Transcription of rat mitochondrial NADH-dehydrogenase subunits: Presence of antisense and precursor RNA species

AbstractWe have characterized the transcriptional pattern of the rat mitochondrial ND6-containing region in vivo. We have identified a stable polyadenylated RNA species complementary for the full length of the ND6 mRNA. The analysis of the ND5 region has revealed the presence of an antisense RNA only at its 3′ end. The presence of these stable antisense species complementary to structural genes is intriguing and suggests a possible regulatory function. The quantitative analyses have demonstrated that the H transcripts, both codogenic and non-codogenic, are more stable than the L transcripts. We have defined the 5′ end of the ND6 mRNA at the level of the ATG downstream of the tRNAGlu. The mapping of the ND1 5′ end has demonstrated that GTG is the first codon of the mRNA. Our findings suggest that the post-transcriptional mechanisms involved in the expression of the mt genome are much more numerous and complex than those already described in the literature

Treatment outcomes and relapses of pulmonary tuberculosis in Lazio, Italy, 1999-2001: a six-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to enhance tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcome monitoring by linking diverse surveillance systems and estimating treatment outcomes including relapse. METHODS: Tuberculosis treatment was surveyed in the Lazio region (Italy) from 1999 to 2001; a six-year follow-up of notified cases was undertaken to detect relapses. The results were analyzed as a population-based case-control study comparing each unsuccessful outcome and relapse with eligible controls. RESULTS: Of the 974 patients who entered the survey, 805 (82.6%) had complete treatment evaluations; 398 (49.4%) had a successful outcome, 401 (49.8%) had an unsuccessful outcome, and six developed chronic TB. Death was associated with age >64 years (OR 5.9; 95% CI 3.1-11.2), male gender (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.0-4.4), and using second-line drugs (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.0-5.4). Treatment failure was associated with previous treatment (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.4-6.7) and being male, being foreign born (OR 6.6; 95% CI 2.1-21.2), receiving second-line drugs (OR 7.4; 95% CI 1.8-29.5), and receiving modified therapy (OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.7-14.9). Relapses after successful outcomes were detected in 5.5%, for which the strongest predictor was having extrapulmonary lesions (OR 22.8; 95% CI 1.8-287.3). CONCLUSIONS: Linking our survey data to other surveillance systems improved the mortality estimates and detected a high rate of relapse. Having received previous treatment and being a foreigner were independent determinants of treatment failure, suggesting that both acquired and primary drug resistance affect TB patients in Lazio

De novo balanced chromosome rearrangements in prenatal diagnosis

none50GIARDINO D; CORTI C; BALLARATI L; COLOMBO D; SALA E; VILLA N; PIOMBO G; PIERLUIGI M; FARAVELLI F; GUERNERI S; D. COVIELLO; LALATTA F; CAVALLARI U; BELLOTTI D; BARLATI S; CROCI G; FRANCHI F; SAVIN E; NOCERA G; AMICO FP; GRANATA P; CASALONE R; NUTINI L; LISI E; TORRICELLI F; GIUSSANI U; FACCHINETTI B; GUANTI G; DI GIACOMO M; SUSCA FP; PECILE V; ROMITTI L; CARDARELLI L; RACALBUTO E; POLICE MA; CHIODO F; RODESCHINI O; FALCONE P; DONTI E; GRIMOLDI MG; MARTINOLI E; STIOUI S; CAUFIN D; LAURICELLA SA; TANZARIELLO SA; VOGLINO G; LENZINI E; BESOZZI M; LARIZZA L; DALPRÀ LGiardino, D; Corti, C; Ballarati, L; Colombo, D; Sala, E; Villa, N; Piombo, G; Pierluigi, M; Faravelli, F; Guerneri, S; Coviello, Domenico; Lalatta, F; Cavallari, U; Bellotti, D; Barlati, S; Croci, G; Franchi, F; Savin, E; Nocera, G; Amico, Fp; Granata, P; Casalone, R; Nutini, L; Lisi, E; Torricelli, F; Giussani, U; Facchinetti, B; Guanti, G; DI GIACOMO, M; Susca, Fp; Pecile, V; Romitti, L; Cardarelli, L; Racalbuto, E; Police, Ma; Chiodo, F; Rodeschini, O; Falcone, P; Donti, E; Grimoldi, Mg; Martinoli, E; Stioui, S; Caufin, D; Lauricella, Sa; Tanzariello, Sa; Voglino, G; Lenzini, E; Besozzi, M; Larizza, L; Dalprà, L