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S Brown

Publications and source records attributed to S Brown.

At least 829 records · Page 46Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

HER-2/neu gene amplification in stages I-IV breast cancer detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

PURPOSE: Approximately 25-30% of breast and ovarian carcinomas have amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. The aim of the present study was to focus on HER-2/neu gene amplification in different clinical stages of breast cancer in order to (1) determine if fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to detect HER-2/neu gene amplification in different clinical stages of breast cancer, (2) establish whether HER-2/neu gene amplification characterizes a subset of breast cancer in each of these stages, and (3) determine whether a trend for correlation of amplification with the clinical stage of the disease can be detected using the FISH technology. METHODS: A total of 40 specimens of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues were analyzed cytogenetically, in a blinded fashion, for HER-2/neu gene amplification using FISH and the Vysis LSI HER-2/neu Orange and CEP 17 Green DNA dual color probe. The criterion for "high amplification" was an amplification ratio of >4.0, that for "moderate amplification" a ratio between 2.1 and 4.0, and that for "low amplification" a ratio of 1.5-2.0. RESULTS: Using a cutoff point of > or =1.5, the overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage I tumors was 30% (3 out of 10). Of these, one-third (1 out of 3) showed low amplification, one-third (1 out of 3) were moderately amplified, and one-third (1 out of 3) were highly amplified. The overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage II tumors was 0% (0 out of 10). The overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage III tumors was 10% (1 out of 10). The sole tumor found positive was classified as moderately amplified by our criteria. The overall frequency of HER-2/neu gene amplification among stage IV tumors was 50% (5 out of 10). Four of the 5 tumors found positive were highly amplified. The overall frequency of gene amplification in the 40 cases studied was 22.5% (9 out of 40 tumors studied). CONCLUSION: Although a linear correlation between HER-2/neu amplification and clinical stage cannot be established at this time, it is interesting to note that when stages I and II, and when stages III and IV are combined, respectively, the latter category has a higher amplification frequency than the former. Furthermore, stage IV has the highest frequency (5 out of 10) of HER-2/neu gene amplification than all three lower stages combined (4 out of 30). This is no doubt due to the high frequency of gene amplification observed in stage IV tumors, which, interestingly, also demonstrate high level amplification of HER-2/neu gene copy numbers. Although the biologic and clinical basis for gene amplification is not clear, given the observation that the most aggressive disease stage is associated with the highest frequency of gene amplification and the most high level amplification, further exploration of HER-2/neu as a prognostic marker of poor outcome using FISH is warranted.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

On the identity of the amoeboflagellates Didascalus thorntoni and Adelphamoeba galeacystis.

Didascalus thorntoni, Singh 1952 has been classified alternately as a separate genus or as a species of Naegleria. In the 18th edition of the American Type Culture Collection catalogue it is classified as Naegleria thorntoni. To resolve the question of its identity we have used riboprinting and sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal DNA. The results indicate that D. thorntoni does not belong to the genus Naegleria. The sequence of the small subunit ribosomal DNA differs only in 20 nucleotides (1%) from that of Paratetramitus jugosus. The difference is much smaller than between some species of Nageleria. Therefore, it is not clear whether D. thorntoni should be considered as a species of Paratetramitus or as a separate genus. The strain used in different laboratories as the type strain of Adelphamoeba galeacystis has been identified as a Naegleria strain. We believe that the type strain of A. galeacystis was mislabeled prior to submission to the American Type Culture Collection and to the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa. A recent isolate, which on the basis of morphology was identified as a strain of A. galeacystis, has the identical small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence as D. thorntoni. Our results prove Page was right when he stated that Adelphamoeba might be a synonym of Didascalus.

Animals↗
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Stem cell factor is a potent synergistic factor in hematopoiesis.

Stem cell factor (SCF), a ligand for c-kit, has a broad range of activities including effects on cells at or near the level of the multipotential stem cell as well as on committed cells. Preclinical studies show that SCF can protect against lethal irradiation, elicit multilineage responses in peripheral blood and bone marrow cellularity, and increase circulating peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) in a dose-dependent manner. Recombinant human SCF has major clinical potential through its synergy with other factors, especially recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, to enhance mobilization of PBPC.

Animals↗
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Acupressure wrist bands to relieve nausea and vomiting in hospice patients: do they work?

This study assessed the effects of acupressure wrist bands on the nausea and vomiting of terminally ill patients. Using a single subject experimental design, six hospice patients were exposed to three conditions: An acupressure wrist band; A placebo wrist band; A no wrist band condition. Patients and their caregivers rated nausea and vomiting during the treatment. Despite some difficulty obtaining complete data, the results of this preliminary test indicate that acupressure wrist bands were not effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in this small sample of hospice patients.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Monitoring of liver oxygenation during neuroleptanalgesia in the dog.

In an animal study (7 mongrel dogs) the effects of neuroleptanalgesia (NLA) and combinations of NLA with nitrous oxide (N2O) and isoflurane on the macro- and microcirculation of the liver were investigated. Measurements were made in three steps. After NLA alone the dogs were supplementarily ventilated with nitrous oxide/oxygen at a ratio of 2:1. During the last step, 1 MAC isoflurane was added to the inspired gas. From the portal vein, arterial and mixed-venous systems' hemodynamic parameters, blood gases, and acid-base balance were recorded. As a parameter of oxygenation the tissue PO2 of the liver was measured with a multiwire surface electrode. During NLA stable hemodynamic conditions and a balanced acid-base status were observed. The nitrous oxide combination resulted in an increase of the mean pulmonary artery pressure of 16%. The addition of isoflurane had a negative inotropic effect: The heart index decreased to 74% of the starting value and the total peripheral resistance (TPR) increased by 27%. The summarized PO2 histograms under NLA and NLA/N2O showed arithmetic mean values of 34.1 and 35.2 mm Hg, respectively. The addition of isoflurane resulted in a left shift and a decrease of the mean value to 28.6 mm Hg. This histogram corresponds exactly to the oxygen pressure distribution in the dog liver during piritramide basic anesthesia. It seems that NLA and the combination of NLA/N2O increase the liver perfusion with a higher portal-venous and tissue PO2. This effect can be explained only by a massive change of visceral circulation. It is canceled by the addition of isoflurane.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a dual glow-signal firefly and Renilla luciferase assay reagent for the analysis of G-protein coupled receptor signalling.

Several reporter gene assays have been described where gene transcription is activated as a consequence of a specific signal transduction event, such as activation of adenylyl cyclase (1.2). Reporter genes typically consist of specific responsive elements placed upstream of a minimal promoter, which together control the expression of a readily detectable reporter protein, such as luciferase. We have developed a dual glow-signal firefly and Renilla luciferase assay, which allows the simultaneous measurement of two reporter genes in the same well of a 96-well plate. In this report we demonstrate the use of this assay for the simultaneous analysis of agonist activity at two G-protein coupled receptors which signal through activation of the G-protein alpha sub-unit, G alpha S. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with a cAMP responsive firefly luciferase reporter were further transfected with the human Vasopressin V2 receptor. Similarly, CHO cells stably transfected with a cAMP responsive Renilla luciferase reporter were further transfected with the human beta 2-adrenoceptor. The two cell lines were mixed in individual wells of a 96-well plate and a number of compounds were screened to determine their activity at both receptors. Stimulation with vasopressin and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists resulted in the activation of the firefly and Renilla luciferases respectively. Stimulation with forskolin, which directly stimulates adenylyl cyclase, caused the activation of both reporter genes, and stimulation with a range of further compounds with no activity at either receptor did not generate a reporter response. The dual luciferase assay allows the simultaneous screening of two receptors in a 96-well format resulting in significant time and cost savings.

Animals↗
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Flexible return.

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Humans↗
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Revitalized commitment to community. A community benefit plan helps a hospital be a good neighbor.

Three years ago St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, made a commitment to strengthen its community relationships and reaffirm its mission of serving those in need by following the Catholic Health Association's Social Accountability Budget. While implementing the program, administrators were surprised to learn the hospital was already participating in many community programs for which it received little or no reimbursement. They also discovered that the hospital had no formal, written charity care policy even though St. John provided more than $14 million in uncompensated care annually. To learn what the needs of the surrounding community were, the hospital went to the clergy, who overwhelmingly identified the needs of the elderly as the number-one priority. A close second was supporting the basic family unit. Other concerns included basic family needs, safe neighborhoods and schools, and teen pregnancy. Although the hospital realized it could not do all that was needed, it felt obliged to be a leader in seeing that the needs were met and drew up a community benefit plan that documented the problems and the solutions. The hospital did what it could and worked with other organizations to address needs such as housing for the elderly, affordable and accessible healthcare, neighborhood improvement and safety, and family services.

Catholicism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of a digital hearing aid with directional microphones in school-aged children.

The efficacy of a digital hearing aid with a directional microphone was examined in a school-aged population. Twenty children (9 with a mild-to-moderately-severe hearing loss and 11 with a moderate-to-severe hearing loss) between 7 1/2 and 13 2/3 years of age wore the study hearing aids binaurally for 30 days prior to the evaluation. The testing protocol included speech recognition tests using the CID W-22 word lists presented at 72 dB SPL, 65 dB SPL, and 52 dB SPL (at 0 degrees azimuth) in the presence of a 65 dB SPL party noise (180 degrees azimuth). Subjective rating of hearing aid efficacy in the classroom was examined using the Listening Inventory For Education (LIFE) questionnaire. Parental impression on hearing aid efficacy was also collected at the end of the study. The results showed improved speech recognition in noise with the digital directional hearing aid at all presentation levels. Preference for the digital directional hearing aids over the subjects' own omnidirectional analog hearing aids was also seen on the LIFE questionnaire and parental impression. The degree of hearing loss did not seem to have affected the benefits offered by the digital directional hearing aids. These results were compared to results from other studies on the use of directional microphones in hearing aids.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Minors' access to snuff: purchase outcomes at corporate owned and independently owned convenience stores.

Results from many studies indicated that sales clerks sell cigarettes to minors. However, not many researchers have investigated how frequently merchants sell smokeless tobacco to minors. In the present study, sales of snuff to minors were assessed at corporate owned chains of convenience stores and at independently owned convenience stores. Two corporate owned chains with the largest number of convenience stores were selected (n = 45). A random sample of 45 independently owned convenience stores that held current tobacco licenses were also chosen. Two underage males attempted to purchase moist snuff at each of the 90 convenience stores included in the sample. Overall, underage buyers were sold snuff on one out of four purchase attempts. Sales occurred significantly more often in independently owned stores (35.6%) than in corporate owned stores (13.3%). An important variable that appeared to determine whether the sales clerk sold snuff was request for identification.

Adolescent↗
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Medical tattooing.

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Alopecia↗
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Shock of the new.

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Adaptation, Psychological↗
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Reality bites.

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Adaptation, Psychological↗
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Attitudes concerning mouthguard use in 7- to 8-year-old children.

The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptance of 3 types of mouthguards 1) stock, 2) boil and bite, and 3) custom-made by 7-8 year old children playing organized soccer. Three teams volunteered to participate and the type of mouthguard was randomly selected for each team. The children were fitted for the mouthguards and after wearing them, a questionnaire was returned to the investigator. Eighty two percent of the children wearing custom made mouthguards and 87% of the boil and bite ranged from happy to enthusiastic about its use. None of the children provided stock mouthguards reported liking their use. Only 1 child in the custom group failed to wear the appliance during practice and games while the children in the stock group ranged from 20% to all of the time. Ninety five percent of the parents believe that children should wear mouthguards when injuries may occur. However, only 24% of the parents would be willing to pay $25.00 for this protection. It is concluded that mouthguards will be used by children during organized sports activities if they fit.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Does evidence of inflammation on Papanicolaou smears of pregnant women predict preterm labor and delivery?

BACKGROUND: Preterm delivery is the most common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. There is evidence that cervicovaginal infection could predispose to preterm labor. This study explored a possible association of evidence of inflammation on an otherwise normal Papanicolaou smear obtained during pregnancy with subsequent preterm labor and preterm delivery. METHODS: Using a retrospective matched cohort design, we studied women who gave birth to live singleton infants at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics during a 21-month period. Papanicolaou smears were obtained from 1 to 8 months before delivery and were interpreted in the same cytopathology laboratory. Data pertaining to outcome variables and potential confounding variables were collected from hospital charts. RESULTS: Incidence rates were 14.4 percent for labor < 37 weeks' gestation (preterm labor), 12.3 percent for hospitalization for preterm labor, 9.9 percent for delivery < 37 weeks (preterm delivery), 2.6 percent for delivery < 34 weeks, and 7.5 percent for birth weight < 2500 g. On univariate and multivariate analyses, there were no significant differences in any outcome between the 293 women with inflammation and the 284 women without inflammation on Papanicolaou smear. Results were unchanged when the analysis was limited to the 412 women who received no antibiotics during pregnancy. Among the 38 women with a history of preterm labor or preterm delivery, those with cervical inflammation had a higher rate of preterm labor than those without inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: In the sample as a whole, there was little evidence that findings of inflammation on Papanicolaou smear constituted a risk factor for preterm labor or preterm delivery. The data suggest that inflammation could be associated with an increased risk in a subgroup of women at higher risk by virtue of their obstetric history.

Adult↗