Non-invasive detection of fecal protein kinase C betaII and zeta messenger RNA: putative biomarkers for colon cancer

We have developed a non-invasive method utilizing feces, containing sloughed colonocytes, as a sensitive technique for detecting diagnostic colonic biomarkers. In this study, we used the rat colon carcinogenesis model to determine if changes in fecal protein kinase C (PKC) expression have predictive value in monitoring the neoplastic process. Weanling rats were injected with saline or azoxymethane (AOM) and 36 weeks later fecal samples and mucosa were collected, poly A+ RNA isolated, and quantitative RT-PCR performed using primers to PKC betaII and zeta. Fecal PKC betaII and zeta mRNA levels were altered by the presence of a tumor, with tumor-bearing animals having a 3-fold higher (P < 0.05) PKC betaII expression as compared with animals without tumors. In addition, AOM-injection increased mucosal PKC betaII mRNA expression compared with saline controls. No effect of tumor incidence on mucosal PKC betaII expression was observed. In contrast, fecal PKC zeta expression was 2.5-fold lower (P < 0.05) in animals injected with azoxymethane versus saline. Since tumor incidence exerts a reciprocal effect on fecal PKC betaII and zeta mRNA expression, data were also expressed as the ratio between PKC betaII and zeta. The isozyme ratio was strongly related to tumor incidence, i.e. ratio for animals with tumors was 2.18 +/- 1.25, animals without tumors was 0.50 +/- 0.16, P = 0.025. We demonstrate that the expression of fecal PKC betaII and zeta may serve as a noninvasive marker for development of colon tumors. A sensitive technique for the detection of colon cancer is of importance since early diagnosis can substantially reduce mortality.      

Indoleamine metabolism in maturing mouse brain following extended uptake inhibition with citalopram

1. At various ages between birth and adulthood mice were exposed to the specific uptake inhibitor citalopram (Lu 10-171) once a day for 5 days. 2. Their brains were assayed for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) as well as indoleamine turnover at selected times after termination of the drug. 3. Younger brain differed from older brain in both stores and turnover. 4. Younger brain demonstrated the effects of citalopram action as much as 3 weeks later with continued elevation of 5-HIAA stores. 5. The possibility that 5-HIAA is an active agent in serotonergic neurogenesis is discussed.     

High measles mortality in infancy related to intensity of exposure

In a West African urban community, measles infection in infants was examined over 5 years (1979-1983). In the age group 0 to 11 months, measles mortality was higher among secondary cases (infected in the house) than among index cases (infected outside the house), and the proportion of secondary cases was significantly higher for this age group than for older children. Intensive exposure related to the social pattern of disease transmission may be important in explaining the high infant mortality observed with measles in developing countries. Mortality during the first 12 months of life increased with age, presumably because of the decrease of maternally derived measles antibodies. In children younger than 6 months of age, who are usually considered to be protected by maternal antibody, intensive exposure may lead to infection, as demonstrated by a high level of measles-specific antibodies in some children exposed to an older sibling with measles. The aim of public health policies should be to change conditions of exposure.     

Cumulative and residual risks of small for gestational age neonates after changing pregnancy-smoking behaviors

This retrospective cohort study examines the relationship between changing pregnancy-smoking behaviors, from the first to the second pregnancy, on second-pregnancy rates of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. Electronic birth records provided data on 5107 pregnant women who had two singleton births in Kansas City, MO, from 1994 to 2003. Pregnancy-smoking behavior was classified by smoking status (nonsmoker [NS] or smoker [SMK]) during the first (previous)/second (current) pregnancy: NS/NS, NS/SMK, SMK/SMK, and SMK/NS. The overall second-pregnancy SGA rate was 6.7% and varied with pregnancy-smoking behavior: 5.9%, NS/NS; 6.6%, SMK/NS; 12.5%, NS/SMK; and 12%, SMK/SMK; P < 0.001 Current pregnancy-smoking was associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of SGA; SMK/SMK (OR, 2.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00 to 3.93) versus NS/SMK (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.19 to 2.82) versus SMK/NS (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.65 to 2.65) versus NS/NS (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, reference). Being black (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 2.91 to 4.79) and having medical risk factors (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.74) also were significantly associated with a SGA neonate in second pregnancy. In conclusion, risk of delivering a SGA neonate in a current pregnancy is related to current rather than previous pregnancy-smoking. Therefore, antismoking socialization during pregnancy should focus on preventing and stopping current pregnancy-smoking, irrespective of past behavior.     

Experimentelle Untersuchungen Über die Jodophilie der Leukocyten

Zusammenfassung In Untersuchungen am Kaninchen wird gezeigt, daß durch Einspritzung von Bakterienstoffen eine Leukocytose mit Auftreten von jodophilen Leukocyten im Blut hervorgerufen werden kann. Die Menge der jodophilen Zellen ist proportional der Menge der einwirkenden Bakterienstoffe. Gleichsinnige Beobachtungen wurden auch am Menschen gemacht.Durch zentralnervöse Reizung (Luftfüllung der Hirnventrikel) werden hochgradige Leukocyten ausgelöst, ohne daß dabei eine Jodophilie der Leukocyten zustande kommt.Diezentralnervöse Reizung, so auch die zentralnervöse Reizung durch Bakterienstoffe, führt zu einer Bereitstellung von Leukocyten im Sinne einer Abwehrreaktion, zu einer Leukocytose. Hiervon zu trennen ist diehumorale Einwirkung der Bakterienstoffe auf die Leukocyten. Die Jodophilie ist eine Reaktion der Leukocyten auf die humorale Einwirkung der Bakterienstoffe, sie stellt eine Stoffwechseländerung innerhalb der Leukocyten infolge dieser Einwirkung der Bakterienstoffe dar.