Reading and the corpus callosum: An MRI family study of volume and area.

This study examines the corpus callosum in 68 readers nested in 24 families. Callosa were measured and controlled for whole brain volume, intelligence, and gender. The relation of corpus callosum size to the within-family variance of oral reading was investigated with various measurements: volume, midsagittal area, and anterior-to-posterior one-fifth area segmentations. Because this is the first known publication of MRI calculations of corpus callosum volume, some basic questions about bilateral symmetry and the efficacy of area versus volumetric measurements were explored. Results suggest that better readers within families have larger midsagittal areas at the midbody. Although reliably measured, volume did not contribute to oral reading but was highly correlated with area. Bilateral volumes of the corpus callosum were symmetric. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Primary human prostate cancer cells harboring p53 mutations are clonally expanded in metastases

Recent studies suggest a role for p53 in prostate cancer progression. Although p53 mutations in primary prostate cancer tissues are relatively infrequent, they occur at significant levels in metastatic disease. Here we describe a novel approach to the molecular analysis of p53 in paired specimens of primary and metastatic prostate cancer that results in quantitative estimates of the extent of clonal expansion. In 20 pairs with 1 or both specimens p53 immunopositive and in 6 pairs with both specimens immunonegative, the frequency of mutations was estimated by microdissection of the cancer from fixed and sectioned tissues, isolation of the DNA followed by PCR amplification of p53 genomic fragments, and cloning of the PCR products into plasmid vectors. At least 90 clones/tissue specimen were screened for mutations by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis. DNA from abnormally migrating single-strand conformational polymorphism samples was sequenced to confirm mutations. Missense mutations in exon 5, 7, or 8 were detected in 9 of 20 immunopositive pairs and in 1 of 6 immunonegative pairs. A marked heterogeneity of mutations in primary prostate cancer was apparent. The frequency of p53 mutations was greater in the metastases than in the primary tumors. In three immunopositive pairs, the same p53 mutation was demonstrated at a low frequency in the primary tumor but was demonstrated at a greater frequency in the metastasis, indicating relatively limited clonal expansion of cells harboring specific p53 mutations in the primary tumor, yet significant clonal growth at metastatic sites as determined by this novel method.     

Association of p53 mutations with metastatic prostate cancer

In prostate cancer, mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene has been associated with locally advanced disease and hormone-resistant disease that is predominantly localized to bone. However, little is known regarding the status of the p53 gene in metastatic prostate cancer that has not been treated with hormonal manipulation. We evaluated formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded malignant tissues from 86 patients with various stages of prostate cancer, including pathologically confined, locally advanced, and metastatic disease, to detect abnormal p53 nuclear protein accumulation using immunohistochemistry. No abnormal p53 immunostaining was detected in 18 patients with prostate cancer confined to the gland. Two tumors from 21 patients with locally advanced disease (extracapsular extension and/or seminal vesicle invasion) had abnormal nuclear p53 accumulation, and a mutation in exon 7 of the p53 gene was detected in tumor DNA from one patient using single-strand conformation polymorphism-direct sequencing analysis. Of the remaining 47 patients studied in whom tissues from the prostate gland and a metastatic site (44 lymph node, 2 bone, and 1 lung) were available, only 3 had received hormonal therapy prior to obtaining metastatic tissue. In four patients both primary and metastatic tumors demonstrated accumulation of p53 protein, whereas seven additional patients exhibited p53 accumulation only at the metastatic site. In three patients the metastatic tumors harbored missense single-base substitutions in exon 5, as detected using single-strand conformation polymorphism-direct sequencing. These results indicate that p53 abnormalities are associated with lymph node metastases derived from prostate cancer patients that had not undergone hormonal therapy.     

New Approaches to Washfast Dyes for Wool:

Dyes incorporating β-isothioureidopropionamide and β-isnthioureidoethyl salt groups have been synthesized by reaction of the corresponding bromide or iodide with thiourea. Such dyes can be applied in the cationic form to wool and bask-dyeable fibres, and then, by raising the pH to 9–10, decomposed on the fibre to give fast dyeings. These dyes can also be successfully applied as disperse dyes to appropriate fibres by carrying out the decomposition before dyeing in the presence of dispersing agents. By a combination of these two systems, both components of wool polyester blends can be dyed with the same dye. The high washfastness of isothiouronium dyes on wool is thought to be due to insolubilization within the fibre rather than to mixed disulphide formation with cystine.     

The use of herbal medicine in pregnancy and labour. Part I: An overview of current practice

In tandem with the resurgence of many traditional and alternative systems of healing, herbal medicine is flourishing. Until recently, the dominance of biomedicine within the industrialised world has viewed the use of herbs as being little more than a quaint, historical remnant of our primitive past; recorded and filed by folklorists and museum curators. In so-called developing countries, where this knowledge of plants-as-medicines has not yet been exploited and reserved for use by qualified 'professionals', it remains in the hands of ordinary people, many of whom are mothers and midwives. This article discusses the current position of herbal medicine, whilst also making suggestions for self treatment within safe limits during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.     

Developing a RAD standard

The UK's Dynamic Systems Development Method Consortium has identified the special characteristics of RAD (rapid application development) projects and published a first version of a development standard. The three critical success factors are: easy access to end users, a stable and skilled development team, and a commercial application