Loss of heterozygosity on the X chromosome in human breast cancer

The analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumours can be a powerful tool for mapping the sites of tumour suppressor genes in the human genome. A panel of breast cancer patients was assembled as pairs of tumour and lymphocyte DNA samples and LOH studies carried out by Southern hybridisation with polymorphic loci mapping to the X chromosome with appropriate controls. Deletion mapping revealed a high frequency of small regionalised deletions, defining at least three independent regions, one of which is particularly well mapped to a 500 kb stretch of DNA in the distal portion of the pseudoautosomal region of Xp. A second region has been identified within the pseudoautosomal region close to the pseudoautosomal boundary, and there is a third discrete site of loss on distal Xq. Perturbations of sequences at these regions represent independent events in a number of patients. This study represents the first detailed analysis of LOH on the X chromosome in human breast tumours, the results of which indicate that at least three regions of this chromosome are involved in the disease. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Sensitivity of FL cells to polio- and adenoviruses

Summary Poliovirus plaque counts on the FL strain of human amnion cells were almost double the counts on rhesus monkey kidney for the same virus preparation, repeatedly assayed over more than six months. FL cells gave more consistent results in virus assay than monkey kidney cells. Plaque counts obtained with FL cells were 2 1/2 to 5 times higher than those obtained with HeLa, Chang's conjunctiva and Detroit-6 cells.Using the chick embryo-adapted MEF-1 strain of poliovirus, FL cells and primary human amnion cells reacted similarly in respect to plaque count and morphology, while no distinct plaques were seen on monkey kidney or HeLa monolayers under comparable conditions. For infectivity assays of adenovirus suspensions based on cytopathogenic effect, FL cells were found suitable, although no plaque formation was obtained.Aided by American Cancer Society Grant E-82 and a grant from the National Foundation.     

A questionnaire as a data base in problem orientated records

Questionnaires will be adequately filled in by patients if they are properly motivated and will provide useful information. We have found that when patients come for further consultations, much useful information is readily available from these cards to any doctor. We think that this data helps to establish the basis of a good doctor-patient relationship.

The trainees in the Watford area were concerned about the lack of family and social history contained in patients' records which may have been known by the partners, but was often not committed to paper and, if in the notes, was usually not easily found.

As a pilot study we decided to design a card to overcome some of these problems, and to test the acceptability and benefit of this method on newly registered patients. The project was also planned as a learning situation for trainees.

     

Dietary selection for lysine by the chick

Broiler chicks were provided choices of synthetic diets (a) adequate or low in lysine, and (b) adequate in or devoid of lysine. In each case, chicks consumed some of each diet offered, but preference was shown for the adequate lysine diet. Growth rates of chicks given choices ranged from 80% of that of chicks fed an adequate lysine diet with no choice for two weeks, then growth rates fell to about 60% of those fed adequate lysine. In another study, chicks were fed a diet devoid of lysine but were offered pure L-lysine HCl in a separate feeder. These chicks selected some of the supplementary lysine, but their body weights were only 68% of the body weight of chicks fed an adequate lysine diet after 21 days. Chicks given a choice of diets prepared with an adequate quantity of either L- or D-lysine preferred with L-lysine diet but did not select sufficient quantity to reach normal growth. These observations indicate that chicks can discern the presence of L-lysine in diets or separately, but will not select sufficient quantity for maximum growth potential. A diet prepared with D-lysine was more acceptable than one completely devoid of lysine, suggesting some sensory recognition for lysine.     

Difficulties in navigating the intersection of generalist and specialist palliative care services: A cross-sectional study of bereaved family's experiences of care at home in New Zealand

A generalist–specialist model of palliative care is well established as a framework for the provision of community care in resource-rich countries. However, evidence is lacking regarding how the model is experienced by family carers and the extent to which access to both generalist and specialist palliative care is equitable. A cross-sectional postal survey was undertaken to explore bereaved family's experiences of generalist palliative care and its intersection with hospice services in the last 3 months of life. A modified version of the Views of Informal Carers—Evaluation of Services survey was sent to 4,778 bereaved family. Data were collected between February 2017 and October 2018. Chi-square was utilised to identify factors that impacted on experiences of generalist palliative care; analysis of free text data comprising 45,823 words was undertaken using a directed content analysis approach. Eight hundred and twenty-six questionnaires were returned (response rate = 21%). Seventy per cent of people (n = 579) spent some time at home in the last 3 months prior to death. People who received support from hospice were more likely to receive support from multiple other services. Those who received no community services were less likely to feel supported by their general practitioner, less likely to spend the last 2 days of life or die at home. Feeling supported had a strong association with services working well together, being involved in decision-making and being aware of the poor prognosis. The provision of palliative care is complicated by a lack of integration with specialist palliative care and may be the basis of continuing inequities in the provision of community care at the end of life. The assumption at a policy level that “generalists” are willing and able to play a key role in palliative care provision needs to be further challenged.     

Application of Evidence-Based Treatment in Community Mental Health Settings: Examining EBT Delivery Duration and Client Discharge

The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research - Characterizing community mental health (CMH) treatment duration and discharge is an important step toward understanding how to better meet...     

Use of a Clostridium perfringens vector to express high levels of SIV p27 protein for the development of an oral SIV vaccine

Clostridium perfringens is a normal bacterial flora of the small and large intestines of humans and other animals. The current study investigates the potential use of a noncytotoxic C. perfringens as an oral vaccine vehicle for expression and intestinal delivery of a large amount of SIV antigens. Here we report the construction of a recombinant C. perfringens vaccine vector expressing high levels of SIV p27 during sporulation. Following oral administration of this recombinant C. perfringens vaccine vector to mice, large amounts of intact p27 protein were detected in the terminal ileum where the majority of Peyer's Patches (PPs) are located. Furthermore, dendritic cells (DCs) beneath the mucosal surface in the PPs were able to capture SIV p27 antigen, when PPs were exposed to C. perfringens expressing SIV p27 antigen. In addition, uptake of C. perfringens was able to induce maturation of mouse DCs. These results support the potential use of C. perfringens as an oral SIV/HIV vaccine vector.     

Interaction of family history of breast cancer and dietary antioxidants with breast cancer risk (New York,United States)

We sought to determine if specific dietary antioxidants may be particularly effective in reducing breast cancer risk for women reporting family history (FH) of breast cancer in a first-degree relative. Interviews regarding usual diet, health, and family histories were conducted with 262 premenopausal and 371 postmenopausal women with incident, primary breast cancer from western New York (United States). These women were frequencymatched by age and county of residence with community controls. Among premenopausal women, there was a significant interaction between FH and -tocopherol; -tocopherol was associated with significantly decreased risk among FH+ women (adjusted fourth-quartile odds ratio [OR]=0.01, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]=0.0–0.3). This association was much weaker for FH-women [OR=0.7, CI=0.4–1.2]. For FH-women, a significant inverse association was observed between -carotene and premenopausal breast-cancer risk (OR=0.4, CI=0.3–0.5), but not for FH+ women (OR=0.5, CI=0.1–4.0). Similar relationships, although not as strong, were noted among postmenopausal women. Although limited by small numbers, these results suggest that biologic mechanisms of tumorigenesis may differ in FH+ and FH-women, and that -tocopherol may be a potential chemopreventive agent for women with a family history of breast cancer, particularly premenopausal women.This research was conducted by the Department of Social and preventive Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo. This publication is supported in part by grants CA11535 and 5 R25 CA1820117 from the US National Cancer Institute and PDT-434 from the American Cancer Society. Dr Freudenheim is a recipient of a Research Career Development Award from the National Cancer Institute (CA01633). This work is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the NCI.