乳腺管状小叶癌

乳腺管状小叶癌（Tubulolobular carcinoma，TLC）最初是被作为小叶癌的管状变型。作者总结了27例TLC的组织学、免疫表型和临床特征，并与纯小管癌和经典型小叶癌进行了比较。此组患者年龄43-79岁（中位年龄60岁）。1例双侧乳腺受累，5例病变为多灶性。肿瘤直径0．5-2．5cm，色灰褐，质硬。组织学观察：TLC的肿瘤细胞形成管状和条索状两种结构模式并相互混杂，且两者比例相当（统称为管状小叶模式）。     

Germline mutations of the CDKN2 gene in UK melanoma families

Germline mutations in CDKN2 on chromosome 9p21, which codes for the cyclin D kinase inhibitor p16, and more rarely, mutations in the gene coding for CDK4, the protein to which p16 binds, underlie susceptibility in some melanoma families. We have sequenced all exons of CDKN2 and analysed the CDK4 gene for mutations in 27 UK families showing evidence of predisposition to melanoma. Five different germline mutations in CDKN2 were found in six families. Three of the mutations (Met53Ile, Arg24Pro and 23ins24) have been reported previously. We have identified two novel CDKN2 mutations (88delG and Ala118Thr) which are likely to be associated with the development of melanoma, because of their co-segregation with the disease and their likely functional effect on the CDKN2 protein. In binding assays the protein expressed from the previously described mutation, Met53Ile, did not bind to CDK4/CDK6, confirming its role as a causal mutation in the development of melanoma. Ala118Thr appeared to be functional in this assay. Arg24Pro appeared to bind to CDK6, but not to CDK4. No mutations were detected in exon 2 of CDK4, suggesting that causal mutations in this gene are uncommon. The penetrance of these mutant CDKN2 genes is not yet established, nor is the risk of non-melanoma cancer to gene carriers.      

Multigenic control of skin tumor susceptibility in SENCARA/Pt mice

Skin tumors induced in mice by initiation-promotion (2 microg DMBA-2 microg TPA) protocols were found to be under multigenic control. Eighty- one N2 mice from the cross (BALB/cAnPt x SENCARA/Pt)F1 x SENCARA/Pt that were either solidly resistant (no papillomas) or highly susceptible (> or = 7 papillomas/mouse) were subjected to a 'genome scan' using 89 microsatellite markers to check for associations with susceptible and resistant phenotypes. A locus on Chr 5 (Skts4) was found to control the susceptibility of SENCARA/Pt mice and the resistance of BALB/cAnPt mice to papilloma formation. In addition, higher than expected linkage scores were seen for the markers D9Mit271, D11Mit268 and D12Mit56. Further work is required to establish whether genes determining papilloma formation are located in these regions of the genome. In general, no evidence was seen for loss of heterozygosity in microsatellite markers on Chrs 5, 9 and 11 in 17 microdissected papillomas from (BALB/c x SENCARA)F1 hybrid mice.      

Food label reading and understanding in parts of rural and urban Zimbabwe

Background

Overweight and obesity prevalence is rapidly rising in developing countries. The reading and understanding of nutrition information on food packages has been shown to improve food choices and instill healthy eating habits in individuals.

Objective

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of food label usage and understanding among urban and rural adults in Zimbabwe and its association with demographic and socio economic factors.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted on 320 adults (147 urban and 173 rural) using a validated questionnaire adapted from previous similar studies. Data were analysed using SPSS-17 statistical software.

Results

A high proportion (77.2%) of the respondents read food labels. Food label reading differed significantly by educational status (p<0.05), employment status (p<0.05) and locality (p<0.05). Only 40.9% of food label readers mostly understood the information on the food labels. More urban shoppers (86.1%) read food labels than their rural counterparts (66.7%). A significant number of participants (80.6%) indicated they would like to be educated on the meaning of food labels and 80.3% preferred the nutrition information on food labels to be simplified.

Conclusion

The study found above average reported reading of nutrition information on food labels with partial understanding. Efforts should be made to determine how all consumers could be made to understand the nutrition information on food labels and use it effectively in decision making.     

Transepithelial paracellular leakiness induced by chronic phorbol ester exposure correlates with polyp-like foci and redistribution of protein kinase C-alpha

Although exposure of LLC-PK1 epithelial cell sheets to phorbol esters (TPA) causes a near immediate and total decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), continuation of exposure for 3 to 4 days results in a tachyphylactic response as TER begins to return to control levels. Recovery of TER is maximal by 5 to 6 days, but reaches only 70 to 80% of control level. A reciprocal change in the transepithelial flux of D-mannitol indicates that the TER decrease is indicative of an increase in tight junction permeability. Exposure of cell sheets to TPA for several days also results in the appearance of multilayered polyp- like foci (PLFs) across the otherwise one cell layer thick cell sheets. The pattern of penetration of the electron dense dye, ruthenium red, from the apical surface, across the tight junction and into the lateral intercellular space indicates that the tight junctions of the cell sheet become uniformly leaky after acute exposure to TPA. However, when exposure is continued for several days, only the junctions of cells in the PLFs manifest leakiness. The decrease in TER following acute TPA exposure correlates with the translocation of protein kinase C-alpha (PKC alpha) into a membrane-associated compartment. With exposure of several days, only a trace of PKC alpha is visible by Western immunoblot, and this is in the membrane-associated compartment. Immunofluorescent microscopy indicates that the trace of PKC alpha seen in the Western immunoblots is ascribable distinctly to cells of the PLFs. Monolayer areas between PLFs show no discernible immunofluorescent signal. The data therefore indicate that tight junction barrier function may be restored in certain areas by the down regulation of PKC alpha from the membrane-associated compartment. Failure to down regulate may result in the paracellular leakiness and abnormal cell architecture of the PLFs. Possible implications of this model for in vivo epithelial tumor promotion are discussed.      

Molecular analysis of PKU in Ireland

Classical phenylketonuria (PKU: McKusick No. 261600) is caused by mutations occurring at the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) locus on chromosome 12 and has a prevalence in Ireland of 1 in 4500. We examined 304 independent alleles from 350 patients for the presence of six mutations and have characterized VNTR alleles within the minisatellite region 3' to the PAH gene in patients carrying the most prevalent mutation. R408W was the most common mutation found, with a relative frequency of 42%. All other mutations had relative frequencies of <10%. VNTR analysis showed that the R408W mutation is associated with the VNTR-8 allele in the Irish population, indicating that R408W is associated with RFLP haplotype 1. This differs from that reported from eastern Europe where R408W is associated with RFLP haplotype 2/VNTR-3; an observation which has led several groups to propose a Balto-Slavic origin for this mutation. These results support the hypothesis of a second, independent founding event for the R408W mutation on an RFLP haplotype 1 VNTR-8 chromsome background in the Irish/Celtic population.     

Fabrication of a Fixed Retrievable Implant‐supported Prosthesis Based on Electroforming: A Technical Report

This article describes a method of fabricating a fixed retrievable implant‐retained prosthesis based on electroforming. This method combines the advantages of both the cement‐ and screw‐retained prostheses, including passive fit, ease of fabrication, and retrievability. The absence of visible occlusal screw‐canals adds to its increased esthetic appeal.