Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus that depends on the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) for the creation of new virions and propagation of the infection to hepatocytes. Chronic infection with HDV is usually associated with a worsening of HBV infection, leading more frequently to cirrhosis, increased risk of liver decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence. In spite of a progressive declining prevalence of both acute and chronic HDV infection observed over several years, mainly due to increased global health policies and mass vaccination against HBV, several European countries have more recently observed stable HDV prevalence mainly due to migrants from non-European countries. Persistent HDV replication has been widely demonstrated as associated with cirrhosis development and, as a consequence, development of liver decompensation and occurrence of HCC. Several treatment options have been attempted with poor results in terms of HDV eradication and improvement of long-term prognosis. A global effort is deemed urgent to enhance the models already existing as well as to learn more about HDV infection and correlated tumourigenesis mechanisms.

The main objectives of this investigation were : a) to determine genetic variation for N-uptake and Zea ma y s L.translocation in maize (Zea mays L.) and b) to gain an insight into the relationships among N-related traits.N u p take 'The study was carried out using 15 F, hybrids, from crosses among 6 inbred lines, grown at low and high N N accumulation regimes, in 2 consecutive years. The average N content of various plant fractions, as expected, increased in the N translocat i on n presence of a high level of N fertilization, although N harvest index had a more favourable expression at the Relationships among low N level. Significant differences among the F, hybrids were found for all traits, at both N levels. General N -related traits combining ability (GCA) was statistically significant for most of the traits studied at low and high N levels.ore a e ral S Also specific combining ability (SCA) was found significant for some of the N-related traits, but GCA mean squares were usually larger than SCA mean squares. Moreover, the estimates of GCA effects for the parental lines showed that some of the inbreds, when grown at either low or high N levels, contributed to the manifestation of the N-related traits in a very specific fashion. The analyses of covariation from the two sets of data, measured at low and high N levels, showed a different pattern of relationships among the N-related traits ; this suggested that limiting steps in N metabolism may be different when low or high levels of N fertilizers are present in the soil. Finally, it was emphasized how such a knowledge could assist the breeder in developing maize genotypes with a superior N-use efficiency, when working at a fixed N level in the :.,il.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary liver malignancy in which the risk of development is always multifunctional. Interleukin-6 is a proinflammatory and multifunctional cytokine, which plays an important role in the immune response, haematopoiesis and defence against viral infection. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of Interleukin-6 mutations (rs2069837 and rs17147230) associated with genetic risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Khyber Pakthunkhwa population. A total of 72 hepatocellular carcinoma cases and 38 controls were included in this study. The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood cells and Interleukin-6 genotyping was performed using T-ARMS-PCR technique. Our results show a significant increase risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma with the mutation within Interleukin-6 gene with heterozygous G allele (rs2069837) (OR = 10.667, 95%CI = 3.923–29.001, p = < 0.0001) and heterozygous T allele (rs17147230) (OR = 75.385, 95%CI = 9.797–580.065, p = < 0.0001). However, under recessive gene model the results were insignificant in case of Interleukin-6 rs2069837 (OR = 0.605, 95%CI = 0.217–1.689, p = 0.337), while significant in case of Interleukin-6 rs17147230 (OR = 0.298, 95%CI = 0.121–0.734, p = 0.0085). In conclusion, Interleukin-6 mutation is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility. More related studies with other associated interleukins and their whole gene sequencing will be required.

The role of sex hormone receptors in human cancer development and progression has been well documented in numerous studies, as has the success of sex hormone antagonists in the biological therapy of many human tumors. In salivary gland tumors (SGTs), little and conflicting information about the role of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PgR) and androgen receptor (AR) has been described and in most cases the use of sex hormone antagonists is not contemplated in clinical practice. In this study, we analyzed a panel of sex hormone receptors that have not been widely investigated in SGTs—ERα, PgR, AR, but also ERβ and GPR30—to define their expression pattern and their prognostic and predictive value in a case series of 69 benign and malignant SGTs. We showed the aberrant expression of AR in mucoepidermoid and oncocytic carcinoma, a strong relation between cytoplasmic ERβ expression and tumor grade, and a strong correlation between nuclear GPR30 expression and disease-free survival (DFS) of SGT patients.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem especially for its increasing level of mortality. Detailed knowledge of HCV genotypes prevalence has clinical relevance since the efficacy of therapies is impacted by genotypes and subtypes distribution. Moreover, HCV exhibits a great genetic variability regionally.To date, there are no published studies assessing HCV genotypes distribution in specific countries of the Mediterranean basin. The aim of this study was to review data published from 2000 to 2017 with the purpose to estimate genotypes distribution of HCV infection in nine European countries all located in the Mediterranean basin.MethodsA systematic research of peer‐reviewed journals indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases selected if containing data regarding distribution of HCV genotypes in nine selected European countries (Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Spain) was performed.ResultsGenotype 1 is the most common (61.0%), ranging from 80.0% in Croatia to 46.0% in Greece, followed by genotype 3 (20.0%), varying from 38.0% in Slovenia to 7.0% and 8.0%, respectively, in Italy and in Albania and by genotype 4 (10.0%) that shows an increase of 1.1% with respect to data obtained till 2014 probably due to the increasing migrants arrivals to Southern Europe. G2, the fourth most frequent genotype (8.5%), particularly common in Italy (27.0%) and Albania (18.0%) might be probably introduced in Southern Italy as a result of Albanian campaign during Second World War and more and more increased by the migration flows from Albania to Italy in the 90s.ConclusionEpidemiology of HCV infection shows a high variability across the European countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. HCV genotyping is a relevant tool to monitor the dynamic process influenced by both evolving transmission trends and new migration flows on HCV scenario.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with approximately 540,000 new cases annually worldwide. The molecular mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of this disease are still poorly understood. The discovery of a molecular marker that allows the early detection of this cancer, which can be easily identified in biological samples, such as saliva, without intervening in advanced stages, is a challenge. Numerous studies have identified a panel of molecular markers differently expressed in OSCC and normal oral mucosa. In particular, it was found an aberrant expression of matricellular glycoprotein SPARC. SPARC is involved in normal tissue remodeling, regulating the deposition of extracellular matrix, but also in neoplastic transformation. In fact, aberrant SPARC expression was detected both in stromal cells associated with cancer and in tumor cells. The aim of our study was the evaluation of SPARC on a retrospective series of 119 OSCC cases and the validation of the obtained data on a prospective series of 27 patients with OSCC, of whom we have previously collected saliva, and smeared material. The obtained results were correlated with each other and with clinical pathological parameters at our disposal. The study demonstrated a prognostic value of SPARC, especially with regard to its expression in the stroma surrounding OSCC (P < 0.05).

Myc oncogenetic deregulation is abundantly described in several solid human cancer and lymphomas. Particularly, Burkitt's lymphoma belongs to the family of B Non Hodgkin aggressive lymphomas. Although it is morphologically characterized, immunophenotypic and cytogenetic diagnosis remains complex. In 2008, the WHO has introduced a new diagnostic class of aggressive B-cell lymphomas with features intermediate between BL and DLBCL. This diagnostic class represents a temporary container of aggressive B-cell lymphomas, not completely belonging to the BL and DLBCL categories. The importance of establishing a correct diagnosis would allow a better prognostic classification and a better therapeutic approach. In this review, we summarize the main diagnostic approaches necessary for appropriate diagnoses and we emphasize the importance of cytogenetic analysis of the oncogene Myc in the histopathological diagnosis and the prognostic/predictive stratification. In this contest, Myc represents the more involved gene in the development of these lymphomas. Therefore, we analyze the genetic aberrations causing its over-expression and the concomitant deregulation of molecular pathways related to it. We also propose a FISH approach useful in the diagnosis of these lymphomas.

Introduction It has been greatly described that different hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes are strictly correlated to various evolution, prognosis and response to therapy during the chronic liver disease. Aim of this study was to outline the changes in the epidemiology of Hepatitis C genotypes in Southern Italy regions from 2006 to 2014. Material/Methods Prevalence of HCV genotypes was analyzed in 535 HCV-RNA positive patients with chronic Hepatitis C infection, selected during the period 2012–2014, and compared with our previous data, referred to periods 2006–2008 and 2009–2011. Results In all the three periods analyzed, genotype 1b is predominant (51.8% in 2006–08, 48.3% in 2009–11 and 54.4% in 2012–14) while genotype 2 showed an increase in prevalence (27.9% in 2006–08, 31.7% in 2009–11 and 35.2% in 2012–14) and genotypes 3a and 1a a decrease during the same period (6.8% in 2006–08, 4.7% in 2009–11 and 3.2% in 2012–14 and 7.9% in 2006–08, 4.7% in 2009–11 and 2.6% in 2012–14, respectively). Subtype 1b seems to be equally distributed between males and females (52.7% vs 56.6%) and the prevalence in the age range 31–40 years is significantly higher in the 2012–14 period than in both previous periods (53.8% vs. 16.6% in 2009–11, p< 0.001 and 13.4% in 2006–08, p < 0.001). Conclusions Genotype 1b is still the most prevalent, even if shows a significantly increase in the under 40 years old population. Instead, genotype 3a seems to have a moderate increase among young people. Overall, the alarming finding is the “returning” role of the iatrogenic transmission as risk factor for the diffusion of Hepatitis C infection.