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E Conti

Publications and source records attributed to E Conti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Micronutrients and ovarian cancer: a case-control study in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The role of selected micronutrients, vitamins and minerals in the aetiology of epithelial ovarian cancer was investigated using data from a case-control study conducted between 1992 and 1999 in five Italian areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cases were 1,031 patients with histologically confirmed incident epithelial ovarian cancer. Controls were 2,411 subjects admitted for acute, non-neoplastic diseases to major hospitals in the same catchment areas. Dietary habits were elicited using a validated food frequency questionnaire including 78 food groups and recipes. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed by quintiles of intake of nutrients. RESULTS: Inverse associations emerged for vitamin E (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5-0.8), beta-carotene (OR = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6-1.0), lutein/zeaxanthin (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5-0.8 for the highest vs. the lowest quintile of intake), and calcium intake (OR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6-1.0). When the combined effect of calcium and vitamin E was considered, the OR reached 0.4 (95% CI: 0.3-0.7) for subjects in the highest compared to those in the lowest intake tertile of both micronutrients. Results were consistent across strata of menopausal status, parity and family history of ovarian or breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The intake of selected micronutrients, which were positively correlated to a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, was inversely associated with ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Cloning and molecular characterization of three ubiquitin fusion degradation 1 (Ufd1) ortholog genes from Xenopus laevis, Gallus gallus and Drosophila melanogaster.

The yeast ubiquitin fusion degradation 1 (Ufd1) protein is involved in a degradation pathway for ubiquitin fused products. The human ortholog gene (UFD1-like, UFD1L) is deleted in patients affected by the DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndromes. We report the cloning of UFD1L orthologs from Drosophila melanogaster (dufd1l), Xenopus laevis and Gallus gallus. The 1,125-bp Drosophila cDNA encodes a protein of 316 amino acids, showing 60% identity with the human and murine proteins. The identity to the G. gallus, X. laevis, C. elegans and S. cerevisiae proteins is 95%, 83%, 32%, and 36%, respectively. Northern expression data in Drosophila indicate that dufd1l is expressed through embryonic, larval and pupal development, as well as in the adult fly.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport↗
PubMed2001

Coffee and alcohol intake and risk of ovarian cancer: an Italian case-control study.

The relation between coffee and alcohol intake and ovarian cancer risk was analyzed in a case-control study conducted in Italy between 1992 and 1999. Cases were 1,031 women, aged 18-79 years, with incident, histologically confirmed invasive epithelial ovarian cancer, and controls were 2,411 women, aged 17-79 years, admitted to the hospital for acute nonneoplastic non-hormone-related diseases. Coffee intake (mostly espresso and mocha) was not associated with ovarian cancer risk, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.93 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69-1.27] in drinkers of > or = 4 cups/day compared with drinkers of < 1 cup/day. No meaningful relation was observed with cappuccino (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.85-1.32 for drinkers compared with nondrinkers), decaffeinated coffee (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.96), and tea intake (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.75-1.08). Total alcohol intake was not associated with ovarian cancer risk (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.76-1.57 in drinkers of > or = 36 g/day compared with never drinkers). No relationship was found with wine (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.70-1.50 for > 39 g/day compared with never drinkers), beer, amari, grappa, and spirits. No significant heterogeneity was found for coffee or total alcohol intake across strata of age, education, parity, oral contraceptive use, family history of ovarian/breast cancer, body mass index, and calorie intake. This study, based on a large data set; provides no support for a causal association between invasive epithelial ovarian cancer risk and coffee and alcohol intake.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Native Lygus spp. (Heteroptera: Miridae) damaging introduced Hibiscus cannabinus in Italy.

Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L, an introduced tropical fiber crop, is attacked in central Italy by the native mirid bugs Lygus rugulipennis Poppius and L. pratensis (L.), thus establishing novel insect-plant associations. Feeding by Lygus bugs damages the apical meristem, with consequent development of secondary stems and leaf tattering. In a laboratory experiment, both species caused apical meristem damage on potted kenaf. In a field experiment with caged plots, the percentage of damaged plants was significantly higher in plots artificially infested with multiple releases of Lygus spp. compared with a single release and with the protected control without Lygus spp. In naturally infested control plots, the percentage of damaged plants was intermediate. Plant height decreased as a function of the number of damaged meristems. Mean plant height was significantly lower in the multiple-release treatment compared with the single-release treatment and the protected control. Dry biomass was significantly lower in the multiple-release plots compared with the protected control, and intermediate in the single-release plots. In a field experiment with three kenaf cultivars naturally infested by Lygus spp., plant height and stem diameter were significantly lower in damaged plants compared with healthy plants. Dry weights of plants, stems, and basts were also lower, depending on the cultivar, whereas the bast/core ratio was not affected. Stem lesions developed due to feeding or incisions made by ovipositing females. Lesions and eggs were significantly more abundant on plants with damaged apical meristems compared with healthy plants. Damage mechanisms by Lygus spp. and consequences of new crop introductions are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The structure of the mRNA export factor TAP reveals a cis arrangement of a non-canonical RNP domain and an LRR domain.

Human TAP is implicated in mRNA nuclear export and is used by simian type D retroviruses to export their unspliced genomic RNA to the cytoplasm of the host cell. We have determined the crystal structure of the minimal TAP fragment that binds the constitutive transport element (CTE) of retroviral RNAs. Unexpectedly, we find the fragment consists of a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) domain, which is not identifiable by its sequence, and a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain. The non-canonical RNP domain functions as the general RNA-binding portion of the fragment. The LRR domain is required in cis to the RNP domain for CTE RNA binding. The structural and biochemical properties of the domains point to a remarkable similarity with the U2B"(RNP)-U2A'(LRR) spliceosomal heterodimer. Our in vitro and in vivo functional studies using structure-based mutants suggest that a phylogenetically conserved surface of the LRR domain of TAP may have different roles in the export of viral and cellular RNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Selected micronutrients and oral and pharyngeal cancer.

The relation between selected micronutrients and oral and pharyngeal cancer risk was investigated using data from a case-control study conducted between January 1992 and November 1997 in Italy and Switzerland. Cases were 754 incident, histologically confirmed oral cancers (344 of the oral cavity and 410 of the pharynx) admitted to the major teaching and general hospitals in the study areas. Controls were 1,775 subjects with no history of cancer admitted to hospitals in the same catchment areas for acute, non-neoplastic diseases. Dietary habits were investigated using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed after allowance for age, sex, center, education, occupation, body mass index, smoking and drinking habits and non-alcohol energy intake. Micronutrients were analyzed both as continuous variables and in quintiles. In the former case, the unit was set to 1 SD of the distribution of controls. ORs for the continuous analysis were 0.95 for retinol, 0.61 for carotene, 0.91 for lycopene, 0.83 for vitamin D, 0.74 for vitamin E, 0.63 for vitamin C, 0.82 for thiamine, 0.87 for riboflavin, 0.59 for vitamin B6, 0.61 for folic acid, 0.62 for niacin, 0.91 for calcium, 0.88 for phosphorus, 0.65 for potassium, 0.82 for iron, 0.67 for non-alcohol iron and 0.89 for zinc; the 95% confidence interval excluded one for carotene, vitamin C and E, thiamine, vitamin B6, folic acid, niacin, potassium and iron. ORs were similar for the 2 sexes and in strata of age. When the combined intake of vitamins C and E and carotene was considered, the protective effect of each nutrient was more marked or restricted to subjects with low intake of the other 2. The association with vitamin C and carotene was independent of smoking and drinking habits, while that with vitamin E was less evident in those heavily exposed to alcohol or tobacco. In general, the more a micronutrient was correlated to total vegetable and fruit intake, the stronger was its protective effect against oral cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Cessation of alcohol drinking and risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx.

A strong, dose-dependent association exists between alcohol consumption and risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. The impact on risk of temporal aspects of drinking habits has been inadequately evaluated. Our case-control study included 754 individuals with incident cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx (median age 57) and 1,775 controls (median age 57) in the hospital for acute, non-neoplastic diseases who were interviewed in 2 Italian areas and in the Swiss Canton of Vaud between 1992 and 1997. The questionnaire included lifetime drinking and smoking habits. No influence of age at starting or duration of alcohol drinking was found. Risk increased substantially with the increase of weekly alcoholic drinks [Odds Ratios (OR) for >/= 91 drinks/week vs. never drinkers = 11.6]. Risk in former compared with current drinkers was 1.9-fold elevated. However, among individuals who had also stopped smoking, former drinkers showed lower ORs than current drinkers. The persistence of risk elevation several years after drinking cessation suggests that the role of alcohol is complex and it probably affects more than one stage of oral carcinogenesis. It remains to be clarified which impact prevention-driven drinking cessation may have on the excess of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx due to elevated alcohol intake.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Crystallographic analysis of the specific yet versatile recognition of distinct nuclear localization signals by karyopherin alpha.

BACKGROUND: Karyopherin alpha (importin alpha) is an adaptor molecule that recognizes proteins containing nuclear localization signals (NLSs). The prototypical NLS that is able to bind to karyopherin alpha is that of the SV40 T antigen, and consists of a short positively charged sequence motif. Distinct classes of NLSs (monopartite and bipartite) have been identified that are only partly conserved with respect to one another but are nevertheless recognized by the same receptor. RESULTS: We report the crystal structures of two peptide complexes of yeast karyopherin alpha (Kapalpha): one with a human c-myc NLS peptide, determined at 2.1 A resolution, and one with a Xenopus nucleoplasmin NLS peptide, determined at 2.4 A resolution. Analysis of these structures reveals the determinants of specificity for the binding of a relatively hydrophobic monopartite NLS and of a bipartite NLS peptide. The peptides bind Kapalpha in its extended surface groove, which presents a modular array of tandem binding pockets for amino acid residues. CONCLUSIONS: Monopartite and bipartite NLSs bind to a different number of amino acid binding pockets and make different interactions within them. The relatively hydrophobic monopartite c-myc NLS binds extensively at a few binding pockets in a similar manner to that of the SV40 T antigen NLS. In contrast, the bipartite nucleoplasmin NLS engages the whole array of pockets with individually more limited but overall more abundant interactions, which include the NLS two basic clusters and the backbone of its non-conserved linker region. Versatility in the specific recognition of NLSs relies on the modular.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Production of polyunsaturated fatty acids by Pythium ultimum in solid-state cultivation.

The oleaginous fungus Pythium ultimum was cultivated on various solid substrates in order to achieve fungal oil enriched in the polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Cultivation parameters, such as incubation temperature and time, substrate composition, and moisture were optimized, so as to obtain as much as 3.5 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 2.6 mg arachidonic acid/g of wet substrate consisting of 28.5% pearled barley, 5.75% spent malt grains, 5.75% linseed oil, and 60% nutrient solution.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Aspirin and ovarian cancer: an Italian case-control study.

BACKGROUND: A role for inflammation, and consequently of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in ovarian carcinogenesis has been proposed, but epidemiological evidence is scanty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were derived from a hospital-based case-control study conducted in Italy between 1992 and 1999. Cases were 749 women, aged 18-80 years (median age 56 years), with incident, histologically confirmed ovarian cancer. Controls were 898 non-hysterectomized women, aged 17-80 years (median age 58 years), admitted to hospital for acute conditions, unrelated to risk factors for ovarian cancer. RESULTS: The multivariate odds ratio (OR) was 0.93 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.53-1.62) for regular aspirin use for more than six months, 1.38 (95% CI: 0.57-3.36) for current use and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.35-1.47) for former use. The OR was not significantly different from unity for duration of use, age at starting use, indication (analgesia or cardiovascular prevention), and in women aged < 60 and > or = 60 years at ovarian cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides little support for the hypothesis that aspirin may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of the effect of smoking and alcohol drinking between oral and pharyngeal cancer.

To compare the separate and combined effects of alcohol drinking and smoking between the 2 sites, we evaluated 274 men with oral cancer, 364 with pharyngeal cancer and 1,254 controls, frequency-matched for age and area of residence, from Italy and Switzerland. Extremely elevated risk increases for oral cancer (odds ratio, OR = 228) and pharyngeal cancer (OR = 100) were found for the highest joint level of drinking (>/=77 drinks/week) and smoking (>/=25 cigarettes/day). Ratios of ORs between oral cancer and pharyngeal cancer vs. controls, obtained by polytomous logistic regression, suggested that the risk increase for oral cancer was about 2-fold greater than that for pharyngeal cancer at each combined level of smoking and drinking, except at low levels of drinking in smokers. A clear departure from risk difference additivity was present for both oral and pharyngeal cancer in individuals heavily exposed to both factors versus non-smoking abstainers/light drinkers. Our findings thus help explain observations from descriptive epidemiology that, if smoking level in a population does not change substantially, but alcohol consumption increases, increase in oral cancer would be greater than at any other site in the upper aero-digestive tract, including cancer of the pharynx.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Risk factors for adenocarcinoma of the small intestine.

We have investigated the relation between alcohol, tobacco and dietary habits and risk of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine using data from 2 hospital-based case-control studies on intestinal cancers conducted in 6 Italian centres between 1985 and 1996. Cases were 23 patients below age 75 years with adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. Controls were 230 patients admitted to hospital for a wide spectrum of acute, non-neoplastic, non-digestive tract diseases, matched to cases on sex, age, study and centre. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Alcohol and tobacco consumption did not increase the risk of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. The risk appeared to be directly related to intake of bread, pasta or rice (OR = 3.8), sugar (OR = 2.9) and red meat (OR = 4.6), and inversely to coffee (OR = 0.4), fish (OR = 0.3), vegetables (OR = 0.3) and fruit (OR = 0.6). Our results suggest that dietary correlates of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine are similar to those of colon cancer and at least of the same magnitude. While the present data are inconsistent with a major effect of tobacco or alcohol, a moderate association between these factors and small bowel cancer may have been obscured by the play of chance.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Isolation and characterization of a novel transcript embedded within HIRA, a gene deleted in DiGeorge syndrome.

We have isolated a few cDNAs from different human tissues, transcribed from the first intron of HIRA, a gene deleted in the DiGeorge syndrome. These cDNAs are produced by an intronic gene (22k48) which is transcribed by the HIRA opposite strand and is itself arranged in exons and subjected to alternative splicing. The longest continuum cDNA sequence we obtained is 3.6 kb long and contains 3 different exons and 2 introns. 22k48 cDNA is composed of several tandemly arranged repeated elements (Alu, LINEs, CAn) surrounding a unique sequence. In situ hybridization showed the presence of 22k48 RNA in the cytoplasm of CNS and PNS neurons. 22k48 RNA is able to bind cytoplasmic proteins in the range of 45 to 60 kDa. 22k48 is a new member of the small group of genes that are transcribed but not translated, and its haploinsufficiency could contribute to the pathogenesis of the DiGeorge syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Phylogenetic relationships of the silver saxifrages (Saxifraga, sect. Ligulatae haworth): implications for the evolution of substrate specificity, life histories, and biogeography.

The silver saxifrages (Saxifraga sect. Ligulatae Haworth; Saxifragaceae) exhibit remarkable variation of substrate specialization, with strictly calcicole to calcifuge species, as well as life histories which range from semelparity to iteroparity. They occur almost exclusively in the European mountain ranges and display high levels of endemism. Sequences from chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA were obtained to resolve phylogenetic relationships among the silver saxifrages and related taxa and to gain insight into the evolution of substrate specificity, life history, and biogeography. The resulting phylogenies suggested that (1) Saxifraga sect. Ligulatae, as traditionally defined, does not constitute a monophyletic group; (2) lime-secreting hydathodes in calcifuge species apparently represent a secondary nonaptation; (3) semelparity evolved independently two or three times in the silver saxifrages and allied sections, possibly in response to climatic changes that occured during the Pleistocene; and (4) narrow endemics, for example S. cochlearis, likely evolved from the fragmentation of the widespread S. paniculata into refugial populations that became isolated during the glacial maxima of the Pleistocene.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1999

Succinoglycan production by solid-state fermentation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Succinoglycan was produced by cultivating Agrobacterium tumefaciens on various solid substrates, including agar medium, spent malt grains, ivory nut shavings, and grated carrots, impregnated with a nutrient+ solution. Fermentations were performed on a laboratory scale, both under static conditions and with agitation, using bottles and a prototype horizontal bioreactor. Several fermentation parameters were examined and optimized, including carbon and nitrogen composition, water content and layer thickness of the substrate. The yields and rheological properties of the polymers obtained under different fermentation conditions were compared. The highest succinoglycan yield was achieved in static cultivation, reaching 42 g/l of impregnating solution, corresponding to 30 g/kg of wet substrate. The polymer production in the horizontal bioreactor was faster, but the final yield was lower (29 g/l of impregnating solution).

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗
PubMed1999

Pictures in cell biology. Structures of nuclear-transport components.

The past three years have seen the solution of several nuclear transport component structures and recently of the structure of a regulator bound to part of a nuclear pore complex (NPC) protein. These structures have provided a wealth of valuable information about the proteins involved and suggested strategies for further investigation of their properties. We do not have space here to go into detail about this information, so instead we are illustrating the structures and providing primary references enabling interested readers to find further information. On this page, we are concentrating on the GTPase Ran and proteins that modulate its activity, and on the facing page are the other transport factors, some of which also interact directly with Ran. Notably absent at the moment are the nuclear pore complex component s, apart from one domain of RanBP2. Only when theses are characterized fully will we really be able to understand how transport substrates move across the nuclear envelope.

Animals↗