Identification of functional missense single-nucleotide polymorphisms in in a predominantly Hispanic population.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 () is a multifunctional ubiquitin binding and editing enzyme that regulates inflammation. Genetic studies have implicated polymorphisms within the locus to the development of numerous immune-related diseases. This study evaluated the frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) within the exonic regions of the gene and an associated point mutation from the Illumina array among a predominantly Hispanic cohort.

A risk profile for advanced proximal neoplasms on diagnostic colonoscopy.

The capacity for colonoscopy is limited and a method to prioritize patients for diagnostic colonoscopy is needed in health care centers. A retrospective cross-sectional cohort study was carried out in county and community endoscopy centers, which included 1,065 county and 279 community patients aged > or = 40 years undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy. We constructed a risk profile for proximal advanced neoplasms on diagnostic colonoscopy at the county center based on the size of the regression coefficients for independent risk factors from logistic regression.

Adenocarcinoma of the colon with neuroendocrine features and secretory diarrhea.

We report the case of a 63-yr-old man who had severe secretory diarrhea associated with colonic adenocarcinoma, with a prominent signet ring cell component and numerous endocrine cells as demonstrated by positive chromogranin-A staining. Improvement in the secretory diarrhea by the somatostatin analog Sandostatin suggested that the diarrhea was related to a functional neuroendocrine tumor within the colonic tumor, the first case to be reported in the literature.

Chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents and biliary-pancreatic cancer: report of three cases.

This paper describes three men, aged 45 years or younger, who developed cholangio, ampullary, and pancreatic cancer after prolonged heavy exposure to trichlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. Two of these patients had exposure to other potential carcinogens, and one had a strong family history of cancer. The association between chlorinated hydrocarbons and biliary-pancreatic cancer has also been suggested by other reports in the recent literature.

Do characteristics of adenomas on flexible sigmoidoscopy predict advanced lesions on baseline colonoscopy?

Background/aims: Colonoscopy is presently recommended for patients with any benign neoplasm found on sigmoidoscopy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether characteristics of adenomas on flexible sigmoidoscopy predict advanced lesions on baseline colonoscopy.

Methods: A total of 226 asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with adenomas noted on flexible sigmoidoscopy at a large, multispecialty medical group were prospectively studied.

Which clinical variables predict an abnormal double-contrast barium enema result?

Objective: To determine the relations among patient history, symptoms, objective indicators, and abnormal double-contrast barium enema results in outpatients.

Patients And Setting: Seven hundred and ninety-four patients receiving care in a large multispecialty medical group.

Design: Physicians completed a form before ordering a double-contrast barium enema, listing information about patient history, symptoms, and objective findings, including the results of a complete blood count, stool hemoccult, and sigmoidoscopy.

Studies on antigenic competition. 3. Effect on antigenic competition on antibody affinity.

The effect of antigenic competition on antibody affinity was studied using a haptenic system in guinea-pigs. A moderate depression in the amount of antibody formed, as a result of antigenic competition, had relatively little effect on affinity. Increasing the dose of the competing antigen resulted in a greater degree of competition.