Investigation of MLH1, MGMT, CDKN2A, and RASSF1A Gene Methylation in Thymomas From Patients With Myasthenia Gravis

A feature of thymomas is their frequent association with myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed to different targets at the neuromuscular junction. Indeed, almost 30–40% of thymomas are found in patients with a type of MG termed thymoma-associated MG (TAMG). Recent studies suggest that TAMG-associated thymomas could represent a molecularly distinct subtype of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), but few data are still available concerning the epigenetic modifications occurring in TAMG tissues. The promoter methylation levels of DNA repair (MLH1 and MGMT) and tumor suppressor genes (CDKN2A and RASSF1A) have been frequently investigated in TETs, but methylation data in TAMG tissues are scarce and controversial. To further address this issue, we investigated MLH1, MGMT, CDKN2A, and RASSF1A methylation levels in blood samples and surgically resected thymomas from 69 patients with TAMG and in the adjacent normal thymus available from 44 of them. Promoter methylation levels of MLH1, MGMT, CDKN2A, and RASSF1A genes were not increased in cancer with respect to healthy tissues and did not correlate with the histological or pathological features of the tumor or with the MG symptoms. The present study suggests that hypermethylation of these genes is not frequent in TAMG tissues

Influencia del tiempo de almacenamiento y de la congelación/descongelación sobre la composición en ácidos grasos de fosfolípidos de membranas de eritrocito y microsomas hepáticos de rata

Fatty acid composition in rat red blood cell membranes and hepatic microsomes was determined, as well as the effect that a storage time at -36°C and freezing and thawing have had on the acidic composition of samples. Likewise, the influence that two different hypotonic buffer, used in obtaining red bolld cell membranes, have had on stability against oxidation of fatty acids has been studied. Our results demonstrate a higher stability of fatty acid microsomes than of red blood cell membranes, aswell as showing that it is advisable to use a hipotonic Tris buffer instead of a Phosphate buffer when preparing red blood cell membranes.Se ha determinado el porcentaje en ácidos grasos presentes en fosfolípidos de membranas de eritrocito y microsomas hepáticos de rata y el efecto que el tiempo de conservación a -36°C y la congelación-descongelación de las muestras tienen sobre la composición acídica. Así mismo, se compara la influencia del tampón hipotónico usado en la obtención de membranas de eritrocito, sobre la estabilidad a la oxidación de las mismas. Los resultados revelan la estabilidad de los microsomas a la oxidación, así como la conveniencia de utilizar un tampón Tris hipotónico en la obtención de membranas de eritrocito, al conferirles una mayor estabilidad

Project for guaranteeing the safety of foods prepared by small local producers

The Veneto Region, through Regional legislation (law DGR 20 16/2007), has authorised the sale of small quantities of processed foods (both animal- and non-animal-based) from small local producers directly to the consumer and has defined the hygienic requirements for the production and sale of these foods. The objective of the present analysis was to test for the presence of pathogens in samples of cured meats from small local producers and in faeces samples from the animals used to produce these foods, so as to determine whether or not the Regional legislation allows the objectives of the European legislation on food safety (Regulation 178/02 and 852/04) to be met

Influencia del tiempo de almacenamiento y de la congelación/descongelación sobre la composición en ácidos grasos de fosfolípidos de membranas de eritrocito y microsomas hepáticos de rata

Se ha determinado el porcentaje en ácidos grasos presentes en fosfolípidos de membranas de eritrocito y microsomas hepáticos de rata y el efecto que el tiempo de conservación a -36°C y la congelación-descongelación de las muestras tienen sobre la composición acídica. Así mismo, se compara la influencia del tampón hipotónico usado en la obtención de membranas de eritrocito, sobre la estabilidad a la oxidación de las mismas. Los resultados revelan la estabilidad de los microsomas a la oxidación, así como la conveniencia de utilizar un tampón Tris hipotónico en la obtención de membranas de eritrocito, al conferirles una mayor estabilidad.Fatty acid composition in rat red blood cell membranes and hepatic microsomes was determined, as well as the effect that a storage time at -36°C and freezing and thawing have had on the acidic composition of samples. Likewise, the influence that two different hypotonic buffer, used in obtaining red bolld cell membranes, have had on stability against oxidation of fatty acids has been studied. Our results demonstrate a higher stability of fatty acid microsomes than of red blood cell membranes, aswell as showing that it is advisable to use a hipotonic Tris buffer instead of a Phosphate buffer when preparing red blood cell membranes

State-of-the-art of spatial arch bridges

The paper describes a new form of bridge called a spatial arch bridge. This bridge type was developed in response to the demand for landmark structures, which have started to appear in the modern urban landscape to provide a symbol of originality, innovation and progress. Spatial arch bridges are defined as bridges in which the vertical deck loads produce bending moments and shear forces not contained in the arch plane, owing to their geometrical and structural configuration. Moreover, the arch itself may not be contained in a plane. The different variables and geometries that create such a structural configuration have been studied and classified. A wide compilation of examples of this bridge type has been made in chronological order, according to their construction date, from Maillarts first concrete spatial arch bridges to the latest designs and materials

THE ITALIAN QUATERNARY VOLCANISM

The peninsular and insular Italy are punctuated by Quaternary volcanoes and their rocks constitute an important aliquot of the Italian Quaternary sedimentary successions. Also away from volcanoes themselves, volcanic ash layers are a common and frequent feature of the Quaternary records, which provide us with potential relevant stratigraphic and chronological markers at service of a wide array of the Quaternary science issues. In this paper, a broad representation of the Italian volcano-logical community has joined to provide an updated comprehensive state of art of the Italian Quaternary volcanism. The eruptive history, style and dynamics and, in some cases, the hazard assessment of about thirty Quaternary volcanoes, from the north-ernmost Mt. Amiata, in Tuscany, to the southernmost Pantelleria and Linosa, in Sicily Channel, are here reviewed in the light of the substantial improving of the methodological approaches and the overall knowledge achieved in the last decades in the vol-canological field study. We hope that the present review can represent a useful and agile document summarising the knowledege on the Italian volcanism at the service of the Quaternary community operating in central Mediterranean area

Climate-controlled submarine landslides on the Antarctic continental margin

Antarctica’s continental margins pose an unknown submarine landslidegenerated tsunami risk to Southern Hemisphere populations and infrastructure. Understanding the factors driving slope failure is essential to assessing future geohazards. Here, we present a multidisciplinary study of a major submarine landslide complex along the eastern Ross Sea continental slope (Antarctica) that identifies preconditioning factors and failure mechanisms. Weak layers, identified beneath three submarine landslides, consist of distinct packages of interbedded Miocene- to Pliocene-age diatom oozes and glaciomarine diamicts. The observed lithological differences, which arise from glacial to interglacial variations in biological productivity, ice proximity, and ocean circulation, caused changes in sediment deposition that inherently preconditioned slope failure. These recurrent Antarctic submarine landslides were likely triggered by seismicity associated with glacioisostatic readjustment, leading to failure within the preconditioned weak layers. Ongoing climate warming and ice retreat may increase regional glacioisostatic seismicity, triggering Antarctic submarine landslides

Evaluation of epidermal growth factor-related growth factors and receptors and of neoangiogenesis in completely resected stage I-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer: amphiregulin and microvessel count are independent prognostic indicators of survival.

We have determined the expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), amphiregulin (AR), CRIPTO, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), erbB-2, erbB-3, and tumor angiogenesis in a series of 195 patients with stage I-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with radical surgery to define their usefulness as prognostic indicators of survival. A variable degree of specific staining in cancer cells was observed for the three growth factors and for the three growth factor receptors in the majority of NSCLC patients. A statistically significant association between overexpression of TGF alpha, AR, and CRIPTO was observed. Enhanced expression of AR was significantly correlated with enhanced expression of erbB-2 and advanced T-stage. A direct association was also detected for overexpression of TGF alpha and of erbB-2 or erbB-3, respectively. Sex, tumor size, nodal status, stage, microvessel count, as a measure of neovascularization, and AR overexpression significantly correlated with overall survival at univariate analysis. In a Cox multivariate analysis, the only characteristics with an independent prognostic effect on OAS were microvessel count [relative hazard (RH), 6.61; P < 0.00001), nodal status (RH, 1.59; P = 0.0013), and AR overexpression (RH, 1.72; P = 0.02). These results suggest that evaluation of neoangiogenesis and of certain growth factors, such as AR, can be useful in addition to conventional pathological staging to select high-risk NSCLC patients who may benefit from post-surgical systemic therapies