Impact of HLA-G polymorphism on the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is particularly sensitive to immune intervention. HLA-G, a non-classical HLA class I molecule with immunomodulatory properties, has been studied with regard to outcome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), in particular the 14 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region. Here we analyzed n=56 patients affected by metastatic RCC who received an allogeneic HSCT between 1998 and 2006 in Milano, Marseille, Clermont-Ferrand and Stockholm. The 14 bp polymorphism was analyzed in correlation with overall survival (OS), PFS, acute and chronic GvHD. With a median follow-up of 13 years, a trend towards better outcome was observed when homozygosity for the 14bp-del allele was present: multivariate hazard ratio was 0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23-1.13; P=0.10) and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.26-1.26; P=0.17) for OS and PFS, respectively, when 14bp-del/del was compared with 14bp-ins/X. Further exploratory analysis revealed a significant association between T/C at p3003 and improved OS (P=0.05) and PFS (P=0.006) compared with T/T. To our knowledge this is the first study on HLA-G and outcome after HSCT for a solid malignancy. After a coordinated multicenter study, we found that the more tolerogenic polymorphisms (14bp-del/del) is associated with better PFS and OS. The finding on p3003 deserves further investigation.

Case-control study on cancer risk associated to residence in the neighbourhood of a petrochemical plant.

The aim of the present study is to investigate cancer mortality and residence in the neighbourhood of the petrochemical plant located in Brindisi, South-eastern Italy. Cases were all subjects resident in Brindisi and in three neighbouring municipalities who died in the study area in 1996-1997 from lung cancer, pleural neoplasm, bladder cancer and lymphohematopoietic malignancies. Controls were subjects resident in the same area and deceased in 1996-1997 for any cause except those listed for the cases. Next of kin's of all study subjects were visited by an interviewer who collected anamnestic information. The main residence of each subject, defined as the longest held residence with exclusion of the last 10 years, was reported on a digitalized map of the study area (MapInfo). The study included 144 cases and 176 controls; response rate was 98%. Residence within 2 km from the centre of the petrochemical plant was associated with a 3 fold increase of the Odds ratios (OR) for lung cancer, which did not reach statistical significance. Living close to the petrochemical plant was associated with moderate increases of OR for bladder cancer and lymphohematopoietic neoplasms which did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion the present study has shown moderate increases in risk for lung, bladder and lymphohematopoietic neoplasms in the population resident within 2 km from the centre of the petrochemical plant in Brindisi. These figures were confirmed after adjusting for smoking habit, occupation and school level. Random misclassification may have somehow resulted in risk underestimation.

[Distribution of the incidence of pleural malignant tumors in Campania in the period 1988-1999 and 1995-1997]. / Distribuzione della incidenza dei tumori maligni della pleura in campania nei periodi 1988-1994 e 1995-1997.

From the comparative appraisal, an area is identified for the period 1995-1997, corresponding to the so-called inner zones, in which the "ex novo" emersion of consisting cluster of mesotheliomas is recorded. Such data are analyzed for a possible correlation with professional and/or extra professional causes.

High incidence of classic Kaposi's sarcoma in Mantua, Po Valley, Northern Italy (1989-1998).

The incidence of classic Kaposi's sarcoma was estimated in the province of Mantua, Po Valley, Northern Italy, yielding age-standardized rates of 2.5/100 000 men and 0.7/100 000 women (1989-98). Elevated rates in the rural zone of Viadana/Sabbioneta (5.0/100 000 men and 2.8/100 000 women) are among the highest so far reported for Italian communities.

Transgenic plants expressing a functional single-chain Fv antibody are specifically protected from virus attack.

Expression of viral genes in transgenic plants is a very effective tool for attenuating plant viral infection. Nevertheless, the lack of generality and risk issues related to the expression of viral genes in plants might limit the exploitation of this strategy. Expression in plants of antibodies against essential viral proteins could provide an alternative approach to engineer viral resistance. Recently, expression of complete or engineered antibodies has been successfully achieved in plants. The engineered single-chain Fv antibody scFv (refs 10, 11) is particularly suitable for expression in plants because of its small size and the lack of assembly requirements. Here we present evidence that constitutive expression in transgenic plants of a scFv antibody, directed against the plant icosahedral tombusvirus artichoke mottled crinkle virus, causes reduction of infection incidence and delay in symptom development.

Importance of the type of soil for the induction of micronuclei and the growth of primary roots of Vicia faba treated with the herbicides atrazine, glyphosate and maleic hydrazide.

Research was carried out on the genotoxic effects (induction of micronucleated cells in primary root tips) and toxic effects (reduction in primary root growth) in young plants of Vicia faba grown in soils with different organic matter contents and treated with the herbicides atrazine, glyphosate and maleic hydrazide. The data obtained show that the genotoxic effects are noticeably influenced by the interactions between the herbicide and the type of soil in which the Vicia faba have grown. While maleic hydrazide proved to be highly clastogenic for young plants grown in both soils, atrazine was genotoxic only in young plants grown in soil poor in organic matter. Glyphosate did not induce micronuclei under either soil condition, but induced a significant toxic effect.

Induction of micronuclei in Vicia faba root tips treated in different soils with the herbicide alachlor.

A study was made of the clastogenic effect of the herbicide alachlor using the micronucleus test on root tips of seeds of Vicia faba that had been placed in 2 soils with different characteristics. No significant increase in micronuclei was observed in the seeds planted in the soil with a high content of organic matter. In those planted in soil with a low content, an increase in micronuclei proportional to dose and exposure time was observed. HPLC analysis of the alachlor residues in the 2 soils showed that they have a different capacity for absorbing the herbicide, which would account for the different genotoxic responses observed.

Induction of micronuclei in Vicia faba root tips treated with heavy metals (cadmium and chromium) in the presence of NTA.

Soluble metal compounds (CdCl2, K2Cr2O7) significantly increase the frequency of micronucleated cells in Vicia faba root tips with a clear dose-effect relationship. The addition of NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid) does not enhance the induction of micronucleated cells. Conversely, insoluble metal compounds (CdCO3, PbCRO4) significantly enhance the frequency of micronucleated cells only in the presence of NTA. Since some genotoxic metals are diffused in the environment and are often sequestered as insoluble precipitates in water sediments and sludges, the introduction of NTA is likely to increase the risk of environmental pollution because of its ability to solubilize and make those metals reactive.