PHOX2A and PHOX2B genes are highly co-expressed in human neuroblastoma.

The detection of PHOX2B mutations in a small proportion of patients affected with either familial or sporadic neuroblastoma (NB), has arisen interest on the possible pathogenic role of this gene in the disease determination. In this light, we have carried out a quantitative expression analysis of PHOX2B and its paralogue PHOX2A on a panel of NB cell lines and NB tumour samples to identify a possible differential expression between NB cells and their normal counterpart (adrenal medulla cells). Our results revealed that both PHOX2A and PHOX2B are over-expressed in tumour samples and NB cell lines. Particularly, the expression levels of the two genes in NB cell lines show a highly significant correlation, suggesting their possible synergistic role or a coordinated expression regulation. Furthermore, PHOX2 gene over-expression in NB tumours and cell lines suggests these genes may be widely involved in NB development through either a direct mechanism of up-regulation or a failure in maintaining proper transcript levels after embryonic development.

Parenteral magnesium sulphate restores regional contractile function in the post-ischaemic canine myocardium.

The effects of parenteral magnesium sulphate (MS) on the regional contractile response of stunned myocardium was examined in 45 pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs. The hearts were instrumented to measure left ventricular pressure (LVP), coronary flow velocity (CFV), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and regional contractile function (percent segment shortening, %S; and end-diastolic segment length, EDL). Stunning was produced by a 10 min occlusion of the first descending branch of the left circumflex coronary artery. Immediately upon release of the occlusion, either magnesium sulphate or a dextrose vehicle (D5W, n = 15) was infused. Magnesium sulphate was given intravenously (IV-MS, 100 mg/kg, n = 15) or intracoronarily (IC-MS, 1.5 mg/kg, n = 15). Coronary occlusion was consistently associated with significant decreases in coronary flow velocity and %S in all groups. Following IV-MS, heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure decreased significantly from preocclusion values, whereas end-diastolic segment length tended to increase and left ventricular pressure remained constant. IC-MS did not produce any changes in heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, end- diastolic segment length or left ventricular pressure. At the end of the magnesium sulphate infusion (IV or IC), and for the next 60 min, %S returned to or above pre-occlusion values (P < 0.05 vs. D5W). Dyskinesia and hypokinesia were abolished in the magnesium sulphate groups, but were still present in the D5W group at the end of the 60 min period (P < 0.05 vs. pre-occlusion). We conclude that parenteral magnesium sulphate significantly improves regional contractile function in the stunned myocardium. Data from the IC-MS group would suggest a direct myocardial effect, independent of changes in preload, afterload, heart rate or flow.

Modelling and estimation of physical parameters in a sludge drying system.

In this paper is presented the study of a Sludge Drying System used to kill pathogenic organisms living in sludge. The system is modeled and the physical parameters thermal capacity, thermal resistance and thermal time constant are estimated using conventional estimation methods.

Aberrant expression of the neuronal-specific protein DCDC2 promotes malignant phenotypes and is associated with prostate cancer progression.

By integrating gene profiling and immunohistochemical data with functional experiments in cell lines in this study we show for the first time that doublecortin (DCX) domain containing 2 (DCDC2), a protein belonging to the DCX family and involved in neuronal cell migration, is aberrantly expressed in prostate tumors whereas absent in normal prostate. Furthermore, in patients treated with radical prostatectomy, high levels of DCDC2 RNA were significantly associated with increased biochemical relapse (LogRank Mantel-Cox=0.012). Mechanistically, we found that the ETS transcription factor ESE3/EHF, which is expressed in normal prostate and frequently lost in prostate tumors, maintained DCDC2 repressed by binding to a novel identified ETS binding site in the gene promoter. Consistently, in prostate tumors and in cellular models of gain and loss of ESE3/EHF, the expression of DCDC2 and ESE3/EHF were inversely correlated. In prostate cancer cells, DCDC2 colocalized with microtubules and promoted cell migration and resistance to the microtubule-targeting drug taxol. Collectively, this study establishes DCDC2 as a novel ESE3/EHF oncogenic target in prostate cancer. These findings may be relevant for the clinical management of prostate cancer as DCDC2 may signal tumors more prone to relapse and resistant to taxol treatment.

Nefrectomía radical laparoscópica: nuestra experiencia en 150 pacientes consecutivos / Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: our experience in 150 consecutives patients

Introducción: La cirugía es el único tratamiento que ofrece cura en cáncer renal. La nefrectomía radical laparoscópica (NR-L) constituye hoy en día el estándar terapéutico quirúrgico. Presentamos los resultados de una serie de 150 casos de NR-L, operados en forma consecutiva por un único cirujano. Material y Métodos: Entre Febrero de 1994 y Agosto del 2006,150 pacientes con diagnóstico de tumor renal fueron operados, realizándose NR-L. Los datos fueron recolectados en forma prospectiva, incluyendo: edad, sexo, indicaciones del procedimiento, tiempo operatorio, sangrado operatorio, complicaciones intra-operatorioas, tasa de conversión y complicaciones perioperatorias. Además se evaluó el análisis patológico final y se registro el seguimiento. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 60 años (rango 18-86 años), con una relación hombre/mujer 2:1. Las indicaciones para cirugía incluyeron tumor renal o hipernefroma en 137 casos, lesiones quísticas complejas en 5 casos y angiomiolipoma en 1 caso. Se realizó nefrectomía laparoscópica con asistencia manual en 83 casos (58 por ciento) y laparoscopia pura en 60 casos (42 por ciento). El tiempo promedio operatorio fue de 107 minutos (rango 40-240 minutos). El sangrado intraoperatorio promedio fue de 160 ce (rango 0-2000 ce). Hubo complicaciones intraoperatorias en 5 pacientes (3,5 por ciento) y postoperatorias en 9 pacientes (6,3 por ciento). El examen anatomopatológico demostró carcinoma renal pT1-T3cen 135 pacientes, Oncocitoma en 2 pacientes, Angiomiolipoma en 2 pacientes, Carcinoma de células transicionales en 1 paciente, Mixoliposarcoma en 1 paciente, metástasis de tumor pulmonar en 1 paciente y Pseudotumor inflamatorio en 1 caso. Se obtuvieron márgenes quirúrgicos negativos en todos los casos. El tiempo de seguimiento oncológico promedio es de 33 meses (1-138 meses). Conclusiones: La nefrectomía radical laparoscópica tiene resultados oncológicos iguales a la cirugía abierta, con todas las ventajas de la cirugía laparoscó...

Introduction: Surgery remains the only treatment with chance of cure in renal carcinoma. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (L-RN) is the surgical gold Standard. A series of 150 patients treated with L-RN is presented. Material y Methods: 150 patients were treated with L-RN between February 1994 and August 2006. Data was prospectively collected and present analysis included age, gender, surgical indication, operative time, blood loss, perioperative complications, conversion rate. Final pathology and follow-up were also registered. Results: Median age of the series was 60 years (range 18-86 y.), male/female ratio 2:1. Surgical indications included Wilms tumor in 137 cases, complex cystic lesions in 5 cases and Angyomyo-lipoma in 1 case. Laparoscopic hand assisted technique was used in 83 cases (58 percent) and pure laparoscopy en 60 cases (42 percent). Median operative time was 107 minutes (range 40-240 m.). Median blood loss was 160 ce (range 0-2000 ce). There were intraoperative complications in 5 patients (3.5 percent) 9 patients presented with postoperatory complications (6.3 percent). Final pathology reported renal carcinoma pT1-T3c in 135 patients, Oncocytoma in 2, Angyomyolipoma in 2 patients, Transicional cell carcinoma in 1 patient, Mixoliposarcoma in 1 patient, lung tumor metastases de tumor 1 patient y inflammatory Pseudotumor in 1 case. Surgical margins were reported negative in all cases. Median oncologic follow-up time was 33 months (1-138 m.). Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has the same oncological results, like open surgery, whit all the advantages of laparoscopic surgery. To day is the gold standard in TNM T1, T2 and for a few T3.