Cloning of primary human tumor colony forming units in glass capillaries

Summary Techniques are described for growth of primary human tumor colony-forming units in agar in glass capillary tubes. Tissue recovered from an invasive procedure is made into a single cell suspension. The cells are washed and placed in tissue culture media and agar in glass capillary tubes. After 10 to 14 d of incubation, colonies of tumor cells are visible in the capillaries. This technique can be used to determine the sensitivity pattern of patients' tumors to conventional and investigational anticancer agents. The technique can also be used to screen for antitumor activity of new chemical entities.     

Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome: A Case Report

We present a 4-year-old girl with poikiloderma, radial aplasia, short stature, facial dysmorphism, and sparse hair. We believe these findings to be consistent with a diagnosis of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome.     

Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis and vulvodynia: a clinical correlation

Vulvodynia affects 25% of women with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC). The objective of our study was to clinically evaluate the association of PBS/IC and vulvodynia and possible contributing factors. To our knowledge, this has not been reported. Seventy women with PBS/IC were evaluated from December 2005 to December 2006 with a comprehensive history and exam. Two groups were formed—those with vulvodynia and those without vulvodynia for comparison. Of the women, 51.4% had vulvodynia and 48.6% did not have vulvodynia using our operative definition. Average levator pain levels were significantly greater in those with vulvodynia. There was no significant difference in the total number of lifetime pelvic surgeries, history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), vaginitis, or abuse history between groups. The correlation of vulvodynia and PBS/IC may have been underestimated. Research needs to explore the link between precipitating factors, symptoms, and effective treatment options for PBS/IC and vulvodynia.     

Emotional intervention strategies for dementia-related behavior: a theory synthesis.

Behavioral disturbances of elders with dementia are prevalent. Yet the science guiding development and testing of effective intervention strategies is limited by rudimentary and often-conflicting theories. Using a theory-synthesis approach conducted within the perspective of the need-driven dementia-compromised behavior model, this article presents the locomoting responses to environment in elders with dementia (LRE-EWD) model. This new model, based on empirical and theoretical evidence, integrates the role of emotion with that of cognition in explicating a person-environment dynamic supporting wandering and other dementia-related disturbances. Included is evidence of the theory's testability and elaboration of its implications. The LRE-EWD model resolves conflicting views and evidence from current research on environmental interventions for behavior disturbances and opens new avenues to advance this field of study and practice.     

Revised Pediatric Reference Data for the Lateral Distal Femur Measured by Hologic Discovery/Delphi Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry

Lateral distal femur (LDF) scans by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are often feasible in children for whom other sites are not measurable. Pediatric reference data for LDF are not available for more recent DXA technology. The objective of this study was to assess older pediatric LDF reference data, construct new reference curves for LDF bone mineral density (BMD), and demonstrate the comparability of LDF BMD to other measures of BMD and strength assessed by DXA and by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). LDF, spine and whole body scans of 821 healthy children, 5–18 yr of age, recruited at a single center were obtained using a Hologic Discovery/Delphi system (Hologic, Inc., Bedford, MA). Tibia trabecular and total BMD (3% site), cortical geometry (38% site) (cortical thickness, section modulus, and strain-strength index) were assessed by pQCT. Sex- and race-specific reference curves were generated using LMS Chartmaker (LMS Chartmaker Pro, version 2.3. Tim Cole and Huiqi Pan. Copyright 1997-2006, Medical Research Council, UK) and Z-scores calculated and compared by correlation analysis. Z-scores for LDF BMD based on published findings demonstrated overestimation or underestimation of the prevalence of low BMD-for-age depending on the region of interest considered. Revised LDF reference curves were generated. The new LDF Z-scores were strongly and significantly associated with weight, body mass index, spine and whole body BMD Z-scores, and all pQCT Z-scores. These findings demonstrate the comparability of LDF measurements to other clinical and research bone density assessment modes, and enable assessment of BMD in children with disabilities, who are particularly prone to low trauma fractures of long bones, and for whom traditional DXA measurement sites are not feasible.