Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (gelatinases A and B) expression in malignant mesothelioma and benign pleura

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in particular the gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9), play a significant role in tumour invasion and angiogenesis. The expression and activities of MMPs have not been characterised in malignant mesothelioma (MM) tumour samples. In a prospective study, gelatinase activity was evaluated in homogenised supernatants of snap frozen MM (n = 35), inflamed pleura (IP, n = 12) and uninflammed pleura (UP, n = 14) tissue specimens by semiquantitative gelatin zymography. Matrix metalloproteinases were correlated with clinicopathological factors and with survival using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models. In MM, pro- and active MMP-2 levels were significantly greater than for MMP-9 (P = 0.006, P<0.001). Active MMP-2 was significantly greater in MM than in UP (P=0.04). MMP-2 activity was equivalent between IP and MM, but both pro- and active MMP-9 activities were greater in IP (P=0.02, P=0.009). While there were trends towards poor survival with increasing total and pro-MMP-2 activity (P=0.08) in univariate analysis, they were both independent poor prognostic factors in multivariate analysis in conjunction with weight loss (pro-MMP-2 P = 0.03, total MMP-2 P = 0.04). Total and pro-MMP-2 also contributed to the Cancer and Leukemia Group B prognostic groups. MMP-9 activities were not prognostic. Matrix metalloproteinases, and in particular MMP-2, the most abundant gelatinase, may play an important role in MM tumour growth and metastasis. Agents that reduce MMP synthesis and/or activity may have a role to play in the management of MM. © 2003 Cancer Research UK

Recommendations for the quantitative analysis of landslide risk

This paper presents recommended methodologies for the quantitative analysis of landslide hazard, vulnerability and risk at different spatial scales (site-specific, local, regional and national), as well as for the verification and validation of the results. The methodologies described focus on the evaluation of the probabilities of occurrence of different landslide types with certain characteristics. Methods used to determine the spatial distribution of landslide intensity, the characterisation of the elements at risk, the assessment of the potential degree of damage and the quantification of the vulnerability of the elements at risk, and those used to perform the quantitative risk analysis are also described. The paper is intended for use by scientists and practising engineers, geologists and other landslide experts

"Reading on Aeolus"

Το θέμα της εργασίας μας είναι ο Αίολος, ένα εγκαταλελειμμένο νεοκλασικό κτίριο στην οδό Καλλιδρομίου, στους πρόποδες του λόφου του Στρέφη, στα Εξάρχεια. Στόχος μας ήταν η ανάχρηση ενός ανενεργού κτιρίου μέσα στον αστικό ιστό. Επιλέξαμε το κτίριο αυτό κυρίως λόγω της ιδιαιτερότητάς του να είναι χτισμένο πάνω σε βράχο και απομονωμένο από την κίνηση του δρόμου. Λόγω της κομβικής θέσης του κτιρίου μεταξύ λόφου και Εξαρχείων, επιδιώξαμε να ανασυντάξουμε τη σχέση τους δίνοντας δημόσιο χαρακτήρα στο κτίριο και δημιουργώντας ένα πέρασμα μέσω του υπαίθριου χώρου του κτιρίου τονίζοντας και την πίσω είσοδο του οικοπέδου από τα σκαλιά της Πουλχερίας. Η περιοχή των Εξαρχείων και η πληθώρα των πολιτιστικών χρήσεων που συγκεντρώνει, αλλά και η παράδοσή της στον χώρο του βιβλίου με πολλά βιβλιοπωλεία, εκδοτικούς οίκους κ.ά., μας οδήγησε στη δημιουργία ενός μικρού κέντρου βιβλίου. Για το σκοπό αυτό επιλέξαμε να τοποθετήσουμε ένα εκθεσιακό χώρο στο ισόγειο με εκθέσεις θεματικά προσανατολισμένες προς το βιβλίο, μία βιβλιοθήκη με αναγνωστήριο στον όροφο και ένα μικρό καφέ στο δώμα, με την προσθήκη μιας ελαφριάς μεταλλικής κατασκευής, ως ανάμνηση των φιλολογικών καφενείων της παλιάς Αθήνας. Σκοπός μας ήταν στον χώρο αυτό να δίνεται στους χρήστες η δυνατότητα ανάγνωσης, παρουσίασης, συζήτησης, προβληματισμού και ανταλλαγής απόψεων. Προσπαθήσαμε να δημιουργήσουμε μία ενότητα που έλειπε από το κτίριο τόσο σε κατακόρυφο, όσο και σε οριζόντιο επίπεδο. Για το δεύτερο τοποθετήσαμε μια μεταλλική κορδέλα στην οροφή του ισογείου που νοηματοδοτεί την ενοποίηση των χώρων και τη ροή της κίνησης, παραλαμβάνοντας όμως και τον απαραίτητο φωτισμό για την έκθεση. Τέλος, έγινε και μία προσπάθεια σχεδιασμού των επίπλων, τόσο της έκθεσης όσο και της βιβλιοθήκης.The theme of our work is Aeolus, an abandoned neoclassical building on Kallidromiou street, on the foothills Strefi, at Exarchia. Our goal was the reuse of an inactive building in the city. We chose this building due to its peculiarity of being built on a rock, isolated from the street. Due to its central position between the hill and Exarchia, we intended to restore their relationship, giving public character to the building and creating a passage through the open space of the building, reconstructing the entrance from the stairs on Pulcheria street. The area of Exarchia and the plethora of cultural uses that gathers, in addition to the tradition in the book area with several bookstores, publishers and others, led us to a small center book. For this purpose we chose to put an exhibition space on the ground floor with exhibitions theme-oriented to book, a library with a reading room on the first floor and a small cafe on the roof, with the addition of a metal structure, as a memory of the literary cafes of old Athens. Our purpose was in this area to be given to the users the ability to read, display, discuss and exchange views. We tried to create a unification missing from the building both in vertical and horizontal level. For the second, we placed a metal band on the roof of the ground floor which indicates the unification and the movement into the space, receiving also the necessary lighting for the exhibition. Finally, an attempt was made to design furniture, both for the exhibition space and the library.Φωτεινή Π. ΔιπλαράκουΠαρασκευή Χ. Παπαθωμ

Qualitative and quantitative detection of protein and genetic traits in genetically modified food

Due to the market introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in crops, foods, and ingredients, legislation worldwide came face to face with the question of the use and labeling requirements on GMO crops and their derivatives. In this review, protein- and DNA-based methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blots, and qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction PCR (Q-PCR) are reviewed. Qualitative detection methods for genetically modified (GM) sequences in foods have evolved rapidly during the past years. The sensitivity of these systems is extremely high, even for processed foodstuffs. However, the availability of quantitative detection methods for GMO analysis is an important prerequisite for the introduction of threshold limits for GMOs in food. The recently introduced labeling threshold for GMOs in food ingredients by the European Union has forced official food control laboratories to apply quantitative PCR methods. Taking the precision of quantitative PCR detection methods into account, suitable sample plans and sample sizes for GMO analysis are discussed. As quantitative GMO detection methods measure GMO contents of samples in relation to reference material, priority must be given to international agreements and standardization on certified reference materials. The rapidly increasing number of GM foods on the market demands the development of more advanced multidetection systems, such as microarray technology. Challenges and problems arising from the inability to detect GM foods for which the modified sequence is unknown, the lengthy standardization procedures, and the need to continuously update databases comprising commercially available GM foods and the respective detection strategies are also discussed

Risk for childhood leukemia associated with maternal and paternal age

The role of reproductive factors, such as parental age, in the pathogenesis of childhood leukemias is being intensively examined; the results of individual studies are controversial. This meta-analysis aims to quantitatively synthesize the published data on the association between parental age and risk of two major distinct childhood leukemia types in the offspring. Eligible studies were identified and pooled relative risk (RR) estimates were calculated using random-effects models, separately for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Subgroup analyses were performed by study design, geographical region, adjustment factors; sensitivity analyses and meta-regression analyses were also undertaken. 77 studies (69 case–control and eight cohort) were deemed eligible. Older maternal and paternal age were associated with increased risk for childhood ALL (pooled RR = 1.05, 95 % CI 1.01–1.10; pooled RR = 1.04, 95 % CI 1.00–1.08, per 5 year increments, respectively). The association between maternal age and risk of childhood AML showed a U-shaped pattern, with symmetrically associated increased risk in the oldest (pooled RR = 1.23, 95 % CI 1.06–1.43) and the youngest (pooled RR = 1.23, 95 % CI 1.07–1.40) extremes. Lastly, only younger fathers were at increased risk of having a child with AML (pooled RR = 1.28, 95 % CI 1.04–1.59). In conclusion, maternal and paternal age represents a meaningful risk factor for childhood leukemia, albeit of different effect size by leukemia subtype. Genetic and socio-economic factors may underlie the observed associations. Well-adjusted studies, scheduled by large consortia, are anticipated to satisfactorily address methodological issues, whereas the potential underlying genetic mechanisms should be elucidated by basic research studies. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht