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PubMed2004

Succinate dehydrogenase D variants do not constitute a risk factor for developing C cell hyperplasia or sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a tumor that arises from parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland. MTC can occur sporadically (75%) or as part of inherited cancer syndromes (25%). In most cases, hereditary MTC evolves from preneoplastic C cell hyperplasia (CCH), so early detection of this pathology would evidently be critical. A recent study reports that alterations in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) D are responsible for familial non-RET CCH. First, we studied SDHD in two families with hereditary non-RET CCH and found no alterations related to the inheritance of this disease. Then, we investigated whether the H50R variant could be a risk factor in the sporadic development of MTC in both Spanish and English patients. We found no evidence that the presence of the H50R is strongly associated with the risk of sporadic MTC, although we did observe an association with age at diagnosis of MTC in Spanish H50R carriers that we did not find in English patients. Finally, we looked for evidence of CCH or any other thyroid disease in a panel of germ-line SDH (B or D) mutation carriers and found none. We conclude that SDHD variants do not constitute a risk factor for developing CCH or sporadic MTC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Extensive mutation scanning of RET in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma and of RET and VHL in sporadic pheochromocytoma reveals involvement of these genes in only a minority of cases.

Sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and pheochromocytoma (PC) have been reported to be associated with some specific RET gene mutations. To assess the role of RET in the development of MTC and PC, we screened 14 sporadic MTC, two MTC-derived cell lines, and 5 sporatic PC cases of RET mutations by a systematic analysis of the whole coding sequence, including all intron-exon junctions. In only 6 of the 14 sporadic MTC we were able to detect a RET mutation. Apart from the MET918-->Thr mutation in 5 of the MTC cases, we found a 3-bp deletion in exon 11, only present in the tumor, in another case. Analysis of 2 cell lines revealed the Met918-->Thr mutation in 1 and a Cys634-->Trp mutation in the other cell line. A possible somatic nature of these mutations could not be confirmed because in neither case was constitutive DNA available. We conclude that a large proportion of sporadic MTC must be due to mutations in an unidentified gene(s) other than RET. In none of the sporadic PC cases was a RET mutation found. As PC is a frequent complication in families suffering from von Hippel Lindau disease, for which mutations of the VHL gene are responsible, we also screened the 5 sporadic PC cases for VHL mutations. This revealed a Gly164-->Ser mutation in a single specimen. Thus, in PC, a large majority of tumors are due to mutations in an unidentified gene(s) other than RET and VHL.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

RT-PCR-based detection of circulating calcitonin-producing cells in patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer.

In patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) the clinical course of disease ranges from rapid tumor progression to long-lasting stable disease. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether circulating tumor cells can be detected in the peripheral blood of patients with MTC by RT-PCR targeted to calcitonin (CT) mRNA and whether the results of this method are correlated with disease manifestation and metastatic potential. Blood samples from 19 consecutive patients with MTC and elevated CT levels were analyzed. Four had newly diagnosed MTC, and 15 patients had undergone total thyroidectomy. Six of 19 patients had detectable CT mRNA by RT-PCR. CT levels in the CT mRNA-positive patients were significantly higher than those in CT mRNA-negative patients [2,239-265,313 pg/ml; median 80,921 pg/ml (n = 6) vs. 70-46,787 pg/ml; median, 932 pg/ml (n = 13); P = 0.006]. CT mRNA was detectable in 5 of 8 patients with distant metastases, in 1 of 6 patients with local/regional lymph node metastases, but in none of the patients with newly diagnosed, organ-confined MTC (n = 2) or surgically treated MTC without tumor manifestation by various imaging studies (n = 3). In peripheral blood from 10 healthy volunteers and 21 patients with benign thyroid nodules, no CT RNA could be detected. In conclusion, an RT-PCR-based procedure was established to detect circulating CT-producing cells in the peripheral blood of patients with MTC. RT-PCR results seem to reflect tumor spread and aggressiveness and thus may help with early identification of patients with disseminated and rapidly progressive disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Evidence of altered dopaminergic modulation of Prl, LH, FSH, GH and TSH secretion during chronic partial dopamine receptor blockade in normal women.

In order to study the influence of chronic, partial dopaminergic blockade on pituitary secretion of Prl, TSH, GH, LH and FSH, 8 normally menstruating women were given metoclopramide (MTC, Primperan ) 7.5 mg daily for 4 weeks. Based on weekly measurements of progesterone, all cycles were ovulatory. Prior to and after 4 weeks of drug administration serial measurements of basal hormone levels as well as the acute alterations after 10 mg of MTC iv were assessed during the early follicular phase. Chronic MTC administration significantly increased serum Prl (P less than 0.02), reduced basal levels of LH (P less than 0.02), whereas basal serum concentrations of TSH, GH and FSH were not changed. Before chronic administration iv MTC evoked significant increments in serum Prl (P less than 0.001), TSH (P less than 0.001) and GH (P less than 0.005). The acute TSH increments were significantly (P less than 0.02) diminished after 4 weeks of treatment. The influence of chronic MTC administration on serum LH and TSH levels may be the result of a competitive effect of a stimulatory influence of the dopamine receptor blocker and an opposing inhibitory influence of an increased hypothalamic dopamine activity, evoked by the MTC induced hyperprolactinaemia. Our data favour that the latter mechanism is dominating in normal women, during chronic administration of a low dose of MTC.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Secretion of adrenocorticotropin, beta-endorphin and calcitonin by cultured medullary thyroid carcinoma cells. Effects of synthetic corticotropin-releasing factor and lysine vasopressin.

The present study was performed to investigate the potential of human medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) cells to secrete ACTH, beta-LPH/beta-EP. In addition, these studies might shed further light on the possible synthesis of a common precursor molecule for calcitonin (CT), ACTH and beta-LPH/beta-EP. MTC tissue was obtained from 10 patients (6 familial, 4 sporadic) without clinical and biochemical signs of Cushing's syndrome. Single cell suspensions were cultured for 1 to 2 weeks. Mean basal release of beta-LPH/beta-EP was 0.76 +/- 0.29 (SE) ng/10(6) cells/4 h (n = 10). Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (3 mM) stimulated beta-EP release significantly in 3 out of 7 cultures, while Ca2+ (2 mM) had no effect at all. The effects of the physiological regulators of pituitary ACTH and beta-LPH/beta-EP secretion, synthetic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF-41) and vasopressin (LVP) were also studied in these MTC cell cultures. LVP (100 nM) had no effect on beta-EP release from MTC cells of all 8 cultures investigated. CRF-41 (10 nM) stimulated beta-EP release from 5 cultures and was without effect on 4. Maximal stimulation was noticed with 10 nM, while the effect of 100 nM CRF-41 was lower or absent. Stimulation was most outspoken in 3 cultures of familial MTC, whereas in 2 cultures of sporadic MTC CRF-41 stimulated beta-EP release marginally only after a 24 h incubation. LVP and/or CRF-41 stimulated CT release significantly in 3 cultures from sporadic MTC, while in these cultures the effect of CRF-41 on beta-EP release was either very small or absent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Total thyroidectomy in C-cell hyperplasia of the thyroid gland].

INTRODUCTION: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumor of the thyroid parafollicular or C-cells. MTC accounts for approximately 3 to 5% of thyroid carcinomas. A characteristic feature of this tumor is production of calcitonin. Sporadic MTC accounts for 60-80% of all cases of the disease. The most common presentation of sporadic MTC is a solitary thyroid nodule, which occurs in 75 to 95% of patients. It typically occurs in the fifth or sixth decades, with slight female predominance. CASE REPORT: A case of a 58-year old woman with elevated basal calcitonin levels (221 pg/ml) has been presented. Preoperative ultrasound of the thyroid gland and body (99m)Tc DMSA scintigraphy showed a diffuse goiter. Hyperparathyroidism and pheochromocytoma were not present. Total thyroidectomy was performed. Only C-cell hyperplasia was found. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Many patients with elevated basal serum calcitonin level ranging between 150 and 1000 pg/ml, have only C-cell hyperplasia, but a few have small MTCs. For persons in known kindreds with familial MTC, prospective screening, using serum calcitonin measurement, can identify those at risk for the disease before MTC is clinically evident. Due to the possibility that any patient with MTC may have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN-2), preoperative testing must also include measurement of serum calcium (to rule out hyperparathyroidism) and a test for pheochromocytoma. Total thyroidectomy is indicated in patients with high levels of calcitonin.

Calcitonin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment evaluation, follow-up and familial screening of medullary thyroid carcinoma by highly specific calcitonin measurements.

BACKGROUND: Calcitonin is the most sensitive and specific marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). AIMS: The aim of this study was to emphasize the role and the limits of plasma basal calcitonin (bCT) measurement in the management of Moroccan MTC patients and their relatives. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a retrospective study on 6 MTC patients referred to our institute from January 1996 to December 2004. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum bCT levels were measured in 36 individuals comprising six known MTC cases, 18 relatives and 12 healthy volunteers, using two-sites immunoradiometric assay method. Five of MTC patients have been followed from 12 to 96 months after surgery. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Calculations were performed using SPSS 10.0 program. Data comparison was done by Student's t -test. RESULTS: The circulating preoperative bCT concentrations were elevated for all MTC patients (range, 44,8 -2055 pg/ml, normal <10). Recent postoperative bCT determinations varied from 24.4 to 1972 pg/ml in four patients. In one patient, the bCT value decreased to an undetectable level during a follow-up of 12 months. The mean bCT level of relatives was 4.90 +/- 3.54 pg/ml; two patients had slightly elevated bCT. Five (42%) healthy volunteers had undetectable bCT levels and all had less than 10 pg/ml; the mean bCT value was 3.06 +/- 2.51 pg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Routine plasma bCT measurement still has an important place in the preoperative diagnosis and follow-up treatment of MTC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

MRI of the human eye using magnetization transfer contrast enhancement.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of using magnetization transfer contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track cataractous lens changes. METHODS: A fast spin-echo sequence was modified to include a magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) preparation pulse train. This consisted of twenty 8.5-msec sinc pulses, 1200 Hz upfield from the water resonance and 1.2-Hz power. The MTC preparation pulse was followed by acquisition through fast spin-echo imaging. The imaging parameters were number of excitations (NEX) = 1, echo time (TE) = 14 msec, recovery time (TR) = 2 sec, echo train length of eight echos, and a matrix size of 256 x 160. To reduce motion artifacts, the volunteers were asked to fixate on a blinking LED. Normal and MTC-enhanced images were acquired from normal volunteers and volunteers with nuclear or cortical cataracts. RESULTS: The eye was adequately imaged, with few motion artifacts appearing. The lens was well resolved, despite the short T(2). The cornea and ciliary body were also clearly visible. In the lens, resolution of the epithelium and cortex were enhanced with MTC. In addition, contrast-to-noise ratios were measured for each image. Examination of the contrast-to-noise ratio confirmed that MTC increased the contrast between the nucleus and cortex. Unenhanced MRIs showed significant differences between the cortex of normal volunteers and volunteers with cataracts. MTC-enhanced images improved the sensitivity to changes in the nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary study, we were able to use MTC-enhanced MRI to obtain high-contrast images of the human lens. Regular and enhanced MRIs detected statistically significant differences between normal and cataractous lenses.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Metoclopramide-Induced Vascular Hyperreactivity: A Comparative Study Between Normotensive and Hypertensive Subjects.

In the present study, we have evaluated the cardiovascular responses to the cold pressor test (CPT) under intravenous metoclopramide (MTC) treatment (7.5 &mgr;g kg(minus sign1) min(minus sign1)) during a 30-min period and two additional periods, before and after MTC by using 5% glucose solution. There was a vascular hyperreactivity induced by MTC, Delta mm Hg was 21.4/24/1 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic blood pressure [BP]) during MTC versus Delta 17.2/17.9 mm Hg during 5% glucose infusion. In nine hypertensive subjects, Delta mm Hg was 36.8/25.7 during MTC versus Delta 31/24 mm Hg during 5% glucose. Bromocriptine pretreatment (7.5 mg daily for 7 days) antagonized MTC-BP increase during CPT. We conclude the following: (1) MTC induces a greater BP response during CPT which is blocked by using bromocriptine, a known DA(2) dopaminergic agonist. (2) A dopaminergic influence is present during CPT in normotensive and hypertensive subjects.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Comparison of two provocative tests for calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma: omeprazole vs pentagastrin.

BACKGROUND: Provocative tests for calcitonin (CT) are fundamental in the diagnosis and follow-up of C-cell disease and in the detection of hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) carriers with unknown RET mutations. A recent report has proposed omeprazole, which can increase endogenous gastrin (GT), as a new provocative test for MTC. METHODS: We compared the omeprazole test (20 mg twice a day for 4 days) to the pentagastrin test (0.5 microg/kg of body weight) for the diagnosis and management of MTC. Twenty healthy individuals and 20 MTC patients with mildly or moderately increased basal CT serum concentrations underwent the pentagastrin and omeprazole tests. RESULTS: In MTC patients, the pentagastrin test produced a significantly higher increase in serum CT than did omeprazole. After the pentagastrin injection, several patients reported unpleasant side effects, including substantial tightness in 38 of 40 participants. No adverse effects were observed during the omeprazole test. A significant direct correlation was recorded between CT% (ratio of CT peak to basal value x 100) and GT% (ratio of GT peak to basal value x 100) during the omeprazole test in MTC patients (r = 0.73; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of several adverse effects, pentagastrin remains the best provocative test for the diagnosis of MTC. Omeprazole may be useful when pentagastrin is contraindicated or refused because of the unpleasant side effects, but further validation is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Water requirement of paddy field under different soil water conditions].

Field experiment with three irrigation treatments, i.e., continuous flooding irrigation (CSF), moisture condition irrigation (MTC), and intermittent irrigation (IT) were installed to study the water requirement of paddy fields. The results showed that in field experiment, the evapotranspiration(ET) was 889.1, 635.9 and 775.9 mm, and the evapotranspiration rate was 6.9, 4.9 and 6.0 mm.d-1 for CSF, MTC and IT, respectively during the entire growing season. MTC and IT were less than CSF by 28.5 and 12.7%. Under sufficient water supply, the evapotranspiration calculation by Penman formula was less than that from field experiment by 29.3%, during stages from returning green to milk. The biomass was 16438.22, 15887.94 and 15757.88 kg.hm-2, and the grain yield was 8014.01, 7828.91 and 7853.93 kg.hm-2 for CSF, MTC and IT, respectively. No significant differences were found among three treatments. The water use efficiency (WUE) was 9.01, 12.31 and 10.12 kg.hm-2.mm-1 for CSF, MTC and IT, respectively. The WUE of MTC and IT were higher than that of CSF by 26.8 and 11.0%, showing that MTC was a comparatively water-saving irrigation treatment.

Ecosystem↗
PubMed1992

Statistical analysis of histomorphological findings in medullary thyroid carcinoma: distinction between the different familial forms of the disease. G.E.T.C. Groupe d'Etude des Tumeurs a Calcitonine.

A multifactorial analysis of morphological findings was performed on 153 cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The aim of the study was to utilize histological criteria to discriminate between MTC associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) and that associated with the inherited MTC only syndrome. The presence of fusiform cells associated with several other markers seemed to be more predictive of MEN 2A. A comparison of inherited MTC only and sporadic MTC only showed fusiform cells to be significantly less common in inherited MTC only. These results suggest that the inherited MTC only syndrome is a distinct clinical and morphological entity. Further investigations are needed to confirm the findings and understand its implications.

Carcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The therapeutic value of SST-A octreotide alone or with adjuvant treatment in patients with advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma and positive (111)In-octreotide scan.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) as a neuroendocrine tumour arising from C cells of the thyroid gland secrets hormonal peptides; among them, calcitonine (CT) and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA). These two peptides are used for the diagnosis and treatment response of MTC cases. In patients with advanced MTC, scintigraphy by [(111)In-DTPA-d-phe1]-octreotide is able to detect somatostatin receptors (SSTR) and thus identify regional lymph nodes and/or distal metastases. In this article, we have studied the use of [(111)In-DTPA-d-phe1]-octreotide in the treatment of patients with advanced MTC, and a positive octreotide scan. Twenty-two patients were studied, 16 with persistent MTC and six with relapsed MTC. All patients' tumours were detected by [(111)In-DTPA-d-phe1]-octreotide-scan to be SSTR positive. All patients were treated with the somatostatin analog (SST-A) octreotide, for 3-21 months. Nine patients were treated only with SST-A (Group A). The remaining 13 patients (Group B) received adjuvant treatment as follows: six patients received chemotherapy (Ch), five patients received both Ch and external radiotherapy (eRT) and two patients received only eRT. Results were as follows: Group B patients as compared to Group A patients had about the same objective and biological response. Patients of Group B had relatively better subjective response (less diarrheas and abdominal cramps) versus Group A patients, although this finding was not significant. Group B patients had a longer mean survival time after treatment as compared to Group A patients: 39 months (with a range of 4-72 months) versus 20 months (with a range of 3-60 months) respectively, (P<0.05). Also Group B patients had longer than Group A patients mean total survival time - measured from the start of the disease: 138 (18-270) versus 97 (13-235) months respectively (P<0.05). Based on the above findings, it is the opinion of the authors that patients with advanced MTC and SSTR tumor expression in vivo as indicated by [(111)In-DTPA-d-phe1]-octreotide scanning, when submitted to treatment with SST-A octreotide and adjuvant Ch and/or eRT treatment may have a better treatment response than if submitted to treatment with SST-A octreotide alone. More cases are being studied by us at the present.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Magnetization transfer contrast in magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the result of selectively observing the interaction of bulk water protons with the protons contained in macromolecules of a tissue. Since different tissues have different macromolecular compositions, the MTC can generate very high tissue contrast that is based on well-defined physiochemical properties. This is accomplished by combining a saturation transfer technique with standard MRI procedures. The specific practical and theoretical aspects of saturation transfer as it applies to the generation of MTC are reviewed and discussed. In the last 3 years, MTC has been applied to the study of the body, with useful applications demonstrated in evaluating the morphology of the knee joint, eye, brain, breast, and heart. The application of MTC to accentuate MR angiography and contrast agent studies has also been demonstrated. Thus, MTC is becoming another tool towards maximizing the quality and diagnostic potential of MRI. Recent studies on isolated macromolecules have suggested that the MTC effect is specific to the surface chemistry and correlation time of the macromolecules. These latter results indicate that the magnetization transfer process may provide a unique quantitative method of MR tissue characterization based on macromolecule dynamics and chemistry.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medullary thyroid carcinoma: autologous tumor cell lines for dendritic cell vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a calcitonin-producing tumor of the parafollicular C-cells, accounting for 5-10% of all thyroid tumors. To date, the only effective treatment is the early and total surgical removal of all neoplastic tissue. As the prognosis of patients with advanced MTC, unresectable or distant metastases is poor, and chemotherapy or irradiation is of no significant value, alternative strategies have been sought. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A promising treatment approach for human MTC, that has already been introduced at our facility, is based on vaccination with autologous dendritic cells (DCs). Strong evidence that vaccination with autologous tumor lysate-pulsed DCs induces a specific immune response in vivo has been provided. However, the therapeutic success of this approach is sometimes critically limited by the small amount of tumor material available, especially from patients operated at an early tumor stage. Thus, it would be to the best advantage to have sufficient amounts of autologous tumor cells available for DC pulsing. RESULTS: A method to generate viable autologous tumor cell cultures from a variety of MTC tissue samples, even when the sample size is small, has been successfully established. These cell lines maintain their neuroendocrine phenotype. In addition, it can be shown that these cells also display the biological features of neuroendocrine tumor cells at the molecular level. CONCLUSION: The unlimited availability of these MTC cell lines makes it possible to specify cancerogenesis of MTC. In addition, the availability of sufficient amounts of tumor lysate from these cell lines offers the advantage of prolonged immunotherapy. Finally, these cell lines could be elegantly used as read-out system to monitor the in vivo immune response during immunotherapy with DC cell-based vaccination in patients suffering from MTC.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[RET and GFRA1 germline polymorphisms in medullary thyroid cancer patients].

The role of RET and GFRA1 germline polymorphisms in predisposition to sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and polymorphisms' modulation effect on clinical features of inherited and sporadic MTC were investigated. Blood samples from 67 MTC patients (22 hereditary and 45 sporadic), 3 asymptomatic mutant RET gene carriers and 178 ethnically matched healthy control individuals were tested. Screening of RET exons and portion of introns 1, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16 and GFRA1 5'-UTR was performed by means of direct sequencing and PCR-RFLP. 8 polymorphic variants of RET gene (exons 11, 13, 14, 15 and introns 1, 8, 13, 14) and 4 GFRA1 polymorphisms in GFRA1 were detected. Linkage disequilibrium was found between RET variants G691S and S904S, L769L and IVS8, S836S and IVS13. In sporadic MTCs, allelic frequency of only one polymorphic RET variant, L769L, was significantly decreased versus control group. In hereditary MTCs, a significant over-representation of S836S and under-representation of S904S sequence variants were observed as compared to sporadic MTCs and controls. No co-segregation was found between individual polymorphisms and phenotype of sporadic MTC. In patients with inherited MTC whose genotype was presented with polymorphic L769L and wild-type S836S, disease onset occurred 20 years later than in individuals with polymorphic L769L and S836S or wild-type L769L (p = 0.01) suggestive of a possible protective role of L769L in MTC development and modulating effect of a combination of L769L with wild-type S836S on clinical outcome of inherited MTC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Effects of a medical team coordinator on length of hospital stay.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a medical team coordinator (MTC) on the length of stay in a teaching hospital. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Two of four general medical clinical teaching units (CTUs). PATIENTS: Patients admitted to the CTUs between July and October 1990 except those who were admitted directly to an intensive care unit or whose death was expected within 48 hours. The 267 patients were randomly assigned to receive either standard medical care or standard medical care plus MTC services. INTERVENTION: The MTC was a baccalaureate nurse whose role was to facilitate administrative tasks such as discharge planning, to coordinate tests and procedures, and to collect and collate patient information. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of hospital stay. A subgroup of 40 patients was asked to complete a brief survey on medical care information and satisfaction. RESULTS: The MTC intervention reduced the mean length of stay by 1.97 days (p less than or equal to 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 2.92 days). Subanalysis by diagnostic group revealed that most of this effect was in an ill-defined group of disorders. In the survey more patients in the MTC group than in the other group reported being satisfied with their medical care (89% v. 62%; p less than or equal to 0.05, 95% CI 2% to 52%). CONCLUSIONS: The services of an MTC help to reduce the length of hospital stay for some groups of patients. Further research is necessary to examine which components of the MTC intervention are most effective and in what conditions.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Identification of Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by Gen-Probe Rapid Diagnostic System].

DNA probe testing for Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) was performed using Gen-Probe Rapid Diagnostic System (Gen-Probe Inc., San Diego, Calif., U.S.A.). By DNA probe test carried out blindfold for 48 mycobacterial strains with code numbers obtained from Kyoto University (Prof. F. Kuze), 13, 7, and 5 strains were identified as to be M. avium, M. intracellulare, and MTC, respectively. The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of this testing were 100%. In this experiment, % hybridization of M. avium complex (MAC) and MTC were 25-55% and 45-52%, respectively. DNA probe test for 54 MTC strains including M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum and M. microti revealed that 53 strains, except for one strain donated as a niacin-negative M. tuberculosis, reacted with MTC probe but not with MAC-probes. The one exceptional strain reacted with both the MTC- and M. avium-probes. However, when ten colonies randomly isolated from this strain on 7H11 agar plate were subjected to the DNA probe test again, all of these colonies reacted with M. avium probe, but not with MTC probe. Moreover, one representative colony was found to have alpha-antigen specific for the MAC.

DNA Probes↗