Amygdalar kindling is associated with elevated zinc concentration in the cortex and hippocampus of rats

The reported convulsant properties of zinc and its association with hippocampal function prompted investigation of zinc levels during the induction and maintenance of kindling. Rats were fed zinc adequate diets during kindling, incited by daily amygdalar stimulation. The concentration of zinc in hippocampus was unperturbed during 3 stages of kindling induction when compared to either naive, sham surgery, or electroshock controls. In contrast, cortical zinc increased during kindling induction but returned to control levels in fully kindled animals. Two weeks after full kindling was established, the concentration of zinc in the hippocampus and overlying cortex increased significantly, in the absence of further electrical stimulation. The effect was restricted to the central nervous system inasmuch as zinc levels were unaffected in liver and other extracerebral tissues. Moreover, the zinc concentration was relatively unchanged during the 24 h period following a single electroconvulsive seizure, implying that the observed changes were not simply a postictal phenomenon. The results of this study suggest that long-lasting elevations in zinc are present after kindling is established. Whether this finding is related to the perpetuation of abnormal neuronal excitability or represents a compensatory response remains to be elucidated.     

The telephone survey: a methodological strategy for obtaining information

Studies have shown that students and the general population have little knowledge about nursing schools and the nursing profession. This study investigates the extent to which a sample of the population of Brazil is aware of the existence of nursing schools, and how they have obtained this information. Data were collected by telephone interviews. The sample consisted of 326 subjects whose telephone numbers were taken from the telephone book. Analysis showed that 73% of the subjects were aware of the existence of two nursing schools in the city; however, 65.03% did not know the names of these schools. Direct communication with friends and family, as well as indirect communication by television and advertising, were the sources of information mentioned by those questioned.     

Comparison of three oral sip-feed supplements in patients with cancer

This study set out to compare the long-term palatability of three oral sip-feed supplements. Sixty patients with various malignancies were randomized to receive one of three products—Build-Up, Fortimel and Fortisip. Participants were encouraged to take as much of the supplements each day for as long as they could manage. At the initial tasting, palatability and acceptability of the products was recorded and this was repeated throughout the trial period. Patients' reasons for discontinuing the trial were noted.
Build-Up was found to be the best-tolerated product of the three. It was taken for a significantly longer time than either Fortimel or Fortisip. There was an indication that Build-Up was more acceptable at the initial tasting than Fortisip but not Fortimel. A smaller proportion of patients stopped taking Build-Up due to flavour-related reasons compared to Fortisip but there was no significant difference between Build-Up and Fortimel. In all, 54% of the patients discontinued the trial for flavour-related reasons. Thirty-five per cent found that the sip-feeds they had been allotted unpalatable at the initial tasting, while 19% stopped the trial due to 'flavour fatigue'. Only 10% of the sample continued taking their allotted product for 90 days or more.     

Adult nephroblastoma--five cases treated by surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Nephroblastoma in adults is rare; consequently very little experience of treatment for adult cases has been reported. We report five cases of adult nephroblastoma managed by nephrectomy, radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy. The treatment schedules were derived from childhood nephroblastoma regimens. However, four of the five patients were dead within 12 months of nephrectomy and all five had progression of disease whilst on combination chemotherapy. A good prognosis should not be anticipated for adult nephroblastoma. The chemotherapy schedules which are so successful in childhood nephroblastoma may require modification to improve prognosis in adults.     

Mapping the Von Hippel -- Lindau disease tumour suppressor gene: identification of germline deletions by pulsed field gel electrophoresis

Von Hlppel—Lindau (VHL) disease is a dominantly Inheritedfamillal cancer syndrome In which affected individuals havea greatly increased predisposition to the development of haemangloblastomasof the central nervous system and retina, renal cell carcinomaand phaeochromocytoma. The VHL gene has been mapped to chromosome3p25 -p26 by genetic linkage studies and we have previouslydemonstrated that the VHL gene is tightly linked to the D3S601locus (Zmax = 18.86 at     

An association between variants in the IGF2 gene and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: interaction between genotype and epigenotype

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a fetal overgrowth disorder involving the deregulation of a number of genes, including IGF2 and CDKN1C, in the imprinted gene cluster on chromosome 11p15.5. In sporadic BWS cases the majority of patients have epimutations in this region. Loss of imprinting of the IGF2 gene is frequently observed in BWS, as is reduced CDKN1C expression related to loss of maternal allele-specific methylation (LOM) of the differentially methylated region KvDMR1. The causes of epimutations are unknown, although recently an association with assisted reproductive technologies has been described. To date the only genetic mutations described in BWS are in the CDKN1C gene. In order to screen for other genetic predispositions to BWS, the conserved sequences between human and mouse differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of the IGF2 gene were analyzed for variants. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in DMR0 (T123C, G358A, T382G and A402G) which occurred in three out of 16 possible haplotypes: TGTA, CATG and CAGA. DNA samples from a cohort of sporadic BWS patients and healthy controls were genotyped for the DMR0 SNPs. There was a significant increase in the frequency of the CAGA haplotype and a significant decrease in the frequency of the CATG haplotype in the patient cohort compared to controls. These associations were still significant in a BWS subgroup with KvDMR1 LOM, suggesting that the G allele at T382G SNP (CAGA haplotype) is associated with LOM at KvDMR1. This indicates either a genetic predisposition to LOM or interactions between genotype and epigenotype that impinge on the disease phenotype.