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Biomedical subjects

E Ferretti

Publications and source records attributed to E Ferretti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Differential expression of the components of the plasminogen activating system in human thyroid tumour derived cell lines and papillary carcinomas.

We characterised the expression of the plasminogen activators (uPA and tPA), the uPA receptor (uPAR) and the PAs inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2) in human thyroid cell lines derived from normal thyroid, follicular adenoma, follicular, papillary and anaplastic carcinomas. Urokinase PA activity was detected in the supernatant of normal thyrocytes and augmented in those of all tumour cells. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that uPA, uPAR and PAI-1 mRNAs increased in all carcinoma cells. Similar results were found in 13 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues which were mirrored in Western blot experiments. A correlation was found between tumour size and uPA mRNA increase, and higher levels of uPA and uPAR mRNAs were found in metastatic PTC. In conclusion, thyroid carcinoma cell lines and PTC overexpress uPA, uPAR and PAI-1 and the correlation of uPA and its cognate receptor with tumour size and metastasis may suggest their potential prognostic relevance in thyroid cancer.

Blotting, Western↗

Alternative splicing of the ErbB-4 cytoplasmic domain and its regulation by hedgehog signaling identify distinct medulloblastoma subsets.

Medulloblastoma (MB) results from aberrant development of cerebellar neurons in which altered hedgehog (Hh) signalling plays a major role. We investigated the possible influence of Hh signalling on ErbB-receptor expression in MB, in particular that of the ErbB-4 CYT-1 and CYT-2 isoforms generated by alternative splicing of the cytoplasmic domain. ErbB-4 expression was downregulated in Hh-induced MBs from Patched-1(+/-) mice. Hh signalling (reflected by enhanced expression of the Gli1 transcription factor) inhibited ErbB-4 expression in mouse cerebellar granule progenitors and human MB cells. Analysis of 26 human primary MBs revealed a subset of 11 tumors characterized by low Gli1 levels, upregulated ErbB-4 expression and increased CYT-1:CYT-2 ratios. Interestingly, CYT-1 and Gli1 levels were inversely correlated. ErbB-4 CYT-1 and CYT-2 had different phenotypic effects in cultured MB cells: in response to neuregulin treatment, CYT-2 overexpression inhibited proliferation whereas CYT-1, which includes a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-binding site that is missing in CYT-2, enhanced resistance to starvation- and etoposide-induced apoptosis by activating PI3K/Akt signalling. CYT-1:CYT-2 ratios displayed correlation with tumor histotype and ErbB-2 levels, which are established prognostic indices for MB. These findings demonstrate that low-level Hh signalling in human MB is associated with the selective maintenance of high ErbB-4 CYT-1 expression, an alteration that exerts tumor-promoting effects.

Alternative Splicing↗

Catastrophic relapse of Evans syndrome five years after allogeneic BMT notwithstanding full donor chimerism. Terminal hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

A patient with severe Evans syndrome received an allo-BMT from his HLA-identical sister on November, 2000. Full marrow and blood donor chimerism were achieved only after 5 donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI), and coincided with complete clinical remission and disappearence of auto-antibodies. Five years later, hemolytic anemia recurred with rapid increase of serum bilirubin to over 50 mg%: he responded to combined therapy, but died on day +17 from admission of an acute hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All circulating blood cells, including erythrocytes, were 100% donor. Ex vivo cultured and expanded T and B cells from the peripheral blood were also 100% donor. The supernatants from B cell cultures, containing either IgM or IgG, did not react with a panel of erythrocytes. Thus in this typical autoimmune disease with a predominant B cell pathogenesis the donor immune system resulted "innocent of autoimmunity". The persistence of long-lived recipient autoreactive plasma-cell lines in survival niches, still producing autoantibodies, may be hypothesized for this and similar cases. The postulated graft-versus-autoimmunity (GVA) effect was apparently not sufficient to eradicate autoimmunity in this patient.

Adolescent↗

Malignant glucagonoma. New options of treatment.

Few cases of malignant glucagonomas have been described in the literature. In this paper we present a case of a 77-year-old woman with necrolytic migratory erythema and high plasma glucagon and chromogranin A levels caused by a neuroendocrine tumour. An abdominal CT scan suggested a pancreatic lesion and two liver metastases. The patient underwent pancreatic debulking and liver metastasectomy. Histological and immunohistochemical investigations revealed a well differentiated neuroendocrine tumour with vascular invasion and scattered immunopositivity for somatostatin receptors. The patient was treated with octreotide (20 mg i.m. every 28 days) for three years without side effects. Three months after surgery symptoms of disease recurred accompanied by hyperglucagonaemia and newly diagnosed liver lesions. The patient was treated with octreotide (30 mg i.m. every 28 days) and interferon-alpha (6 MU s.cc 3 times per week) plus three cycles of hepatic chemoembolisation. Symptoms resolved after the first month of therapy, hormone levels decreased compared to untreated levels and metastatic growth slowed as observed by radiographic evidence. The patient is now asymptomatic with persistent hepatic disease and normal serum glucagon levels forty months after primary treatment. So far, only few immunohistochemical studies are reported on malignant glucagonoma and combined treatment schedules. We demonstrated, for the first time, a scattered immunopositivity for somatostatin receptors in a malignant glucagonoma. For this reason, the somatostatin analogs therapy was instituted. A combined antiproliferative medical treatment and the hepatic chemoembolization have been able to control tumor growth and disease symptoms for a long time after surgery.

Aged↗

Oral probiotic administration induces interleukin-10 production and prevents spontaneous autoimmune diabetes in the non-obese diabetic mouse.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Recent observations suggest the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in the pathogenesis of islet autoimmunity. Thus, the modulation of gut-associated lymphoid tissue may represent a means to affect the natural history of the disease. Oral administration of probiotic bacteria can modulate local and systemic immune responses; consequently, we investigated the effects of oral administration of the probiotic compound VSL#3 on the occurrence of diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. METHODS: VSL#3 was administered to female NOD mice three times a week starting from 4 weeks of age. A control group received PBS. Whole blood glucose was measured twice a week. IFN-gamma and IL-10 production/expression was evaluated by ELISA in culture supernatants of mononuclear cells isolated from Peyer's patches and the spleen, and by real-time PCR in the pancreas. Insulitis was characterised by immunohistochemistry and histomorphometric studies. RESULTS: Early oral administration of VSL#3 prevented diabetes development in NOD mice. Protected mice showed reduced insulitis and a decreased rate of beta cell destruction. Prevention was associated with an increased production of IL-10 from Peyer's patches and the spleen and with increased IL-10 expression in the pancreas, where IL-10-positive islet-infiltrating mononuclear cells were detected. The protective effect of VSL#3 was transferable to irradiated mice receiving diabetogenic cells and splenocytes from VSL#3-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Orally administered VSL#3 prevents autoimmune diabetes and induces immunomodulation by a reduction in insulitis severity. Our results provide a sound rationale for future clinical trials of the primary prevention of type 1 diabetes by oral VSL#3 administration.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Aluminium hydroxide-induced granulomas in pigs.

The effect of intramuscular injection of 40 mg/2 ml aluminium hydroxide in the neck of pigs was examined in a number of ways. The investigation followed repeated slaughterhouse reports, according to which 64.8% of pigs from one particular farm were found at slaughter to have one or more nodules in the muscles of the neck (group slaughtered). The pigs had been injected with a vaccine containing 40 mg/2 ml dose of aluminium hydroxide as adjuvant. Research consisted of two phases: first, an epidemiological study was carried out, aimed at determining the risk factors for the granulomas. The results indicated that the vaccine was to be held responsible for the formation of granulomas. A clinical trial was then performed to further substantiate the initial hypothesis, by comparing pigs, which were aseptically inoculated twice with either the original vaccine or the adjuvant alone (groups vaccine and adjuvant) to pigs inoculated twice with apyrogenic bi-distilled water (group water) and to pigs inoculated once with the adjuvant and once with apyrogenic bi-distilled water (group adjuvant/water). Both studies agreed in their conclusions, which indicate that the high amount of aluminium hydroxide was the cause of the granulomas.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Proteomic analysis of human thyroid cell lines reveals reduced nuclear localization of Mn-SOD in poorly differentiated thyroid cancer cells.

Differential protein arrays between nuclear extracts of human thyroid cell lines obtained from tumors with different degree of differentiation were exploited to define molecular alterations occurring during thyroid tumor progression. Nuclear extracts from the well differentiated TPC-1 (from papillary carcinoma) and the poorly differentiated ARO (from anaplastic carcinoma) cells showed an overall similar pattern of protein expression as revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis. However, manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) was clearly identified by mass spectrometry procedures as significantly less expressed in ARO compared to TPC-1 cells. A reduced expression of Mn-SOD in the nuclear compartment was confirmed by Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. A similar expression pattern of nuclear Mn-SOD was detected by immunohistochemistry in human thyroid tumors, with the lowest or absent detection in anaplastic carcinomas. Moreover, the levels of nuclear Mn-SOD in tumor cells were lower than in the normal thyrocytes. These data indicate that an altered nuclear expression of Mn-SOD parallels, together with changes in other elements of the antioxidant protective system, the loss of differentiation occurring during the progression of thyroid tumors.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Comparison of contaminant and residue levels in organic and conventional milk and meat products from northern Italy.

Due to the growing interest in organic products, a comparison between the chemical safety of organic and conventional products was undertaken. Milk and meat were the products chosen for study. The parameters evaluated to assess chemical safety were organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead, cadmium and mycotoxin contamination. Pesticides and PCBs residues in both organic and conventional milk and meat were lower than legal limits. Lead and cadmium residues were very low and did not differ between organic and conventional products. However, aflatoxin M1 contamination in some but not all samples of organic milk was significantly higher than those of conventional milk, although factors other than organic production might be implicated.

Aflatoxin M1↗

Evaluation of a DHPLC-based assay for rapid detection of RET germline mutations in Italian patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Causative gain-of-function mutations of the RET tyrosine-kinase receptor gene have been reported in more than 95% of inherited cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC; OMIM# 155240). Most RET activating mutations are clustered in mutational "hot spots" in exons 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16 and are usually detected by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) followed by direct sequencing. To improve sensitivity, time and costs of mutational screening we have developed a denaturing high performance chromatography (DHPLC) protocol, based on the detection of heteroduplex molecules by ion-pair reverse-phase liquid chromatography under partially denaturing conditions. The mutational screening of RET exons 10, 11, 13-16 was performed in a total of 111 subjects, including 45 MTC patients and 49 relatives with known RET mutations and 17 individuals, being at risk of hereditary MTC and carrying unknown RET alleles. Heteroduplex peaks with a distinct and reproducible DHPLC elution profile allowed the detection of both rare and common RET mutations. Overall, the DHPLC-based methodology showed a high level of sensitivity and accuracy, nearing 100%. Furthermore, our protocol showed the ability to identify: 1) all the mutated codons of RET located in the "hot spots" domain; 2) the different point mutations occurring in the same codon of RET gene; 3) less frequent or rare mutations; 4) polymorphisms. As such, it can be proposed as a relatively simple and highly accurate method for a rapid genetic testing for members of MTC families.

Carcinoma, Medullary↗

Human pituitary tumours express the bHLH transcription factors NeuroD1 and ASH1.

Among the transcription factors involved in pituitary ontogenesis and physiology, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) have been poorly studied. Members of bHLH family include NeuroD1 and ASH1, both involved in neuroendocrine differentiation. We evaluated their mRNA expression patterns, by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis (sq-RT-PCR) and/or Northern blot, in a series of 33 pituitary adenomas (PA), anterior pituitaries, and pituitary cell lines. Immunohistochemistry for NeuroD1 was also performed in 25 PA. Low levels of NeuroD1 were observed in normal pituitaries and in the somatomammotroph cell lines GH3/GH4C1, contrasting with high levels in corticotroph AtT20 cells. NeuroD1 mRNA was widely expressed in PA (82%), with measurable levels found especially in those derived from Pit-1 independent lineages, i.e. corticotroph (5/5) and clinically non-secreting (CNS) adenomas (9/11). According to sq-RT-PCR analysis, overexpression of NeuroD1 compared to normal pituitaries was frequent. Variable nuclear NeuroD1 immunopositivity was also present in about 70% of studied cases. ASH1 mRNA was widely detected in normal pituitaries, in all tumour cell lines and in most PA (84%), with measurable levels in corticotroph (5/5) and CNS (9/11) adenomas, and in a significant subset of PA derived from Pit-1 dependent lineages (9/16). We conclude that: a) NeuroD1 is differentially expressed in PA and its possible ontogenetic and/or pathogenetic implications in non-corticotroph PA are discussed; b) ASH1 is a neuroendocrine marker whose expression is largely conserved in normal and neoplastic pituitary cells.

Adult↗

Characterization of PREP2, a paralog of PREP1, which defines a novel sub-family of the MEINOX TALE homeodomain transcription factors.

TALE (three amino acid loop extension) homeodomain proteins include the PBC and the MEINOX sub-families. MEINOX proteins form heterodimer complexes with PBC proteins. Heterodimerization is crucial to DNA binding and for nuclear localization. PBC-MEINOX heterodimers bind DNA also in combination with HOX proteins, thereby modulating their DNA-binding specificity. TALE proteins therefore play crucial roles in multiple developmental and differentiation pathways in vivo. We report the identification and characterization of a novel human gene homologous to PREP1, called PREP2. Sequence comparisons indicate that PREP1 and PREP2 define a novel sub-family of MEINOX proteins, distinct from the MEIS sub-family. PREP2 is expressed in a variety of human adult tissues and displays a more restricted expression pattern than PREP1. PREP2 is capable of heterodimerizing with PBC proteins. Heterodimerization with PBX1 appears to be essential for nuclear localization of both PREP2 and PBX1. A comparison between the functional properties of PREP1 and PREP2 reveals that PREP2-PBX display a faster DNA-dissociation rate than PREP1-PBX heterodimers, suggesting different roles in controlling gene expression. Like PREP1, PREP2-PBX heterodimers are capable of forming ternary complexes with HOXB1. The analysis of some PREP2 in vitro properties suggests a functional diversification among PREP and between PREP and MEIS MEINOX proteins.

3T3 Cells↗

A critical reappraisal of MIB-1 labelling index significance in a large series of pituitary tumours: secreting versus non-secreting adenomas.

Pituitary tumours are usually benign neoplasia, but may have a locally aggressive or malignant evolution. This study aimed to identify factors which mostly influence their proliferative activity, in order to clarify its value for clinical and research purposes. The proliferative index was determined in a prospective series of 132 pituitary tumours as the percentage of monoclonal antibody MIB-1-immunopositive cells and referred to as the MIB-1 labelling index (LI). Its distribution was analysed according to both univariate and multivariate models. A life-threatening pituitary tumour is presented separately. The mean LI was 1.24+/-1.59%, with significant differences between clinically secreting (CS) and clinically non-secreting (CNS) adenomas. In CS adenomas (n=65), LI was highly variable and markedly influenced by pre-operative pharmacological treatment (0.80+/-1.03 vs 2.06+/-2.39% in treated vs untreated cases, P=0.009); it decreased with patient's age (P=0.025, r=0.28) and increased with tumour volume and invasiveness. The influence of pre-operative treatment and macroscopic features on LI in this group was confirmed by multivariate analysis. In CNS adenomas (n=67), LI distribution was less variable than in CS adenomas (P<0.0001), it was age-independent and correlations with tumour volume, invasiveness or recurrence did not reach significance. In a rapidly growing parasellar tumour, the mean LI was 24% at first surgery and exceeded 50% at second surgery performed 4 months later. LI should be interpreted according to hormone secretion and pre-operative treatment. Unusually high LI values deserve particular attention.

Adenoma↗

Confirmatory analysis of residues of stanozolol and its major metabolite in bovine urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A reliable method for the confirmation of the synthetic hormone stanozolol and its major metabolite, 16beta-hydroxystanozolol, in bovine urine by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry has been developed. [2H3]Stanozolol was used as internal standard. Sample preparation involved enzymatic hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction and purification on an amino solid-phase extraction column. The analytes were ionized using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization with a heated nebulizer interface operating in the positive ion mode, where only the protonated molecules, [M+H]+, at m/z 329 and m/z 345, for stanozolol and 16beta-hydroxystanozolol, respectively, were generated. These served as precursor ions for collision-induced dissociation and three diagnostic product ions for each analyte were identified for the unambiguous hormone confirmation by selected reaction monitoring liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The accuracy ranged from 19.7 to 14.9% and from 18.9 to 13.2% for stanozolol and 16beta-hydroxystanozolol, respectively. The precision ranged from 12.4 to 2.4% and from 13.1 to 1.8% for stanozolol and 16beta-hydroxystanozolol, respectively. The limit of quantification of the method was 1 ng/ml in the bovine urine for both stanozolol and 16beta-hydroxystanozolol. The developed method fulfils the European Union requirements for confirmatory methods.

Anabolic Agents↗

Confirmatory method for macrolide residues in bovine tissues by micro-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new confirmatory method for three macrolides (tylosin, tilmicosin and erythromycin) in bovine muscle, liver and kidney by micro-LC-MS-MS using an atmospheric pressure ionisation source and an ionspray interface has been developed. Roxithromycin was used as internal standard. The molecular related ions, [M+2H]2+, at m/z 435 for tilmicosin, and [M+H]+, at m/z 734 and 916 for erythromycin and tylosin, respectively, were the precursor ions for collision-induced-dissociation and two diagnostic product ions for each macrolide were identified for the unambiguous confirmation by selected reaction monitoring LC-MS-MS. Precision values (relative standard deviations) were all below 14.9%, whereas the overall accuracy (relative error) ranged from -17.7 to -9.8% for tylosin, from -17.5 to -10.7% for tilmicosin and from -19.6 to -13.7% for erythromycin, in all the investigated bovine tissues. The limits of quantification were 30 (muscle) or 40 (liver, kidney) microg kg(-1), 20 (muscle) or 150 (liver, kidney) microg kg(-1), 50 (muscle, liver) or 80 (kidney) microg kg(-1), 20 (muscle, liver) or 50 (kidney) microg kg(-1) for tylosin, tilmicosin, erytromycin and roxithromycin, respectively.

Animals↗

Determination of ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate in sow pancreatic juice by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

We have developed a high-performance liquid chromatographic-UV-Vis-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) method for the determination of ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, a hydrolytic degradation product of the synthetic protease inhibitor, gabexate-mesilate ethyl-p-(6-guanidinohexanoyloxy) benzoate methanesulfonate (GM) (FOY) in sow pancreatic juice. Methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (I) was used as the internal standard. The pancreatic juice was deproteinised by acetonitrile and the analytes were chromatographed on a reversed-phase C18 LC column using the gradient elution method. The mobile phase consisted of a solution of 0.017 M orthophosphoric acid and another solution of acetonitrile-water (80:20, v/v). The wavelength of detection was 237 nm. The limit of quantification of the method was 0.20 microM at a 9:1 signal-to-noise ratio. The overall intra- and inter-day accuracy (relative error, RE) ranged from 14.2 to 8.3% and from 13.3 to 9.8, respectively. The overall intra- and inter-day precision (relative standard deviation, RSD) ranged from 7.6 to 2.62% and from 6.7 to 3.1%, respectively. The method proved to be sensitive, specific, accurate and precise and was successfully used to determine the ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (II) in sow pancreatic juice.

Animals↗

Relationship between blood pressure and glucose tolerance in acromegaly.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension represents a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The pathogenesis of hypertension in acromegaly is commonly viewed as multifactorial, but the possible influence of metabolic disorders on blood pressure (BP) in affected patients is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of glucose metabolism abnormalities on BP values in a series of patients with active acromegaly. DESIGN: An open multicentre prospective study. PATIENTS: Sixty-eight patients with active disease, aged 47.5 +/- 11.7 years, have been studied. Thirty-nine had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 16 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 13 suffered from diabetes mellitus (DM). MEASUREMENTS: Mean clinical BP values were calculated as the mean of BP values obtained by sphygmomanometric measurement in three separate occasions and mean 24-h, diurnal and nocturnal systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) values were obtained by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). RESULTS: Patient's age and the degree of glucose tolerance abnormalities were found to significantly and independently influence BP values. All clinical and ABPM SBP and DBP values significantly increased with age by linear regression (P < 0.02 for all BP values, 0.30 < or = R < or = 0.43), and the independent influence of this parameter on BP values was confirmed by mutivariate analysis. Similarly, the independent influence of glucose tolerance abnormalities on BP values was confirmed when introducing age as a covariable in a multivariate analysis, and patients with DM presented significantly higher clinical SBP and 24-h, diurnal and nocturnal SBP and DBP than patients with NGT (P < 0.02 for clinical SBP, P < 0.015 for all ABPM values, respectively). In addition, patients with DM showed significantly higher 24-h, diurnal and nocturnal DBP than those with IGT (P < 0.05 in all cases). In contrast, no significant difference was found between NGT and IGT patients. No significant influence of disease duration, BMI, GH, IGF-I, or fasting and 2-h post glucose load insulinaemia on BP values was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities of glucose metabolism significantly contribute to increase systolic blood pressure and especially diastolic blood pressure in acromegalic patients. Careful control of blood pressure and of risk factors for developing systemic hypertension, with special reference to glucose tolerance, is mandatory to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in such patients.

Acromegaly↗

Identification of anatoxins in blue-green algae food supplements using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in tablets and capsules, which are marketed as health food supplements, were investigated for the presence of neurotoxins related to anatoxin-a. These neurotoxins, which are nicotinic agonists, were investigated using isocratic micro-liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (micro-LC-MS-MS). The investigated compounds were anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin-a, together with their degradation products, dihydroanatoxin-a, epoxyanatoxin-a, dihydrohomoanatoxin-a and epoxyhomoanatoxin-a which were synthesized from the parent toxins. The analytes were extracted with methanol followed by isocratic chromatography on a micro C18 reversed-phase column using acetonitrile-water, 50:50 (v/v), containing 20 mm acetic acid at 30 microl min(-1). The toxins were ionized in an ionspray (IS) interface operating in the positive ion mode, where the intact protonated molecules, [M + H]+, were generated at m/z 166, m/z 168, m/z 182, m/z 180, m/z 182 and m/z 196, for anatoxin-a, dihydroanatoxin-a, epoxyanatoxin-a, homoanatoxin-a, dihydrohomoanatoxin-a and epoxyhomoanatoxin-a, respectively. These served as precursor ions for collision-induced-dissociation (CID) and diagnostic product ions for these anatoxins were identified to carry out toxin confirmation by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) LC-MS-MS analysis. Dihydrohomoanatoxin-a and a novel isomer of epoxyanatoxin-a were identified in blue-green algae tablets. This finding suggests that a potential human health hazard could be associated with the consumption of these food supplements.

Chromatography, Liquid↗