Outcome of pregnancies among Hispanics: revisiting the epidemiologic paradox.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of pregnancies among Hispanics in a tertiary care hospital in Miami, Florida.

Study Design: Retrospective study of all women who delivered in our institution over an 11-year period. Outcome variables were stratified by race/ethnicity groups: Hispanics, non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites.

The evidence linking maternal nutrition and prematurity.

Maternal nutrition may be one of the most important under-evaluated factors contributing to the contemporary rise in prematurity in the United States and other industrialized nations around the world. Slowed fetal growth has been repeatedly shown to be associated with preterm birth, in both singleton and twin pregnancies. Antecedents of impaired fetal growth include a wide variety of factors, including intergenerational effects, biological and social factors related to race and ethnicity, maternal pregravid weight and gestational weight gain, and iron and mineral status.

Nutrition and multiple gestation.

Multiple pregnancy represents a state of magnified nutritional requirements, resulting in a greater nutrient drain on maternal resources and an accelerated depletion of nutritional reserves. The accelerated starvation which occurs in pregnancy is exaggerated with a multiple gestation, particularly during the second half of pregnancy, with more rapid depletion of glycogen stores and resultant metabolism of fat between meals and during an overnight fast. A reduced glucose stream from mother to fetus results in slower fetal growth, smaller birth size, as well as a higher risk of preterm labor and preterm birth.

Redefining the common insertion site.

Retroviral mutagenesis has been used as a powerful tool to discover genes involved in oncogenesis through a technique called Common Insertion Site (CIS) analysis where tumors are induced by proviral integrations and the genomic loci of the proviruses are identified. A fundamental assumption made in this analysis is that multiple proviral insertions in close proximity occurring more frequently than would be predicted randomly provides evidence that the genes near the integrations are involved in the formation of the tumors. We demonstrate here using data derived from MLV integrations not put under selection for tumor induction that CIS analysis as currently defined is often not a sufficient argument for a gene's significance in tumorigenesis.

Discrimination of isolates of Mycobacterium bovis in Northern Ireland on the basis of variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRs).

The ability to reproducibly discriminate Mycobacterium bovis isolates and trace their transmission has the potential to clarify sources of infection and major routes of transmission for bovine tuberculosis (TB). A PCR-based genotyping assay has been developed to discriminate between strains of M bovis by examining multiple sites in its genome that consist of variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRS). The discriminatory power and reproducibility of this VNTR typing has been compared with that of the established PCR-based spoligotyping technique by using a panel of 461 isolates of M bovis prevalent in Northern Ireland.

Development of a total quality system for transfusion medicine services in Ontario hospitals.

TOTAL QUALITY SYSTEM: The purpose of the project was to develop a total quality system in Transfusion Medicine which would serve as a model for development of a provincial transfusion quality system. Pilot studies were carried out in Ottawa and Hamilton/Niagara. Each region was provided with resources to create a Quality Team.

Exploring SNP-SNP interactions and colon cancer risk using polymorphism interaction analysis.

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes derived from distinct pathways are associated with colon cancer risk; however, few studies have examined SNP-SNP interactions concurrently. We explored the association between colon cancer and 94 SNPs, using a novel approach, polymorphism interaction analysis (PIA). We developed PIA to examine all possible SNP combinations, based on the 94 SNPs studied in 216 male colon cancer cases and 255 male controls, employing 2 separate functions that cross-validate and minimize false-positive results in the evaluation of SNP combinations to predict colon cancer risk.

The Hispanic paradox in twin pregnancies.

The objective of this study was to compare length of gestation, fetal growth, and birthweight by race/ethnicity and pregravid weight groups in twin pregnancies. Three thousand and thirty-six twin pregnancies of 28 weeks or more gestation were divided by race/ethnicity (White, Black and Hispanic), and pregravid body mass index (BMI) groups (less than 25.0 vs.

Allellic variants in regulatory regions of cyclooxygenase-2: association with advanced colorectal adenoma.

Cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) is upregulated in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Polymorphisms in the Cox-2 gene may influence its function and/or its expression and may modify the protective effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), thereby impacting individuals' risk of developing colorectal cancer and response to prevention/intervention strategies. In a nested case-control study, four polymorphisms in the Cox-2 gene (two in the promoter, -663 insertion/deletion, GT/(GT) and -798 A/G; one in intron 5-5229, T/G; one in 3'untranslated region (UTR)-8494, T/C) were genotyped in 726 cases of colorectal adenomas and 729 age- and gender-matched controls in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial.

Fetal growth rates and the very preterm delivery of twins.

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether slow fetal growth rates and twin growth patterns from 20 weeks' gestation to delivery are associated with very preterm delivery.

Study Design: Available charts were reviewed for twin pregnancies, delivered between 1979 and 2002, at 4 U.S.

A comprehensive SNP-based genetic analysis of inbred mouse strains.

Dense genetic maps of mammalian genomes facilitate a variety of biological studies including the mapping of polygenic traits, positional cloning of monogenic traits, mapping of quantitative or qualitative trait loci, marker association, allelic imbalance, speed congenic construction, and evolutionary or phylogenetic comparison. In particular, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have proved useful because of their abundance and compatibility with multiple high-throughput technology platforms. SNP genotyping is especially suited for the genetic analysis of model organisms such as the mouse because biallelic markers remain fully informative when used to characterize crosses between inbred strains.

Midupper arm circumference (MUAC) changes in late pregnancy predict fetal growth in twins.

The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that changes in arm anthropometry can be used to determine the risk of faltering growth in twin gestations. Serial data on midupper arm circumference (MUAC) and maternal weight gain were collected from a sample of 156 mothers. Changes in MUAC were monitored from 20 to 34 weeks.

Nutrition in multiple gestations.

Multiple pregnancies represent a state of magnified nutritional requirements, resulting in a greater nutrient drain on maternal resources and an accelerated depletion of nutritional reserves. Maternal weight gain to 20 weeks and between 20 and 28 weeks has the greatest effect on birthweight in twin and triplet pregnancies, particularly among underweight women. Parity, which most likely represents a higher proportion of body fat, has a positive effect on pregnancy outcome, with an average 7 to 10 days longer gestation for multiparous versus nulliparous women.

Elevated maternal glucose concentrations and placental infection in twin pregnancies.

Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal screening glucose concentration and placental infection in nondiabetic twin pregnancies.

Study Design: One thousand sixty-one nondiabetic twin pregnancies at > or =28 weeks' gestation were divided into 3 groups based on the screening 50-g fasting glucose concentration at 24-28 weeks: lowest quartile (< 96 mg/dL), middle 2 quartiles (96-128 mg/dL) and upper quartile (> 128 mg/dL). Outcomes were modeled using general linear and multinomial logistic regression, controlling for confounding factors.

The cost of twin pregnancy: maternal and neonatal factors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors affecting birth charges in twin pregnancies.

Study Design: Clinical and financial data were obtained on 1486 twin pregnancies delivered between 1995 to 2002 at medical centers in Maryland, Florida, Michigan, and South Carolina. Maternal and neonatal length of stay (LOS) and charges were modeled by gestational age and other risk factors using a general linear model.

Gender mix in twins and fetal growth, length of gestation and adult cancer risk.

This study evaluated the effect of gender mix (the gender combinations of twin pairs) on fetal growth and length of gestation, and reviewed the literature on the long-term effects of this altered fetal milieu on cancer risk. In singletons, it is well established that females weigh less than males at all gestations, averaging 125-135 g less at full term. This gender difference is generally believed to be the result of the effect of androgens on fetal growth.

Fetal phenotypes and neonatal and early childhood outcomes in twins.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with, and postnatal consequences of, altered patterns of fetal growth in twins.

Study Design: Fetal growth was measured at 28 weeks' gestation on 218 twins, including head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length, and characterized as > or < or =10th %ile; children were followed up until the age of three years. Logistic regression was used to generate odds ratios of perinatal factors associated with reduced fetal growth.

Birth weight references for triplets.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to formulate growth references that reflect triplet fetal and neonatal populations at each gestational age by combining serial ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weights and measured birth weights.

Study Design: This historical cohort study was based on 188 pregnancies of live-born triplets of > or =23 weeks' gestation. Ultrasonographic fetal weight measures were modeled as a function of gestational age for each infant.

The use of urine proteomic and metabonomic patterns for the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis and bacterial cystitis.

The advent of systems biology approaches that have stemmed from the sequencing of the human genome has led to the search for new methods to diagnose diseases. While much effort has been focused on the identification of disease-specific biomarkers, recent efforts are underway toward the use of proteomic and metabonomic patterns to indicate disease. We have developed and contrasted the use of both proteomic and metabonomic patterns in urine for the detection of interstitial cystitis (IC).

Serum proteomic profiles suggest celecoxib-modulated targets and response predictors.

Cyclooxygenase-2 is a valid target for cancer prevention and treatment. This has been shown in preclinical and clinical cancer prevention studies by using a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib. When used in a randomized cancer prevention clinical trial on patients with the inherited autosomal dominant condition, familial adenomatous polyposis, celecoxib proved efficacious.

Risk factors for adverse outcomes in spontaneous versus assisted conception twin pregnancies.

Objective: To evaluate risk factors for adverse outcomes in spontaneous vs. assisted conception twin pregnancies.

Design: Historical cohort study.

Control of nutrient-sensitive transcription programs by the unconventional prefoldin URI.

Prefoldins (PFDs) are members of a recently identified, small-molecular weight protein family able to assemble into molecular chaperone complexes. Here we describe an unusually large member of this family, termed URI, that forms complexes with other small-molecular weight PFDs and with RPB5, a shared subunit of all three RNA polymerases. Functional analysis of the yeast and human orthologs of URI revealed that both are targets of nutrient signaling and participate in gene expression controlled by the TOR kinase.