Forest disturbance increases functional diversity but decreases phylogenetic diversity of an arboreal tropical ant community

Tropical rainforest trees host a diverse arthropod fauna that can be characterised by their functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). Human disturbance degrades tropical forests, often coinciding with species invasion and altered assembly that leads to a decrease in FD and PD. Tree canopies are thought to be particularly vulnerable, but rarely investigated. Here, we studied the effects of forest disturbance on an ecologically important invertebrate group, the ants, in a lowland rainforest in New Guinea. We compared an early successional disturbed plot (secondary forest) to an old-growth plot (primary forest) by exhaustively sampling their ant communities in a total of 852 trees. We expected that for each tree community (1) disturbance would decrease FD and PD in tree-dwelling ants, mediated through species invasion. (2) Disturbance would decrease ant trait variation due to a more homogeneous environment. (3) The main drivers behind these changes would be different contributions of true tree-nesting species and visiting species. We calculated FD and PD based on a species-level phylogeny and 10 ecomorphological traits. Furthermore, we assessed by data exclusion the influence of species, which were not nesting in individual trees (visitors) or only nesting species (nesters), and of non-native species on FD and PD. Primary forests had higher ant species richness and PD than secondary forest. However, we consistently found increased FD in secondary forest. This pattern was robust even if we decoupled functional and phylogenetic signals, or if non-native ant species were excluded from the data. Visitors did not contribute strongly to FD, but they increased PD and their community weighted trait means often varied from nesters. Moreover, all community-weighted trait means changed after forest disturbance. Our finding of contradictory FD and PD patterns highlights the importance of integrative measures of diversity. Our results indicate that the tree community trait diversity is not negatively affected, but possibly even enhanced by disturbance. Therefore, the functional diversity of arboreal ants is relatively robust when compared between old-growth and young trees. However, further study with higher plot-replication is necessary to solidify and generalise our findings.

Post-diagnosis serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in women treated for breast cancer participating in a lifestyle trial in Italy

OBJECTIVE

To report cross-sectionally serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in women living in Italy within 12 months from breast cancer (BC) diagnosis.

METHODS

Baseline data were obtained from 394 women diagnosed with primary BC, enrolled from 2016 to 2019 in a lifestyle trial conducted in Italy. Subjects' characteristics were compared between two 25(OH)D concentrations (hypovitaminosis D<20 and ≥20 ng/mL) with the Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test for small-expected counts. Using multiple logistic regression-adjusted models, we estimated odds ratios (ORs) of hypovitaminosis D with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the total sample and in the unsupplemented subgroup.

RESULTS

Hypovitaminosis D was found in 39% of all subjects, 60% in unsupplemented subjects, and 10% in supplemented subjects. Increasing ORs of hypovitaminosis D were found with increasing body mass index, 25-30, >30, and ≥35 versus <25 kg/m2 (ORs: 2.50, 4.64, and 5.81, respectively, in the total cohort and ORs: 2.68, 5.38, and 7.08 in the unsupplemented); living in the most southern Italian region (OR 2.50, 95%CI 1.22-5.13); and with hypertriglyceridemia (OR 2.46; 95%CI 1.16-5.22), chemotherapy history (OR 1.86, 95%CI 1.03-3.38), and inversely with anti-estrogenic therapy (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.24-0.75) in the total sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypovitaminosis D in women recently diagnosed with BC and participating in a lifestyle trial in Italy was widespread and highest with obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and chemotherapy use. Considering that hypovitaminosis D is a risk factor for lower efficacy of bone density treatments and possibly BC mortality, our results suggest the need to promptly address and treat vitamin D deficiency.

Analysis of Output Signal Distortion of Galvanic Isolation Circuits for Monitoring the Mains Voltage Waveform

Different methods for galvanically isolated monitoring of the mains voltage waveform were evaluated. The aim was to determine the level of distortion of the output signal relative to the input signal and the suitability of each method for calculating active power values. Six fixtures were tested: two voltage transformers, an electronic circuit with a current transformer, a standalone current transformer, a simple circuit with optocouplers, and a circuit with an A/D-D/A converter with capacitive coupling. The input and output waveforms were mathematically analyzed by three methods: (1) calculating the spectral components of waveforms and the relative changes in their THD (total harmonic distortion) values, (2) determining the similarity of waveforms according to the size of the area bounded by the input and output waveform curves, and (3) determining the accuracy of the active power calculation based on the output waveform. The time difference in the zero crossing of the input and output signals was measured, and further calculations for the second and third method were performed on the zero-crossing time shift-corrected waveforms. Other aspects of selecting the appropriate type of monitoring element, such as power consumption or overall circuit complexity, were also evaluated.

Tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared from deciduous plant-feeding lepidopteran larvae at Hokkaido University Tomakomai Forest (Japan), with descriptions of three new species

Seven species of tachinid flies reared from herbivorous lepidopterans collected from the deciduous forest canopy at Hokkaido University Tomakomai Experimental Forest (0.2 ha plot), Hokkaido, Japan, are recorded and described: Blepharomyia brevicornis sp. nov. ex Erannis golda Djakonov (Geometridae), Catocala lara Bremer and Orthosia odiosa (Butler) (both Noctuidae); Ctenophorinia grisea Mesnil ex Himeropteryx miraculosa Staudinger (Notodontidae); Blepharipa carbonata (Mesnil) ex Marumba jankowskii (Oberthr) (Sphingidae); Cyzenis equifacialis sp. nov. ex Faristenia geminisignella Ponomarenko (Gelechiidae), Archips crataegana (Hbner), A. nigricauda Walshingham, Epinotia exquisitana Christoph and Pseudohedya gradana Christo (all Tortricidae); Cyzenis tetrasetosa sp. nov. ex Lomographa simplicior (Butler), Operophtera brunnea Nakajima and O. relegata Prout (Geometridae); Eulasiona zimini Mesnil ex Archips crataegana (Hbner), Pseudohedya gradana (Christoph), Rhopobota naevana (Hbner) and Rhopobota sp. (all Tortricidae); Panzeria sp. (nr. japonica Shima) ex Erannis golda Djakonov (Geometridae). The genus Eulasiona Townsend is moved to the subfamily Tachininae from its present position in the subfamily Dexiinae, and the female and puparium of Eulasiona zimini Mesnil are described for the first time. The parasitization rates and life habits of these tachinids are briefly discussed.

A new species of Pseudasphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Magnolia kobus DC. var. borealis Sarg. (Magnoliaceae) in Japan

Background

A gall midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inducing leaf bud galls on MagnoliakobusDC.var.borealis Sarg. (Magnoliaceae) was found in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, Japan.

New information

Based on its morphology, the species is regarded as an undescribed species of the genus Pseudasphondylia Monzen (Cecidomyiinae, Cecidomyiidi, Asphondyliini). The species is herein described as Pseudasphondyliasaohimea Matsuda, Elsayed and Tokuda sp. n. The new species is easily distinguishable from its congeners by the number of adult palpal segments and the shape of the male terminalia and larval spatula.

Plant phylogeny drives arboreal caterpillar assemblages across the Holarctic

Assemblages of insect herbivores are structured by plant traits such as nutrient content, secondary metabolites, physical traits, and phenology. Many of these traits are phylogenetically conserved, implying a decrease in trait similarity with increasing phylogenetic distance of the host plant taxa. Thus, a metric of phylogenetic distances and relationships can be considered a proxy for phylogenetically conserved plant traits and used to predict variation in herbivorous insect assemblages among co-occurring plant species.Using a Holarctic dataset of exposed-feeding and shelter-building caterpillars, we aimed at showing how phylogenetic relationships among host plants explain compositional changes and characteristics of herbivore assemblages.Our plant-caterpillar network data derived from plot-based samplings at three different continents included >28,000 individual caterpillar-plant interactions. We tested whether increasing phylogenetic distance of the host plants leads to a decrease in caterpillar assemblage overlap. We further investigated to what degree phylogenetic isolation of a host tree species within the local community explains abundance, density, richness, and mean specialization of its associated caterpillar assemblage.The overlap of caterpillar assemblages decreased with increasing phylogenetic distance among the host tree species. Phylogenetic isolation of a host plant within the local plant community was correlated with lower richness and mean specialization of the associated caterpillar assemblages. Phylogenetic isolation had no effect on caterpillar abundance or density. The effects of plant phylogeny were consistent across exposed-feeding and shelter-building caterpillars.Our study reveals that distance metrics obtained from host plant phylogeny are useful predictors to explain compositional turnover among hosts and host-specific variations in richness and mean specialization of associated insect herbivore assemblages in temperate broadleaf forests. As phylogenetic information of plant communities is becoming increasingly available, further large-scale studies are needed to investigate to what degree plant phylogeny structures herbivore assemblages in other biomes and ecosystems.

Spatial covariance of herbivorous and predatory guilds of forest canopy arthropods along a latitudinal gradient

In arthropod community ecology, species richness studies tend to be prioritised over those investigating patterns of abundance. Consequently, the biotic and abiotic drivers of arboreal arthropod abundance are still relatively poorly known. In this cross-continental study, we employ a theoretical framework in order to examine patterns of covariance among herbivorous and predatory arthropod guilds. Leaf-chewing and leaf-mining herbivores, and predatory ants and spiders, were censused on > 1000 trees in nine 0.1 ha forest plots. After controlling for tree size and season, we found no negative pairwise correlations between guild abundances per plot, suggestive of weak signals of both inter-guild competition and top-down regulation of herbivores by predators. Inter-guild interaction strengths did not vary with mean annual temperature, thus opposing the hypothesis that biotic interactions intensify towards the equator. We find evidence for the bottom-up limitation of arthropod abundances via resources and abiotic factors, rather than for competition and predation.

Quantitative assessment of plant-arthropod interactions in forest canopies: A plot-based approach

Research on canopy arthropods has progressed from species inventories to the study of their interactions and networks, enhancing our understanding of how hyper-diverse communities are maintained. Previous studies often focused on sampling individual tree species, individual trees or their parts. We argue that such selective sampling is not ideal when analyzing interaction network structure, and may lead to erroneous conclusions. We developed practical and reproducible sampling guidelines for the plot-based analysis of arthropod interaction networks in forest canopies. Our sampling protocol focused on insect herbivores (leaf-chewing insect larvae, miners and gallers) and non-flying invertebrate predators (spiders and ants). We quantitatively sampled the focal arthropods from felled trees, or from trees accessed by canopy cranes or cherry pickers in 53 0.1 ha forest plots in five biogeographic regions, comprising 6,280 trees in total. All three methods required a similar sampling effort and provided good foliage accessibility. Furthermore, we compared interaction networks derived from plot-based data to interaction networks derived from simulated non-plot-based data focusing either on common tree species or a representative selection of tree families. All types of non-plot-based data showed highly biased network structure towards higher connectance, higher web asymmetry, and higher nestedness temperature when compared with plot-based data. Furthermore, some types of non-plot-based data showed biased diversity of the associated herbivore species and specificity of their interactions. Plot-based sampling thus appears to be the most rigorous approach for reconstructing realistic, quantitative plant-arthropod interaction networks that are comparable across sites and regions. Studies of plant interactions have greatly benefited from a plot-based approach and we argue that studies of arthropod interactions would benefit in the same way. We conclude that plot-based studies on canopy arthropods would yield important insights into the processes of interaction network assembly and dynamics, which could be maximised via a coordinated network of plot-based study sites.

Phylogenetic composition of host plant communities drives plant-herbivore food web structure

Insects tend to feed on related hosts. The phylogenetic composition of host plant communities thus plays a prominent role in determining insect specialization, food web structure, and diversity. Previous studies showed a high preference of insect herbivores for congeneric and confamilial hosts suggesting that some levels of host plant relationships may play more prominent role that others. We aim to quantify the effects of host phylogeny on the structure of quantitative plant-herbivore food webs. Further, we identify specific patterns in three insect guilds with different life histories and discuss the role of host plant phylogeny in maintaining their diversity. We studied herbivore assemblages in three temperate forests in Japan and the Czech Republic. Sampling from a canopy crane, a cherry picker and felled trees allowed a complete census of plant-herbivore interactions within three 0·1 ha plots for leaf chewing larvae, miners, and gallers. We analyzed the effects of host phylogeny by comparing the observed food webs with randomized models of host selection. Larval leaf chewers exhibited high generality at all three sites, whereas gallers and miners were almost exclusively monophagous. Leaf chewer generality dropped rapidly when older host lineages (5-80 myr) were collated into a single lineage but only decreased slightly when the most closely related congeneric hosts were collated. This shows that leaf chewer generality has been maintained by feeding on confamilial hosts while only a few herbivores were shared between more distant plant lineages and, surprisingly, between some congeneric hosts. In contrast, miner and galler generality was maintained mainly by the terminal nodes of the host phylogeny and dropped immediately after collating congeneric hosts into single lineages. We show that not all levels of host plant phylogeny are equal in their effect on structuring plant-herbivore food webs. In the case of generalist guilds, it is the phylogeny of deeper plant lineages that drives the food web structure whereas the terminal relationships play minor roles. In contrast, the specialization and abundance of monophagous guilds are affected mainly by the terminal parts of the plant phylogeny and do not generally reflect deeper host phylogeny.

Risk Differences Between Prediabetes And Diabetes According To Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes

Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia may play a role in breast carcinogenesis and prediabetes and diabetes have been associated with increased breast cancer (BC) risk. However, whether BC molecular subtypes may modify these associations is less clear. We therefore investigated these associations in all cases and by BC molecular subtypes among women living in Southern Italy. Cases were 557 patients with non-metastatic incident BC and controls were 592 outpatients enrolled during the same period as cases and in the same hospital for skin-related non-malignant conditions. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were built to assess the risks of developing BC in the presence of prediabetes or diabetes. The analyses were repeated by strata of BC molecular subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2+, and Triple Negative (TN). Prediabetes and diabetes were significantly associated with higher BC incidence after controlling for known risk factors (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.32-2.87 and OR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.38-4.37, respectively). Similar results were seen in Luminal A and B while in the TN subtype only prediabetes was associated with BC (OR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.11-5.32). Among HER2+ patients, only diabetes was significantly associated with BC risk (OR = 3.04, 95% CI 1.24-7.47). Furthermore, when postmenopausal HER2+ was split into hormone receptor positive versus negative, the association with diabetes remained significant only in the former (OR = 5.13, 95% CI 1.53-17.22). These results suggest that prediabetes and diabetes are strongly associated with BC incidence and that these metabolic conditions may be more relevant in the presence of breast cancer molecular subtypes with positive hormone receptors. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 1144-1150, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

NUPR1, a new target in liver cancer: implication in controlling cell growth, migration, invasion and sorafenib resistance

Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, is the only approved agent for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its benefits are modest, and as its mechanisms of action remain elusive, a better understanding of its anticancer effects is needed. Based on our previous study results, we investigated here the implication of the nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) in HCC and its role in sorafenib treatment. NUPR1 is a stress-inducible protein that is overexpressed in various malignancies, but its role in HCC is not yet fully understood. We found that NUPR1 expression was significantly higher in primary human HCC samples than in the normal liver. Knockdown of NUPR1 significantly increased cell sensitivity to sorafenib and inhibited the cell growth, migration and invasion of HCC cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, NUPR1 silencing influenced the expression of RELB and IER3 genes. Unsurprisingly, RELB and IER3 knockdown also inhibited HCC cell viability, growth and migration. Using gene expression profiling of HCC cells following stable NUPR1 knockdown, we found that genes functionally involved in cell death and survival, cellular response to therapies, lipid metabolism, cell growth and proliferation, molecular transport and cellular movement were mostly suppressed. Network analysis of dynamic gene expression identified NF-κB and ERK as downregulated gene nodes, and several HCC-related oncogenes were also suppressed. We identified Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene as a NUPR1-regulated gene and demonstrated that RUNX2 gene silencing inhibits HCC cell viability, growth, migration and increased cell sensitivity to sorafenib. We propose that the NUPR1/RELB/IER3/RUNX2 pathway has a pivotal role in hepatocarcinogenesis. The identification of the NUPR1/RELB/IER3/RUNX2 pathway as a potential therapeutic target may contribute to the development of new treatment strategies for HCC management.

Red meat and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies focusing on cooking practices

BACKGROUND

Consumption of red meat has been related to increased risk of several cancers. Cooking methods could modify the magnitude of this association, as production of chemicals depends on the temperature and duration of cooking.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a network of case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland between 1991 and 2009. The studies included 1465 oral and pharyngeal, 198 nasopharyngeal, 851 laryngeal, 505 esophageal, 230 stomach, 1463 colon, 927 rectal, 326 pancreatic, 3034 breast, 454 endometrial, 1031 ovarian, 1294 prostate and 767 renal cancer cases. Controls included 11 656 patients admitted for acute, non-neoplastic conditions. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by multiple logistic regression models, adjusted for known confounding factors.

RESULTS

Daily intake of red meat was significantly associated with the risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx (OR for increase of 50 g/day = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.26-1.52), nasopharynx (OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.04-1.60), larynx (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.30-1.64), esophagus (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.23-1.72), colon (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.08-1.26), rectum (OR = 1.22; 95% CI:1.11-1.33), pancreas (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.25-1.82), breast (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.04-1.19), endometrium (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.10-1.55) and ovary (OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.16-1.43). Fried meat was associated with a higher risk of cancer of oral cavity and pharynx (OR = 2.80; 95% CI: 2.02-3.89) and esophagus (OR = 4.52; 95% CI: 2.50-8.18). Risk of prostate cancer increased for meat cooked by roasting/grilling (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.12-1.54). No heterogeneity according to cooking methods emerged for other cancers. Nonetheless, significant associations with boiled/stewed meat also emerged for cancer of the nasopharynx (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.30-3.00) and stomach (OR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.20-2.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis confirmed red meat consumption as a risk factor for several cancer sites, with a limited impact of cooking methods. These findings, thus, call for a limitation of its consumption in populations of Western countries.

Dietary intakes of carotenoids and other nutrients in the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case-control study in Italy

Background:

Dietary habits have been related to the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but information on a wide range of macro- and micronutrients is still lacking, particularly for low-incidence countries.

Methods:

We conducted a hospital-based case–control study in Italy on 198, histologically confirmed, NPC cases of Caucasian ethnicity of 18–76 years of age. Controls were 594 Caucasian cancer-free patients admitted to general hospitals for acute conditions. Nutrients intake was assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through logistic regression.

Results:

Dietary intake of carotenoids were inversely related to NPC risk, notably carotene (OR for highest vs lowest quartile=0.46; 95% CI: 0.26–0.79), α-carotene (OR=0.57; 95% CI: 0.33–0.97), and β-carotene (OR=0.42; 95% CI: 0.24–0.75). Increased NPC risk was observed for elevate cholesterol intake (OR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.12–3.05).

Conclusion:

Study findings suggest a protective effect of carotenoids against NPC in a low-risk population, adding further support to a possible beneficial role of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables in cancers of the head and neck.

HLA DR-DQ combination associated with the increased risk of developing human HCV positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is related to the type II mixed cryoglobulinemia

This investigation was focused on the contribution of individual human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and -DQ alleles to the human hepatitis C virus (HCV)(+) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), with and without mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), to study whether individual HLA class II alleles are expressed preferentially or equally in human HCV-specific NHL. For this purpose, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from two groups of patients with HCV(+) NHL and with or without MC (70 and 71 cases, respectively), and from 4575 blood donors. Eighty-three subjects with HCV infection only, and 118 patients with MC, only without lymphoma, were added as additional control groups. Individual HLA-DR and -DQ alleles were determined using high-resolution sequence-based typing and then data were collected by considering the HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 supertypes on the basis of common structural and functional features, proposed by in silico Bioinformatic studies. From the data, it is evidenced that the DR5-DQ3 HLA combination was strongly associated with the HCV (+) MC (+) NHL group of patients compared with bone marrow donor population (P<or= 0.001, RR = 2.498), while the contribution of DR1-DQ1 was higher in HCV (+) NHL without MC (P<or= 0.001, RR = 2.519). Thus, cryoglobulinemia clinical manifestation was found to be correlated with the preferential use of HLA DR-DQ combination in HCV-associated NHL. These data provide new insight into HCV-associated lymphoproliferative pathogenesis.

Targeting the leukemic stem cell: the Holy Grail of leukemia therapy

Since the discovery of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) over a decade ago, many of their critical biological properties have been elucidated, including their distinct replicative properties, cell surface phenotypes, their increased resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and the involvement of growth-promoting chromosomal translocations. Of particular importance is their ability to transfer malignancy to non-obese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice. Furthermore, numerous studies demonstrate that acute myeloid leukemia arises from mutations at the level of stem cell, and chronic myeloid leukemia is also a stem cell disease. In this review, we will evaluate the main characteristics of LSCs elucidated in several well-documented leukemias. In addition, we will discuss points of therapeutic intervention. Promising therapeutic approaches include the targeting of key signal transduction pathways (for example, PI3K, Rac and Wnt) with small-molecule inhibitors and specific cell surface molecules (for example, CD33, CD44 and CD123), with effective cytotoxic antibodies. Also, statins, which are already widely therapeutically used for a variety of diseases, show potential in targeting LSCs. In addition, drugs that inhibit ATP-binding cassette transporter proteins are being extensively studied, as they are important in drug resistance-a frequent characteristic of LSCs. Although the specific targeting of LSCs is a relatively new field, it is a highly promising battleground that may reveal the Holy Grail of cancer therapy.

Oral etoposide in elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer: a clinical and pharmacological study

Seventeen elderly patients with advanced progressive non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with oral etoposide at the daily dose of 100 mg for 14 days every 3-4 weeks with pharmacokinetic monitoring. One partial response and 6 stabilizations were documented with a median overall duration of 13 weeks (range 8-32). The median survival was 24 weeks with an apparent advantage for non-progressive patients (40 weeks vs. 18 weeks). The treatment was well tolerated especially by those patients without concomitant illness, suggesting the crucial role of a careful selection of the geriatric population. Toxicity was not related to the etoposide plasma level, but was clearly dependent on comorbidity. A geriatric assessment rather than chronological age therefore appears to be more reliable in the selection of elderly patients for clinical trials. The easy self-management, favorable toxicity profile and synergy with other compounds makes oral etoposide suitable for further clinical-pharmacological studies in elderly patients.

Analysis of G(-174)C IL-6 polymorphism and plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral arterial disease

AIMS

To determine whether the G(-174)C interleukin 6 (IL-6) polymorphism influences the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This was investigated by comparing the distribution of G(-174)C genotypes between patients with type 2 diabetes and PAD (PAD+) and those with type 2 diabetes but without PAD (PAD-). Plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, C reactive protein (CRP), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also compared in PAD+ and PAD- patients.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from 146 PAD+ and 144 PAD- patients. SfaNI was used to determine the G(-174)C genotype. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, CRP, and VEGF were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The GG genotype was more common in PAD+ patients than in PAD- patients. PAD+ patients also had increased mean plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, CRP, and VEGF compared with PAD- patients. Mean plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, and CRP in both PAD+ and PAD- patients were higher in those with the GG genotype than in those with the GC or CC genotypes. In contrast, mean plasma concentrations of VEGF in PAD+ and PAD- patients were not significantly different between those with different G(-174)C genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support a model in which the GG genotype promotes PAD development among individuals with type 2 diabetes by inducing increased release of IL-6. Higher concentrations of IL-6 among those with the GG genotype is associated with increased plasma concentrations of fibrinogen and CRP.

Analysis of hepatitis C virus infection among health-care workers: an observational study

AIM

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most common blood-borne pathogens transmitted from patients to health care workers (HCWs). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed a set of universal precautions to help prevent transmission of blood-borne pathogens between patients and HCWs in health care settings. HCV infection status among HCWs and proportion of HCWs experiencing occupational blood exposure accidents were monitored to assess the risk of HCV infection among HCWs at a hospital in Catania, Italy.

METHODS

The number of HCWs reporting occupational blood exposure accidents during 1999 and 2004 were compared to examine whether there was any change in the incidence of these accidents among 900 HCWs. HCV infection status of these HCWs was also analyzed in 1999 and 2004 to determine how many were infected with HCV during this time period.

RESULTS

HCV infection was detected in 21 out of 900 subjects in 1999. The remaining 879 HCWs remained HCV-negative until they were last tested in 2004. There was a statistically significant decrease in the number of HCWs that experienced occupational blood exposure accidents from 306 in 1999 to 240 in 2004 (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The finding that all 871 HCV-negative HCWs remained HCV-negative from 1999 until 2004 supports the view that the set of universal precautions recommended by the CDC are helpful for preventing HCV transmission from patients to HCWs. HCWs must continue following these precautions to prevent transmission of HCV and other blood-borne pathogens between patients and HCWs in the future.

Frequency of bcl-2/IgH translocation in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic hepatitis C virus infection

AIM

It has been previously suggested that t(14;18) translocation of bcl-2 to the immuno-globulin heavy chain (IgH) locus may contribute to pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative disorders related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC).

METHODS

In this study, the presence or absence of t(14;18) translocation was determined in tumor biopsy specimens and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for 48 NHL patients with chronic HCV infection.

RESULTS

In tumor biopsy specimens from 32 HCV-positive NHL patients, bcl-2/IgH translocation was detected in 1 of 13 patients with MC syndrome (7.7%) and 3 of 19 patients without MC syndrome (15.8%). In PBMCs from 23 HCV-positive NHL patients, this translocation was observed in 3 of 6 patients with MC syndrome (50%) and 4 of 17 patients without MC syndrome (23.5%). Interestingly, bcl-2/IgH translocation was found in 2 extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma tissues from HCV-infected patients.

CONCLUSIONS

However, additional studies are required to better clarify the relationship between this translocation and extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma development. Although the frequency of bcl-2/IgH translocation in PBMCs from patients with chronic HCV infection is higher than that of other NHL patients, this increased translocation rate remains to be elucidated.

[In vitro exposure of U937 cells to potassium dichromate: study of apoptosis]

The aim of our study is to evaluate the genotoxic damage of cells treated with different concentrations of potassium dichromate. For this reason we have utilised U937 cells, a cellular line derived from acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Our results show that the minimum concentration of potassium dichromate induces apoptosis in the U937 cells and is of 600 microM, already after 12 hours, the cells treated with potassium dichromate with a concentration of 500 microM presented an apoptosis of 27% while the respective control showed a base apoptosis of 9.5%. Our experimental data indicate that the model adopted by us, may be a valid instrument to study the cytotoxic effects of compounds containing Chromium. In particular we have evidenced a clear genotoxic effect of these compounds demonstrated by a significant increase of the apoptosis percentage which is time and dose dependent.

[Solitary ganglioneuroma of the ileo-cecal valve]

Ganglioneuromas may occur in the small and large intestine as either solitary lesions or, more commonly, as multiple lesions (ganglioneuromatosis). The former are very rare, whereas ganglioneuromatosis may be associated with von Recklinghausen's disease and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type II B. We described the clinicopathologic features of a case of solitary polypoid ganglioneuroma of the ileocecal valve. The lesion was endoscopically diagnosed in a 27 year old man, with a history of abdominal pain. No association with von Reckling-hausen's disease or MEN was identified. Mutational analysis for RET was negative. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of a proliferation of well differentiated Schwann cells and ganglion cells in the lamina propria. The solitary polipoid ganglioneuroma is invariably benign. It shows no evidence of recurrence after total excision.

Prognostic factors in soft tissue sarcomas: a study of 395 patients

AIMS

The aim of this study was to report prognostic factors, end-points of local recurrence, distant recurrence, post-metastasis survival, and overall survival in a cohort of patients with soft tissue sarcomas.

METHODS

We analysed a database of 395 patients affected by primary soft tissue sarcomas of various primary sites, treated and followed up at the Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy from January 1985 to January 1997.

RESULTS

Grade, size, stage, surgical margins, distant metastasis, age, sex, performance status, and haemoglobin value were significant for overall survival. Histology, grade, stage, and surgical margins were significant for local recurrence. Grade, size, and stage, were significant for distant recurrence; and surgical margin was significant variable for post-metastasis survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Grade, size, and TNM stage (UICC/AJCC) have stronger prognostic significance for overall survival and distant recurrence than for local relapse. Positive surgical margins are the main predictors for local relapse. Age was the most consistent adverse independent prognostic factor for survival.

Expression of ornithine decarboxylase gene in elderly human monocytes

The proliferative capacity of the immune system is impaired in elderly subjects and the expression of various genes involved in cell cycle progression is reduced in PHA stimulated lymphocytes during the aging process. Macrophages play a fundamental role in the immune system response. It has recently been demonstrated that the process of macrophage activation is accompanied by a rapid, transient rise of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA levels. In fact, the ODC gene seems to be involved in macrophage activation and differentiation. The authors demonstrated that the steady-state levels of ODC mRNA and the correlated superoxide anion production are lower in the monocytes of elderly subjects with respect to those in young subjects used as control. These results confirmed the impaired immune function of the elderly.