Toxoplasmosis presenting as a swelling in the axillary tail of the breast and a palpable axillary lymph node mimicking malignancy: a case report.

Introduction: Lymphadenopathy is a common finding in toxoplasmosis. A breast mass due to toxoplasmosis is very rare, and only a few cases have been reported. We present a case of toxoplasmosis that presented as a swelling in the axillary tail of the breast with a palpable axillary lymph node which mimicked breast cancer.

The tissue renin-angiotensin system in human pancreas.

Evidence exists for the presence of a discrete tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in mouse and rat pancreas that is thought largely to be associated with the vasculature. To investigate this in the human pancreas, and to establish whether the cellular sites of RAS components include the islets of Langerhans, we used immunocytochemistry to localise the expression of angiotensin II (AT1) receptors and (pro)renin, and non-isotopic in situ hybridisation to localise transcription of the (pro)renin gene. Identification of cell types in the islets of Langerhans was achieved using antibodies to glucagon and insulin.

Transcription of the prorenin gene in normal and diseased breast.

The angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor is present in a wide variety of human and animal tissues, and is particularly abundant in epithelial cells. Because of this, and because it is known that tissue renin angiotensin systems (RASs) exist that have specific local functions, we investigated the expression and localisation of components of the RAS in normal and diseased breast tissue. Using a monoclonal antibody to the AT1 receptor, immunocytochemistry confirmed that the AT1 receptor was characteristically distributed in ductal epithelial cells in both normal and malignant tissue, and in most, although not all, cells in invasive tumours.

An audit of patient acceptance of one-stop diagnosis for symptomatic breast disease.

Aims: The impetus for optimizing outpatient provision of breast-care services has come both from the patient and management in order to reduce anxiety and make full use of scarce resources. The one-stop diagnostic clinic for the investigation of symptomatic breast lesions is a relatively recent concept with well-known service benefits. However, acceptance to the patient has not been previously investigated.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression in human breast tissues.

We demonstrate the expression of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors in normal and diseased human breast tissues. Using monoclonal antibody 6313/G2, directed against a specific sequence in the extracellular domain of the AT1 receptor, immunocytochemical analysis revealed positive immunoreactivity in membrane and cytoplasm of specific cell types. Immunoblotting of solubilized proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) from benign and malignant tumours identified a single immunoreactive species with a molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa, consistent with that of the mature glycosylated receptor.

Paget's disease of the nipple.

Paget's disease of the nipple is a superficial manifestation of an underlying breast carcinoma which may be either infiltrating or non-infiltrating. Its incidence, clinical features, histogenesis and treatment are discussed in this article.

Excretion of catecholamine metabolites during methadone maintenance and withdrawal.

Catecholamine metabolites excreted by long-term methadone hydrochloride-dependent subjects were studied in a protocol involving a two-study design. After a two-week methadone maintenance period, 15 subjects underwent abrupt methadone withdrawal and 12 subjects, gradual methadone withdrawal. The first study compared levels of catecholamine metabolites excreted during the stable methadone period with those excreted during the abrupt withdrawal period, as well as with those eliminated by healthy nonaddicted controls.

Effect of acute methadone withdrawal on prostaglandin E-stimulated 3H-cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation in human platelets.

The effect of acute methadone withdrawal was studied on PGE1-sensitive platelet adenylate cyclase of 8 former heroin addicts who had been stabilized with methadone. During acute methadone withdrawal there was a significant increase in PGE1-sensitive platelet adenylate cyclase activity, which correlated with the severity of withdrawal symptoms. This suggests that PGE1-sensitive adenylate cyclase and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) are involved in the human addictive process.

Urinary cyclic AMP excretion by methadone subjects during gradual and acute withdrawal.

Laboratory and animal investigations have supported the hypothesis that levels of cyclic AMP are stable during tolerance to narcotic drugs and increased during withdrawal. In order to test this hypothesis, serial 24-h urinary excretion of cyclic AMP by long-term methadone addicts was determined during a period of stable methadone intake, a period of gradual withdrawal, and a period of acute withdrawal. Cyclic AMP excretion during stable methadone intake is identical to that of normal control subjects.

Metabolic disposition of 2-phenylethylamine and the role of depression in methadone-dependent and detoxified patients.

We have now postulated that differences in the innate capacity of individuals to synthesize, store and utilize biogenic amines may provide the biological basis for human abuse of narcotic and other drugs, and that these drugs are used in an apparent unconscious effort to self-medicate against an inherent affective disorder. In this communication, we attempted a preliminary characterization of the narcotics withdrawal syndrome on biochemical and clinical parameters. Abstinence was found to be characterized by low urinary excretion of 2-phenylethylamine and depression.

DDT-resistance in West African and Asian strains of Aedes aegypti (L.).

The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti has developed resistance to DDT in the Caribbean region and in South-East Asia, but not in West Africa. Therefore West African strains were compared with South-East Asian strains for their response to laboratory selection with DDT. It was found that West African strains were much slower to respond initially, but eventually could build up a high degree of DDT-resistance.