The NeiI polymorphism in the cyclin D1 gene and sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism

OBJECTIVES: The cell cycle regulator cyclin D1 plays an important role in parathyroid tumourigenesis. The NciI polymorphism in exon 4 has recently been associated with early onset of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and is a prognostic indicator of nonsmall cell lung cancer and squamous cell carcinomas. Furthermore, a limited study of 28 primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) patients displayed a tendency of NciI influence on HPT development. We hypothesized that the NciI polymorphism may relate to a risk of developing pHPT. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: We genotyped 182 patients with sporadic pHPT and matched controls for the cyclin D1 polymorphism. A total of 88 pHPT patients and controls were recruited via a health-screening. RESULTS: The frequency distribution of the NciI genotypes NN, Ni, and ii were in pHPT patients and controls 22, 44 and 34%, and 26, 49 and 25%, respectively. The calculated allele frequencies were A = 0.56; G = 0.44 in cases and A = 0.49; G = 0.51 in controls. The frequency distributions did not differ comparing cases and controls when subgrouped after age and menopausal status. The NciI genotypes were not significantly associated with age of the individuals, serum (s)-calcium, s-parathyroid hormone (PTH), bone mineral density (BMD) or parathyroid tumour weight in any of the groups of pHPT patients or controls. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in distribution of the genotypes could be detected between the groups, suggesting that the polymorphism has minor or no pathogenic importance in the development of pHPT. Our results suggest that determination of the NciI polymorphism in the cyclin D1 gene is not a clinically useful tool for prediction of pHPT.     

Prevalence and predictors of Toxoplasma seropositivity in women with and at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection

We assessed the prevalence and predictors of latent Toxoplasma infection in a large group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-uninfected at-risk US women. The prevalence of latent Toxoplasma infection was 15% (380 of 2525 persons) and did not differ by HIV infection status. HIV-infected women aged > or =50 years and those born outside of the United States were more likely to have latent Toxoplasma infection, with prevalences of 32% and 41%, respectively.     

Analysis of the RAD54 gene on chromosome 1p as a potential tumor-suppressor gene in parathyroid adenomas.

Parathyroid adenomas causing primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) frequently exhibit allelic loss of DNA markers on the short arm of chromosome 1, indicating the presence of one or more tumor-suppressor genes on 1p. Since the development of pHPT is enhanced in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation to the neck, it could be anticipated that genes involved in DNA repair and recombination may be special targets for mutation in parathyroid tumorigenesis, whether irradiation-associated or not. RAD54 is a member of a family of genes involved in such functions, and RAD54 knockout mice show increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation. The localization of the RAD54 gene to 1p32 has therefore elevated it to a most compelling candidate parathyroid tumor-suppressor gene. Twelve parathyroid adenomas demonstrating allelic loss at chromosome 1p were selected from 55 parathyroid adenomas previously analyzed for loss of heterozygosity using polymorphic microsatellite markers. All 18 exons of the RAD54 gene were fully analyzed by automated sequencing for detection of point mutations or micro-deletions in each parathyroid adenoma. No mutational aberrations were detected in the RAD54 gene, strongly suggesting that complete somatic inactivation of RAD54 is infrequently, if ever, associated with the development of parathyroid adenomas. Whether genes controlling DNA repair and recombination are involved in parathyroid neoplasia remains to be determined.     

牡丹江市正常成人尿液红、白细胞定量分析参考值调查

目的尿液沉渣分析红、白细胞由传统的定性报告方式改为定量分析(××/μl).由于使用的检查方法不同,其参考值也不一样,国内目前尚未有统一的参考值,为使牡丹江市有一个统一的判断标准.方法我们对1109名健康成人其中男性591人,女性518人进行尿中红细胞及白细胞的参考值调查.方法采用国内的专用尿沉渣计数板,显微镜下计数.对体检者在统一时间清晨7点钟留取尿液20～30毫升,按统一操作规程进行操作,对不同性别的人群进行参考值的调查.结果男性红细胞x是1.12,S是1.42,95%可信界限0～3.96,参考值范围0～4/μl;男性白细胞x是1.84,是S 2.05,95%可信界限0～5.94,参考值范围0～6/μl.女性红细胞x是2.46,S是3.26,95%可信界限0～8.98,参考值范围0～9/μl;女性白细胞x是2.25,S是3.82,95%可信界限0～9.89,参考值范围0～10/μl.结论通过1109名正常成人尿液红细胞及白细胞含量的调查,建立了牡丹江市的参考值.