Simultaneous over-expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF II) and IGF-II receptor (IGF-II R) genes in human primary cancer-implication of autocrine and paracrine mechanism in autonomous growth of hepatic cancer

This is first report about the simultaneous over-expression of both Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-II) and its receptor (IGF-II R) at mRNA level in human primary hepatic Cancer (PHC). In 10 PHC samples from China, IGF-II and IGF-II R were both over-expressed, whereas only a background signal was detected in normal liver. In 5 pairs of PHC and its non-tumorous adjacent liver tissues from South Africa, IGF-II and IGF-II R were also over-expressed in PHC. mRNA expression of IGF-II in all 5 cases and IGF-II R in 4 of 5 cases were higher in cancer than non-tumorous adjacent liver tissues. These results strongly implicate that an autocrine and/or paracrine mechanism might be involved in formation and progression of PHC.     

The effects of self-generated comparison targets, BMI, and social comparison tendencies on body image appraisal

Previous studies examining the association between social comparison processes and body image dissatisfaction have yielded inconsistent findings. This study examined whether such discrepancies are due to either the use of identical comparison targets for all subjects or variability in body mass. Specifically, 216 subjects were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: self-generated upward comparison group, self-generated downward comparison group, or control group. Dependent variables were measures of body image. Results indicated that increasing body mass and trait comparison tendencies were associated with increased body dissatisfaction. However, the experimental manipulation did not affect body image ratings. Results suggest that social comparison processes may operate similarly over a range of body mass index (BMI) values.     

Characterization and phenotypic analysis of differentiating CD34+human bone marrow cells in liquid culture

Abstract: Our current understanding of human haematopoietic stem cell biology is based in part on the characterization of human CD34⁺ bone marrow cell differentiation in vitro. CD34 is highly expressed on early stem cells and haematopoietic progenitor cells with clonogenic potential and is gradually lost during differentiation and commitment. However, CD71 (transferrin receptor) is expressed at low levels on early stem cells and generally increases during haematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation. We reasoned that the combination of these surface markers would provide a useful framework for the simultaneous analysis of multiple lineage differentiation of CD34⁺ haematopoietic progenitor cells in liquid culture. In this report, we identify the phenotype of distinct subpopulations of myeloid, erythroid and lymphoid cells in liquid suspension culture using differential expression of CD34 vs. CD71 in combination with specific lineage markers. Freshly isolated human CD34⁺ bone marrow cells were introduced into suspension culture and monitored over a 6-d period using 3-colour flow cytometry. This is the first demonstration that differential expression of CD34 vs. CD71 can be used to simultaneously monitor differentiation of multiple haematopoietic cell lineages in liquid suspension culture, facilitating the study of cytokine-, drug- or chemical-induced alterations in haematopoietic progenitor cell differentiation in vitro.     

Anomalous head posture with early-onset homonymous hemianopia

PURPOSE: We have noted the frequent finding of an ipsilateral head turn in children with early-onset homonymous hemianopia. We report a series of patients with these findings and propose a theory to explain this association. METHODS: Ten patients with early-onset homonymous hemianopia and anomalous head posture were examined. Head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a cerebral lesion as the cause of the hemianopia in all patients. RESULTS: All patients had onset of central nervous system disease prenatally or before age 18 months. A head turn toward the visual field defect with a gaze preference contralateral to the visual field defect was present in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Early-onset homonymous hemianopia should be included in the differential diagnosis of anomalous head posture.     

Acoustic biast trauma

A 50-year old male presented with swollen right eyelids, bleeding per nostrils and a vague left post-auricular swelling for 4 months. Posterior rhinoscopy revealed one pinkish polypoidal mass in the posterior nare and roof of nasopharynx. FNAC from the post-auricular swelling suggested metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma. Incisional biopsy was done form the nasopharynx and histopathological examination proved it to be a malignant paraganglioma. The case is reported for its rarity.     

THEORIES OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR APPLIED TO SYLVIA PLATH

The suicide of Sylvia Plath is examined from the perspective of 15 theories of suicidal behavior and is found to fit best with psychoanalytic and cognitive theories of suicide , in particular those of Aaron Beck , Henry Murray , and Edwin Shneidman .     

Reliability of a Store Observation Tool in Measuring Availability of Alcohol and Selected Foods

Alcohol and food items can compromise or contribute to health, depending on the quantity and frequency with which they are consumed. How much people consume may be influenced by product availability and promotion in local retail stores. We developed and tested an observational tool to objectively measure in-store availability and promotion of alcoholic beverages and selected food items that have an impact on health. Trained observers visited 51 alcohol outlets in Los Angeles and southeastern Louisiana. Using a standardized instrument, two independent observations were conducted documenting the type of outlet, the availability and shelf space for alcoholic beverages and selected food items, the purchase price of standard brands, the placement of beer and malt liquor, and the amount of in-store alcohol advertising. Reliability of the instrument was excellent for measures of item availability, shelf space, and placement of malt liquor. Reliability was lower for alcohol advertising, beer placement, and items that measured the “least price” of apples and oranges. The average kappa was 0.87 for categorical items and the average intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.83 for continuous items. Overall, systematic observation of the availability and promotion of alcoholic beverages and food items was feasible, acceptable, and reliable. Measurement tools such as the one we evaluated should be useful in studies of the impact of availability of food and beverages on consumption and on health outcomes.     

Decreases in arterial oxygen saturation in paediatric outpatients during transfer to the postanaesthetic recovery room

Arterial oxygen saturation was measured by pulse oximetry in two groups of paediatric outpatients breathing room air during transport from the operating room to the postanaesthetic recovery room. In Group I (n = 60) readiness for transfer from OR to PARR was decided clinically. In Group II (n = 50) additional criteria of oxygen saturation (SaOe) greater than or equal to 98 per cent with end-tidal gas N2O less than or equal to 10 per cent and CO2 less than or equal to 45 mmHg were met. A higher incidence of desaturation (SaO2 less than or equal to 90 per cent) occurred in Group I (27 per cent) than in Group II (eight per cent) (P less than 0.05). More children under 2 yr desaturated in Group I (50 per cent) than Group II (17 per cent) (P greater than 0.05 less than 0.10). Twenty-two patients in each group had a recent history of upper respiratory tract infections. In these patients, desaturation was more marked in those in Group I (32 per cent) than in Group II (five per cent) (P less than 0.05). Within each group, the incidence of desaturation during transport was similar in patients with or without a recent URI.