ScCBF1 plays a stronger role in cold, salt and drought tolerance than StCBF1 in potato (Solanum tuberosum).

Solanum tuberosum (St) and Solanum commersonii (Sc) are two potato varieties with different freezing tolerance. Among them, St is a freezing-sensitive variety and. Sc is a cold-resistant wild potato. CBF/DREB family members mainly function in response to freezing stress. In order to explore the different roles of St C-Repeat Binding Factor1 (StCBF1) and Sc C-Repeat Binding Factor1 (ScCBF1) in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) under stress conditions, two kinds of potato lines were obtained with ScCBF1 and StCBF1 overexpressing respectively. Phenotypes analysis showed that both overexpressing ScCBF1 and StCBF1 caused smaller leaves, and reduced tuber yield. While the limited phenotypes of StCBF1 lines were more severe than that of ScCBF lines. After freezing treatment, StCBF1 over expression plants grown better than WT plants and worse than ScCBF1 over expression plants. Specifically, compared with wild-type lines, overexpressing ScCBF1 could up-regulate fatty acid desaturase genes, key enzyme of Calvin cycle genes, and antioxidant enzyme genes. Both ScCBF1 and StCBF1 lines showed higher PSII activity, thus maintaining a higher photosynthetic rate under cold stress. In addition, we also found that overexpression ScCBF1 and StCBF1 could also enhance the drought and salt tolerance in potato. In summary, ScCBF1 plays a stronger role in cold, salt, and drought tolerance than StCBF1 in potato (Solanum tuberosum).

A Proposal to Unify the Classification of Breast and Prostate Cancers Based on the Anatomic Site of Cancer Origin and on Long-term Patient Outcome.

The similarity between the structure and function of the breast and prostate has been known for a long time, but there are serious discrepancies in the terminology describing breast and prostate cancers. The use of the large, thick-section (3D) histology technique for both organs exposes the irrationality of the breast cancer terminology. Pathologists with expertise in diagnosing prostate cancer take the anatomic site of cancer origin into account when using the terms AAP (acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate) and DAP (ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate) to distinguish between the prostate cancers originating primarily from the fluid-producing acinar portion of the organ (AAP) and the tumors originating either purely from the larger ducts (DAP) or from both the acini and the main ducts combined (DAP and AAP). Long-term patient outcome is closely correlated with the terminology, because patients with DAP have a significantly poorer prognosis than patients with AAP. The current breast cancer terminology could be improved by modeling it after the method of classifying prostate cancer to reflect the anatomic site of breast cancer origin and the patient outcome. The long-term survival curves of our consecutive breast cancer cases collected since 1977 clearly show that the non-palpable, screen-detected breast cancers originating from the milk-producing acini have excellent prognosis, irrespective of their histologic malignancy grade or biomarkers. Correspondingly, the breast cancer subtypes of truly ductal origin have a significantly poorer outcome, despite recent improvements in diagnosis and therapy. The mammographic appearance of breast cancers reflects the underlying tissue structure. Addition of these "mammographic tumor features" to the currently used histologic phenotypes makes it possible to distinguish the breast cancer cases of ductal origin with a poor outcome, termed DAB (ductal adenocarcinoma of the breast), from the more easily managed breast cancers of acinar origin, termed AAB (acinar adenocarcinoma of the breast), which have a significantly better outcome. This simple and easily communicable terminology could lead to better communication between the diagnostic and therapeutic team members and result in more rational treatment planning for the benefit of their patients.

Kinetic epidemiological model for elucidating sexual difference of hypertension (KCIS no.20).

BACKGROUND: Woman have lower rate of hypertension than man but it is still elusive how such gender difference can be explained by kinetic epidemiological curves. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to develop a multi-state model for delineating the kinetic epidemiology of hypertension according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC 7) classification criteria by gender, and to derive gender-specific kinetic curves. METHODS: We used data from a population-based screening programme with 42,027 participants to fit a four-state Markov model corresponding to the classification of hypertension from the JNC 7. RESULTS: The young man had higher progression rate but lower regression rate for the movement between normal and pre-hypertension than the young woman. Such gender difference disappeared after 50 years old. The mean sojourn time of pre- and stage 1 hypertension for man and stage 1 for woman was approximately 5 years. However, the corresponding figure for pre-hypertension for woman was 25 years at age 30, 10 years at age 40 and 5 years afterwards. CONCLUSION: Elucidating the kinetic epidemiological curves of hypertension explains higher prevalence rate in young man than woman. These findings fit with the role of sex hormones regulating blood pressure demonstrated in the animal model.

Decision modelling of economic evaluation of intervention programme of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Economic appraisal of an intervention is a complex and multivariable problem, with probabilistic issues related not only to clinical outcomes but also to costs and willingness to pay. METHODS: We provide a comprehensive framework for economic appraisal of a health intervention to prevent beast cancer mortality, involving probabilistic model of costs as well as of aspects of the disease process. The economic appraisal can give a range of probabilities of cost-effectiveness depending on willingness or ability to pay. RESULTS: We apply the method to the example of polychemotherapy for early breast cancer. Results indicate a 30% probability of cost-effectiveness for a willingness to pay of $ 60,000 per quality-adjusted life-year and around 50% for a threshold of $ 100,000. CONCLUSION: The comprehensive economic appraisal model is a powerful tool for decision making over a range of economic environments.

Elevation of C-reactive protein level is associated with synchronous and advanced colorectal neoplasm in men.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic inflammation has been implicated in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The presence of low-grade systemic inflammation, as determined by an elevation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. However, previous studies of CRP and CRC in cohorts that comprised different genders have yielded conflicting results and little is known about CRP levels in individuals with colorectal adenomas, the precursor lesion of CRC. This study aims to elucidate the association of CRP and colorectal neoplasia. METHODS: Plasma CRP levels were examined using a cross-sectional design in 6,695 consecutive ethnic Chinese adults who had undergone a complete colonoscopy following a thorough routine health evaluation. Logistic regression analysis was used to correlate the risk of colorectal neoplasia with CRP levels. RESULTS: Plasma CRP levels were significantly higher in subjects with colorectal neoplasia than in those without neoplasia (1.85 mg/L vs 1.55 mg/L, P= 0.04). The presence of synchronous neoplasia, advanced neoplasia, and concurrent synchronous and advanced neoplasia were associated with elevated levels of plasma CRP, after adjustment for other risk factors. Gender stratification revealed a positive association between elevated CRP levels and the risk of colorectal neoplasia in men, but no such corresponding association existed in women. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated plasma CRP levels are independently associated with an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia in men, but not in women. These data support the association between chronic inflammation and colorectal neoplasia in men and provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms that warrant further investigation.

Community-based randomized intervention trial for periodontal disease after 18-month follow-up [Keelung Community-based Integrated Screening (KCIS) No. 4].

OBJECTIVES: As periodontal disease preponderates in adults, early detection and interventional regime is urgently needed. However, there is lack of evidence-based data on evaluation of population-based intervention programme related to periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of intervention regime on early periodontal disease identified from a community-based periodontal survey. METHOD: By randomization, 60 subjects were allocated to the intervention group and 49 to the control group respectively. Status on periodontal disease of participants was evaluated at entry and re-evaluated after intervention at 1-month and 18-month follow-up respectively. Primary outcome evaluated was based on Community Periodontal Index and Loss of Attachment on sextant level. RESULTS: The efficacy of intervention was significant in Community Periodontal Index (P<0.001) but not in Loss of Attachment (P=0.53) at 1-month and 18-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The improvement of periodontal disease owing to intervention regime was seen in Community Periodontal Index but not Loss of Attachment as yet at 18-month follow-up after intervention.

What information should be given to women invited for mammographic screening for breast cancer?

Mammography is the only proven frontline screening method for breast cancer. Following the demonstration of a reduction in breast cancer mortality with mammography, population mammographic screening services have been instituted, and there has been discussion in the medical literature of how to convey the pros and cons of screening to invited women. Much of the discussion has focused on the negative aspects of screening, such as false-positive and negative screens, overdiagnosis and anxiety. Also, some commentators have advocated rather cumbersome amounts of quantitative information. In this article we review the original evidence on the positive and negative aspects of screening, and show that the latter may have been exaggerated in the past. We suggest a few simple and clear points that should be made to the invited women, summarizing the positive and negative aspects without a mass of confusing statistics.