Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: mammographic appearance with pathologic correlation

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the mammographic appearance with pathologic correlation of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast. CONCLUSION: Metaplastic carcinomas of the breast are masses with mammographic characteristics of low suspicion because of their histologic appearance. Metaplastic carcinoma should be included in the differential assessment of predominately circumscribed, noncalcified masses revealed on mammography. One salient feature that may distinguish metaplastic carcinomas is the occurrence of a circumscribed portion with a spiculated portion, which is seen in carcinomas that have a significant mixture of metaplastic and invasive carcinoma growth patterns.     

Lowered antioxidant status of red blood cells in post-parturient haemoglobinuria of buffaloes

Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis with FSME-Immun vaccine was started in the Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical School of Bia?ystok, Poland, in 1992. No serious adverse reactions after vaccine administration were observed. Post-vaccine side effects were reported in 242 (11.3%) persons after the first dose (n = 2,135) and only in 14 patients (1.2%) after the second one (n = 1,183). These effects were mild and transitory. No relationship was observed between the frequency of adverse reactions, general or local, and the initial anti-TBE virus antibody titres or the age of the immunized individuals. Post-vaccine side effects were reported significantly more frequently among people not bitten by ticks.     

Family practice physicians' firearm safety counseling beliefs and behaviors

The purpose of this study was to identify family physicians' firearm safety counseling beliefs and behaviors. A survey was mailed to a random sample of 600 members of the American Academy of Family Physicians. A three wave mailing technique was used to maximize the response rate and yielded 271 usable surveys (55% response rate). Outcome measures included training experience in firearm safety counseling, the prevalence of firearm safety counseling by family physicians, and their perceptions regarding such counseling. The majority (78%) of family physicians lacked formal training on how to counsel patients about firearm safety and 49% believed more time should be spent in residency programs on firearm safety counseling. The majority (84%) of respondents never or rarely counseled patients on firearm safety and 50% believed firearm safety counseling should be a low priority in their delivery of primary care. The majority of respondents did not regularly counsel patients about firearm safety, did not believe firearm safety counseling should be a priority, and did not believe firearm safety counseling would be effective in reducing firearm-related trauma.     

Familial jejunal atresia with renal dysplasia

Although jejunal atresia occasionally may occur with a familial pattern, an association with renal disease has not been described. The authors report on three family members treated over two generations, all of whom had both proximal jejunal atresia and renal dysplasia. This association was most likely inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometric methods to screen hybridoma culture supernatants for antibodies to bovine neutrophil surface antigens, and monoclonal antibody production and characterization

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometric methods to screen hybridoma culture supernatants for antibodies to bovine neutrophils (surface antigen-specific) were optimized. Sensitivity of the 2 methods was compared. A panel of 14 murine monoclonal antibodies (MAB) to surface antigens of bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (neutrophils) was produced by hybridoma technology, and their isotypes were determined by whole-cell ELISA. Monoclonal antibody reactivity with neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes isolated on phosphate-buffered saline solution and on Ficoll-sodium diatrizoate were compared. Biochemical characterization of antigens recognized by MAB was performed by immunoblot analysis. Neutrophil plasma membranes were isolated on sucrose gradients (20, 32, and 50%) and purified for polypeptide characterization. Neutrophil surface proteins were characterized by external labeling with 125I. The flow cytometric method was proven to be more sensitive and rapid than ELISA to screen hybridoma supernatants. This method allowed light-scatter gating of live neutrophil populations for analysis, which eliminated nonspecific binding of antibodies to contaminating cells and dead neutrophils. The optimal conditions for flow cytometric analyses were 5 x 10(5) neutrophils and 1 micrograms of fluorescein-labeled F(ab')2/assay as the second antibody. The optimal conditions for hybridoma screening by ELISA were neutrophil concentration of 2.5 x 10(5)/well, using a 96-well polystyrene microtitration plate as solid support, and 2,2'-azino-di[3-ethyl-benzthiazoline sulfonate (6)] with H2O2 as the chromatogenic substrate. Tissue culture plates as solid support and 3,3', 5,5'-tetramethyl benzidine, with H2O2 as the chromogenic substrate, were equally as sensitive. Panel MAB reacted differently with neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. Isolation of these cells from blood on Ficoll-sodium diatrizoate generally did not alter MAB reactivity. Coomassie blue-stained gels of neutrophil plasma membrane proteins contained about 25 polypeptide bands, 13 of which were major bands. Autoradiography revealed about 11 surface proteins, 5 of which were heavily labeled with 125I. Monoclonal antibody S7G8 identified a 65-kd protein and MAB S8G10 identified 65- and 70-kd proteins. On the basis of molecular weight, MAB S7G8 and S8G10 are comparable to human CD15, CD16, and CD64 molecules. The MAB generated in this study are potential candidates to discern bovine neutrophil function and heterogeneity.     

Relationship of a dystrophin-associated glycoprotein to junctional acetylcholine receptor clusters in rat skeletal muscle

The relationship of a member of the transmembrane dystrophin-associated glycoprotein (DAG) complex to acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) was investigated using immunofluorescence techniques at rat neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) viewed en face. These results were compared with those from a similar previous study of dystrophin and an autosomal homologue (utrophin or dystrophin-related protein, DRP) (Bewick et al. Neuro Report 1992; 3: 857-860). The region of highest 43 K DAG (43DAG) labelling projected beyond the AChRs by approximately 0.3 microns, as does that for dystrophin. By contrast DRP labelling precisely co-localizes with the AChRs. These results suggest that at the NMJ, the region of high 43DAG concentration encompasses the area of highest intensity labelling for both DRP and dystrophin.     

Robot-assisted wayfinding for the visually impaired in structured indoor environments

We present a robot-assisted wayfinding system for the visually impaired in structured indoor environments. The system consists of a mobile robotic guide and small passive RFID sensors embedded in the environment. The system is intended for use in indoor environments, such as office buildings, supermarkets and airports. We describe how the system was deployed in two indoor environments and evaluated by visually impaired participants in a series of pilot experiments. We analyze the system’s successes and failures and outline our plans for future research and development.