[Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and multiple pulmonary nodules in a 37 year old male who has "never smoked"]. / Hämorrhagischer Perikarderguss mit multiplen pulmonalen Rundherden bei einem 37-jährigen "Nie-Raucher"

Even people which have never smoked can develop lung cancer. In this population a mutation in the exons 19-21 of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) can be detected. For this patient group targeted therapies with EGFR tyrosinkinase inhibitors are available. In this case report we describe a 37 year old non-smoker who developed a non-small cell lung cancer. Following therapy with Erlotinib a partial response could be achieved.

PCR testing for Treponema pallidum in paraffin-embedded skin biopsy specimens: test design and impact on the diagnosis of syphilis.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis, a chronic infection caused by Treponema pallidum, is a disease which is increasing in incidence, and thus more and more becoming a differential diagnosis in routine pathology. AIMS: To develop a PCR-based molecular assay for the detection of T pallidum in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, and evaluate its diagnostic power, especially in comparison with other ancillary methods (immunohistochemistry and Dieterle staining). METHODS: 36 skin biopsy specimens with the clinical and/or serological diagnosis of syphilis were evaluated by morphology, immunohistochemistry and silver staining. A semi-nested PCR assay targeting the T pallidum DNA polymerase A gene was designed and applied. Specificity of amplification was confirmed by direct sequencing of PCR products. RESULTS: Overall, the presence of T pallidum was detected in skin biopsy specimens in 20 cases, by immunohistochemistry, Dieterle staining, or PCR. Immunohistochemistry testing was positive in 17/35 cases tested, and Dieterle staining in 9/35 cases tested. In comparison, PCR testing was positive in 14/36 cases, and highly dependent on the tissue quality. When excluding cases with compromised DNA quality, PCR testing was positive in all cases except one, including three cases negative by immunohistochemistry and Dieterle staining. CONCLUSIONS: PCR testing is significantly more sensitive than silver staining, and provided that DNA quality is sufficient, at least as sensitive as immunohistochemistry for the detection of T pallidum in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsy specimens. Therefore, it is a useful ancillary tool in the histological diagnosis of syphilis.

The C/EBP homologous protein CHOP (GADD153) is an inhibitor of Wnt/TCF signals.

CHOP (GADD153) is a protein of the C/EBP family of transcriptional regulators, which dimerizes with other C/EBP members and changes their DNA-binding and transactivation properties. It induces growth arrest and apoptosis after endoplasmatic reticulum stress or DNA damage. CHOP is also expressed during early embryogenesis and upregulated in tumour tissues with defective Wnt signals. We report here that CHOP functions as a specific inhibitor of Wnt/T-cell factor (TCF) signalling. CHOP inhibits TCF-dependent transcription in human embryonic and colon cancer cell lines. Injection of CHOP mRNA into early Xenopus laevis embryos suppresses dorsal organizer formation and inhibits secondary axis formation and TCF-dependent transcription in response to Wnt-8, Dishevelled, beta-Catenin and TCF-VP16. In embryos and human cells, this inhibition depends on the N-terminal transactivation domain of CHOP, whereas the C-terminal dimerization domain is dispensable. CHOP binds to TCF factors, thereby preventing the binding of TCF to its DNA recognition site. Our findings demonstrate a novel function of CHOP as a Wnt repressor.

Chemical development of latent fingerprints: 1,2-indanedione has come of age.

The performance of 1,2-indanedione as a latent fingerprint reagent on some types of paper was found to exceed that of DFO, the leading fluorogenic fingerprint reagent. It even exceeds the performance of the sequence, DFO, followed by ninhydrin. No new prints could be observed when ninhydrin was applied after indanedione. On a large number of actual exhibits (used checks) indanedione developed 46% more identifiable prints than the sequence DFO-ninhydrin. A standard procedure for fingerprint development by indanedione is proposed. Best results are obtained with a 0.2% indanedione solution in HFE7100 solvent containing 7% ethyl acetate, but no acetic acid. It can be recommended to start using 1,2-indanedione, which is already commercially available, in actual fingerprint casework.

Rac affects invasion of human renal cell carcinomas by up-regulating tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 expression.

Rho-like GTPases, including Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA, regulate distinct actin cytoskeleton changes required for adhesion, migration, and invasion of cells. Tiam1 specifically activates Rac, and earlier studies have demonstrated that Tiam1-Rac signaling affects migration and invasion in a cell type- and cell substrate-specific manner. In the present study, we examined the role of Tiam1-Rac signaling in migration and invasion of human renal cell carcinomas. Stable overexpression of Tiam1 or constitutively active V12-Rac1 in a human renal cell carcinoma cell line (clearCa-28) strongly inhibited cell migration by promoting E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. Blocking E-cadherin-mediated adhesion by E-cadherin-specific HAV peptides allowed cells to migrate, but was not sufficient to antagonize Tiam1- and V12-Rac1-induced inhibition of Matrigel invasion, suggesting that Rac may influence invasion also through other mechanisms. Indeed, Tiam1-mediated Rac activation induced transcriptional up-regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and post-transcriptional up-regulation of TIMP-2, whereas secretion and activity levels of their counterparts, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and matrix metalloproteinase-2, respectively, were not affected. Application of recombinant TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 proteins significantly inhibited invasion of mock-transfected clearCa-28 cells, supporting a role of TIMPs in Rac-mediated inhibition of invasion. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that increased Rac signaling may inhibit invasion of epithelial tumor cells by up-regulation of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2.

Reducing risk factors for eating disorders: comparison of an Internet- and a classroom-delivered psychoeducational program.

This controlled trial compared Internet- (Student Bodies [SB]) and classroom-delivered (Body Traps [BT]) psychoeducational interventions for the reduction of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors/attitudes with a control condition. Participants were 76 women at a private university who were randomly assigned to SB, BT, or a wait-list control (WLC) condition. Measures of body image and eating attitudes and behaviors were measured at baseline, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up. At posttreatment, participants in SB had significant reductions in weight/shape concerns and disordered eating attitudes compared with those in the WLC condition. At follow-up, disordered behaviors were also reduced. No significant effects were found between the BT and WLC conditions. An Internet-delivered intervention had a significant impact on reducing risk factors for eating disorders.

Reagents for the chemical development of latent fingerprints: scope and limitations of benzo[f]ninhydrin in comparison to ninhydrin.

Benzo[f]ninhydrin was compared to ninhydrin for fingerprint development on paper. Overall, the performance of ninhydrin on exhibits was slightly better than that of benzo[f]ninhydrin. The significant advantages of the benzo[f]ninhydrin over ninhydrin were the much stronger fluorescence it gave after treatment with zinc salts and a slightly quicker reaction under ambient conditions. This fluorescence is, however, similar to that obtained with other reagents, such as DFO or ninhydrin analogs. These advantages apparently are not sufficient to justify regular usage of benzo[f]ninhydrin, especially when one considers its low solubility and high cost.

Fingerprints and DNA: STR typing of DNA extracted from adhesive tape after processing for fingerprints.

An exhibit that is often received for examination in cases of robbery or terrorist activity is adhesive tape. This type of exhibit can often, but not always, be successfully processed for fingerprints. The question arises whether or not it is possible to extract and type DNA after the tape has been sequentially processed for fingerprints. In this work, various donors left fingerprints on the adhesive side of tapes. The tapes were then sequentially processed for fingerprints using an alternate light source, cyanoacrylate fuming, and staining with BY-40 and then crystal violet. DNA was subsequently successfully extracted, amplified and typed for six STR loci.

A survey of sexual behaviours and risk factors for HIV/STD infection among students at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sexual behaviours of students resident in the dormitories at the St. Augustine campus (SAC), Trinidad, for the 1997-98 academic year. DESIGN AND METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to randomly selected students in each dormitory at the SAC. RESULTS: 180 students were selected randomly from the dormitory population and 169 questionnaires were completed (response rate = 93.9 percent). The median age of respondents was 21 years; males comprised 50.3 percent; 66.9 percent of respondents were sexually active; 31 percent of sexually active students used condoms consistently but 18.6 percent never used condoms. The most frequent reasons for not using condoms were: unavailable at the time (31.2 percent); monogamy (18.2 percent); use of the pill (5. percent). Inconsistent condom usage was not related to socio-economic status, marital status, marital status, level of study, or described religious behaviour. Other risk practices included sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol (35.4 percent); sexual intercourse under the influence of drugs (12.4 percent) and more than one partner in the last year (38.9 percent). Many respondents admitted to multiple risk behaviour patterns. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of students resident in the dormitories at the SAC are sexually active and indulge in high-risk behaviour. Students who engage in several sexual risk practices have not personalized their risk of contracting HIV. Behaviour modification is needed.(Au)

Protein kinase C in human renal cell carcinomas: role in invasion and differential isoenzyme expression.

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in in vitro invasiveness of four different human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines of the clear cell type was investigated. Different PKC-inhibitors markedly inhibited invasiveness of the highly invasive cell lines, suggesting an invasion-promoting role of PKC in human RCC. Analysis of PKC-isoenzyme expression by protein fractionation and immunoblotting revealed that all cell lines expressed PKC-alpha, -epsilon, -zeta, -mu and -iota as known from normal kidney tissue. Interestingly, PKC-delta, known to be expressed by normal kidney epithelial cells of the rat, was absent on protein and RNA levels in all RCC cell lines investigated and in normal human kidney epithelial cells. PKC-epsilon expression levels correlated positively with a high proliferation activity, but no obvious correlation between expression levels of distinct PKC-isoenzymes and in vitro invasiveness was observed. However, by immunofluorescence microscopy, membrane localisation of PKC-alpha and PKC-epsilon reflecting activation of the enzymes, was associated with a highly invasive potential. In conclusion, our results suggest a role for PKC in invasion of human RCCs and might argue in favour of a particular role of PKC-alpha and PKC-epsilon. Our results further suggest that organ-specific expression patterns of PKC-isoenzymes are not necessarily conserved during evolution.

Salmonella derby cross-protection study.

An avirulent live (AVL), Salmonella choleraesuis vaccine (Salmo Shield Live [Grand Laboratories, Inc.]) was administered to pigs at weaning or 3 weeks of age. Two weeks after vaccination the vaccinated pigs as well as unvaccinated control pigs were challenged intranasally with a commonly isolated environmental Salmonella serotype, S. derby. At 2, 4, and 6 weeks after challenge, pigs were euthanized and cultured for S. derby. Although the number of pigs in this study was too small to draw any definite generalizable conclusions, the vaccinated pigs had significantly reduced reisolation rates of S. derby when compared with the control pigs. Further research in this area is needed.

Effects of a body image curriculum for college students on improved body image.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of an undergraduate body image course, "Body Traps: Perspectives on Body Image," on decreasing body dissatisfaction, weight concern, and disordered eating behaviors. METHODS: Twenty-four undergraduate females enrolled in the body image course. Measures of body image and disordered eating patterns were assessed at baseline and at postintervention. RESULTS: Subjects significantly decreased the frequency and severity of their body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. No changes in body mass index or global self-esteem were observed. DISCUSSION: This is the first investigation to demonstrate that a formal, academic course can result in the reduction of both attitudinal and behavioral eating disorder risk factors. Future controlled studies need to be undertaken to substantiate this effect.

Survivin-deltaEx3 and survivin-2B: two novel splice variants of the apoptosis inhibitor survivin with different antiapoptotic properties.

Recently, a novel antiapoptosis gene, i.e., survivin, was identified as a structurally unique member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family. Survivin expression is turned off during fetal development and not found in non-neoplastic adult human tissues but is again turned on in the most common human cancers. The antiapoptotic properties of survivin might provide a significant growth advantage in tumors and possibly also contribute to chemoresistance of cancer. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of survivin in human renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), known to be largely resistant to chemotherapy. Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR revealed survivin expression in newly established RCC cell lines (n = 11) of all major histological types. Moreover, we identified two novel splice variants of survivin, lacking exon 3 (survivin-deltaEx3) or retaining a part of intron 2 as a cryptic exon (survivin-2B). Both sequence alterations cause marked changes in the structure of the corresponding proteins, including structural modifications of the baculovirus inhibitor of apoptosis protein repeat domain. The role of the novel isoforms in the regulation of apoptosis was assessed in transfection experiments, showing conservation of antiapoptotic properties for survivin-deltaEx3 and a markedly reduced antiapoptotic potential for survivin-2B. In conclusion, our observations suggest a complex regulatory balance between the different isoforms of survivin, which might determine the response to proapoptotic stimuli, not only in human RCCs but also in fetal tissues and other types of cancer.

Visualization of sebaceous fingerprints on fired cartridge cases: a laboratory study.

The visualization and endurance of fingerprints on cartridge cases after the firing process have been examined. Cartridges of M16, AK-47 (Kalashnikov) and Parabellum have been tested. Despite difficulties in visualizing these fingerprints, it was found that in some cartridge cases under laboratory conditions--for instance, on M16 brass cartridges--substantial parts of the fingerprints remain intact after shooting. The careful use of illumination after metal vapor deposition enabled visualization. Different possible mechanisms responsible for the partial destruction of the fingerprints are discussed.

Short UV luminescence for forensic applications: design of a real-time observation system for detection of latent fingerprints and body fluids.

An assembly that allows a pseudo real-time (one second delay) observation of latent fingerprints by their short ultraviolet luminescence was designed. It is composed of a mercury-xenon lamp and a CCD camera, both water-cooled and computer-controlled. The system is used to study the behaviour of latent fingerprints and stains of body fluids such as blood, semen and saliva under short-UV illumination.

The Harm Reduction Coalition.

AIDS: The Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC) is a national organization committed to reducing drug-related harm among individuals and communities through education, intervention, and community organization. HRC is working towards changing national drug policies to a harm reduction approach, organizing information sharing, developing resources, and lifting the Federal ban on needle exchange programs. HRC tries to help users make safer choices regarding drug use behavior and sexual behavior. The Coalition also works with other organizations to help them model programs based on harm reduction principles, using the Harm Reduction Training Institute, and they are working on expanding syringe access throughout the United States by changing Federal and local policies.^ieng

Partial gene sequences for the A subunit of methyl-coenzyme M reductase (mcrI) as a phylogenetic tool for the family Methanosarcinaceae.

Representatives of the family Methanosarcinaceae were analyzed phylogenetically by comparing partial sequences of their methyl-coenzyme M reductase (mcrI) genes. A 490-bp fragment from the A subunit of the gene was selected, amplified by the PCR, cloned, and sequenced for each of 25 strains belonging to the Methanosarcinaceae. The sequences obtained were aligned with the corresponding portions of five previously published sequences, and all of the sequences were compared to determine phylogenetic distances by Fitch distance matrix methods. We prepared analogous trees based on 16S rRNA sequences; these trees corresponded closely to the mcrI trees, although the mcrI sequences of pairs of organisms had 3.01 +/- 0.541 times more changes than the respective pairs of 16S rRNA sequences, suggesting that the mcrI fragment evolved about three times more rapidly than the 16S rRNA gene. The qualitative similarity of the mcrI and 16S rRNA trees suggests that transfer of genetic information between dissimilar organisms has not significantly affected these sequences, although we found inconsistencies between some mcrI distances that we measured and and previously published DNA reassociation data. It is unlikely that multiple mcrI isogenes were present in the organisms that we examined, because we found no major discrepancies in multiple determinations of mcrI sequences from the same organism. Our primers for the PCR also match analogous sites in the previously published mcrII sequences, but all of the sequences that we obtained from members of the Methanosarcinaceae were more closely related to mcrI sequences than to mcrII sequences, suggesting that members of the Methanosarcinaceae do not have distinct mcrII genes.

Detection of dry body fluids by inherent short wavelength UV luminescence: preliminary results.

Dry stains of blood, semen and saliva invisible to the naked eye could be detected by their inherent short wavelength UV luminescence. The source was a frequency quadrupled Nd:YAG laser, emitting at 266 nm. A plausible explanation for this phenomenon as due to the presence of amino acids in these secretions is presented.