Chromosomal instability in the lymphocytes of breast cancer patients.

Genomic instability in the tumor tissue has been correlated with tumor progression. In the present study, chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of breast tumor patients were studied to assess whether chromosomal instability (CIN) in PBLs correlates with aggressiveness of breast tumor (i.e., disease stage) and has any prognostic utility. Cultured blood lymphocyte metaphases were scored for aberrations in 31 breast cancer patients and 20 healthy age and sex-matched controls. A variety of CAs, including aneuploidy, polyploidy, terminal deletions, acentric fragments, double minutes, chromatid separations, ring chromosome, marker chromosome, chromatid gaps, and breaks were seen in PBLs of the patients. The CAs in patients were higher than in controls. A comparison of the frequency of metaphases with aberrations by grouping the patients according to the stage of advancement of disease did not reveal any consistent pattern of variation in lymphocytic CIN. Neither was any specific chromosomal abnormality found to be associated with the stage of cancer. This might be indicative of the fact that cancer patients have constitutional CIN, which predisposes them to the disease, and this inherent difference in the level of genomic instability might play a role in disease progression and response to treatment.

Sjogren-Larsson syndrome: report of two cases.

Two cases of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome are discussed along with a review of the literature. Both the patients had generalized ichthyosis, spastic paraplegia, mental retardation and ophthalmologic examination showing glistening foveal and parafoveal dots.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and cough--a north Indian study.

Cough is an important side effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI) therapy. The incidence of cough was investigated in a prospective 8 week study in 250 hypertensive patients receiving ACEI alone or in combination with other agents. Enalapril (5-20 mg/day), Lisinopril (5-20 mg/day), Captopril (25-75 mg/day) or Ramipril (5-15 mg/day) was prescribed to patients, who were followed up at weekly visits. Cough developed in 73 of the 250 patients i.e. an incidence of 29.2%. Females had a higher incidence of cough as compared to males--37.9% versus 15.5% (p < 0.001) and there was no significant difference in the cough incidence in the various age groups. A dry, non-productive cough developed in all patients within 4 weeks of ACEI initiation. Increased nocturnal intensity of cough was reported by 79.4% patients. Cough incidence was 34.4%, 24.3% and 18.1% in patients on Enalapril, Ramipril and Lisinopril, respectively. Cough was not dose related and was not related to smoking. There was no statistically significant difference among patients on ACEI alone or in combination with beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or diuretics. Of the 18 patients with ACEI induced cough who received Indomethacin, 50 mg bid, 8 reported complete cure and cough was reduced in intensity in the remaining ten.