Use of acidified versus non-acidified liquid human milk fortifier in very low birth weight infants: A retrospective comparison of clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Use of human milk is recommended for low birth weight (VLBW) infants, but must be safety fortified with sterile liquid fortifiers to be nutritionally sufficient. Due to clinical concern for a high incidence of metabolic acidosis among VLBW infants fed human milk fortified with acidified liquid human milk fortifier (ALHMF), we aimed to retrospectively compare the outcomes of infants fed ALHMF to those fortified with non-acidified liquid HMF (NLHMF). METHODS: Medical records of VLBW neonates admitted to our institution's neonatal intensive care unit from July 1st, 2013 to June 30th, 2014 were reviewed. 129 patients were included in the study, 61 of which received ALHMF and 68 received NLHMF. Metabolic, nutritional and clinical outcomes, including growth, were compared between the two cohorts. RESULTS: Of the infants who received ALHMF, 70.5% developed metabolic acidosis compared to only 11.8% in the NLHMF group (p < 0.001). In addition, infants who received NLHMF had a 10% greater growth velocity during the period of fortification (p = 0.01). During the full course of hospitalization, no difference in growth velocity was seen between the groups and greater length gains were found in the ALHMF group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of human milk fortified with ALHMF was associated with an increased incidence of metabolic acidosis and poorer growth during the period of fortification when compared to NLHMF-fortified feedings. These growth effects were not apparent when the duration of hospitalization was considered, suggesting a need for further study to better characterize the advantages and disadvantages of each fortifier.

Mammaglobin expression in primary, metastatic, and occult breast cancer.

The mammaglobin gene encodes a novel, breast cancer-associated glycoprotein. In this study, we have evaluated the frequency with which mammaglobin expression can be detected in primary and metastatic breast tumors and in breast tumor cells present in the peripheral circulation. Of 100 primary human breast tumors examined, 81 were strongly immunopositive for mammaglobin protein. Staining was independent of tumor grade and histological type. Ten of 11 lymph nodes from patients with metastatic breast cancer contained detectable mammaglobin mRNA, whereas mammaglobin expression in uninvolved lymph nodes was undetectable. Using a nested reverse transcription-PCR assay, mammaglobin mRNA was also detected in 9 of 15 products (60%) used for autologous stem cell transplant. These results suggest that larger clinical studies are warranted to investigate the full clinical utility of mammaglobin as a tool for breast cancer patient management.

Identification of mammaglobin B, a novel member of the uteroglobin gene family.

In this report, we have identified, sequenced, and characterized the expression pattern of a novel human gene, mammaglobin B. Mammaglobin B (MGB2) is highly homologous to mammaglobin (MGB1), a previously characterized human gene whose expression is limited to the mammary epithelium and frequently up-regulated in human breast cancer cells. Based upon amino acid sequence similarities, both mammaglobin and mammaglobin B may be considered members of a larger, mammalian multigene family that includes rabbit uteroglobin, human Clara Cell 10-kDa protein (CC10), and the multimeric rat prostatein protein. Together with the human CC10 gene, mammaglobin and mammaglobin B are closely linked on human chromosome 11q13. However, despite their primary sequence similarity and close chromosomal proximity, the expression of mammaglobin and mammaglobin B is nonconcordant in both nonmalignant and neoplastic tissue.

Structure and transcriptional regulation of the human mammaglobin gene, a breast cancer associated member of the uteroglobin gene family localized to chromosome 11q13.

The mammaglobin gene encodes a novel secreted protein whose corresponding mRNA is frequently up-regulated in human breast cancer. In non-malignant tissues, expression is also strictly limited to the mammary epithelium. To better understand the mechanisms controlling these patterns of expression, we have isolated the human mammaglobin gene and performed an initial assessment of its promoter activity. Mammaglobin gene architecture is very similar to that of a family of related genes that includes uteroglobin and rat prostatein subunits C1, C2, and C3. However, the mammaglobin gene itself is not well conserved phylogenetically. The human mammaglobin gene is localized by fluorescent in situ hybridization to chromosome 11 band q13, a genomic region frequently amplified in breast neoplasia. The sequence of proximal 1 kb of mammaglobin promoter contains several potential transcriptional control elements and directs high-level expression of a transfected reporter construct in human breast tumor cell lines. However, comparable levels of reporter gene expression are also seen in non-mammary human cell lines. These data suggest that, unlike related gene family members, the striking breast-specific expression and tumor-associated overexpression of mammaglobin is mediated by complex transcriptional control at more distal sequence elements.

Tissue repair using lasers: a review.

Numerous attempts have been made to use heating of tissue to effect an anastomotic union of severed tissue edges. Improvements in electrocautery and lasers have made experimental tissue anastomosis feasible; but clinical application of tissue welding has involved only limited clinical trials. Using heat to anastomose tissue is fraught with complications. The factors that lead to successful tissue welding and the technique's limitations are reviewed.

Measurement of the local electron density by means of stimulated Raman scattering in a laser-produced gas jet plasma.

By measuring the spectrum of the backscattered light from a short-pulse laser-produced plasma in a gas jet, a direct and highly accurate measurement of the local electron density can be obtained. The measurement is based on the density-dependent spectral shift of the backscattered Raman wave.

Platelet membrane vesicles reduced microvascular bleeding times in thrombocytopenic rabbits.

We investigated the possible role of platelet membrane vesicles on hemostatic function in vivo. Platelet membrane vesicles were prepared from rabbit platelets stored for up to 6 months at -65 degrees C and transfused into thrombocytopenic rabbits. Significant reductions in microvascular bleeding times were observed up to 24 hours after transfusion, with the greatest corrections at 4 hours. Measurements of factor V, factor VIII, fibrin degradation products, and fibrinogen in animals transfused with membrane ruled out intravascular coagulation and suggested a direct effect of platelet membrane vesicles at the bleeding sites. This conclusion was supported morphologically by identification of membrane vesicles in bleeding time lesions and radiologically by accumulation of 111In-labeled vesicles in lesions. Production of platelet membrane vesicles was simple, and freezing allowed long-term storage of a product capable of short-term hemostasis.

Novel small-angle collective Thomson scattering system.

A Thomson scattering opticals system is described with the following characteristics: (1) it allows scattering angles down to 1 mrad before collection optics interfere with beam dumping; (2) it gives excellent k resolution for angles of > or approximately 1.5 mrad; (3) it collects light from a scattering volume which can be variably positioned without optical realignment; and (4) it is compact in size. The design, test data, and an application to ruby-laser scattering from 100-microm wavelength plasma waves are presented.

Pathology of modified graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow allografted monkeys treated with antilymphocyte serum.

Lethally irradiated rhesus monkeys were used for bone marrow allografting and autografting. Monkeys receiving allogeneic bone marrow developed acute graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) and had a mean survival time of 9.1 days as compared to autografted monkeys which survived above 500 days. Treatment with antilymphocyte sera (ALS) before allografting modified the GVHR and extended the survival time to an average of 43 days. Histologically, such animals showed evidence of "chronic" GVHR and septicemia secondary to a lack in lymphoreticular recovery. Subsequently, severe GI-tract infections followed which usually served as portal of entry for septicemia.