Search Results - (Author, Cooperation:M. Biagioli)

2012-10-16

Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

0028-0836

1476-4687

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Protein Biosynthesis/drug effects/*genetics ; RNA, Antisense/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Inversion ; Short Interspersed Nucleotide Elements/*genetics ; Sirolimus/pharmacology ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/*genetics/*metabolism

1365-2230

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Composite cutaneous haemangioendothelioma is a recently characterized rare tumour of vascular origin. As there are only a few reported cases, the biological behaviour of the tumour and appropriate therapeutic approaches are not yet clear. We report a new case of composite cutaneous haemangioendothelioma and discuss prognostic and therapeutic aspects of this neoplasm.

Electronic Resource

0040-5639

Theology and Religious Studies

BOOK REVIEWS

1365-2133

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Electronic Resource

1365-2133

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Summary Background Telomere length is correlated with cellular ageing and immortalization processes. In some human cancers telomere length measurement has proved to be of diagnostic and prognostic value. Results comparable with the traditional terminal restriction fragment length determination by Southern blotting have been obtained in metaphase and interphase cells in some studies by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis; FISH additionally allows for the quantification of telomeres at the cellular level. Objectives In this study, 32 melanocytic lesions were analysed by FISH, aiming at investigating possible telomere differences among various benign and malignant lesions and correlation with telomerase activity (TA) level. Methods FISH was performed on paraffin sections from six common naevi, eight Spitz naevi, 12 melanomas, six melanoma metastases and nine control samples of normal skin. Telomere mean maximum diameter (Feret max), area and number per nuclear area were calculated by image analysis on fluorescent images elaborated through KS400 and in situ imaging system (ISIS) for FISH analysis programs. Mean TA level was also calculated in all lesions and correlated with telomere parameters. Results Telomere number per nuclear area was significantly lower in melanomas and metastases than in benign common and Spitz naevi and in control skin (7·24 ± 3·3; 6·11 ± 3 vs. 14·46 ± 5·6; 16·92 ± 7·8; and 12·59 ± 3·4, respectively; P 〈 0·001). No significant differences were found for the other telomere parameters. In common and Spitz naevi, telomere number was positively correlated with Feret max (P = 0·046 and P 〈 0·0001, respectively). TA was significantly higher in melanomas and metastases than in the other groups (70·18 ± 25·2; 105·07 ± 30 vs. 2·16 ± 2·4; 2·99 ± 2·1; 2 ± 1·2, respectively; P≤0·001) and it was inversely correlated with telomere number per nuclear area in melanomas (P = 0·0041). No other significant correlations were found. Conclusions Encouraging results have been obtained from quantitative telomere evaluation in the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions, although an analysis of a larger number of cases would be necessary to provide more reliable data. An extreme shortening of some telomeres probably results in the decrease of telomeric signals and the lower mean number of detectable telomeres in melanomas and metastases. In melanomas, telomere number per nuclear area is also inversely correlated with TA levels. Quantitative FISH of melanocytic lesions could give more specific information at the cellular level in telomere and telomerase fields of investigation.

Electronic Resource

1468-3083

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Background The term ‘common mole’, often used to describe a subset of benign pigmented skin lesions, is traditionally defined on the basis of morpho-chromatic features. In recent years, certain research groups have developed equipment and methods, such as digital dermoscopy analysis, that enable objective evaluation of pigmented skin lesions.Objective In this study we use a digital dermoscopy analyser trained for the recognition of pigmented skin lesions to compare the subjective definition of ‘common’ and the mathematical concept of ‘close to the mean of measurements’.Methods A subset (100) of digital images of flat pigmented lesions, obtained in daily practice, were classified by trained and non-expert clinicians as common moles (60) or clear-cut melanoma (40), and processed with a DB-Mips analyser. The resulting parameters, validated by a classifier, were used to evaluate Hotelling's T2 multivariate distances from the mean.Results Common’ moles could not be clearly defined in terms of closeness to the means of objectively evaluated parameters. Their diagnosis includes many other evaluations and clusters of variables.Conclusion The clinical semantics of the term ‘common’ does not conform to any unambiguous mathematical definition.

Electronic Resource

1432-069X

Pemphigus antibodies ; Keratinocyte differentiation ; cAMP

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Summary The effect of some agents, influencing the cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) content of human cells, on the ability of the keratinocytes of binding pemphigus antibodies was studied by using tissue cultures of rabbit esophagus. As demonstrated by immunofluorescence (IF) for IgG, the bound antibodies appeared markedly decreased on esophagus explants grown under standard conditions, that is without test agents, when compared to ones fixed on fresh esophagus. But the IF reaction was remarkably more intense when methylxanthines or epinephrine were added to the growth medium of the cultures. Following the addition of these agents to the cultures some histologic modifications appeared in the explants, indicating that the keratinization process had probably been stimulated. This temporal relationship of immunofluorescence and histologic findings seems to suggest the hypothesis that keratinocyte differentiation, regulation of cAMP intracellular content, and pemphigus antibodies fixation are related processes.

Electronic Resource

1432-1203

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Medicine

Electronic Resource

1432-1203

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Medicine

Electronic Resource

1432-1998

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Abstract Cockayne syndrome is a well-known autosomal recessive form of dwarfism with senile-like appearence. Skeletal changes such as flattening of vertebral bodies, ivory epiphyses and thickening of cranial vault, have been observed in some patients with this condition. We describe here a 5.5-year-old girl with the typical clinical signs of Cockayne syndrome and a distinctive form of bone dysplasia with major involvment of the spine.

Electronic Resource

1432-1998

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Abstract A patient with retinitis pigmentosa, hypertension with interstitial nephropathy, short limb dwarfism with Madelung deformity of the forearms and an unclassified type of brachydactyly is described. Such bone dysplasia has never been reported to date either as a single entity or associated with renal and retinal diseases.

Electronic Resource

1432-1998

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Abstract Two sisters with Coffin-Siris syndrome, born to healthy unrelated parents, are reported. The accurate X-ray evaluation of the two patients allows the identification of some new features and a better delineation of the radiological phenotype. Our two cases confirm the proposed autosomal recessive inheritance of the syndrome.

Electronic Resource