Association of invasive breast carcinoma and multicentric high grade astrocytoma: a case report with a review

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Multicentric gliomas are uncommon lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) with an unprecise rate of occurrence that diffusely infiltrate large portions of the brain. High grade astrocytoma is the most agressive form of gliomas and often has a distinct neuroimaging pattern with a poor prognosis. We report a case of a 29-year-old woman patient with primary breast carcinoma and high grade astrocytoma subsequently developed. The woman was treated by mastectomy and 20 months post-diagnosis of the cancer she exhibited a transient facial paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed two cranial masses suspicious of metastasis. A complete tumor removal from the brain was performed. On histological examination, this tumor was a high grade astrocytoma.     

Using array-comparative genomic hybridization to define molecular portraits of primary breast cancers

We analysed 148 primary breast cancers using BAC-arrays containing 287 clones representing cancer-related gene/loci to obtain genomic molecular portraits. Gains were detected in 136 tumors (91.9%) and losses in 123 tumors (83.1%). Eight tumors (5.4%) did not have any genomic aberrations in the 281 clones analysed. Common (more than 15% of the samples) gains were observed at 8q11-qtel, 1q21-qtel, 17q11-q12 and 11q13, whereas common losses were observed at 16q12-qtel, 11ptel-p15.5, 1p36-ptel, 17p11.2-p12 and 8ptel-p22. Patients with tumors registering either less than 5% (median value) or less than 11% (third quartile) total copy number changes had a better overall survival (log-rank test: P=0.0417 and P=0.0375, respectively). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on copy number changes identified four clusters. Women with tumors from the cluster with amplification of three regions containing known breast oncogenes (11q13, 17q12 and 20q13) had a worse prognosis. The good prognosis group (Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) 相似文献   

Chronic exposure to methadone induces activated microglia and astrocyte and cell death in the cerebellum of adult male rats

Metabolic Brain Disease - Methadone is a centrally-acting synthetic opioid analgesic widely used in the methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) programs throughout the world. Considering its neurotoxic...     

Anterolateral extradural approach for C2-C3 disc herniation: technical case report

High cervical disc herniations (C2-C3) are extremely rare, and various approaches have been used to treat C2-C3. In this report, we recommend the anterolateral extradural approach as an alternative to treat C2-C3 disc herniation. A 72-year-old woman was referred to us with severe pain in the left side of her neck and occipital region. She had been taking high doses of analgesics but had no myelopathic symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed that left paramedian, extruded C2-C3 disc material was compressing the spinal cord and the left C3 nerve root. A left-sided anterolateral extradural approach was done to remove the extruded disc material at the C2-C3 level. After resection of the transverse processes of C1 and C2, the V3 segment of the vertebral artery was mobilized posteromedially. The extruded disc material was carefully removed, and the vertebral artery was freed and repositioned. The anterolateral extradural approach to a C2-C3 disc herniation is a good alternative, especially in patients with thick or short necks.     

Passive smoking and nasopharyngeal colonization by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus pneumoniae</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemophilus influenzae</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Moraxella catarrhalis</Emphasis> in daycare children

Exposure to tobacco smoke may be associated with higher risk of nasopharyngeal colonization and infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), Haemophilus influenzae (HI), and Moraxella catarrhalis (MC). This study was done to determine the influence of passive smoking on S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis colonization rates among children. This is a prospective cross-sectional study. Tertiary referral centers with accredited otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery and Microbiology Departments. In this cross-sectional study, 2–6 years old children in 10 randomly selected day-care centers in northeast of Iran (Mashad) were studied. Smoking exposure and medical history were recorded. Carriage rates for aforementioned bacteria were analyzed on the basis of smoking exposure. 1,125 children (Female/Male: 597/528) with the mean age of 5.05 ± 0.98 years were studied. Carriage rates of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis among children were 10.1, 8.8 and 6.7%, respectively. Mixed colonization was found in 2.7%. There was a significant difference in carriage rates between children who live in smoking families compare to those with nonsmoking families for M. catarrhalis (P = 0.001) but not for S. pneumoniae, and H. influenza (P = 0.798 and P = 0.117, respectively). It seems exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with increased carriage rate of M. catarrhalis in day-care children.     

Protective effect of flavonoids against red blood cell hemolysis by free radicals

BACKGROUND:

Flavonoids are polyphenolic substances with antioxidant properties, and they are found in different vegetables and fruits. Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of flavonoids reduces the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. The use of synthetic antioxidants, however, has been limited because of their toxicity. Therefore, medical researchers have intensified their quest to find natural antioxidants.

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the effect of several pure flavonoids, such as kaempferol, quercetin, morin and rutin, on red blood cell hemolysis and evaluate their -SH capacity as an indicator of membrane protection.

METHODS:

The rate of hemolysis and cell membrane -SH capacity were determined by spectrophotometry. Red blood cell peroxidation was induced using 2,2′-azo-bis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. The effect of each flavonoid on hemolysis was examined at three concentrations (0.5 μg/mL, 5 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL), however, only the greatest concentration (10 μg/mL) of each flavonoid was used to study the effect on -SH groups.

RESULTS:

In all cases, the antioxidant activity was dose-dependent. Rutin showed the highest inhibitory effect on hemolysis among flavonoids (42.5%). The protective effect of kaempferol, rutin and morin against -SH group oxidation measured 7.7%, 23.3% and 26.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results showed that flavonoids and flavonoid-containing plants can be used as natural antioxidants for the treatment and prevention of disease conditions, the pathogenesis of which is mediated by lipid peroxidation.     

Efficacy of clofibrate on severe neonatal jaundice associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (a randomized clinical trial)

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency may cause severe hyperbilirubinemia with bilirubin encephalopathy unless intervention is initiated. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of clofibrate in full term G6PD deficient neonates with jaundice. A randomized clinical trial study was performed in two groups of full-term G6PD deficient jaundiced neonates (clofibrate treated group, n = 21; control group, n = 19). Infants in the clofibrate group received a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg clofibrate, whereas control group received nothing. Both groups were treated with phototherapy. Serum total and direct bilirubin levels were measured at the onset of treatments, 16, 24 and 48 hours later. On enrollment, the mean total serum bilirubin (TSB) level in the clofibrate treated group was 18.40 +/- 2.41 and in the control group was 17.49 +/- 1.03 (p = 0.401). At 16, 24 and 48 hours of treatment, the mean TSB in the clofibrate group were 15.2 +/- 1.9, 12.6 +/- 2.4, and 10.1 +/- 2.4 and in the control group were 16.5 +/- 1.2, 13.3 +/- 2.2 and 11.4 +/- 2.4, respectively (p = 0.047). At 48 hours, 7 (33%) cases in the clofibrate group and one (5%) case in the control group were discharged with a TSB < 10 mg/dl (p = 0.031). No side effects were observed on serial examinations during hospitalization, or on the 1st and 7th days after discharge. The results show that clofibrate induces a faster decline in serum total bilirubin level, a shorter duration of phototherapy, and hospitalization with no side effects in full-term G6PD deficient neonates with jaundice.