Transplantation activity in the Organizzazione Centro-Sud Trapianti: A retrospective study from 1999 to March 2004

Background. The Organizzazione Centro-Sud Trapianti (OCST) was set up in 1998 to coordinate the organ procurement and transplantation activity of 9 Italian regions (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Molise, Sardinia, Sicily, and Umbria), each referring to a local Regional Transplant Center. The aim of the present study was to estimate organ donation and transplantation rates in the OCST from 1999 to March 2004. Materials and Methods. A retrospective study of organ donors and transplantation activity in the OCST during the study period was performed, pointing out donor epidemiological data, such as age and sex ratio, causes of death, reasons for discarding, and transplantation rate. Donors reported to the OCST were divided into 6 groups: A (October 1998-December 1999), B (2000), C (2001), D (2002), E (2003), and F (January-March 2004). Results. From 1999 to March 2004, 2272 potential donors were reported to the OCST. The nonharvested donors rate increased up to 52% (Group F), which was lower than the previous period (Group E, 64%), but higher than in 1999 (Group A, 43%). The major contributing factor was family opposition, which was 38% in 2002 and 41% in 2003. Conclusions. The introduction of the OCST into the field of organ transplantation has yielded an increase in organ donation and transplantation activity within the regions that set it up from 1999-2003. This trend is a consequence of the growth of reported donors from the intensive care unit, which grew 12.7% from 2002 to 2003. From the data analysis of the first months of 2004, we expect confirmation of this trend

CDKN2A-independent role of BMI1 in promoting growth and survival of Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BMI1 is a key component of the PRC1 (polycomb repressive complex-1) complex required for maintenance of normal and cancer stem cells. Its aberrant expression is detected in chronic myeloid leukemia and Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but no data exist on BMI1 requirement in ALL cells. We show here that BMI1 expression is important for proliferation and survival of Ph+ ALL cells and for leukemogenesis of Ph+ cells in vivo. Levels of BIM, interferon-α (IFNα)-regulated genes and E2F7 were upregulated in BMI1-silenced cells, suggesting that repressing their expression is important for BMI1 biological effects. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that: (i) downregulation of BIM or E2F7 abrogated apoptosis or rescued, in part, the reduced proliferation and colony formation of BMI1 silenced BV173 cells; (ii) BIM/E2F7 double silencing further enhanced colony formation and in vivo leukemogenesis of BMI1-silenced cells; (iii) overexpression of BIM and E2F7 mimicked the effect of BMI1 silencing in BV173 and SUP-B15 cells; and (iv) treatment with IFNα suppressed proliferation and colony formation of Ph+ ALL cells. These studies indicate that the growth-promoting effects of BMI1 in Ph+ ALL cells depend on suppression of multiple pathways and support the use of IFNα in the therapy of Ph+ ALL

Inhibition of oxidative metabolism leads to p53 genetic inactivation and transformation in neural stem cells

The final published version can be found here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.141316511

Effect of stoned olive pomace on rumen microbial communities and polyunsaturated fatty acids biohydrogenation: an in vitro study.

Background The stoned olive pomace (SOP), which represents approximately 50% of the conversion process of olive in oil, is largely not-utilized and creates costs for its disposal and problems related to environmental impact. In-vitro trial experiments were employed to study the effect of feeds integrated with this bio-waste rich in polyphenols on rumen biohydrogenation, using sheep rumen liquor as inoculum. Results Fatty acid (FA) analysis and polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approach aimed to microbial community characterization showed that including SOP in feeds at the level of 50 g/kg and 90 g/kg induced changes in FA profile and in microbial populations. The contemporary decrease of Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus and the accumulation of vaccenic acid was observed. A depression of Neisseria weaveri, Ruminobacter amylophilus and other unclassified bacteria related to members of the Lachnospiraceae and Pasteurellaceae families was detected, suggesting that these microbial groups may be involved in rumen biohydrogenation. Conclusions Supplementation of feeds with SOP changes rumen bacterial community, including bacteria responsible for vaccenic acid hydrogenation to stearic acid, thus modifying FA profile of rumen liquor. Hence, an use of SOP aimed to produce meat or dairy products enriched in functional lipids could be hypothesized

Cardoon meal (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis) as alternative protein source during finishing period in poultry feeding

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s previsions show that by 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.6 billion people, and the request for a high value protein source will increase as well. Poultry can guarantee high value protein for humans, even in the poorest regions of the world. Hence, ecient poultry production is needed, matching with sustainable development. The residual meal from cardoon seed oil (used for biodiesel and biodegradable bioplastic production) is suitable for animal feeding due to its protein content. The aim of this preliminary study was to test for a possible use of cardoon meal as a protein source in a poultry diet during the finishing period. Forty-five Kabir chickens were divided into three groups and fed three diets in which soybean meal (control) was partially (16%) or completely replaced with cardoon meal as a protein source (treated groups). In vivo performances, animal welfare, dressing out and meat color were evaluated. No statistical dierences in feed eciency, dressing out, nor in meat quality were found among groups. Moreover, birds that were fed cardoon meal showed lower perivisceral fat. Therefore, cardoon meal could be considered as an alternative for soybean meal in the finishing period in poultry feeding

OTX genes in adult tissues

OTX homeobox genes have been extensively studied for their role in development, especially in neuroectoderm formation. Recently, their expression has also been reported in adult physiological and pathological tissues, including retina, mammary and pituitary glands, sinonasal mucosa, in several types of cancer, and in response to inflammatory, ischemic, and hypoxic stimuli. Reactivation of OTX genes in adult tissues supports the notion of the evolutionary amplification of functions of genes by varying their temporal expression, with the selection of homeobox genes from the “toolbox” to drive or contribute to different processes at different stages of life. OTX involvement in pathologies points toward these genes as potential diagnostic and/or prognostic markers as well as possible therapeutic targets