130 research outputs found
Hb Vila Real [beta36(C2)ProĀ®His] in Italy: characterization of the amino acid substitution and the DNA mutation
A rare high oxygen affinity hemoglobin variant was identified in a 22-year-old male patient from Napoli (Naples, Italy) affected by erythrocytosis. A detailed structural characterization of the variant hemoglobin was carried out, both at the protein and DNA levels essentially by mass spectrometric procedures and allele-specific amplification techniques. The amino acid substitution was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the tryptic digest as Ī²36(C2)Pro ā His; the corresponding DNA mutation was identified as C ā A at the second position of codon 36 of the Ī² chain (CCT ā CAT). These variations identified the presence of Hb Vila Real, described only once before in a Portuguese woman. Haplotype analysis of DNA polymorphisms showed that the Ī²-globin gene of Hb Vila Real was associated with haplotype I
The T.O.S.C.A. Project: Research, Education and Care
Despite recent and exponential improvements in diagnostic-
therapeutic pathways, an existing āGAPā has been revealed
between the āreal world careā and the āoptimal careā
of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We present the
T.O.S.CA. Project (Trattamento Ormonale dello Scompenso
CArdiaco), an Italian multicenter initiative involving different
health care professionals and services aiming to explore the
CHF āmetabolic pathophysiological modelā and to improve
the quality of care of HF patients through research and continuing
medical education
Admixture in Latin America: Geographic Structure, Phenotypic Diversity and Self-Perception of Ancestry Based on 7,342 Individuals
The current genetic makeup of Latin America has been shaped by a history of extensive admixture between Africans, Europeans and Native Americans, a process taking place within the context of extensive geographic and social stratification. We estimated individual ancestry proportions in a sample of 7,342 subjects ascertained in five countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, MĆ©xico and PerĆŗ). These individuals were also characterized for a range of physical appearance traits and for self-perception of ancestry. The geographic distribution of admixture proportions in this sample reveals extensive population structure, illustrating the continuing impact of demographic history on the genetic diversity of Latin America. Significant ancestry effects were detected for most phenotypes studied. However, ancestry generally explains only a modest proportion of total phenotypic variation. Genetically estimated and self-perceived ancestry correlate significantly, but certain physical attributes have a strong impact on self-perception and bias self-perception of ancestry relative to genetically estimated ancestry
The Current State of Proteomics in GI Oncology
Proteomics refers to the study of the entire set of proteins in a given cell or tissue. With the extensive development of protein separation, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics technologies, clinical proteomics has shown its potential as a powerful approach for biomarker discovery, particularly in the area of oncology. More than 130 exploratory studies have defined candidate markers in serum, gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, or cancer tissue. In this article, we introduce the commonly adopted proteomic technologies and describe results of a comprehensive review of studies that have applied these technologies to GI oncology, with a particular emphasis on developments in the last 3Ā years. We discuss reasons why the more than 130 studies to date have had little discernible clinical impact, and we outline steps that may allow proteomics to realize its promise for early detection of disease, monitoring of disease recurrence, and identification of targets for individualized therapy
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