Effect of different cytokines on mammaglobin and maspin gene expression in normal leukocytes: possible relevance to the assays for the detection of micrometastatic breast cancer

In cancer patients, the ability to detect disseminated tumour cells in peripheral blood or bone marrow could improve prognosis and consent both early detection of metastatic disease and monitoring of the efficacy of systemic therapy. These objectives remain elusive mainly due to the lack of specific genetic markers for solid tumours. The use of surrogate tissue-specific markers can reduce the specificity of the assays and give rise to a clinically unacceptable false-positive rate. Mammaglobin (MAM) and maspin are two putative breast tissue-specific markers frequently used for detection of occult tumour cells in the peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. In this study, it was evaluated whether MAM and maspin gene expression may be induced in the normal blood and bone marrow cells exposed to a panel of cytokines, including chemotactic factors (C5a, interleukin (IL)-8), LPS, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and growth factors (IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor). The experimental data show that all cytokines included in the panel, except for IL-8, were able to induce maspin expression; on the contrary, MAM gene was never induced. These results suggest that MAM is more specific than maspin and that the possible interference of cytokines should be taken into account in interpreting molecular assays for detection of isolated tumour cells

Reactions of connective tissue to compomers, composite and amalgam root-end filling materials

Aim To evaluate the subcutaneous connective tissue reaction to compomers, composite and amalgam root-end filling materials

Enumeration of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 by using immunomagnetic separation and ATP bioluminescence in buffer solution

Escherichia coli O157:H7, (EHEC), is associated with consumption of ground beef or raw milk. Illnesses caused by EHEC infections can range from self-limited watery diarrhea to life-threating manifestations such as haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The lack of efficient selective enrichment medium for EHEC, reduces the sensitivity and specificity of the conventional cultural method (CCM). Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) using Dynabeads(R) anti-E. coli O157:H7 represents the selective enrichment procedure needed to improve the CCM. On the other hand, measuring the light given off by the reaction of ATP with luciferase+luciferin reagent in relative light units (RLU), indicates the count of EHEC

Reactions of connective tissue to mineral trioxide aggregate and amalgam

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the subcutaneous connective tissue reactions to ProRoot, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA; Dentsply), and Oralloy, high-copper amalgam (Coltene). These materials were placed in polyethylene tubes and implanted into dorsal connective tissue of Wistar albino rats, and tissue biopsies were collected and histologically examined 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after the implantation procedure. The presence of inflammation, predominant cell type, calcification, and thickness of fibrous connective tissue were recorded. Scores were defined as follows: 0, none or few inflammatory cells, no reaction; 1, 150 mum. Necrosis and formation of calcification were recorded. Both materials were well tolerated by the tissues in a 90-day evaluation period. One notable finding is the presence of dystrophic calcification in connective tissue adjacent to MTA; this finding is consistent with the hypothesis of hard tissue induction by this material

Preparation of activated carbon from waste tires, and its use for dye removal

In this study, activated carbon derivation from end-of-life tires (ELT), and color removal from waste-water with produced activated carbon were investigated. In activated carbon production stage, granulated waste tires were first washed in KOH solution at 1:1 (1-K) and 1:2 (2-K) impregnation ratios prior to thermal activation. Chemically activated waste tires were then subjected to pyrolysis. Following pyrolysis, solids (char) were used as adsorbent material. Surface area of 2-K adsorbent was measured to be 2.945 m(2)/g by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. In the second stage of the study, adsorptive removal of methylene blue dye from synthetically prepared wastewater was investigated using 1-K and 2-K activated carbons. Results have shown that activated carbon produced in the study was an appropriate adsorbent for removal of dye. The optimum conditions for 2-K adsorbent, which yielded 83% dye removal, were pH 6.5, 30 degrees C temperature, 7.5 g/L adsorbed dose, and 30 min contact time. Isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies were carried out in order to elucidate the adsorption mechanism. Since ELT derived activated carbon provided good efficiency in adsorption of dye, whole operation may be scaled-up considering the necessity of aligning rates of ELT production and its upcycling