The I1307K adenomatous polyposis coli gene variant does not contribute in the assessment of the risk for colorectal cancer in Ashkenazi Jews.

Ashkenazi Jews with the I1307K adenomatous polyposis coli gene variant were suggested to confer a higher risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). We assessed the clinical importance of this polymorphism in Israeli Jews at average and elevated risk for CRC. Among 1,370 consecutive subjects that were examined, 975 Ashkenazi Jews were stratified into those at average risk (no personal or family history of colorectal neoplasia) and those at high risk. DNA was obtained from peripheral leukocytes and amplified by PCR, with primers designed to detect the I1307K variant. Overall, I1307K polymorphism was found in 7.1% (9.1% among Ashkenazi and 1.7% among non-Ashkenazi Jews). The carrier rate was 8.3 and 9.3% in average and high-risk Ashkenazim, respectively (P = 0.65). The overall odds ratio for neoplasia in carriers was 1.43 (95% confidence interval, 0.89-2.30). Age, gender, and the histopathological features of adenomas and cancers did not differ between carriers and noncarriers. No interaction on the CRC risk was found between I1307K variant and lifestyle modifiers (such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, low physical activity, and vitamins/antioxidant intake). The I1307K adenomatous polyposis coli gene variant is not an important marker for increased risk for CRC. It confirms previous reports of a slight nonsignificant increase (OR, 1.4) in the risk of CRC in these carriers. There is no interaction effect on the risk of colorectal neoplasia between the I1307K variant and various lifestyle risk factors. The usual recommended screening and surveillance strategies should be used for carriers of this polymorphism.     

High post-thaw survival of ram sperm after partial freeze-drying

Background

Recrystallization damages occur when a frozen sample is held at high subzero temperatures and when the warming process is too slow.

Methods

In this work, ram semen diluted in two different concentrations of sugar solutions (Lyo A consisted of 0.4 M sorbitol and 0.25 M trehalose, and the second, Lyo B composed of 0.26 M sorbitol and 0.165 M trehalose) in egg yolk and Tris medium were compared after freezing 10 μL samples to: (1) ??10, ??25, and ??35 °C and thawing. (2) Freezing to ??10 and ??25 °C, holding for 1 h and then thawing, and (3) freezing to ??10 and ??25 °C and drying for 1 h at these temperatures at a vacuum of 80 mTorr, prior thawing. For drying, we used a new freeze-drying apparatus (Darya, FertileSafe, Israel) having a condensation temperature below ??110 °C and a vacuum pressure of 10–100 mTorr that is reached in less than 10s.

Results

Results showed that samples in Lyo B solution frozen at ??25 °C had significantly higher sperm motility in partially freeze-dried samples than frozen samples (46.6?±?2.8% vs 1.2?±?2.5%, P?<?0.001). Moreover, partially dried samples in Lyo B showed higher motility than Lyo A at ??25 °C (46.6?±?2.8% vs 35?±?4%). Cryomicroscopy and low-temperature/low-pressure environmental scanning electronic microscope demonstrated that the amount of the ice crystals present in partially dried samples was lower than in the frozen samples.

Conclusion

Holding the sperm at high subzero temperatures is necessary for the primary drying of cells during the freeze-drying process. Rapid freeze-drying can be achieved using this new device, which enables to reduce recrystallization damages.

     

A new,simple, automatic vitrification device: preliminary results with murine and bovine oocytes and embryos

Purpose

This paper reports the use of a novel automatic vitrification device (Sarah, Fertilesafe, Israel) for cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos.

Methods

Mice oocytes (n?=?40) and embryos (8 cells, n?=?35 and blastocysts, n?=?165), bovine embryos (2PN, n?=?35), and MII oocytes (n?=?84) were vitrified using this automated device. A total of 42 (2 cells) mice embryos, 20 (2PN) bovine embryos, and 150 MII bovine oocytes were used as fresh controls and grown to blastocysts. Upon rewarming, all were assessed for viability, cleavage, blastocyst, and hatching rates.

Results

Ninety-five % (38/40) of the mice MII oocytes regained isotonic volumes and all (100%) the surviving were viable. Rewarmed 8-cell mice embryos had 95% (33/35) blastulation rate and 80% (28/35) hatched. Rewarmed mice blastocysts had 97% survival rate (160/165) and 81% (135/165) hatched. Fresh control mice embryos had 100% (42/42) blastulation and 73% (21/42) hatching rates. Bovine embryos’ survival was 100% with 54% (19/35) cleavage and 9% (3/35) blastulation rate. Fresh control bovine embryos had 65% (13/20) cleavage and 20% (4/20) blastulation rate. Vitrified bovine oocytes had 100% survival (84/84), 73% (61/84) cleavage, and 7% (6/84) blastocysts’ rates; fresh control had 83% (125/150) cleavage and 11% (17/150) blastocysts’ rates.

Conclusion

This novel automatic vitrification device is capable to produce high survival rates of oocytes and embryos. We anticipate that as the demand for vitrification of gametes, embryos, and reproductive tissues increases worldwide, the availability of an automated vitrification device will become indispensable for standardization, simplification, and reproducibility of the entire process.

     

Infant anaplastic lymphoma: case report and review of the literature

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a well-known entity, but there are no data on prognosis according to the age of the patient, especially in infants. A 2-month-old girl was admitted with a 2-week history of coughing, fever, and lymphadenopathy. Physical examination revealed mild respiratory distress, an erythematous macular rash on her trunk, massive cervical lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and very mild ascites. Chest radiograph showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, pleural effusion, and a mediastinal mass. CBC count showed WBC: 172,000/μL (PMN 40%, lymphocytes 47%, monocytes 3%); hemoglobin concentration: 8.7 g/dL; platelets: 390,000/μL. Cervical lymph node biopsy revealed anaplastic lymphoma with positive staining to ALK 1 and TIA 1. Immunophenotypic analysis of peripheral and bone marrow lymphoid cells showed an aberrant T-cell immunophenotype, including expression of CD3, CD45R0⁺, CD43⁺, and CD30⁺. Cytogenetic analysis performed on blood and bone marrow samples demontrated the translocation t(2;5) (p23;q35), and trisomy 47. After leucophoresis, the child received chemotherapy according to the ALCL-99-EICNHL protocol, and was started on corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, which resulted in marked improvement. After the second course, WBC decreased to 6000/μL without tumor lysis syndrome, but the child developed bacterial and fungal disseminated infections and died of septic shock with multiorgan failure. This report is of a rare case of infant anaplastic lymphoma and excellent response to treatment. Unfortunately, she did succomb to overwhelming infection. More reports of similar cases may determine the cause and prognosis of such children, helping to tailor therapy according to the age of the child and other prognostic factors, especially bone marrow involvement.     

Evaluation of an occupational health education program among 11th grade students

Background There is a paucity of publications on occupational health as part of the educational curricula in high schools. We investigated the extent to which a new occupational health education program for 11th graders succeeded in achieving changes in their knowledge and attitudes. Methods Six classrooms were randomly assigned to either 96 participating students or to a control group (n = 100) that did not participate. Data on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs were collected before and 4 months after completion of the course by means of an anonymous self-reported questionnaire. One point was assigned to each answer that was either correct or in the desired direction. Scoring was measured by adding up the points and then converting the total into a scale of 100. Results The experimental group had a statistically higher mean score (from 24.56 to 80.74) after completing the course. The control group had low scores at both time 1 (20.15) and time 2 (17.00). At least 50% more students of the experimental group gave correct answers after the course, while there was no such change in the control group. Conclusions Our findings indicate that occupational health learning can occur in the secondary school setting and confirm the program's effectiveness in achieving desired changes in the immediate outcome of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in different areas of occupational health. The subject of occupational health is a topic with relevance to larger educational objectives and policies. In many countries all over the world as well as in Israel, this curriculum can potentially be integrated into the body of the current instruction of “Life Abilities,” which are courses that cover topics that prepare the youngsters for adult lifestyles. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:607–613, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Altered distribution of regulatory lymphocytes by oral administration of soy-extracts exerts a hepatoprotective effect alleviating immune mediated liver injury,non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and insulin resistance

AIM: To determine the immune-modulatory and the hepatoprotective effects of oral administration of two soy extracts in immune mediated liver injury and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).METHODS: Two soy extracts, M1 and OS, were orally administered to mice with concanavalin A (ConA) immune-mediated hepatitis, to high-fat diet (HFD) mice and to methionine and choline reduced diet combined with HFD mice. Animals were followed for disease and immune biomarkers.RESULTS: Oral administration of OS and M1 had an additive effect in alleviating ConA hepatitis manifested by a decrease in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase serum levels. Oral administration of the OS and M1 soy derived fractions, ameliorated liver injury in the high fat diet model of NASH, manifested by a decrease in hepatic triglyceride levels, improvement in liver histology, decreased serum cholesterol and triglycerides and improved insulin resistance. In the methionine and choline reduced diet combined with the high fat diet model, we noted a decrease in hepatic triglycerides and improvement in blood glucose levels and liver histology. The effects were associated with reduced serum tumor necrosis factor alpha and alteration of regulatory T cell distribution.CONCLUSION: Oral administration of the combination of OS and M1 soy derived extracts exerted an adjuvant effect in the gut-immune system, altering the distribution of regulatory T cells, and alleviating immune mediated liver injury, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance.     

Benign proliferative lesions mimicking recurrence of Hodgkin's disease

Salvage treatment in patients with recurrent Hodgkin's disease is more effective when tumor burden is minimal. That is why more intensive follow-up strategies, including frequent imaging tests, have been recently developed for the detection of early relapse. However, as screening procedures become more sensitive, there is an increasing risk of false-positive results, demonstrating nonmalignant proliferative disorders. We describe three young patients who had lymphocyte-predominant or mixed-cellularity Hodgkin's disease and were in clinical complete remission for 2.5–3 years after a combined treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. Imaging tests revealed new gallium-avid lymphadenopathy in the chest in two cases. Pathologically enlarged pelvic lymph nodes were identified in another case, after a diagnosis of recurrent disease in axilla. Those findings were interpreted as relapse, and the patients underwent thoracotomy and laparotomy, respectively, for histologic confirmation. The results showed progressively transformed germinal centers and sarcoid-like lesions, two benign proliferative disorders. When patients with Hodgkin's disease in remission show new lymphadenopathy, even with positive gallium scan, it seems mandatory to obtain tissue for histologic examination, even through invasive procedures such as laparotomy and thoracotomy, to avoid wrong diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 28:187–190 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Severe humoral hypercalcemia in primary isolated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the heart

The etiology of hypercalcemia was investigated in a patient with primary isolated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the heart. There was no evidence of bone involvement, and parathyroid hormone and calciterol levels were suppressed. Plasma parathyroid-hormone-related protein (PTHrP 1–86) detected by immunoradiometric assay was increased (15 pmol/l compared with < 0.3 pmol/l in a control). We demonstrated that PTHrP was the humoral mediator of severe hypercalcemia in our patient. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 28:183–186 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The role of F18-fluorocholine positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in localizing parathyroid adenomas

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Preoperative localization of a parathyroid adenoma is usually obtained by the combination of ultrasound and scintigraphy with technetium-99m...