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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Study on p53, mdm-2 and p21WAF1 protein expression in ER-positive and ER-negative human breast cancer cell lines and its relation to biological features].

OBJECTIVE: To study p53, mdm-2 and p21WAF1 protein expression levels in ER-positive and ER-negative human breast cancer cell lines and their relations to biological features. METHODS: Using cell culture, DNA stable transfection and immunohistochemical methods, the protein expression levels of p53, mdm-2 and WAF1 genes in ER-positive expressing wtp53 MCF-7 cells, ER-negative expressing mtp53 MDA-MB-231 cells and ER-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells were determined, and then, their relation to biological features were compared. RESULTS: (1) The function and expression of p53 protein of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were obviously different. The expression levels of mdm-2 and p21WAF1 proteins in MCF-7 cells were higher than those of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05), The biological features of the former were more favorable than those of the latter. (2) The ER-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells showed lower expression of mtp53 and higher expression of mdm-2 protein (P < 0.05), but no significant difference from that of p21WAF1 protein (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, biological features leading to favorable prognosis were manifested. CONCLUSION: The ER status of breast cancer cell lines is related to the expression level of p53 and mdm-2 proteins and the biological features.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Different biologic features of desmoid tumors in adult and juvenile patients: MR demonstration.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate different biologic features of desmoid tumors on MRI between juvenile and adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively analyzed clinical records and 121 MRI findings in 40 patients (8 juveniles and 32 adults) with proven desmoid tumors. The Fisher exact test and Kaplan-Meier curve were utilized for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Recurrences in the juvenile patients were more multiple (50 vs 12%) and appeared significantly earlier than in the adult patients. Adult patients demonstrate a much greater recurrence-free rate (p = 0.0001). Infiltrative pattern was significantly predominant in the juvenile patients (63%) whereas the nodular pattern was more frequent in the adult patients (81%). Low-signal intensity zones on T1- and T2-weighted imaging as well as the type of contrast enhancement did not show any significant relationship with biological behavior. Four cases with no significant contrast enhancement showed low signal intensities on T2-weighted imaging. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance demonstrates different biologic features between juvenile and adult patients with histologically same desmoid tumors. These differences may be useful in consideration of MRI follow-up studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating hormone levels in breast cancer patients. correlation with serum tumor markers and the clinical and biological features of the tumors.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer grows in a hormone-rich environment which influences its biological features and thus, ultimately, its clinical behavior. Circulating hormone levels were measured in premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients prior to surgery, and correlated with all available clinical and biological features of the tumors and with serum tumor marker levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FSH, LH, 17-beta-estradiol, progesterone and prolactin were measured in 112 previously untreated breast cancer patients (54 premenopausal and 58 postmenopausal). Serum tumor markers (CEA, CA 15.3, CA-125 and Ca19.9) were measured at the same time. All tumors were studied after surgery for hormone receptor (ER and PR), Ki67, c-erb-B2 and p53 expression by means of immunohistochemistry, and for DNA-ploidy by means of flow cytometry. RESULTS: In premenopausal patients, high gonadotropin levels correlated directly with c-erb-B2 overexpression by the tumors (FSH: p=0.02; LH: p=0.05). High estradiol levels correlated inversely (p=0.009) with Ki67 expression. In postmenopausal patients, high estradiol levels were inversely related to c-erb-B2 expression by the tumors (p=0.03), and high progesterone levels were also inversely related to Ki67 expression by the tumors (p=0.05). FSH levels correlated inversely (p = 0.02) with circulating carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. CONCLUSION: Circulating estradiol levels seem to be associated with a less proliferative breast cancer phenotype. FSH and LH levels, on the other hand, seem to exert dual actions in premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Biological features of mouse macrophage transfected with Toxoplasma gondii GRA-1 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of biological features of macrophages after transfected by Toxoplasma gondii GRA-1 genes (P24). METHODS: The transfected cells Cyto-P24-RAW264.7, Nuc-P24-RAW264.7, Mito-P24-RAW264.7 and ER-P24-RAW264.7 were studied by RT-PCR to determine the P24-mRNA expression. Growth features of the cells were examined with microscopy and the cell growth curve was developed. RESULTS: In four cell lines, expression of ER-P24-RAW 264.7 was found to be higher than the other three, and there was no P24-mRNA expression in either of the cells without P24 insert. The attachment and the proliferation of ER-P24-RAW264.7 were more rapid than normal RAW264.7. CONCLUSION: Transfection of mouse macrophages ER-RAW264. 7 strain with T. gondii P24 gene leads to a prominent change of biological features in the studied cell line.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Carcinogen daily dose-dependence of the biological features and development rate of hepatocellular carcinomas induced by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in the rat.

Differences in biological features and the rate development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) induced with various daily doses of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene were investigated. Male Donryu rats at 21 days old were fed the carcinogen at concentrations ranging from 50 to 600 ppm in the diet continuously, or 600 ppm for 3 weeks followed by a dietary promoting regimen of 500 ppm phenobarbital. Large (> or = 10 mm) HCCs were monitored and the histological features and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) production analysed. High doses of the carcinogen predominantly induced HCCs of high grade malignancy with AFP production in a short latent period whereas lower doses and the initiation-promotion protocol were primarily associated with low grade HCCs lacking AFP production and developing after long latent periods. Thus the experimental results clearly document that biological features of neoplasms, viewed as a spectrum, may markedly differ according to the daily dose of the carcinogen applied.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Biological features and chemosensitivity of human colorectal cancer xenografted in nude mice.

The chemosensitivity of human colorectal cancer was studied in relation to the biological features of the tumor using a human tumor/nude mouse in-vivo system. The biological features included the histological type, growth rate, mucus secretion and productivity of CEA of the tumor. The overall sensitivity to four anticancer agents examined (5-FU, MMC, CPA and CDDP) was relatively insignificant. The heterogeneity of chemosensitivity among primary, metastatic and recurrent lesions of the same patient was demonstrated. A tumor line obtained from poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma showed better responses to 3 of 4 agents. Tumor doubling time evaluated as an indicator of tumor growth rate showed a significant correlation with sensitivity to MMC. The time also showed a tendency to correlate with sensitivity to CDDP. The tumor with shorter tumor doubling time presented had more remarkable sensitivity to such agents. Similar correlation was observed in the mucus secretion shown by Alcian-blue (AB) staining and sensitivity to MMC and CDDP. Tumors with less significant AB staining showed more remarkable sensitivity to these agents. The productivity of CEA revealed a tendency to correlate with sensitivity to MMC and CPA. These results indicated that histological type, growth rate, mucus secretion by AB staining and productivity of CEA of the tumor might be parameters of chemosensitive differences of human colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Clinical validity of proliferating cell nuclear antigen as an objective marker for evaluating biologic features in patients with untreated prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although Gleason grading may be the most useful system for evaluating biological activity of untreated prostate cancer, lack of interobserver validity with Gleason scores (GS) is an unsolved issue. In this study, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA LI) in untreated prostate cancer was investigated in order to clarify the usefulness of supplemental and objective markers for evaluating the biologic features of prostate cancer. METHODS: Sixty cases of prostate cancer were randomly selected from the cancer registry in Gunma University Hospital for this study. PCNA LI were evaluated using paraffin-embedded biopsy cores taken at diagnosis. Correlation of PCNA LI with the Gleason grading system, clinical stage, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and age were evaluated. Cumulative rates of freedom from cause-specific death were also evaluated stratified by various clinicopathologic features, including PCNA LI using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index was significantly higher in patients with PSA levels over 100 ng/mL, advanced clinical stage (>T4, N1 or M1 disease), higher Gleason grade or with a higher GS than in those with other clinicopathologic features. The 5-year cumulative rate of death from prostate cancer was significantly higher at 62% in patients with a PCNA LI of 20 or more than those with PCNA LI of less than 20, who accounted for 4%. CONCLUSIONS: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index in combination with Gleason grading system may be of clinical value in evaluating biologic features and also in predicting cause specific survival of prostate cancer in an objective, reliable and reproducible manner.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The cytomorphological spectrum of mantle cell lymphoma is reflected by distinct biological features.

Mantle cell (centrocytic) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (MCL) is a malignant tumour with unique biological features. The pathogenesis of MCL seems to be strongly associated with aberrant function of the cell cycle. 110 cases of MCL have been analysed for their cytomorphological features, mitotic and proliferation indices, bcl-1 rearrangements, p53 expression patterns and DNA content by both interphase cytogenetic as well as DNA flow cytometric analyses. According to cytomorphology, three subtypes were recognized: a common, a lymphoblastoid and a pleomorphic variant of MCL. Blastic MCL subtypes were characterized by distinctly elevated mitotic and proliferation indices, frequent bcl-1 rearrangements at the MTC locus, and overexpression of p53. The most interesting finding, however, was a striking tendency of blastoid MCL subtypes to harbour chromosome numbers in the tetraploid range, a feature clearly separating these neoplasms from other types of B-cell NHL and possibly being related to its unphysiological expression of cyclin D1. Although characterised by a uniform immunophenotype and common biological background, MCL shows a broad spectrum of morphological features ranging from small cell to blastic types, and this spectrum is mirrored by distinct biological features.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2004

Biological features of sporadic colorectal carcinoma with high-frequency microsatellite instability: special reference to tumor proliferation and apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the relationship between biological behavior and microsatellite instability (MSI) status, with or without p53 status, in sporadic colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: MSI was analyzed with regard to biological features such as cellular proliferation and apoptotic cell death, in addition to clinicopathological features, in 87 patients with sporadic colorectal carcinoma. RESULTS: Fourteen (16.1%) of 87 tumors showed instability at two or more of the five loci examined (high-frequency MSI [MSI-H]). Four demonstrated instability at one locus (low-frequency MSI [MSI-L]), and 69 showed no instability (microsatellite-stable [MSS]). The MSI-H tumors tended to be located in the proximal colon and more often were mucinous carcinoma. The MSI-H tumors also tended to be in patients with multiple colorectal carcinomas and to demonstrate, rarely, an infiltrating growth pattern or venous invasion. The incidence of p53 protein overexpression in the MSI-H tumors was significantly lower than that in the MSI-L/MSS tumors (21% vs 54%). There was no significant difference in the proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index (PI) or apoptotic index (AI) between the MSI-H and MSI-L/MSS tumors. The AI in the MSI-H tumors with p53 overexpression was significantly lower than that in the MSI-H tumors without p53 overexpression, and was also significantly lower than that in the MSI-L/MSS tumors with p53 overexpression. In the MSI-H tumors with p53 overexpression, no expression of BAX protein was found, and there was high expression of bcl-2 protein, resulting in a low BAX/bcl-2 ratio. CONCLUSION: In sporadic colorectal carcinoma, an MSI-H tumor with p53 protein overexpression may display aggressive biological features.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Nitric oxide synthase gene transfer inhibits biological features of bypass graft disease in the human saphenous vein.

BACKGROUND: Bypass graft disease is related to proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells and to platelet activation with thrombus formation. Nitric oxide inhibits these biological responses; it has never been demonstrated, however, whether this occurs in intact human vascular tissue after endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene transfer. METHODS: We examined whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase overexpression inhibits biological features of bypass graft disease in saphenous vein tissue. RESULTS: The nitric oxide donor diethylenetriamineNONOate inhibited proliferation (P <.001) and migration (P <.001) of human saphenous vein vascular smooth muscle cells in response to 20% serum in a concentration-dependent manner. A similar effect on proliferation (P <.05) and migration (P <.05) without any cytotoxicity was observed after adenoviral endothelial nitric oxide synthase transfection. Staining of saphenous vein tissue for placental alkaline phosphatase demonstrated that adenoviral transfection was efficient. Consistent with this observation, endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression and nitric oxide release were enhanced in transfected tissue. Further, endothelial nitric oxide synthase overexpression inhibited vascular smooth muscle cell outgrowth from saphenous vein explants over 21 days; 48% +/- 12% of explants exhibited outgrowth after treatment with endothelial nitric oxide synthase adenovirus as compared with 69% +/- 10% in those infected with control adenovirus and 90% +/- 5% in uninfected tissue (P <.05). Similarly, platelet adhesion to human saphenous vein tissue was inhibited by endothelial nitric oxide synthase overexpression; adhesion was reduced in segments infected with endothelial nitric oxide synthase adenovirus (58% +/- 6%) as compared with those infected with control adenovirus (107% +/- 8%) or uninfected saphenous vein (100%; P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene transfer inhibits biological features of bypass graft disease in intact human saphenous vein tissue. Therefore, endothelial nitric oxide synthase transfection represents a promising gene transfer approach to prevent venous bypass graft disease.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2001

Biological features of primary APL blasts: their relevance to the understanding of granulopoiesis, leukemogenesis and patient management.

In recent years, discovery of the in vitro and in vivo differentiation of APL blasts by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has modified the therapeutic approach of APL and lead to important advances in understanding the biology of APL. Since it became apparent that differentiation therapy of APL with ATRA was indeed a true model of targetted therapy, evidencing the molecular targets of retinoic acid efficacy became crucial. These molecular targets are closely related to the biological features of APL cells, some of which are well-known and have contributed to the morphological and cytogenetic definition of the leukemia, others have just been defined or re-discovered in the light of a better understanding of molecular controls of cell growth and differentiation. The aims of characterizing the biological features of APL cells should allow a better management of APL therapy and the identification of potential markers for differentiation therapies in other leukemias or solid tumors.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2005

Breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy and lactation: biological features and treatment options.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Assessment of biological features and treatment of patients with breast cancer presenting during pregnancy or lactation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR), Ki-67, HER2/neu, prognostic markers, treatment and follow-up of 21 patients with breast cancer during pregnancy (BCdP) and 17 with breast cancer during lactation (BCdL) are presented. RESULTS: Median age was 36 and 33 years, median tumour size was 2.4 and 2.5 cm, axillary lymph nodes were positive in 10 of 21 pregnant patients and 11 of 17 lactating patients, respectively. Both ER and PgR were not expressed in six of 21 pregnant women and nine of 17 lactating patients. All the six women who had concurrent diagnosis of breast cancer and pregnancy (first trimester) preferred termination of pregnancy although an alternative option was discussed. Five patients received anthracycline containing chemotherapy during the second and third trimester with no complications for patient and child. Conservative surgery was performed in 15 of 21 patients during pregnancy with no local reappearance after a median follow-up of 24 months. Three pregnant women underwent lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had concurrent diagnosis of breast cancer and pregnancy (early first trimester) preferred termination of pregnancy to allow easier completion of treatment. Conservative surgery was safe also in women with BCdP. Sentinel node biopsy might be considered for pregnant patients with a clinically negative axilla.

Abortion, Legal↗
PubMed1995

Pathological and biological features of mammographically detected invasive breast carcinomas.

The pathological and biological features of a consecutive series of impalpable invasive breast carcinoma, detected by mammography in the prevalent round of the breast screening programme, have been compared with a clinically presenting group of carcinomas in age-matched patients. There was a significantly higher prevalence of tubular carcinomas as well-differentiated infiltrating ductal carcinomas in the mammographically detected group, and a lower prevalence of poorly differentiated infiltrating ductal carcinomas. Lymph node metastasis was found in 6.5% of the impalpable group compared with 53% of the clinical group. The prevalence of oestrogen receptor was much higher in the impalpable group (96%) than in the control group (67%), although there were no significant differences for progesterone receptor. The prevalence of pS2 was also much higher in the impalpable group, as was cathepsin D. This finding is surprising in view of the reported relationship between cathepsin D and poorer survival. p53 and c-erb-2 proteins were detectable in fewer impalpable carcinomas. The mean MIBI (Ki-67) index was lower in the impalpable group (11.6) than in the clinical group (15.25). Within the mammographically detected group there was a significant difference in the MIBI index between tubular carcinomas and the different grades of infiltrating ductal carcinomas, with a wide range in each category but no association with size. The impalpable carcinomas detected by mammography differ from clinically presenting carcinomas in many ways, raising the question of whether a proportion or all would progress (dedifferentiate) with time.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. I. Clinico-biological features of 307 cases].

PURPOSE: To assess the clinico-biological features appearing in 307 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 338 patients diagnosed of NHL between January 1975 and December 1988 were revised in retrospect. All cases with histologic diagnosis of NHL aged over 14 years were included, and classified in accordance with the Working Formulation criteria. The following data were analysed: age, sex, first complaints, time elapsed since onset, histologic type, number of sites involved, bulky disease, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, LDH, stage, type of treatment and initial response, survival, and cause of death. The statistical evaluation was performed by actuarial analysis (Kaplan and Meier) and comparison (log-rank test) of survival. RESULTS: According to the three categories of the malignancies, the NHL were distributed into low-grade (37.8%), intermediate (36.1%) and high-grade (26.9%). The mean age of the series was 56.6 years and the M/F ratio was 1.3. Lymph node enlargement was the commonest finding; 36.4% of the patients had symptoms related with the disease, and 26.7% had bulky disease. Anaemia was present in 37.7% of the cases and thrombocytopenia in 14.3%, with similar distribution among the three grades. High LDH levels were found in 44% of the patients. At diagnosis, 85% of the patients were in advanced stages (III+IV) already. Complete response was attained in 51.1% of the cases, with median survival of 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: The clinico-evolutive data found here are similar to other reports in the literature. In one-half of the patients the cause of the first visit is lymph node enlargement. Complete remission is achieved by one out of two patients, this figure being similar for each of the histologic groups. The Working Formulation is useful in determining the different prognostic groups with respect to survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Tumour biological features of BRCA1-induced breast and ovarian cancer.

BRCA1 mutations, although implicated in disease predisposition in a major part of the hereditary breast cancer population, do not seem to be crucially involved in tumorigenesis of sporadic breast and ovarian cancers. This suggests that tumours arising in BRCA1 mutation carriers may differ from BRCA1 negative hereditary and sporadic cancer in genetic and biological features, as well as in clinical behaviour. Prior to BRCA1 analysis, 79 breast and 19 ovarian tumours from 57 breast and breast-ovarian cancer families, and 170 tumours from a comparison group of stage II breast cancers were studied with regard to histopathological features; immunohistochemistry [c-erbB-2, p53, oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR)], DNA flow cytometry and S-phase fraction. BRCA1 mutations were found in 40 breast and 15 ovarian tumours. The BRCA1 positive breast tumours were significantly more often of ductal type, histological grade III and manifested a heavy lymphocyte infiltration. Additionally, as compared to BRCA1 negative tumours, the BRCA1 positive tumours were significantly more often ER, PgR and c-erbB-2 negative. Furthermore, they were significantly more often DNA non-diploid, as well as being characterised by higher S-phase fraction values. These results suggest that BRCA1-induced breast cancers may manifest distinct tumour biological features of clinical importance.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

CD38 expression correlates with adverse biological features and predicts poor clinical outcome in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

CD38 identifies a surface molecule with multi-functional activity. Its prognostic importance in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is currently under investigation in view of the fact that two different groups have recently indicated that CD38 expression could be an independent prognostic marker in B-CLL. We analyzed the clinico-biological features of 61 immunologically typical (CD5+CD23+) B-CLL patients stratified according to the CD38 expression. Twenty-two (36%) patients expressed CD38 in more than 30% of CD19-positive cells and were considered as CD38-positive B-CLL. Atypical morphology (p 0.02), peripheral blood lymphocytosis (p 0.01) and diffuse histopathologic bone marrow pattern (p 0.003) were findings found to be closely associated with CD38 expression. On the other hand, A and B Binet stages (p 0.02) and interstitial bone marrow involvement (p 0.005) were more represented in the CD38-negative B-CLL group. Trisomy 12 was detected more frequently in the CD38-positive B-CLL group, while 13q14 deletions mainly occurred in CD38-negative group (p 0.005). Finally, median survival of CD38-positive B-CLL patients was 90 months, while it was not reached at 180 months in CD38-negative patients. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that the evaluation of CD38 expression may identify two groups patients with B-CLL greatly differing in their clinico-biological features.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
PubMed1997

Neuroblastoma screening in infants postponed after the sixth month of age: a trial to reduce "overdiagnosis" and to detect cases with "unfavorable" biologic features.

BACKGROUND: Encouraged by Japanese reports of the benefits of screening 6 month-old infants for neuroblastoma, a neuroblastoma screening program was introduced in Austria in 1991. However, because of concerns related to "overdiagnosis" by screening at this age, the screening test was performed at a later age. METHODS: From March 1991 to February 1995 neuroblastoma screening was performed on filter paper urine specimens in 100,043 Austrian infants (median age 8.5 months). Primary analysis of urine catecholamines (vanillylmandelic acid and homovanillic acid was performed by use of an E1A method. Questionable or positive results were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A double retest was requested following a positive HPLC result. RESULTS: Twenty-one infants were admitted to a hospital following repeatedly elevated values of vanillymandelic acid (VMA) and/or homovanillic acid (HVA). Eleven infants were found to have neuroblastoma (three stage 1, four stage 2B, four stage 3). Treatment consisted of surgery alone with total or subtotal resection in eight cases, surgery and chemotherapy in two cases, and chemotherapy alone in one case. Biologic features were assessed in all tumors excluding ploidy in one case. The majority of the tumors analyzed were near-triploid (9/10), however, two tumors revealed N-myc amplification. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that stage distribution and biologic features of neuroblastomas diagnosed by screening at 8.5 months are different from the results of screening at 6 months. Furthermore, the detection of one neuroblastoma among 9,100 screened infants is significantly lower than the incidence of the Japanese screening program. Our results suggest that screening at an age of 7 to 10 months reduces overdiagnosis and may be of more benefit than earlier screening.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Relationship between parity and clinical and biological features in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of parity on the clinical and biological features of systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: We recorded the following clinical and biological data of 100 consecutive women with SSc: age, disease duration before diagnosis, cutaneous extension of sclerosis according to LeRoy's classification, pulmonary involvement, and antinuclear antibodies. We compared these features to the number and sex of children who were born before SSc onset. Date of birth of the first children was systematically recorded. RESULTS: Patients with limited SSc had more children before SSc onset than patients with diffuse SSc (2.4 +/- 1.8 vs 1.7 +/- 1.5; p < 0.05). The interval between first birth and SSc onset was shorter for patients with limited SSc than for patients with diffuse SSc (11.0 +/- 9.9 vs 23.5 +/- 14.5 yrs; p < 0.01). Patients with pulmonary fibrosis had more children than patients without pulmonary fibrosis (2.5 +/- 1.9 vs 2.0 +/- 1.6; p < 0.05). Age at first birth was significantly higher when the child was a girl than a boy (26.8 +/- 7.5 vs 22.9 +/- 5.3 yrs; p < 0.05). The interval between the first birth and SSc onset was shorter when the child was a girl than a boy (16.2 +/- 9.6 vs 25.4 +/- 13.4 yrs; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pregnancy related microchimerism could be preferentially associated with limited SSc and pulmonary fibrosis. Microchimerism may be facilitated in cases in which the fetus is female.

Adult↗