Genetic testing for breast cancer risk, from BRCA1/2 to a seven gene panel: an ethical analysis.

Background: Genetic testing is moving from targeted investigations of monogenetic diseases to broader testing that may provide more information. For example, recent health economic studies of genetic testing for an increased risk of breast cancer suggest that it is associated with higher cost-effectiveness to screen for pathogenic variants in a seven gene panel rather than the usual two gene test for variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2. However, irrespective of the extent to which the screening of the panel is cost-effective, there may be ethical reasons to not screen for pathogenic variants in a panel, or to revise the way in which testing and disclosing of results are carried out.

Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on murine alveolar macrophages.

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an essential role in immunomodulation of macrophages. In particular, the alpha7 subunit confers inhibition of the systemic inflammatory response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide, thereby being the crucial element of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (Borovikova et al., 2000; Pavlov et al.

Down-regulation of vasoactive intestinal peptide and altered expression of its receptors in rat diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a vasorelaxant peptide that addresses two receptor subtypes, VPAC1 and VPAC2. It stimulates insulin secretion and mediates anti-inflammatory effects and has been proposed for treatment of type 2 and autoimmune diabetes. In the heart, VIP is produced and released primarily by intrinsic neurons and improves cardiac perfusion and function.

Ryanodine receptors in peritoneal mast cells: possible role in the modulation of exocytotic activity.

Previous studies have shown that ryanodine in low concentrations and caffeine increase intracellular [Ca(2+)] in the absence of external Ca(2+), suggesting Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores through ryanodine receptors (RyR). In the present study we employed amperometry to examine the effect of RyR agonists and antagonists on serotonin release elicited with compound 48/80 (10 micro g/ml). Ryanodine (1 micro M) or, similarly, 20 mM caffeine, in the absence of external Ca(2+), enhanced the amperometric response to compound 48/80 and all the individual amperometric spike parameters.