Identification of new bacterial and fungal pathogens on surveillance bronchoscopy prior to sinus surgery in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed prior to functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) while under general anesthesia to collect bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for lower respiratory tract cultures in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all CF patients who underwent combined FESS and bronchoscopy between January 2009 and October 2010. Along with demographic data, bacterial, fungal, and acid fast bacillus culture data from BALF was collected and compared to oropharyngeal swab and sputum cultures obtained over the year prior to FESS and bronchoscopy.

Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) has nuclear localization signal-like sequences for nuclear import mediated by major vault protein.

Although phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) localization in the nucleus and cytoplasm is established, the mechanism is unknown. PTEN is a tumor suppressor phosphatase that causes cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Nuclear-cytoplasmic compartmentalization may be a novel mechanism in regulating these events.

Caveolin-1 and caveolin-2,together with three bone morphogenetic protein-related genes, may encode novel tumor suppressors down-regulated in sporadic follicular thyroid carcinogenesis.

Thyroid cancer is common, occurring in 1% of the general population. The relative frequencies of two of the most common subtypes of thyroid carcinoma, follicular (FTC) and papillary (PTC), vary depending on the regional prevalence of iodine deficiency. Although PTC has been more extensively studied, the etiology of sporadic FTC is poorly understood.

Increased nuclear phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 is associated with G0-G1 in MCF-7 cells.

Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor that causes cell cycle arrest. Lack of a nuclear locator sequence and a function in the cytosolic phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/Akt pathway diverted its study from the nucleus. However, immunohistochemistry revealed PTEN in the nucleus of normal cells and decreased nuclear PTEN in neoplastic tissues.

Alterations in the expression of interleukin-2R subunits by activated T cells from elderly humans are uncoupled from aberrancies in G1/S progression.

Activated T cells from elderly humans are known to often display a decline in interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. However, the possible effects of aging on the expression of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) subunits by human T cells are more controversial and less well characterized. In the present investigation, the surface expression of IL-2Ralpha, IL-2Rbeta, and IL-2Rgamma subunits on resting and activated T cells from 15 sets of elderly and young humans was evaluated.