Cystic variant of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor.

Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) is a benign, locally aggressive odontogenic neoplasm characterized by sheets and nests of epithelial cells with deeply eosinophilic or occasionally clear cytoplasm, calcifications, and eosinophilic amorphous material that stains positive for amyloid. Although many cases of CEOT are associated with impacted teeth and occasionally appear radiographically as dentigerous cysts, a true cystic variant has not been previously reported. We report a 15-year-old white male with a large cystic maxillary lesion that filled most of the left maxillary sinus. It deformed the medial wall, the inferior orbital floor, and caused narrowing of the left inferior meatus. Histologically, the cystic lining showed characteristics of CEOT. An intraluminal component that featured histologic characteristics of CEOT was identified during surgery. The lesion was enucleated and the postsurgical course of the patient was uneventful. Because follow-up has been for less than 1 year, a meaningful long-term prognosis cannot be determined at present. However, the patient has not reported any symptoms or signs of recurrence during the follow-up period.     

Surgical management of massive cerebellar infarction.

Massive cerebellar infarction accounts for less than 2% of strokes. Unlike massive hemispherical infarctions, in pure cerebellar infarctions, the prognosis is better. This case report discusses, a 61 year old lady who presented with atrial fibrillation and a massive cerebellar infarction. Timely surgical intervention reversed the deterioration in neurological status. The indications for surgical management, based on review of the literature, is presented.     

9p21 and 13q14 dosages in ependymomas. A clinicopathologic study of 101 cases.

Ependymomas are glial neoplasms whose clinical behavior is difficult to predict based on histology alone. Recently, a comparative genomic hybridization study identified frequent chromosome 9p and 13q losses in anaplastic ependymomas, suggesting that p16 and RB alterations may be involved in tumor progression. In order to test this hypothesis further, 101 myxopapillary, conventional, and anaplastic ependymomas (51 spinal and 50 intracranial tumors) were tested for RB and p16 deletions using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Clinical follow-up, ranging from 2 to 198 months (median 46 months), was obtained in 90 cases (91%). RB and p16 deletions were seen in 22 of 92 (24%) and 22 of 89 (25%) informative cases, respectively. Polysomies were more frequent in the grade I and II spinal tumors, consistent with prior reports of increased aneuploidy in such cases. No significant genetic associations were seen with tumor grade, recurrence, or death, suggesting that 9p and 13q deletions do not play a prominent role in the malignant progression of ependymomas, as has been implicated in other glioma subtypes.     

Child survival: maternal factors

The aim of government is to produce a healthy society through policy and practices that do not discriminate against the most vulnerable, for instance, poor pregnant women. The quality of a society can be measured by the delivery of health care and by child survival. India has been successful at industrialization and establishment of a fine infrastructure for health care delivery, yet health service delivery is poor and infant mortality and morbidity are high. Poor pregnancy outcomes are related to maternal health and health care. Under 33% of pregnancy women receive any prenatal care and under 20% receive trained assistance during delivery. Social customs that denigrate women are common. Feminism has not affected the masses of women in India, where hatred of the female gender still exists. The hatred begins at the birth of the female child. India has a high sex ratio of more males to females and has high illiteracy among females. Maternal mortality in developing countries is 200 times higher than in developed countries. The consequences are loss of life and loss of a caretaker for the children left behind. Government policies on maternal and child health care delivery have emphasized the child at the expense of maternal care. Family planning has received the bulk of funding under the Indian Family Welfare Program. Policy has focused on child survival yet ignored maternal morbidity and mortality. Child survival is affected by prenatal care, prenatal management, maternal age, maternal nutrition, the process of childbirth, treatment of obstetric emergencies, and treatment of birth injuries. The first 38 weeks of fetal development has a greater risk of danger and accident than the next 38 years following the birth. Indian women facing potential pregnancy risks walk many kilometers to a prenatal clinic and then wait for hours standing in long lines for registration; the actual examination by "experts" takes only minutes. Final determination of risk may take 2-3 visits with no assurance of admission to a hospital, or there may be early release because the bed is needed for another at-risk patient. 60-90% of births to rural mothers worldwide are attended by local trained or untrained birth attendants. Improper conduct during the delivery process and postnatal care of the infant affect the health outcome of infants. Hemorrhage, anemia, toxemia, and infections are the killers, and better management the solution.     

The psychosocial context of Black women's health

Researchers have demonstrated that Black women exhibit a disproportionate risk of ill health. We examined the relationship between psychosocial factors, including economic status, race-based social inequality, gender-based violence, and the health status of 323 Black women between the ages of 18 and 65. Black women from a community sample completed a health survey with open-ended responses. Results indicated that women in lower economic groups are more likely to be treated for allergies (p = < .05) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID; p = < .01). Women who experienced increased incidents of race-based social inequality received more medical treatments for yeast infections, pregnancy-related problems, allergies, and PID. Those with histories of physical, psychological, and early sexual abuse are more likely to be treated for depression, allergies, yeast infections, and hypertension. In addition, qualitative data examined the process in which economic, race-based social inequality, and gender-based violence contributed to the ill health of Black women. The implications of these findings suggest that understanding the psychosocial context is essential for appropriate clinical practice. Additionally, future research should conceptualize health as a complex interaction of psychosocial risks that have a profound effect on the health status of Black women.     

Selective Inhibition of Cell Proliferation by Lycopene in MCF‐7 Breast Cancer Cells In vitro: A Proteomic Analysis

Lycopene, a red pigmented carotenoid present in many fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, has been associated with the reduced risk of breast cancer. This study sought to identify proteins modulated by lycopene during cell proliferation of the breast cancer cell line MCF‐7 to gain an understanding into its mechanism of action. MCF‐7 breast cancer cells and MCF‐10 normal breast cells were treated with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 μM of lycopene for 72 h. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tetrazolium reduction assay was used to measure cell proliferation and two‐dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis to assess the changes in protein expression, which were identified using MALDI‐ToF/ToF (matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time‐of‐flight) and Mascot database search. MTT and cell proliferation assays showed that lycopene selectively inhibited the growth of MCF‐7 but not MCF‐10 cells. Difference gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that proteins in the MCF‐7 cells respond differently to lycopene compared with the MCF‐10 cells. Lycopene altered the expression levels of proteins such as Cytokeratin 8/18 (CK8/18), CK19 and their post translational status. We have shown that lycopene inhibits cell proliferation in MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells but not in the MCF‐10 mammary epithelial cells. Lycopene was shown to modulate cell cycle proteins such as beta tubulin, CK8/18, CK19 and heat shock proteins. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular composition of the alveolar lining fluid in the aging lung

As we age, there is an increased risk for the development of pulmonary diseases, including infections, but few studies have considered changes in lung surfactant and components of the innate immune system as contributing factors to the increased susceptibility of the elderly to succumb to infections. We and others have demonstrated that human alveolar lining fluid (ALF) components, such as surfactant protein (SP)-A, SP-D, complement protein C3, and alveolar hydrolases, play a significant innate immune role in controlling microbial infections. However, there is a lack of information regarding the effect of increasing age on the level and function of ALF components in the lung. Here we addressed this gap in knowledge by determining the levels of ALF components in the aging lung that are important in controlling infection. Our findings demonstrate that pro-inflammatory cytokines, surfactant proteins and lipids, and complement components are significantly altered in the aged lung in both mice and humans. Further, we show that the aging lung is a relatively oxidized environment. Our study provides new information on how the pulmonary environment in old age can potentially modify mucosal immune responses, thereby impacting pulmonary infections and other pulmonary diseases in the elderly population.