction alter PRL release in parallel? Rat pituitary tissue whose hormone stores had been prelabeled with tritium was perifused for 120 min in combined 25 nM SRIF and 3 or 10 nM rat GH-RH (rGH-RH). Then, while maintaining rGH-RH concentrations, the SRIF concentration was left unchanged (control) or was reduced to 20, 15, 10, 5, or 0 nM for 60 min. Release of stored rGH and rPRL was assessed by immunoprecipitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anaerobic pathogenesis: collagenase production by Peptostreptococcus magnus and its relationship to site of infection.

Fifty isolates of Peptostreptococcus magnus from intraabdominal sepsis, nonpuerperal breast abscess, and diabetic foot infections were examined for collagenase activity using bovine type I collagen. Collagenase production was detected in a higher percentage of strains from nonpuerperal breast and diabetic foot specimens (P less than .001). This enzyme may be responsible for P. magnus playing a more central role in the pathogenesis of nonpuerperal breast abscess and diabetic foot disease than in intraabdominal sepsis.