258 research outputs found

    Centaurea pumilio l. (asteraceae), una nuova specie per la flora italiana

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    EnThe authors point out the first finding in Southern Apulia (Torre S. Giovanni, Ugento) of Centaurea pumilio L., a species up to now known for the eastern districts of the Mediterranean region. Details on floral morfology and population viability are given.ItGli autori descrivono il primo ritrovamento in Italia, nella Puglia meridionale (Torre S. Giovanni, Ugento) di Centaurea pumilio L., specie tipica della regione orientale mediterranea. Vengono descritti anche i campioni esaminati e la consistenza della popolazione rilevata

    Human kallikrein gene 5 (KLK5) expression is an indicator of poor prognosis in ovarian cancer

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    Kallikrein gene 5 (KLK5, also known as KLK-L2), located on chromosome 19q13.4, is one of the newly identified members of the kallikrein gene family, which is a subgroup of the serine protease enzyme family. In normal human tissues, KLK5 is highly expressed in skin, mammary gland and testis. Preliminary RT-PCR analysis has indicated that KLK5 is expressed in a subset of ovarian tumours. We have thus hypothesized that KLK5 may be a new prognostic indicator in ovarian cancer. We have examined the mRNA expression of KLK5 in 142 malignant ovarian tissues. Tumours were pulverized, total RNA was extracted, and cDNA was prepared by reverse transcription. KLK5 was amplified by PCR using gene specific primers, and the identity of the PCR product was verified by sequencing. Ovarian tissues were then classified as KLK5 positive or negative, based on ethidium bromide staining of the PCR product on agarose gels. KLK5 was found to be highly expressed in 58/142 (41%) of ovarian cancer samples while its level of expression was very low in normal ovarian tissues. We found a strong positive relation between KLK5 expression and tumour grade (P = 0.006) and disease stage (P = 0.027). Univariate survival analysis revealed that patients with ovarian tumours positive for KLK5 expression had an increased risk for relapse and death (P = 0.018 and 0.022, respectively). In multivariate analysis, KLK5 expression showed independent prognostic value only in the subset of tumours with lower grade disease (grades I and II). We conclude that KLK5 expression is associated with more aggressive forms of epithelial ovarian carcinoma and has indepdent prognostic value in low grade tumours. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

    The determination of functional asymmetries in the lower limbs of young soccer players using the countermovement jump. The lower limbs asymmetry of young soccer players

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    Introduction. — This study investigated the functional asymmetries in the lower limbs of young soccer players using the countermovement jump (CMJ). Synthesis of the facts. — Fifteen young soccer players were assessed on the CMJ using two unilateral dynamometric force platforms equipped with software for the analysis of the movement. Conclusion. — The results indicate that the effects of functional asymmetries are important enough to require young soccer players to undergo a preventative screening before starting a sporting regime

    Shallow whole-genome sequencing of Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus from Italy and an updated picture of their evolution based on mitogenomics and barcoding

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    Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus are two invasive mosquitoes native to East Asia that are quickly establishing in temperate regions of Europe. Both species are vectors of arboviruses, but we currently lack a clear understanding of their evolution. Here, we present new short-read, shallow genome sequencing of A. japonicus and A. koreicus individuals from northern Italy, which we used for downstream phylogenetic and barcode analyses. We explored associated microbial DNA and found high occurrences of Delftia bacteria in both samples, but neither Asaia nor Wolbachia. We then assembled complete mitogenomes and used these data to infer divergence times estimating the split of A. japonicus from A. koreicus in the Oligocene, which was more recent than that previously reported using mitochondrial markers. We recover a younger age for most other nodes within Aedini and other Culicidae. COI barcoding and phylogenetic analyses indicate that A. japonicus yaeyamensis, A. japonicus amamiensis, and the two A. koreicus sampled from Europe should be considered as separate species within a monophyletic species complex. Our studies further clarify the evolution of A. japonicus and A. koreicus, and indicate the need to obtain whole-genome data from putative species in order to disentangle their complex patterns of evolution
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