Erectile dysfunction after prostate three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Correlation with the dose to the penile bulb.

PURPOSE: Erectile dysfunction is associated with all the common treatment options for prostate cancer. The aim of this research was to evaluate the relationship between erectile function and radiation dose to the penile bulb (PB) and other proximal penile structures in men receiving conformal radiotherapy (CRT) without hormonal therapy (HT) for prostate cancer, whose sexual function was known before treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 19 patients treated with 3D-CRT for localized prostate cancer at our department, who were self-reported to be potent before treatment, had not received HT, and had complete follow-up data available. Our evaluation was based on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Dose-volume histograms (DVHs) were used to evaluate the dose to the PB. Statistical analysis was performed with an unconditional logistic regression model. RESULTS: All patients reported change in potency after radiation. Eight patients (42%) remained potent but showed a decrease of 1 or 2 levels of potency, as defined by the IIEF-5 questionnaire (reduced potency group), while 11 patients (58%) reported a change of higher levels and revealed a severe erectile dysfunction after 2 years (impotence group). Multivariate analysis of morphological and dosimetric variables yielded significance for the mean dose (p = 0.05 with an odds ratio of 1.14 and 95% CI 1-1.30). Patients receiving a mean dose of less than 50 Gy to the PB appear to have a much greater likelihood of maintaining potency. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a possible existence of a dose-volume correlation between the dose applied to the PB and radiation-induced impotence.

[Copper and copper alloys. Technology updates]. / Rame e leghe di rame. Aggiornamenti tecnologici.

The correlations between copper and copper alloys and human health have been the subject of some recent and extensive scientific researches. The voluntary risks evaluation, which anticipated the EU REACH Directive application, has shown that copper is a "safe" product for human health and for environment. In addition, it could be of great help thanks to its antibacterial properties. Copper tube can contribute in a relevant way to the prevention of water systems pollution by Legionella. Also the spreading of nosocomial infections is significantly contrasted by the use of copper and copper alloys for the production of articles intended for being frequently touched by people. The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States has in fact "registered" as antibacterial over 350 of copper alloys.

Alteration of enod40 expression modifies medicago truncatula root nodule development induced by sinorhizobium meliloti

Molecular mechanisms involved in the control of root nodule organogenesis in the plant host are poorly understood. One of the nodulin genes associated with the earliest phases of this developmental program is enod40. We show here that transgenic Medicago truncatula plants overexpressing enod40 exhibit accelerated nodulation induced by Sinorhizobium meliloti. This resulted from increased initiation of primordia, which was accompanied by a proliferation response of the region close to the root tip and enhanced root length. The root cortex of the enod40-transformed plants showed increased sensitivity to nodulation signals. T(1) and T(2) descendants of two transgenic lines with reduced amounts of enod40 transcripts (probably from cosuppression) formed only a few and modified nodulelike structures. Our results suggest that induction of enod40 is a limiting step in primordium formation, and its function is required for appropriate nodule development.

Translational and structural requirements of the early nodulin gene enod40, a short-open reading frame-containing RNA, for elicitation of a cell-specific growth response in the alfalfa root cortex.

A diversity of mRNAs containing only short open reading frames (sORF-RNAs; encoding less than 30 amino acids) have been shown to be induced in growth and differentiation processes. The early nodulin gene enod40, coding for a 0.7-kb sORF-RNA, is expressed in the nodule primordium developing in the root cortex of leguminous plants after infection by symbiotic bacteria. Ballistic microtargeting of this gene into Medicago roots induced division of cortical cells. Translation of two sORFs (I and II, 13 and 27 amino acids, respectively) present in the conserved 5' and 3' regions of enod40 was required for this biological activity. These sORFs may be translated in roots via a reinitiation mechanism. In vitro translation products starting from the ATG of sORF I were detectable by mutating enod40 to yield peptides larger than 38 amino acids. Deletion of a Medicago truncatula enod40 region between the sORFs, spanning a predicted RNA structure, did not affect their translation but resulted in significantly decreased biological activity. Our data reveal a complex regulation of enod40 action, pointing to a role of sORF-encoded peptides and structured RNA signals in developmental processes involving sORF-RNAs.

Effect of riboflavin, retinol, and zinc on micronuclei of buccal mucosa and of esophagus: a randomized double-blind intervention study in China.

A randomized double-blind intervention trial was done in Huixian, People's Republic of China, a population with a high incidence of esophageal cancer. The aim of the trial was to determine whether a once-a-week treatment with retinol (15 mg or 50,000 IU), riboflavin (200 mg), and zinc (50 mg) could result, after 1 year, in a lower prevalence of precancerous lesions of the esophagus in the group receiving the active treatment as compared with the prevalence in the group receiving a placebo. The results of the trial, published elsewhere, indicated that the treatment had no effect on the prevalence of precancerous lesions of the esophagus. In determining whether an effect could be detected when earlier end points are used, the prevalence of micronuclei was evaluated in exfoliated cells from the esophagus and from the buccal mucosa in the present study. In a subsample of 200 out of the original 610 study subjects, smears were taken from the buccal mucosa before and after treatment, and in 170 subjects esophageal smears were obtained during endoscopy only after treatment. The smears were fixed and kept at room temperature over 1 year before being evaluated for the presence of micronuclei by means of 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole fluorescent staining. Smears from approximately half of the subjects were considered suitable for evaluation. No statistically significant difference in the prevalence of micronuclei in the buccal mucosa cells was observed before and after treatment (the mean percentage of micronucleated cells in the vitamin group upon first examination, before treatment started, 0.35%; 1 year after treatment, 0.31%) or between the treatment and the placebo group at the final examination. (The mean percentage of micronucleated cells in the vitamin-treated group was 0.31 and 0.39% in the placebo group.) However, a statistically significant reduction (P = .04) was observed in the prevalence of micronuclei in esophageal cells in the treatment group as compared to the placebo. (The mean percentage of micronucleated cells in the vitamin-treated group was 0.19%; it was 0.31% in the placebo group.

Blood, retinol and zinc riboflavin status in relation to precancerous lesions of the esophagus: findings from a vitamin intervention trial in the People's Republic of China.

Data from a double-blind intervention trial in China are reanalyzed to explore auxiliary information. The trial had shown that in a high-risk area for esophageal cancer the dietary supplementation of apparently healthy individuals with a combination of retinol, riboflavin, and zinc did not lead to a different prevalence of precancerous lesions of the esophagus among those receiving the active treatment compared to a placebo group. However, improvement of blood retinol and zinc levels were also observed in the placebo group. The logistic regression analysis presented in this paper illustrates that those individuals who showed large increases in retinol, riboflavin, and zinc blood levels were more likely to have a histologically normal esophagus at the end of the trial. This effect is clearer for retinol than for riboflavin and zinc and it is independent of whether the change was caused by the active treatment or occurred otherwise.

An epidemiological study of precursor lesions of esophageal cancer among young persons in a high-risk population in Huixian, China.

The occurrence of chronic esophagitis, considered a precursor condition for esophageal cancer, among persons 15 to 26 yr of age and risk factors for the disease were investigated in Huixian, Henan Province, a high-risk area for esophageal cancer in the People's Republic of China. The 538 study subjects underwent an esophagoscopy with guided biopsies and cytology, a physical examination, an interview with a questionnaire including known and suspected risk factors for esophageal lesions, and collection of a 10-ml blood sample and overnight urine. One-third of the subjects was selected from households with a case of esophageal cancer in the past 6 yr and two-thirds came from control households. Histologically confirmed very mild, mild, and moderate esophagitis was observed in 31.6%, 10.7%, and 1.1% of 354 male and 30.4%, 4.3%, and 1.1% of 184 female subjects, respectively. In the multivariate case-control analysis of mile and moderate esophagitis compared with very mild esophagitis and normal subjects, the prevalence of mild and moderate disease was found to be positively associated with the consumption of burning hot beverages [odds ratio (OR) = 4.7], the prevalence of esophagitis among siblings (OR = 4.4), and family history of esophageal cancer (OR = 1.8) and negatively associated with the frequent consumption of fresh fruits (OR = 0.3) and wheat flour products (OR = 0.4). Weaker associations were seen for cigarette smoking and the use of cottonseed oil as the main cooking oil. Univariate associations seen with a clinical diagnosis of oral leukoplakia (OR = 2.7) and seborrheic dermatitis (OR = 3.7) are probably due to common risk factors such as smoking and nutritional deficiency. The present findings suggest that exposures early in life to environmental risk factors and nutritional deficiency may be responsible for inflammation and a weakened esophageal epithelium, resulting in a condition possibly more favorable for the development of esophageal cancer.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Fistulas in the Laparoscopic Era.

Biliary fistulas are rare complications of gallstone. They can affect either the biliary or the gastrointestinal tract and are usually classified as primary or secondary. The primary fistulas are related to the biliary lithiasis, while the secondary ones are related to surgical complications. Laparoscopic surgery is a therapeutic option for the treatment of primary biliary fistulas. However, it could be the first responsible for the development of secondary biliary fistulas. An accurate preoperative diagnosis together with an experienced surgeon on the hepatobiliary surgery is necessary to deal with biliary fistulas. Cholecystectomy with a choledocoplasty is the most frequent treatment of primary fistulas, whereas the bile duct drainage or the endoscopic stenting is the best choice in case of minor iatrogenic bile duct injuries. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is the extreme therapeutic option for both conditions. The sepsis, the level of the bile duct damage, and the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract increase the complexity of the operation and affect early and late results.

The effect of interferon on cells persistently infected with HIV.

In this study the effect of interferon (IFN) on uninfected cells (H9-) and cells infected (H9+) with HIV-1 was investigated. In both H9- and H9+, IFN was unable to inhibit Sindbis virus replication. HIV-1 replication was inhibited by a maximum of 22% at 1000 U/ml of IFN. In both H9- and H9+ cells IFN exhibited a limited antiproliferative effect. There was activation of the 2'-5' oligo-A-synthetase (E enzyme) and the protein kinase enzyme systems, but low activation of the ribonuclease F was seen in both H9- and H9+ cells. From these results it can be concluded that IFN produces a limited antiviral and antiproliferative effect in both H9- and H9+ cells, and a defective ribonuclease F pathway might be responsible for this limited activity.

Identification of novel putative regulatory genes induced during alfalfa nodule development with a cold-plaque screening procedure.

Until now very few plant genes with possible regulatory functions during nodule development have been isolated. We have used a modified cold-plaque screening method to identify new transcripts expressed at low levels that are induced during nodulation. Several clones were isolated and characterized by their mRNA expression patterns during nodule development and in spontaneous nodules. Sequence homology with known genes of other organisms indicated that transcripts corresponded to (i) "basic" genes probably required during the growth of the nodule organ (e.g., structural proteins), (ii) genes related to the metabolic adaptations taking place during nodule morphogenesis and function (e.g., carbonic anhydrase), and (iii) genes containing regulatory motifs and/or homologies (three clones out of the 20 identified). The latter genes encode a zinc-finger-containing protein, a putative protein kinase, and a Wilm's tumor (WT) suppressor homologue, respectively. Expression of the kinase and WT suppressor homologues was induced early in nodulation, although the latter was activated transiently. Accumulation of the Zn-finger gene transcripts was detected at a later stage of development and seems to be regulated in a complex manner. Hence, using a cold-plaque screening procedure, we could identify genes that may play regulatory roles in the signal transduction pathways activated during nodule development.

Expression profiles of 22 novel molecular markers for organogenetic pathways acting in alfalfa nodule development.

During symbiotic nodule development, a variety of molecular signals of rhizobia and plant origin are likely to be involved in the control of the expression of specific genes in the legume Medicago sativa (alfalfa). Twenty-two new, nodule-associated Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs, MsNod clones) as well as 16 clones for previously reported alfalfa nodulins were identified by cold-plaque screening. Protein homologs were found for 10 of the 22 MsNod-encoded polypeptides, revealing putative novel functions associated with this symbiosis. Expression of these MsNod genes was investigated in spontaneous nodules (generated in the absence of bacteria), in nodules induced by a Sinorhizobium meliloti wild-type strain and Eps- and Bac- mutant derivatives, as well as in roots inoculated with a Nod- mutant strain. This analysis enabled us to correlate plant gene expression with the different stages of nodule ontogeny and invasion. The effect of phytohormones on MsNod gene expression was analyzed in cytokinin- and auxin-treated alfalfa roots. Cytokinin induced the accumulation of seven MsNod transcripts, four of them were also regulated by the synthetic auxin 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). Comparison of MsNod expression profiles in wild-type and transgenic M. truncatula roots overexpressing the early nodulin Enod40 suggested that one clone, the M. sativa L3 ribosomal protein homolog (MsNod377), is a putative component of an Enod40-dependent pathway acting during nodule development. These novel molecular markers may help in the investigation of gene networks and regulatory circuits controlling nodule organogenesis.

Temporal and spatial order of events during the induction of cortical cell divisions in white clover by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii inoculation or localized cytokinin addition.

We examined the timing and location of several early root responses to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii infection, compared with a localized addition of cytokinin in white clover, to study the role of cytokinin in early signaling during nodule initiation. Induction of ENOD40 expression by either rhizobia or cytokinin was similar in timing and location and occurred in nodule progenitor cells in the inner cortex. Inoculation of rhizobia in the mature root failed to induce ENOD40 expression and cortical cell divisions (ccd). Nitrate addition at levels repressing nodule formation inhibited ENOD40 induction by rhizobia but not by cytokinin. ENOD40 expression was not induced by auxin, an auxin transport inhibitor, or an ethylene precursor. In contrast to rhizobia, cytokinin addition was not sufficient to induce a modulation of the auxin flow, the induction of specific chalcone synthase genes, and the accumulation of fluorescent compounds associated with nodule initiation. However, cytokinin addition was sufficient for the localized induction of auxin-induced GH3 gene expression and the initiation of ccd. Our results suggest that rhizobia induce cytokinin-mediated events in parallel to changes in auxin-related responses during nodule initiation and support a role of ENOD40 in regulating ccd. We propose a model for the interactions of cytokinin with auxin, ENOD40, flavonoids, and nitrate during nodulation.

Early symbiotic responses induced by Sinorhizobium meliloti iIvC mutants in alfalfa.

A mutation in the ilvC gene of Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 determines a symbiotically defective phenotype. ilvC mutants obtained from different S. meliloti wild-type strains are able to induce root hair deformation on alfalfa roots and show variable activation of the common nodulation genes nodABC. All of these mutants are noninfective. The presence of extra copies of nodD3-syrM in an IlvC- background does not promote nod expression but allows the detection of low levels of Nod factor production. The sulphation of the Nod factor metabolites, however, is not affected. Furthermore, IlvC- strains induce a specific pattern of starch accumulation on alfalfa roots as well as of early nodulin expression. Hence, the pleiotropic action of the ilvC gene in S. meliloti may reveal novel complexities involved in the symbiotic interaction.

Isolation and characterization of genes encoding chaperonin 60 beta from Arabidopsis thaliana.

Chaperonins (Cpn) are implicated in the folding and assembly of multimeric proteins in plastids and mitochondria of eukaryotes and in prokaryotes. Plastid Cpn is composed of two different polypeptides termed Cpn60 alpha and Cpn60 beta. We have isolated cDNA and genomic clones encoding Cpn60 beta from Arabidopsis thaliana. The steady-state level of the cpn60 beta mRNAs is higher in etiolated leaves and sucrose-treated plants as compared to control leaves. The A. thaliana cpn60 beta gene family consists of at least three different coding units. It was confirmed that Cpn beta-encoding genes have a high level of conservation among plants.

Micronuclei in esophageal cells of Chinese youths in a high-incidence area for esophageal cancer in China.

An epidemiologic survey among 538 young persons between 15 and 26 years of age in a high-risk area for esophageal cancer in the People's Republic of China revealed a high prevalence of esophagitis. Histologically confirmed very mild, mild, and moderate esophagitis was observed in 31.6%, 10.7%, and 1.1% of 354 male and 30.4%, 4.3%, and 1.1% of 184 female subjects. The prevalence of micronuclei in esophageal smears was assayed in a subsample to investigate its possible association with esophagitis and with risk factors for esophageal lesions. Of the 186 subjects, 2.7% had mild or moderate esophagitis, 19.9% had very mild esophagitis, and 77.4% were normal. The frequency distribution of micronucleated cells in the esophageal mucosa was similar for the three diagnostic groups. Mean percentages of micronucleated cells did not differ by diagnosis of esophagitis, household status, current smoking status, presence of oral leukoplakia, or consumption of burning hot beverages or fresh fruit. Higher mean percentages were observed in the older age group of both sexes, but the difference was not statistically significant. The results suggest that if esophagitis is considered an important precursor state in the development of esophageal cancer, the scoring of micronuclei does not appear to be an efficient test for mild forms of esophagitis.

DNA topoisomerase I from Leydig cells is modulated by luteinizing hormone and cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

The action of luteinizing hormone on topoisomerase I activity from rat Leydig cells was studied. Stimulation of the enzyme was observed after long-term (24 and 48 h) gonadotrophin treatment in in vivo experiments. No change could be detected for shorter times than 12 h using two different experimental approaches. Topoisomerase I was stimulated by cAMP in a whole cell extract in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. These results suggest that topoisomerase I could be a target for nuclear events induced by peptide hormone action.

Cancer mortality in the Republic of San Marino.

San Marino is a small independent Republic encircled by Italy, with a population of approximately 20,000. It still maintains an ethnic profile favoured by a tendency to genetic segregation due to endogamy. Since 1908 detailed data have been kept on all deaths among residents also for those dying outside the country. In this study the mortality trends based on crude rates are reported for all neoplasms and for selected sites in the years 1908 to 1980, showing increased rates for all neoplasms and the highest rate for stomach cancer. Age-adjusted death rates were calculated for all neoplasms and for selected sites, by sex, in the years 1966 to 1980. Stomach cancer was the commonest cause of cancer death in San Marino and its age-adjusted death rate was the highest in the world. A sharp increase was also observed for respiratory tract and colorectal cancers in recent years.

The use of interferon functional assays in the laboratory monitoring of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving interferon.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving recombinant leukocyte alpha interferon therapy were monitored using a series of assays to evaluate various components of the interferon system. Pretherapy serum interferon concentrations were not elevated significantly in these patients, although elevated levels were recorded after initiation of therapy. Both before and after interferon treatment, the peripheral blood leukocytes of the patients were shown to be capable of producing both gamma and alpha interferon when appropriately stimulated in vitro. The patients' peripheral blood leukocytes also responded to interferon therapy, with 85% resisting viral replication after treatment was initiated. However, interferon did not appear to be of therapeutic value in these patients.