Unexpected sensitivity to radiation of fibroblasts from unaffected parents of children with hereditary retinoblastoma

The response to ionizing radiation was examined in diploid skin fibroblasts derived from 5 patients with hereditary type retinoblastoma as well as their parents. Unexpected sensitivity to cell killing, as measured by clonogenic survival, as well as enhanced radiation-induced G(1) arrest were observed in at least 1 parental fibroblast strain in all 5 families. In all cases, parental strains were equally or more radiosensitive than the probands. The mutation of the retinoblastoma gene (RB) determined in 4 of 5 probands was either absent from the parental cells, as expected from the negative family histories, or identical, in 1 father who was a known carrier. In the fifth family, the family history was negative for retinoblastoma. We hypothesize that the increased parental cell sensitivity to radiation suggests the presence of an as yet unrecognized genetic event occurring in 1 or both parents of children with retinoblastoma. Whether it increases mutability of the RB locus or other loci or interacts with RB is conjectural.     

A meaningful relief from suffering experiences of massage in cancer care.

The experience of massage in an oncology ward was the focus of this study. Eight female cancer patients were given massage for 10 consecutive days and then interviewed using phenomenology as a theoretical framework. The essential meaning of getting massage as part of the daily care for female cancer patients was described as getting a meaningful relief from suffering. The findings identified five themes: the relief is meaningful because it offers the patient an experience of being "special." The massage contributes to the development of a positive relationship with the personnel, to feeling strong, and to a balance between autonomy and dependence. The massage also brings about a meaningful relief from suffering because it just "feels good." The findings of this study can be of use to health care professionals as it shows that the relatively short period of massage can result in physical and emotional benefits for cancer patients.     

Encountering violence and aggression in mental health nursing: a phenomenological study of tacit caring knowledge

Violence is a growing psychosocial problem in the health care working environment. Literature shows that nurses are physically assaulted, threatened, and verbally abused more often than other professionals. However, some nurses are able to relate to clients in a way that produces positive resolution. This study explored the phenomenon of positive encounters with aggressive and violent clients. Guided by a phenomenological method, data were analyzed within a lifeworld perspective. The essential meaning of the phenomenon of caregivers' experiences of encountering violent clients is described as an "embodied moment," which is explicated by seven themes of meaning, "respecting one's fear and respecting the client," "touch," "dialogue," "situated knowledge," "stability," "mutual regard," and "pliability." The authors discuss the meaning of the outcome and propose both theory and praxis-oriented activities toward decreasing aggression and violence in health care.     

Context and methodological decontextualization in nursing research with examples from phenomenography

In both human science and nursing research the concept of context is important. However, context can be understood in different ways. The aim of this article is to elucidate, discuss and problematize context, decontextualization and recontextualization in some health care-related phenomenographical studies. A further aim is to problematize the concept of context in a wider perspective of human science, in order to gain a better understanding of phenomenographical research related to nursing care. Our analysis indicates that the complex phenomena which characterize nursing research demand a broad contextual understanding. Both the local or immediate context and the global or mediated context must be considered, as they are dialectically related. This includes the informants' experiences of the phenomenon of interest as well as the socio-cultural discourse. A balance between openness and pliability to the phenomenon is suggested. Reflection is considered an important tool in this process. Within phenomenography, the interest is directed towards conceptions of certain aspects of the world. Thus, context in a wider sense is given a subordinate role. Accordingly, phenomenography is considered to have limited applicability in nursing research when complex phenomena are to be studied.     

Muscle fiber types in thoracic erector spinae muscles. Fiber types in idiopathic and other forms of scoliosis

Histochemical studies of the thoracic part of the erector spinae muscles in scoliosis have shown a consistently higher proportion of Type 1 fibers on the convex side. The fiber distribution of the multifidus and semispinalis muscles was studied in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Compared with sex- and age-matched controls, a "normal" percentage of Type 1 fibers was found on the convex right side and significantly smaller percentage of Type 1 fibers on the concave side. Boys with AIS showed the same pattern as girls. In two patients with double major curves, the same pattern could be seen on the convexity of both curves. Patients with congenital scoliosis or scoliosis with early onset showed a different pattern with a "normal" percentage of Type 1 fibers on the concave side but a significantly greater percentage of Type 1 fibers on the convex side. In AIS, the deviation in the fiber distribution may constitute a primary factor in the pathogenesis of scoliosis. In congenital scoliosis the differences in fiber distribution between the convex and concave sides are considered secondary in the pathogenesis of the spinal curvature.     

Vital Signs: Prevalence of Multiple Forms of Violence and Increased Health Risk Behaviors and Conditions Among Youths — United States, 2019

IntroductionExperiencing violence, especially multiple types of violence, can have a negative impact on youths’ development. These experiences increase the risk for future violence and other health problems associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among adolescents and adults.MethodsData from the 2019 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used to determine the prevalence of high school students’ self-reported experiences with physical fighting, being threatened with a weapon, physical dating violence, sexual violence, and bullying. Logistic regression models adjusting for sex, grade, and race/ethnicity were used to test the strength of associations between experiencing multiple forms of violence and 16 self-reported health risk behaviors and conditions.ResultsApproximately one half of students (44.3%) experienced at least one type of violence; more than one in seven (15.6%) experienced two or more types during the preceding 12 months. Experiencing multiple types of violence was significantly more prevalent among females than among males and among students identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or not sure of their sexual identity than among heterosexual students. Experiencing violence was significantly associated with higher prevalence of all examined health risks and conditions. Relative to youths with no violence experiences, adjusted health risk and condition prevalence estimates were up to seven times higher among those experiencing two types of violence and up to 21 times higher among those experiencing three or more types of violence.Conclusions and implications for public health practiceMany youths experience multiple types of violence, with potentially lifelong health impacts. Violence is preventable using proven approaches that address individual, family, and environmental risks. Prioritizing violence prevention is strategic to promoting adolescent and adult health.     

1141099968Immunization under the influence of estradiol leads to non-sterile protection against genital herpes infection

Hormones play an important role in the induction of protective immune responses after intravaginal (IVAG) immunization with an attenuated strain of herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2 TK-). Previously we reported that ovariectomized (OVX) mice receiving estradiol (E) prior to immunization were not protected, while mice receiving progesterone (P) had sterile protection after IVAG HSV-2 challenge. Protection correlated with the ability of TK- to cause productive infection. Lack of protection in the E group was associated with the effect of E on thickening of vaginal epithelium. In the current study, we examined the effect of E on immunization after the thickening of vaginal epithelium subsided. OVX, C57BL/6 mice were given P, E or saline (S) for 3 days. The P and S groups were then immunized with IVAG TK-. To determine the time point at which E mice could be successfully immunized, TK- was given between days 1 and 7 (E1–E7) post-E treatment. Three weeks after immunization, mice were challenged with IVAG HSV-2. Protection was absent in E1–E4 groups, 100% in E6 and E7 and partially successful in E5. While the protection in P and S was sterile, protected mice in E5 and E6 groups had non-sterile protection. The presence of HSV-2 specific IgG antibodies in the vaginal washes after challenge closely correlated with sterile immunity. After challenge, vaginal associated lymphoid tissues (iVALTs) were seen in the vaginal tract of the protected groups, except for the E5 group. The cytokine environment after challenge was also examined. The results show that while immunization under the effect of E may lead to clearance of virus, the mechanism is quite different than that seen under other hormonal conditions. Local hormonal influences must be considered when designing vaccines for STDs.     

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemias. I. Serological studies with pure anti-immunoglobulin reagents

In this paper the preparation and examination of pure antisera against immunoglobulins is described. The results of serological studies obtained with pure anti-IgG, anti-IgM and anti-IgA sera as well as an anti-complement serum and the blood of four patients with acquired haemolytic anaemia are discussed. The presence of incomplete warm autoantibodies belonging to the G, M and A classes of immunoglobulins was demonstrated. Further, evidence was obtained that warm haemolysins are a separate antibody category independent of the presence of incomplete warm autoantibodies.A new serological classification of the autoimmune haemolytic anaemias based on these findings is given.     

Uterine leiomyomas reduce the efficacy of assisted reproduction cycles: results of a matched follow-up study

A matched follow-up study design was used to test the hypothesis that pregnancy rates following assisted reproduction procedures do not differ between women with or without intramural or sub-serosal uterine leiomyomas. Women undergoing their first in-vitro fertilization (IVF)- embryo transfer or zygote intra-Fallopian transfer (ZIFT) cycle between January 1993 and June 1995 were included. Cases (women with leiomyomas) were matched 1:1 with the next consecutive control (women without leiomyomas) according to age, number of embryos transferred, embryo grade, and the route of embryo transfer (uterine or Fallopian). Assisted reproduction cycles were performed in an identical manner, independent of the presence or absence of uterine leiomyomas. The main outcomes measured were clinical pregnancy and delivery rates. A total of 182 cycles was evaluated. Of the 91 assisted reproduction cycles performed in the leiomyoma group, there were 34 clinical pregnancies (37%) and 30 deliveries (33%). Of the 91 assisted reproduction cycles in the control group, there were 48 clinical pregnancies (53%) and 44 deliveries (48%). The Mantel-Haenszel estimate of relative risk indicated that the presence of a uterine leiomyoma significantly reduced the chance for a clinical pregnancy or delivery. These findings suggest that leiomyomas are associated with a reduction in the efficacy of assisted reproduction cycles.      

Identification of three mutations and associated haplotypes in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene in South African families with variegate porphyria

Mutation analysis of genomic DNA samples obtained from 17 unrelated South African patients with variegate porphyria (VP) revealed three novel missense mutations in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX) gene. A common C to T transition at nucleotide position 452 (R59W) was identified in 15 of the patients analysed, while base changes at positions 336 (H20P) and 779 (R168C) were identified in the remaining two patients. Using protein analysis software we were able to predict that all three mutations have a similar biophysical effect on the protein, being the disturbance of amphiphatic regions within the protein, which might result in misfolding of the protein. Mutation R59W, identified in the majority of South African VP families, was shown to create a Styl restriction site, while mutation R168C would abolish a Dsal restriction site in genomic DNA of affected individuals. As 100% of the index patients analysed were molecularly characterized, the combined use of restriction enzyme and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis now allows a rapid and accurate diagnosis of VP in South Africa. Mutation R59W was furthermore shown to be in association with one of four potential haplotypes defined by two newly described polymorphisms in exon 1 of the PPOX gene. Our molecular data thus strongly support the founder hypothesis for VP in South Africa.