Cyclooxygenase-2 expression during immortalization and breast cancer progression.

Identification of molecular aberrations in premalignant human mammary epithelial cells (hMEC), the precursors for breast cancers, is a central goal in breast cancer biology. Recent studies implicated expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) as a marker to identify precursor cells for breast cancer. In this study, we analyzed COX-2 expression in preselection and postselection hMEC cells and observed similar COX-2 levels in both cells.

The human orthologue of Drosophila ecdysoneless protein interacts with p53 and regulates its function.

Biochemical mechanisms that control the levels and function of key tumor suppressor proteins are of great interest as their alterations can lead to oncogenic transformation. Here, we identify the human orthologue of Drosophila melanogaster ecdysoneless (hEcd) as a novel p53-interacting protein. Overexpression of hEcd increases the levels of p53 and enhances p53 target gene transcription whereas hEcd knockdown has the opposite effects on p53 levels and target gene expression.

Human kallikrein 10, a predictive marker for breast cancer.

Our laboratory is involved in identifying genes that can be used as early diagnostic or prognostic markers in breast cancer. We previously identified a gene (NES1) that is expressed in normal but not in transformed mammary epithelial cells (MECs). NES1 is located on chromosome 19q13.

Who cares for the children? Pediatricians and parental leave.

Context: Evidence suggests that parental leave (PL) benefits child health and infant-parent attachment, yet little is known about how pediatricians view and discuss PL with parents.

Objective: To determine pediatricians' attitudes, practices, and their own use of PL, and how these may vary by gender.

Design: Random mail surveys to 750 male and 750 female pediatricians focusing on attitudes about PL and the discussion of PL.