Lack of association between endometriosis and the CYP17 MspA1 polymorphism in UK and Japanese populations.

Endometriosis is a complex trait, which means that multiple susceptibility genes interact with one another and the environment to produce the phenotype. One of the genes previously implicated in the disease is CYP17; this encodes the enzyme P450c17alpha, which plays a vital role in steroid biosynthesis in the ovary. The presence of a single nucleotide polymorphism (T-->C) in the 5'-promoter region of the gene creates a new recognition site for the restriction enzyme MspA1 producing a mutant allele (A2), which affects circulating estrogen levels. In this study, we compared the frequency of the CYP17 MspA1 polymorphism in two different ethnic populations. DNA was obtained from (1) 94 women with revised American Fertility Society (rAFS) stage III-IV endometriosis and 97 male blood donors in the UK, and (2) 130 women with rAFS stage III-IV endometriosis and 179 female newborn infants in Japan. No significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies were seen in either population. The genotype distribution in the UK population was 33/94 [35.1%] (cases) and 39/97 [40.2%] (controls) for A1A1 (homozygous wild-type); 43/94 [45.7%] (cases) and 44/97 [45.4%] (controls) for A1A2; and 18/94 [19.1%] (cases) and 14/97 [14.4%] (controls) for A2A2. The genotype distribution in the Japanese population was 31/130 [23.9%] (cases) and 57/179 [31.8%] (controls) for A1A1; 73/130 [56.2%] (cases) and 89/179 [49.7%] (controls) for A1A2; and 26/130 [20.0%] (cases) and 33/179 [18.4%] (controls) for A2A2. The CYP17 MspA1 polymorphism is probably not associated with endometriosis in either the UK or the Japanese population.     

Determination of Some Congeners of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins (PCDDs) in Milk Using Gas Chromatography

A method for determination of four congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) namely, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD), 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HxCDD) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD) in milk is presented. Limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 0.002 ng for PeCDD while for other three it was found to be 0.005 ng. Recoveries for PeCDD were checked by spiking the milk at 0.020, 0.050 and 0.10 ng g⁻¹ levels and recovered in the range of 81.03%–120.17%. TCDD, HxCDD and HpCDD were checked at 0.05, 0.10 and 0.5 ng g⁻¹ spiked levels and recovered in the range of 80.47%–133.30%, 88.40%–128.02% and 76.97%–132.55% respectively. Limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 0.1 ng g⁻¹ for PeCDD whereas 0.5 ng g⁻¹ for others. %RSD was in the range of 4.30–15.79.     

Electric dissociation within left atrial appendage diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography.

We describe a patient who presented with a transient ischemic event in whom transesophageal echocardiography showed presence of an accessory lobe within the left atrial appendage that was in atrial fibrillation by pulsed wave Doppler when the left and right atrial appendages, pulmonary vein, and right atria were in sinus rhythm.     

Regulation of oligodendrocyte precursor maintenance by chondroitin sulphate glycosaminoglycans

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) have been proven to inhibit morphological maturation of oligodendrocytes as well as their myelination capabilities. Yet, it remained unclear, whether CSPGs and/or their respective chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan (CS‐GAG) side chains also regulate the oligodendrocyte lineage progression. Here, we initially show that CS‐GAGs detected by the monoclonal antibody 473HD are expressed by primary rat NG2‐positive oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and O4‐positive immature oligodendrocytes. CS‐GAGs become down‐regulated with ongoing oligodendrocyte differentiation. Enzymatic removal of the CS‐GAG chains by the bacterial enzyme Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) promoted spontaneous differentiation of proliferating rat OPCs toward O4‐positive immature oligodendrocytes. Upon forced differentiation, the enzymatic removal of the CS‐GAGs accelerated oligodendrocyte differentiation toward both MBP‐positive and membrane forming oligodendrocytes. These processes were attenuated on enriched CSPG fractions, mainly consisting of Phosphacan/RPTPβ/ζ and to less extent of Brevican and NG2. To qualify CS‐GAGs as universal regulators of oligodendrocyte biology, we finally tested the effect of CS‐GAG removal on OPCs from different sources such as mouse cortical oligospheres, mouse spinal cord neurospheres, and most importantly human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived radial glia‐like neural precursor cells. For all culture systems used, we observed a similar inhibitory effect of CS‐GAGs on oligodendrocyte differentiation. In conclusion, this study clearly suggests an important fundamental principle for complex CS‐GAGs to regulate the oligodendrocyte lineage progression. Moreover, the use of ChABC in order to promote oligodendrocyte differentiation toward myelin gene expressing cells might be an applicable therapeutic option to enhance white matter repair. GLIA 2016;64:270–286     

The stresses of volunteering in a hospice: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the stresses associated with hospice volunteering, ways of coping and perception of available support. METHODS: Two focus groups were conducted comprising 17 volunteers. The data obtained were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Reported stressors included losing patients and dealing with disfigurement. However, informants generally reported the work as satisfying and generally stress-free. Coping strategies ranged from keeping a distance from clients, religious faith, to the realization that death was a merciful end and was not necessarily painful. Informants generally perceived support to be adequate. CONCLUSIONS: The implications of these findings for training volunteers are discussed, especially the need to educate volunteers about the symptoms and signs of cancer.     

Epidemiology and risk factors for human papillomavirus infection in a diverse sample of low-income young women

BackgroundTwo HPV vaccines prevent infection with HPV-16 and HPV-18, high-risk (cancer-associated) HPV types which together cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers; one vaccine also prevents HPV-6 and HPV-11, which together cause approximately 90% of anogenital warts. Defining type-specific HPV epidemiology in sexually experienced women will help estimate the potential clinical benefits of vaccinating this population.ObjectivesTo examine HPV epidemiology in a diverse sample of sexually experienced women, and to determine factors associated with high-risk HPV and vaccine-type HPV (HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16 and HPV-18).Study designCross-sectional study of 13–26-year-old women (N = 409) who completed a questionnaire and provided a cervicovaginal swab. Swabs were genotyped for HPV using PCR amplification. Logistic regression models were used to determine whether participant characteristics, knowledge, and behaviors were associated with high-risk and vaccine-type HPV.ResultsMost women (68.4%) were positive for ≥1 HPV type, 59.5% were positive for ≥1 high-risk type, 33.1% were positive for ≥1 vaccine-type HPV, and 3.5% were positive for both HPV-16 and HPV-18: none was positive for all four vaccine types. In adjusted logistic regression models, Black race (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.21–3.41) and lifetime number of male sexual partners (OR 4.79, 95% CI 2.04–11.23 for ≥10 partner vs. ≤1 partner) were independently associated with high-risk HPV infection.ConclusionsHPV prevalence was very high in this sample of sexually active young women, but <5% were positive for both HPV-16 and HPV-18, suggesting that vaccination could be beneficial for many individual women who are sexually experienced.     

A novel finding to assess ischemia in pacing stress echocardiography (PASE)

Background: Normalization of heart rate post–pacing stress echocardiography (PASE) could enable evaluation of effect of ischemia on diastolic function. Methods: We examined the effect of pacing on left ventricular (LV) filling in 55 patients who underwent a transesophageal PASE. Pulse wave Doppler of mitral inflow was obtained at baseline and during transition from peak pacing to up to three beats immediate post pacing. Results: Thirty-four patients (62%; 62 ± 12 years) had normal (NL) PASE, wall motion score index (WMSI) 1 ± 0 at baseline and during PASE. Sixteen patients (29%; 64 ± 12 years) had ischemic (ISCH) PASE, WMSI 1.07 ± 0.08 at baseline and 1.40 ± 0.21 during PASE. Five patients (9%; 81 ± 5 years) had abnormal (ABN) PASE, WMSI 1.55 ± 0.34 at baseline and 1.55 ± 0.34 during PASE. The ABN group had the most pronounced decrease in deceleration time (DT) seen in all three post-PASE beats (221 ± 29 ms at baseline vs. 145 ± 46, 144 ± 26 and 144 ± 18 ms at beats 1, 2, and 3, P < 0.005 from baseline for all). The DT reduced significantly at post-PASE beat 1 from baseline (234 ± 45 ms vs. 158 ± 36 ms, P = 0.02) in the ISCH group, whereas no significant change in DT occurred in the NL group (239 ± 74 ms vs. 222 ± 58 ms, P = 0.14) at beat 1. Conclusion: In ISCH and ABN ventricles the duration of early diastolic filling decreased post-pacing. This new finding of a shortened deceleration time (DT) may be a marker of an ischemic response in PASE reflecting abnormal LV compliance.