Morphometric and immunohistochemical markers of breast cancer progression

The results of the study for the last decade aimed at the search of markers of mammary carcinoma malignancy and prognosis are reported. Accumulation and integration of various data contributes not only to more precise identification of the malignancy but also to more complete understanding of biological essence of mammary carcinoma.     

Thyroid carcinoma after Chernobyl latent period, morphology and aggressiveness

The large numbers of papillary thyroid carcinomas that have occurred in those exposed to high levels of short-lived isotopes in fallout after Chernobyl provide a unique opportunity to correlate latency and tumour biology. We show that short latency is associated with tumours with a phenotype that is significantly less structurally differentiated, shows significantly less peritumour fibrosis, and significantly more invasive spread when compared to tumours with a longer latent period. In contrast, the type of differentiation (papillary or follicular architecture) is associated with age at exposure. These findings suggest that the initial mutation at the time of exposure played a major role in tumour latency and aggressiveness. We and others have shown that RET-PTC3 rearrangements are associated with the solid morphology seen in these short latency tumours, while classical papillary carcinomas more often show RET-PTC1 rearrangements. Studies in transgenic mice show similar findings, and in vitro studies show that RET-PTC3 induces more rapid growth than RET-PTC1. We therefore suggest that the solid morphology, high frequency of RET-PTC3 rearrangements and aggressive behaviour noted in early investigations of post-Chernobyl tumours were characteristic of short latency rather than the nature of the mutagen, and that successive overlapping waves of papillary carcinoma with differing latency, differing patterns of mutations and differing clinical behaviour are occurring in those exposed to Chernobyl fallout.     

Large deletions in mitochondrial DNA in radiation-associated human thyroid tumors

Paired DNA samples of tumor and normal thyroid tissue from adult patients possibly exposed to radioactive Chernobyl fallout [11 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and 6 follicular adenomas] and from control samples (9 PTC occurring in Japanese patients) were examined for the relative mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, prevalence and level of common deletion (CD), and large-scale deletions in mtDNA. Elevated relative mtDNA content as estimated by real-time PCR was found in tumor tissue in most cases, but no significant correlation with the level of radioiodine contamination of patients' residency nor with clinicopathological data were found. CD was detected in every DNA specimen from all types of tissue regardless of the presence of oxyphillic cell changes. Elevated level of the CD was predominantly found in tumor tissue of the radiation-associated group but not in sporadic PTC. No correlation was noted with clinicopathological parameters, radioiodine contamination, and relative mtDNA content. The quantity of large-scale deletions in mtDNA was elevated in most tumor tissues, especially in the radiation-associated group and tended to correlate with the level of radiopollutant in PTC. In contrast to sporadic PTC, highly significant-positive correlation between the presence of large scale mtDNA deletions and relative mtDNA content was found in radiation-associated tumors (P = 0.001 and P = 0.019 in PTC and follicular adenoma, respectively). Normal tissue displayed the inverse tendency. No association with level of the CD was found in either group of cases. Concordant increase of both relative mtDNA content and number of mtDNA deletions was detected more often in radiation-associated PTC than in sporadic PTC. Thus, simultaneous determination of the number of large-scale mtDNA deletions and relative mtDNA content may be useful to elucidate molecular distinctive features of radiation-associated thyroid tumors.     

Bronchial asthma, elevated bronchial reactivity and physical loading

The paper is concerned with a comparative study of the evidence of case histories, clinical symptomatology, external respiratory function and the effect of beta-adrenergic drugs in patients with bronchial asthma to define conditions contributing to the development of a bronchospasm caused by submaximum physical exertion. It was shown that submaximum physical exertion was followed by marked bronchial obstruction in 60% of patients. A degree of bronchospasm caused by physical exertion was in direct relation to a patient's age, the duration of disease and a period from the onset of disease. A submaximum exercise test was recommended for differential diagnosis of bronchial asthma and a degree of nonspecific raised bronchial reactivity.     

Body mass index centile charts to assess fatness of British children

Body mass index (BMI) relates weight to height and reflects the shape of a child, but because of age dependency it has not been used conventionally for the estimation of fatness in children. From measurements of Tayside children (n = 34,533) centile charts were constructed for BMI (wt/ht2) from the raw data of height and weight, using Cole's LMS method for normalised growth standards. These data were compared with the only available European BMI charts published from data of French children obtained over a period of 24 years from 1956-79. British children appear to be 'fatter'. Within a subgroup (n = 445) the BMI values were correlated with estimations of body fat, for boys and girls, from skinfold thickness (r = 0.8 and 0.81) and bioelectrical impedance (r = 0.65 and 0.7). The limits of acceptable BMI have yet to be defined.