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Biomedical subjects

H Sommer

Publications and source records attributed to H Sommer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Quality of life influenced by primary surgical treatment for stage I-III breast cancer-long-term follow-up of a matched-pair analysis.

BACKGROUND: Breast-conserving therapy has been demonstrated to be just as safe and a less disruptive experience compared with mastectomy for surgically manageable breast cancer. There is, however, no agreement in the literature about the impact of these procedures on several important aspects of quality of life (QOL). The purpose of the present study is to compare the long-term impact of these two surgical approaches on QOL in patients with identical tumor stages and to suggest possible shortcomings of the standard QOL questionnaires. METHOD: Between August 1999 and May 2000, QOL questionnaires were answered by 152 pair-matched patients at the I. Frauenklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, as part of routine follow-up examinations. The pairs of patients, each consisting of one patient after mastectomy and one after breast conservation, were selected according to the highest degree of equivalence in tumor stage. All patients had been initially treated for stage I-III breast cancer without evidence of distant metastases. The QOL was evaluated by using the QLQ-C30 questionnaire version 2.0 of the EORTC Study Group on Quality of Life. We formulated seven additional questions about the patients' satisfaction with the primary surgical treatment modality as viewed from their current perspective. The QOL questionnaires were answered after a median interval of 46 months following primary treatment. RESULTS: Tumor stage, prognostic factors, and adjuvant systemic treatment were well balanced between the two groups. No differences between the two groups were observed in terms of all QOL items measured by the QLQ-C30. Our additional questions, however, revealed that patients in the mastectomy group were less satisfied with the cosmetic result of their primary operation (P < .0001), were more likely to feel basic changes in their appearance (P < .0001), and were more likely to be emotionally stressed by these facts (P < .0001). From their perspective at the time of completing the questionnaires, 11 patients in the mastectomy group (15%) would decide differently about the surgical treatment modality, compared with only 3 patients (4%) in the breast conservation group (P = .025). CONCLUSION: While the primary surgical treatment modality seems to have no long-term impact on general QOL, certain body-image-related problems may be caused by mastectomy. Standard measuring instruments for QOL may fail to detect differences in satisfaction and adaptation with the primary surgical treatment modality.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Weekly docetaxel (Taxotere) in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel (Taxotere) has demonstrated high antitumour activity in first- and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. This study analysed the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel given weekly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with metastatic breast cancer received docetaxel, 35 mg/m2 weekly for six weeks, followed by two weeks without treatment. Additional cycles (three weeks' treatment, two weeks' rest) were given until disease progression. All patients had received prior chemotherapy: 32 and 5 patients had received prior anthracycline-containing and taxane-containing regimens, respectively. Docetaxel was administered for a total of 359 doses (median 9. range 6-22). RESULTS: There was one complete response (3%), 11 partial responses (31%), 17 patients with stable disease (49%) and six with disease progression (17%). Overall response rate was 34% (95% confidential interval (95% CI): 18%-51). Median survival was 307 days; median progression-free survival was 2.6 months (range 1.5 to > or = 5.5 months). Three patients showed grade 3 neutropenia. 14 showed grade 3 alopecia, and various grade 1-2 non-haematological toxicities were observed. Treatment was delayed in two patients due to haematotoxicity. and stopped in one patient due to painful nail toxicity. CONCLUSION: Weekly administration of docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 is effective and of low toxicity in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial comparing SMS 201-995 pa LAR plus tamoxifen versus tamoxifen plus placebo in women with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer].

UNLABELLED: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial comparing SMS 201-995 pa LAR plus tamoxifen versus tamoxifen plus placebo in women with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Numerous studies have proved the efficacy of tamoxifen treatment in women with receptor-positive breast cancer. Preclinical and phase I/II-studies showed that tumor control can be improved if Octreotid is added. In this randomized controlled double blind phase III study women received 20 mg tamoxifen daily and either 160 mg Octreoid-Depot i. m. injection once a month or a placebo injection. Until 1998 a total of 263 women were randomized. RESULTS: The study medication was tolerated well by all patients in the treatment group (n = 133). The most frequent moderate side effects were diarrhea (n = 73), nausea (n = 26), abdominal pain (n = 19), bone pain (n = 24) and fatigue (n = 20). No patient dropped out because of these side effects. Surprisingly, several complete remissions occured. Neither the total survival nor the progression free survival was significantly different between groups. Therefore the study was stopped before the originally planned number of patients (n = 416) had been enrolled. CONCLUSION: Octreotid plus tamoxifen does not improve tumor control. It is necessary to define subgroups that might benefit from Octreotid.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

[Chemotherapy-associated myelosuppression in gynecological oncology].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: A clinically important myelosuppression due to adjuvant chemotherapy is seen more frequently as dosage is intensified and new drugs are used. The assessment of the cytopenia expected is frequently hampered by a lack of directly comparable data. The aim of this study was to compare - in our own patient population - the chemotherapy-associated myelosuppression of four chemotherapeutic regimens used in gynecological oncology. METHODS: 79 patients with primary breast cancer and 26 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma underwent cytostatic treatment, and the associated myelosuppression was evaluated by the determination of cytopenia and the need for supportive therapy. The chemotherapy regimens investigated were CMF (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2), methotrexate 40 mg/m(2), 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2), 6xq3w), EC/CMF (epirubicin 90 mg/m(2), cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2), 4xq3w, followed by CMF, 3xq3w), DE (docetaxel 75 mg/m(2), epirubicin 90 mg/m(2), 6xq3w) and CC (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2), carboplatin AUC 6, 6xq3w). RESULTS: The EC/CMF and DE regimens were used significantly more frequently for more advanced tumor stages, but there were no differences concerning tumor-dependent prechemotherapeutic myelosuppression. Hemopoiesis was most impaired in the CC group with a mean drop of serum hemoglobin of 1.5 g/dl to the end of the cytostatic treatment; correspondingly, most transfusions of concentrated erythrocytes were needed in this group. The strongest suppression of leukopoiesis was found in the DE group, with a mean drop in leukocyte counts of 6.2 x 10(3)/microliter per cycle; in this group, a mean of 7.6 ready-made syringes with 263 microgram Lenogastrim was used to stimulate leukopoiesis. The severest drop in the mean thrombocyte count, i.e. 171.7 x 10(3)/microliter, was found in the CC group. CONCLUSIONS: The CC regimen impairs thrombo- and erythropoiesis most, whereas the DE regimen causes marked leukopenia. The regimen with the smallest myelosuppression was CMF. No severe cytopenia-associated complications were detected in any of the cases investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Public-health impact of outdoor and traffic-related air pollution: a European assessment.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution contributes to mortality and morbidity. We estimated the impact of outdoor (total) and traffic-related air pollution on public health in Austria, France, and Switzerland. Attributable cases of morbidity and mortality were estimated. METHODS: Epidemiology-based exposure-response functions for a 10 microg/m3 increase in particulate matter (PM10) were used to quantify the effects of air pollution. Cases attributable to air pollution were estimated for mortality (adults > or = 30 years), respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions (all ages), incidence of chronic bronchitis (adults > or = 25 years), bronchitis episodes in children (< 15 years), restricted activity days (adults > or = 20 years), and asthma attacks in adults and children. Population exposure (PM10) was modelled for each km2. The traffic-related fraction was estimated based on PM10 emission inventories. FINDINGS: Air pollution caused 6% of total mortality or more than 40,000 attributable cases per year. About half of all mortality caused by air pollution was attributed to motorised traffic, accounting also for: more than 25,000 new cases of chronic bronchitis (adults); more than 290,000 episodes of bronchitis (children); more than 0.5 million asthma attacks; and more than 16 million person-days of restricted activities. INTERPRETATION: This assessment estimates the public-health impacts of current patterns of air pollution. Although individual health risks of air pollution are relatively small, the public-health consequences are considerable. Traffic-related air pollution remains a key target for public-health action in Europe. Our results, which have also been used for economic valuation, should guide decisions on the assessment of environmental health-policy options.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Prognostic significance of an increased number of micrometastatic tumor cells in the bone marrow of patients with first recurrence of breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Using cytokeratin (CK) as a histogenetic marker of epithelial tumor cells in the bone marrow of patients with primary breast carcinoma, a subgroup of patients with decreased survival can be identified. This study was designed to evaluate the frequency and prognostic relevance of such cells in patients with recurrent breast carcinoma. METHODS: Bone marrow aspirates from 65 patients were analyzed immunocytochemically for the presence of CK positive cells. A quantitative immunoassay with monoclonal anti-CK antibody A45-B/B3 was used and 2 x 10(6) bone marrow cells per patient were evaluated. For prognostic evaluation the authors calculated a cutoff value of micrometastatic tumor cells by analogy to classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. Patients were monitored prospectively for a median of 37 months (range, 11-63 months). RESULTS: Bone marrow micrometastases were present in 5 of 32 patients (16%) with locoregional recurrence and in 24 of 33 patients (73%) with distant recurrence. The bone marrow status yielded no prognostic indication for patients with locoregional recurrence. In contrast, a cutoff value of 2.5 tumor cells per 1 million bone marrow cells analyzed (2.5 x 10(-6) tumor cells) correlated with a significantly different prognosis for women with distant disease. Patients with metastatic disease and a micrometastatic tumor load of > 2.5 x 10(-6) tumor cells survived for a mean of 6 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.0-9.1) compared with 17 months (95% CI, 11.6-22.0) for patients with < or = 2.5 x 10(-6) tumor cells (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis, allowing for hormone receptor status, disease free interval prior to recurrence, manifestation site of metastases, age, and micrometastases in bone marrow, revealed that bone marrow involvement was an independent risk factor, with a hazard ratio of 7.4 (95% CI, 1.6-13.3) for disease-related death. CONCLUSIONS: An increased number of micrometastases identified in the bone marrow of patients with metastatic breast carcinoma represents an independent prognostic factor that may influence future therapeutic strategies for patients with metastatic breast carcinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2000

Lack of effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on the elimination of single dormant tumor cells in bone marrow of high-risk breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: There is an urgent need for markers that can predict the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with solid tumors. This study was designed to evaluate whether monitoring of micrometastases in bone marrow can predict the response to systemic chemotherapy in breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bone marrow aspirates of 59 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with either inflammatory (n = 23) or advanced (> four nodes involved) disease (n = 36) were examined immunocytochemically with the monoclonal anticytokeratin (CK) antibody A45-B/B3 (murine immunoglobulin G(1); Micromet, Munich, Germany) before and after chemotherapy with taxanes and anthracyclines. RESULTS: Of 59 patients, 29 (49.2%) and 26 (44.1%) presented with CK-positive tumor cells in bone marrow before and after chemotherapy, respectively. After chemotherapy, less than half of the previously CK-positive patients (14 of 29 patients; 48.3%) had a CK-negative bone marrow finding, and 11 (36. 7%) of 30 previously CK-negative patients were CK-positive. At a median follow-up of 19 months (range, 6 to 39 months), Kaplan-Meier analysis of 55 assessable patients revealed a significantly reduced overall survival (P =.011; log-rank test) if CK-positive cells were detected after chemotherapy. In multivariate analysis, the presence of CK-positive tumor cells in bone marrow after chemotherapy was an independent predictor for reduced overall survival (relative risk = 5.0; P =.016). CONCLUSION: The cytotoxic agents currently used for chemotherapy in high-risk breast cancer patients do not completely eliminate CK-positive tumor cells in bone marrow. The presence of these tumor cells after chemotherapy is associated with poor prognosis. Thus, bone marrow monitoring might help predict the response to systemic chemotherapy.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

[Advantages and limitations of whole-body bone marrow MRI using Turbo-STIR sequences in comparison to planar bone scans] .

UNLABELLED: At modern MRI tomographs the whole body can be screened for bone marrow metastases within 45 min. AIM of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic advantages and disadvantages of a whole-body bone marrow MRI protocol using Turbo Short Tau Inversion Recovery [STIR] sequences in comparison to planar bone scintigraphy (SZ). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to screen for bone metastases within two weeks SZ and whole-body MRI with Turbo-STIR-sequences were performed in 20 patients with known breast cancer. For further evaluation five regions were defined: skull, spine including the pelvis, femora, humeri and ribs including scapulae and sternum. RESULTS: In 9/20 patients neither with SZ nor with MRI bone metastases were detected (staging M0). Among the remaining 11 patients SZ detected 109 and MRI 150 lesions which were typical for bone metastases. All of these 11 patients were staged M1 correspondingly with both methods. Within the thorax (ribs, sternum, scapulae) MRI discovered only 6/17 and within the skull 0/6 lesions which were suspicious for metastases in SZ. Inversely MRI identified much more metastatic lesions than SZ within the femora (20/16), the humeri (14/12) and the spine including the pelvis (110/58). CONCLUSIONS: Susceptibility-, truncation-, chemical-shift-, third arm- and particularly pulsation artifacts along with the impossibility to chose slice orientation equally advantageous for all regions of the body cause impaired image quality of MRI whole body scanning. Therefore, concerning the detection rate of bone metastases within the thorax (ribs, sternum and scapulae) and the skull, conventional Turbo-STIR-MRI whole-body scans are even less accurate than conventional planar bone scintigraphy in those regions.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1999

Ternary complex formation between the MADS-box proteins SQUAMOSA, DEFICIENS and GLOBOSA is involved in the control of floral architecture in Antirrhinum majus.

In Antirrhinum, floral meristems are established by meristem identity genes. Floral meristems give rise to floral organs in whorls, with their identity established by combinatorial activities of organ identity genes. Double mutants of the floral meristem identity gene SQUAMOSA and organ identity genes DEFICIENS or GLOBOSA produce flowers in which whorled patterning is partially lost. In yeast, SQUA, DEF and GLO proteins form ternary complexes via their C-termini, which in gel-shift assays show increased DNA binding to CArG motifs compared with DEF/GLO heterodimers or SQUA/SQUA homodimers. Formation of ternary complexes by plant MADS-box factors increases the complexity of their regulatory functions and might be the molecular basis for establishment of whorled phyllotaxis and combinatorial interactions of floral organ identity genes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1999

PLENA and FARINELLI: redundancy and regulatory interactions between two Antirrhinum MADS-box factors controlling flower development.

We report the discovery of an Antirrhinum MADS-box gene, FARINELLI (FAR), and the isolation of far mutants by a reverse genetic screen. Despite striking similarities between FAR and the class C MADS-box gene PLENA (PLE), the phenotypes of their respective mutants are dramatically different. Unlike ple mutants, which show homeotic conversion of reproductive organs to perianth organs and a loss of floral determinacy, far mutants have normal flowers which are partially male-sterile. Expression studies of PLE and FAR, in wild-type and mutant backgrounds, show complex interactions between the two genes. Double mutant analysis reveals an unexpected, redundant negative control over the B-function MADS-box genes. This feature of the two Antirrhinum C-function-like genes is markedly different from the control of the inner boundary of the B-function expression domain in Arabidopsis, and we propose and discuss a model to account for these differences. The difference in phenotypes of mutants in two highly related genes illustrates the importance of the position within the regulatory network in determining gene function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Molecular characterization of the genes pcaG and pcaH, encoding protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase, which are essential for vanillin catabolism in Pseudomonas sp. strain HR199.

Pseudomonas sp. strain HR199 is able to utilize eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol), vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde), or protocatechuate as the sole carbon source for growth. Mutants of this strain which were impaired in the catabolism of vanillin but retained the ability to utilize eugenol or protocatechuate were obtained after nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. One mutant (SK6169) was used as recipient of a Pseudomonas sp. strain HR199 genomic library in cosmid pVK100, and phenotypic complementation was achieved with a 5.8-kbp EcoRI fragment (E58). The amino acid sequences deduced from two corresponding open reading frames (ORF) identified on E58 revealed high degrees of homology to pcaG and pcaH, encoding the two subunits of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase. Three additional ORF most probably encoded a 4-hydroxybenzoate 3-hydroxylase (PobA) and two putative regulatory proteins, which exhibited homology to PcaQ of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and PobR of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Since mutant SK6169 was also complemented by a subfragment of E58 that harbored only pcaH, this mutant was most probably lacking a functional beta subunit of the protocatechuate 3, 4-dioxygenase. Since this mutant was still able to grow on protocatechuate and lacked protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase and protocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase, the degradation had to be catalyzed by different enzymes. Two other mutants (SK6184 and SK6190), which were also impaired in the catabolism of vanillin, were not complemented by fragment E58. Since these mutants accumulated 3-carboxy muconolactone during cultivation on eugenol, they most probably exhibited a defect in a step of the catabolic pathway following the ortho cleavage. Moreover, in these mutants cyclization of 3-carboxymuconic acid seems to occur by a syn absolute stereochemical course, which is normally only observed for cis, cis-muconate lactonization in pseudomonads. In conclusion, vanillin is degraded through the ortho-cleavage pathway in Pseudomonas sp. strain HR199 whereas protocatechuate could also be metabolized via a different pathway in the mutants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Limited value of scintimammography and contrast-enhanced MRI in the evaluation of microcalcification detected by mammography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether scintimammography using 99Tc(m)-sestamibi or contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve the specificity of mammography for the differentiation of benign and malignant breast microcalcification. From 156 consecutive patients studied with SMM, 44 patients with microcalcification on mammograms were selected for this study. Forty patients in this group also had contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast. The intensity and patterns of sestamibi uptake for scintimammography and contrast enhancement for MRI were visually determined and graded on a 5-point scale for malignancy. The results of both techniques were compared and correlated with final histopathologic diagnoses. The sensitivity and specificity of scintimammography were 63% and 85% respectively, if only those cases classified as probable or definite malignancy were considered positive. If indeterminate findings were also considered positive, the sensitivity and specificity of scintimammography were 79% and 80% respectively. Using the latter classification for MRI revealed a comparable sensitivity of 82% but a markedly lower specificity of 56%. Excluding indeterminate findings from the group of positive MRI diagnoses resulted in a specificity of 94% and a sensitivity of 64%. In conclusion, scintimammography of the breast had a comparable sensitivity but a higher specificity than MRI. The sensitivity of both techniques, however, is probably too low for routine use in the evaluation of microcalcification detected by mammography.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Technetium-99m-sestamibi scintimammography for the detection of breast carcinoma: comparison between planar and SPECT imaging.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of our study was to compare the results of planar and SPECT scintimammography for the detection of breast carcinoma. In addition, our goal was to determine whether SPECT reconstructed with filtered backprojection (FBP) or with iterative algorithms (ISA) can improve the sensitivity and specificity of planar scintimammography (SMM). METHODS: One hundred thirteen patients with suspicious physical examinations and/or mammography underwent planar lateral and anterior breast imaging as well as SPECT imaging after injection of 99mTc-sestamibi. We used a blind evaluation, both separately and combined, for planar SMM, ISA-SPECT and FBP-SPECT. Scintigraphic findings were correlated with the final histopathological diagnoses. RESULTS: The sensitivity of planar SMM was 80% with a specificity of 83%. All ISA-SPECT studies were of diagnostic quality, while FBP-SPECT was considered nondiagnostic in 14 that were excluded for statistical calculation. Sensitivity of ISA-SPECT and FBP-SPECT were 71% and 69%, respectively. Specificity was 70% for ISA-SPECT and 66% for FBP-SPECT. Combined planar SMM plus ISA-SPECT sensitivity was 85% (81% for planar SMM plus FBP-SPECT) with a specificity of 72%. Three carcinomas indeterminate on planar SMM were correctly identified by combined planar SMM plus ISA-SPECT. ISA-SPECT and FBP-SPECT provided additional information to planar SMM with respect to localization of sestamibi uptake, tumor extent, improved diagnostic certainty and detection of axillary nodes in 40 and 14 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: ISA reconstruction is the preferable approach to SPECT data. Combined with planar SMM, ISA-SPECT can improve sensitivity. SPECT is useful in cases of indeterminate and positive planar SMM.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

[Air pollution in Switzerland--quantification of health effects using epidemiologic data].

Public health costs ascribable to air pollution are socialized in our society. To quantify the damage to public health, epidemiologic studies are needed. We present the methods and epidemiologic background data which form the basis for estimating the public health effect ascribable to air pollution. The figures are presented per 1 million "average" Swiss population and per 10 micrograms/m3 increase in long-term annual mean particulate pollution (PM10). Quantification was restricted to the health effects given below (due to lack of complete data for other effects or to avoid duplicating health effects which may be described by overlapping measurements). In parenthesis we present (1) the mean effect estimates (+/-1 SE) (% increase per 10 micrograms/m3 increment in PM10) derived from national and international epidemiologic studies, and (2) the expected absolute additional health effects (+/-1 SE) per 1 million Swiss population and per 10 micrograms/m3 increment in PM10, based on Swiss population statistics: total mortality (long-term estimates from the 2 US cohort studies) (+4.4% [+/-1.1]/349 [+/-91] premature deaths per year); prevalence of chronic bronchitis in adults (+25% [+8.4]/increase in long-term prevalence by 3,513 [+/-1.475]); bronchitis among children (35% [+/-13]/5,180 [+/-2,590] additional children sufferers in a year); repeated cough among children (+54% [+/-8.8]/23,490 [+/-5,873] additional children per year); cough/phlegm in adults (+12.8% [+/-7.8]/1.56 [+/-1.08] million person-days per year); hospital admissions for respiratory diseases (+1.47% [+/-0.5]/71 [+/-24] additional admissions or 1,104 (+/-390) hospital days); admissions for cardiovascular diseases (+0.9% [+/-0.25]/70 [+19] admissions; 970 (+/-270) hospital days); restricted activity days (+10.5% [+/-0.77]/0.42 [+/-0.03] million person-days); days with asthma attacks among the 6.7% asthmatics (Swiss prevalence) (+5.3% [+/-2.1]/ 240,000 [+/-102,000] additional person-days). Conservative assumptions were used throughout the study and thus the true effects are likely to be larger. Estimates of Swiss population exposure distribution would be needed to apply these results to the entire population. This step, and monetary quantification of these total effects, were the second and third elements (not shown in this report) of this Swiss government funded project. Although individual relative risks of air pollution are rather slight, the public health burden of even moderate pollution may be substantial.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Role of technetium-99m sestamibi scintimammography and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of indeterminate mammograms.

This study evaluated and compared technetium-99m sestamibi scintimammography (SMM) and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in patients with indeterminate mammograms to determine whether either technique can improve the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of breast carcinoma. From 123 consecutive patients who underwent physical examination, mammography, SMM, and histopathologic confirmation, a subgroup of 82 patients presenting with indeterminate mammograms was studied. Sixty-eight patients underwent contrast-enhanced MRI. SMM results were scored on the basis of the intensity and pattern of sestamibi uptake. MRI images were scored on the basis of signal intensity increase after administration of contrast material as well as the enhancement pattern and speed of gadolinium uptake. The results obtained with the two techniques were compared and related to the final histopathologic diagnoses. Considering indeterminate findings as positive, the sensitivity of SMM was 79% and the specificity, 70%. MRI displayed a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 49%. When indeterminate results were considered negative, the sensitivity and specificity of SMM were 62% and 83%, respectively. MRI revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 56% and 79%, respectively. The calculated sensitivities and specificities demonstrate the diagnostic limitations of both SMM and MRI in the evaluation of patients with indeterminate mammographic findings. Due to the higher specificity, SMM may be the preferred modality in the evaluation of selected patients with breast abnormalities.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of SaMADS D from Sinapis alba suggests a dual function of the gene: in inflorescence development and floral organogenesis.

SaMADS D gene of Sinapis alba was isolated by screening a cDNA library from young inflorescences with a mixture of MADS-box genes of Antirrhinum majus (DEF, GLO, SQUA) as probe. Amino acid sequence comparison showed a high degree of similarity between the SaMADS D and AGL9, DEFH200, TM5, FBP2 and DEFH 72 gene products. Analysis of the SaMADS D gene expression by in situ hybridization reveals a novel expression pattern for a MADS-box gene and suggests a dual function for this gene: first, as a determinant in inflorescence meristem identity since it starts to be expressed directly beneath the inflorescence meristem at the time of initiation of the first floral meristem, is no longer expressed in the inflorescence meristem forced to revert to production of leafy appendages, and is expressed again when the reverted meristem resumes floral meristem initiation, and, second, as an interactor with genes specifying floral organ identity since it is expressed in the floral meristem from the stage of sepal protrusion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Genetic engineering of parthenocarpic plants.

Transgenic tobacco and eggplants expressing the coding region of the iaaM gene from Pseudomonas syringae pv. savastanoi, under the control of the regulatory sequences of the ovule-specific DefH9 gene from Antirrhinum majus, showed parthenocarpic fruit development. Expression of the DefH9-iaaM chimeric transgene occurs during flower development in both tobacco and eggplant. Seedless fruits were produced by emasculated flowers. When pollinated, the parthenocarpic plants produced fruits containing seeds. In eggplant, the genetic manipulation allowed fruit set and growth under environmental conditions prohibitive for fruit setting in the untransformed line, which did not set fruit at all. Under normal environmental conditions, production of marketable fruits took place from pollinated and unpollinated transgenic flowers, while flowers of untransformed control plants did produce fruits of marketable size only from fertilized flowers.

Chimera↗