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Biomedical subjects

M Mariani

Publications and source records attributed to M Mariani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Navigating uncertainties and evidence gaps in adjuvant therapy for premenopausal women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

Premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative early breast cancer represent a clinically distinct population, characterized by more aggressive tumor biology, unique survivorship concerns, and complex treatment decision-making. Although evidence from dedicated trials and subgroup analyses is available, management remains challenging because data are heterogeneous, evolving, and often extrapolated from broader populations that include predominantly postmenopausal women. Adjuvant endocrine therapy, with the addition of CDK4/6 inhibitors in selected higher-risk patients, remains the cornerstone of treatment; however major uncertainties persist regarding the optimal use of ovarian function suppression, the interpretation of genomic assays to inform chemotherapy decisions, the selection of candidates for extended endocrine therapy, and the management of adherence, treatment-related toxicities, pregnancy-related issues, and survivorship concerns. Here, we synthesize current evidence across these domains and propose a pragmatic clinical framework to support individualized treatment strategies and optimize care for this population in the contemporary therapeutic landscape.

HR+/HER2- early breast cancer↗
PubMed2000

The small heat-shock chaperone protein, alpha-crystallin, does not recognize stable molten globule states of cytosolic proteins.

The small heat-shock protein (sHsp), alpha-crystallin, acts as a molecular chaperone by interacting with destabilized 'substrate' proteins to prevent their precipitation from solution under conditions of stress. alpha-Crystallin and all sHsps are intracellular proteins. Similarly to other chaperones, the 'substrate' protein is in an intermediately folded, partly structured molten globule state when it interacts and complexes with alpha-crystallin. In this study, stable molten globule states of the cytosolic proteins, gamma-crystallin and myoglobin, have been prepared. Within the lens, gamma-crystallin naturally interacts with alpha-crystallin and myoglobin and alpha-crystallin are present together in muscle tissue. The molten globule states of gamma-crystallin and myoglobin were prepared by reacting gamma-crystallin with glucose 6-phosphate and by removing the haem group of myoglobin. Following spectroscopic characterisation of these modified proteins, their interaction with alpha-crystallin was examined by a variety of spectroscopic and protein chemical techniques. In both cases, there was no interaction with alpha-crystallin that led to complexation. It is concluded that alpha-crystallin does not recognise stable molten globule states of cytosolic 'substrate' proteins and only interacts with molten globule states of proteins that are on the irreversible pathway towards an aggregated and precipitated form.

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗
PubMed2000

Barhl1, a gene belonging to a new subfamily of mammalian homeobox genes, is expressed in migrating neurons of the CNS.

The BarH1 and BarH2 ( Bar ) Drosophila genes are homeobox-containing genes, which are required for the fate determination of external sensory organs in the fly. By means of a bioinformatic approach, we have identified in mouse and human two homeobox genes highly related to the Bar Drosophila genes, Barhl1 and Barhl2. While Barhl1 represents a novel gene, Barhl2 turned out to correspond to the mBH1 cDNA recently described in rat. We isolated and sequenced the full-length mouse Barhl1 and mapped both the human BARHL1 and BARHL2 genes to chromosomes 9q34 and 1p22, respectively. Detailed analysis of the murine Barhl1 expression pattern by in situ hybridization revealed that this transcript is exclusively expressed in restricted domains of the developing CNS, which suggests that this gene, similar to its Drosophila counterparts BarH1 and BarH2, may play a crucial role in cell fate determination of neural structures. In particular, Barhl1 showed specific domains of expression in the diencephalon and in the rhombencephalon where it was found to be expressed in migrating cells giving rise to the cerebellar external granular layer and to specific populations of dorsal sensory interneurons of the spinal cord. Thus, Barhl1 function may be required for the generation of these specific subtypes of neuronal progenitors. Furthermore, the mapping assignment and the expression pattern make BARHL1 an attractive positional candidate gene for a form of Joubert syndrome, a rare developmental anomaly of the cerebellum in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

The impact of coronary artery disease on the coronary vasomotor response to nonionic contrast media.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) alters the vasomotor response to a variety of pharmacological agents. We tested the hypothesis that CAD also has an impact on the coronary vasomotor response to radiologic contrast media. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed quantitative coronary angiography in 42 patients without angiographic evidence of CAD and 38 patients with CAD in the left coronary artery. Angiographically smooth coronary segments (n=235) were analyzed for changes on luminal diameters and coronary venous oxygen saturation in response to 3 media: the nonionic dimer iodixanol, the nonionic monomer iopromide, and the ionic agent ioxaglate. In subjects without CAD, we assessed the effects of intracoronary administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine and of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin on such changes. Iodixanol induced coronary vasodilation in subjects without CAD (8.8+/-8.6%, P<0.001). Patients with CAD exhibited no significant diameter changes in segments >/=20 mm apart from a stenosis (4.7+/-9.4%, P=NS) and significant constriction in segments <20 mm from a stenosis (-3.8+/-4.6%, P<0. 05). Similar results were obtained with iopromide, but no changes were found with ioxaglate. All contrast media induced transient (<35 seconds) increases in coronary venous oxygen saturation in all subjects. Indomethacin, but not N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, blunted the vasodilating effect of iodixanol and iopromide (by 80% and 76%, respectively; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Nonionic contrast media induce a vasodilatory response in normal vessels not by a mechanism involving increased flow or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, but rather by depending on preserved vascular cyclooxygenase activity. CAD changes normal epicardial vasodilatory response into vasoconstriction.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Efficacy and safety of a combination of fluvastatin and bezafibrate in patients with mixed hyperlipidaemia (FACT study).

Preliminary data suggest that fluvastatin may be safely combined with fibrates. The Fluvastatin Alone and in Combination Treatment Study examined the effects on plasma lipids and safety of a combination of fluvastatin and bezafibrate in patients with coronary artery disease and mixed hyperlipidaemia. A total of 333 patients were randomly allocated in this multicentre double-blind trial to receive 40 mg fluvastatin alone (n=80), 400 mg bezafibrate (n=86), 20 mg fluvastatin+400 mg bezafibrate (n=85) or 40 mg fluvastatin+400 mg bezafibrate (n=82) for 24 weeks. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol decreased >20% in all fluvastatin-containing regimens, with significantly greater decreases compared with bezafibrate alone (P<0.001). Bezafibrate alone and fluvastatin+bezafibrate combinations resulted in greater increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and decreases in triglycerides compared with fluvastatin alone (P<0.001). Fluvastatin (40 mg)+bezafibrate was the most effective for all lipid parameters with a decrease from baseline at endpoint in LDL-cholesterol of 24%, a decrease in triglycerides of 38% and an increase in HDL-cholesterol of 22%. All treatments were well tolerated with no increase in adverse events for combination therapy versus monotherapy, or between combination regimens. No clinically relevant liver (aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT] or alanine aminotransferase [ALAT]) greater than three times the upper limit of normal) or muscular (creatine phosphokinase (CPK) greater than four times the upper limit of normal) laboratory abnormalities were reported. This large study shows 40 mg fluvastatin in combination with 400 mg bezafibrate to be highly effective and superior to either drug given as monotherapy in mixed hyperlipidaemia, and to be safe and well tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Transvascular albumin leakage and forearm vasodilatation to acetylcholine in essential hypertension.

The impact of hypertension on microvascular permeability and nitric oxide-mediated endothelial vasomotion in humans has been studied by measuring either the transcapillary albumin escape rate (TERalb, a measure of permeability through systemic capillary endothelium where most of the albumin permeation takes place) and forearm vasodilatation to locally infused acetylcholine (used as a probe for the nitric oxide-releasing potential of arteriolar endothelial cells). It is unknown, however, how the two parameters relate to each other in the same hypertensive subject. This piece of evidence may enhance our understanding about the relative effect of hypertension on two biological functions (ie, permeability and nitric oxide-mediated vasomotion), both dependent on vascular endothelium, and also may allow to appreciate in greater detail the profile of parameters frequently used as markers of microvascular dysfunction in human hypertension. For these reasons, TERa1b (the 1-h decline rate of intravenous 125I-albumin) and forearm vasodilatation (strain gauge venous plethysmography) to graded intraarterial acetylcholine infusion were measured in 44 never-treated men with uncomplicated essential hypertension, and 15 male normotensive controls with comparable age, lipids, and proportion of current smokers. TERalb was increased in patients, whereas acetylcholine-mediated vasodilatation did not differ significantly between the two groups, indicating a heterogeneous impact of elevated blood pressure on capillary permeability and endothelial vasomotion in still uncomplicated mild to moderate essential hypertensive patients. The dissociation between TERalb and forearm responsiveness to acetylcholine also demonstrates that different endothelial-dependent biologic parameters do not behave uniformly in human hypertension.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2000

Dissociation between microalbuminuria and common carotid thickness in essential hypertensive men.

BACKGROUND: The reasons why microalbuminuria (albuminuria > or = 15 microg/min), an expression of a renal microcirculatory abnormality, predicts cardiovascular disease in essential hypertension are unsettled. To test the hypothesis that microalbuminuria represents a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, we evaluated its association with common carotid artery (CCA) intima media thickness (IMT), a measure of preclinical atherosclerosis and an independent predictor of cardiac and cerebrovascular events, in uncomplicated essential hypertensive individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Albuminuria, ultrasonographic CCA IMT (the mean of six bilateral far wall measurements within 1.5 cm proximally to the flow divider), brachial blood pressure (BP), smoking habits and lipids were evaluated in 136 stage 1-3 untreated essential hypertensive men free of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: CCA IMT did not differ between normo- (n = 99) and microalbuminuric (n = 37) patients. The correlation between CCA IMT and albuminuria was not significant, and the prevalence of microalbuminuria across IMT quartiles was not different. Microalbuminuric patients showed higher systolic BP and that parameter was the only independent correlate in a multivariate logistic regression model including also age, CCA IMT, diastolic BP, lipids and smoking habits as independent variables and microalbuminuria as the dependent one. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study in hypertensive subjects free of cardiovascular disease has shown a dissociation between microalbuminuria and CCA IMT, a surrogate measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, and a parameter linearly related to cardiovascular events. The data do not support the theory of microalbuminuria as a surrogate measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, while confirming the importance of systolic BP levels as an independent correlate of increased albuminuria in essential hypertension. Journal of Human Hypertension (2000) 14, 831-835

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Simvastatin, capillary permeability, and acetylcholine-mediated vasomotion in atherosclerotic, hypercholesterolemic men.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the effect of high-dose simvastatin therapy on vascular permeability, a key variable in the atherogenic process, and endothelial-mediated vasodilator responses in patients with hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. METHODS: The transcapillary albumin escape rate (TERalb, the 1-hour decline rate of intravenous 125I-albumin, a measure of macromolecular permeability of capillary endothelium) and forearm vasodilatation (venous plethysmography) to intraarterial acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside (7.5, 15, 30 microg/min and 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 microg/min respectively, 5 minutes at each rate) to account for endothelium-dependent and independent mechanisms, were measured at baseline and after 1-month simvastatin (40 mg once daily) in 16 hypercholesterolemic (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >130 mg/dL), atherosclerotic men. Thirteen healthy, untreated subjects were the controls. RESULTS: Baseline TERalb was higher and responsiveness to both acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside was depressed in patients compared with controls. One-month high-dose simvastatin reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 39%, normalized TERalb, and improved local vasomotor responses to acetylcholine, without modifying those to sodium nitroprusside. Changes in TERalb and acetylcholine-mediated vasodilatation were dissociated and unrelated to lipid modifications. CONCLUSIONS: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction through 1 month of high-dose simvastatin normalized the exaggerated transvascular albumin leakage of patients with hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis, perhaps by restoring an exaggerated endothelial permeability, apparently through mechanisms independent of circulating lipids. Improvements in acetylcholine-mediated vasomotion were also evident, but were dissociated from TERalb, demonstrating a heterogeneous behavior of the 2 indices of endothelial function in response to high-dose statin treatment.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2000

Myocardial "hybrid" revascularisation with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting combined with coronary angioplasty: preliminary results of a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To expand the benefits of the minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) concept to patients with multivessel disease, a hybrid procedure combining surgical revascularisation of the left anterior descending artery with interventional procedures for additional coronary lesions has recently been introduced. Preliminary results in patients undergoing this hybrid procedure are presented. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Since December 1996, 35 patients (29 male, 6 female, mean (SD) age 56.7 (17) years) underwent a hybrid revascularisation performed as a primary MIDCAB procedure for grafting of the left anterior descending artery with the left internal mammary artery, followed by staged angioplasty and stenting of additional coronary lesions. RESULTS: After MIDCAB grafting the postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. Coronary reangiography after a median of seven days revealed patent and functioning left internal mammary artery grafts in all patients. Applying subsequent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and occasional stenting (n = 14), a total of 47 lesions were treated successfully. Procedure related complications did not occur. All patients remained free from angina and no stress ECG changes were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results of this hybrid approach to myocardial revascularisation suggest that this is a safe and effective procedure for complete revascularisation in selected patients with multivessel disease. Elderly and reoperative patients with significant comorbidity may benefit especially from such hybrid procedures by avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and mid sternotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Microalbuminuria and pulse pressure in hypertensive and atherosclerotic men.

To identify the biological covariates of microalbuminuria (albuminuria >/=15 microg/min) in nondiabetic subjects, brachial blood pressure, echocardiographic left ventricular mass, and other cardiovascular and metabolic parameters were evaluated in 211 untreated males (38 normal controls, 109 uncomplicated stage 1 to 3 essential hypertensives, and 64 patients with clinically stable atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease either with [n=44] or without [n=20] essential hypertension) with normal cardiac and renal function. Compared with normoalbuminuric subjects, microalbuminuric subjects (n=67) were characterized by higher systolic blood pressure, comparable diastolic blood pressure, and, therefore, wider pulse pressure. Greater prevalence of hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, and reduced HDL cholesterol values further distinguished microalbuminuric from normoalbuminuric subjects in univariate comparisons. The risk of microalbuminuria increased by ascending pulse pressure quintiles in age-corrected logistic regression models, in which pulse pressure was more predictive than systolic pressure and was independent of mean pressure. When microalbuminuric status was regressed against a series of dichotomous (vascular and active smoker status) and continuous (age, pulse and mean pressure, left ventricular mass index, and HDL and LDL cholesterol) variables, only pulse pressure, left ventricular mass index, and smoking status were independent predictors. The association of increased albuminuria with wider pulse pressure, a correlate of the pulsatile hemodynamic load and conduit vessel stiffness as well as an important cardiovascular risk factor, may explain why microalbuminuria predicts cardiovascular events in nondiabetic subjects. The independence from concomitant vascular disease also suggests that wider pulse pressure, rather than representing a simple marker for atherosclerotic disease, influences albuminuria directly.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Amlodipine, enalapril, and dependent leg edema in essential hypertension.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) blunt postural skin vasoconstriction, an autoregulatory mechanism that minimizes gravitational increases in capillary pressure and avoids fluid extravasation when standing. To evaluate the dose-response relation between this pharmacological interference and dependent edema, a frequent side effect of CCBs during antihypertensive treatment, skin blood flow (laser Doppler flowmetry) at the dorsum of the foot, both supine and with the limb passively placed 50 cm below the heart level, and leg weight (Archimedes principle) were measured at baseline, during increasing doses of the dihydropyridine amlodipine (5 and 10 mg UID each for 2 weeks), and after drug withdrawal in 10 hypertensive men. Because angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may attenuate ankle swelling by CCBs, those parameters were evaluated according to a similar design during amlodipine (10 mg UID) and enalapril (20 mg UID) combined (n=10). As a control, the effect of enalapril monotherapy (10 and 20 mg UID for 2 weeks each) was evaluated in a third series of patients (n=8). Amlodipine (5 mg UID) increased leg weight without modifying postural vasoconstriction (the percent skin blood flow decrease from horizontal to dependent position), which indicates that extravascular fluid shift was independent of postural skin vasoconstriction. At 10 mg UID, however, amlodipine blunted postural vasoconstriction and increased leg weight further, which suggests that skin blood flow autoregulation limited additional fluid transfer. Both parameters normalized after drug withdrawal. Enalapril per se did not affect cutaneous vasomotion or leg weight but reduced the amount of dependent fluid extravasation by the CCB despite a persistent antagonism for postural vasoconstrictor responses.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Usefulness of carotid intima-media thickness measurement and peripheral B-mode ultrasound scan in the clinical screening of patients with coronary artery disease.

Previous observational studies have shown a relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study the authors evaluated the accuracy of the common carotid IMT measurement in predicting the presence and severity of CAD and the additional information offered by the detection of carotid, iliac, and lower limb plaques. One hundred and fifty consecutive patients were subjected to coronary angiography and carotid, iliac, and lower limb ultrasound scan. The mean value of six IMT measurements of the far wall of the common carotid artery was calculated in each patient. The mean IMT was significantly correlated to the number of stenosed coronary vessels (r = 0.43, p<0.001), although the positive and negative predictive value of mean IMT in identifying patients with CAD was low (81% and 46%, respectively). The combined information offered by IMT measurements and peripheral (carotid, iliac, and lower limb) plaque detection was then used to obtain the best multivariate regression model able to predict CAD status. The multivariate model showed a highly significant multiple correlation coefficient (r = 0.60, p<0.0001) and a sharp improvement in the negative predictive value (92%) with respect to the univariable model. B-mode ultrasound scan including common carotid IMT measurement and peripheral plaque detection may be of clinical value in the screening of patients with CAD.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of fluvastatin and bezafibrate combination on plasma fibrinogen, t-plasminogen activator inhibitor and C reactive protein levels in coronary artery disease patients with mixed hyperlipidaemia (FACT study). Fluvastatin Alone and in Combination Treatment.

AIM OF THE STUDY: We studied the effects of fluvastatin and bezafibrate in monotherapy and in combination on plasma fibrinogen, t-plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and C reactive protein (CRP) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and mixed hyperlipidaemia. DESIGN: In this randomised, double blind, multicentre trial 333 patients with stable angina pectoris or previous myocardial infarction or coronary revascularisation and mixed hyperlipidaemia (LDL-cholesterol 135-250 mg/dl and triglycerides (TG) 180-400 mg/dl) were randomised to fluvastatin 40 mg, bezafibrate 400 mg, fluvastatin 20 mg + bezafibrate 400 mg or fluvastatin 40 mg + bezafibrate 400 mg treatments for 24 weeks. RESULTS: Plasma fibrinogen significantly decreased after treatment with the combinations fluvastatin+bezafibrate (-14 and -16%) and with bezafibrate monotherapy (-9%). No significant reduction was observed after fluvastatin monotherapy (-4%). No significant changes were observed in PAI-1 and CRP plasma levels. Combination therapy significantly decreased both LDL-C and TG, and significantly increased HDL-C. CONCLUSIONS: The combined effects on fibrinogen and plasma lipids achieved by fluvastatin and bezafibrate combination treatment might be more useful than the simple reduction of cholesterol in preventing ischaemic cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Assessment of coronary vasomotor function: old and new tools.

Atherosclerosis has an impact on the vasomotor reaction of coronary segments to iodinated non-ionic contrast agents. Angiographically normal coronary segments show divergent vasomotor reactions to iodixanol or iopromide according to the presence of, and distance from, a coronary atherosclerotic lesion. The mechanism responsible for the above-mentioned vasomotor effect does not seem to involve flow-mediated vasodilation or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. On the other hand, a cyclooxygenase product may be, at least in part, responsible for the vasodilating effect of non-ionic agents on epicardial coronary arteries. These findings have potential clinical implications that are herein discussed.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1999

Endothelin-1 release from atherosclerotic plaque after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in stable angina pectoris and single-vessel coronary artery disease.

To assess the effects of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on endothelin-1 (ET-1) release, we assessed ET-1 concentrations at different sites of the coronary circulation in patients submitted to elective procedures. ET-1 levels immediately downstream from the plaque and ET-1 aortocoronary gradient increased significantly after the procedure, which was related to mechanical wall stress in patients only receiving balloons, but not in those undergoing stent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. No changes were found in the coronary sinus; these results suggest ET-1 release from the plaque rather than an ischemia/reperfusion-related production from the distal myocardium.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

A homeobox gene, vax2, controls the patterning of the eye dorsoventral axis.

We have identified a transcription factor specifically expressed in the developing vertebrate eye. We named this gene vax2 because of the high degree of sequence similarity to the recently described vax1. Both in the human and mouse genomes, vax2 is localized in the vicinity of the emx1 gene. This mapping assignment, together with the previously reported colocalization of Vax1 and Emx2 in mouse, indicates that the vax and the emx genes may be organized in clusters. vax2 has a remarkable expression domain confined to the ventral portion of the prospective neural retina in mouse, human, and Xenopus. The overexpression of either the frog Xvax2 or the human VAX2 in Xenopus embryos leads to an aberrant eye phenotype and, in particular, determines a ventralizing effect on the developing eye. The expression domain of the transcription factor Xpax2, normally confined to the ventral developing retina, extends to the dorsal region of the retina after overexpression of vax2. On the other hand, the expression of Xvent2, a molecular marker of the dorsal retina, is strongly reduced. Furthermore, vax2 overexpression induces a striking expansion of the optic stalk, a structure deriving from the ventralmost region of the eye vesicle. Altogether, these data indicate that vax2 plays a crucial role in eye development and, in particular, in the specification of the ventral optic vesicle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Identification and characterization of CDS2, a mammalian homolog of the Drosophila CDP-diacylglycerol synthase gene.

The general strategies of phototransduction in vertebrates and invertebrates share many similarities, but differ significantly in their underlying molecular machinery. The CDS gene encodes the CDP-diacylglycerol synthase (CDS) enzyme and is required for phototransduction in Drosophila. Using a bioinformatic approach, we have identified two novel transcripts (CDS1 and CDS2) highly homologous to the Drosophila CDS gene. We isolated and sequenced the CDS2 full-length cDNA and mapped the two genes to human chromosomes 20p13 (CDS2) and 4q21.1 (CDS1). Sequence analysis revealed that both genes are highly homologous to the Drosophila protein (64.4 and 58. 6% identity at the protein level between CDS and CDS2 and between CDS and CDS1, respectively). The mouse homologs for both genes were isolated and used in RNA in situ hybridization studies on adult and embryonic mouse tissue sections. These studies showed that Cds2 is highly expressed in the differentiating neuroblasts of the neural retina and in the central nervous system during embryonic development, while it was not detected in adult retina. Cds1, on the other hand, shows a high level of expression in the photoreceptor layer of adult retina, which strongly suggests a role for Cds1 in phototransduction. Knowledge of the expression pattern of these genes in mammals may shed light on the evolution of vision mechanisms and help in the evaluation of candidate genes for human retinopathies.

Adult↗