The deep South network for cancer control: eliminating cancer disparities through community-academic collaboration

African Americans have a substantially increased mortality rate compared to Whites in many cancers, including breast and cervix. The Deep South Network for Cancer Control (the Network) was established to develop sustainable community infrastructure to promote cancer awareness, enhance participation of African Americans and other special populations in clinical trials, recruit and train minority investigators, and develop and test innovative community-based cancer control measures to eliminate cancer mortality disparities in special populations. This article describes the steps necessary to form the network and the process and activities required to establish it as an effective infrastructure for eliminating disparities between Whites and African Americans in the United States.     

Nutrient Intakes of Men and Women Collegiate Athletes with Disordered Eating

The objective of this study was to assess the macro- and micronutrient intakes of men and women collegiate athletes with disordered eating behaviors and to compare the nutrient intakes of athletes with restrictive- versus binge-eating behaviors. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I University athletes (n = 232) were administered an anonymous, written questionnaire to compare nutrient intakes, desired weight change, and weight control behaviors in athletes with restrictive- (R) and binge- (B) eating behaviors to those in asymptomatic (A) athletes. T-tests, χ² statistic, and ANOVA were used to test for differences among disordered eating groups within genders (p < 0.05). Data are means ± standard error of the mean. Among men athletes, those with disordered eating consumed a smaller percentage of energy from carbohydrate compared to controls (R = 49.7 ± 1.5; B = 48.7 ± 2.3; A = 53.4 ± 0.7%). Among female athletes, those with disordered eating wanted to lose a greater percentage of their current body weight than did asymptomatic athletes (B = -6.1 ± 1.4; R = -6.7 ± 1.1; A = -3.7 ± 0.4%). Women who were classified with binge eating consumed significantly more alcohol than did controls (B = 6.8 ± 1.3; A = 3.9 ± 0.4 g alcohol per day). Athletes with disordered eating were more likely to report restricting their intake of carbohydrate and fat and using supplements to control their weight than asymptomatic athletes. Disordered eating was not associated with greater frequencies of inadequate micronutrient intake in either gender. Athletes with disordered eating may be at significantly greater risk for nutritional inadequacies than athletes who are asymptomatic due to macronutrient restriction and greater alcohol consumption.

Key Points

• Athletes with disordered eating were more likely to report restricting their intake of carbohydrate and fat and using supplements to control their weight than asymptomatic athletes
• Among female athletes, those with disordered eating wanted to lose a greater percentage of their current body weight than did asymptomatic athletes
• Disordered eating was not associated with greater frequencies of inadequate micronutrient intake in either gender
• Athletes with disordered eating may be at significantly greater risk for nutritional inadequacies than athletes who are asymptomatic due to macronutrient restriction and greater alcohol consumption.

Key Words: Eating disorder, Female Athlete Triad     

Bowen's disease of the nipple-a new method of treatment

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease) is a common skin condition but has only rarely been described on the nipple. All reported cases have been treated with wide local excision and observation. A new treatment for Bowen's disease is photodynamic therapy. This has been reported as being able to treat Bowen's disease in other sites effectively with an acceptable local recurrence rate. We describe two patients presenting with itching and scaling of the nipple which were histologically proven Bowen's disease, one of these patients was treated successfully with a combination of photodynamic therapy and cryotherapy: this is the first time such a lesion has been treated in this way.     

Catecholamine balance during stress anticipation: An abnormality in maximum security hospital patients

The rates and ratios of excretions of adrenaline and noradrenaline were compared in maximum security patients (social deviants), military mental hospital patients and normals. Urine samples were taken in routine and stressed situations.

The relative rate of adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion under daily routine was similar in the three groups studied. However, during periods of anticipation of unfamiliar stressful situations, approximately a quarter of the socially-deviant group exhibited an atypical increase in amount of noradrenaline and decrease in adrenaline. This resulted in a catecholamine balance that differed strikingly from the other subjects. The deviant subjects with abnormally high noradrenaline/adrenaline ratios also exhibited low physiological “anxiety” responsivity to stressors and had a history of convictions for extreme physical violence. These findings suggest that an unusual biochemical and physiological stress anticipation response is found in a group of patients with aggressive psychopathic behaviour.     

Astrocyte expression of a dominant-negative interferon-gamma receptor

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a major proinflammatory cytokine, and binding to its nearly ubiquitous receptor induces a wide variety of biological functions. To explore the role(s) of IFN-gamma signaling in astrocytes, transgenic mice (GFAP/IFN-gammaR1DeltaIC) expressing a dominant-negative IFN-gamma receptor alpha chain under control of the astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) promoter were generated. Transgenic mice developed normally, had normal astrocyte numbers and distribution, and exhibited no clinically overt phenotype. Transgene mRNA expression was detected only in the CNS, and the transgene-encoded IFN-gamma receptor 1 colocalized with GFAP, which is consistent with astrocyte expression. Astrocytes from transgenic mice exhibited reduced IFN-gamma-induced signaling as measured by major histocompatibility class II induction. Neither CNS inflammation nor perforin-mediated clearance of a neurotropic mouse hepatitis virus from astrocytes was impaired following infection. Transgenic mice with impaired astrocyte responsiveness to IFN-gamma provide a model for studying the selective astrocyte-dependent effects of this critical cytokine in CNS immunopathology.     

Expression of a dominant negative IFN-gammareceptor on mouse oligodendrocytes

The interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) receptor is expressed by all nucleated cells, and binding of its cognate ligand, IFN-gamma, induces a wide variety of biological functions. Transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative IFN-gamma receptor 1 (IFN-gammaR1DeltaIC) on oligodendrocytes under control of the myelin proteolipid protein promoter are described. The mRNA encoding the transgene was only detected in the nervous system and protein expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Transgenic receptor expression does not alter myelination and the mice exhibited no clinically apparent phenotype. Consistent with the restricted nervous system expression of the transgene, no alterations in peripheral immune responses were detected. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated constitutive expression of both the IFN-gammaR1DeltaIC transgene and the endogenous IFN-gamma receptor 2 at high levels on oligodendrocytes derived from the transgenic mice. These oligodendrocytes also exhibited decreased STAT1 phosphorylation in response to IFN-gamma, confirming dominant negative transgene function. Transgenic mice in which oligodendrocytes have a diminished ability to respond to IFN-gamma showed delayed virus clearance from oligodendroglia compared with wild-type mice. This model will allow evaluation of oligodendrocyte responses to this critical cytokine during CNS inflammation.     

Variation of DaTSCAN quantification between different gamma camera types

OBJECTIVE: To acquire data from a 123I filled Alderson phantom on different gamma cameras types and compare the relative uptake results from processing using the QuantiSPECT program (GE Healthcare). METHODS: A DaTSCAN phantom was filled using the standard protocol and imaged on seven different gamma camera types and on two identical cameras of the same type. The standard GE Healthcare protocols for the given cameras were used. Aliquots of the striatum and brain background were counted in a gamma counter to determine variations in filling concentration. All the raw DaTSCAN SPECT data was imported into QuantiSPECT and processed by the three different algorithms (two box, three box and crescent) to determine the relative uptake in the striatum. Inter-operater and intra-operator variation was also determined. RESULTS: The 10% variation in filling concentration found across the sites was compensated for in the final results. There was a 5-15% variation between cameras depending on the processing algorithm used. There was an intra-operator variation of between 5 and 12% which reflected the proportion of operator intervention within the processing method. There was no statistical variation between operators. CONCLUSIONS: The transfer of a DaTSCAN database between camera types is feasible, but ideally all data would be acquired on a single camera type and phantom data used to normalize the database accordingly.     

Delivery and collection of radioactive packages to and from UK hospital nuclear medicine departments

Under radiation protection legislation in the UK, employers have a duty to maintain appropriate records to account for radioactive materials in their possession and to ensure security of these materials. This applies to radioactive packages, containing items such as technetium generators, which are regularly delivered to hospital nuclear medicine departments. It also applies to the collection of packages, such as those containing used generators for return to the supplier. This article has been written by the professional bodies representing nuclear medicine in the UK in order to provide guidance to hospitals on appropriate procedures that will comply with the legislation. General principles, which should be met by any acceptable protocol, are stated, and practical guidance on how these may be implemented is given. Some example scenarios are outlined.