Extra-axial cranial nerve enhancement: a pattern-based approach.

Cranial nerve enhancement is a common and challenging MRI finding that requires a meticulous and systematic evaluation to identify the correct diagnosis. Literature mainly describes the various pathologies with the associated clinic-radiological characteristics, while the radiologist often needs a reverse approach that starts from the radiological findings to reach the diagnosis. Therefore, our aim is to provide a new and practical pattern-based approach to cranial nerve enhancement, which starts from the radiological findings and follows pattern-driven pipelines to navigate through multiple differential diagnoses, guiding the radiologist to reach the proper diagnosis. Firstly, we reviewed the literature and identified four patterns to categorize the main pathologies presenting with cranial nerve enhancement: unilateral linear pattern, bilateral linear pattern, unilateral thickened pattern, and bilateral thickened pattern. For each pattern, we describe the underlying pathogenic origin, and the main radiological features are displayed through high-quality MRI images and illustrative panels. A suggested MRI protocol for studying cranial nerve enhancement is also provided. In conclusion, our approach for cranial nerve enhancement aims to be an easy tool immediately applicable to clinical practice for converting challenging findings into specific pathological patterns.

New Insights into the Identification of Metabolites and Cytokines Predictive of Outcome for Patients with Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection Showed Similarity with Cancer.

SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by several clinical manifestations, ranging from the absence of symptoms to severe forms that necessitate intensive care treatment. It is known that the patients with the highest rate of mortality develop increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, called the "cytokine storm", which is similar to inflammatory processes that occur in cancer. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 infection induces modifications in host metabolism leading to metabolic reprogramming, which is closely linked to metabolic changes in cancer. A better understanding of the correlation between perturbed metabolism and inflammatory responses is necessary. We evaluated untargeted plasma metabolomics and cytokine profiling via 1H-NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance) and multiplex Luminex assay, respectively, in a training set of a limited number of patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection classified on the basis of their outcome. Univariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves related to hospitalization time showed that lower levels of several metabolites and cytokines/growth factors, correlated with a good outcome in these patients and these data were confirmed in a validation set of patients with similar characteristics. However, after the multivariate analysis, only the growth factor HGF, lactate and phenylalanine retained a significant prediction of survival. Finally, the combined analysis of lactate and phenylalanine levels correctly predicted the outcome of 83.3% of patients in both the training and the validation set. We highlighted that the cytokines and metabolites involved in COVID-19 patients' poor outcomes are similar to those responsible for cancer development and progression, suggesting the possibility of targeting them by repurposing anticancer drugs as a therapeutic strategy against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Valosin-Containing Protein (VCP)/p97: A Prognostic Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Cancer.

Valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97, a member of the AAA+ ATPase family, is a molecular chaperone recruited to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane by binding to membrane adapters (nuclear protein localization protein 4 (NPL4), p47 and ubiquitin regulatory X (UBX) domain-containing protein 1 (UBXD1)), where it is involved in ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD). However, VCP/p97 interacts with many cofactors to participate in different cellular processes that are critical for cancer cell survival and aggressiveness. Indeed, VCP/p97 is reported to be overexpressed in many cancer types and is considered a potential cancer biomarker and therapeutic target. This review summarizes the role of VCP/p97 in different cancers and the advances in the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors with therapeutic potential, focusing on the challenges associated with cancer-related VCP mutations in the mechanisms of resistance to inhibitors.

Integrated Analysis to Study the Relationship between Tumor-Associated Selenoproteins: Focus on Prostate Cancer.

Selenoproteins are proteins that contain selenium within selenocysteine residues. To date, twenty-five mammalian selenoproteins have been identified; however, the functions of nearly half of these selenoproteins are unknown. Although alterations in selenoprotein expression and function have been suggested to play a role in cancer development and progression, few detailed studies have been carried out in this field. Network analyses and data mining of publicly available datasets on gene expression levels in different cancers, and the correlations with patient outcome, represent important tools to study the correlation between selenoproteins and other proteins present in the human interactome, and to determine whether altered selenoprotein expression is cancer type-specific, and/or correlated with cancer patient prognosis. Therefore, in the present study, we used bioinformatics approaches to (i) build up the network of interactions between twenty-five selenoproteins and identify the most inter-correlated proteins/genes, which are named HUB nodes; and (ii) analyze the correlation between selenoprotein gene expression and patient outcome in ten solid tumors. Then, considering the need to confirm by experimental approaches the correlations suggested by the bioinformatics analyses, we decided to evaluate the gene expression levels of the twenty-five selenoproteins and six HUB nodes in androgen receptor-positive (22RV1 and LNCaP) and androgen receptor-negative (DU145 and PC3) cell lines, compared to human nontransformed, and differentiated, prostate epithelial cells (EPN) by RT-qPCR analysis. This analysis confirmed that the combined evaluation of some selenoproteins and HUB nodes could have prognostic value and may improve patient outcome predictions.

Interferon-alpha 2 but not Interferon-gamma serum levels are associated with intramuscular fat in obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Intramuscular triglycerides (IMTGs) represent an important energy supply and a dynamic fat-storage depot that can expand during periods of elevated lipid availability and a fatty acid source. Ultrasonography (US) of human skeletal muscles is a practical and reproducible method to assess both IMTG presence and entity. Although a crosstalk between cytokines in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue has been suggested in obesity, condition leading to hepatic steatosis (HS) or better defined as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cancer, there are still questions to be answered about the role of interferons (IFNs), alpha as well as gamma, and IMTG in obesity. We aimed at discovering any correlation between IFNs and IMTG. METHODS: We analysed anthropometric data, metabolic parameters and imaging features of a population of 80 obese subjects with low-prevalence of co-morbidities but HS in relation to IFNs serum levels. A population of 38 healthy subjects (21 males) served as controls. The levels of serum IFNs were detected by a magnetic bead-based multiplex immunoassays. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of IFN-alpha 2 were increased, while serum levels of IFN-gamma were decreased confronted with those of controls; the severity of IMTG, revealed at US as Heckmatt scores, was inversely predicted by IFN-alpha 2 serum concentrations; IMTG scores were not predicted by serum levels of IFN-gamma; IMTG scores were predicted by HS severity, ascertained at US; HS severity was predicted by visceral adipose tissue, assessed by US, but the latter was not instrumental to IMTG. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study has added some pieces of observation about the cytokine network regulating the interplay between IMTG and obesity in obese patients with HS.

Effects of α-zearalenol on the metabolome of two breast cancer cell lines by 1H-NMR approach.

INTRODUCTION: Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most widely distributed toxins that contaminates many crops and foods. Its major metabolites are α-Zearalenol (α-zol) and ß-Zearalenol. Previous studies showed that ZEN and α-zol have estrogenic properties and are able to induce growth promoting effect in breast tissues. OBJECTIVIES: Considering that tumorigenesis is dependent on the reprogramming of cellular metabolism and that the evaluation of the cellular metabolome is useful to understand the metabolic changes that can occur during the cancer development and progression or after treatments, aim of our work is to study, for the first time, the effects of α-zol on the metabolomic profile of an estrogen positive breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, and of an estrogen negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB231. METHODS: Firstly, we tested the effects of α-zol on the cell viability after 24, 48 and 72 h of treatments with 10-10, 10-8 and 10-6 M concentrations on breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cell lines in comparison to human non-cancerous breast MCF10A cell line. Then, we evaluated cell cycle progression, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the metabolomic profiling by 1H-NMR approach on MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 before and after 72 h treatments. Principal component analysis was used to compare the obtained spectra. RESULTS: α-zol is resulted able to induce: (i) an increase of the cell viability on MCF-7 cells mainly after 72 h treatment, (ii) a slight decrease of the cell viability on MDA-MB231 cells, and (iii) an increase of cells in S phase of the cell cycle and of ROS only in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the evaluation of metabolomics profile evidenced that after treatment with α-zol the levels of some metabolites increased in MCF-7 cells whereas decreased slightly in MDA-MB231 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that α-zol was able to increase the protein biosynthesis as well as the lipid metabolism in MCF-7 cells, and, hence, to induce an estrogen positive breast cancer progression.

Evaluating the Effects of an Organic Extract from the Mediterranean Sponge Geodia cydonium on Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Marine sponges are an excellent source of bioactive secondary metabolites for pharmacological applications. In the present study, we evaluated the chemistry, cytotoxicity and metabolomics of an organic extract from the Mediterranean marine sponge Geodia cydonium, collected in coastal waters of the Gulf of Naples. We identified an active fraction able to block proliferation of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB231, and MDA-MB468 and to induce cellular apoptosis, whereas it was inactive on normal breast cells (MCF-10A). Metabolomic studies showed that this active fraction was able to interfere with amino acid metabolism, as well as to modulate glycolysis and glycosphingolipid metabolic pathways. In addition, the evaluation of the cytokinome profile on the polar fractions of three treated breast cancer cell lines (compared to untreated cells) demonstrated that this fraction induced a slight anti-inflammatory effect. Finally, the chemical entities present in this fraction were analyzed by liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry combined with molecular networking.

Serum Cytokinome Profile Evaluation: A Tool to Define New Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Cancer Using Multiplexed Bead-Based Immunoassays.

In recent years, many researchers are focusing their attention on the link between inflammation and cancer. The inflammation is involved in the tumor development and suppression, by stimulating the immune response. In particular, the transition from chronic inflammation to cancer produces angiogenic and growth factors able to repair the tissue and to promote cancer cell survival, implantation, and growth. In this contest, the cytokines contribute to the development of these processes becoming active before and during the inflammatory process and playing an important function at the various disease levels. Thus, these proteins can represent specific markers of tumor development and progression. Therefore the "cytokinome" term is used to indicate the evaluation of cytokine pattern by using an "omics" approach. Newly, specific protein chips of considerable and improved sensitivity are being developed to determine simultaneously several and different cytokines. This can be achieved by a multiplex technology that, through the use of small amounts of serum or other fluids, is used to determine the presence and the levels of underrepresented cytokines. Since this method is an accurate, sensitive, and reproducible cytokine assay, it is already used in many different studies. Thus, this review focuses on the more latest aspects related to cytokinome profile evaluation in different cancers.

Differential Response of Two Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines to the Phenolic Extract from Flaxseed Oil.

Many studies have evidenced that the phenolic components from flaxseed (FS) oil have potential health benefits. The effect of the phenolic extract from FS oil has been evaluated on two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and MDA-MB231, and on the human non-cancerous breast cell line, MCF10A, by SRB assay, cellular death, cell cycle, cell signaling, lipid peroxidation and expression of some key genes. We have evidenced that the extract shows anti-proliferative activity on MCF7 cells by inducing cellular apoptosis, increase of the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase and of lipid peroxidation, activation of the H2AX signaling pathway, and upregulation of a six gene signature. On the other hand, on the MDA-MB2131 cells we verified only an anti-proliferative activity, a weak lipid peroxidation, the activation of the PI3K signaling pathway and an up-regulation of four genes. Overall these data suggest that the extract has both cytotoxic and pro-oxidant effects only on MCF7 cells, and can act as a metabolic probe, inducing differences in the gene expression. For this purpose, we have performed an interactomic analysis, highlighting the existing associations. From this approach, we show that the phenotypic difference between the two cell lines can be explained through their differential response to the phenolic extract.

Potential Anticancer Effects of Polyphenols from Chestnut Shell Extracts: Modulation of Cell Growth, and Cytokinomic and Metabolomic Profiles.

In this study, a hydroalcoholic chestnut shell extract was characterized and tested on six different human cell lines. Gallic, ellagic, and syringic acids were the most abundant non-condensed compounds in the chestnut extract, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Tannins were mainly represented by condensed monomeric units of epigallocatechin and catechin/epicatechin. After 48 h of treatment, only the human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells reached an inhibition corresponding to IC50 with an increase of apoptosis and mitochondrial depolarization. The cytokinome evaluation before and after treatment revealed that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α decreased after the treatment, suggesting a potential anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effect of this extract. Moreover, the metabolome evaluation by ¹H-NMR evidenced that the polyphenols extracted from chestnut shell (PECS) treatment affected the levels of some amino acids and other metabolites. Overall, these data highlight the effects of biomolecules on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and mitochondrial depolarization, and on cytokinomics and metabolomics profiles.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Methanol Extract from the Marine Sponge Geodia cydonium on the Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cell Line.

Many research groups are working to find new possible anti-inflammatory molecules, and marine sponges represent a rich source of biologically active compounds with pharmacological applications. In the present study, we tested different concentrations of the methanol extract from the marine sponge, Geodia cydonium, on normal human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Our results show that this extract has no cytotoxic effects on both cell lines whereas it induces a decrease in levels of VEGF and five proinflammatory cytokines (CCL2, CXCL8, CXCL10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) only in MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, thereby indicating an anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, interactomic analysis suggests that all six cytokines are involved in a network and are connected with some HUB nodes such as NF-kB subunits and ESR1 (estrogen receptor 1). We also report a decrease in the expression of two NFKB1 and c-Rel subunits by RT-qPCR experiments only in MCF-7 cells after extract treatment, confirming NF-kB inactivation. These data highlight the potential of G. cydonium for future drug discovery against major diseases, such as breast cancer.

Is serum Interleukin-17 associated with early atherosclerosis in obese patients?

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process of the vessel walls, and CD4+ T-cells are peculiar to both human and murine atherosclerotic lesions. There is a recent line of research favoring hypothetic allergic mechanisms in the genesis of atherosclerosis and, consequently, coronary artery disease (CAD), among which Interleukin (IL)-17 appears to be a key cytokine regulating local tissue inflammation. The objective was to add a piece of information on the role of IL-17 in the genesis of atherosclerosis. Eighty obese patients with normal liver enzyme levels but presenting with ultrasonographic evidence of NAFLD formed the population of this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measures, data on excess adiposity, metabolic profile, serum concentrations of IL-17, eotaxin-3, IL-8, and CCL4/MIP1ß, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, ferritin, TNF-α, as well carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of atherosclerosis, and the main risk factors for CAD, such as blood pressure and smoking status, but also less determinant ones such as degree of NAFLD severity, Intramuscular Triglyceride storage and Resting Metabolic Rate were evaluated. Serum concentrations of Il-17 were detected as related to those of inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α. Furthermore, circulating levels of IL-17 were linked to those mirroring allergic process, IL-8, CCL4/MIP1ß and eotaxin. Early atherosclerosis, evidenced as increased IMT, was not associated with circulating IL-17 levels. At multiple regression,IMT was predicted, other than by age, by the amount of the visceral adiposity, expressed as visceral adipose tissue at ultrasonography, and by serum eotaxin. In conclusion, a strong relationship was found between the IL-17-related chemokine eotaxin and IMT. The association found between the amount of visceral fat and circulating levels of eotaxin on the one hand, and IMT on the other, could reinforce the hypothesis that IL-17, released by the visceral adipose tissue, induces eotaxin secretion via the smooth muscle cells present in the atheromatosus vessels.

Synergistic antitumor effect of Doxorubicin and tacrolimus (FK506) on hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and shows a complex clinical course, poor response to pharmacological treatment, and a severe prognosis. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether tacrolimus (FK506) has synergistic antitumor effects with doxorubicin on two human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, Huh7 and HepG2. Cell viability was analyzed by Sulforhodamine B assay and synergic effect was evaluated by the software CalcuSyn. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin V and Dead Cell assay. Apoptosis-related protein PARP-1 cleaved and autophagy-related protein expressions (Beclin-1 and LC3B) were measured by western blotting analysis. Cytokines concentration in cellular supernatants after treatments was studied by Bio-Plex assay. Interestingly the formulation with doxorubicin and tacrolimus induced higher cytotoxicity level on tumor cells than single treatment. Moreover, our results showed that the mechanisms involved were (i) a strong cell apoptosis induction, (ii) contemporaneous decrease of autophagy activation, understood as prosurvival process, and (iii) downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, future studies could relate to the doxorubicin/tacrolimus combination effects in mice models bearing HCC in order to see if this formulation could be useful in HCC treatment.

Potential anti-inflammatory effects of the hydrophilic fraction of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil on breast cancer cell lines.

In this work, we characterized conjugated linolenic acids (e.g., punicic acid) as the major components of the hydrophilic fraction (80% aqueous methanol extract) from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil (PSO) and evaluated their anti-inflammatory potential on some human colon (HT29 and HCT116), liver (HepG2 and Huh7), breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and prostate (DU145) cancer lines. Our results demonstrated that punicic acid and its congeners induce a significant decrease of cell viability for two breast cell lines with a related increase of the cell cycle G0/G1 phase respect to untreated cells. Moreover, the evaluation of a great panel of cytokines expressed by MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells showed that the levels of VEGF and nine pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1ß, MCP-1 and TNF-α) decreased in a dose dependent way with increasing amounts of the hydrophilic extracts of PSO, supporting the evidence of an anti-inflammatory effect. Taken together, the data herein suggest a potential synergistic cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant role of the polar compounds from PSO.

Dissimilar cytokine patterns in different human liver and colon cancer cell lines.

An accurate and simultaneous estimate of cellular levels of a large cytokine number is very useful to obtain information about an organ dysfunction leading to cancer because through the understanding of the evolution of cytokine patterns we can recognize and predict the disease progression. Cancer cell lines are commonly used to study the cancer microenvironment, to analyze their chemosensitivity and carcinogenesis as well as to test in vitro the effect of molecules, such as drugs or anti-oxidants, on the inflammation status and its progression. We noted that various cell lines commonly used as a model for studies on liver and colon cancer possess different patterns of cytokines. This aspect may generate data not comparable in laboratories using different cell lines; thus, to investigate the origin of these abnormalities we compared the cell lines HepG2 and Huh7, and HT-29 and HCT-116, for liver and colon cancer, respectively. In this context we have evaluated and compared the levels of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in the supernatants of these cellular lines. Our aim was to identify what cytokines were significantly different correlating similarities and differences to the specific inflammation status of each cellular model of cancer.

Regulatory T cells, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CXCL10, CXCL11, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as surrogate markers of host immunity in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a phenotype that could be informative and prognostic in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) peripheral blood was evaluated for TH1, TH2, regulatory T cells (Tregs), natural killer (NK) and NKT cells and for cytokines/chemokines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood from 77 patients with RCC and 40 healthy controls was evaluated by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD25, FoxP3, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD152, CD184, CD279, CD3, CD16, CD56, CD161, CD158a, CD4, CD26, CD30, CD183 and CD184. A concomitant evaluation of 38 molecules was conducted in patients' serum using a multiplex biometric ELISA-based immunoassay. RESULTS: The number of NK cells CD3⁻/CD16⁺, CD3⁻/CD16⁺/CD161⁺ (NK) and CD3⁻/CD16⁺/CD161⁺/CD158a⁺ (NK- Kir 2+) was greater in the patients with RCC (P < 0.05); and the number of Treg cells CD4⁺/CD25(high+)/FOXP3⁺ and the subset CD4⁺/CD25(high+)/FOXP3⁺/CD45RA⁺ (naïve) and CD45R0⁺(memory) cells, were greater in the patients with RCC (P < 0.001). An increase in the following was observed in the serum of patients with RCC compared with healthy controls: interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, G-CSF, CXCL10, CXCL11, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). According to Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), CXCL10, IL-6, IL-8, epidermal growth factor (EGF), HGF and VEGF were associated with a network that controls cellular movement, tissue development and cellular growth. Kaplan-Meier analysis for disease-free survival showed that high numbers of CD4⁺/CD25(high+)/FOXP3⁺/CD45RA⁺ (Treg naïve) and low numbers of CD3⁻/CD16⁺/CD161⁺/CD158a⁺ (NK-Kir+) cells predict short disease-free survival in patients with RCC. CONCLUSION: Concomitant evaluation of Treg (CD4⁺/CD25(high+)/FOXP3⁺ and CD4⁺/CD25(high+)/FOXP3⁺/CD45RA⁺) and of six soluble factors (IL-6, IL-8 ,VEGF, CXCL10, CXCL11, EGF, HGF) might be a surrogate marker of host immunity in patients with RCC.

Evaluation of selenite effects on selenoproteins and cytokinome in human hepatoma cell lines.

The need to explore new alternative therapeutic strategies and chemoprevention methods for hepatocellular carcinoma is growing significantly. Selenium is a trace element that plays a critical role in physiological processes, and is used in cancer chemoprevention. The aim of this work was to test in vitro the effect of sodium selenite on the human hepatoma cell lines, HepG2 and Huh7, to assess its effect on the expression of GPX1, SELK and SELENBP1 and also to evaluate its action on inflammation determinants such as cytokines. Our results show that: (i) the increase observed for the GPX1 and SELK expression is correlated with an increase in the sodium selenite concentration, also evidencing an inverse association between the levels of these two proteins and SELENBP1; (ii) the selenium concentrations evaluated in protein extracts increase in proportional way with the selenite concentrations used in the treatment, suggesting that other selenoproteins can also be modulated and should be evaluated in further studies, and (iii) some cytokines, VEGF and three pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e., IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17, decreased with an increasing selenite concentration. Finally, interactomic studies show that GPX1 and SELK, and the four pro-inflammatory cytokines are functionally correlated evidencing a putative anti-inflammatory role for the selenite.

Ensuring efficient development of personalized medicine by addressing regulatory needs: What role can research infrastructures play?

Personalized Medicine is a novel medical practice that uses an individual's genetic profile to guide decisions made regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Knowledge of a patient's genetic profile is crucial to support doctors in selecting the proper therapy and administer it using the correct dose or regimen. Personalized Medicine is a great opportunity to turn the "one size fits all" approach to diagnostics, therapy, and prevention, into an individualized approach. In this paper we analyze the most recent achievements and regulatory challenges in Personalized Medicine and the role that research infrastructures can play in advancing its development.

Structural and functional studies of the human selenium binding protein-1 and its involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The reduced expression of human selenium binding protein-1 (SELENBP1) has been reported for some human cancers. In this work we have estimated a reduced SELENBP1 expression by immunohistochemistry for the first time also in liver tissues of patients with hepatocarcinoma (HCC). Since the structure-function relationships of SELENBP1 are unknown, we have performed computational and experimental studies to have insight on the structural features of this protein focusing our attention on the properties of cysteines to assess their ability to interact with selenium. We have performed CD studies on the purified protein, modeled its three-dimensional structure, studied the energetic stability of the protein by molecular dynamics simulations, and titrated the cysteines by DTNB (5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid). The secondary structure content evaluated by CD has been found similar to that of 3D model. Our studies demonstrate that (i) SELENBP1 is an alpha-beta protein with some loop regions characterized by the presence of intrinsically unordered segments, (ii) only one cysteine (Cys57) is enough exposed to solvent, located on a loop and surrounded by charged and hydrophobic residues, and can be the cysteine able to bind the selenium. Furthermore, during the molecular dynamics simulation at neutral pH the loop containing Cys57 opens and exposes this residue to solvent, confirming that it is the best candidate to bind the selenium. Experimentally we found that only one cysteine is titratable by DTNB. This supports the hypothesis that Cys57 is a residue functionally important and this may open new pharmacological perspectives.

Stroke prediction after transient ischemic attacks in patients admitted to a stroke unit.

BACKGROUND: Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) bear a presumed high risk of early recurrence of stroke. Data in the literature, however, are inconsistent, as recurrence rates range from 9.5 to 20%, at 90 days. AIMS: The study was designed to determine the risk of stroke after TIA. METHODS: 94 consecutive patients referred to a Stroke Unit for TIA or minor stroke, within 24 h of symptom onset, were recruited. Eleven of the 94 patients (12%, 95% CI: 7-20%) had a relapse within 90 days. The relapse consisted of a TIA for 9 patients (10%, 95% CI: 5-17%), or of a stroke for 2 subjects (1%, 95% CI: 0-8%). More than a quarter of the relapses occurred within 1 week from the first TIA. ABCD(2), ABCD(2)-I and ABCD-E+ scores were similar among people with or without relapse. CONCLUSIONS: The data seem to confirm previous reports on the relatively low relapse rate for stroke, when TIA patients are promptly assisted in dedicated structures. The findings stress the potential benefit of early intervention in subjects with TIA.