Low-level Irradiation

Purpose : To determine whether there is an association between dermal fibroblast differentiation characteristics in vitro and breast fibrosis developing in patients following radiotherapy for breast cancer. Materials and methods : Three hundred and eighty-five patients had been characterized for the degree of breast fibrosis and the level of clinical risk factors for fibrosis as established by logistic regression. Early-passage fibroblasts from 79 patients with a high (HR) or low (LR) level of risk factors were studied in vitro. The percentage differentiated cells (%DC) 7 days after 0 and 8 Gy was scored, and unirradiated colonies were scored for the ratio of early:late fibroblast differentiation stages (E:L ratio). Results : %DC: For the 0 Gy data there was a significant interpatient variation (CoV=55%, p=0.0001). HR patients with breast fibrosis had a higher %DC compared with patients without (p =0.017). E:L ratio: for HR patients there was a significant interpatient variation (82%, p =0.0030) and a lower E:L ratio for patients with fibrosis compared with those without (p =0.086), but for LR patients this relationship was reversed (p =0.079) Conclusions : There was a true interpatient variation in the in vitro parameters of fibroblast differentiation but insufficient correlation with observed fibrosis after radiotherapy for use as a predictive test.     

Venous thromboembolism and ethnicity

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has long been considered a disease that affects predominantly white populations, a misconception resulting from a paucity of epidemiological data from non-Western countries, and the low incidence of hereditary thrombophilia in those of non-Caucasian background. Over the last decade, interest has grown in this area with the emergence of evidence that VTE is as prevalent, if not more so, in the black population and is also common in Asian groups. Much is still to be learned, as our current knowledge of hereditary thrombophilia and acquired risk factors do not fully explain the risk of VTE in non-Caucasian groups. This review summarises the current understanding of ethnic variation in VTE and highlights the need for further research in this area.     

Associations Among GABRG1, Level of Response to Alcohol, and Drinking Behaviors

Background:  Recent studies of the genetics of alcoholism have focused on a cluster of genes encoding for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA_A) receptor subunits, which is thought to play a role in the expression of addiction phenotypes. This study examined allelic associations between 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the GABRG1 gene (rs1391166 and rs1497571) and alcohol phenotypes, namely level of response to alcohol, alcohol use patterns, and alcohol-related problems.
Method:  Participants were non-treatment-seeking seeking hazardous drinkers ( n  = 124) who provided DNA samples, participated in a face-to-face interview for level of response to alcohol, and completed a series of drinking and individual differences measures.
Results:  Analyses revealed that a SNP of the GABRG1 gene (rs1497571) was associated with level of response to alcohol and drinking patterns in this subclinical sample. Follow-up mediational analyses were also conducted to examine putative mechanisms underlying these associations.
Discussion:  These findings replicate and extend recent research suggesting that genetic variation at the GABRG1 locus may underlie the expression of alcohol phenotypes, including level of response to alcohol.     

Virus-expressed, recombinant single-chain antibody blocks sporozoite infection of salivary glands in Plasmodium gallinaceum-infected Aedes aegypti

Transgenic mosquitoes resistant to malaria parasites are being developed to test the hypothesis that they may be used to control disease transmission. We have developed an effector portion of an antiparasite gene that can be used to test malaria resistance in transgenic mosquitoes. Mouse monoclonal antibodies that recognize the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium gallinaceum can block sporozoite invasion of Aedes aegypti salivary glands. An anti-circumsporozoite monoclonal antibody, N2H6D5, whose corresponding heavy- and light-chain gene variable regions were engineered as a single-chain antibody construct, binds to P. gallinaceum sporozoites and prevents infection of Ae. aegypti salivary glands when expressed from a Sindbis virus. Mean intensities of sporozoite infections of salivary glands in mosquitoes expressing N2scFv were reduced as much as 99.9% when compared to controls.     

Risk factors for nosocomial infection in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit.

This study was designed to describe the epidemiology and risk factors for nosocomial infection (NI) in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study was a retrospective cohort from January to December, 2003. All neonates admitted to the NICU. Infection surveillance was conducted according to the NNIS, CDC. Chi-square test and logistic regression model were performed for statistical analyses. The study was conducted at a public, tertiary referral NICU of a teaching hospital in the Northeast of Brazil. A total of 948 medical records were reviewed. Overall NI incidence rate was 34%. The main neonatal NI was bloodstream infection (68.1%), with clinical sepsis accounting for 47.2%, and pneumonia was the second most common NI (8.6%). Multivariate analysis identified seven independent risk factors for NIs: birth weight, exposure to parenteral nutrition, percutaneous catheter, central venous catheter or mechanical ventilation, abruptio placentae and mother's sexually transmitted disease (STD). Neonates from mothers with STD or abruptio placentae, those weighing less than 1,500 g at birth or those who used invasive devices were at increased risk for acquiring NI.     

The influence of age on intestinal dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV/CD26), disaccharidases, and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity in C57BL/6 mice

The objective of this study was to determine and describe the age-related changes in intestinal brush border membrane enzyme activities that occur in C57Bl/6 mice. Specifically, jejunal, duodenal, and ileal dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26, disaccharidase (lactase, sucrase, and maltase), and alkaline phosphatase activities were determined. A significant correlation between analyzed intestinal brush border membrane enzyme activities and animal age was found. Our study revealed that intestinal dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26, lactase, sucrase, maltase, and alkaline phosphatase activities decline significantly with age (p < .05). Nevertheless, the horizontal (duodenum to ileum) enzyme activity patterns are not affected by age.