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Background: We evaluated shedding of epidermal growth factor type II receptor (Her2/neu) extracellular domain (ECD) in primary uterine serous carcinoma (USC) cell lines and in the serum of USC patients and its biological effects in experiments of trastuzumab-induced cytotoxicity in vitro.Methods: Her2/neu expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time PCR and flow cytometry, while c-erbB2 gene amplification was assessed using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). Her2/neu ECD levels in the supernatants of USC cell lines and in the serum of 38 USC patients and 19 controls were tested using ELISA. The biologic effect of Her2/neu ECD on trastuzumab-induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) was evaluated in 5-h chromium-release assays.Results: Five out of ten USC cell lines overexpressed Her2/neu by IHC and showed amplification of the c-erbB2 gene. High levels of Her2/neu ECD were found in supernatants of all FISH-positive tumours. In contrast, FISH-negative USC was negative for Her2/neu ECD shedding. Serum Her2/neu ECD levels in patients harbouring 3+Her2/neu tumours were higher than those found in healthy women (P=0.02) or USC patients with 2+ or 1+/negative Her2/neu expression (P=0.02). In cytotoxicity experiments, trastuzumab-mediated ADCC was significantly decreased by the addition of Her2/neu ECD-containing supernatants (P=0.01).Conclusion: FISH-positive c-erbB2 USC cell lines shed high levels of Her2/neu ECD. High levels of Her2/neu ECD in USC patients may reduce trastuzumab-mediated ADCC in vitro and potentially neutralise its therapeutic effect in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explain the role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces uvarum strains (formerly Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum) in wine fermentation. Methods and Results: Indigenous Saccharomyces spp. yeasts were isolated from Amarone wine (Italy) and analysed. Genotypes were correlated to phenotypes: Melibiose− and Melibiose+ strains displayed a karyotype characterized by three and two bands between 225 and 365 kb, respectively. Two strains were identified by karyotype analysis (one as S. cerevisiae and the other as S. uvarum). The technological characterization of these two strains was conducted by microvinifications of Amarone wine. Wines differed by the contents of ethanol, residual sugars, acetic acid, glycerol, total polysaccharides, ethyl acetate, 2-phenylethanol and anthocyanins. Esterase and β-glucosidase activities were assayed on whole cells during fermentation at 13° and 20°C. Saccharomyces uvarum displayed higher esterase activity at 13°C, while S. cerevisiae displayed higher β-glucosidase activity at both temperatures. Conclusions: The strains differed by important technological and qualitative traits affecting the fermentation kinetics and important aroma components of the wine. Significance and Impact of the Study: The contribution of indigenous strains of S. cerevisiae and S. uvarum to wine fermentation was ascertained under specific winemaking conditions. The use of these strains as starters in a winemaking process could differently modulate the wine sensory characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the causes and epidemiology for postoperative adhesions in Italy. Postoperative adhesions usually occur to patients who went through abdominal or pelvic surgery, and laparatomy. Patients experience chronic abdomino-pelvic pain, secondary fertility and an increase risk in bowel obstruction. However, the postoperative adhesion can be prevented by using a minimal invasive surgery technique, by using tissue dehydration during surgery, and the use of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

In May 1999, a cluster of cases of African tick-bite fever was detected in six Italian tourists who had returned from South Africa. All of the patients had moderate fever and cutaneous eschars. Regional lymphangitis was observed in three of the patients and skin rash in two. By comparing the number of eschars with the number of detectable bite sites it was suggested that at least two-thirds of the biting vectors were capable of transmitting Rickettsia africae. The clinical course of disease was mild in all cases, and all but one of the patients recovered spontaneously before antibiotic treatment was initiated. The diagnosis of African tick-bite fever was confirmed serologically using both microimmunofluorescence and Western blot tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From one plant of soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) with only two one-seeded pods, found in an F population maintained by single-seed descent procedure, two fully fertile plants were obtained which, in turn, produced two progeny segregating for male sterility. Segregation ratios, observed on progeny from fertile plants in three successive generations, indicated that the male-sterility trait was under the control of a single recessive gene. Cytological observations made on malesterile, female-fertile plants showed the occurrence of a complete and properly timed cytokinesis with the formation of tetrad cells whose size was very variable, one of which sometimes had two nuclei. During pollen maturation binucleate microspores and grains with reduced size (micropollens) were frequently observed. Massive pollen degeneration occurred at a rather later stage. Structural evidence points to a normally functioning tapetum. On the basis of these cytological observations we conclude that the abnormalities observed in the mutant we studied have to be considered to be different from those caused by any other known ms allele. Tests of allelism with other sources of male sterility are in progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]