Gene expression variation to predict 10-year survival in lymph-node-negative breast cancer

Background  

It is of great significance to find better markers to correctly distinguish between high-risk and low-risk breast cancer patients since the majority of breast cancer cases are at present being overtreated.     

Short-term intrahepatic FUdR infusion combined with bolus mitomycin C: Reduced risk for developing drug resistance

This study evaluates tumor response, survival, and development of resistance to HAI chemotherapy, comparing a combination of bolus MMC and short duration FUdR to short duration FUdR alone or to long duration FUdR alone, using a rat hepatic metastases model. After intrasplenic injection of 10⁷ K12/TRb colon cancer cells in BD-IX rats on day 0, hepatic metastases were evaluated and HA catheters were placed on day 14. The response was determined on day 28. Chemosensitivity of the hepatic metastases after HAI treatments was determined using the MTT assay. Bolus MMC with short duration FUdR as well as long-term FUdR alone provided better hepatic tumor response and survival than short-term FUdR alone. However, bolus MMC with short duration FUdR decreased the acquired resistance to FUdR, compared to long-term FUdR, without causing resistance to MMC. These results provide a rationale for using short duration of FUdR in combination with other drugs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Interocular difference in progression of glaucoma correlates with interocular differences in retrobulbar circulation

PURPOSE:To evaluate the correlation between interocular difference in progression of glaucomatous damage and interocular differences in retrobulbar blood flow. METHODS:On the basis of a retrospective analysis of visual fields, progressive damage was identified in 20 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. As a parameter of interocular difference in progression of visual field damage, the angle (gamma) between the regression lines of the visual field index mean defect over time per eye was calculated for each subject. The relationship between the angle gamma and interocular differences in intraocular pressure and retrobulbar color Doppler imaging parameters was analyzed by a multiple linear regression analysis in a stepwise forward approach. RESULTS:With larger interocular differences in progression of glaucomatous damage, lower mean blood flow velocities in the ophthalmic artery (partial r = -.69; P <. 0016), higher resistivity indices in the central retinal artery (partial r =.48; P <.0456), and higher peak systolic velocities in the ophthalmic artery (partial r =.52; P <.0285) were noted in the eyes with more marked progression of damage (multiple r =.71; P <. 0099). Interocular differences in progression of visual field damage were not related to intraocular pressure or extent of visual field damage. CONCLUSION:Independent of the extent of the interocular difference in glaucomatous damage and intraocular pressure, interocular difference in progression of glaucomatous visual field damage correlates with interocular difference in retrobulbar hemodynamic parameters.     

Attitudes towards meat and meat-eating among adolescents in Norway: a qualitative study

The aim of this study was to explore the concept of disgust in relation to meat and meat-eating. A sample of 30 high school students (aged 16 to 17 years), 10 urban females, 10 rural females, and 10 rural males, participated in the study. The participants' attitudes towards meat and meat-eating were investigated through interviews of a semi-structured nature and a short, confidential questionnaire. The study showed that disgust was solely related to red meat varieties and not to chicken. There were no vegetarians in our consumer sample, but red meat-eating was more common among males than females. Sensory attributes that were drivers of liking for meat were good taste, good smell and juiciness; these were described by both genders. All the females tended to characterise meat and meat-eating experiences negatively. Their associations were based on disgust, rather than distaste as found among males. Offensive attributes that the females attributed to meat were linked to the animals and their body parts, blood and raw meat, fibrous and chewy texture, fatty feeling in the mouth, and visible fat. Subjects with regular contact with farm animals displayed more relaxed attitudes towards animal production and showed no such disgust reactions. Females also tended to associate meat with "heavy" food that had negative impact on their bodies. They were also less content with their body appearance, dieted more than males, and tended to associate health (in the sense of fat consumption) and food intake to the wish for slim bodies.     

Verb argument structure weakness in specific language impairment in relation to age and utterance length

In spite of the complexity of verb argument structure, argument structure errors are infrequent in the speech of children with specific language impairment (SLI). The study examined the spontaneous argument structure use of school-age children with SLI and with normal language (NL) (n = 100). The groups did not differ substantially in frequency of argument structure errors, particularly when pragmatic context was considered. However, children with SLI used significantly fewer argument types, argument structure types and verb alternations than age-matched children with NL. Further, significant differences between children with SLI and mean length of utterance-matched controls were found involving the use of three-place argument structures. The results show that children with SLI demonstrate mostly correct, but less sophisticated, verb argument structure use than NL peers, and that the difference is not merely attributable to production limitations such as utterance length. The possibility of incomplete argument structure representation is suggested.     

Pancreatic resection for locally advanced primary and metastatic nonpancreatic neoplasms

We conducted a retrospective review of our single-institution experience with pancreas resection for locally advanced primary malignancy or metastases from other organs. From January 1989 through April 2001 35 patients underwent pancreatic resection for locally advanced primary (17) and recurrent nonpancreatic (18) tumors. Patient records were examined for recurrence and survival. Seventeen patients with locally advanced primary tumors presented with pancreatic extension either into the head/body (six) or tail (11). Pancreatic resections were completed as en bloc procedures with the primary disease of stomach (five), colon (four), sarcoma (five), adrenal gland (one), or spleen (one). Procedures performed included pancreaticoduodenectomy for proximal lesions and distal pancreatectomy for disease limited to the pancreatic tail. Median overall survival was 56 months. Fourteen of 17 patients remain alive: three with disease and 11 without evidence of recurrence. Eighteen patients presented with recurrent tumor from a previously resected right upper quadrant tumor (nine) or metastases from an intra-abdominal source (nine). The primary source was colon (eight), biliary (three), sarcoma (three), melanoma (two), ovary (one), and unknown primary (one). Patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, or resection of residual pancreas. Overall median survival was 46 months. In this group of 18 patients there was no increased survival in those patients with a time to recurrence from their primary tumor resection greater than 2 years. We conclude that pancreatic resection for locally advanced nonpancreatic or recurrent intra-abdominal malignancies is possible in properly selected patients. The ability to obtain disease-free margins through en bloc resection is a key component of therapy.     

The ratio of Matriptase/HAI-1 mRNA is higher in colorectal cancer adenomas and carcinomas than corresponding tissue from control individuals

Background  

It has recently been shown that overexpression of the serine protease, matriptase, in transgenic mice causes a dramatically increased frequency of carcinoma formation. Overexpression of HAI-1 and matriptase together changed the frequency of carcinoma formation to normal. This suggests that the ratio of matriptase to HAI-1 influences the malignant progression. The aim of this study has been to determine the ratio of matriptase to HAI-1 mRNA expression in affected and normal tissue from individuals with colorectal cancer adenomas and carcinomas as well as in healthy individuals, in order to determine at which stages a dysregulated ratio of matriptase/HAI-1 mRNA is present during carcinogenesis.     

Increased mRNA expression levels of ERCC1, OGG1 and RAI in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas

Background  

The majority of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases develop through the adenoma-carcinoma pathway. If an increase in DNA repair expression is detected in both early adenomas and carcinomas it may indicate that low repair capacity in the normal mucosa is a risk factor for adenoma formation.