Discrimination of benign and malignant thyroid nodules by molecular profiling

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of thyroid nodules by fine-needle aspiration has been the standard for almost 30 years, despite significant shortcomings in sensitivity and specificity. Recent data from our laboratory have suggested that molecular profiling permits the discrimination of specific types of thyroid nodules. These studies were undertaken to determine whether molecular profiling can discriminate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules with the necessary sensitivity and specificity required of a screening test. METHODS: Molecular profiles of 11 papillary thyroid carcinomas, 13 follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas, 9 follicular thyroid carcinomas, and 26 benign tumors (follicular adenomas and hyperplastic nodules) were analyzed by oligonucleotide microarray analysis. A gene list was created based on 45 samples. Seventeen samples were then added to the analysis as unknowns. A hierarchical clustering analysis was performed on all 62 samples to examine the groups for potential differences and the ability of the gene list to distinguish tumor types. RESULTS: Cluster analysis of all 62 samples produced 2 distinct groups, 1 containing the carcinomas and 1 containing the benign lesions. The sensitivity for a diagnosis of cancer was 91.7% with a specificity of 96.2% (3 follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas clustered with the benign lesions). The cancer gene profiles contained both known cancer-associated genes (MET, galectin-3) and previously unidentified genes. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular profiling readily distinguishes between benign and malignant thyroid tumors with excellent sensitivity and specificity. Elucidated genes may provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid cancer. Gene profiling may significantly enhance the evaluation of thyroid nodules in the future.     

Youth problems among adoptees living in one-parent homes: a comparison with others from one-parent biological families

Exploring how rising family dissolutions affect adopted children, the authors investigated 2 competing viewpoints: (a) a double jeopardy hypothesis, positing adoptees are susceptible to heightened risks of adjustment problems because of a compounding of parental losses, versus (b) a buffering hypothesis, suggesting early birth parent losses buffer an adoptee's ability to accept parental loss from divorce. With data from the 1994 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health, 2003), the authors compared adaptations of adolescent adoptees living with 1 adoptive parent (n=143) with those of children living in step- or single-parent biological families (n=7,457) in a nationally representative sample. Results were mixed, showing some support for both hypotheses and mostly nonsignificant differences on the largest number of behavioral comparisons made.     

Pilot test of a behavioral skill building intervention to improve overall diet quality

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a cognitive and behavioral skills building intervention delivered via a small group or correspondence on improvement in total diet quality. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial comparing 2 intervention groups with a usual care (UC) group. PARTICIPANTS: Generally healthy men (n = 35) and women (n = 63); mean age = 49.6 years (range = 29 to 71 years). INTERVENTION: 20-session behavioral and cognitive skills curriculum to train participants to improve personal dietary habits that were inconsistent with public health guidelines. One group (weekly meeting [WM]) met in small groups with 2 cofacilitators. A correspondent (CR) group received the curriculum via mail and an interactive study Web site. The UC group received a copy of a consumer nutrition book. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Modified Healthy Eating Index (MHEI) score derived from 9 components of the US Department of Agriculture's Healthy Eating Index. RESULTS: The WM group significantly improved their MHEI score compared with the CR (P =.04) and UC (P =.002) groups. The CR group's improvement in MHEI score was not significantly different from that of the UC group (P =.19). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: A behaviorally focused intervention can improve overall diet quality, especially if delivered through small-group meetings.     

刑事警察心理健康调查分析

①目的了解刑事警察的心理健康状况，为心理干预提供依据。②方法对济宁市刑警队员进行症状自评量表（Symptom Checklist 90．SCL-90）、焦虑自评量表（Self—rating Anxiety state，SAS）、抑郁自评量表（Self—rating Depression scale，SDS）评定。③结果济宁市刑警队员的SCL-90、SAS、SDS量表评分与全国常模相比存在显著性差异。④结论。刑事警察职业是一种特殊职业，该职业对队员的心理健康有显著的影响，这种影响随着从事刑警工作时间的不同而改变。     

黄芪注射液对肝纤维化大鼠模型肝细胞胶原及TGF-β_1表达的影响

目的探讨黄芪注射液抗肝纤维化及对TGF-β1、Col-Ⅰ表达的影响。方法将35只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、CCl4诱导肝纤维化模型组和黄芪干预组。至造模第10周,处死所有大鼠,采用PV免疫组化方法检测Col-Ⅰ在各组肝组织中的表达,ELISA法检测TGF-β1在各组血清中的表达。结果经CCl4诱导成功建立大鼠肝纤维化模型,随着肝纤维化程度的进展,肝组织中Col-Ⅰ和血清中TGF-β1表达明显增强。在正常对照组、黄芪干预组和肝纤维化模型组肝组织中Col-Ⅰ表达的平均光密度值分别为0.298、0.315、0.503,模型组与前两组比较差异均有显著性（P〈0.01）,而黄芪干预组与正常组肝组织比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。在正常对照组、黄芪干预组和肝纤维化模型组大鼠血清中TGF-β1表达含量分别为491.29pg/L、629.91pg/L、959.09pg/L,呈递增趋势。模型组与前两组比较差异均有显著性（P〈0.01）,黄芪干预组与正常组比较其表达含量无显著差异（P〉0.05）。结论黄芪注射液可以显著抑制实验性肝纤维化大鼠模型的肝纤维化,这种抑制作用可能与抑制I型胶原蛋白及TGF-β1的表达有关。     

Monoclonal antibody DS6 detects a tumor-associated sialoglycotope expressed on human serous ovarian carcinomas

A newly developed murine monoclonal antibody, DS6, immunohistochemically reacts with an antigen, CA6, that is expressed by human serous ovarian carcinomas but not by normal ovarian surface epithelium or mesothelium. CA6 has a limited distribution in normal adult tissues and is most characteristically detected in fallopian tube epithelium, inner urothelium and type 2 pneumocytes. Pre-treatment of tissue sections with either periodic acid or neuraminidase from Vibrio cholerae abolishes immunoreactivity with DS6, indicating that CA6 is a neuraminidase-sensitive and periodic acid-sensitive sialic acid glycoconjugate ("sialoglycotope"). SDS-PAGE of OVCAR5 cell lysates has revealed that the CA6 epitope is expressed on an 80 kDa non-disulfide-linked glycoprotein containing N-linked oligosaccharides. Two-dimensional non-equilibrium pH gradient gel electrophoresis indicates an isoelectric point of approximately 6.2 to 6.5. Comparison of the immunohistochemical distribution of CA6 in human serous ovarian adenocarcinomas has revealed similarities to that of CA125; however, distinct differences and some complementarity of antigen expression were revealed by double-label, 2-color immunohistochemical studies. The DS6-detected CA6 antigen appears to be distinct from other well-characterized tumor-associated antigens, including MUC1, CA125 and the histo-blood group-related antigens sLea, sLex and sTn.