The PRMT1 gene expression pattern in colon cancer

The methylation of arginine has been implicated in many cellular processes, such as regulation of transcription, mRNA splicing, RNA metabolism and transport. The enzymes responsible for this modification are the protein arginine methyltransferases. The most abundant methyltransferase in human cells is protein arginine methyltransferase 1. Methylation processes appear to interfere in the emergence of several diseases, including cancer. During our study, we examined the expression pattern of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 gene in colon cancer patients. The emerging results showed that the expression of one of the gene variants is associated with statistical significant probability to clinical and histological parameters, such as nodal status and stage. This is a first attempt to acquire an insight on the possible relation of the expression pattern of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 and colon cancer progression

The PRMT1 gene expression pattern in colon cancer

The methylation of arginine has been implicated in many cellular processes, such as regulation of transcription, mRNA splicing, RNA metabolism and transport. The enzymes responsible for this modification are the protein arginine methyltransferases. The most abundant methyltransferase in human cells is protein arginine methyltransferase 1. Methylation processes appear to interfere in the emergence of several diseases, including cancer. During our study, we examined the expression pattern of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 gene in colon cancer patients. The emerging results showed that the expression of one of the gene variants is associated with statistical significant probability to clinical and histological parameters, such as nodal status and stage. This is a first attempt to acquire an insight on the possible relation of the expression pattern of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 and colon cancer progression. © 2008 Cancer Research

Increased density of Demodex folliculorum and evidence of delayed hypersensitivity reaction in subjects with papulopustular rosacea

Background Rosacea is a common chronic dermatosis that evolves in stages. The mite Demodex folliculorum has been implicated in its obscure aetiopathogenesis. Aim To evaluate the importance of D. folliculorum in the aetiology and course of rosacea. Methods We studied 92 consecutive cases of papulopustular rosacea and 92 age- and sex-matched controls. Prevalence and density of D. folliculorum were estimated by microscopic examination of the expressed follicular content. Histological examination and immunohistochemical study of the inflammatory infiltrate were performed in 10 subjects (five with positive D. folliculorum finding and five with negative finding). Results D. folliculorum was detected in 83 (90.2%) of the 92 rosacea subjects but only 11 (11.9%). of the controls. The mean mite density was 2.03 mites/visual field in the rosacea group (range 0-5, SD = 1.2) and 0.16 mites/visual field (range 0-2, SID = 0.52) in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001) for both mite prevalence and density. Hair follicle infestation was associated with intense perifollicular infiltrate of predominantly (90-95%) CD4 helper/inducer T cells. We observed an increased number of macrophages and Langerhans cells only in those subjects with a positive D. folliculorum finding. Conclusions Although Demodex mites do not seem to be the cause of rosacea, they may represent an important cofactor, especially in papulopustular rosacea. Immunohistochemical findings suggest that a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, possibly triggered by antigens of follicular origin, probably related to D. folliculorum, may occur, stimulating progression of the affection to the papulopustular stage

Congenital capillary hemangioma and its therapeutic approach in infants: A case report

Hemangiomas, common congenital lesions in infants and children, are thought to arise when islands of angioblastic tissue fail to connect with the developing vascular system. They are not usually life-threatening. A case of congenital capillary hemangioma in an infant, which was surgically excised, is reported, and therapeutic approaches are discussed

A severe gastroenteritis outbreak of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT8, with PFGE profile XbaI.0024 and MLVA profile 2-9-7-3-2 following a christening reception, Greece, 2016

In June 2016, a Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis outbreak (n = 56) occurred after a christening reception in Central Greece, mainly affecting previously healthy adults; one related death caused media attention. Patients suffered from profuse diarrhoea, fever and frequent vomiting episodes requiring prolonged hospitalisation and sick leave from work, with a 54% hospital admission rate. The majority of cases experienced serious illness within <12 h of attending the party. We investigated the outbreak to identify the source(s) of infection and contributing factors to the disease severity. From the retrospective cohort study, the cheesy penne pasta was the most likely vehicle of infection (relative risk 7.8; 95% confidence interval 3.6-16.8), explaining 79% of the cases. S. enterica ser. Enteritidis isolates were typed as phage-type PT8, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type XbaI.0024, multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis-type 2-9-7-3-2. The strain did not share the single-nucleotide polymorphism address of the concurrent European S. enterica ser. Enteritidis PT8 outbreak clusters. Following five consecutive years with no documented S. enterica ser. Enteritidis outbreaks in Greece, this outbreak, likely associated with a virulent strain, prompted actions towards the enhancement of the national Salmonella molecular surveillance and control programmes including the intensification of training of food handlers for preventing similar outbreaks in the future. Advanced molecular techniques were useful in distinguishing unrelated outbreak strains. Copyright © 2017 Cambridge University Press

Expression analysis of BCL2L12, a new member of apoptosis-related genes, in colon cancer

Apoptosis is an active process regulated by a variety of genes. Recently, the molecular cloning, physical mapping and expression analysis of a novel gene of the Bcl-2 family, BCL2L12, was reported. Expression analysis of the BCL2L12 gene in breast cancer confirmed an association of BCL2L12 with favorable prognosis of patients. In the present study, the expression of the BCL2L12 gene was analyzed in colon cancer by RTPCR. Two transcripts, BCL2L12 and BCL2L12-A, were overexpressed in the cancer tissues as compared to their paired normal mucosa. An association was found between BCL2L12-A transcript expression and nodal status, as well as Dukes stage. The BCL2L12-A transcript appears to be of importance for colon cancer since its expression is associated with disease progression

SR-A1, a member of the human pre-mRNA splicing factor family, and its expression in colon cancer progression

SR (serinearginine) proteins are essential premRNA splicing factors. Several SR proteins have been characterized in humans, among them SRA1. It has been demonstrated by members of our group that the SRA1 gene is constitutively expressed in most of the human tissues, while its transcription is increased in breast carcinoma cell lines. Moreover, the SRA1 gene is overexpressed in a set of ovarian tumors, suggesting that it may be involved in the pathogenesis and/or progression of ovarian cancer. Therefore, in the present study we examined the expression of the SRA1 gene in colon cancer tissues by RTPCR and found that it is overexpressed as compared to normal mucosa (p=0.01). The SRA1 gene was expressed more frequently in welldifferentiated tumors than those with poor differentiation. Survival curves determined by the KaplanMeier method and univariate analysis demonstrated that SRA1-positivity is associated with a long survival (p=0.044). However, when entered into a Cox multivariate model adjusted for other clinicopathological features studied, SRA1 expression status was not found to be of independent prognostic significance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study examining the expression of the novel gene SRA1 in colon cancer progression

Characterization of a pulsed low pressure argon discharge in a cylindrical magnetron reactor by plasma diagnostic and 3D plasma modeling

This work describes a combined experimental and numerical study of a low pressure argon plasma in a cylindrical magnetron reactor. The plasma properties are first investigated experimentally using optical emission spectroscopy as a function of the position in the reactor and the applied power, for two excitation modes (pulsed direct current and pulsed bipolar) at a constant pressure of 10 Pa. Langmuir probe measurements are also performed to complement the plasma diagnostic. The results are compared with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations combined with a Monte Carlo Collision scheme. A consistent agreement occurs between the experimentally measured and numerically calculated electron temperatures, enabling one to validate the numerical model and to explain the influence of the magnetic field on the spatial variations of the electron temperature. The aim of this work is to pave the way for more complex simulations, such as the modeling of a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process. In a future article, we will investigate both experimentally and numerically the plasma polymerization of cyclopropylamine in the same reactor