Global and single gene DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood cells after elective caesarean: a pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate global and single gene methylation patterns as a sign for epigenetic modulation of the immune system in infants born by elective cesarean section (CS) and vaginal delivery (VD).

Study Design: For this prospective pilot study a two step approach was chosen. Initially 41 newborn infants comprising 23 delivered by VD and 18 delivered by elective CS were included.

Prenatal microarray analysis as second-tier diagnostic test: single-center prospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of chromosome microarrays as a second-tier test in prenatal genetic testing.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed 75 high-risk pregnancies undergoing invasive prenatal genetic testing in which the karyotype either was normal or had findings other than a common non-mosaic autosomal aneuploidy.

Results: Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) was performed successfully in all cases.

Bay11-7082 inhibits the disintegration of the lymphendothelial barrier triggered by MCF-7 breast cancer spheroids; the role of ICAM-1 and adhesion.

Background: Many cancers spread through lymphatic routes, and mechanistic insights of tumour intravasation into the lymphatic vasculature and targets for intervention are limited. The major emphasis of research focuses currently on the molecular biology of tumour cells, while still little is known regarding the contribution of lymphatics.

Methods: Breast cancer cell spheroids attached to lymphendothelial cell (LEC) monolayers were used to investigate the process of intravasation by measuring the areas of 'circular chemorepellent-induced defects' (CCID), which can be considered as entry gates for bulky tumour intravasation.

t(11;14)(q23;q32) involving IGH and DDX6 in nodal marginal zone lymphoma.

Nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL) is a primary nodal B-cell lymphoma that shares morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics with extranodal and splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Data on altered genes and signaling pathways are scarce in this rare tumor entity. To gain further insights into the genetic background of NMZL, seven cases were investigated by microarray analysis, G-banding, and FISH.

Interleukin-1 beta gene polymorphisms and preterm birth.

Objective: To investigate the association between two genetic variations in the Interleukin-1 beta (IL1B) gene and preterm birth.

Study Design: In this case-control study we tested the allelic distribution of two of its common polymorphisms (IL1B +3953C>T [rs1143634], IL1B -511C>T [rs16944]) in one hundred women with preterm birth and one hundred healthy women with at least one uncomplicated full term pregnancy and no history of preterm birth.

Results: A significant association was found between the presence of the IL1B +3953C>T polymorphism and preterm birth (p=0.