Y chromosomal haplogroup J as a signature of the post-neolithic colonization of Europe.

In order to attain a finer reconstruction of the peopling of southern and central-eastern Europe from the Levant, we determined the frequencies of eight lineages internal to the Y chromosomal haplogroup J, defined by biallelic markers, in 22 population samples obtained with a fine-grained sampling scheme. Our results partially resolve a major multifurcation of lineages within the haplogroup. Analyses of molecular variance show that the area covered by haplogroup J dispersal is characterized by a significant degree of molecular radiation for unique event polymorphisms within the haplogroup, with a higher incidence of the most derived sub-haplogroups on the northern Mediterranean coast, from Turkey westward; here, J diversity is not simply a subset of that present in the area in which this haplogroup first originated. Dating estimates, based on simple tandem repeat loci (STR) diversity within each lineage, confirmed the presence of a major population structuring at the time of spread of haplogroup J in Europe and a punctuation in the peopling of this continent in the post-Neolithic, compatible with the expansion of the Greek world. We also present here, for the first time, a novel method for comparative dating of lineages, free of assumptions of STR mutation rates.

Clinal patterns of human Y chromosomal diversity in continental Italy and Greece are dominated by drift and founder effects.

We explored the spatial distribution of human Y chromosomal diversity on a microgeographic scale, by typing 30 population samples from closely spaced locations in Italy and Greece for 9 haplogroups and their internal microsatellite variation. We confirm a significant difference in the composition of the Y chromosomal gene pools of the two countries. However, within each country, heterogeneity is not organized along the lines of clinal variation deduced from studies on larger spatial scales. Microsatellite data indicate that local increases of haplogroup frequencies can be often explained by a limited number of founders. We conclude that local founder or drift effects are the main determinants in shaping the microgeographic Y chromosomal diversity.

Detection of antibodies to human herpesvirus 8 in Italian children: evidence for horizontal transmission.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV), has been shown to be the causative agent for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and to be more prevalent in populations or risk groups at increased risk for KS. HHV-8 infection is rare in children from the US and the UK, but has been reported in African children. In this study we examine HHV-8 infection in children from Italy, a country with an elevated prevalence of HHV-8 in adults and high socio-economic conditions.

Intraocular dapiprazole for the reversal of mydriasis after extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation. Part I: Dose-response correlation.

Dapiprazole, an alpha-blocking miotic drug, was used intracamerally at the end of extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The double-blind study included 120 patients divided into four groups of 30 eyes; the groups received balanced salt solution, 0.125%, 0.25%, or 0.5% intraocular dapiprazole after IOL implantation and before suturing. Pupillary diameter recordings were performed immediately before and a few minutes after drug injection and two, four, and eight hours after surgery. The results showed a significant reversal of mydriasis by intraocular dapiprazole, especially with the 0.25% and 0.5% concentrations which did not differ significantly in effectiveness and safety.

Platelet alpha-granule release in chronic myeloproliferative disorders with thrombocytosis.

Platelet alpha-granule release in 22 patients affected by chronic myeloproliferative disorders with thrombocytosis and seven subjects with thrombocytosis secondary to splenectomy were studied. We found elevated beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma levels in all patients. Intraplatelet content of BTG and PF4 was decreased in patients with idiopathic thrombocythaemia (IT) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF). The BTG and PF4 results were also expressed as the ratio plasma BTG and PF4: whole blood platelet count. In patients with IT, BTG: whole blood platelet count ratio was low, conversely, the same ratio was high in patients with IMF. In conclusion, our results suggest the presence of an abnormal, BTG-deficient clone in IT and a peripheral platelet activation in IMF.

Platelet alpha granule release in diabetes mellitus.

We studied beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma levels in 90 diabetic subjects; we found high plasma values of these proteins only in patients with complications. To provide further indications regarding the role of platelet activation in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy, we also tested mobilizable platelet content of BTG and PF4; we found these similar to those of normal subjects.