Molecular characterization of a patient with del(1)(q23–q25)

Summary We report a patient (S.T.) with multiple congenital anomalies and developmental delay associated with an interstitial deletion of 1q23–1q25. Molecular analysis of the deletion was performed using DNA markers that map to 1q. Five DNA markers, MLAJ-1 (D1S61), CRI-L1054 (D1S42), HBI40 (D1S66), OS-6 (D1S75), and BH516 (D1S110), were demonstrated to be deleted. Informative polymorphisms demonstrated this to be a de novo deletion of the maternally derived chromosome. Deletion status was determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis supplemented with densitometry in the experiments where RFLP analysis was not fully informative. Deletions were confirmed by Southern analysis using genomic DNA from a somatic cell hybrid retaining the del(1)(q23–q25) chromosome that was constructed from patient S.T. Flow karyotyping confirmed the deletion and estimated that the deletion encompassed 11,000–16,000 kb. The clinical and cytogenetic characteristics of S.T. are compared with those of ten previously described patients with monosomy 1q21–1q25.     

Mortality and sterility induced in Piophila casei by X-ray and neutron irradiation

Different doses of neutrons and X-rays were given to 5-day-old pupae of Piophila casei L. (Diptera, Piophilidae), just before their emergence. The mortality and sterility induced by the different types of radiation were measured. Neutrons are more effective than X-rays in provoking lethal lesions in somatic cells. Females are more resistant than males to the sterilizing action of neutrons, the relative biological efficiency of neutrons being 6 and 3.5, respectively.

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Iduktion von mortalität und sterilität durch röntgenstrahlen und neutronen bei piophila casei

Zusammenfassung Puppen von Piophila casei im Alter von 5 Tagen wurden mit verschiedenen Dosierungen von Neutronen und Röntgenstrahlen bestrahlt. Dadurch was es möglich, Dosis-Effekt-Kurven für Mortalität und Sterilität zu bilden. Die Neutronen erwiesen sich als wirksamer als die Röntgenstrahlen für die Auslösung von Letalstörungen bei den Puppen. Die Relative Biologische Wirkung (RBE) beider Strahlenarten auf die Mortalität ist nicht im ganzen Mortalitätsbereich gleichartig. Die durch Bestrahlung verursachte Sterilität wurde für beide Geschlechter bestimmt und zwar anhand der Überlebensrate der Eier von Einzelpaaren. Neutronen sind wirksamer als Röntgenstrahlen, um letale dominante Mutationen in Spermatozoen zu verursachen (RBE: 6). Neutronen reduzieren die Fertilität von Weibchen, welche aus bestrahlten Puppen stammen, ebenfalls stärker (RBE: 3,5). Die Fekundität der Weibchen wird wesentlich vermindert bei Neutronenbestrahlung von über 2000 rad und bei Röntgenbestrahlung von 7500–10000 rad. Die strahlenbedingte Schädigung der Ovarien konnte auch histologisch nachgewiesen werden.

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This work has been supported by grant nr. 74.01552.06 from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (C.N.R.), Rome, Italy.     

Multiple forms with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in Musca domestica L. as revealed by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate gel.

Single newly emerged males of Musca domestica, WHO strain, usually show five electrophoretic bands of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity. Of these five molecular forms, designated with Roman numerals in order from the origin, we have considered the first three: these have been characterized with respect to their substrate and coenzyme specificity and to their sensitivity to some sulfhydryl inhibitors. The data show band III to be G6P specific, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dependent and to be a type I enzyme according to Kamada and Hori's classification. Bands I and II, on the other hand, show wide substrate specificity and low sensitivity to the sulfhydryl inhibitors assayed. In addition, in the absence of an exogenous substrate and in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as a coenzyme, fairly weak bands, which can be ascribed to the so called "nothing dehydrogenase" effect, are seen in the position I and II. Nevertheless, the data reported do not allow a clear definition of the enzymatic type corresponding to bands I and II of G6PD activity.     

Tyrosinase Inhibition: General and Applied Aspects

The active site of tyrosinase is described with a view to depicting its interactions with substrates and inhibitors. Occurrence and mechanism(s) of tyrosinase-mediated browning of agrofood products are reviewed, with regard to both enzymic and chemical reactions, and their control, modulation, and inhibition. Technical and applicational implications are discussed.     

Carvedilol Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Myocardial Contractile Dysfunction in Female Rat

Carvedilol has beneficial effects on cardiac function in patients with heart failure but its effect on ovariectomy-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction remains unclear. Estrogen deficiency induces myocardial contractile dysfunction and increases cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women. Our aim was to investigate whether carvedilol, a beta receptor blocker, would prevent ovariectomy-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction. Female rats (8 weeks old) that underwent bilateral ovariectomy were randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with carvedilol (OVX+CAR, 20 mg/kg), placebo (OVX) and SHAM for 58 days. Left ventricle papillary muscle was mounted for isometric tension recordings. The inotropic response to Ca²⁺ (0.62 to 3.75 mM) and isoproterenol (Iso 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻² M) were assessed. Expression of calcium handling proteins was measured by western blot analysis. Carvedilol treatment in the OVX animals: prevented weight gain and slight hypertrophy, restored the reduced positive inotropic responses to Ca²⁺ and isoproterenol, prevented the reduction in SERCA2a expression, abolished the increase in superoxide anion production, normalized the increase in p22^phox expression, and decreased serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity. This study demonstrated that myocardial contractile dysfunction and SERCA2a down regulation were prevented by carvedilol treatment. Superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase seem to be involved in this response.     

Mass spectrometry applications in microbiology beyond microbe identification: progress and potential

Introduction: Mass spectrometry (MS), particularly MALDI-time of flight (MALDI-TOF), has become a routine tool for microorganism identification in clinical microbiology laboratories in the last five years. The use of MALDI-TOF MS has accelerated laboratory analysis, thus providing accurate species-level information with very short turnaround times.

Areas covered: Beyond microbe identification, MALDI-TOF MS offers great opportunities for fast strain typing and detection of antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance in both bacterial and fungal organisms. Drawing on evidence from PubMed literature searches, clinical microbiology laboratory experience, and the authors’ opinions, this review summarizes recent significant advances and ongoing challenges in these areas.

Expert commentary: In the near future, it is expected that the implementation of new analytical algorithms, automation of procedures, and refinement of assays will enhance the clinical and epidemiological usefulness of MALDI-TOF and other MS technologies.     

MicroRNAs expression profiles as diagnostic biomarkers of gastric cancer: a systematic literature review

Objective: The early identification of gastric cancer (GC) represents a major clinical challenge. We conducted a systematic review of studies evaluating the miRNA expression profiling as a diagnostic tool in GC.

Methods: We performed a search of PubMed, ISI Web of Science and SCOPUS databases for studies on diagnostic miRNAs and GC, published in English up to October 2017. Eligibility criteria included case-control studies evaluating blood or tissue-based miRNA expression profiles, and incorporating at least two detection phases (screening and validation).

Results: We included 27 eligible studies, that reported on 97 deregulated miRNAs either in blood or tissue, out of which 30 were reported in at least two studies. Among 22 studies on tissue-diagnostic miRNAs, 13 consistently upregulated miRNAs (miR-214, miR-21, miR-103, miR-107, miR-196a, miR-196b, miR-7, miR-135b, miR-222, miR-23b, miR-25, miR-92 and miR-93), and six consistently downregulated miRNAs (miR-148a, miR-375, miR-133b, miR-30a, miR-193a and miR-204) were reported. Ten miRNAs with inconsistent direction of expression in tissues were identified. Among the five studies performed on blood samples, only one miRNA was consistently upregulated (miR-20a).

Conclusions: This review shows that some tissue or blood miRNAs may be considered as potential biomarkers for GC diagnosis, that urgently needs to be confirmed from large prospective studies.