Ductal Carcinoma In Situ with Microinvasion on Core Biopsy: Evaluating Tumor Upstaging Rate,Lymph Node Metastasis Rate,and Associated Predictive Variables

Annals of Surgical Oncology - The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) when ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISM) is identified on core biopsy is unclear. Our aim was to assess...     

A Preliminary Study of Negative Self-Beliefs in Anorexia Nervosa: A Detailed Exploration of Their Content, Origins and Functional Links to “Not Eating Enough” and Other Characteristic Behaviors

Objective: The study explored the semantic content and origins of negative self-beliefs, and their functional links to “not eating enough” and other behaviors, in participants with anorexia nervosa (AN). Method: Fifteen women meeting DSM-IV criteria for AN were compared with 17 dieting and 18 non-dieting women matched on age and number of years of education. The main outcome measure was a semi-structured interview. Results: Six themes were identified in the beliefs of participants with AN. These were, in order of decreasing frequency, powerlessness (present in all but three AN participants), failure, defectiveness, unattractiveness, worthlessness and emptiness. Importantly, powerlessness and failure beliefs were consistently present independent of Beck Depression Inventory-II scores. The negative early life experiences associated with these beliefs had high distress and responsibility ratings. Participants with AN reported that they employed specific behaviors, particularly ‘not eating enough,’ and ‘placating others,’ to try to reduce the cognitive and emotional impact of their negative self-beliefs. Discussion: The findings are discussed in relation to the role of powerlessness and the function of “not eating enough” in cognitive theory and therapy for AN.

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Repeated unilateral epidural blockade

Unilateral epidural analgesia occurring in a parturient three times in successive pregnancies is reported. Possible causes are reviewed, and clinical and radiological evidence in support of the most likely explanation are presented.     

N-acetyl-L-aspartate and other amino acid metabolites in Alzheimer's disease brain: a preliminary proton nuclear magnetic resonance study.

We used proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in this preliminary study of perchloric acid extracts of 12 Alzheimer's disease (AD) and five control brain samples to measure the relative levels of taurine, aspartate, glutamine, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the putative neuronal marker, N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA). We found no significant changes in taurine, aspartate, or glutamine. NAA was lower in AD compared with control, and this decrease correlated with the number of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in adjacent tissue sections. GABA levels also were lower in AD brain. Glutamate levels were greater in AD than control and showed a close, inverse correlation with NAA levels. These findings suggest that the decrease in NAA reflects neuronal loss and that remaining neurons could be exposed to a relative excess of glutamate and a relative lack of GABA. If present in the neurotransmitter pool, this imbalance could result in neurotoxic cell damage. This hypothesis is further supported by in vitro and in vivo phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance findings.     

PDGF AA as mediator in nicotine-dependent carcinogenesis

Effect of nicotine on PDGF AA and PDGF BB interaction with cervicalcancer SiHa cells was tested. [¹²⁵I]PDGF AA was internalizedby cells and accumulated in the cytoplasm and nucleus (chromatin).In the absence of nicotine, maximal accumulation of [¹²⁵I]PDGFAA inside the cells occurred after 1 day of incubation, whichwas followed by a progressive degradation of the growth factorduring the next 2, 3 and 5 days of cell exposure. In the presenceof 0.001 or 0.01% nicotine, accumulation of [¹²⁵I]PDGF AA wasslightly higher than in the absence of nicotine, and maximalaccumulation occurred after 2 days of incubation. In the presenceof 0.1% nicotine, maximal accumulation occurred after 5 daysof incubation and was 20 and 14 times higher in the cytoplasmand chromatin, respectively. Nicotine-postponed degradationand increased nuclear accumulation of PDGF AA resulted in activationof RNA synthesis and cell proliferation. PDGF BB, which wasnot internalized by cells did not respond to nicotine treatment.The proposed mechanism of nicotine-PDGF AA co-carcinogenesismay involve inhibition of growth factor degradation at the lysosomallevel and an increased chromatin accumulation of the non-degradedPDGF.     

An algorithm to predict pregnancy in assisted reproduction

BACKGROUND: Male fertility potential cannot be measured by conventional parameters for the assisted reproduction technique; ICSI. This study determines the relationship between testicular and ejaculated sperm mitochondrial (mt) DNA deletions, nuclear (n) DNA fragmentation, and fertilization and pregnancy rates in ICSI. METHODS: Ejaculated sperm were obtained from 77 men and testicular sperm from 28 men with obstructive azoospermia undergoing ICSI. Testicular sperm were retrieved using a Trucut needle. mtDNA was analysed using a long PCR. The alkaline Comet assay determined nDNA fragmentation. RESULTS: Of subjects who achieved a pregnancy (50%) using testicular sperm, only 26% had partners' sperm with wild-type (WT) mtDNA. Of pregnant subjects (38%) using ejaculated sperm, only 8% had partner sperm with WT mtDNA. In each, the successful group had less mtDNA deletions and less nDNA fragmentation. There were inverse relationships between pregnancy and mtDNA deletion numbers, size and nDNA fragmentation for both testicular and ejaculated sperm. No relationships were observed with fertilization rates. An algorithm for the prediction of pregnancy is presented based on the quality of sperm nDNA and mtDNA. CONCLUSION: In both testicular and ejaculated sperm, mtDNA deletions and nDNA fragmentation are closely associated with pregnancy in ICSI.     

Screening assays for immunologic infertility: a comparison study.

Because the immunobead antisperm antibody test (IBT) is difficult to learn and results are heavily operator-dependent, we compared findings on IBT with those of SpermMAR and SpermCheck in 58 patients to determine whether the latter two tests could demonstrate improved screening ability. Assays performed on both sperm and serum (i.e., direct and indirect) yielded 100% positive predictive values when IBT was used as the standard. Both SpermCheck and SpermMAR are easier to perform, and, as the former has a slightly greater sensitivity, we recommend SpermCheck for the detection of immunologic infertility.     

Analysis of cell division among subpopulations of lymphoid cells in sheep. I. Thymocytes

The number, distribution and surface phenotype of dividing cells in the thymus, and differences between the cell cycle status of thymocyte subpopulations, were studied in fetal and post-natal lambs using double-labelling techniques. Dividing cells were labelled in vivo for various periods with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). The proportions of constituent thymocyte subpopulations that had synthesized DNA during the labelling period were measured by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for sheep lymphocyte differentiation antigens and MHC class I and class II antigens in conjunction with an anti-BrdU mAb. The proportion of thymocytes that incorporated BrdU during a 1-hr labelling period varied with age, and levels of 30%, 13% and 9% were measured, respectively, in 40- and 125-day-old fetuses and 8-week-old lambs. Eight percent of the thymocytes in lambs were synthesizing DNA, with 4% entering the G2 phase per hour, and a substantial number of thymocytes (21%) had a G2 + M phase DNA content. A small subset of thymocytes (1-3%) recognized by mAb E-79 localized to the subcapsular region of the cortex and displayed the highest level of BrdU incorporation. Cortical-type thymocytes (CD1+) comprised 50-70% of thymocytes; however, few of these incorporated BrdU and the proportion in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle was higher than for other thymocyte subpopulations. The 197+CD4-CD8- T cells also showed no evidence of in vivo division.