Amplification of fgfr4 gene in human breast and gynecological cancers

We have investigated gene amplification of fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 (FGFR4) gene in 30 primary breast tumor samples and 15 gynecological tumor samples. Ten percent of the breast tumors showed 2- to 4-fold amplification. Amplification was found more frequently in estrogen- and progesterone-receptor-positive tumors and in tumors with high lymph-node involvement. Breast tumor samples were also analyzed for the amplification of fgfr3 and erbB2 genes and the chromosome I Iq 13 located genes hst I Iint2lbci1 /sea. erbB2 gene was amplified 2- to 13-fold in 13% of the cases, but no amplification of int2/hst I/be/1/sea amplicon was found. Gynecological tumors were also analyzed for the amplification of fgfr4 and fgfr3 genes and for int2 and hst I oncogenes. Eleven of the 15 gynecological tumors were ovarian neoplasms including 2 benign tumors; the remainder comprised I ovarian metastasis of breast cancer; I endometrial cancer; I uterine leiomyosarcoma and I carcinosarcoma of the fallopian tube. In gynecological tumors, fgfr4 gene was found to be amplified in 2 ovarian tumors. Amplification of hst I was found in I benign ovarian tumor. Thus, the fgfr4 gene may be involved in breast and ovarian tumorigenesis.     

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws. Report of a case and literature review.

This paper reviews the main aspects involved in the bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws and report its occurrence in a 82-year-old man, who had received long-term treatment with zoledronate to manage bone metastases due to prostate cancer. The clinical aspects and the treatment are presented. Computerized tomography contributed to a more specific diagnosis, demonstrating the osteonecrosis in the maxilla, sinus involvement, and sclerotic areas in the entire body of the mandible and c-spine. Clinical trials and studies in animals are necessary to elucidate the pathogenesis of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws, and to determine whether the bisphosphonates produce sclerotic changes in the skeleton similar to those found in osteopetrosis. Nevertheless, patients taking bisphosphonates should receive prophylactic attention to maintain their oral health. Preventive measures must be taken before, during, and after treatment with bisphosphonates.     

长沙市望月湖区老年人健康需求调查

目的 了解社区老年人健康需求状况，为社区老年护理的开展和完善提供科学依据。方法 应用自制调查表对长沙市望月湖区486名老年人进行问卷调查。结果 82．30％老年人患有1种或多种慢性疾病；62．55％老年人日常生活活动部分或完全不能自理，13．99％老年人不满意目前生活状况，12．14%老年人心理状况差。老年人有体育锻炼(83．54％)、营养(72．43％)、社交活动(62．14％)、必要的交通工具(52．67％)、归属感(48．77％)、定期健康检查(43．21％)和心理咨询或治疗(34．57％)以及获得健康保健知识(20．58％)等需求。结论 老年人存在不同程度的身心健康问题和多种健康需求．需提供多形式、多途径的社区医疗保健服务。     

Contact sensitization to cyanoacrylate adhesive as a cause of severe onychodystrophy

Background The technology used for artificial nails, the chemistry of cyanoacrylates and the reported reactions to these products are briefly reviewed.
Materials and methods We studied three patients with prominent fingernail dystrophy, nail bed hyperkeratosis, fingertip eczema, and onycholysis, two of whom also had eczematous lesions at distant sites, ostensibly from hand transfer. Patch testing was performed with a standard screening tray, dried cyanoacrylate adhesives, and, in one case, with fingernail clippings.
Results All three patients were prominently patch-test positive to the polymerized 2-ethylcyanoacrylate, used as an adhesive on artificial (plastic) fingernails. One patient was also mildly formaldehyde sensitive, one was mildly reactive to two acrylate allergens, and one was extremely allergic to toluenesulfonamide formaldehyde resin. One patient had a positive patch test to her fingernail clippings 2 months after use of the adhesive was discontinued and an attempt was made to remove it.
Conclusions Reactions to cyanoacrylate adhesives used for artificial nails can cause both nail dystrophy and fingertip eczema, and may produce eczema elsewhere, probably from hand transfer. Persistence is likely due to retained polymer, which slowly degrades in the presence of water probably releasing antigens. Patch testing with the dried adhesive on an adhesive plaster seems to be reliable.     

Peripheral glucose metabolism in human hyperprolactinaemia

OBJECTIVE Prolactin has important biological actions in several species which include metabolic control and waterlelectrolyte balance. However, human PRL has generally been characterized as a mammotrophic hormone and it is unknown whether PRL has any important metabolic actions. This study was thus conducted to evaluate the effect of hyperprolactinaemia on peripheral muscle glucose metabolism. DESIGN The study was designed to determine forearm muscle glucose uptake and utilization (oxidative and non-oxidative metabolism) in normal and hyperprolactinaemic subjects in the post-absorptive state and lor 3 hours after the ingestion of 75 g of glucose. Peripheral glucose metabolism was analysed by the forearm technique to estimate muscle exchange of substrates combined with local indirect calorimetry. PATIENTS Eight hyperprolactinaemic patients (HP group, 6 females and 2 males) and ten normal sublects (N group, 7 females and 3 males) were studied. The hyperprolactinaemic patients showed no clinical or laboratory evidence of acromegaly or hypothyroidism and were not using any PRL releasing drugs. MEASUREMENTS Forearm blood flow was measured by capacitance plethysmography and arterial and venous blood samples were drawn simultaneously to determine plasma glucose, serum FFA, total blood CO₂ and O₂ and serum insulin in the post-absorptive state (0 time) and at 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after glucose Ingestion. RESULTS No significant difference in glucose uptake by the forearm muscle tissue was observed between the N and HP groups (823 plusmn; 103 vs 828 ± 110 μmol/100 ml forearm 3h, respectively), nor were any significant differences observed in the intracellular utilization of glucose (oxidative and non-oxidative metabolism). However, the serum insulin levels after glucose ingestion were significantly higher in hyperprolactinaemic patients than in normal subjects, especially at 30 (N 283 ± 46 vs HP 581 ± 133 pmol/l) and 60 minutes (N 291 ± 37 vs HP 544 ± 61 pmol/l). Furthermore, after glucose ingestion the suppression of serum FFA levels was smaller in the hyperprolactinaemic patients than in normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that insulin resistance is associated with the presence of spontaneous human hyperprolactinaemia. The hyperinsulinaemia detected in the hyperprolactinaemic patients after the oral glucose stimulus did not determine a proportional Increase in forearm glucose uptake and utilization, which were similar to the normal levels. The suppression of serum free fatty acid concentrations was also smaller in hyperprolactlnaemlc patients during the oral glucose challenge, suggesting an impaired antilipolytic effect of Insulin.     

Cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce pain: a validation study

The purpose of this study was to identify and validate specific activities considered important in the implementation of three non-pharmacologic pain management interventions—relaxation, distraction and guided imagery. Using a two-round Delphi survey, nurses selected for their expertise in pain management were asked to validate definitions and activities considered important in the implementation of each of these strategies. Data were analyzed using a modification of Fehring's diagnostic content validity method. From this process, a list of activities for each intervention evolved that has implications for nursing research, practice and education.     

Intraoral ultrasound evaluation of peritonsillar abscess

Peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscess are similar clinical entities with markedly different methods of treatment. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is paramount to appropriate treatment. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of intraoral ultrasound as a noninvasive method of differentiating abscess from cellulitis. Sixteen consecutive patients suspected of having peritonsillar abscess were prospectively evaluated with intraoral ultrasound. The results were confirmed with imaging or surgical drainage. Correct diagnoses were made in 9 (90%) of 10 abscesses and in 5 (83%) of 6 cases of cellulitis. Our results suggest that, while there is a learning curve for intraoral ultrasound, it is an accurate, noninvasive, and inexpensive tool to differentiate abscess from cellulitis. We believe that this will be a clinically useful technique in the future.     

Disparity between in vivo and in vitro synthesis of yolk protein by fat bodies of vitellogenic Locusta migratoria after allatectomy

Allatetomy of female locusts at an early stage of oocyte maturation halts subsequent development of terminal oocytes, but this is not due to lack of vitellogenin in the hemolymph. The fat body ceases to secrete vitellogenin in vivo shortly after allatectomy. When excised and incubated in vitro such fat bodies do actively synthesize vitellogenin even 3 days after allatectomy. These results suggest a negative control of vitellogenesis, released as a consequence of allatectomy, and only operative on the fat body in vivo.