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Reports on the topic related to molecular diagnosis of bladder cancer that was discussed during a symposium. Molecular changes in bladder carcinogenesis; Genetic alterations in flat urothelial neoplasia; Features of bladder cancer.

We describe a patient with an acute ulcerated pre-septal cellulitis with subsequent spread across the face, in whom conjunctival swabs demonstrated the presence of Moraxella species. Unusually, this organism was resistant to penicillin. Clinical improvement was only achieved when treatment with co-amoxiclav was commenced on the basis of the antibiotic sensitivities demonstrated by culture of this organism. Moraxella species are rare skin pathogens but may be underestimated as they usually respond to a wide range of antibiotics; they should be considered as a cause of facial cellulitis or erysipelas which responds poorly to conventional therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The transcriptional control elements of tissue-specific genes may be exploited in the design of therapeutic constructs for use in human gene therapy. The uroplakins are a family of four proteins which form the asymmetric unit membrane of the urothelium. We have cloned the human uroplakin Ia gene and defined its genomic structure and transcriptional start site. Using quantitative RT-PCR in an extended panel of normal tissues, we have demonstrated highly urothelial-specific expression of this gene. A Dual-Luciferase assay was used to assess the transcriptional activity of a variety of promoter fragments of the human uroplakin Ia gene. A highly specific promoter fragment (consisting of 2147 bp of 5′-flanking sequence, intron 1 and the 5′ UTR) was identified which regulated urothelial-specific expression in vitro. The human uroplakin Ia promoter identified has potential use in future gene therapy strategies to restrict transgene expression to the urothelium. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]