Seasonal Pattern of Phototherapy: A Study in the Sardinian Population

The relationship between season of birth and human diseases is well known and it has been suggested that such a relationship could be mediated by seasonal and environmental effects on early events of extrauterine life. In this context the physiological increase of bilirubin occurring in all infants during the neonatal period may be of paramount importance. Indeed, recent studies suggest a beneficial action of bilirubin in the early stages of extrauterine life due to its protective action against secondary oxidants. The newborn infant is particularly sensible to oxidative damage, thus seasonal variation of bilirubin level in the first few days of life could influence further development and susceptibility to pathological manifestations. In the present paper we have analysed the seasonal effect on the level of the serum bilirubin during the neonatal period by an analysis of the incidence of phototherapy in a sample of 5540 infants born consecutively in the population of Sassari during the years 1993-96. The proportion of infants undergoing phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is lower in those without glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenaser (G-6-PD) deficiency than in those with G-6-PD deficiency and in both categories the proportion is lower in females than in males. A highly significant association between the date of birth and the proportion of infants undergoing phototherapy has been observed in males without G-6-PD deficiency. The maximum incidence of phototherapy has been observed in the period May-August. A Fourier analysis carried out on these infants has shown the presence of two main components (harmonics) contributing to the seasonal cycle and corresponding respectively to a one year and to a two years period.     

TimeClust: a clustering tool for gene expression time series

TimeClust is a user-friendly software package to cluster genes according to their temporal expression profiles. It can be conveniently used to analyze data obtained from DNA microarray time-course experiments. It implements two original algorithms specifically designed for clustering short time series together with hierarchical clustering and self-organizing maps. AVAILABILITY: TimeClust executable files for Windows and LINUX platforms can be downloaded free of charge for non-profit institutions from the following web site: http://aimed11.unipv.it/TimeClust.     

ISSR and isozyme characterization of androgenetic dihaploids reveals tetrasomic inheritance in tetraploid somatic hybrids between Solanum melongena and Solanum aethiopicum group Gilo

Gene exchanges between Solanum melongena and its allied relative Solanum aethiopicum are a crucial prerequisite for introgression of useful traits from the allied species into the cultivated eggplant. In order to evaluate the extent of genetic recombination between the 2 species, biochemical and molecular markers were employed. A dihaploid population obtained through anther culture of the corresponding tetraploid somatic hybrids was genetically analyzed. The extent of disomic/tetrasomic inheritance and segregation ratios of 3 isozyme systems and intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were evaluated. The dihaploids, being derived from microspores, allowed for simple, complete, and accurate analyses. The segregation of 280 ISSR markers (110 aethiopicum-specific, 104 melongena-specific, and 66 monomorphic) were evaluated in 71 dihaploids. According to the genetic constitution (simplex/duplex/triplex), almost 64% of the fragments revealed the tetrasomic and/or disomic inheritance. With regard to the assigned species-specific fragments, 68% and 4% were unambiguously the result of tetrasomic and disomic inheritance, respectively. Twenty-four of the 66 monomorphic ISSRs were inherited according to random chromatid segregation. The phenotypes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH), and shikimate dehydrogenase (SKDH) were studied in 70 dihaploids and inferences were made about the allelic state of their 5 loci. The isozyme markers segregated in the dihaploids in a distorted manner, their segregations did not fit in with any of the expected segregation ratios. However, tetrasomic inheritance might be suggested for G-6-PDH 2 and SKDH 1 loci. Our results demonstrated that gene exchanges occurred readily in the somatic hybrids between S. melongena and S. aethiopicum gr. Gilo.     

TRAF3IP2 gene and systemic lupus erythematosus: association with disease susceptibility and pericarditis development

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease. Although genetic factors confer susceptibility to the disease, only 15 % of the genetic contribution has been identified. TRAF3IP2 gene, associated with susceptibility to psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, encodes for Act1, a negative regulator of adaptive immunity and a positive signaling adaptor in IL-17-mediated immune responses. The aim of this study was to assess the role of TRAF3IP2 gene variability in SLE susceptibility and disease phenotype in an Italian population. Two hundred thirty-nine consecutive SLE patients were enrolled. Study protocol included complete physical examination; the clinical and laboratory data were collected. Two hundred seventy-eight age- and ethnicity-matched healthy subjects served as controls. TRAF3IP2 polymorphisms (rs33980500, rs13190932, and rs13193677) were analyzed in both cases and controls. Genotype analysis was performed by allelic discrimination assays. A case–control association study and a genotype–phenotype correlation were performed. The rs33980500 and rs13193677 resulted significantly associated with SLE susceptibility (P?=?0.021, odds ratio (OR)?=?1.71, and P?=?0.046, OR?=?1.73, respectively). All three TRAF3IP2 single nucleotide polymorphisms resulted associated with the development of pericarditis; in particular, rs33980500 showed the strongest association (P?=?0.002, OR 2.59). This association was further highlighted by binary logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, our data show for the first time the contribution of TRAF3IP2 genetic variability in SLE susceptibility, providing further suggestions that common variation in genes that function in the adaptive and innate arms of the immune system are important in establishing SLE risk. Our study also shows that this gene may affect disease phenotype and, particularly, the occurrence of pericarditis.     

To what extent can linear finite element models of human femora predict failure under stance and fall loading configurations?

Proximal femur strength estimates from computed tomography (CT)-based finite element (FE) models are finding clinical application. Published models reached a high in-vitro accuracy, yet many of them rely on nonlinear methodologies or internal best-fitting of parameters. The aim of the present study is to verify to what extent a linear FE modelling procedure, fully based on independently determined parameters, can predict the failure characteristics of the proximal femur in stance and sideways fall loading configurations.     

Specimen-specific modeling of hip fracture pattern and repair

Hip fracture remains a major health problem for the elderly. Clinical studies have assessed fracture risk based on bone quality in the aging population and cadaveric testing has quantified bone strength and fracture loads. Prior modeling has primarily focused on quantifying the strain distribution in bone as an indicator of fracture risk. Recent advances in the extended finite element method (XFEM) enable prediction of the initiation and propagation of cracks without requiring a priori knowledge of the crack path. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to predict femoral fracture in specimen-specific models using the XFEM approach, to perform one-to-one comparisons of predicted and in vitro fracture patterns, and to develop a framework to assess the mechanics and load transfer in the fractured femur when it is repaired with an osteosynthesis implant. Five specimen-specific femur models were developed from in vitro experiments under a simulated stance loading condition. Predicted fracture patterns closely matched the in vitro patterns; however, predictions of fracture load differed by approximately 50% due to sensitivity to local material properties. Specimen-specific intertrochanteric fractures were induced by subjecting the femur models to a sideways fall and repaired with a contemporary implant. Under a post-surgical stance loading, model-predicted load sharing between the implant and bone across the fracture surface varied from 59%:41% to 89%:11%, underscoring the importance of considering anatomic and fracture variability in the evaluation of implants. XFEM modeling shows potential as a macro-level analysis enabling fracture investigations of clinical cohorts, including at-risk groups, and the design of robust implants.     

Quadranguloside,a cycloartane triterpene glycoside from Passiflora quadrangularis

Quadranguloside, a new cyclopropane triterpene glycoside was isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Passiflora quadrangularis. Its structure has been established as 9,19-cyclolanost-24Z-en-3β,21,26-triol-3,26-di-O-gentiobioside on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence.     

Subject-specific finite element models can accurately predict strain levels in long bones

The prediction of the stress-state and fracture risk induced in bones by various loading conditions in individual patients using subject-specific finite element models still represents a challenge in orthopaedic biomechanics. The accuracy of the strain predictions reported in the literature is variable and generally not satisfactory. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if a proper choice of the density-elasticity relationship can lead to accurate strain predictions in the frame of an automatic subject-specific model generation strategy. To this aim, a combined numerical-experimental study was performed comparing finite element predicted strains with strain-gauges measurements obtained on eight cadaver proximal femurs, each instrumented with 15 rosettes mostly concentrated in the bone metaphyses, tested non-destructively in vitro under six different loading scenarios. Three different density-elasticity power relationships were selected from the literature and implemented in the finite element models derived from computed tomography data. The results of the present study confirm the great influence of the density-elasticity relationship used on the accuracy of numerical predictions. One of the tested constitutive laws provided a very good agreement (R(2)=0.91, RMSE lower than 10% of the maximum measured value) between numerical calculations and experimental measurements. The presented results show, in addition, that the adoption of a single density-elasticity relationship over the whole bone density range is adequate to obtain an accuracy that is already suitable for many applications.     

The actin-based motor protein myosin II regulates MHC class II trafficking and BCR-driven antigen presentation

Antigen (Ag) capture and presentation onto major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules by B lymphocytes is mediated by their surface Ag receptor (B cell receptor [BCR]). Therefore, the transport of vesicles that carry MHC class II and BCR-Ag complexes must be coordinated for them to converge for processing. In this study, we identify the actin-associated motor protein myosin II as being essential for this process. Myosin II is activated upon BCR engagement and associates with MHC class II-invariant chain complexes. Myosin II inhibition or depletion compromises the convergence and concentration of MHC class II and BCR-Ag complexes into lysosomes devoted to Ag processing. Accordingly, the formation of MHC class II-peptides and subsequent CD4 T cell activation are impaired in cells lacking myosin II activity. Therefore, myosin II emerges as a key motor protein in BCR-driven Ag processing and presentation.