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1.
J Nutr Health Aging ; 22(5): 569-574, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29717755

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate eating habits and adherence to Mediterranean Diet (MD) in relation to the risk of depression in a cohort of nonagenarians enrolled within the Mugello Study, an epidemiological study aimed at investigating both clinically relevant geriatric items and various health issues, including those related to nutritional status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Homes and nursing homes in the Mugello area, Florence, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects aged 90-99 years [N=388 (271F; 117M) mean age: 92.7±3.1]. MEASUREMENTS: All subjects were evaluated through questionnaires and instrumental examinations. Adherence to MD was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet Score. A shorter version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to detect the possible presence of depressive symptoms. In addition, cognitive and functional status was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Clock Drawing Test, as well as the Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living test. RESULTS: Depressed subjects (DS) (GDS score≥5, 43.8%) were older, females and widows, than non-depressed subjects (NDS). DS reported a slightly but not statistically significant lower MD score than NDS (33.9±3.9 vs. 34.6±3.3, p=0.149). Subjects who reported to consume a greater amount of olive oil and fruit were associated with a lower risk of depression (OR=0.35, 95%CI=0.20-0.59, p<0.001 and OR=0.46, 95%CI=0.26-0.84, p=0.011, respectively) after adjustment for many possible confounders. Similar results were obtained for women, while no statistically significant differences emerged for men. CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis that a diet rich in olive oil and fruit, characteristics of MD, may protect against the development of depressive symptoms in older age.


Subject(s)
Depression/diet therapy , Depression/psychology , Depressive Disorder/diet therapy , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Diet, Mediterranean/psychology , Activities of Daily Living , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Female , Fruit , Humans , Italy , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Nursing Homes , Nutritional Status , Olive Oil , Surveys and Questionnaires
2.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis ; 28(1): 84-90, 2018 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29167060

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been associated with a longer and better life. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of adherence to the MD, and of nutritional habits on endothelial progenitor (EPCs) and circulating progenitor (CPCs) cells in a cohort of nonagenarians enrolled within the Mugello Study, an epidemiological study aimed at investigating both clinically relevant geriatric items and various health issues, including those related to nutritional status. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-one nonagenarians (306 F, 115 M, mean age: 93.1 ± 3.2 years) were evaluated. Adherence to MD was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet Score. Elderly subjects who were in the fourth quartile of the Mediterranean diet score showed significantly higher EPCs than subjects grouped into the other three quartiles. After adjustment for confounders, elderly subjects who were in the highest quartile of adherence to the MD score reported to have EPCs' levels significantly higher than those who reported lower values of adherence to the MD. Furthermore, by analyzing different food categories, it was reported that daily consumption of olive oil and a higher consumption of fruit and vegetables showed higher CPCs CD34+ and EPCs CD34+/KDR+ than subjects with not daily or lower consumption. CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis that the adherence to MD, as well as a daily consumption of olive oil and fruit and vegetables, characteristics of MD, may protect against the development of endothelial dysfunction through increasing EPCs and CPCs in older age.


Subject(s)
Diet, Healthy , Diet, Mediterranean , Endothelial Progenitor Cells/physiology , Feeding Behavior , Healthy Aging , Nutritional Status , Age Factors , Aged, 80 and over , Antigens, CD34/blood , Biomarkers/blood , Diet Surveys , Endothelial Progenitor Cells/metabolism , Female , Fruit , Geriatric Assessment , Humans , Italy , Male , Nutrition Assessment , Nutritive Value , Olive Oil , Protective Factors , Recommended Dietary Allowances , Risk Reduction Behavior , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 , Vegetables
3.
Eur J Intern Med ; 41: 39-43, 2017 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28342714

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength that occurs with advancing age and plays a pivotal role in the causal pathway leading to frailty, disability and, eventually, to death among older persons. As oxidative damage of muscle proteins has been shown to be a relevant contributory factor, in this study we hypothesized that uric acid (UA), a powerful endogenous antioxidant, might exert a protective effect on muscle function in the oldest old and we tested our hypothesis in a group of nonagenarians who participated in the Mugello Study. METHODS: 239 subjects, 73 men and 166 women, mean age 92.8years±SD 3.1, underwent the assessment of UA serum level and isometric handgrip strength, a widely used clinical measure of sarcopenia. RESULTS: Mean UA serum level was 5.69mg/dL±SD 1.70 and mean handgrip strength was 15.0kg±SD 6.9. After adjusting for relevant confounders, higher UA serum levels remained independent positive predictors of isometric handgrip strength (ß 1.24±SE(ß) 0.43, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Our results show that higher UA serum levels are associated with better muscle function in the oldest old and, accordingly, might slow down the progression of sarcopenia.


Subject(s)
Antioxidants/physiology , Hand Strength/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Sarcopenia/blood , Uric Acid/blood , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers/blood , Female , Humans , Italy , Linear Models , Logistic Models , Male , Risk Factors
4.
Phys Rev Lett ; 115(6): 067001, 2015 Aug 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26296127

ABSTRACT

We report structural evidence of dynamic reorganization in vortex matter in clean NbSe(2) by joint small-angle neutron scattering and ac susceptibility measurements. The application of oscillatory forces in a transitional region near the order-disorder transition results in robust bulk vortex lattice configurations with an intermediate degree of disorder. These dynamically originated configurations correlate with intermediate pinning responses previously observed, resolving a long-standing debate regarding the origin of such responses.

5.
Br J Cancer ; 112(12): 1921-8, 2015 Jun 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25942399

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite major advances in the management of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with liver-only involvement, relapse rates are high and reliable prognostic markers are needed. METHODS: To assess the prognostic impact of BRAF and RAS mutations in a large series of liver-resected patients, medical records of 3024 mCRC patients were reviewed. Eligible cases undergoing potentially curative liver resection were selected. BRAF and RAS mutational status was tested on primary and/or metastases by means of pyrosequencing and mass spectrometry genotyping assay. Primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: In the final study population (N=309) BRAF mutant, RAS mutant and all wild-type (wt) patients were 12(4%), 160(52%) and 137(44%), respectively. Median RFS was 5.7, 11.0 and 14.4 months respectively and differed significantly (Log-rank, P=0.043). At multivariate analyses, BRAF mutant had a higher risk of relapse in comparison to all wt (multivariate hazard ratio (HR)=2.31; 95% CI, 1.09-4.87; P=0.029) and to RAS mutant (multivariate HR=2.06; 95% CI, 1.02-4.14; P=0.044). Similar results were obtained in terms of overall survival. Compared with all wt patients, RAS mutant showed a higher risk of death (HR=1.47; 95% CI, 1.05-2.07; P=0.025), but such effect was lost at multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: BRAF mutation is associated with an extremely poor median RFS after liver resection and with higher probability of relapse and death. Knowledge of BRAF mutational status may optimise clinical decision making in mCRC patients potentially candidate to hepatic surgery. RAS status as useful marker in this setting might require further studies.


Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Genes, ras , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/surgery , Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics , Aged , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Colorectal Neoplasms/enzymology , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/enzymology , Liver Neoplasms/secondary , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , ras Proteins/genetics
6.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med ; 50(2): 143-51, 2014 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24429917

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) management is a critical public health issue in all developed countries. Most approaches show evidence of effects only in the short term. AIM: To identify predictors of functional outcome on discharge and at 1 year. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation department. POPULATION: Patients aged >18 addressed to exercise therapy for persisting LBP. METHODS: The individually designed physiotherapy program provided 7 sessions (45'); patients were given advice to stay active and continue exercise program on discharge. Baseline (T0) assessment included: age, sex, time since onset, pain-related drug use, previous treatments, job, physical activity, pain (NRS) and Mental Health (SF36 sub-score); at follow-up (T2), we also enquired to on adherence to exercise prescription, physical activity, drugs. The primary outcome measure was the Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) patients scoring improvement >30% (minimal clinical important difference) were classified as respondent. RESULTS: 211 completed follow-up (70% women; age 70.4±11.9). Average RMDQ score was reduced by 35% at T1 and by 31% at T2; NRS by 28% (T1) and 24% (T2); 125 patients (59%) were responders on discharge; 106 (50%) at follow-up. Only higher baseline NRS predicted poor response to treatment at T1 (OR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.71-0.95, P=0.012)). At T2, older age (OR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.91-0.98, P=0.003), drug use (OR=0.18, 95% CI: 0.08-4,69, P<0.001) and previous treatments (OR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.71, P=0.004) were significantly associated with poor response, while, baseline mental health (OR=1.1, 95% CI: 1.01-1.24, P=0.02) and adherence to exercises for LBP (OR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.03-4.42, P=0.04) predicted improved outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The individually designed exercise therapy program for chronic LBP was associated to clinically significant functional improvement both on discharge and at 1 year. Only severe pain intensity predicted poor treatment response on discharge. At one year, younger age and better mental health predicted improved outcome, while use of drugs and previous LBP treatments were associated with worse response. Adherence to the exercise program almost doubled the probability of a favorable outcome. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Adherence to an extensive individually designed exercise therapy program improves long term functional outcome of chronic low back pain.


Subject(s)
Chronic Pain/rehabilitation , Exercise Therapy/methods , Low Back Pain/rehabilitation , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , Time Factors
7.
Plant Dis ; 98(11): 1591, 2014 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30699841

ABSTRACT

Sharka or plum pox disease is one of the most economically important virus diseases of stone fruits. Plum pox virus (PPV), the causal agent, is a member of the genus Potyvirus of the family Potyviridae transmitted by aphids in a non-persistent manner and by grafting. To date, nine PPV strains have been described on the basis of their biological, serological, and molecular properties: M and D are the most widespread and economically important strains, PPV-Rec and PPV-C have been reported mainly in Europe, PPV-EA confined to Egypt, PPV-T to Turkey, PPV-W from Canada, Ukraine, Latvia, and Russia, PPV-CR detected in Russia, and finally a putative PPV strain infecting plum in Albania described as the ancestor of the M. PPV-M is responsible for major epidemics in many Italian regions and despite phytosanitary measures, the infection rate increases each year. The D and Rec isolates are sporadically reported while PPV-C, once signaled in Apulia, has been successfully eradicated. Except for a report from the 1980s, which is no longer traceable, Sicily was considered free from the virus (2). In 2012, two new foci of sharka in a coastal area of Catania in Sicily were first reported by the national plant protection service to the European Commission (DG-SANCO). In spring 2013, plants of different varieties of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) and peach (P. persica) showing typical symptoms of flower color break, yellowing and leaf deformation, chlorotic spots or rings, and malformation on fruits were tested positive to PPV by DAS-ELISA using polyclonal antibodies. In order to characterize two isolates from apricot varieties (Carmen Top and Ninfa), total RNAs, extracted using the RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen) from ELISA-positive samples, were analyzed by RT-PCR with primers P1/P2, targeting the 3'-terminal region of the coat protein (CP) gene (5) followed by RFLP analysis after digestion with Rsa1. Subsequently total RNAs were analyzed with the type-specific primers P1/PM and P1/PD (3), P3M/P4b and P3D/P4b amplifying the N-terminal region of the CP gene (1) and, finally, with primers mD5/mD3, mM5/mM3, and mD5/mM3, amplifying the region 3'NIb-5'CP, including the recombination site of Rec isolates (4). Only primer pairs P1/P2, P1/PM, P3M/P4b, and mM5/mM3 produced amplicons of the expected size (243, 198, 466, and 459 bp, respectively). The RFLP assay confirmed both isolates belonging to the M strain. Moreover, no reaction was obtained with primer pair mD5/mM3, excluding isolates belonging to Rec-type. Isolate characterization was completed by direct sequencing in both directions of the of P1/P2 and P3M/P4b amplicons obtained from apricot samples L9-1 (Carmen Top isolate) and 9-335 (Ninfa isolate). The P1/P2 sequences (KJ994235, KJ994237) showed 98% similarity with PPV-M or PPV-Rec isolates. The P3M/P4b sequences (KJ994236, KJ994238) confirmed that Sicilian isolates belong to the PPV-M strain showing 99% similarity with those already present in GenBank, thus ruling out the possibility of an infection with a PPV-Rec isolate. This outbreak of the Marcus strain of PPV in Sicily represents a high risk for the expanding production of stone fruit in southern Italy. An eradication plan was quickly activated by the regional phytosanitary service. References: (1) T. Candresse et al. Phytopathology 101:611, 2011. (2) EPPO. PQR-EPPO database on quarantine pests (available online). http://www.eppo.int , 2014. (3) A. Olmos et al. J. Virol. Methods 68:127, 1997. (4) Z. Subr et al. Acta Virol. 48:173, 2004. (5) T. Wetzel et al. J. Virol. Methods 33:355, 1991.

9.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis ; 23(12): 1210-5, 2013 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23786823

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Whether uric acid (UA) serves as risk factor for cardiovascular diseases or as antioxidant defense has not yet been completely clarified. In this study we investigated the effects of UA on functional recovery in patients receiving cardiac rehabilitation. METHODS AND RESULTS: 306 patients, 209 men and 97 women, age range 25-87 years (mean 68 ± 11), performed the 6-min walk test (6mWT) before and after the rehabilitation, and the increase in walking distance was considered as the outcome measure of the study. Baseline UA serum levels ranged from 1.0 to 10.9 mg/dL (mean 5.2 ± 1.7). As there was a significant (p = 0.005) age*UA levels interaction, patients were divided into two subgroups, less then 65 years (n. 103, 68 men and 35 women, mean age 56 ± 9) and 65 years or more (n. 203, 141 men and 62 women, mean age 74 ± 5). After adjusting for relevant confounders, higher UA levels remained independent positive predictors of the increase in walking distance in older (p < 0.001) but not in younger patients (p = 0.807). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show an independent association of higher UA levels with better functional recovery after cardiac rehabilitation selectively in elderly patients, suggesting that higher UA levels might reflect the decline in antioxidant defenses that occurs with advancing age. Future studies aimed at understanding the several contradictions concerning UA should, probably, address the issue within this perspective.


Subject(s)
Antioxidants/metabolism , Cardiac Rehabilitation , Cardiovascular Diseases/blood , Uric Acid/blood , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Exercise Test , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Regression Analysis , Risk Factors
10.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med ; 48(3): 371-8, 2012 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22569488

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent studies on chronic low back pain (cLBP) rehabilitation suggest that predictors of treatment outcome may be differ according to the considered conservative treatment. AIM: To identify predictors of response to back school (BS), individual physiotherapy (IP) or spinal manipulation (SM) for cLBP. POPULATION: outpatients with cLBP. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation department. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis from a randomized trial. METHODS: Two hundred and ten patients with cLBP were randomly assigned to either BS, IP or SM; the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RM) was assessed before and after treatment: those who decreased their RM score <2.5 were considered non-responders. Baseline potential predictors of outcome included demographics, general and cLBP history, life satisfaction. RESULTS: Of the 205 patients who completed treatment (140/205 women, age 58+14 years), non-responders were 72 (34.2%). SM showed the highest functional improvement and the lowest non-response rate. In a multivariable logistic regression, lower baseline RM score (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.76-0.89, P<0.001) and received treatment (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.21-0.50, P<0.001) were independent predictors of non-response. Being in the lowest tertile of baseline RM score (<6) predicted non response to treatment for BS and IP, but not for SM (same risk for all tertiles). CONCLUSIONS: In our patients with cLBP lower baseline pain-related disability predicted non-response to physiotherapy, but not to spinal manipulation. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Our results suggest that, independent form other characteristics, patients with cLBP and low pain-related disability should first consider spinal manipulation as a conservative treatment.


Subject(s)
Disability Evaluation , Exercise Therapy/methods , Low Back Pain/rehabilitation , Manipulation, Spinal/methods , Patient Education as Topic , Physical Therapy Modalities , Female , Humans , Low Back Pain/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome
11.
Phytopathology ; 99(6): 711-5, 2009 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19453230

ABSTRACT

Bois noir phytoplasma (BNp), widespread in wine-producing areas of Europe and endemic in France and Italy, is classified in the 16SrXII-A subgroup, whose members are referred to as Stolbur phytoplasmas. The 16S rDNA gene of Stolbur phytoplasma shows low variability, and few non-ribosomal genes are available as markers to assess variation among isolates. We used the Stolbur-specific stol-1H10 gene, encoding a putative membrane-exposed protein, to investigate genetic diversity of French and Italian BNp isolates from plants and insects. Amplification of stol-1H10 from infected grapevines, weeds, and Hyalesthes obsoletus produced fragments of three sizes, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis divided these amplicons further into 12 profiles (V1 to V12). French BNp isolates were more variable than Italian ones, and different profiles were present in infected grapevines from France and Italy. Isolate V3, most abundant among Italian affected grapes but present among French ones, was found in one Urtica dioica sample and in all H. obsoletus collected on this species. Four Italian-specific profiles were represented among infected Convolvulus arvensis, the most frequent of which (V12) was also detected in H. obsoletus collected on this species. Most of the variability in the stol-1H10 sequence was associated with type II on the tuf gene.


Subject(s)
Phytoplasma/genetics , RNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , France , Genes, Bacterial , Italy , Phytoplasma/isolation & purification , Plant Diseases/genetics , Plant Diseases/microbiology , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Vitis/microbiology
12.
Phys Rev Lett ; 100(24): 247003, 2008 Jun 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18643617

ABSTRACT

The peak effect (PE) in the critical current density of type II superconductors has been related to an order-disorder transition in the vortex lattice (VL), but its underlying physics remains a controversial issue. Intrinsic to the PE are strong metastabilities that frequently mask the stationary VL configurations. We follow shaking and thermal protocols in NbSe2 single crystals to access these configurations and examine them by linear ac susceptibility measurements that avoid VL reorganization. We identify three different regions. For TT2(H), configurations are fully disordered and no metastability is observed. In the T1

13.
Suppl Tumori ; 4(3): S28, 2005.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16437883

ABSTRACT

Sentinel lymph node sampling, in patients with resectable colon cancer, improved identification of lymph node disease and identified patients likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy. This study examined whether sentinel node sampling accurately predicted lymph node status for patients with resectable colon cancer.


Subject(s)
Colonic Neoplasms/pathology , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Feasibility Studies , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Reproducibility of Results
14.
Bone ; 31(5): 598-605, 2002 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12477574

ABSTRACT

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has been implicated as being important in the growth of tumor cells responsive to the peptide. We utilized a rat osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line, UMR 106-01, which has PTHrP receptors and a PTHrP-responsive adenylate cyclase/cAMP messenger system, to produce a modified cell line that overexpresses PTHrP. The human PTHrP cDNA sequence was transfected by electroporation into UMR 106-01 cells and the stable cell lines UMR-36 and UMR-34 were established. The modified cell line, UMR-36, had increased levels of PTHrP mRNA compared with control cell lines and secreted PTHrP into the culture medium at levels of 0.01-0.1 pmol/10(7) cells in 12 h. The secreted peptide was biologically active as indicated by its ability to activate adenylate cyclase. The number of UMR-36 cells following 9 days in culture was reduced by up to 80% compared with control lines, which was associated with decreased (3)H-thymidine incorporation into genomic DNA. Addition of 1000-fold excess of the PTHrP antagonist, PTHrP(7-34), to UMR-36 cells resulted in the escape of growth inhibition and increased rate of growth. In vivo, tumors derived from UMR-36 cells were smaller in size compared with tumors derived from control cells. In conclusion, increased autocrine secretion of, and responsiveness to, PTHrP results in inhibited growth kinetics of an osteoblast-like bone tumor cell line in vitro and in vivo.


Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/metabolism , Growth Inhibitors/metabolism , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteosarcoma/metabolism , Peptide Hormones/metabolism , Animals , Bone Neoplasms/genetics , Female , Growth Inhibitors/genetics , Humans , Mice , Mice, Nude , Osteosarcoma/genetics , Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein , Peptide Hormones/biosynthesis , Peptide Hormones/genetics , Rats , Transfection , Tumor Cells, Cultured
15.
J Surg Oncol ; 77(1): 21-4; discussion 25, 2001 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11344476

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lymphadenectomy for papillary thyroid cancer is a matter of debate. After showing its usefulness as a prognostic factor in both melanoma and breast cancer, the concept of sentinel lymph node biopsy was also recently applied to differentiated thyroid cancer. To date, all attempts to locate and remove the sentinel node were based on the intraoperative injection of a vital dye. The feasibility and the technical details of using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy coupled with intraoperative vital dye and gamma probe scanning were investigated and discussed. METHODS: Six patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer were submitted to preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with (99m)Tc-labelled colloidal albumin at different dosages. The operation consisted in a total thyroidectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy guided by intraoperative injection of a vital dye (Blu Patent V, 2.5%) and scanning with a hand-held gamma probe. Lymph node dissection was completed in the area in which the sentinel node was located. RESULTS: The sentinel node was identified using all the three methods in all cases (100%). Considering one of the methods alone, identification rates were 66, 50, and 83% for preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, vital dye, and probe scanning, respectively. One sentinel node was identified in four cases and two in the other two cases. The optimal dosage of the tracer appeared to be at 22 MBq. CONCLUSIONS: These results underline the necessity to use the combination of nuclear medicine imaging and lymphatic vital dye in order to enhance the identification rate of sentinel node also in thyroid cancer. It is now necessary to check the diagnostic accuracy of this procedure through a controlled trial involving a more extended lymph node dissection in the neck.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnosis , Lymph Node Excision , Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Papillary/surgery , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Preoperative Care , Radionuclide Imaging , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/methods , Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Thyroidectomy
16.
Diagn Mol Pathol ; 9(1): 41-6, 2000 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10718212

ABSTRACT

Tumor suppressor protein p53 is a positive regulator of MDM2 gene expression and the mdm2 protein can bind to p53, preventing the transactivation of p53 responsive genes, thus mimicking TP53 mutation. The authors looked for alterations that could affect, directly and indirectly, p53 function in 13 patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Molecular analysis by single strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing revealed that TP53 gene mutations occurred in only 2 of 13 cholangiocarcinomas. High levels of mdm2 protein were found, by immunohistochemical staining, in 61% of the cholangiocarcinomas and in almost all specimens (70%) displaying stabilized p53 protein in the absence and in the presence of TP53 mutations. The finding of co-overexpressed mdm2 and p53 proteins in cholangiocarcinomas indicates that they can upregulate the expression of mdm2 protein to a level sufficient for binding and accumulating p53 in a presumably inactive complexed form. The presence of TP53 mutations or upregulation of MDM2 gene expression in 9 of the 13 cholangiocarcinomas strongly supports that the impairment of the p53 pathway is an important and specific step in cholangiocarcinoma pathogenesis. At variance with other authors, no alteration of p16ink4/CDKN2 gene was observed in all 13 cholangiocarcinomas.


Subject(s)
Bile Duct Neoplasms/genetics , Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic , Cholangiocarcinoma/genetics , Mutation , Nuclear Proteins , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/biosynthesis , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Base Sequence , Bile Duct Neoplasms/metabolism , Bile Duct Neoplasms/pathology , Cholangiocarcinoma/metabolism , Cholangiocarcinoma/pathology , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/genetics , DNA, Neoplasm/analysis , Female , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Male , Middle Aged , Molecular Sequence Data , Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 , Sequence Analysis, DNA
17.
Mol Cell Neurosci ; 14(1): 1-16, 1999 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10433813

ABSTRACT

We report the molecular cloning of Cadherin-7 from the embryonic mouse eye. The deduced amino acid sequence shows it to be a type-II cadherin similar to Xenopus F-cadherin and chick Cadherin-7. The mouse Cadherin-7 gene maps to chromosome 1, outside the conserved linkage group of cadherin genes on chromosome 8. Cadherin-7 is expressed throughout the entire period of neural development and mRNA levels are developmentally regulated in both the embryonic and the postnatal central nervous system (CNS). In adult mice, Cadherin-7 expression is restricted to the CNS, with highest levels in the retina. In the developing eye, Cadherin-7 mRNA is found only in the neural retina. It is expressed by all retinal neuroblasts from E11 onward, but becomes progressively restricted to neurons in the inner neuroblast and developing ganglion cell layers (GCL). In the adult retina it is confined to subpopulations of cells in the GCL and to amacrine cells in the inner part of the inner nuclear layer. This expression pattern suggests a role for Cadherin-7 in mouse retinal development, particularly in the formation and maintenance of the GCL.


Subject(s)
Brain/physiology , Cadherins/genetics , Chromosome Mapping , Eye/embryology , Eye/growth & development , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Aging , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Brain/embryology , Brain/growth & development , Cadherins/biosynthesis , Cadherins/chemistry , Cloning, Molecular , Embryonic and Fetal Development , Head , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Retinal Ganglion Cells/cytology , Retinal Ganglion Cells/physiology , Sequence Alignment , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Transcription, Genetic
18.
Minerva Chir ; 53(1-2): 45-9, 1998.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9577135

ABSTRACT

The authors, after an examination of the literature on the subject, present the results of a retrospective study in which the incidence of varicocele among selected young soldiers population called up at SARVAM (Viterbo) from May 1993 until October 1995 is evaluated.


Subject(s)
Military Personnel , Varicocele/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Cohort Studies , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Retrospective Studies , Varicocele/surgery
19.
Acta Virol ; 42(4): 219-21, 1998 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10073221

ABSTRACT

The diagnosis of plum pox virus (PPV) is still considered one of the most important aspects of the "sharka" problem. In fact, different studies demonstrated an uneven distribution of the virus in infected trees due to a high variability in virus concentration. These aspects complicate the PPV diagnosis. To date, biological, serological and molecular assays have been successively developed in order to obtain sensitive and efficient PPV detection techniques. In particular, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique seems to be promising and can be considered the most sensitive and reliable one. Preparation of viral RNA is still a fundamental step in reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) technique, especially when applied to large scale testing, i.e., for certification purposes. In order to find the most rapid and efficient procedure, we have compared three different procedures of extraction of viral RNA to be processed RT-PCR. Their common characteristics is their capacity to extract the RNA from a small amount of plant tissue without organic solvents in the extraction fluid. The procedures were as follows: an immuno-capture (IC) method using a specific antiserum, a silica-capture (SC) method using a non-specific matrix, and a simple and rapid RNA extraction (RE) method. They all were followed by one-tube RT-PCR. The obtained results show that all the three techniques allowed a successful amplification and detection of PPV in tested samples except the SC-PCR method which proved less effective. In fact, the IC-PCR and RE-PCR methods amplified and detected PPV in all isolates tested, while the SC-PCR method was able to reveal the presence of the virus in apricot and infected control samples only.


Subject(s)
Plant Diseases/virology , Plum Pox Virus/isolation & purification , RNA, Viral/isolation & purification , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Fruit/virology , Plum Pox Virus/genetics , Rosales/virology
20.
Acta Virol ; 42(4): 260-3, 1998 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10073234

ABSTRACT

Twelve different apricot selection trees from a germplasm collection naturally infected with plum pox virus (PPV) were chosen to investigate the role of seeds in the epidemiology of this dangerous pathogen. All the considered plants showed typical symptoms on leaves and fruits and were positive in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The virus was characterized by immunocapture reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with RsaI enzyme as a PPV-D isolate. The presence of PPV was checked on fully ripe seeds and seedlings. One half of the seed stock was analysed immediately by ELISA and IC-RT-PCR tests: the cotyledons containing also the embryo were separated from the teguments. The other half of the seed stock was germinated and maintained in an insect-proof screenhouse over a 2-year period. PPV was detected by ELISA only in the seed coat while by IC-RT-PCR also in cotyledons. Seedlings from infected seeds did not show any typical symptoms and were PPV-negative in serological and molecular assays. So far, the presence of PPV in seeds seems to play no role in its epidemiology.


Subject(s)
Plum Pox Virus/isolation & purification , Rosales/virology , Seeds/virology , Blotting, Western , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Plant Diseases/virology , Plum Pox Virus/pathogenicity , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Rosales/physiology , Seeds/physiology , Virulence
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