Loss of estrogen receptor (ER) expression in endometrial tumors is not associated with de novo methylation of the 5' end of the ER gene.

Normal endometrium, an estrogen-responsive tissue, expresses the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha gene. Loss of ER expression, the basis for which is currently unknown, is often seen in advanced stage, poor prognosis endometrial tumors. The ER gene undergoes de novo methylation with high frequency in a wide variety of human tumors, including ER-negative breast cancers. In this study, we used several bisulfite-based detection methods to assess whether loss of ER positivity in endometrial tumors is associated with aberrant methylation of the ER gene. Although extensive methylation of a 600-bp region at the 5' end of the gene was seen in two endometrial carcinoma cell lines, none of the 55 CpGs in this region was methylated in 25 of 26 ER-deficient endometrial carcinomas.

Development and evaluation of a phantom for morphometric X-ray absorptiometry.

Morphometric X-ray absorptiometry (MXA) provides the potential to assess vertebral deformity using a technique with much lower radiation dose to the patient than standard radiographic procedures. MXA overcomes many other limitations such as cone beam distortion observed in conventional plane radiographs. A phantom has been designed to assess the accuracy of the MXA technique, to monitor long-term precision and to assess inter- and intra-operator variability. The phantom consists of two columns of 12 cylinders representing the vertebral bodies, one of regular components and one representing vertebral deformities. Each column may be inserted, as required, into a Perspex torso-mimicking block. Initial assessment on the Lunar Expert-XL demonstrates that the phantom provides image parameters reflecting those found clinically. Measurement of vertebral height was found to be consistently underestimated by 4.9%. Operator precision ranged from 0.6% for posterior height measurement to 1.0% for middle height measurement of the regular component column. The corresponding precision range for the column representing vertebral deformation was 0.6% (posterior) and 1.1% (middle). Analysis of 10 scans of each column by two independent operators demonstrated a few significant differences in height assessment confined to the 'thoracic' region of the regular column. However, inter-operator variability was found to increase with increasing complexity of vertebral shape producing several differences, particularly in posterior height assessment of the deformed column.

Coeliac disease and bone mineral density in adult female patients.

A cross sectional study was undertaken to examine the relationship between coeliac disease and bone mineral density. The 135 female coeliac patients registered on the database of the Department of Gastroenterology at Hull Royal Infirmary were approached by letter, advising them of a potential risk of osteoporosis and inviting them to undergo bone densitometry. A total of 81 registered women (60%) attended the Osteoporosis Laboratory, Princess Royal Hospital and underwent dual energy x ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femoral neck. Historical data relating to the time of diagnosis and adherence to a gluten free diet were obtained. A control group was selected from the local normal population and was first matched for height, weight, and menopausal status. Postmenopausal patients were then further matched to controls of equivalent menopausal age. In coeliac patients, bone mineral density expressed in g/cm2 as mean (SD) was significantly lower at the lumbar spine (1.076 (0.186)) than in the control group (1.155 (0.143), p < 0.001). This was also the case at the femoral neck (0.887 (0.142) versus 0.965 (0.127), p < 0.001). When the coeliac patients were stratified by menopausal status, it was found that femoral neck bone mineral density was significantly below control values in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Spinal bone mineral density exhibited a significant decrement only in the postmenopausal group. The age at diagnosis of coeliac disease and adherence to a gluten free diet did not influence bone mineral density at either hip or spine. These results confirm coeliac patients' higher risk of osteopenia. Coeliac disease should be added to the list of medical conditions which constitute an indication for bone densitometry in order that the individual risk of osteoporosis related fracture may be determined.

Dipyridamole is superior to dobutamine for thallium stress imaging: a randomised crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of dobutamine over dipyridamole as a pharmacological stressing agent in myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201. DESIGN: Stress and redistribution tomographic images were taken in a group of patients in a randomised crossover study of both agents. The scans were scored to give a value for the stress and redistribution images and a reversibility score (redistribution--stress). All patients had coronary angiography that was also scored. Differences between the two agents were compared by a paired t test. PATIENTS: 30 patients aged 51-70 years with chest pain thought to be caused by myocardial ischaemia. 11 had had previously myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Dipyridamole caused adverse symptoms in six patients whereas dobutamine caused symptoms in 21 patients (chi 2 = 15.15, p < 0.0001). Dobutamine stress took considerably longer than dipyridamole (31 v 6 minutes) and cost more (17 pounds v 1.50 pounds). There were no significant differences between the agents in terms of total stress or redistribution scores, but regional analysis showed that dipyridamole showed significantly more defects during stress at the apex and lateral wall (p < 0.05), with no significant difference at redistribution. Dipyridamole stress also caused significantly more reversible defects at the apex (p < 0.05) and gave a better correlation than dobutamine with coronary score (dipyridamole r = 0.80, p < 0.001 v dobutamine r = 0.64, p < 0.001). In six patients who had continued to take beta blockers the results of dobutamine stress did not correlate with coronary score, r = 0.34 (NS), whereas dipyridamole studies were not affected. CONCLUSION: Compared with dobutamine, dipyridamole was as effective in producing overall perfusion defects and more effective in provoking defects at the apex and lateral segment. The dipyridamole study correlated better with coronary score and was not affected by concurrent beta blocker treatment. It was also better tolerated by the patients, was less time consuming, and was much cheaper.

Broadband ultrasound attenuation compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in screening for postmenopausal low bone density.

Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) was investigated as an inexpensive, simple and radiation-free method of screening for low perimenopausal bone density. A total of 587 women (50-54 years), invited for screening had bone mineral density (BMD) measured at the femoral neck and the lumbar spine by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). At the same visit the BUA of the calcaneus was measured. The correlation between BUA and BMD was approximately 0.4 compared with 0.67 between femoral neck and spinal BMD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated BUA to have the same ability for discriminating between low BMD at either the femoral neck or lumbar spine. BUA with a cut-off for normality at the median (BUA = 80) had a sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 67% for low bone density identified by a BMD less than the 25th centile at the femoral neck or lumbar spine. The correlation between BUA and BMD was insufficient to allow identification of the same groups as having low bone density.

Influence of birth weight on adult bone mineral density.

Bone mineral density (BMD) increases during growth until a peak is reached at maturity. The risk of development of postmenopausal osteoporosis depends on the peak bone density and the rate of its subsequent loss. To identify whether low weight at birth could affect the peak bone density, we measured BMD at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a group of women who had low weight at birth and in a control group of normal birth weight. There was no significant correlation between the weight at birth and the adult BMD. It appears, therefore, that low weight at birth does not influence the peak bone density and that prematurity is not a risk factor for osteoporosis.

The relation between bone mineral density and early pregnancy loss.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if women who suffer from early pregnancy loss are at increased risk of osteoporosis later in life. DESIGN: Part of a community screening project for bone mineral density (BMD). SUBJECTS: 392 women aged 50-54 who had had from 0 to 6 miscarriages out of 0 to 8 term pregnancies. TECHNIQUE: BMD measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at both the lumbar spine and the proximal femur. RESULTS: The mean BMD in nulligravid women was not significantly different from those whose only pregnancies ended in early loss. There was no significant correlation between the BMD at either the lumbar spine or the proximal femur and the number of miscarriages (r = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). The BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were not affected by parity (P = 0.08 and P = 0.87, respectively). CONCLUSION: The risk of osteoporosis was not influenced by parity or the number of previous miscarriages.

Normal radiological renal size: simple estimation from single urogram series.

A normal range of kidney size can be defined from a single, technically adequate, excretory urogram series. Relation of kidney length to distance between L1 to L3 bodies inclusive gives a better indication of normal size, than comparison between kidney length and a single vertebra. The span of the normal range of kidney length to lumbar spine ratio is such that its application to a given radiological examination will be of marginal value.