Air-polishing followed by ultrasonic calculus removal for the treatment of gingivitis: A 12-month, split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the advantages of a novel protocol involving full-mouth erythritol-powder air-polishing followed by ultrasonic calculus removal in the maintenance of patients treated for gingivitis, with a focus on time and comfort. METHODS: Systemically healthy patients with gingivitis were selected. Following a split-mouth design, quadrants 1-4 and 2-3 were randomly allocated to receive air-polishing followed by ultrasonic calculus removal following a protocol known as Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) or traditional full-mouth ultrasonic debridement followed by polishing with a rubber cup and prophylactic paste (US + P). Bleeding on probing (BoP) and the plaque index (PI) were collected at baseline (T0), 2 weeks (T1), 4 weeks (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4) and 12 months (T5). Following the same randomization, prophylactic therapy was provided at 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T4). Clinical parameters, treatment time and patient comfort and satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients were selected, 39 completed the study. The clinical parameters were clinically satisfactory for both treatments at every time. At 4 months after treatment, GBT maintained significantly lower BoP and PI. GBT protocol required a significantly lower treatment time, especially at T3 and T4, when it saved 24.5% and 25.1% of the time, respectively. Both treatments were rated positively by most patients. However, GBT was perceived as more comfortable, and a higher number of patients preferred it. CONCLUSION: No significant difference was observed between GBT and conventional ultrasonic debridement and rubber cup polishing in terms of BoP and PI levels. The GBT protocol allowed less time expenditure and higher patients' perceived comfort.

Long-term outcome for children undergoing open hepatico-jejunostomy for choledochal malformations: a 43-year single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To report on our 43-year single-center experience with children operated on for Choledochal Malformations (CMs), focusing on long-term results and Quality of life (QoL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive pediatric patients with CMs who underwent surgical treatment at our center between October 1980 and December 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study. We focused on long-term postoperative complications (POCs), considered to be complications arising at least 5 years after surgery. We analyzed QoL status once patients reached adulthood, comparing the results with a control group of the same age and sex. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients underwent open excision of CMs with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ). The median follow-up was 8.95 years (IQR: 3.74-24.41). Major long-term POCs occurred in six patients (8.9%), with a median presentation of 11 years after surgery. The oldest patient is currently 51. No cases of biliary malignancy were detected. The QoL of our patients was comparable with the control group. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that open complete excision of CMs with HJ achieves excellent results in terms of long-term postoperative outcomes. However, since the most severe complications can occur many years after surgery, international cooperation is advisable to define a precise transitional care follow-up protocol.

Family-centred care for children and young people with cerebral palsy: results from an Italian multicenter observational study.

Background: Family­centred care (FCC) is recognized as the model of best practice for the provision of services for children who have physical disabilities and their families. Objective: To assess the overall perception of FCC provided in an Italian network of 17 rehabilitation services, as perceived by parents of children with cerebral palsy and professionals, and to explore whether children, families, service providers and service­related characteristics influence parent satisfaction regarding service provision in an FCC practice. Methods: The Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC­20) for parents/caregivers and the Measure of Processes of Care for Service Providers (MPOC­SP) for healthcare providers were used. For the purposes of the study, an ad hoc information form was developed to collect information concerning children, families, service providers and services. Results: A total of 382 parents/caregivers and 269 healthcare providers completed the MPOC questionnaires. Parents and service providers both identified the domains for enabling partnerships and interpersonal sensitivity as a strength, while the domain relating to general information was always scored the lowest. An advanced maternal age, being a single parent, being unemployed and having lower socio­economic status were factors identified as individually predictive of lower FCC scores on the MPOC­20. Higher intensity treatment, inpatient services, primary healthcare settings and settings identified with limited financial resources and reduced space/time for each family were other variables significantly associated with less favourable MPOC­20 ratings. Conclusions: The perception of FCC provided was fairly positive, with some areas of improvement, such as the domain of provision of information. Professionals should, therefore, provide better communication and take more time in giving information and attention to parents. Potential sources of variation in parent perceptions of FCC based on family characteristics and the organization of services highlight the importance the need to support services through the provision of greater financial and human resources.

The GRM7 gene, early response to risperidone, and schizophrenia: a genome-wide association study and a confirmatory pharmacogenetic analysis.

The search for biomarkers of response to antipsychotic medications is hindered by difficulties inherent in the topic or related to persistent methodological difficulties, such as high rates of anticipated discontinuation and consequent distortions in the imputation of missing data. Because early response to antipsychotics represents a sufficiently reliable index of the subsequent treatment response in patients with schizophrenia, we undertook a real-world, genome-wide association study (GWAS) with the aim of identifying genetic predictors of response to risperidone after 2 weeks in 86 patients with schizophrenia. Limited to the associations reaching significance in the GWAS, confirmatory analysis relative to risperidone response over 9 months was also designed involving 97 patients (European only) enroled in the CATIE (Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness) genetic substudy. The GWAS revealed a significant association (false discovery rate 0.02) of the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs2133450 inside the GRM7 gene with Emsley's positive domain derived from the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). Patients with the rs2133450 CC genotype presented poorer improvement in the positive domain over 2 weeks, with odds ratios of 12.68 (95% CI, 3.51-45.76) and 6.95 (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.37-20.37) compared with patients with the AA and AC genotypes, respectively. Compared with A homozygotes, rs2133450 C homozygotes enroled in the CATIE-derived confirmatory analysis showed less improvement in Emsley's positive, excited and depression domains, positive and general PANSS subtypes, and total PANSS after 9 months of treatment with risperidone. The original GWAS and the CATIE-derived confirmatory analysis support the proposal that the rs2133450 may have translational relevance as a predictor of response to risperidone.

Nutrient-based dietary patterns and nasopharyngeal cancer: evidence from an exploratory factor analysis.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, no study assessed the association between dietary patterns and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in low-incidence areas. METHODS: We examined this association in a hospital-based case-control study carried out in Italy between 1992 and 2008, including 198 incident NPC cases and 594 controls. A posteriori dietary patterns were identified through principal component factor analysis performed on 28 nutrients and minerals derived from a 78-item food-frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional multiple logistic regression models on tertiles of factor scores. RESULTS: We identified five dietary patterns named Animal products, Starch-rich, Vitamins and fibre, Animal unsaturated fatty acids (AUFAs), and Vegetable unsaturated fatty acids (VUFAs). The Animal product (OR=2.62, 95% CI=1.67-4.13, for the highest vs lowest score tertile), Starch-rich (OR=2.05, 95% CI=1.27-3.33), and VUFA (OR=1.90, 95% CI=1.22-2.96) patterns were positively associated with NPC. The AUFA pattern showed a positive association of borderline significance, whereas the Vitamins and fibre pattern was nonsignificantly but inversely associated with NPC. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that diets rich in animal products, starch, and fats are positively related to NPC risk in this low-incidence country.

Nurses' practice patterns in relation to adherence-enhancing interventions in stem cell transplant care: a survey from the Nurses Group of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Recipients of stem cell transplants (SCT) must accurately manage multiple medications as non-adherence jeopardises treatment benefits. There is an evidence base for the efficacy of adherence-enhancing interventions; however, level of clinical implementation is unknown. This study aimed to identify patterns of practice in assessing medication adherence, screening for risk factors of non-adherence, interventions used in SCT to improve adherence and how nurses perceive the effectiveness of such interventions. A convenience sample of 143 European nurses completed a 29-item questionnaire measuring the frequency and perceived effectiveness of assessment/screening methods for adherence and three types of intervention (educational/cognitive, counselling/behavioural and psychological/affective). Questioning patients about adherence was the most regularly used assessment method (51.5%). Nurses used a median of seven interventions (interquartile range: six) 'frequently', the most popular being provision of reading materials (79%). The interventions perceived as most effective were; providing individual patient/family with teaching and reading materials. This is the first study exploring patterns of practice relating to adherence in SCT. Educational interventions were the most frequently employed style of intervention, which is at odds with recent data suggesting limited efficacy with this style of intervention. Combining educational, behavioural and psychological interventions would more accurately embrace current understanding.

Sulphurous thermal water increases the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and modulates antioxidant enzyme activity.

The beneficial effects of hot springs have been known for centuries and treatments with sulphurous thermal waters are recommended in a number of chronic pathologies as well as acute recurrent infections. However, the positive effects of the therapy are often evaluated in terms of subjective sense of wellbeing and symptomatic clinical improvements. Here, the effects of an S-based compound (NaSH) and of a specific sulphurous thermal water characterized by additional ions such as sodium chloride, bromine and iodine (STW) were investigated in terms of cytokine release and anti-oxidant enzyme activity in primary human monocytes and in saliva from 50 airway disease patients subjected to thermal treatments. In vitro, NaSH efficiently blocked the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and counterbalanced the formation of ROS. Despite STW not recapitulating these results, possibly due to the low concentration of S-based compounds reached at the minimum non-toxic dilution, we found that it enhanced the release of IL-10, a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine. Notably, higher levels of IL-10 were also observed in patients' saliva following STW treatment and this increase correlated positively with salivary catalase activity (r2 = 0.19, *p less than 0.01). To our knowledge, these results represent the first evidence suggesting that S-based compounds and STW may prove useful in facing chronic inflammatory and age-related illness due to combined anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Energy metabolism during activity-promoting video games practice in subjects with spinal cord injury: evidences for health promotion.

BACKGROUND: Activity promoting video game (APVG) practice significantly affects energy metabolism through energy expenditure (EE) increase and has been recently included in strategies for health promotion. It is not known if the APVG practice provides similar outcomes in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI). AIM: Aim of the study was to evaluate cardio-pulmonary and metabolic adaptations during APVG practice and to find whether EE increase above resting condition could suggest the inclusion of this exercise in a more general strategy for health promotion and body weight control in subjects with SCI. DESIGN: Repeated measures study. SETTING: Rehabilitation Institute. POPULATION: Ten male subjects with SCI (lesion levels from C7 to L1) age 26 to 55 years. METHODS: We recorded pulmonary ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2) for EE esteem and heart rate (HR) at rest and while playing virtual bowling, tennis and boxing games using a portable metabolimeter equipped with ECG electrodes. The standard metabolic equivalent of task (METs) was calculated offline. The metabolic and functional parameters were referred to the 10th minute of each activity. RESULTS: Metabolic and functional parameters increased significantly from rest to bowling, tennis and boxing. METs exceeded in average 3 during boxing. One hour of APVG can increase daily EE by about 6% (bowling), 10% (tennis) and 15% (boxing). CONCLUSION: These considerable results suggest that physical exertion during APVG practice in subjects with SCI could contribute to health promotion as well as caloric balance control, especially when boxing is considered. This can be safely achieved at home with regular activity. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: These findings substantiate the potential for novel exercise modalities to counteract deconditioning due to inactivity in subjects with SCI by promoting physical activity through implementation of APVG exercise programs.

Paediatric nurses' perception of the child-family dyad's autonomy in managing a chronic disease situation: the experience of an Italian paediatric department.

INTRODUCTION: Chronically ill patients have to take several medications and non-adherence to treatment can lead to severe and negative outcomes. Therefore, several interventions are suggested in literature to improve adherence rates in clinical practice. Adherence to treatment can be particularly troublesome in adolescents, who strive for autonomy and self-care independence. Literature suggests that improving adherence is useful to guarantee positive outcomes and reduce costs. AIM: To explore how nurses perceived autonomy in parents, adolescents, and children related to the management of chronic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative study including 1 focus group and 7 semi-structured interviews conducted between September 2011 and October 2011. The qualitative date were analysed with the thematic analysis method. The sample included 12 paediatric nurses working in a Children's Cystic Fibrosis Unit and Neuromuscular Disease Unit. RESULTS: The 5 main categories that emerged from this qualitative study after he process of categorization were: 'Changes in daily lifestyle', 'Nurses' attitude towards educating the dyad', 'Adolescence and transition', 'Parents' attitudes towards chronic disease', and 'Availability of information'. DISCUSSION: Correct information and education is crucial for families who have a chronically ill child. Internet can be a misleading source of information and provide wrong information also in relation to prevention.

Diagnostic and prognostic impact of serum HE4 detection in endometrial carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: To date, no good marker for screening or disease monitoring of endometrial cancer (EC) is available. The aims of this study were to investigate HE4 gene, protein expression and serum HE4 (sHE4) levels in a panel of ECs and normal endometria (NEs) and to correlate sHE4 with patient clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: Using quantitative real-time PCR we tested 46 ECs and 20 NEs for HE4 gene expression. Protein expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays in 153 ECs and 33 NEs. Pre-operative serum samples from 138 EC and 76 NE patients were analysed with HE4-EIA assay. Association between sHE4 and patient clinicopathological characteristics or outcome was evaluated. RESULTS: Protein and HE4 gene were significantly upregulated in EC tissues and sera, compared with controls. High sHE4 levels were significantly associated with worse EC clinical characteristics. By univariate survival analysis, high sHE4 levels significantly correlated with decreased overall survival, progression-free survival and disease-free survival, retaining their independent prognostic value on the poorly differentiated EC cohort. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate, for the first time, that high sHE4 levels correlates with an aggressive EC phenotype and may constitute an independent prognostic factor for poorly differentiated-ECs. Determination of sHE4 could be clinically useful in identifying high-risk EC patients for a more aggressive adjuvant therapy.

[Prevention of occupational injuries in foundries: multidisciplinary intervention and evaluation of effectiveness]. / Prevenzione degli infortuni sul lavoro nelle fonderie: intervento multidisciplinare e verifica di efficacia.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of field studies aimed at reducing occupational injuries (OI), particularly in foundries. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effectiveness of multidisciplinary intervention in foundries. METHODS: The study was carried out in two foundries (cast-iron=A, non-ferrous=B). Since 1999-2000, a multidisciplinary intervention was developed, by a team managed by the occupational physician, including safety personnel and workers' representatives. Interventions regarded maintenance, protective equipment, procedures, training, health surveillance (HS), fitness for work, first aid. The desired outcome was a reduction in injury rates. RESULTS: In foundries A and B, respectively 522 and 90 OI occurred in 1997-2007, accounting for 10,500 and 2,300 lost work days. Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in incidence and frequency in both foundries. HS allowed for human factor and fitness for work evaluation, return-to-work management. Safety culture, behaviour and procedures positively changed. CONCLUSIONS: The study was effective in reducing OI rates and improving a number of secondary outcomes. The same intervention, taking into account Evidence Based Prevention, is ongoing in about 50 foundries.

Trefoil factor 3: a novel serum marker identified by gene expression profiling in high-grade endometrial carcinomas.

This study identifies the genetic fingerprint of poorly differentiated endometrioid endometrial carcinomas (G3-EEC) and analyses the potential utility of trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) as novel serum marker in G3-EEC. Affymetrix microarrays were used to identify the gene expression patterns of 19 snap-frozen G3-EEC and 15 normal endometrium (NE) biopsies. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to validate TFF3 expression. Finally, TFF3 serum levels were determined by ELISA in 25 G3-EEC patients, 42 healthy controls, and in 13 endometrial hyperplasia patients. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed TFF3 as the top differentially expressed gene between 363 upregulated genes in G3-EEC, when compared with NE. Trefoil factor 3 gene expression levels analysed by qRT-PCR significantly correlated with Affymetrix results (P<0.001; rs=0.85). By immunohistochemistry, TFF3 protein was significatively more expressed in EEC compared with NE (P<0.01), with cytoplasmatic positivity in 79% G3-EEC and 18% NE. Patients harbouring G3-EECs had significantly higher TFF3 serum concentration by ELISA when compared with healthy patients (P<0.001) or patients harbouring endometrial hyperplasia (P=0.012). In conclusion, TFF3 is highly expressed at gene and protein level in G3-EEC. Further investigations on a wider set of samples are warranted to validate TFF3 as a novel serum marker for early detection and/or monitoring of G3-EEC patients.

Claudin-7 expression in human epithelial ovarian cancer.

Claudin-7 (CLDN-7) is a tight junction protein recently found highly differentially expressed in ovarian carcinoma. To evaluate its potential as a novel biomarker, in this study, we quantified and compared claudin-7 expression at messenger RNA and protein level in 110 patients harboring various histologic types of epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOC). CLDN-7 transcript was found significantly overexpressed in both primary and metastatic EOCs compared to normal human ovarian surface epithelium cell lines (fold change = 111.4, P < 0.001) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. At the protein level, CLDN-7 expression was found significantly higher in tumors of primary and metastatic origin when compared to normal ovaries (P < 0.001), regardless of the histologic type, the grade of differentiation, and the pathologic stage of the disease (P = 0.12). Moreover, a strong immunoreactivity for CLDN-7 was detected in EOC cells present in ascites fluids, whereas ascites-derived inflammatory cells, histiocytes, and reactive mesothelial cells were negative. Finally, immunohistochemical expression of CLDN-7 was observed in several human normal epithelial control tissues analyzed. CLDN-7 is significantly overexpressed in all main histologic types of EOC and in single neoplastic cells disseminated in peritoneal cavity and pleural effusions, suggesting its potential role as novel diagnostic marker in ovarian cancer. Despite widespread expression of CLDN-7 in several human normal tissues, the high density of CLDN-7 molecules, their membranous localization on EOC cells, and their lack of expression on the celomic epithelium in the peritoneal cavity suggest that this target could be potentially suitable for antibody-mediated localized therapies of ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Mammaglobin B expression in human endometrial cancer.

Mammaglobin B (MGB-2) is an uteroglobin gene family member recently found highly differentially expressed in ovarian cancer by gene expression profiling. To evaluate its potential as a novel endometrial cancer biomarker, in this study we quantified and compared MGB-2 expression at messenger RNA and protein levels in endometrial tumors (endometrioid endometrial cancer [EEC]) with different grades of differentiation. MGB-2 expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in fresh frozen biopsies and paraffin-embedded tissues derived from a total of 70 patients including 50 primary EEC and 20 normal endometria (NECs). High levels of MGB-2 gene expression were detected in 10 of 11 EEC G1 cases (91%), 16 of 17 EEC G2 cases (94%), and 6 of 22 EEC G3 cases (27%) by real-time PCR. In contrast, normal endometrial cells expressed low to negligible levels of MGB-2 by real-time PCR (P = 0.002 EEC vs NEC). Well- and moderately differentiated EECs overexpressed MGB-2 gene at significant higher levels when compared to NECs (P < 0.01). Pairwise differences between both G2 and G1 vs G3 cases for MGB-2 relative gene expression values were also statistically significant (G2 vs G3 P < 0.001, G1 vs G3 P = 0.016). MGB-2 protein expression was detected in 31 (86%) of 36 EEC and 0 of 5 atrophic NEC controls, while seven of eight (88%) of the proliferative/secretory/hyperplastic NECs focally expressed MGB-2 by IHC. MGB-2 is highly expressed in EEC, particularly in well- and moderately differentiated tumors, and may represent a novel molecular marker for EEC.

Low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in serum of Huntington's disease patients.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms and by a progressive degeneration of neurons in basal ganglia and in brain cortex. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a pro-survival factor for striatal neurons. Some evidence implicates a brain BDNF deficiency, related to mutated huntingtin expression, in the selective vulnerability of striatal neurons in HD. We compared BDNF serum levels in 42 patients with HD (range 28-72 years, mean age 51.9 +/- 11.5), and 42 age-matched healthy subjects (range 25-68 years, mean age 48.2 +/- 12.5). We evaluated the potential relationship between BDNF serum levels, CAG repeat number (range 40-54, mean 44.8 +/- 3.4) and duration of illness (range 6-228 months, mean 103.6 +/- 62.1). Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in patients than in age-matched healthy subjects. Lower BDNF levels were associated with a longer CAG repeat length and a longer duration of illness. Severity of the illness, as assessed by the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) motor and cognitive scores, was negatively related to serum BDNF levels. These results in vivo confirm that the huntingtin mutation causes BDNF production to decline and show that the BDNF deficiency is detectable in HD patients' sera. Further studies on a larger sample size should confirm whether BDNF concentrations in patients' serum could be a useful clinical marker related to the patients' disease phenotype.

Cryotherapy in the prevention of oral mucositis in patients receiving low-dose methotrexate following myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a prospective randomized study of the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Midollo Osseo nurses group.

Severe oral mucositis is a major cause of morbidity following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Cryotherapy, that is, the application of ice chips on the mucosa of the oral cavity during the administration of antineoplastic agents, may reduce the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-related oral mucositis. In this multicenter randomized study, we addressed whether cryotherapy during MTX administration is effective in the prevention of severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing myeloablative AHSCT. One hundred and thirty patients undergoing myeloablative AHSCT and MTX-containing GVHD prophylaxis were enrolled and randomized to receive or not receive cryotherapy during MTX administration. The incidence of severe (grade 3-4) oral mucositis, the primary end point of the study, was comparable in patients receiving or not cryotherapy. Moreover, no difference was observed in the incidence of oral mucositis grade 2-4 and the duration of oral mucositis grade 3-4 or 2-4, or in the kinetics of mucositis over time. In univariate and multivariate analysis, severe oral mucositis correlated with TBI in the conditioning regimen and lack of folinic acid rescue following MTX administration. Thus, cryotherapy during MTX administration does not reduce severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing myeloablative allogeneic HSCT. Future studies will assess cryotherapy before allogeneic HSCT.

Genistein affects adipose tissue deposition in a dose-dependent and gender-specific manner.

The soy isoflavone genistein targets adipose tissue and elicits physiological effects that may vary based on dietary intake. We hypothesized that the adipose effects of genistein are dose and gender dependent. Four-week-old C57BL/6 male and female mice received daily oral doses of genistein (50-200,000 microg/kg.d) or 17beta-estradiol (E2) (5 microg/kg.d) for 15 d or a diet containing 800 ppm genistein. Genistein increased epididymal and renal fat pad and adipocyte size at doses up to 50,000 microg/kg.d or at 800 ppm in the diet in males but not in females. The alteration in adipocity correlated with changes in peripheral insulin resistance. These treatments increased genistein serum concentrations from 35+/-6 to 103+/-26 nM 12 h after treatment and lowered plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels. The 200,000 microg/kg.d genistein dose decreased adipose tissue weight similarly to E2. This genistein dose down-regulated estrogen receptor (beta more than alpha) and progesterone receptor expression and induced estrogen-dependent adipose differentiation factors; it did not change expression of the minimal consensus estrogen-responsive element in ERE-tK-LUC mice, which was positively modulated in other tissues (e.g. the lung). E2 down-regulated almost all examined adipogenic factors. Gene microarray analysis identified factors in fat metabolism and obesity-related phenotypes differentially regulated by low and high doses of genistein, uncovering its adipogenic and antiadipogenic actions. The lower dose induced the phospholipase A2 group 7 and the phospholipid transfer protein genes; the 200,000 microg/kg.d dose inhibited them. The antiadipogenic action of genistein and down-regulation of adipogenic genes required the expression of ERbeta. In conclusion, nutritional doses of genistein are adipogenic in a gender-specific manner, whereas pharmacological doses inhibited adipose deposition.

Correlation between serological immune response analyzed by a new ELISA for HPV-16/18 E7 oncoprotein and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer patients.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), particularly HPV-16/18, are linked to cervical cancer development. Full-length, recombinant HPV-16/18 E7 oncoproteins were used in a new streptavidin-biotin capture ELISA method to investigate anti-HPV E7 antibody prevalence in serum. Sera from 99 healthy women, 70 cervical cancer patients, and 30 patients with cervical pre-invasive neoplasia were analyzed. Anti-HPV-16/18 E7 positivity was found in 53% of cervical cancer patients, in 40% with cervical pre-invasive neoplasia, and in 8% of healthy women. Serum samples from 12 cervical cancer patients were obtained at different time intervals during the treatment. Eleven out of 12 showed a correspondence between HPV-E7 antibody levels (decreasing versus increasing) and the type of response (clinically complete or partial response versus progression or stable disease) at each serological evaluation. Five patients with recurrent HPV-16/18-positive cervical carcinoma were analyzed before and after vaccination with HPV-16/18 E7-pulsed autologous dendritic cells; anti-HPV-16/18 E7 positivity was found in 3 out of 5 women. In conclusion, this assay could potentially be used as an adjunctive tool to monitor the type of response to treatment and possibly to detect antibody induction in cervical cancer patients after vaccination, as a potential marker to evaluate its efficacy.

Offspring sexual dimorphism and sex-allocation in relation to parental age and paternal ornamentation in the barn swallow.

We analysed the morphology of nestling barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) in relation to their sex, and laying and hatching order. In addition, we studied sex-allocation in relation to parentage, parental age and expression of a secondary sexual character of fathers. Molecular sexing was conducted using the sex chromosome-linked avian CHD1 gene. Sex of the offspring was not associated with laying or hatching order. None of nine morphological, serological and immunological variables varied in relation to offspring sex. Sexual dimorphism did not vary in relation to parental age and expression of a paternal secondary sexual character. The proportion of sons declined with brood size. Individual males and females had a similar proportion of sons during consecutive breeding years. The proportion of sons of individual females declined with age, but increased with the expression of a secondary sexual character of their current mate. The generalized lack of variation in sexual dimorphism among nestlings may suggest that barn swallows do not differentially invest in sons vs. daughters. Alternatively, male offspring may require different parental effort compared to their female siblings in order to attain the same morphological state. The lack of variation in offspring sexual dimorphism with paternal ornamentation suggests no adjustment of overall parental effort in relation to reproductive value of the two sexes. However, male-biased sex ratio among offspring of highly ornamented males may represent an adaptive sex-allocation strategy because the expression of male ornaments is heritable and highly ornamented males are at a sexual selection advantage.