The changing role of thoracotomy in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center.

Objective: To review our experience with thoracotomy in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

Study Design: Nineteen thoracotomy patients from our database were identified. Thoracotomy was performed for therapeutic reasons in 11 patients and to clarify the diagnosis in eight.

Subsequent pregnancy outcomes in patients with molar pregnancy and persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Objective: To evaluate the subsequent reproductive outcomes in patients with complete and partial molar pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) at the New England trophoblastic Disease Center between June 1, 1965, and December 31, 2007.

Study Design: Questionnaires regarding subsequent pregnancies were mailed to all patients with current mailing addresses at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center.

Results: The subsequent reproductive outcomes in patients with complete and partial molar pregnancies and persistent GTN were in general the same as those in the general population.

Risk factors for a serous cancer precursor ("p53 signature") in women with inherited BRCA mutations.

Objectives: Pelvic (ovarian) serous carcinomas frequently contain p53 mutations. Recently, a candidate serous cancer precursor (the p53 signature) with p53 mutations and other features in common with serous cancer has been discovered in distal fallopian tube mucosa. This study examined the relationship of putative ovarian cancer risk factors with the presence of p53 signatures in women with BRCA mutations (BRCA+).

BP1 motif in the human beta-globin promoter affects beta-globin expression during embryonic/fetal erythropoiesis in transgenic mice bearing the human beta-globin gene.

The binding of the transcription factor BP1 (beta protein 1) to its site on the promoter of the adult beta-globin gene has a silencing effect on beta-globin transcription in vitro. To better understand the mechanism of BP1's negative regulation of beta-globin expression, we developed transgenic mice bearing a human beta-globin locus-containing cosmid. Specifically, we introduced a mutated BP1 binding site (mtBP1) into the promoter of the beta-globin gene sequence of this cosmid construct.

A comparison of five different bone resorption markers in osteosarcoma-bearing dogs, normal dogs, and dogs with orthopedic diseases.

Background: Various bone resorption markers in humans are useful for supporting the diagnosis of malignant skeletal pathology, with certain bone resorption markers appearing to be more discriminatory for detecting cancer-induced osteolysis than others. Canine osteosarcoma (OSA) is characterized by focal bone destruction, but a systematic investigation for determining which bone resorption marker best supports the diagnosis of OSA in dogs has not been reported.

Hypothesis: Dogs with OSA will have increased concentrations of bone resorption markers compared with healthy dogs and dogs with orthopedic disorders.

Investigating CXCR4 expression in canine appendicular osteosarcoma.

Background: Chemokine receptors (CXCRs) are transmembrane proteins classically studied for their participation in leukocyte homing. By their binding of cognate ligands, CXCRs orchestrate key cellular processes, including directional migration. Several different CXCRs are expressed on cancer cells and dictate tissue-specific metastases.

The probiotic Bifidobacteria infantis: An assessment of potential antidepressant properties in the rat.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that probiotics are important to the health of the host. The absence of probiotic bacteria in the gut can have adverse effects not only locally in the gut, but has also been shown to affect central HPA and monoaminergic activity, features that have been implicated in the aetiology of depression. To evaluate the potential antidepressant properties of probiotics, we tested rats chronically treated with Bifidobacteria infantis in the forced swim test, and also assessed the effects on immune, neuroendocrine and central monoaminergic activity.

Extension of survival by resection of asynchronous renal cell carcinoma metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether or not resection of isolated mediastinal lymph node renal cell carcinoma metastases confers a survival advantage, as compared with patients with stage IV disease.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with renal cell carcinoma whose histologic specimens were evaluated at our institution from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006. Using Kaplan-Meier estimates, we compared the survival of patients who underwent resection of asynchronous mediastinal lymph node metastases with that of patients with stage IV disease.

Sexually dimorphic effects of maternal separation stress on corticotrophin-releasing factor and vasopressin systems in the adult rat brain.

Neonatal maternal separation has been widely used to model the well-established causal relationship between stress in early life and the later development of depression. As corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and vasopressin (AVP) have been implicated in depression, we aimed to determine the long-term effects of maternal separation stress on these neuropeptide systems, and also to explore whether these effects are gender-dependent. Immunohistochemical staining of CRF, AVP and c-Fos was used to assess whether these neuropeptide systems were affected following an acute swim stress in male and female maternally separated rats.

Does the fimbria have an embryologic origin distinct from that of the rest of the fallopian tube?

Objective: To propose a new theory describing the development of the fallopian tube fimbria.

Design: Case series report.

Setting: Metropolitan tertiary care children's hospital.

The bone biologic effects of zoledronate in healthy dogs and dogs with malignant osteolysis.

Background: Malignant osteolysis is a process whereby cancer cells in concert with osteoclasts erode bone matrix. Aminobisphosphonates (NBPs) such as zoledronate induce osteoclast apoptosis and thereby decrease malignant skeletal destruction, severity of bone pain, and frequency of pathologic fracture.

Hypothesis: IV-administered zoledronate will reduce homeostatic bone turnover in healthy dogs and pathologic bone resorption in dogs diagnosed with primary and secondary bone tumors.

Evaluation of buffy coat smears for circulating mast cells in healthy cats and ill cats without mast cell tumor-related disease.

Objective: To examine buffy coat smears for circulating mast cells in clinically normal cats and cats with illnesses unrelated to mast cell tumors and identify whether conditions other than mast cell tumors are associated with mastocytemia in cats.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 40 clinically normal cats and 40 cats with diseases unrelated to mast cell tumors (all cats were client owned).

Adenosine triphosphate production by bovine spermatozoa and its relationship to semen fertilizing ability.

This article's objectives are to investigate the relationship between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production (oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis) and fertility of bovine spermatozoa, determine the proportion of oxygen consumption devoted to proton leak and that due to nonmitochondrial processes, and discover whether freeze/thawing affects sperm oxygen consumption. Oxygen consumption of bovine spermatozoa was measured using a standard Clark electrode and, for the first time, in an Oxygen Biosensor System (OBS). Total ATP formation by bovine spermatozoa was calculated from the oxygen consumption and lactate production (glycolysis) by the same spermatozoa sample.

Sharing H5N1 viruses to stop a global influenza pandemic.

Indonesia's refusal to share samples of H5N1 virus with World Health Organization for most of 2007 is distressing and potentially dangerous for global public health, argue the authors.

Bonding BisGMA to dentin--a proof of concept for hydrophobic dentin bonding.

The use of TEGDMA as a diluent comonomer in the formulation of hydrophobic adhesives for ethanol wet-bonding is a concern, due to its leaching potential, higher water sorption, and bio-incompatibility. This study tested the hypothesis that hydrophobic bonding to acid-etched dentin may be accomplished with the use of ethanol-solvated BisGMA only. Phosphoric-acid-etched, oxalate-occluded, deep coronal dentin bonded under 20 cm water pressure with experimental BisGMA adhesives by ethanol wet-bonding exhibited tensile strengths that were not significantly different from that achieved with OptiBond FL bonded according to the manufacturer-recommended protocol, with similar acid-/base-resistant hybrid layers, resin tags, and nanoleakage distribution.

Communicating with oncology clients.

Empathic, honest, and consistent communications that establish realistic goals and focus on quality of life (during and after therapy) for pets with cancer provide the basis of an excellent client-veterinarian relationship. From this foundation, a client can team up with his or her veterinarian to make the best possible decisions for the pet and for himself or herself regarding care for the companion animal.

Effects of sevelamer and calcium-based phosphate binders on mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Elevated serum phosphorus and calcium are associated with arterial calcification and mortality in dialysis patients. Unlike calcium-based binders, sevelamer attenuates arterial calcification but it is unknown whether sevelamer affects mortality or morbidity. In a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel design trial we compared sevelamer and calcium-based binders on all-cause and cause-specific mortality (cardiovascular, infection, and other) in prevalent hemodialysis patients.

Platelet concentrations and platelet-associated IgG in greyhounds.

Background: Greyhounds have lower platelet concentrations (PC) than dogs of other breeds have. No underlying cause has been investigated.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that Greyhounds have lower mean PC because of breed variation, not immune-mediated causes.

Living with chronic hepatitis C means 'you just haven't got a normal life any more'.

Objective: To explore psychosocial factors that impact on quality of life for people living with self-reported chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: A purposeful sample of 70 people who were self-identified as being hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive was recruited through a variety of institutions and community agencies. Semi-structured interviews were held with 12 groups and 21 individuals.

Six imprisoned health-care workers in Libya are pawns in a far larger strategic game. The repercussions are enormous.

It is critical that the scientific community recognize what is at stake in the case of the Benghazi Six, says Laurie Garrett of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Symptom prevalence and clustering of symptoms in people living with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Quality of life has been shown to be poor among people living with chronic hepatitis C. However, it is not clear how this relates to the presence of symptoms and their severity. The aim of this study was to describe the typology of a broad array of symptoms that were attributed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Antibody-maytansinoid conjugates are activated in targeted cancer cells by lysosomal degradation and linker-dependent intracellular processing.

Antibody-drug conjugates are targeted anticancer agents consisting of a cytotoxic drug covalently linked to a monoclonal antibody for tumor antigen-specific activity. Once bound to the target cell-surface antigen, the conjugate must be processed to release an active form of the drug, which can reach its intracellular target. Here, we used both biological and biochemical methods to better define this process for antibody-maytansinoid conjugates.

Cbf beta-SMMHC induces distinct abnormal myeloid progenitors able to develop acute myeloid leukemia.

The acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-associated CBF beta-SMMHC fusion protein impairs hematopoietic differentiation and predisposes to leukemic transformation. The mechanism of leukemia progression, however, is poorly understood. In this study, we report a conditional Cbfb-MYH11 knockin mouse model that develops AML with a median latency of 5 months.