Challenges and Needs of Chinese and Korean American Breast Cancer Survivors: In-Depth Interviews.

Breast cancer incidence and the number of breast cancer survivors have been rapidly increasing among Chinese and Korean women in the United States. However, few data are available regarding quality of life in Asian American breast cancer survivors. This qualitative study aims to describe Asian American women's perceptions of quality of life and their breast cancer experiences.

Health insurance moderates the association between immigrant length of stay and health status.

Previous studies reported that immigrants’ health worsens with acculturation to US lifestyle; however, role of health insurance has not been investigated. We used crosssectional National Immigrant Survey (n = 6,381) to examine the potential moderating effect of health insurance on the association between time in the US and self reported changes in health (comparing health status before and after immigration)and current health status. Separate logistic regression models were fit to assess these associations among insured and uninsured immigrants, adjusting for covariates.

Vitamin d status and indices of bone turnover in older European adults.

An increased rate of bone turnover increases risk of osteoporotic fracture later in life. The concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D that contributes to an elevated rate of bone turnover in older adults is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and biochemical markers of bone turnover in an older, pan-European cohort.

Vitamin D status and measures of cognitive function in healthy older European adults.

Background/objectives: Data from human studies that have investigated the association between vitamin D status and cognitive function in elderly adults are conflicting. The objective of this study was to assess vitamin D status (reflected by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)) in older European subjects (n=387; aged 55-87 years) and examine its association with measures of cognitive function.

Subjects/methods: Serum 25(OH)D was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas measures of cognitive function were assessed using a comprehensive Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery (CANTAB).

Diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma: results of a consensus meeting of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an uncommon tumour, but its incidence is increasing in Canada and elsewhere. Currently, there are no Canadian recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of hcc, and possible options may have regional limitations. A consensus symposium was held in the Ottawa region to consider current diagnostic and management options for hcc.

An alternative insect pathogenic strategy in an Aspergillus flavus auxotroph.

In order to study fungal pathogen evolution, we used a model system whereby the opportunistic fungus Aspergillus flavus was serially propagated through the insect (Galleria mellonella) larvae, yielding a cysteine/methionine auxotroph of A. flavus with properties of an obligate insect pathogen. The auxotroph exhibited insect host restriction but did not show any difference in virulence when compared with the wild-type (Scully LR, Bidochka MJ, 2006.

Implication of a regulator of G protein signalling (BbRGS1) in conidiation and conidial thermotolerance of the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.

Beauveria bassiana is an insect pathogenic fungus widely used as a biocontrol agent to infect and control insect pests. The conidium initiates pathogenesis and mediates disease transmission, however, little is known about genetic elements that control conidiation. Here, the cloning and characterization of a regulatory G protein-signalling (RGS) gene Bbrgs1 from B.

Developing insect models for the study of current and emerging human pathogens.

The study of human diseases requires the testing of microorganisms in model systems. Although mammals are typically used, we argue the validity of using insects as models in order to examine human diseases, particularly the growing number of opportunistic microorganisms. Insects can be used in large numbers, are easily manipulated, and are not subject to the same ethical concerns as mammalian systems.

The host acts as a genetic bottleneck during serial infections: an insect-fungal model system.

The genetic variation of a pathogen population is a pivotal component of pathogen evolution, having important implications for emerging diseases, nosocomial infections, and laboratory subculturing practices. Furthermore, it is undoubtedly altered during infection of a host. We address this issue using an insect-fungal model system to examine the influence of serial host passage on the genetic variation of a pathogen population.

A cysteine/methionine auxotroph of the opportunistic fungus Aspergillus flavus is associated with host-range restriction: a model for emerging diseases.

The evolution of host specialization in pathogens is a topic of considerable interest, particularly since it can represent a decisive step in the emergence of infectious diseases. Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic fungus capable of infecting a wide variety of hosts, including plants, insects and mammals, although with low virulence. Here the derivation of an A.

Serial passage of the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus flavus through an insect host yields decreased saprobic capacity.

To study the early stages of the effect of host restriction on pathogen evolution, we subjected the opportunistic fungus Aspergillus flavus to a serial propagation scheme, whereby insect-virulent conidia were selected for repeated passage through an insect host (Galleria mellonella larvae) for 5 generations. Of the 35 lineages promulgated through this scheme, there were no consistent changes in virulence, which was measured by percent mortality of the larvae. There were, however, increases in the number of conidia on the insect cadavers (9 of 35 lineages) and decreases in the number of days between death and the appearance of fungal growth on the cadavers (4 of 35 lineages).

Estimating the prognosis of hepatitis C patients infected by transfusion in Canada between 1986 and 1990.

Objective: To develop a natural history model for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to determine allocation of compensatory funds to Canadians who acquired HCV through the blood supply from 1986 through 1990.

Methods: A Markov cohort simulation model for HCV prognosis was developed, using content experts, published data, posttransfusion look-back data, and a national survey.

Results: The mortality rate in transfusees is high (46% at 10 years), although HCV-related deaths are rare.

Indications for interferon/ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C patients: findings from a survey of Canadian hepatologists.

Objective: To survey practising hepatologists about their attitudes and practices regarding interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for hepatitis C (HCV) patients in Canada.

Methods: Anonymous fax and mail survey in Canada. The questionnaire consisted of two sets of questions: the likelihood (in percentage) of treating a patient with certain clinical characteristics; and opinions (Yes/No) regarding how his/her treatment decision is influenced by other factors (ie, patient age, genotype).

Transmission of hepatitis C in a pharmacologic study.

Objective: To describe an outbreak of hepatitis C in a clinical research study.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Tertiary-care hospital.

Liver fibrosis attributed to lipid lowering medications: two cases.

We identified two cases of chronic active hepatitis with liver fibrosis induced by lipid lowering drugs of the statin and fibrate classes despite regular monitoring of transaminases. There are few reports of clinically significant hepatitis induced by these drugs and even fewer cases of fibrosis. Given the growing use of these drugs, there are implications for monitoring patients on long-term therapy for liver damage.

Primer specific and mispair extension analysis (PSMEA) as a simple approach to fast genotyping.

A simple method, primer specific and mispair extension analysis (PSMEA) with pfu DNA polymerase was developed for genotyping. PSMEA is based on the unique properties of 3'-->5' exonuclease proofreading activity. In the presence of an incomplete set of dNTPs, pfu was found to be extremely discriminative in nucleotide incorporation and proofreading at the initiation step of DNA synthesis, completely preventing primer extension when mispair(s) are found adjacent to the 3'-end of the primer.

Unusual presentation of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

A 23-year-old man presenting with acute pancreatitis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) without evidence of ulcerative colitis. This constellation of rare associations constitutes a unique mode of presentation of PSC. Within two years he also developed ankylosing spondylitis with sacroiliitis.

Is the Mayo model for predicting survival useful after the introduction of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis?

Treatment of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) leads to a reduction in serum bilirubin. The first objective of this study was to assess the performance of certain prognostic indicators for PBC after the introduction of treatment with UDCA. Serum bilirubin is an important prognostic indicator for PBC and an important component of the Mayo model for grading patients into risk categories.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis in 32 children: clinical, laboratory, and radiographic features, with survival analysis.

The clinical presentation and outcome of 32 children with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are reviewed, the largest North American series. The majority of patients were diagnosed in their second decade (median age: 13 years). Four children presented before the age of 2 years, but none in the neonatal period.

Non-HLA-linked hemochromatosis in a Chinese woman.

A 55 year-old Chinese woman is described with severe iron overload similar in degree and distribution to that seen in hereditary hemochromatosis in the Caucasian population. Autopsy findings confirmed severe iron overload in the liver, pancreas, skin, heart, and endocrine organs. Hepatic iron concentration was 482 mumol/g with a hepatic iron index of 8.

Anti-ribosomal P antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study correlating hepatic and renal disease.

We report a case-control study of the occurrence of liver and kidney disease in 20 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with anti-ribosomal P antibodies and 20 age-, sex-, and race-matched (control group) SLE patients without anti-P antibodies. In the group with anti-P antibodies, 7 patients were found to have had liver disease, compared with only 1 in the control group (P = 0.03), and 14 anti-P (+) patients have had kidney disease, compared with 4 in the control group (P = 0.

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum of Canadian hepatitis B surface antigen negative, anti-HBc positive individuals, using the polymerase chain reaction.

Continuing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is normally associated with the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum. In spite of sensitive screening assays for HBsAg, rare cases of post-transfusion HBV infection are still observed. Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) often indicates remote HBV infection but DNA hybridisation and more sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have demonstrated that some HBsAg negative individuals, positive for anti-HBc, have continuing HBV replication.

The Canadian Multicenter Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial of ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Ursodeoxycholic acid, a dihydroxyl bile acid normally present in human beings in minimal amounts, becomes incorporated into the bile salt pool when taken orally. In cholestasis, bile acids are retained in the liver and are hepatotoxic. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the least-known hepatotoxic bile acid, has choleretic properties and is reported to benefit patients with chronic cholestasis.

Early-onset autoimmune hepatitis is associated with a C4A gene deletion.

Background: Autoimmune hepatitis is an immunologically mediated disorder with some similarities to systemic lupus erythematosus, including an association with HLA-A1, B8, DR3. This haplotype includes a C4A, 21-OHA gene deletion. Low serum levels of complement and C4 null alleles have been reported in autoimmune hepatitis, but studies have been at the protein level only.