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Optimization and evaluation of surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) with reversed-phase protein arrays for protein profiling.

Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry with protein arrays has facilitated the discovery of disease-specific protein profiles in serum. Such results raise hopes that protein profiles may become a powerful diagnostic tool. To this end, reliable and reproducible protein profiles need to be generated from many samples, accurate mass peak heights are necessary, and the experimental variation of the profiles must be known. We adapted the entire processing of protein arrays to a robotics system, thus improving the intra-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) from 45.1% to 27.8% (p<0.001). In addition, we assessed up to 16 technical replicates, and demonstrated that analysis of 2-4 replicates significantly increases the reliability of the protein profiles. A recent report on limited long-term reproducibility seemed to concord with our initial inter-assay CVs, which varied widely and reached up to 56.7%. However, we discovered that the inter-assay CV is strongly dependent on the drying time before application of the matrix molecule. Therefore, we devised a standardized drying process and demonstrated that our optimized SELDI procedure generates reliable and long-term reproducible protein profiles with CVs ranging from 25.7% to 32.6%, depending on the signal-to-noise ratio threshold used.

Lasers↗

Comparability of point-of-care whole-blood electrolyte and substrate testing using a Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress analyzer and standard laboratory methods.

BACKGROUND: Rapid technological progress in point-of-care testing allows the measurement of multiple analytes in whole-blood samples. The present study evaluated biosensor-based methods for the measurement of electrolytes and substrates in whole blood using a Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA, USA) multiprofile analyzer and their comparability with standard laboratory methods. Because of the increased utilization of arterial blood samples in hospitalized patients and limited information on differences between arterial and venous blood for most routine laboratory tests, analytical differences caused by different sample types were evaluated. METHODS: Whole-blood arterial samples and venous serum samples were obtained from 70 random patients with a variety of diagnoses admitted to the intensive care unit. The Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress analyzer was used to obtain whole-blood electrolyte and substrate profiles. For comparison studies, plasma or serum samples were analyzed according to standard laboratory methods using an Olympus AU 600 analyzer (Olympus Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan). RESULTS: Imprecision, expressed as the coefficient of variation (CV%), was less than 5.7% for all analytes at both high and low concentrations, except for creatinine, with a CV of 13.8% for low and 9.5% for high concentrations. The inaccuracy of electrolyte and substrate measurements in whole blood using a Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress analyzer met the analytical quality specification required for near patient testing, with observed bias within the range -4.5% to 5.3%. Statistically significant correlation (p<0.05) was obtained between standard laboratory methods performed on arterial plasma or venous serum samples on an Olympus AU 600 analyzer and direct whole-blood measurements on the Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress point-of-care analyzer for all parameters tested, although slope and intercept values showed analytical differences for electrolyte measurement. CONCLUSIONS: The Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress multiprofile point-of-care analyzer provides rapid and accurate direct whole-blood measurement with acceptable performance compared to standard laboratory methods. The results obtained for electrolytes and substrates in whole blood were comparable to those for standard laboratory methods using arterial plasma or venous serum samples.

Biosensing Techniques↗

[Development of the Brief Scales for Coping Profile (BSCP) for workers: basic information about its reliability and validity].

Coping profile of workers greatly affects the process where job stressors develop health problems, but most of the previously proposed questionnaires for the coping profile are too long to be applied to the program of occupational mental health. In the present study, the authors report the process of developing a new self-rating questionnaire for assessing workers' coping profile which includes only 18 questions. Based on the results of a preparatory study, the 18 questions which provide 6 scales about coping strategies were proposed as the Brief Scales for Coping Profile (BSCP). A self-administered questionnaire including BSCP, Brief Scales for Job Stress (BSJS), and a depression scale (CES-D) was applied to 394 workers in a company, and 328 (83%) responded. Their age was 40.1 +/- 10.0 yr (mean +/- SD), 78% were men, 75% were married, and most of them were white collar workers. Six factors extracted through factor analysis of BSCP closely agreed with the expected 6 scales and also with the results of previous studies. They were named "active solution", "seeking help for solution", "changing a point of view", "changing mood", "emotional expression involving others", and "avoidance and suppression". The Cronbach's reliability coefficients for the scales were from 0.66 to 0.75, showing sufficiently high internal consistency. None of them related to gender or age. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 38% of the variance of the depression score was explained by "workload", "problems in personal relationships", and "reward from work" scores in BSJS, and also with "active solution" and "avoidance and suppression" scores in BSCP. Interaction analysis revealed that the coping profile modifies the relationship between job stressors and depressive symptoms; the "active solution" score was inversely associated with the depression score, particularly for the workers with high "problems in personal relationships" scores and low "reward from work" scores, while "avoidance and suppression" scores were positively associated with the depression score particularly for the workers with high "problems in personal relationships" scores. These results support part of the reliability and validity of BSCP, and also support the feasibility of BSCP as a tool for self-management and health education concerning job stress in the field of occupational mental health. The test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of BSCP should be confirmed in a future study. It also should be confirmed in future whether the coping profile relates with gender, age, job type, or other outcome of job stress in other populations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Protein profiling in respiratory disease: techniques and impact.

Multifactorial diseases such as respiratory disease call for a global analysis of such disorders. Recent advances in protein profiling techniques may allow for early diagnosis of respiratory disease, which is crucial for intervention and treatment. In order to reduce false-positive rates, clinical diagnosis requires a high degree of sensitivity and specificity to be an effective screening tool. Protein profiles identified by ProteinChip (Ciphergen Biosystems) technology coupled with mass spectrometry affords a global analysis of clinical samples and is beginning to reach acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity. Combining the profile with another diagnostic tool enhances the effectiveness of protein profiles to classify disease. Although current efforts have centered on serum protein profiling, the local environment of the lung may be better reflected in proteins of bronchoalveolar lavage or sputum. Identification of biomarkers of disease by protein profiling analyses may lead to an understanding of the mechanisms of this disease and contribute to the discovery of new therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of disease. Advancing these analyses are techniques such as ProteinChip mass spectrometry, laser capture microdissection, tissue microarrays and fluorescently labeled antibody bead arrays, which enable the direct global analysis of complex mixtures. Effective high-throughput and ease of use of clinical testing will arrive with improvements in bioinformatics and decreases in instrumentation costs.

Antibodies↗

Estimation of population profiles of two strains of the fly Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) by bootstrap simulation.

Based on experimental population profiles of strains of the fly Megaselia scalaris (Phoridae), the minimal number of sample profiles was determined that should be repeated by bootstrap simulation process in order to obtain a confident estimation of the mean population profile and present estimations of the standard error as a precise measure of the simulations made. The original data are from experimental populations founded with SR and R4 strains, with three replicates, which were kept for 33 weeks by serial transfer technique in a constant temperature room (25 +/- 1.0 degrees C). The variable used was population size and the model adopted for each profile was a stationary stochastic process. By these simulations, the three experimental population profiles were enlarged so as to determine minimum sample size. After sample size was determined, bootstrap simulations were made in order to calculate confidence intervals and to compare the mean population profiles of these two strains. The results show that with a minimum sample size of 50, stabilization of means begins.

Animals↗

[Lipid profile and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in medicine students].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the lipid profile and its correlation with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among medicine students. METHODS: We assessed 153 students, regardless of sex, with age between 18 and 31 years old, submitted to lipid profile analysis, including serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), fraction of cholesterol of low (LDLc), high (HDLc) and very low density (VLDLc) lipoproteins and triglycerides (TG), besides of life habits and anthropometric data. Statistic analysis was employed, including the test of Mann Whitney, chi-square test, Pearson's correlation and multivariate analysis, by adopting a significance level for a value of p<0.05. RESULTS: Sedentary lifestyle (43.1%) and familial history for CVD, particularly hypertension (74.5%), were distinguished. The lipid profile showed desirable, although altered levels of TC, LDLc and TG were detected in 11.8%, 9.8% and 8.5% from the students, respectively, and reduced levels of HDLc in 12.4% of them. Women showed significantly reduced values for LDLc and high values for HDLc compared to men's (p=0.031 and p<0.0001, respectively). There was a significant association between lipid profile and, preferably, body mass index (BMI), sedentary lifestyle, ingestion of alcohol, contraceptive use, familial antecedents of cerebrovascular accident and dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION: Familial history for CVD, sedentary lifestyle and contraceptive use among medicine students showed frequent and associated to the lipid profile, as well as ingestion of alcohol and BMI. Although with desirable lipid profile, regardless of sex, higher levels of LDLc and reduced levels of HDLc in male sex provide a disadvantage to men compared to women.

Adolescent↗

Mandibulofacial dysostosis--variability in facial morphology and growth: a long-term profile roentgenographic and roentgen stereometric analysis of three patients.

OBJECTIVE: To monitor and compare facial morphology and growth in three individuals with variable expression of mandibulofacial dysostosis (MFD) in terms of changes in the skeletal profile and in terms of growth in the circummaxillary sutures and temporomandibular joints (TMJs). DESIGN: Retrospective conventional profile roentgenography (mean age 9 to 18 years) and prospective roentgen stereometric analysis (RSA) (mean age 7 to 17 years). SETTING: Center for Craniofacial Anomalies and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden. PATIENTS: The first three MFD patients seen by one of the authors (B.R.). INTERVENTIONS: Surgery was performed at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Implants were inserted at surgery under general anesthesia. Roentgen examinations were performed in connection with continued clinical evaluations and treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All profile roentgenograms were traced and measured by one of the authors (K.-V.S.) using a conventional point-based analysis. RESULTS: The more afflicted patient showed a greater total difference in profile morphology and growth from the norm and more pronounced effects of articular growth restriction. Little change in the skeletal profile was associated with considerable displacement of the jaws. CONCLUSIONS: The variability in MFD expression and surgical procedures in our patients is reflected less in the skeletal profile morphology and growth and more in the displacement of the jaws.

Adolescent↗

MMPI-2 profiles of men charged with murder or other offenses.

This study describes MMPI-2 profiles of men charged with murder or other offenses and examines how well the MMPI-2 differentiates between these groups. Records of 135 men charged with murder and 82 charged with other offenses were examined. Results do not support the use of the MMPI-2 to differentiate between murder and other defendants. Both groups may be described as having 6-8/8-6 profiles. The mean MMPI-2 profile for the murder group was compared to the MMPI profile described by Holcomb, Adams, Ponder, and Anderson in 1984. These mean profiles have generally the same configuration and scale elevations but show important differences. This suggests that further research needs to be conducted examining the psychometric equivalence of the MMPI and the MMPI-2. Also, caution should be used when making predictions based solely on MMPI-2 profiles.

Adult↗

The amino acid profiles of the whole plant and of four plant residues from temperate and tropical forages.

This study compared the amino acid (AA) profile of five residues (original forage, borate-phosphate buffer residue (BPR), neutral detergent fiber residue with (NDF+) and without (NDF-) sodium sulfite, and acid detergent fiber residue (ADF). Fourteen grasses and legumes from tropical and temperate regions were used in this study. The use of sodium sulfite did not affect the NDF concentration, but the NDF insoluble protein was lower (P < 0.05) in the NDF+ than in the NDF- (3.9 vs 4.5% DM, respectively). For all of the amino acids tested, the amino acid content, expressed as a percentage of CP, was lower in the ADF residue than in the original forage. There were no differences in the amino acid concentrations of the NDF- and NDF+ extracts (P > 0.05). Only in the case of methionine was there a difference in the amount of amino acid when the original forage was compared with the BPR (1.84 vs 1.45 % CP). When the AA profile of each residue was corrected for the AA content of the ADF, no difference was observed between the AA profile of the original forage and of the BPR (P > 0.05). Similar to the result without correction for the amino acids in ADF, the AA profiles of the NDF+ and NDF- fractions were similar (P > 0.05). From this result, we infer that the sodium sulfite had similar effects on all AA in the NDF residue that we tested. There were differences in amino acid concentrations in the original forage and the NDF residues for several amino acids (Met, Cys, Lys, Thr, Arg, Ile, Leu, and Phe) (P < 0.05). When the amino acid values of the original forage and the BPR were used with animal data in the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System model, few differences in animal predicted performance were evident. These findings suggest that the AA profile of the original forage can be used to predict the AA profile of the undegraded intake protein instead of using the borate-phosphate buffer residue for amino acid analyses. This would simplify obtaining feed amino acid values for use in the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System.

Amino Acids↗

Effects of endurance training on blood lipid profiles in adolescent female distance runners.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of endurance training on the relationships of body composition, blood lipid profiles and sex hormones in adolescent female distance-runners. We cross-sectionally compared body composition, blood lipid profiles and blood sex hormones of non-athletes (n=7) and distance-runners (n=8), with the similar lower level of BMI (17.1 kg/m(2) vs. 18.7 kg/m(2), respectively). After the cross sectional comparison on the influence of endurance training, body composition, blood lipid profiles and blood sex hormones were examined at pre- and post-one year endurance training in the distance-runners (n=6) to determine longitudinal effects. %Fat in distance-runners revealed a tendency to be lower than that in non-athletes (23.8+/-3.5 vs 27.3+/-2.5%). Both groups showed good blood lipid profiles, such as high levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), HDL-2c, and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I). However, the estrogen (E(2)) level of distance-runners was less than one third of that in non-athletes (30.5+/-11.3 vs 112.9+/-66.2 pg/ml, p<0.01). In addition, the blood E(2) levels (pg/ml) were significantly associated with the internal fat mass (IF, kg) in all subjects (r=-0.613, p<0.05, n=15). On the other hand, the overall body composition and good blood lipid profiles in the longitudinal comparison were maintained to a constant level for one year endurance training, except for significant elevations in the two enzyme activities and E(2) level (LPL activity: from 145.3+/-40.8 to 362.2+/-65.8 ng/ml, HTGL activity: from 0.054+/-0.020 to 0.173+/-0.080 micromole/ml/min, E(2): from 30.7+/-13.2 to 65.6+/-24.2 pg/ml, p<0.05). These results suggest that the lipid profiles such as HDL-c and Apo A-I in adolescent female distance-runners could be rather affected by endurance training, despite the low level of E(2) for a long term.

Body Composition↗

Nitrogen metabolism of early lactation cows fed diets with two different levels of protein and different amino acid profiles.

Four multiparous Holstein cows (569+/-122 kg) surgically prepared with indwelling catheters in the mesenteric, portal, and hepatic veins and carotid artery were allocated in a 4 x 4 Latin square to determine the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) level and amino acid (AA) profile on N metabolism during early lactation (from 25 to 65 d in milk). Cows received their diets in two equal meals and were milked twice daily. The dietary treatments were: 18% CP with a high (18H) or a low (18L) quality AA profile, and 15% CP with a high (15H) or a low (15L) quality AA profile. The four diets were similar in net energy for lactation (1.75 NEL Mcal/kg) and contained the same amount of RUP (34% of CP). The quality of the AA profile pertained only to the essential AA (EAA), and was assessed by comparison with the EAA profile of casein and considered the potential contribution of EAA from ruminal bacteria. The 18H and 15H diets were supplemented with 50 and 25 g/d of ruminally protected Met, respectively. After 10 d on treatment, a blood flow marker (p-amino-hippurate) was infused into a mesenteric vein, and arterial, portal, hepatic, and mammary blood samples were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 h after feeding. Dry matter intake was similar across treatments (23.4+/-0.5 kg/d). Amino acid oxidation, and consequent urea production, in the liver were numerically greater with the 18% CP rations, and, as a result, arterial urea concentrations were greatest (P < 0.01) with these rations. The amount of total AA extracted by the mammary gland tended to be greater with the H than with the L diets (21.4 vs. 18.2 mmol/ h, respectively). Milk yield tended to be greater (P = 0.16) with the 18H and 15H diets (47.7 and 46.3 kg/d, respectively) compared with the 18L and 15L diets (45.9 and 44.6 kg/d, respectively). Also, milk CP and casein contents were greatest (P = 0.09) with the H diets compared with the L diets. Milk and plasma urea N were greatest (P < 0.01) with the 18% CP diets. The efficiency of N utilization for milk protein synthesis was greatest (P < 0.09) with the 15% CP diets. It is concluded that milk protein production during early lactation is less susceptible to variations in dietary CP contents than variations in the AA profile of the dietary protein.

Amino Acids↗

Metabolic profiles in Virginia dairy herds of different milk yields.

This study examined metabolic profiles of commercial dairy herds differing in milk production. Thirty herds were selected with 10 herds averaging more than 7258 kg milk, 10 herds between 6350 and 7258 kg, and 10 herds averaged below 6350 kg. In each herd, 28 cows were selected for blood sampling, which was collected every 3 mo during 12 mo. Cows varied in estimated relative producing ability. Metabolic profiles were established for 19 blood components. Differences among treatment means were significant between high and low producing herds and little between profiles for milking and pregnant nonlactating cows. Metabolic profiles of problem herds remained within normal ranges for all herds except one. Profiles of herds with breeding or mastitis problems remained in the normal range. Metabolic profile testing was of limited value in screening a dairy herd for potential problems or deficiencies.

Animals↗

Is there a characteristic lipid profile in Alzheimer's disease?

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the lipid profile in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and to determine whether it differs from the cardiac risk profile. BACKGROUND: Links between hypercholesterolemia and AD development continue to grow. Presently, limited information exists about the lipid profile characteristics in AD. METHODS: We examined the lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lower-density lipoprotein (LDL), TC/HDL ratio, and triglyceride (TG) levels) of 153 subjects with probable/possible AD (mean age 77.2 +/- 8.6 years, mean MMSE 19.9 +/- 5.6) and 25 non-demented subjects with atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) (mean age 73.8 +/- 7.2 years); neither on lipid lowering therapy. RESULTS: Subjects with TC > 200 mg/dl composed 69% of AD and 72% of ASHD groups. Mean TC was 218.9 +/- 38.9 mg/dl and 218.5 +/- 9.2 mg/dl for AD and ASHD subjects respectively. AD subjects exhibited significantly higher HDL and lower TG and TC/HDL ratios. MMSE did not correlate with any lipid parameters in AD. DISCUSSION: Elevated TC, LDL and TG with normal HDL and TC/HDL ratio characterize the lipid profile in AD, which somewhat overlaps with but may be distinct from the cardiac risk profile. MMSE does not correlate with lipid parameters suggesting no interaction between cholesterol and cognition in AD.

Aged↗

Grouping by plasmid profiles of atypical Aeromonas salmonicida isolated from fish, with special reference to salmonid fish.

Plasmid profile analyses were performed for 113 strains of atypical Aeromonas salmonicida and the reference strain A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida ATCC 14174. The atypical A. salmonicida strains comprised 98 strains obtained from fish originating from 54 farms and 2 lakes in Norway, 10 strains from Canada (2), Denmark (2), Finland (1), Iceland (1) and Sweden (4), the reference strains NCMB 1109 and ATCC 15711 (Haemophilus piscium) of A. salmonicida subsp. achromogenes, and the type cultures A. salmonicida subsp. achromogenes NCMB 1110, A. salmonicida subsp. masoucida ATCC 27013 and A. salmonicida subsp. smithia CCM 4103. A total of 95 strains of atypical A. salmonicida were separated into 7 groups (I to VII) based on the plasmid profiles. Eighteen strains of atypical A. salmonicida had no common plasmid profile. The type strain NCMB 1110 and the reference strain NCMB 1109 were included in group IV, and the type strain ATCC 27013 in group V, but the other reference and type strains had plasmid profiles different from all the other strains. An epidemiological link was documented between strains collected from different farms/localities in each of groups I, III, V and VII. Physiological and biochemical characterizations were performed for 93 of the strains to investigate phenotypic differences between the plasmid groups. Group VII strains and 3 strains with no common plasmid profile differed from the other groups in being catalase-negative. Differences in phenotypic characteristics were shown between the plasmid groups. However, significant variations in reactions for several phenotypic characteristics also occurred within each of the groups I to VII. The present study indicates that plasmid profiling may give useful epidemiological information during outbreaks of atypical A. salmonicida infections in fish. Additional comprehensive phenotypic characterisation is of limited value since the phenotypic characteristics in each plasmid group are not uniform.

Aeromonas↗

Ideal amino acid profile for chicks during the first three weeks posthatching.

Two chick bioassays with chemically defined amino acid (AA) diets were conducted to compare three different AA profiles: the NRC 1984 and NRC 1994 requirement profile and the Illinois Ideal Chick Protein (IICP) AA profile. The two battery studies involved chicks during the 2nd and 3rd wk after hatching. In Assay 1, indispensable AA (including glycine and proline) were ratioed to lysine according to requirement ratios present in NRC 1984 and NRC 1994, with digestible lysine set at either deficient (.80% of diet) or superadequate (1.12% of diet) levels for the purified diet in question. All diets were kept isonitrogenous (2.83% N) by varying the level of L-glutamic acid. At .80% lysine, chicks fed the NRC 1994 AA profile gained 60% faster (P < .01) than those fed the NRC 1984 AA profile. With excess digestible lysine (1.12%) and all other indispensable AA increased proportionately, chicks fed NRC 1994 still out-gained those fed NRC 1984 by 13% (P < .05). Ratios of AA (with respect to lysine) in NRC 1994 were equal to or higher than those in IICP, except for histidine. This was due to a lower estimated lysine requirement in NRC 1994 than that used for IICP. When NRC 1994 was compared with IICP in a chick bioassay involving isonitrogenous diets (2.36% N) and digestible lysine set at a deficient level of .90%, weight gain and feed efficiency were similar between diets. This result suggested that most of the indispensable AA in the NRC 1994 AA profile were too high relative to lysine, probably because lysine, the reference AA, was too low relative to the other AA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

The sensory profile: the performance of a national sample of children without disabilities.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to obtain data about a national sample of children without disabilities on the 125-item revision of the Sensory Profile, a tool derived from sensory history items reported in the literature and designed to evaluate children's responses to commonly occurring sensory events. METHOD: Parents of 1,115 children completed the Sensory Profile. The children were 3 to 10 years of age and did not have disabilities. Parents used a 5-point Likert scale to report the percentage of time their children engaged in each behavior. Researchers then analyzed the data, using multivariate methods to identify trends in performance and age and gender differences. RESULTS: Ninety-one (73%) of the profile's 125 items were found to be uncommon behaviors for this national sample of children without disabilities. Although age and gender differences were significant (p < .001), effect sizes were so small (i.e., below .2) that differences were not meaningful for clinical application (i.e., mean differences less than .5 points). Only two items in the visual category approached a 1-point difference when comparing younger and older children. CONCLUSION: There were no meaningful gender differences on the revised Sensory Profile, and only 2 items approached a meaningful difference related to age. Nearly three fourths of the items on the profile were uncommon for children without disabilities. If children with various disabilities display these behaviors, the Sensory Profile can be useful in evaluation and program planning for children with disabilities.

Activities of Daily Living↗

A comparison of the performance of children with and without autism on the Sensory Profile.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Sensory Profile discriminates between children with and without autism and which items on the profile best discriminate between these groups. METHOD: Parents of 32 children with autism aged 3 to 13 years and of 64 children without autism aged 3 to 10 years completed the Sensory Profile. A descriptive analysis of the data set of children with autism identified the distribution of responses on each item. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) of each category of the Sensory Profile identified possible differences among subjects without autism, with mild or moderate autism, and with severe autism. Follow-up univariate analyses were conducted for any category that yielded a significant result on the MANCOVA: RESULTS: Eight-four of 99 items (85%) on the Sensory Profile differentiated the sensory processing skills of subjects with autism from those without autism. There were no group differences between subjects with mild or moderate autism and subjects with severe autism. CONCLUSION: The Sensory Profile can provide information about the sensory processing skills of children with autism to assist occupational therapists in assessing and planning intervention for these children.

Adolescent↗

Mucin profiles in signet-ring cell carcinoma.

CONTEXT: Signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a poorly differentiated mucin-producing adenocarcinoma that may arise from many different organs, but all SRCCs share identical morphology. It is not possible to differentiate sites of origin for metastatic SRCC based on morphology alone. Mucins are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins differentially expressed in glandular epithelia and in adenocarcinomas. OBJECTIVE: To identify mucin profiles of primary and metastatic SRCCs using immunohistochemistry to determine whether mucin staining could help distinguish sites of origin. DESIGN: Forty-seven SRCCs, including 38 primary (21 stomach, 11 colorectum, and 6 breast) and 9 metastases from these primary sites were retrieved from archival files. Consecutive tissue sections were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC (MUC5), and MUC6 on separate slides. Cytoplasmic staining was scored based on proportion of positive tumor cells as follows: 0+ (<5%), 1+ (5%-25%), 2+ (26%-50%), and 3+ (>50%). Mucin profiles were recorded as MUC+, MUCv, and MUC- for consistent, variable, and negative expression, respectively. RESULTS: The mucin profiles for gastric, colorectum, and breast SRCCs are MUC1.2.4.5.6v, MUC2.4+/MUC5v/ MUC1.6-, and MUC1+/MUC2.5.6v/MUC4-, respectively. Mucin profiles of metastatic cases shared profiles with their respective primaries. CONCLUSIONS: Signet-ring cell carcinomas of the stomach, colorectum, and breast have distinct mucin expression patterns that are maintained in metastases. Mucin profiling may be useful to identify the origin of a metastatic SRCC of unknown primary.

Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell↗