Quantitative analysis of promoter methylation in exfoliated epithelial cells isolated from breast milk of healthy women.

Promoter methylation analysis of genes frequently silenced in breast cancer is a promising indicator of breast cancer risk, as these methylation events are thought to occur long before presentation of disease. The numerous exfoliated epithelial cells present in breast milk may provide the breast epithelial DNA needed for detailed methylation analysis and assessment of breast cancer risk. Fresh breast milk samples and health, lifestyle, and reproductive history questionnaires were collected from 111 women.

Perfluorinated compounds in human milk from Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), notably perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have been reported in human blood. Furthermore, the occurrence of PFCs in the blood of newborn babies, coupled with the need to study the potential association of PFC exposure with birth outcomes in neonates, suggests the need for determining the sources and magnitude of exposure in infants. In this study, nine PFCs were measured in 45 human breast milk samples collected in 2004 from Massachusetts, U.

Synthetic musk fragrances in human milk from the United States.

Synthetic musk compounds are used as additives in many consumer products, including perfumes, deodorants, and detergents. Earlier studies have reported the occurrence of synthetic musks in environmental and wildlife samples collected in the United States. In this study, human breast milk samples collected from Massachusetts, were analyzed for the determination of concentrations of synthetic musks such as musk xylene (1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene), musk ketone (4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitroacetophenone), HHCB (1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[gamma]-2-benzopyran), AHTN (7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene), and HHCB-lactone, the oxidation product of HHCB.