PAX8-PPARgamma rearrangement in thyroid tumors: RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses

A PAX8-PPARgamma rearrangement has been recently identified in follicular thyroid carcinomas, but not in follicular adenomas or other thyroid tumors. We report here the analyses of PAX8-PPARgamma in a series of 118 thyroid tumors using a newly developed RT-PCR assay to detect this rearrangement in frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues and using immunostaining with a PPARgamma antibody. PAX8-PPARgamma was detected by RT-PCR in eight of 15 (53%) follicular carcinomas and two of 25 (8%) follicular adenomas but not in 35 papillary carcinomas (including 12 follicular variants), 12 Hurthle cell carcinomas, 12 Hurthle cell adenomas, two anaplastic carcinomas, one poorly differentiated carcinoma, or 16 hyperplastic nodules. The prevalence was higher in follicular carcinomas from patients with a history of radiation exposure (three of three). Strong, diffuse nuclear immunostaining with the PPARgamma antibody correlated with the presence of PAX8-PPARgamma detected by RT-PCR. Most sporadic follicular carcinomas positive for PAX8-PPARgamma were overtly invasive, whereas tumors lacking the rearrangement were predominantly minimally invasive. The two follicular adenomas positive for PAX8-PPARgamma had trabecular growth pattern and thick capsule, but no invasion, and thus may represent "pre-invasive" follicular carcinomas. The absence of PAX8-PPARgamma rearrangements in Hurthle cell tumors and papillary thyroid carcinomas highlights the differences in the molecular pathogenesis of these thyroid tumors.     

Phosphorus and calcium metabolism and its hormonal regulation in chronic kidney failure

In order to elucidate the blood serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT) content in the course of the development of chronic renal failure (CRF), 80 patients with chronile glomerulonephritis were examined. Of these, in 24 glomerular filtration (GF) was normal, whereas 56 had CRF of varying degree. Thirty-three out of the 80 patients had the nephrotic syndrome (NS). The parameters enumerated were also determined in 45 patients with CRF treated by hemodialysis. In patients without the NS, hypocalcemia was discovered only at the final predialysis stage of CRF, while in the presence of the NS, it was detectable in normal GF and was aggravated as CRF progressed. The PTH level ascended if GF was lower than 40 ml/min, not correlating with calcium concentration in the serum. A direct correlation was disclosed between the PTH level and that of inorganic phosphorus. The role of the latter in stimulation of PTH and CT secretion in CRF is discussed. In patients treated by hemodialysis, the PTH level significantly rose with treatment time increase. There was also a tendency toward elevation of CT concentration. The activity of the osseous fraction of blood serum alkaline phosphatase in patients treated by hemodialysis was increased in 61-84% of cases depending on the treatment period.     

Health education in urban pediatric polyclinics

The state of health education in city children's polyclinics was analyzed in 7 republics (RSFSR, the Lithuanian, Estonian, Kirghiz, Kazakh, Turkmenian and Azerbaijan SSR) and parents' preparedness to bring up a healthy child was evaluated in children's polyclinics of Moscow, Alma-Ata, Rostov-on-Don and the Rostov Region. 1126 medical workers (chief physicians, sector pediatricians, different specialists) and 435 parents of infants of the first year were interviewed. Unsatisfactory state and insufficient efficacy of health education pertaining to the problems of upbringing a healthy child were pointed out along with the absence of modern scientifically proved programme, methodological materials on health education of the parents with infants, necessary printed and visual materials for parents. The study findings helped to determine ways for further improvement of health education and family training at city children's polyclinics.