Cooperativity of the MUC1 oncoprotein and STAT1 pathway in poor prognosis human breast cancer.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) is activated in the inflammatory response to interferons. The MUC1 oncoprotein is overexpressed in human breast cancers. Analysis of genes differentially expressed in MUC1-transformed cells has identified a network linking MUC1 and STAT1 that is associated with cellular growth and inflammation. The results further show that the MUC1-C subunit associates with STAT1 in cells and the MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain binds directly to the STAT1 DNA-binding domain. The interaction between MUC1-C and STAT1 is inducible by IFNgamma in non-malignant epithelial cells and constitutive in breast cancer cells. Moreover, the MUC1-STAT1 interaction contributes to the activation of STAT1 target genes, including MUC1 itself. Analysis of two independent databases showed that MUC1 and STAT1 are coexpressed in about 15% of primary human breast tumors. Coexpression of MUC1 and the STAT1 pathway was found to be significantly associated with decreased recurrence-free and overall survival. These findings indicate that (i) MUC1 and STAT1 function in an auto-inductive loop, and (ii) activation of both MUC1 and the STAT1 pathway in breast tumors confers a poor prognosis for patients.

A liberal arts health promotion course.

With a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the Mountain Area Health Education Center established a campus health promotion program that also trained family practice residents in health promotion skills. The heart of the program was a 3-credit course that emphasized stress management, aerobic conditioning, interpersonal relationship skills, and nutrition. Follow-ups after 2 years revealed that 90% of the students who responded said the course had had some lasting effect on their lives.

Demographic and predictive correlates of smokeless tobacco use in elementary school children.

BACKGROUND: To assess the basic demographics and predictive correlates of smokeless tobacco use in school-age children, a stratified random sample of 559 rural and urban first, third, fifth, and seventh graders in western North Carolina was surveyed regarding experimentation with smokeless tobacco. METHODS: Two versions of a survey were developed: a shorter version administered orally to first graders and a longer version provided to others. Reported percentages across demographic variables were broken down in a 4 x 2 x 2 analysis of variance; correlations were used to assess the relationships among potentially predictive variables. RESULTS: Results indicated that 36 percent of male rural first graders had tried smokeless tobacco, increasing to 70 percent by the seventh grade. Overall, rural males were more likely to have tried or be regularly using smokeless tobacco than were urban males or females. Other questions correlating with smokeless tobacco use indicated that it is predicted by three general concerns: a) perceived flavor, b) self-concept and presentation to peers, and c) family influence. DISCUSSION: Educational interventions must begin at the kindergarten or first grade levels. Programs for adolescents must provide for alternative ways of receiving perceived social image benefits of smokeless tobacco use. Familial support must be considered in all programming.

Monopolies, Maricopa, and marketing: a case study.

The development of preferred provider organizations in recent years has caused significant concerns about the antitrust implications of these new organizational arrangements among healthcare providers. The potential of being accused of price-fixing, monopolistic, or anti-competitive activity has concerned many health professionals involved in establishing PPOs. This article presents the nature of some of the antitrust arguments and a few representative cases demonstrating various rulings about the anti-competitive elements present or absent from various PPO arrangements. In addition, selected state and federal legislation concerning PPOs is discussed. In addition to understanding the antitrust issues involved in PPOs, establishing a PPO also requires the active involvement of the various key players in determining structural and pricing arrangements. The case study presented here demonstrates the use of marketing principles which emphasize the importance of participation and communication in decision making with physicians in the formation of a PPO.

Wellness: the mode in the new paradigm.

A fundamental paradigm shift is occurring in the health care field that gives new hope to the challenge of reducing health care costs through the promotion of wellness. The authors of this paper present the present components of the new paradigm, the historical aspects of the paradigm shift, and examples of the paradigm shift in community health. The authors have also attempted to suggest ways in which individuals and communities can participate in the new paradigm.

Eradication of subgroups A and B lymphoid leukosis virus from commercial poultry breeding flocks.

A specific-pathogen-free pedigreed breeding population of White Leghorns was determined to be free of lymphoid leukosis subgroups (LL-A and LL-B) on the basis of the standard resistance-inducing factor (RIF) test of sera of individual birds. The fourth pedigreed generation (G-4) was the first to test free of viruses of both sub-groups. In three subsequent pedigreed generations (G-5 through G-7) no viremic birds were found. The RIF test of sera was also used to detect carriers infected with LL-A and LL-B in sample populations of commercial broiler, brown-egg layer, and other White Leghorn breeding lines. When only known nonviremic dams were used for reproduction, in only one instance were viremic birds detected in samples of their progeny in succeeding generations. Some implications for a virus-free breeding program are discussed.