Communication of the diagnosis to Klinefelter subjects: an observational study on a key moment of the patient's life.

PURPOSE: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most prevalent sex chromosome disorder among males. The communication of the KS diagnosis holds significant implications for the diagnosis's acceptance. Recently, the increased use of prenatal diagnostic procedures has raised the question of whether, when, and by whom information, once provided to parents, should be communicated to their children/adolescents. Currently, there is limited information on this topic. This study aims to investigate the most suitable timing, content, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) according to KS patients' suggestions for conveying the diagnosis, analyzing the impact of communicating the KS diagnosis on patients and their reception of the communication in real-life situations. Furthermore, research entails a comparison of the actual communication and the patients' preferred mode of communication. METHODS: Self-reported interview data was collected from 196 adults diagnosed with KS. The interview was structured, consisting of 32 multiple-choice questions covering various areas related to diagnosis communication. RESULTS: Most patients with Klinefelter syndrome reported that earlier communication would have been beneficial. Communication before the age of 18 and by parents increased the likelihood of overcoming negative consequences and relying on psychological support. CONCLUSION: To mitigate the adverse effects of poorly timed and inadequately delivered communication, typically by a single person, it is advisable that such communication be carried out at the onset of adolescence by an interdisciplinary team of HCPs (including psychologists, geneticists, endocrinologists) and parents. The information provided should not solely concentrate on hormonal and fertility aspects, but also consider other factors such as psychological variables.

Hypersexuality as a tip of the iceberg of a primary psychopathology: a joined position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and of the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI).

In the last years, hypersexual behavior has been broadly scientifically studied. The interest in this topic, belonging to psycho-sexology and sexual medicine, has been due to its still unclear aetiology, nature, and its manifestation in relationship with several organic and psychopathological conditions. So, the specialist (the psychologist, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, neurologist) may encounter some difficulties in diagnosing and managing this symptom. The first main objective of this position statement, which has been developed in collaboration between the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI) is to give to the reader evidence about the necessity to consider hypersexuality as a symptom related to another underlying condition. Following this consideration, the second main objective is to give specific statements, for the biopsychosocial assessment and the diagnosis of hypersexual behavior, developed on the basis of the most recent literature evidence. To develop a psycho-pharmacological treatment tailored on patients' needs, our suggestion is to assess the presence of specific comorbid psychopathological and organic conditions, and the impact of pharmacological treatments on the presence of an excess of sexual behavior. Finally, a suggestion of a standardized psychometric evaluation of hypersexuality will be given.

Endocrine and psychological aspects of sexual dysfunction in Klinefelter patients.

Klinefelter syndrome is a frequent cause of hypogonadism, but despite hundreds of publications on different aspects of Klinefelter syndrome, only a few studies dealt with sexual dysfunction. In particular, testosterone is critical for various aspects of sexual response, but its role on sexuality in Klinefelter syndrome patients is debatable and no studies have evaluated the efficacy of testosterone treatment on sexual dysfunction in these subjects. Furthermore, the impact of psychological and relational aspects on sexual function of Klinefelter syndrome subjects is poorly defined. In this study, we aimed to determine the presence and type of sexual dysfunctions in Klinefelter syndrome subjects; to correlate them with testosterone levels and psychosexological and relational domains; and to evaluate the effects of testosterone therapy. We studied 62 non-mosaic naïve Klinefelter syndrome patients and 60 age-matched controls by means of medical history, psychosexological history, 15-item International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire, endocrine assessment, and dynamic penile color Doppler ultrasound. Twenty-five hypogonadal Klinefelter syndrome patients were studied after 6 months of testosterone replacement therapy. Klinefelter syndrome subjects have reduced 15-item International Index of Erectile Function scores regarding sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction with respect to controls, and these aspects were significantly associated with testosterone levels. Klinefelter syndrome subjects had also higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction, but no relation with testosterone levels was evident. A high prevalence of a range of psychological disturbances was present in Klinefelter syndrome subjects with erectile dysfunction with respect to those without erectile dysfunction. No statistical difference in the prevalence of premature and delayed ejaculation was observed between Klinefelter syndrome and control subjects. Testosterone replacement therapy improved sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction scores, but had no effect on erectile function. Penile color Doppler ultrasound was normal in all subjects. This study shows that sexual dysfunction in Klinefelter syndrome is multifactorial and related only in part to hypogonadism and largely to psychological disturbances. Evaluation and therapy of sexual dysfunction should include a combined andrological and psychosexological approach.

Improvement of bovine in vitro embryo production by ovarian follicular wave synchronization prior to ovum pick-up.

This study evaluated the effects of the synchronization of ovarian follicular wave emergence on the efficiency of in vitro embryo production. Bos indicus cows (n = 20) were divided into two groups (control vs. synchronization) and subjected to repeated ovum pick-up (OPU) sessions (8 replicates each, with an interval of 21 days in a 2 × 2 crossover design) and subsequent in vitro embryo production. Cows in the control group (n = 10) were submitted to OPU procedures without any stimulation every 21 days. Animals in the synchronization group received a protocol-based progesterone implant, estradiol benzoate and prostaglandin on a random day of the estrus cycle (Day 0) and the OPU was performed on Day 5. After in vitro production, embryos were transferred to recipients synchronized at a fixed time and the diagnosis was performed 60 days later. An evaluation of the parameters for each OPU session revealed that donors that received the synchronization protocol pre-OPU showed a greater number of embryos (5.9 ± 0.5 vs. 4.5 ± 0.4; P = 0.037), higher rate of embryo production (45.8% vs. 38.5%; P = 0.001) and higher mean number of conceptions per group (2.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.6 ± 0.2; P = 0.07) in relation to the group that did not receive hormonal treatment. We concluded that synchronization of the follicular wave prior to OPU showed positive effects on in vitro embryo production as well as on pregnancy rates.

A combined approach for predicting the cytotoxic effect of drug-nanoaggregates.

We present a combined spectroscopic and computational approach aimed to elucidate the mechanism of formation and activity of etoposide nanoaggregates upon release from dextran-etoposide conjugates. Etoposide is an anticancer drug that inhibits cell growth by blocking Topoisomerase II, the key enzyme involved in re-ligation of the DNA chains during the replication process. In silico and spectroscopic analysis indicate that released etoposide nanoaggregates have a different structure, stability, and bioactivity, which depend on the pH experienced during the release. Molecular dynamics simulation and in silico docking of etoposide dimers suggest that the aggregation phenomena inhibit etoposide bioactivity, yet without drastically preventing Topoisomerase II binding. We correlated the diminished cytotoxic activity exerted by dextran-etoposide conjugates on the A549 lung cancer cells, compared to the free drug, to the formation and stability of drug nanoaggregates.

Nanomedicines for antimicrobial interventions.

The development of new antimicrobial therapeutic tools addresses the emergence of multidrug-resistant micro-organisms or clones and the need for more effective antimicrobial strategies. Overcoming the hurdles in providing early diagnosis and intervention on hard-to-reach and/or resting bacteria (i.e. biofilm-embedded cells) represents a challenging task. In this review, we identify a set of organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials that might be used for prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. We report the current knowledge on nano- and microparticle-based antimicrobial agents and describe the possible mode of their action.

Viabilidade de embriões vitrificados oriundos da fertilização in vitro de oócitos de vacas suplementadas com canola / Viability of vitrified embryos obtained from the in vitro fertilization of oocytes from cows supplemented with canola

Avaliou-se a produção de oócitos e embriões de vacas Nelore in vitro e a resistência à vitrificação. Foram utilizadas 12 vacas Nelore, distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois tratamentos: T1-tratados com canola em grão (2,0kg/animal/dia) e T2-controle. Cada animal foi aspirado quatro vezes para obtenção de óocitos para fecundação in vitro. Os oócitos foram quantificados e classificados em viáveis ou inviáveis. Os zigotos foram cultivados in vitro e, sete dias após, os embriões foram avaliados quanto à qualidade e grau de desenvolvimento e vitrificados em hastes próprias. Na sequência, foram descongelados e cultivados em 6, 12 e 24 horas, observando-se a taxa de expansão e eclosão. Não houve diferenças (P>0,05) no número total de oócitos viáveis, T1=12,7% e T2=11,0%, na taxa de clivagem, T1=60,6% e T2=61,4%, e taxa de blastocistos, T1=23,7% e T2=27,0%, em função do tratamento. Também não houve influência na taxa de re-expansão, T1=70,5 e T2=59,6%, após a vitrificação e descongelamento. Todavia houve diferença (P<0,06) para a taxa de eclosão, T1=69,2 e T2=35,7. Conclui-se que a adição de canola na dieta de vacas não alterou a produção de embriões; entretanto, os embriões resultantes de oócitos coletados de vacas alimentadas com canola são mais resistentes à vitrificação.

It was evaluated the production of oocytes and embryos from Nellore cows in vitro, as well as its resistance to vitrification, when the animals were supplemented with canola grains. Twelve Nellore cows were randomly divided into two treatments: T1-treated with Canola grains (2.0kg/animal/day) and T2-control. Each animal was submitted to other four aspirations, to obtain oocytes for the in vitro fertilization. The oocytes were quantified and classified as viable or not viable. The embryos were cultivated in vitro, seven days after the quality and the level of development of embryos was evaluated and they were vitrified in vitrification straws. Then, the embryos were thawed and grown during 6, 12 and 24 hours, and the rate of expansion and hatching were recorded. There were no differences (P> 0.05) in the whole number of viable oocytes T1: 12.7±1.71 and T2: 11.0±1.77, cleavage rate T1= 60.6±4,72 and T2= 61.4±4.88 or blastocysts rate T1=23,7±5.12 and T2=27,0±5.30 due to the treatment. The treatments did not influence the rate of re-expansion T1= 70,5±6.99 and T2: 59.6±7.09 after vitrification and thawing. However, there was a significant difference (P <0.06) in the hatching rate (T1: 69.17±7.43; T2: 35.66±6.86). Thus, we conclude that supplementation with canola grains did not change embryos production, but the embryos yielded from oocytes of cows fed canola grains are more resistant to vitrification.

Oocyte aspiration and in vitro embryo production in Jersey cows with selenium-supplemented diet / Aspiração de oócitos e produção de embriões in vitro de vacas Jersey suplementadas com selênio na dieta

The effects of selenium (Se) in Jersey cows' diet on the aspiration of oocytes and production of embryos in vitro were studied. Groups with five Jersey cows received 3.2mg or 9.6mg Se daily, provided in the feed concentrate. Six follicular aspirations were carried out every 15 days, using only the last 5. The oocytes were classified, and standard procedures were carried out for maturation, fertilization and cultivation. The total number of oocytes (35.11±2.65 vs 23.10±2.16) and degree 1 oocytes (11.61±2.65 vs 4.75±0.97) were higher in the group that received 9.6mg Se and the quantity of naked oocytes (3.23±0.87 vs 6.22±1.18) was lower in this group. The aspirated oocytes from the cows treated with 9.6mg Se/day resulted in higher (P<0.05) embryo production 21.98±2.37 vs 13.12±1.59). No difference was observed in serum Se concentration between the two groups. It is recommended that the daily diet be supplemented with 100g mineral salt containing 9.6mg Se, since this rate rendered a larger production of oocytes, higher quantity of degree 1 oocytes and greater production of embryos in the process of in vitro fertilization.

Avaliou-se o efeito do selênio (Se) adicional na dieta de vacas Jersey na aspiração de oócitos e produção de embriões in vitro. Dez vacas Jerseys receberam 3,2mg de Se por dia ou 9,6mg, vinculado ao concentrado. Realizaram-se seis aspirações foliculares, com intervalo médio de 15 dias, aproveitando as cinco últimas. Os oócitos foram classificados e realizaram-se os procedimentos padrões de maturação, fertilização e cultivo in vitro. O total de oócitos, 35,11±2,65 vs 23,10±2,16, e oócitos de qualidade 1, 11,61±1,58 vs 4,75±0,97, foram mais elevados no grupo que recebeu 9,6mg de Se e a quantidade de oócitos desnudos mais baixa, 3,21±0,87 vs 6,22±1,18. A produção de embriões foi maior no grupo tratado com 9,6mg de Se/vaca/dia, 21,98±2,37 vs 13,12±1,59. Não se observou diferença na concentração de Se no soro entre os dois grupos. Conclui-se que é possível recomendar o fornecimento de 100g de sal mineral, contendo 9,6mg de Se, adicionado à dieta, pois resultou em maior produção de oócitos, maior quantidade de oócitos de grau 1 e maior produção de embriões no processo de fecundação in vitro.

1H-NMR analysis of water mobility in cultured phototrophic biofilms.

The present work reports on the first attempt to study water mobility in phototrophic biofilms, applying the (1)H-NMR relaxometry technique to closely monitored microbial communities grown in a microcosm under controlled ambient conditions. Longitudinal water proton relaxation times exhibited a bi-exponential behavior in all biofilm samples, indicating two types of water molecules with diverging dynamic properties, confined to different compartments of the biofilm. The fast-relaxing component can be attributed to water molecules tightly bound to the intracellular matrix, while the slow-relaxing component could reflect the behavior of water embedded in the biopolymer matrix, confined into matrix pores and channels. The results are discussed with respect to a possible key role of exopolysaccharides and uronic acids in water binding in phototrophic biofilms.

Digestibilidade e metabólitos sanguíneos de vacas da raça Holandesa superovuladas que receberam Lac100® ou linhaça em grão como fontes de gordura / Digestibility and blood concentration of metabolites in superovulated dairy cows fed Lac100® or linseed as fat sources

Foram avaliados os efeitos de duas fontes de gordura, Lac100® (Yakult), fonte de ácido graxo ômega-6, e linhaça em grão (Linum usitatissimum) (LIN), fonte de ácido graxo ômega-3, sobre a digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca (DMS), proteína bruta (DPB), fibra em detergente neutro (DFDN), fibra em detergente ácido (DFDA) e extrato etéreo (DEE), e concentrações sanguíneas de HDL, LDL, VLDL, colesterol, triglicerídeos, glicose, cálcio, fósforo, N-ureico e progesterona. Foram utilizadas 10 vacas da raça Holandesa em lactação, distribuídas nos dois tratamentos, em um delineamento estatístico inteiramente casualizado. Os animais alimentados com Lac100® apresentaram maiores valores de DFDN (57,44 por cento vs. 50,80 por cento) e DEE (77,70 por cento vs. 72,18 por cento) quando comparados aos alimentados com LIN. Os animais alimentados com Lac100® apresentaram maiores concentrações de LDL (111,00 vs. 45,46mg/dL), HDL (82,27 vs. 64,93mg/dL) e colesterol total (203,60 vs. 116,13mg/dL) e menor concentração de N-ureico (13,22 vs. 15,19mg/dL) em relação aos animais alimentados com linhaça em grão. As concentrações sanguíneas de glicose, cálcio, fósforo e progesterona não foram alteradas. Os resultados sugerem que a fonte de gordura na dieta modifica a DFDN e a DEE e, as concentrações sanguíneas de LDL, HDL e colesterol total em vacas em lactação.

The effect of two sources of fat, calcium salts of soybean oil, Lac100® (Yakult), a source of omega-6 fatty acids or whole flaxseed (Linum usitatissiumum), a source of omega-3 fatty acids were evaluated to determine the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DDM), crude protein (DCP), neutral detergent fiber (DNDF), acid detergent fiber (DADF), and ether extract (DEE); and blood concentrations of HDL, LDL, VLDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, N-urea, and progesterone. Ten lactating Holstein cows were allocated in two treatments and a completely randomized design was used. Cows fed Lac100® had higher values of DNDF (57.44 percent vs. 50.80 percent) and DEE (77.70 percent vs. 72.18 percent) compared to those fed flaxseed. Cows fed Lac100® had higher blood concentrations of LDL (111.00 vs. 45.46mg/dL), HDL (82.27 vs. 64.93mg/dL), and total cholesterol (203.60 vs. 116.13mg/dL) and lower N-urea (13.22 vs. 15.19mg/dL) compared to those fed flaxseed. Blood concentrations of glucose, calcium, phosphorus, and progesterone were similar between the treatments. These results suggest that dietary fat modifies DNDF and DEE and blood concentrations of LDL, HDL, VLDL, and total cholesterol in lactating dairy cows.

Quality of embryos produced from dairy cows fed whole flaxseed and the success of embryo transfer.

The objective of the experiment was to determine the effects of fat supplementation on embryo quality of dairy cows and the subsequent success of embryo transfer into recipient heifers fed the same sources of fat. A total of 30 lactating Holstein cows were allotted on d 18 postpartum to 2 groups of 15 donor cows blocked for similar calving dates. Total mixed diets based on silage and fat supplements were fed for ad libitum intake. On a dry matter basis, diets fed to donor cows contained 7.9% whole flaxseed or 2.8% calcium salts of palm oil and those fed to recipient heifers contained 11.4% whole flaxseed or 4.2% calcium salts of palm oil. The experiment with donor cows was carried out between d 18 and 109 of lactation. The experimental diets were fed to 121 recipient heifers from wk 8 before estrus synchronization and superovulation to d 50 of gestation. Dietary fat fed to donor cows had no effect on the number of viable embryos per cow (3.7 +/- 0.5), the number of degenerated embryos per cow (1.8 +/- 0.4), or the number of unfertilized oocytes per cow (2.1 +/- 0.8). But feeding flaxseed decreased fertilization rate (64.3 vs. 78.4%) and the percentage of grade 1 to 2 embryos (56.5 vs. 74.1%) and increased the embryo degeneration percentage (27.4 vs. 18.2%) compared with feeding calcium salts of palm oil. There was no effect of diets fed to donor cows and those fed to recipient heifers for pregnancy rate of heifers. Supplementation with a rich source of n-3 fatty acids decreased quality of embryos from donor lactating dairy cows compared with feeding calcium salts of palm oil, but had no effect on the subsequent pregnancy rate of heifers receiving frozen grade-1 embryos.

Compared clinical efficacy and bone metabolic effects of low-dose deflazacort and methyl prednisolone in male inflammatory arthropathies: a 12-month open randomized pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate: (i) a correct equivalence ratio of clinical efficacy between low-dose deflazacort (DFZ) and methyl prednisolone (MP); and (ii) bone metabolic effects of low-dose DFZ and MP in the treatment of male RA and PsA. METHODS: A total of 21 male patients with active RA or PsA, naive to steroid treatment were chosen for the study. Group I: 10 patients treated for 6 months with DFZ 7.5 mg, calcium, cholecalciferol and a DMARD; for the following 6 months with MP 4 mg, calcium, cholecalciferol and a DMARD. Group II: 11 patients treated for 6 months with MP 4 mg, calcium, cholecalciferol and a DMARD; for the following 6 months with DFZ 7.5 mg, calcium, cholecalciferol and a DMARD. At day 0, 90, 180, 240 and 360 evaluation of ACR improvement criteria; a blood sample for total and bone-specific ALP, calcium, phosphorus, PTH, SHBG, estradiol, ACTH, osteocalcin, LH, OPG; a sample of urine for calcium, phosphorus, creatinine and DPD. RESULTS: 13/21 patients (6/10 Group I; 7/11 Group II) reached ACR 20 at 6 months; 14/21 (7/10 Group I, 7/10 Group II) at 12 months. Only at the third month we observed in Group II vs Group I a reduction of OPG (24% vs 6%, P = n.s.); ALP (P < 0.001) and osteocalcin (P = 0.006) decreased in both groups from the third month; DPD decreased in both groups only from the sixth month (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The correct equivalence ratio of DFZ to MP is 1.875:1, and of DFZ to prednisolone 1.5:1. We found a relative prevalence of bone resorption compared to bone formation in the first 6 months of treatment. The trend of OPG requires further investigation.

Development of composite materials by mechanochemical treatment of post-consumer plastic waste.

Improvement of mechanical properties of recycled mixed plastic waste is one of the fundamental goals in any recycling process. However, polymer immiscibility makes the development of any effective reprocessing method difficult. In this work, a polymer milling process with liquid CO2 was applied to polymeric mixed waste, obtaining a powder material which was successfully utilized as a matrix for a new composite material. Developed materials have interesting mechanical properties and material performance can easily be improved. Investigations on selected mixtures of PP and PE clearly showed evidence of chemical compatibilization.

A physico-chemical study on the polysaccharide ulvan from hot water extraction of the macroalga Ulva.

Results of a study on the solution behaviour of the cell-wall polysaccharide named ulvan obtained from hot water extraction of a flour of Ulva 'rigida' are reported. In particular the spectroscopic properties and ion binding capacity of this charged polysaccharide were studied by circular dichroism and isothermal microcalorimetric titrations in order to gain information on the potential exploitation of this low cost biomass. A marked tendency of this polysaccharide to uptake water was evidenced by studying the proton spin-lattice relaxation times of the solvent, T1, embedded in this highly charged polysaccharide.

1H NMR relaxation study of a chitosan-cyclodextrin network.

The results of measurements of longitudinal and transverse proton relaxation times for a chemical network obtained by reacting chitosan with oxidized beta-cyclodextrin (beta-cyclodextrin polyaldehyde) are presented. The network was characterized by a 'two-component' transverse relaxation mechanism relative to structurally different environments experienced by water molecules. Different environments were also indicated by the temperature of the spin-spin relaxation times (T2) studied in the range 4-50 degrees C. Between 4 and 18 degrees C, proton exchange between the matrix and water prevails on the inter- and intra-molecular dipolar interactions of the water confined in the meshes of the network, resulting in a marked change in the slope of T2 with temperature. Stiffness of the matrix and reduced mobility of water in the gel meshes are prerequisites for observing such relaxation phenomena. Possible mechanisms contributing to the activation energy in the case of chitosan-cyclodextrin networks are discussed. The behaviour of the chitosan-cyclodextrin hydrogel is compared with that of a gellan gel.

Transcriptional inhibition of the beta-amyloid precursor protein by interferon-gamma.

Attenuating beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) gene expression may have relevance in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, where beta-APP has been implicated in neuropathological processes. We report here on the transcriptional down-regulation of beta-APP by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in SKNMC human neuroblastoma cells. Treatment of the cells with IFN-gamma resulted in a 85% dose-dependent inhibition of beta-APP promoter activity after 24 h of exposure, with no changes observed at 5 h. For comparison, additional cytokines and signaling agents were also investigated for effects on beta-APP promoter activity. Elevated levels of activity were observed after treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and basic fibroblast growth factor whereas no significant effects were seen after treatment with lipopolysaccharide or interleukin-1 beta. Thus, IFN-gamma was shown here to be a suppressor of beta-APP promoter activity and is the first cytokine reported to possess such down-regulating effects.

Drugs that target gene expression: an overview.

Over the last few years, it has become apparent that regulation of many normal physiological pathways, as well as the response to a wide variety of disease states, involves specific changes in gene transcription. The concept of drugs that regulate gene transcription is now firmly established. There are multiple, highly effective drugs in widespread use whose primary mechanism of action is to affect gene transcription. A major goal at Oncogene Science is to develop drugs that can modulate the normal physiological responses associated with disease by specifically increasing or decreasing the transcription of key genes. In this article, we review several examples of drugs that have been shown to act by regulating gene transcription and describe the approach Oncogene Science has pioneered.

Absorption, emission, and chiroptical spectra of neurokinin 1 tachykinin receptor antagonists: the role of charge-transfer states on the biological activity.

A spectroscopic investigation, based on both electronic absorption and emission spectra as well as on chiroptical data, was performed on novel neurokinin 1 (NK1) tachykinin receptor antagonists, exhibiting interesting biological activity. These pseudopeptides have two fluorophores, i.e. indole (I) and naphthalene (N), and a central scaffold with different conformational mobility. Absorption spectra in methanol show the presence of a new band with respect to the sum spectrum of the isolated chromophores at around 285 nm, the intensity of which linearly increases as the bioactivity increases. This absorption disappears by using dioxane as solvent. It is ascribed to an intramolecular I-N charge-transfer (CT) complex that forms to different extent, depending on the flexibility of the scaffold. Under this condition, the molecules fold and apparently attain the correct conformation for competing substance P binding to the NK1 receptor, lending plausibility to the role of dipolar charged, spatially close aromatic moieties as topochemical elements in the mechanism of action of substance P antagonists. The excited-behavior parallels that in the ground state, as the quenching of the singlet state at 340 nm is found to be linearly dependent on the biological activity, too. Upon decreasing solvent polarity (methanol vs dioxane) the emissions of the dipolar state at around 370 nm disappears, while exciplex emission in the range of 400-500 nm occurs. This transition from charge-separated to exciplex-like states by lowering the dielectric constant of the medium very likely reflects a change in the structural features of the intramolecular I-N stacked complex, from a twisted or an asymmetrically overlapped conformation of the indolyl and naphthyl rings to a face-to-face geometry. Implications of the rigidity of the molecules, arising from the formation of the intramolecular CT complex, on the ellipticity are briefly discussed.

A cola de fibrina humana na microcirurgia experimental / The human fibrin glue in the experimental microsurgery

Graças às suas propriedades hemostáticas, colantes e tróficas, a cola de fibrina humana teve um vasto emprego nas intervençöes de microcirurgia. Nas microanastomoses experimentais do aparelho de reproduçäo feminino, além de um menor traumatismo cirúrgico, determina uma reduçäo das formaçöes de aderências. Na microcirurgia vascular reduz notavelmente o risco trombogênico e, graças à sua açäo impermeabilizante, é muito útil na correçäo das fístulas uro-genitais

HPV16 E7 protein associates with the protein kinase p33CDK2 and cyclin A.

E7 is the major transforming protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16). It has been found to associate with the retinoblastoma protein Rb1. We investigated whether HPV16 E7 protein was associated with other cellular proteins, in particular with those involved in cell cycle control. Immunoprecipitates from CaSki cell extracts with an anti E7 monoclonal antibody contained a histone H1 kinase. Recombinant E7, synthesized in yeast, when mixed with protein extracts from epithelial cells bound histone H1 kinase activity in vitro. The in vivo and the in vitro-formed E7-kinase complex had the same periodicity of activity during the cell cycle, being most active in S and G2/M. Immunoblotting of E7 immunoprecipitates with an antibody raised against the p33CDK2, revealed a 33 kDa protein band not detected by an anti-p34cdc2 antibody, suggesting that the E7-associated kinase activity is due to the p33CDK2. The interaction appears to be via cyclin A, since probing of similar immunoblots showed a 50 kDa band corresponding to cyclin A. The association of E7 with cyclin A appeared to be direct, not involving Rb 1 or other proteins.