A basal‐enriched microRNA is required for prostate tumorigenesis in a Pten knockout mouse model

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in prostate cancer development. However, it remains unclear how individual miRNAs contribute to the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. Here we show that a basal layer‐enriched miRNA is required for prostate tumorigenesis. We identify miR‐205 as the most highly expressed miRNA and enriched in the basal cells of the prostate. Although miR‐205 is not required for normal prostate development and homeostasis, genetic deletion of miR‐205 in a Pten null tumor model significantly compromises tumor progression and does not promote metastasis. In Pten null basal cells, loss of miR‐205 attenuates pAkt levels and promotes cellular senescence. Furthermore, although overexpression of miR‐205 in prostate cancer cells with luminal phenotypes inhibits cell growth in both human and mouse, miR‐205 has a minimal effect on the growth of a normal human prostate cell line. Taken together, we have provided genetic evidence for a requirement of miR‐205 in the progression of Pten null‐induced prostate cancer.     

Advancing primary and community care for persons with spinal cord injury: Key findings from a Canadian summit

Context: Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience significant challenges when they access primary care and community services.

Design: A provincial summit was held to direct research, education, and innovation for primary and community care for SCI.

Setting: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Participants: Key stakeholders (N?=?95) including persons with SCI and caregivers, clinicians from primary care, rehabilitation, and specialized care, researchers, advocacy groups, and policy makers.

Methods: A one-day facilitated meeting that included guest speakers, panel discussions and small group discussions was held to generate potential solutions to current issues related to SCI care and to foster collaborative relationships to advance care for SCI. Perspectives on SCI management were shared by primary care, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, and members of the SCI community

Outcome Measures: Discussions were focused on five domains: knowledge translation and dissemination, application of best practices, communication, research, and patient service accessibility.

Results: Summit participants identified issues and prioritized solutions to improve primary and community care including the creation of a network of key stakeholders to enable knowledge creation and dissemination; an online repository of SCI resources, integrated health records, and a clinical network for SCI care; development and implementation of strategies to improve care transitions across sectors; implementation of effective care models and improved access to services; and utilization of empowerment frameworks to support self-management.

Conclusions: This summit identified priorities for further collaborative efforts to advance SCI primary and community care and will inform the development of a provincial SCI strategy aimed at improving the system of care for SCI.     

Associations between soil lead and childhood blood lead in urban New Orleans and rural Lafourche Parish of Louisiana.

This study evaluates associations between soil lead concentrations (SPb), age of housing, and blood lead levels (BPb) of children in metropolitan New Orleans and Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The database includes over 2,600 SPb and 6,000 BPb samples paired by their median values and pre-1940 housing percentages for 172 census tracts. Associations were evaluated with Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rho test and modeled with the least sum of absolute deviations regression. Census tracts with low SPb are associated with new housing, but census tracts with high SPb are evenly split between old and new housing [Fisher's exact test, p = 8.60 X 10(-13) for the percentage of housing built before 1940 (percent pre-1940 housing) versus SPb]. The p-value for SPb versus BPb is 12 orders of magnitude stronger than the p-value for percent pre-1940 housing versus BPb. Census tracts with low BPb are associated with new housing, but census tracts with high BPb are split evenly between old and new housing (Fisher's exact test, p = 1. 67 X 10(-12) for percent pre-1940 housing versus BPb). Census tracts with high SPb are associated with high BPb and census tracts with low SPb are associated with low BPb (Fisher's exact test, p = 3.18 X 10(-24) for BPb versus SPb). The Spearman's rho test of the association of SPb and BPb in Orleans and Lafourche Parishes yielded a p-value of 6.12 X 10(-24). The least sum of absolute deviations regression model of the data is BPb = 1. 845 + 0.7215 (SPb)0.4. A comparison of the modeled BPb versus observed BPb has an r(2) of 0.552 and a p-value of 2.83 X 10(-23) that this relation was due to chance. If blood lead in children is more closely associated to soil lead than to the age of housing, then primary lead prevention should also include soil lead.     

Blood lead levels in children in Perth,Western Australia

Abstract: This study reports on an analysis of the lead concentrations in 123 venous blood samples collected from Perth children aged between two months and 17 years attending Princess Margaret Hospital. The overall geometric mean was 6.9 μg lead per 100 ml whole blood, with 95 per cent of results lying between 3.2 and 14.8 μg/100 ml. Among children under five years of age, those aged between 18 months and two years had the highest geometric mean blood lead (11.1 μg/100 ml). There were no consistent associations between geometric mean blood lead and area of residence, age group or sex. In this sample of Perth children, the mean blood lead concentration was lower than those reported in other studies. Less than 0.1 per cent of children of the age range studied would have been expected to have lead levels exceeding the NHMRC ‘level of concern’ (25 μg/100 ml) current at the time of the study. However, the recent adoption of goal of less than 10 μg/100 ml could mean that lead levels in up to 21 per cent of Perth children would now be regarded as excessive.     

The immunolocalisation of the neuroendocrine specific protein PGP9.5 during neurogenesis in the rat.

We have examined the immunolocalisation of the protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 during neurogenesis in the rat embryo. PGP9.5 was first present at 11.5 days gestation (E11.5): all morphologically recognisable nerve cell bodies and fibres were immunoreactive. In routinely processed, wax-embedded tissues, using a standard immunocytochemical technique, PGP9.5 polyclonal antibody specifically demonstrated the developing nervous system and primitive adrenal chromaffin cells.     

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