Utilità dello screening ecografico delle cardiopatie congenite nelle gravide a basso rischio

La valutazione dell’integrità del cuore fetale è data dallo studio delle 4 camere durante l’ecografia morfologica del secondo trimestre, mentre nelle gravide cosiddette a rischio per cardiopatie congenite viene consigliato l’ecocardio fetale, dove oltre alle 4 camere vengono analizzate le altre strutture cardiache ed anche la loro funzionalità. La frequenza delle cardiopatie congenite, però, è del: 25-30% nelle gravide a rischio e del 70-75% nelle gravide a basso rischio. Nella nostra divisione di ostetricia abbiamo effettuato un test di screening su 1.030 gravide tra la 20ª e 24ª settimana considerate a basso rischio. Il test prevede lo studio delle 4-camere, dell’asse lungo sn, dell’asse lungo dx e dell’arco aortico. Le stesse scansioni vengono poi valutate con il color-Doppler. Il test è risultato positivo in 7 casi

Correlazione tra anomalie flussimetriche ed outcome in feti con IUGR

Il ritardo di crescita intrauterino (IUGR, Intrauterine Growth Restriction) (peso fetale <10° percentile) è una condizione patologica che complica la gravidanza in circa il 15% dei casi (1). La flussimetria Doppler dei vasi fetali e il profilo biofisico fetale rappresentano a tutt’oggi la metodica più efficace nonché l’unica disponibile per la sorveglianza del feto con IUGR (5). Abbiamo monitorizzato 33 gravide con IUGR comparso dopo la 27ª settimana; le pazienti sono state divise in 3 gruppi a seconda della settimana di comparsa del ritardo. Tutte le pazienti sono state sottoposte ad intervalli regolari a: valutazione biometrica, flussimetria arteriosa e venosa, calcolo AFI, CTG. L’outcome neonatale peggiore si è avuto nel 3° gruppo. Scopo del nostro studio è stato quello di verificare la correlazione tra anomalie della flussimetria fetale e outcome neonatale in feti con IUGR (CA < 10° percentile). Da quanto emerso dai risultati si può comprendere come l’epoca di comparsa del ritardo di crescita sia di grande rilevanza per la prognosi neonatale (8)

Identification, cDNA cloning, and targeted deletion of p70, a novel, ubiquitously expressed SH3 domain-containing protein

In a screen for proteins that interact with Jak2, we identified a previously uncharacterized 70-kDa protein and cloned the corresponding cDNA. The predicated sequence indicates that p70 contains an SH3 domain and a C-terminal domain with similarities to the catalytic motif of phosphoglycerate mutase. p70 transcripts were found in all tissues examined. Similarly, when an antibody raised against a C-terminal peptide to analyze p70 protein expression was used, all murine tissues examined were found to express p70. To investigate the in vivo role of p70, we generated a p70-deficient mouse strain. Mice lacking p70 are viable, develop normally, and do not display any obvious abnormalities. No differences were detected in various hematological parameters, including bone marrow colony-forming ability, in response to cytokines that utilize Jak2. In addition, no impairment in B- and T-cell development and proliferative ability was detected

Site-directed mutagenesis reveals a unique requirement for tyrosine residues in IL-7Rα and TSLPR cytoplasmic domains in TSLP-dependent cell proliferation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an interleukin-7 (IL-7) like cytokine, which plays an important role in the regulation of immune responses to allergens. TSLP binds to a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of the IL-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) and the TSLP receptor (TSLPR, also known as CRLF2). It has previously been suggested that the lone tyrosine residue in the mouse TSLPR cytoplasmic domain is required for cell proliferation using chimeric receptor systems. Also the role of tyrosine residues in the IL-7Rα cytoplasmic domain in TSLP signaling has not yet been investigated. We undertook a systematic analysis to test the role of tyrosine residues of both the IL-7Rα and the TSLPR in inducing cell proliferation in a growth factor dependent cell line, Ba/F3.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A multiple sequence alignment of the IL-7Rα and TSLPR cytoplasmic domains revealed conservation of most, but not all, cytoplasmic tyrosine residues across several species. Our site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that the single tyrosine residue in human TSLPR was not required for TSLP-dependent cell proliferation. It has previously been reported that Y449 of human IL-7Rα is required for IL-7 dependent proliferation. Interestingly, in contrast to IL-7 signaling, none of tyrosine residues in the human IL-7Rα cytoplasmic domain were required for TSLP-dependent cell proliferation in the presence of a wild type TSLPR. However, the mutation of all cytoplasmic four tyrosine residues of human IL-7Rα and human TSLPR to phenylalanine residues abolished the proliferative ability of the TSLP receptor complex in response to TSLP.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that TSLP requires at least one cytoplasmic tyrosine residue to transmit proliferative signals. Unlike other members of IL-2 cytokine family, tyrosine residues in IL-7Rα and TSLPR cytoplasmic domains play a redundant role in TSLP-mediated cell growth.</p

Clinical relevance of biomarkers in cholangiocarcinoma: critical revision and future directions

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumour arising from the biliary system. In Europe, this tumour frequently presents as a sporadic cancer in patients without defined risk factors and is usually diagnosed at advanced stages with a consequent poor prognosis. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers represents an utmost need for patients with CCA. Numerous studies proposed a wide spectrum of biomarkers at tissue and molecular levels. With the present paper, a multidisciplinary group of experts within the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma discusses the clinical role of tissue biomarkers and provides a selection based on their current relevance and potential applications in the framework of CCA. Recent advances are proposed by dividing biomarkers based on their potential role in diagnosis, prognosis and therapy response. Limitations of current biomarkers are also identified, together with specific promising areas (ie, artificial intelligence, patient-derived organoids, targeted therapy) where research should be focused to develop future biomarkers

The double-mode nature of the HADS star GSC 00144-03031 and the Petersen diagram of the class

The double--mode pulsation of GSC 00144-03031 has been detected when searching for COROT targets. A very large dataset composed of 4722 photometric measurements was collected at six observatories in Europe and America. There is no hint of the excitation of additional modes (down to 0.6 mmag) and therefore GSC 00144-03031 seems to be a pure double--mode pulsator, with a very short fundamental radial mode (P=84 min). From Stromgren photometry and evolutionary tracks it appears to be a Pop. I star with M=1.75 solar masses, located in the middle of the instability strip, close to the Zero--Age Main Sequence. We also discovered other new double--mode pulsators in the databases of large--scale projects: OGLE BW2_V142, OGLE BW1_V207, ASAS3 094303-1707.3, ASAS3 000116-6037.0, NSVS 3234596 and NSVS 3324715. An observational Petersen diagram is presented and explained by means of new models. A common sequence connecting Pop. I stars from the shortest to the longest periods is proposed and the spreads in the period ratios are ascribed to different metallicities (at the shortest periods) and to different masses (at the longest ones). The paper is based on data collected at S. Pedro Martir and Sierra Nevada Observatories and on the contributions from several amateur astronomers.Comment: 9 pages, 5 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic