Expression of the E-cadherin-catenins complex in sentinel node is related to tumor morphology but not to spread to nonsentinel nodes

The sentinel node (SN) technique has gained a key role in breast cancer surgery, allowing for an accurate staging of the axillary status with a minimally invasive resection. In this study, we explored the implication of three proteins (E-cadherin, a- and b-catenins) that form the cadherin-catenin complex, a receptorial structure strictly involved in tumoral vascular invasion and embolization in this biologic event. We studied the immunohistochemical expression of the complex in patients with metastatic SN, matching the group with involved nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSNs) with that having free axillary NSNs. The simultaneous staining of the SN metastases for the three proteins has been considered an indicator of preserved function. Our data confirmed the lack of cadherin-catenin complex in tumors with lobular morphology even in SN metastasis, but statistical evaluation could not prove a significant relation between complex integrity and NSN involvement. Moreover, considering traditional histopathologic parameters, only vascular peritumoral embolization was related to an increased risk of metastatic spread to axillary NSNs.     

The change of the scFv into the Fab format improves the stability and in vivo toxin neutralization capacity of recombinant antibodies

The antigen-binding fragment (Fab) has been considered a more functionally stable version of recombinant antibodies than single chain antibody fragments (scFvs), however this intuitive consideration has not been sufficiently proven in vivo. This communication shows that three out of four specific scFvs against a scorpion toxin, with different affinities and stabilities, become neutralizing in vivo when expressed as Fabs, despite the fact that they are not neutralizing in the scFv format. A scFv fragment previously obtained from a neutralizing mouse antibody (BCF2) was used to produce three derived scFvs by directed evolution. Only one of them was neutralizing, however when expressed as Fab, all of them became neutralizing fragments in vivo. The initial scFvBCF2 (earlier used for directed evolution) was not neutralizing in the scFv format. After expressing it as Fab did not become a neutralizing fragment, but did reduce the intoxication symptoms of experimental mice. The stability of the four Fabs derived from their respective scFvs was improved when tested in the presence of guanidinium chloride. The in vitro stability of the Fab format has been shown earlier, but the physiological consequences of this stability are shown in this communication. The present results indicate that improved functional stability conferred by the Fab format can replace additional maturation steps, when the affinity and stability are close to the minimum necessary to be neutralizing.     

Expression sites of the collectin SP-D suggest its importance in first line host defence: power of combining in situ hybridisation, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry

Surfactant proteins A and D are pattern recognition molecules that play a role in pulmonary host defence. In this paper, we describe for the first time the expression and localisation of both collectins in various porcine tissues using a combination of in situ hybridisation (ISH), RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). SP-D was expressed in several tissues including lung, tongue, intestinal tract, thymus, skin, gall bladder and lacrimal gland. Focal SP-D expression was detected in oesophagus, stomach, kidney, liver, prostate and spleen with both histological techniques. These tissues tested negative with RT-PCR. In contrast, SP-A expression was limited to the lung as measured by ISH and IHC. Interestingly, analysis by RT-PCR showed that thymus, trachea, jejunum and duodenum are positive for the presence of SP-A mRNA. We conclude that the combination of different methods can be advantageous if tissue-specific expression is studied. The importance of SP-D in innate immune defence of the pig is underlined by its expression at the potential ports of entry of pathogens.     

Dietary intake and biomarker status of folate in Swedish adults

Purpose

National data on folate status are missing in Sweden, and regional data indicate folate insufficiency in up to more than 25% of the study populations. The objectives were to determine folate intake and status in the adult Swedish population as well as identifying dietary patterns associated with beneficial folate status.

Methods

Folate intake was estimated using a web-based 4-d food record in adults aged 18–80 years (n = 1797). Folate status was measured as erythrocyte (n = 282) and plasma folate concentrations (n = 294). Factor analysis was used to derive a dietary pattern associated with a higher folate status.

Results

Median folate intake was 246 µg/day (Q ₁ = 196, Q ₃ = 304, n = 1797) and for women of reproductive age 227 µg/day (Q ₁ = 181, Q ₃ = 282, n = 450). As dietary folate equivalents (DFE), median intake was 257 µg/day (Q ₁ = 201, Q ₃ = 323) and for women of reproductive age 239 µg/day (Q ₁ = 185, Q ₃ = 300). Low blood folate concentrations were found in 2% (erythrocyte concentrations <317 nmol/L) and 4% (plasma concentrations <6.8 nmol/L) of the participants, respectively. None of the women of reproductive age had erythrocyte folate concentrations associated with the lowest risk of neural tube defects. Dietary patterns associated with higher folate status were rich in vegetables, pulses and roots as well as cheese and alcoholic beverages, and low in meat.

Conclusions

Prevalence of low erythrocyte folate concentrations was low in this population, and estimated dietary intakes are well above average requirement. However, to obtain a folate status optimal for prevention of neural tube defects major dietary changes are required and folic acid supplements recommended prior to conception.

     

How is weight stigma related to children’s health-related quality of life? A model comparison approach

Purpose

Obesity is a highly stigmatizing condition for both adults and children, and both obesity and stigma experiences are negatively related with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the relations among these constructs have been modeled in different and sometimes inconsistent terms in past research, and have been the object of surprisingly few studies in pediatric populations. The present study addresses this gap by comparing, in a sample of preadolescent children, four competing models (i.e., additive, mediation, moderation, and moderated mediation models) accounting for the role of stigma experiences in the concurrent relation between body weight and HRQoL.

Methods

A community sample of 600 children aged 8–11 years completed the Perception of Teasing Scale to assess weight-based teasing experiences and the PedsQL 4.0 to assess HRQoL. Parent-reported height and weight were used to calculate age- and gender-adjusted zBMI. Log-likelihood test, BIC difference, and Wald test were used for model comparisons.

Results

The mediation model outperformed both additive and moderation models and was found to be equally informative (but more parsimonious) as compared to the moderated mediation account. The same pattern of results was replicated for both global HRQoL and domain-specific quality of life domains (i.e., physical, emotional, social, and scholastic).

Conclusions

The mediation model provided the best fitting and more parsimonious representation of the relations between body weight, stigma experiences, and HRQoL, meaning that an increased likelihood of experiencing weight-based teasing episodes, rather than excess weight per se, is associated with reduced quality of life in middle childhood.

     

Patients' health in contract and fee-for-service care. I. A descriptive comparison

Fee-for-service care, paying afterwards for services provided, is the traditional adult patient financial system in dentistry in Sweden. The public dental health service (PDHS) in the county of V?rmland has since 1999 also an alternative system, contract care. There, a fixed sum of money is paid annually for dental care, which then is received without additional costs. This study compares the demographics, general health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in the patient financial systems fee-for-service and contract care in the PDHS in V?rmland. A questionnaire was answered by 1,324 patients, response rate 57%. A non-response analysis was undertaken. The non-response analysis showed that the likelihood for answering the questionnaire was higher for women, for respondents in contract care and for increasing age. Further analyses revealed that the non-respondents were healthier than the respondents and that experience of pain in the mouth was the only variable increasing the likelihood of response. General health was studied with the SF-36 and OHRQoL with the OHIP-14. The demographics studied were gender, age, birth country, marital status, education and social network. The results showed that there were differences in patients' health between the patient financial systems. Respondents in contract care had better OHRQoL than those in fee-for-service care. They also had better general health in four of the dimensions of SF-36, were younger, better educated, born in Sweden and were married/living with somebody to a larger extent than fee-for-service care respondents. Fee-for-service care respondents experienced higher social affinity with their housing area. In conclusion, patients in contract care had better general health and OHRQoL than patients in fee-for-service care. There were social differences in choice of financial system and biased non-response.     

Solvent-dehydrated fascia lata allograft for covering intraoral defects: our experience

Mucosal defects in the oral cavity as a result of tumors, preprosthetic surgical procedure, or trauma are always a concern for surgeons. The aim of this study is to present our experience and discuss the advantages and problems arising with the use of solvent-dried human fascia lata allografts in oral mucosal defects, thus evaluating its clinical efficacy. Sixteen intraoral lesions were removed from 15 patients. The rehabilitation of the mucosal defects was achieved using solvent-dehydrated human fascia lata allografts. No graft rejection or infections were detected. The material was effective for enhancing the hemostasis, relieving the pain, and inducing rapid epithelization. The final result was excellent, even though in 2 cases complications were experienced. Hence, the use of the material proved to be reliable, practical, and safe.