Meningococcal X polysaccharide quantification by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography using synthetic N-acetylglucosamine-4-phosphate as standard.

A method for meningococcal X (MenX) polysaccharide quantification by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) is described. The polysaccharide is hydrolyzed by strong acidic treatment, and the peak of glucosamine-4-phosphate (4P-GlcN) is detected and measured after chromatography. In the selected conditions of hydrolysis, 4P-GlcN is the prevalent species formed, with GlcN detected for less than 5% in moles. As standard for the analysis, the monomeric unit of MenX polysaccharide, N-acetylglucosamine-4-phosphate (4P-GlcNAc), was used. This method for MenX quantification is highly selective and sensitive, and it constitutes an important analytical tool for the development of a conjugate vaccine against MenX.

Aggregation and deposition of engineered nanomaterials in aquatic environments: role of physicochemical interactions.

The ever-increasing use of engineered nanomaterials will lead to heightened levels of these materials in the environment. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge regarding nanoparticle transport and aggregation in aquatic environments. Nanoparticle aggregation and deposition behavior will dictate particle transport potential and thus the environmental fate and potential ecotoxicological impacts of these materials. In this review, colloidal forces governing nanoparticle deposition and aggregation are outlined. Essential equations used to assess particle-particle and particle-surface interactions, along with Hamaker constants for specific nanoparticles and the attributes exclusive to nanoscale particle interactions, are described. Theoretical and experimental approaches for evaluating nanoparticle aggregation and deposition are presented, and the major findings of laboratory studies examining these processes are also summarized. Finally, we describe some of the challenges encountered when attempting to quantify the transport of nanoparticles in aquatic environments.

Migratory crustaceans as biomonitors of metal pollution in their nursery areas. The Lesina lagoon (SE Italy) as a case study.

The Lesina lagoon is located on the southern Adriatic coast of Italy; many marine species, such as the shrimp M. kerathurus, use the Lesina lagoon as a nursery, spending their initial growth phase there. In order to assess the usefulness of migratory species as biomonitors of the environmental quality of this nursery area, we evaluated the metal content of the M. kerathurus juveniles at the end of their growth phase in the lagoon (October), when they are assumed to have bioaccumulated the maximum level of metals from the lagoon environment. The concentrations of Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn and Cu were measured in the muscle and exoskeleton of the shrimp, and in the sediments and waters of three areas of the Lesina Lagoon. Both the water and sediment levels of the investigated metals tended to fall within the ranges recorded for other lagoon environments characterized by similar anthropic impact and texturally similar sediment; the juveniles of the shrimp M. kerathurus proved to be strong bioaccumulators of heavy metals such as Zn and Cu (biota-sediment accumulation factors - BSAFs - 6.01 and 25.0 respectively), which derive from agricultural activities; therefore, at the end of their growing phase in the lagoon they can be considered useful biomonitors of metal contamination of agricultural origin in their nursery area.

Optical analyses of eyeglass lens fragments and the unexpected detection of oral sperm in a homicide case.

A homicide case in which intact spermatozoa were found in the oral cavity of the deceased forty days after his disappearance is reported. The victim's partially frozen body was found outdoors in a wooded area of upstate New York during the month of January. During a subsequent investigation, pieces of eyeglass lens fragments and bloodstains were found in the suspect's house and vehicle. Chemical and optical analyses of the lens fragments are presented as well as results of the serological tests.

Follicular fluid lipoproteins in preovulatory period and their relationship with follicular maturation and progesterone production by human granulosa-luteal cells in vivo and in vitro.

Follicular fluid (FF) lipoprotein content was evaluated in an in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer and gamete--intrafallopian--transfer program and correlated to follicular and oocyte maturation. Moreover, the in vitro progesterone response of granulosa-luteal cells from 10 patients to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was assessed. Most FFs contained only HDL. Sixteen out of 97 FFs contained also very low levels of LDL and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The presence of LDL was associated to features of follicle and oocyte hypermaturity. LDL alone induced a much more potent increase of progesterone (P) release by granulosa-luteal cells than HDL alone, and the HDL partially reversed the potent effect of LDL. It is concluded that in late follicular phase HDL maintains P release by granulosa cells at a low rate and prevents a potent stimulation of P production by LDL which might cross the maturating blood-follicle barrier, until increasing passage of LDL in FF decreases the HDL:LDL ratio and the action of LDL becomes prominent.

Pregnancy following regression of uterine submucosal leiomyoma with GnRH therapy; a case report.

A patient with a history of two spontaneous abortions, at the 16th and 20th week, respectively, and one intra-uterine fetal death at the 26th week of gestation was investigated. The sole abnormal condition that could be evidenced was a submucosal leiomyoma of 56 mm in diameter in the uterine fundus. Administration of gonadotropin/releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) for 10 months resulted in complete disappearance of myoma. Direct intraperitoneal insemination following induction of ovulation resulted in pregnancy. In a patient harboring uterine leiomyomas, adversely affecting conception and pregnancy outcome, GnRHa treatment may be an initial approach allowing to avoid pelvic surgery. As the beneficial effect of GnRHa might be temporary, assisted reproduction procedures might anticipate conception.

[Sclerosing adenosis and infiltrating epitheliosis of the breast. Radiohistopathologic correlations and differential diagnosis of carcinoma]. / Adenosi sclerosante ed epiteliosi infiltrante della mammella. Correlazioni radioistopatologiche e diagnosi differenziale col carcinoma.

Sclerosing adenosis and infiltrating epitheliosis are both benign diseases which are clinically, radiologically and macroscopically impossible to distinguish from cancer. Over a four years' period, 27 lesions of this kind, which are usually considered as rare, were found in 27 patients. The average age of the patients was 36 years, which confirmed the lesions as diseases typical of fertile women. In all cases, both clinical and instrumental findings (mammography and echotomography) indicated a kind of malignant cancer. The final diagnosis was always made on surgical/bioptic (fine-needle biopsy) specimens. This paper is aimed at stressing the lack of mammographic findings useful for the differential diagnosis of sclerosing adenosis-infiltrating epitheliosis and breast cancer. The utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy is also stressed.

TA 4-SCC versus CEA sensitivity for lung cancer.

The sensitivity of a new tumor marker, TA 4-SCC, for lung tumors is examined and compared with the performance of the already established CEA. TA 4-SCC sensitivity is only moderate (30%), and it presents no significant differences among the various histologic types of lung cancer. In addition, unlike CEA, TA 4-SCC is present in large amounts in the serum of many stage I and II patients. In fact, its sensitivity in still curatively operable tumors reaches 30% compared to 10% with CEA.

[Ca 19-9 and Ca 50 in the diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma: comparison with CEA]. / CA 19-9 e CA 50 nella diagnosi del carcinoma bronchiale: comparazione con il CEA.

The search for early tumour markers has brought to light CA 19-9 and CA 50, glycoproteins recognised by monoclonal antibodies. Since these markers are mainly used on the digestive tract it was thought useful to investigate their value in the diagnosis of lung cancer which is only rarely identified by markers in its early stages. The two markers were compared with the better known CEA on 43 healthy volunteers, 42 patients with chronic lung conditions, 26 people with localised non-neoplastic lung shadows and 255 patients with staged and histologically identified lung tumours. The results obtained reveal the two markers to be of little use in lung cancer since though satisfactorily specific they are not at all sensitive even in the advanced stages of the disease. They could however be used to advise against surgery if positive.

Serum prostate-specific antigen determination in prostatic carcinoma.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a tissue-specific glycoprotein identified by Wang in 1979. It is synthesized in the prostate independently of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). A total of 199 subjects were divided into four groups: controls aged less than 50 years, controls aged more than 50 years, patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and patients with prostatic carcinoma. PSA cut-off value was set at 10 ng/ml (mean for the BPH group plus 2 SD). With this cut-off value PSA could not be used as an early predictor of prostatic carcinoma. The association of PSA and PAP in prostatic cancer increases the number of patients with positive biological markers.

[Usefulness of the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen in the pleural fluid in effusions associated with bronchial neoplasms]. / Utilità della determinazione dell'antigene carcino-embrionario su liquido pleurico in versamenti associati a neoplasie bronchiali.

The difficult problem of the diagnosis of pleural effusion linked to lung cancers is investigated. After an examination of the various diagnostic methods, CEA assays on the pleural fluid are recommended as being reasonably sensitive and highly specific in the diagnosis of neoplastic pleural effusion.

The simultaneous electrophoretic analysis of esterase D and phosphoglucomutase subtyping in fresh blood and in dried bloodstains.

Phosphoglucomutase1 (PGM) subtyping and esterase D phenotyping were simultaneously performed by electrophoresis of bloodstained fibers using agarose and a Tris-maleic acid buffer system , pH 5.4. This method reduces anodal gel shrinkage and shortens development time when compared to the conventional electrophoretic technique for PGM subtyping which is performed at pH 7.4 using an agarose-starch substrate.