Organization, evolution and functions of the human and mouse Ly6/uPAR family genes.

Members of the lymphocyte antigen-6 (Ly6)/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) superfamily of proteins are cysteine-rich proteins characterized by a distinct disulfide bridge pattern that creates the three-finger Ly6/uPAR (LU) domain. Although the Ly6/uPAR family proteins share a common structure, their expression patterns and functions vary. To date, 35 human and 61 mouse Ly6/uPAR family members have been identified. Based on their subcellular localization, these proteins are further classified as GPI-anchored on the cell membrane, or secreted. The genes encoding Ly6/uPAR family proteins are conserved across different species and are clustered in syntenic regions on human chromosomes 8, 19, 6 and 11, and mouse Chromosomes 15, 7, 17, and 9, respectively. Here, we review the human and mouse Ly6/uPAR family gene and protein structure and genomic organization, expression, functions, and evolution, and introduce new names for novel family members.

Corneal Expression of SLURP-1 by Age, Sex, Genetic Strain, and Ocular Surface Health.

PURPOSE: Although secreted Ly6/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor-related protein-1 (Slurp1) transcript is highly abundant in the mouse cornea, corresponding protein expression remains uncharacterized. Also, SLURP1 was undetected in previous tear proteomics studies, resulting in ambiguity about its baseline levels. Here, we examine mouse corneal Slurp1 expression in different sexes, age groups, strains, and health conditions, and quantify SLURP1 in human tears from healthy or inflamed ocular surfaces. METHODS: Expression of Slurp1 in embryonic day-13 (E13), E16, postnatal day-1 (PN1), PN10, PN20, and PN70 Balb/C, FVBN, C57Bl/6, and DBA/2J mouse corneas, Klf4Δ/ΔCE corneas with corneal epithelial-specific ablation of Klf4, migrating cells in wild-type corneal epithelial wound edge, and in corneas exposed to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) poly(I:C), zymosan-A, or Pam3Csk4 was examined by QPCR, immunoblots, and immunofluorescent staining. Human SLURP1 levels were quantified by ELISA in tears from 34 men and women aged 18 to 80 years. RESULTS: Expression of Slurp1, comparable in different strains and sexes, was low in E13, E16, PN1, and PN10 mouse corneas, and increased rapidly after eyelid opening in a Klf4-dependent manner. We found Slurp1 was downregulated in corneas exposed to PAMPs, and in migrating cells at the wound edge. Human SLURP1 expression, comparable in different sexes and age groups, was significantly decreased in tears from inflamed ocular surfaces (0.34%) than those from healthy individuals (0.77%). CONCLUSIONS: These data describe the influence of age, sex, genetic background, and ocular surface health on mouse corneal expression of Slurp1, establish the baseline for human tear SLURP1 expression, and identify SLURP1 as a useful diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for inflammatory ocular surface disorders.

Spatiotemporally Regulated Ablation of Klf4 in Adult Mouse Corneal Epithelial Cells Results in Altered Epithelial Cell Identity and Disrupted Homeostasis.

PURPOSE: In previous studies, conditional disruption of Klf4 in the developing mouse ocular surface from embryonic day 10 resulted in corneal epithelial fragility, stromal edema, and loss of conjunctival goblet cells, revealing the importance of Klf4 in ocular surface maturation. Here, we use spatiotemporally regulated ablation of Klf4 to investigate its functions in maintenance of adult corneal epithelial homeostasis. METHODS: Expression of Cre was induced in ternary transgenic (Klf4(LoxP/LoxP)/Krt12(rtTA/rtTA)/Tet-O-Cre) mouse corneal epithelium by doxycycline administered through intraperitoneal injections and drinking water, to generate corneal epithelium-specific deletion of Klf4 (Klf4(Δ/ΔCE)). Corneal epithelial barrier function was tested by fluorescein staining. Expression of selected Klf4-target genes was determined by quantitative PCR (QPCR), immunoblotting, and immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS: Klf4 was efficiently ablated within 5 days of doxycycline administration in adult Klf4(Δ/ΔCE) corneal epithelium. The Klf4(Δ/ΔCE) corneal epithelial barrier function was disrupted, and the basal cells were swollen and rounded after 15 days of doxycycline treatment. Increased numbers of cell layers and Ki67-positive proliferating cells suggested deregulated Klf4(Δ/ΔCE) corneal epithelial homeostasis. Expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin, desmosomal Dsg and Dsp, basement membrane laminin-332, and corneal epithelial-specific keratin-12 was decreased, while that of matrix metalloproteinase Mmp9 and noncorneal keratin-17 increased, suggesting altered Klf4(Δ/ΔCE) corneal epithelial cell identity. CONCLUSIONS: Ablation of Klf4 in the adult mouse corneas resulted in the absence of characteristic corneal epithelial cell differentiation, disrupted barrier function, and squamous metaplasia, revealing that Klf4 is essential for maintenance of the adult corneal epithelial cell identity and homeostasis.

Reproduction and development of Russian wheat aphid biotype 2 on crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and susceptible and resistant wheat.

The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), is an economically important pest of small grains. Since its introduction into North America in 2003, Russian wheat aphid Biotype 2 has been found to be virulent to all commercially available winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L., cultivars. Our goal was to examine differences in Russian wheat aphid reproduction and development on a variety of plant hosts to gain information about 1) potential alternate host refuges, 2) selective host pressures on Russian wheat aphid genetic variation, and 3) general population dynamics of Russian wheat aphid Biotype 2. We studied host quality of two wheatgrasses (crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertn., and intermediate wheatgrass, Agropyron intermedium [Host] Beauvoir) and two types of winter wheat (T. aestivum, one Biotype 2 susceptible wheat, 'Custer' and one biotype 2 resistant wheat, STARS02RWA2414-11). The susceptible wheat had the highest intrinsic rate of increase, greatest longevity and greatest fecundity of the four host studied. Crested wheatgrass and the resistant wheat showed similar growth rates. Intermediate wheatgrass had the lowest intrinsic rate of increase and lowest fecundity of all tested hosts.

[Vaginal metastasis from renal adenocarcinoma. A clinical case]. / Metastasi vaginale secondaria ad adenocarcinoma renale. Caso clinico.

We describe a case in which vaginal bleeding has represented the onset symptom of a renal clear cell adenocarcinoma. A 53-year-old patient presented with a bleeding polypoid neoformation of the vaginal forewall for which exeresis was immediately decided for diagnostic and curative purpose. An attentive histological examination was immediately addressed towards the renal origin. Afterwards the search and image staging (abdominal and pelvic ultrasound examination, urography, abdominal and cerebral TAC) has allowed us to confirm the presence of a tumor of the left kidney and audit that the secondary vaginal location to the moment was probably the only manifestation of the illness. Left nephrectomy with complementary associated lymphoadenectomy joined to the auxiliary therapy with progestin and interferone has allowed us to decidedly improve the subjective and general conditions of the patient.

[Enoxacin in the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with prostatic adenoma]. / Enoxacina nel trattamento della batteriuria asintomatica in pazienti affetti da adenoma prostatico.

Fifty patients suffering from prostatic adenoma with asymptomatic bacteriuria, were admitted to an open non comparative trial. Enoxacin was administered at the daily dosage of 300 mg every 12 hours for 10 days. Three cycles of treatment were performed during three consecutive months. Treatment efficacy was established by assessing patient symptoms related to the infection such as pollakiuria , nocturia, decreased flow rate, stranguria, daily temperature. Cultural tests were also performed. All observations were collected at baseline and at the end of each cycle of therapy. Cure was obtained in 43 patients (87, 75%), 1 patient (2,04%) relapsed, 5 patients (10.2%) withdrew because of inefficacy of treatment and 1 patient died of heart failure. No side effects were observed. These results suggest that enoxacin may be successfully used in the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Class I and class II HLA antigen expression by transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: correlation with T-cell infiltration and BCG treatment.

HLA class I and II glycoproteins from transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and from perineoplastic and healthy vesical mucosa were characterized together with infiltrating cells by means of immunochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies on frozen sections obtained during resection or radical cystectomy. Specimens were taken from 11 patients with TCC and five with healthy bladder mucosa. Four patients with TCC and four with healthy mucosa had been previously treated with a course of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Ten out of 11 TCC samples expressed class I glycoproteins with a membrane pattern (diffuse in seven, focal in three) as normal epithelial cells from either controls or perineoplastic bladder. Interestingly, eight out of 11 TCC samples expressed class II antigens on their membrane that were also present in six cases in the perineoplastic tissue while the epithelial cells from four out of five normal bladders were completely negative. The epithelial display of class II antigens in the non-neoplastic areas and in the normal bladder correlates (p less than 0.001) with the degree of cellular infiltrate while such a relationship was not found between the HLA II expression of neoplastic cells and the infiltrate. BCG treatment was associated with a higher amount of inflammatory cells, prevalently T "activated" cells (CD5+,DR+), with a CD4/CD8 ratio always greater than 1. In the light of the role played by HLA glycoproteins in immune mechanisms, these results could help explain the positive action of BCG and the relative immunosensitivity of TCC.

[Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): diagnostic and prognostic implications in the evaluation of carcinoma of the prostate]. / Antigene prostatico specifico (PSA): implicazioni diagnostiche e prognostiche nella valutazione del carcinoma della prostata.

Prostatic specific antigen (PSA), glycoprotein with molecular weight of 34000, was first identified by Wang and Coll. in prostatic tissue initially; then Papsidero and Wang purified PSA in the sera of patients with prostatic cancer. We determined PSA concentration in 132 serum samples obtained from 111 patients affected by prostatic carcinoma: of these 61 had untreated prostatic cancer (6 had a stage A disease, 10 stage B, 19 stage C and 26 stage D) and 50 were variously treated (17 with cyproterone acetate, 11 with estramustine phosphate, 10 with LH-RH analogues, 9 underwent radical prostatectomy and 3 radiation therapy alone). Each patients was assigned a histological grade according to Gaeta, by means of a perineal transrectally guided prostatic biopsy. At periodical follow-ups of treated subjects, patients' state and neoplastic evolution were considered. Serum PSA has been measured by a competitive radioimmunoassay (PSA-Double antibody, Diagnostic Product Corporation) in which 125-I-labeled PSA competes with PSA in the samples for antibody sites. The antibody-bound fraction is then precipitated and counted. Since manipulation of the prostate gland may lead to elevated PSA levels, patients' samples were obtained prior to rectal examination, biopsy or surgical procedures. On the basis of a preliminary study of samples from healthy blood donors, we fixed the cut-off value at 2.9 ng/ml. In patients with untreated prostatic carcinoma PSA serum mean value was 26.33 ng/ml (range 0.5-100), resulting elevated in 56/61 (90,16%) patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Urethral syndrome: a study in psychosomatic urology.

The authors studied a sampling of 50 female patients diagnosed with urethral syndrome (urinary symptoms and pain without infection or organic lesion) on purpose to explore some psychological aspects. The evaluation procedure began with a complete urodynamic examination followed by a clinical interview. After this all patients were given three questionnaires: Symptom Questionnaire, Illness Behaviour Questionnaire and a Biographic Questionnaire prepared specifically for this study. Statistical analysis of the data showed higher levels of hostility, irritability, anxiety, dysphoria and depression in the group of patients than in the control group. There was also a marked tendency to suffer from psychophysiological symptoms.