Influence of Tartrate Ligand Coordination over Luminescence Properties of Chiral Lanthanide-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks

The present work reports on a detailed discussion about the synthesis, characterization, and luminescence properties of three pairs of enantiopure 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with general formula {[Ln₂(L/D-tart)₃(H₂O)₂]·3H₂O}_n (3D_Ln-L/D, where Ln = Sm(III), Eu(III) or Gd(III), and L/D-tart = L- or D-tartrate), and ten pairs of enantiopure 2D coordination polymers (CPs) with general formula [Ln(L/D-Htart)₂(OH)(H₂O)₂]_n (2D_Ln-L/D, where Ln = Y(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Tm(III) or Yb(III), and L/D-Htart = hydrogen L- or D-tartrate) based on single-crystal X-ray structures. Enantiopure nature of the samples has been further corroborated by Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) as well as by circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Solid-state emission spectra of Eu(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III)-based compounds confirm the occurrence of ligand-to-metal charge transfers in view of the characteristic emissions for these lanthanide ions, and emission decay curves were also recorded to estimate the emission lifetimes for the reported compounds. A complete theoretical study was accomplished to better understand the energy transfers occurring in the Eu-based counterparts, which allows for explaining the different performances of 3D-MOFs and 2D-layered compounds. As inferred from the colorimetric diagrams, emission characteristics of Eu-based 2D CPs depend on the temperature, so their luminescent thermometry has been determined on the basis of a ratiometric analysis between the ligand-centered and Eu-centered emission. Finally, a detailed study of the polarized luminescence intensity emitted by the samples is also accomplished to support the occurrence of chiro-optical activity.

Antiphospholipid antibodies predict early damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study was to determine whether the different autoantibodies predict early damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The patients comprised a prospective inception cohort of 205 patients with SLE, 154 on follow-up for at least five years after diagnosis. Eight patients who died before the fifth year of disease course were included in analyses comprising survival. Organ damage was measured using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics - American College of Rheumatology damage index (SDI). Endpoints were the development of some (SDI ≥1) or severe (SDI > 2) damage at five years after diagnosis or the combined outcome ‘SDI ≥1 or death at five years’. Autoantibodies [anti-DNA, anti-Ro, anti-La, anti-Sm, anti-U1 RNP, any anti-ENA and antiphospholipid (aPL)] were included in univariate and multivariate analysis. ‘Age at diagnosis’ was also included as an independent variable in multivariant analyses. Sapporo criteria were used to define aPL positivity. Eighty-four patients (54.5%) had accrued damage at five years, 17 patients (11.0%) having severe damage. Patients with aPL had damage in a higher proportion (63.2% any damage, 17.6% severe damage). Only aPL were related to damage in univariate analysis ( P = 0.03). In logistic regression models, aPL were the only independent predictors of damage at five years (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.01-3.73), severe damage at five years (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.11-10.03) and increasing damage since diagnosis (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.24-4.87). No autoantibody was a predictor of the outcome ‘SDI ≥1 or death at five years’. The conclusion was that aPL predict early damage in patients with SLE.

The MRI contrast agent gadoteridol enhances distribution of rAAV1 in the rat hippocampus

Contrast agents are commonly used in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the distribution of molecules in the brain. Recent experiments conducted in our laboratory have shown that co-infusion of recombinant Adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (rAAV5) and the MRI contrast agent gadoteridol (Gd) enhances vector transduction of in the rat striatum. The goal of this study was to determine whether gadoteridol may also be used as a tool to enhance transduction efficiency of rAAV1 and rAAV5 within the rat hippocampus. We show that Gd/rAAV1-GFP but not Gd/rAAV5-GFP co-infusion results in significantly higher distribution of the transgene both in the injected hemisphere as well as in the contralateral side and adjacent areas of cortex along the injection track. We also show that Gd/rAAV1-GFP co-infusion has no deleterious effect on hippocampal function as assessed by two tests of spatial memory formation. This work indicates that gadoteridol can be exploited as a method to increase transduction efficiency of AAV1 in the hippocampus for animal studies.

Nuclear survivin is associated with disease recurrence and poor survival in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma

AIMS

Survivin is expressed in neoplastic cells and appears to be associated with resistance to therapy and shorter survival in various types of tumours. The aim of the present study was to determine whether nuclear or cytoplasmic expression of survivin is related to disease recurrence and overall survival of patients with Stage I and II melanoma according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of primary cutaneous melanoma from 50 patients. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log rank test. Association of clinical variables (gender, age, tumour location, thickness, Clark level and AJCC stage) with survivin expression was analysed by Fisher's exact test. Patients with nuclear immunoreactivity for survivin had an increased risk of disease recurrence during the first three postoperative years (P < 0.05) and of death (P < 0.05). Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was not correlated with either survival or clinical variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Nuclear presence of survivin may be an independent biomarker for disease recurrence and overall survival in patients with Stage I and II melanoma.

Prognostic prediction of the immunohistochemical expression of p16 and p53 in cutaneous melanoma: a comparison of two populations from different geographical regions

p16INK4a and p53 are tumor-suppressor genes frequently altered in various malignancies, including cutaneous melanoma. The purpose of the study was to establish the prognostic value of immunohistochemical expression of p16INK4a a and p53 in sporadic cutaneous melanoma (CM) in two regions with a high-risk for melanoma in Italy and Ecuador. Immunohistochemical staining of p16 and p53 was performed in samples of primary CM from 82 patients with Stage I and II melanoma according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Survival differences between categories of p16 or p53 expression were analyzed using the product-limit procedure (Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test). Clinical variables (gender, age, tumor location, Clark's level, thickness) were correlated with survival and p16 or p53 expression. p16 nuclear immunoreactivity was observed in 85% of Italian patients compared to 48.7% of Ecuadorians; a small number of cases showed p53 immunoreactivity in both populations. Only nuclear p16 expression exhibited a significant correlation with survival (Italians p=0.001, Ecuadorians p=0.017) but did not appear to correlate with any clinicopathological parameter. No significant difference was observed in survival with regard to p53 expression or cytoplasmic p16. Our results demonstrate that nuclear expression of p16 can be considered a molecular prognostic factor in patients with sporadic CM and indicate its importance as a clinical marker.

[Asterixis in focal brain lesions]

Asterixis is a motor control disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal movements of the lower limbs in the vertical plane during posture maintenance. Asterixis is usually bilateral and associated with toxic-metabolic metabolic encephalopathies. Unilateral asterixis is less frequent and it normally indicates focal brain damage. We report the cases of four patients (two males/two females), aged 57 to 83 years, suffering from uni or bilateral asterixis associated with focal brain damage. All patients underwent CT brain scan and a neurophysiological study (parietal EMG and/or PES). In addition, any toxic-metabolic cause that could be produced by this clinical phenomenon was ruled out with the appropriate testing. Unilateral asterixis is a clinical symptom that may indicate the presence of focal brain damage. Often, it is ignored or overlooked during routine neurological examinations. On the other hand, the presence of a bilateral asterixis is not always indicative of a toxic-metabolic encephalopathy.Rarely, such as in one of the cases herein presented, bilateral asterixis can also appear associated with structural brain lesions. Although asterixis diagnosis is fundamentally clinical, the neurophysiological study contributes to verify the diagnosis.

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in pterygia from different geographical regions

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aetiology and pathogenesis of pterygia remain unclear and the involvement of human papillomavirus (HPV) is controversial. 41 pterygia from two geographic locations were evaluated for the presence of HPV DNA.

METHODS

41 pterygium biopsies (17 from Italy and 24 from Ecuador) were analysed using the L1C1 and PU-1ML primer sets by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis.

RESULTS

22 of the 41 pterygia (54%) were positive for HPV, including all 17 Italian cases and 5/24 (21%) Ecuadorean cases. DNA sequencing of the 22 positive cases showed that 11 were HPV type 52, four were type 54, five were candHPV90, and two of unknown genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

The major differences in the frequency of HPV in geographically distant populations might suggest a possible explanation for the vast differences in the reported detection rates. Three subtypes of HPV were found in this sample of pterygia. None the less, these results suggest that HPV may have a pathogenic role in pterygium.