Programmed cell death 4 nuclear loss and miR-21 or activated Akt overexpression in esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis.

The programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) tumor suppressor is down-regulated in several malignancies, and the (subcellular) expression of its protein product is modulated by both oncomiR miR-21 and protein kinase B (Akt). PDCD4 and activated Akt (phosphorylated Akt [pAkt]) expression were assessed immunohistochemically in 53 tissue samples obtained from 25 endoscopic esophageal mucosal resections performed for squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) or squamous intramucosal carcinoma (IM-SSC). In total, 33 IEN (low-grade = 15; high-grade = 15) and 20 IM-SSC specimens were considered; 50 additional tissue samples of histologically proven normal esophageal mucosa were considered as normal controls. To further validate the results achieved, miR-21 expression (as assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization) was tested in another series of 15 normal esophageal tissue samples, 15 high-grade IEN, and 15 IM-SCCs. Normal suprabasal squamous epithelial layers consistently featured strong PDCD4 nuclear immunostaining, which was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in IEN (both low-and high-grade) and in IM-SSC. Conversely, pAkt and miR-21 expression was significantly up-regulated in the whole spectrum of preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions considered. PDCD4 down-regulation, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, is a reliable biomarker of early-stage squamous cell esophageal neoplasia, providing additional information in the histological assessment of these lesions.

[Craniofrontonasal syndrome: genetic aspects and description of a clinical case]. / La sindrome craniofrontonasale: aspetti genetici e descrizione di un caso clinico.

The authors describe the case of a child with craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS) (MIM 304110), the diagnostic process performed, the identification of the main clinical features in the proband (hypertelorism, facial asimmetry, bifid nasal tip, corpus callosum hypoplasia, broad thumb, curly and wiry hair), and the comparison with known data in literature. They also describe the detection, through gene sequencing of EFNB1, of responsible mutation and its correlation with the phenotypic variants. They explain the etiophatogenetic basis of the "unusual" inheritance pattern of CFNS: X-linked disease that occurs with greater severity in heterozygous females than hemizygous males. Finally, attention is placed on the need for careful genetic counseling for patients with CFNS, with special care in familial anamnesis taking. In the studied case, the presence of abnormalities of thumbs in the proband's mother and in two of her cousins, orientates principally toward a mutation of maternal origin or to a suspected somatic and germline mosaicism by creating a recurrence risk greater than general population. Because patients with CFNS reported in the literature are few, the AA consider that the observed case may help to improve understanding of the mechanisms of gene expression responsible for the syndrome, of its peculiar phenotypic manifestations and of its frequency in the population with known and easy to assign phenotypes, and possible mosaicisms that are difficult to detect.

Tracking femtosecond laser pulses in space and time.

We show that the propagation of a femtosecond laser pulse inside a photonic structure can be directly visualized and tracked as it propagates using a time-resolved photon scanning tunneling microscope. From the time-dependent and phase-sensitive measurements, both the group velocity and the phase velocity are unambiguously and simultaneously determined. It is expected that this technique will find applications in the investigation of the local dynamic behavior of photonic crystals and integrated optical circuits.

Local phase measurements of light in a one-dimensional photonic crystal.

For the first time the local optical phase evolution in and around a small, one-dimensional photonic crystal has been visualized with a heterodyne interferometric photon scanning tunnelling microscope. The measurements show an exponential decay of the optical intensity inside the crystal, which consists of a periodic array of subwavelength air rods fabricated in a conventional ridge waveguide. In addition it is found that the introduction of the air rods has a counterintuitive effect on the phase development inside the structure. The heterodyne detection scheme allows the detection of low-intensity scattered waves. In the vicinity of the scattering air rods phase singularities are found with a topological charge of plus or minus one.

Quasi interference of perpendicularly polarized guided modes observed with a photon scanning tunneling microscope.

The simultaneous detection of TE- as well as TM-polarized light with a photon scanning tunneling microscope leads to a quasi-interference pattern of these mutually perpendicular polarized fields. This interference pattern has been observed in the optical field distribution as a function of both position and wavelength. Comparison of experimental data with simulations confirms the interference of mutually orthogonal fields. This quasi interference is caused by conversion of the linearly polarized light of both modes into elliptically polarized light by a fiber probe.

Visualizing the whispering gallery modes in a cylindrical optical microcavity.

Whispering gallery modes in cylindrical integrated optics microcavities have, for what is to our knowledge the first time, been mapped with a photon scanning tunneling microscope. Optical images were obtained with a spatial resolution of 50 nm. By combination of information on the spatial optical distributions with wavelength-dependent measurements, an unexpectedly rich variety of intracavity phenomena, such as polarization conversion and interference of copropagating and counterpropagating modes, could be directly observed. A quantitative comparison of the experimental data with computer simulations results in a comprehensive understanding of the various whispering gallery modes inside the microcavity.

Increased prevalence of antibodies to adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in polymyalgia rheumatica.

Serum antibodies to a panel of 13 viruses and to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia psittaci were tested in 17 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and in 17 age- and sex-matched controls with osteoarthritis seen in the same rheumatological clinic. Antibodies to adenovirus (ADV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were significantly more prevalent in PMR. These antibodies were titred in 26 patients with PMR, including those evaluated in the pilot study (17 women, 9 men, mean age 72.5 years), and in 26 controls. 25/26 PMR patients tested positive for antibodies to ADV vs. 12/26 controls (p = 0.0002) and the concentration was higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.01). Antibodies to RSV were present in all PMR patients and in 12/26 controls (p = 0.00005) and their concentration was higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.01). Serial determinations performed in 18 PMR patients showed that the antibody titer did not change significantly. These data suggest that a trivial infection may trigger PMR in elderly people, with ADV and RSV among the possible microorganisms involved.

Preparation of small volume, leuko and erythrocyte very poor platelet concentrates.

Recently developed automated discontinuous flow centrifuge (DFC) separators can produce leuko- and erythrocyte-poor platelet concentrates (PC). According to general experience with these machines it is difficult to obtain more than 4 X 10(11) platelets, though a second program set up by Coffe et al. appears to produce PC containing approximately 5 X 10(11) platelets suspended in a plasma volume of 390 ml. At our center we employed a new Dideco cell separator equipped with the surge pump and a technique developed for the production of small volume, RBC and WBC-very poor PC. In 60 routine procedures we obtained the following results: mean processing time 87 +/- 11 minutes; final volume of PC 136 +/- 19 ml, with a mean platelet yield of 5.21 X 10(11) platelets. WBC contamination was 1.8 X 10(8) (93% lymphocytes) and RBC were 3.1 X 10(8). Plasma volume as well as WBC and RBC contamination were reduced by recirculating PC after the 6th pass. The demand for single donor platelet concentrates (PC) is increasing progressively. Recently developed automated cell separators can produce leukocyte (WBC) and erythrocyte (RBC) poor PC. With these machines it may be difficult to obtain PC containing at least 4 X 10(11) platelets and less than 1 X 10(9) leukocytes (1, 2, 3) since donor variables such as hematocrit, precounts, buffy coat formation and initial plasma light transmission are of paramount importance for the efficiency of the program. At our center a prototype discontinuous flow centrifuge (DFC) cell separator equipped with the surge pump was studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)