Endometriosis in monozygotic twins

OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of endometriosis in monozygotic twins. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire plus confirmation of disease status. SETTING: Twins were recruited via the American Endometriosis Association and the National Endometriosis Society of Great Britain and via British gynecologists. RESULT(S): Fourteen twin pairs were concordant for endometriosis, and two were discordant. Nine pairs of twins had moderate-severe endometriosis. CONCLUSION(S): These findings contribute to the growing body of literature that suggests endometriosis has a genetic basis.     

Evaluation of Dielectric Properties of CCTO-BT/Epoxy Composites for Electronic Applications

In the current study, the calcium copper titanate (CCTO)/epoxy, barium titanate (BT)/epoxy and CCTO-BT/epoxy composite samples with variable volume fractions of CCTO and BT are fabricated using hand lay-up and compression moulding process. The composite samples are characterized for the frequency dependence on dielectric properties, conductivity, impedance spectroscopy and electrical modulus. X-ray diffraction (XRD) representation of CCTO-BT/epoxy composite samples confirmed the presence of both CCTO and BT ceramic samples separately. The dielectric characteristics of hybrid CCTO-BT/epoxy composite samples with CCTO∶BT ratio of 40∶60, 60∶40, and 50∶50 was found relatively better than those of single ceramic filler reinforced epoxy composites. AC conductivity analysis shows improvement in the results of hybrid filler-filled CCTO-BT/epoxy composites in comparison with single filler-filled epoxy composite. 50∶50 CCTO-BT/epoxy composite shows the best AC conductivity value of ~2.2×10^-5 ohm^-1·m-1 at a higher frequency of 1 MHz. The impedance analysis confirms the higher insulating properties for hybrid 40∶60 and 60∶40 CCTO-BT/epoxy composites with respect to the single and other hybrid ceramic epoxy composites. The analysis suggests the hybrid CCTO-BT/epoxy composites to be adopted as a potential dielectric material for energy storage devices and other electronic applications.     

Is the breast best for children with a family history of atopy? The relation between way of feeding and early childhood morbidity

BACKGROUND: Previous studies reported that breast-feeding protects children against a variety of diseases, but these studies were generally conducted on "high-risk" or hospitalized children. This paper describes the results of our study on the effects of breast-feeding on rate of illness in normal children with a family history of atopy. METHODS: A historic cohort approach of 794 children with a family history of atopy was used to assess the effects of breast-feeding on illness rates. Family history of atopy was based on allergic diseases in family members as registered by the family physician. Illness data from birth onwards were available from the Continuous Morbidity Registration of the Department of Family Medicine. Information on breast-feeding was collected by postal questionnaire. We then compared rates of illness between children with a family history of atopy who were and who were not breast-fed. RESULTS: Breast-feeding was related to lower levels of childhood illness both in the first and the first three years of life. In the first year of life they had fewer episodes of gastroenteritis, lower respiratory tract infections, and digestive tract disorders. Over the next three years of life they had fewer respiratory tract infections and skin infections. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a protective effect of breast-feeding among children with a family history of atopy that is not confined to the period of breast-feeding but continues during the first three years of life. Breast-feeding should be promoted in children with a family history of atopy.     

Thymic alterations in feline GM1 gangliosidosis

GM1 gangliosidosis is an inherited metabolic disease characterized by progressive neurological deterioration with premature death seen in children and numerous animals, including cats. We have observed that thymuses from affected cats greater than seven months of age (GM1 mutant cats) show marked thymic reduction compared to age-matched normal cats. The studies reported here were done to describe alterations in the thymus prior to (less then 90 days of age) and during the development of mild (90 to 210 days of age) to severe (greater than 210 days of age) progressive neurologic disease and to explore the pathogenesis of the thymic abnormality. Although histologic examination of the thymus from GM1 affected cats less than 210 days of age showed no significant differences from age-matched control cats, thymuses from GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age were significantly reduced in size (approximately 3-fold). Histologic sections of lymph nodes, adrenal glands, and spleens from GM1 gangliosidosis-affected cats showed no significant differences. Flow cytometric analyses showed a marked decrease in the percentage of immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes (p < 0.001) and significantly increased CD4-CD8+ cells (p < 0.01) in GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age when compared to normal age matched cats. Co-labelling with CD4, CD8, and CD5 indicated an increase in the percentage of GM1 mutant cat thymocytes at this age which were CD5high, suggesting the presence of more mature cells. Cytometric analyses of subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes indicated an increase in CD4-CD8+ cells (p < 0.05) with concurrent decreases in CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8- cells (which were not significant). Similar analyses of thymocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations from cats < 210 days of age showed no significant differences between GM1 mutant and normal cells. GM1 mutant cats at all ages had increased surface binding of Cholera toxin B on thymocytes, indicating increased surface GM1 ganglioside expression. Increases were highly significant in GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age. In situ labelling for apoptosis was increased in GM1 mutant cats between 90 to 200 days of age when thymic masses were within normal limits. In GM1 mutant cats over 200 days of age, decreased labelling was observed when thymic mass was reduced and the CD4+CD8+ subpopulation, known to be very susceptible to apoptosis, was significantly decreased. These data describe premature thymic involution in feline GM1 gangliosidosis and suggest that increased surface GM1 gangliosides alters thymocyte development in these cats.