Genetic variation in oxytocin rs2740210 and early adversity associated with postpartum depression and breastfeeding duration

Mothers vary in duration of breastfeeding. These individual differences are related to a variety of demographic and individual maternal factors including maternal hormones, mood and early experiences. However, little is known about the role of genetic factors. We studied single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the OXT peptide gene (rs2740210; rs4813627) and the OXT receptor gene (OXTR rs237885) in two samples of mothers from the Maternal adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment study (MAVAN), a multicenter (Hamilton and Montreal, Canada) study following mothers and their children from pregnancy until 7 years of age. Data from the Hamilton site was the primary sample (n = 201) and data from Montreal was the replication sample (n = 151). Breastfeeding duration, maternal mood (measured by the CES-D scale) and early life adversity (measured by the CTQ scale) were established during 12 months postpartum. In our primary sample, polymorphisms in OXT rs2740210, but not the other SNPs, interacted with early life adversity to predict variation in breastfeeding duration (overall F8,125  = 2.361, P = 0.021; interaction effect b = -8.12, t = -2.3, P = 0.023) and depression (overall F8,118  = 5.751, P ≤ 0.001; interaction effect b = 6.06, t = 3.13, P = 0.002). A moderated mediation model showed that higher levels of depression mediated the inverse relation of high levels of early life adversity to breastfeeding duration, but only in women possessing the CC genotype [effect a' = -3.3401, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -7.9466 to -0.0015] of the OXT SNP and not in women with the AA/AC genotype (a' = -1.2942, ns). The latter findings (moderated mediation model) were replicated in our Montreal sample (a' = -0.277, 95% CI = -0.7987 to -0.0348 for CC; a' = -0.1820, ns for AA/AC).

The application of equilibrium models to incidence situations using the example of the exposure pathway human milk

The radiation exposure after a short-term release of radioactive substances is often calculated assuming equilibrium conditions. An example is that of the German Incident Calculation Bases for nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors. Here, the contamination of human milk is calculated using transfer factors. Applying this equilibrium model to incident situations raises the question whether baby's radiation exposure is adequately assessed. This contribution shows that compliance with the relevant dose limits of paragraph 49 of the German Radiation Protection Ordinance is ensured for design basis accidents on the assumption that the hypothetical breastfeeding period starts at the beginning of the activity release. Comparative analyses were performed against the biokinetic models applied by ICRP for radiation protection purposes, taking the reference nuclides 137Cs, 90Sr, 131I, 241Am and long-lived plutonium isotopes as examples.

Dynamics of radionuclides in forest ecosystems

The unique physiology and the layered structure of forest ecosystems result in dynamic transport and transfer processes which greatly differ from those in agricultural ecosystems. Radionuclides are retained in the upper organic horizons of forest soil for several decades and remain highly available for uptake by fungi and green plants. Contamination levels of mushrooms and game may therefore by far exceed those of agricultural produce. The efficient cycling of nutrients and radionuclides, which is characteristic for ecosystems poor in nutrients, can largely be attributed to forest soil with its complex and multi-layered structure and fungal activity. Fungi directly affect dynamic processes, playing a key role in the mobilization, uptake and translocation of nutrients and radionuclides. Fungal fruit bodies may be highly contaminated foodstuff and fodder. They are most likely the cause of the surprising trend of increasing contamination of wild boar which has been observed in the last few years in Germany. This paper is intended to give a qualitative survey of dynamic transport processes in forests and their relevance for radiation exposure to man.

Electroluminescence in single layer MoS2

We detect electroluminescence in single layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field-effect transistors built on transparent glass substrates. By comparing the absorption, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence of the same MoS2 layer, we find that they all involve the same excited state at 1.8 eV. The electroluminescence has pronounced threshold behavior and is localized at the contacts. The results show that single layer MoS2, a direct band gap semiconductor, could be promising for novel optoelectronic devices, such as two-dimensional light detectors and emitters.

Conservative management for an entero-adnexal fistula at initial presentation of advanced ovarian carcinoma

Gastrointestinal fistulae can occur in ovarian cancer patients, usually in the setting of advanced relapsed disease. Treatment typically involves immediate surgery.Here, we describe a case of an abscess resulting from an intestinal fistula as the first manifestation of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, and we review the current literature on this subject. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of chemotherapy, antibiotics, and delayed surgery. Optimal debulking was achieved without a need for bowel resection.This report is the first of conservative management of a fistula in an ovarian cancer patient in the chemotherapy-naïve setting.

An invitation to contribute to a strategic research agenda in radioecology

With intentions of integrating a portion of their respective research efforts into a trans-national programme that will enhance radioecology, eight European organisations recently formed the European Radioecology ALLIANCE (www.er-alliance.org). The ALLIANCE is an Association open to other organisations throughout the world with similar interests in promoting radioecology. The ALLIANCE members recognised that their shared radioecological research could be enhanced by efficiently pooling resources among its partner organizations and prioritising group efforts along common themes of mutual interest. A major step in this prioritisation process was to develop a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA). An EC-funded Network of Excellence in Radioecology, called STAR (Strategy for Allied Radioecology), was formed, in part, to develop the SRA. This document is the first published draft of the SRA. The SRA outlines a suggested prioritisation of research topics in radioecology, with the goal of improving research efficiency and more rapidly advancing the science. It responds to the question: "What topics, if critically addressed over the next 20 years, would significantly advance radioecology?" The three Scientific Challenges presented within the SRA, with their 15 associated research lines, are a strategic vision of what radioecology can achieve in the future. Meeting these challenges will require a directed effort and collaboration with many organisations the world over. Addressing these challenges is important to the advancement of radioecology and in providing scientific knowledge to decision makers. Although the development of the draft SRA has largely been a European effort, the hope is that it will initiate an open dialogue within the international radioecology community and its stakeholders. This is an abbreviated document with the intention of introducing the SRA and inviting contributions from interested stakeholders. Critique and input for improving the SRA are welcomed via a link on the STAR website (www.star-radioecology.org).

Abstract P6-14-03: Statin and aspirin use is not associated with a reduced risk of VTE's in breast cancer patients

Introduction: Statins and aspirin have been shown to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE's) in the general population in randomized trials.

Aim: To assess whether statins and aspirin reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods: The Breast Cancer in Northern Israel Study (BCINIS) is an on-going population-based case-control study of consecutive breast cancer cases and matched controls diagnosed in the northern part of Israel since 2000.

Only cases insured by the Clalit Health Services (64%) were included in this analysis. Data on medication use and VTE were extracted from the computerized database. Patients taking Warfarin or LMWH were excluded.

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (v 18). Use of medications was analyzed as a time dependent covariate in a Cox Regression model.

Results: Of 3552 patients 261 (7.3%) had a VTE during a median follow up of 4.7 years.

In a multivariate analysis age (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.04), BMI (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.43–3.14 for BMI >30), chemotherapy (HR 3.87, 95% CI 2.50–5.98) and metastatic disease (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.10–6.53) were associated with an increased risk for VTE's.

Statins, mainly simvastatin and pravastatin, were used by 55.7% of the patients, and 45.7% used aspirin. Neither statins nor aspirin were associated with a significantly reduced risk for a VTE. After controlling for age, BMI, stage, chemotherapy and tamoxifen use the HR for statins was 0.80, CI 0.56–1.13, p = 0.2, and the HR for aspirin was 1.004, CI 0.74–1.76, p = 0.98.

Conclusion: In contrast to the findings in the general population, statin and aspirin use were not associated with a reduced risk for VTE's in our cohort of breast cancer patients. Our results might be explained by an alternate mechanism of VTE formation in breast cancer and the use of low potency statins (simvastatin and pravastatin) in this cohort.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-14-03.

Dopamine receptors D1 and D2 are related to observed maternal behavior

The dopamine pathway and especially the dopamine receptors 1 and 2 (DRD1 and DRD2) are implicated in the regulation of mothering in rats. Evidence for this in humans is lacking. Here, we show that genetic variation in both DRD1 and DRD2 genes in a sample of 187 Caucasian mothers predicts variation in distinct maternal behaviors during a 30-min mother-infant interaction at 6 months postpartum. Two DRD1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs rs265981 and rs686) significantly associated with maternal orienting away from the infant (P = 0.002 and P = 0.003, respectively), as did DRD1 haplotypes (P = 0.03). Two DRD2 SNPs (rs1799732 and rs6277) significantly associated with maternal infant-directed vocalizing (P = 0.001 and P = 0.04, respectively), as did DRD2 haplotypes (P = 0.01). We present evidence for heterosis in DRD1 where heterozygote mothers orient away from their infants significantly less than either homozygote group. Our findings provide important evidence that genetic variation in receptors critical for mothering in non-human species also affect human maternal behaviors. The findings also highlight the importance of exploring multiple dimensions of the complex human mothering phenotype.

Unusual cause of desynchronization in a cardiac resynchronization device

This report describes a new cause of desynchronization encountered in a cardiac resynchronization device functioning in the VVIR mode. Left ventricular stimulation was inhibited when the sensor-driven rate exceeded the programmed left ventricular (LV) maximum trigger rate. With these devices, it is important to program the LV maximum trigger interval (essentially equivalent to a LV upper interval) to a value equal or faster than the sensor-driven upper rate.

Integrative oncology in the Middle East: from traditional herbal knowledge to contemporary cancer care

BACKGROUND

Based on traditional, historical, ethnobotanical, laboratory, and clinical findings, we present research framework aiming to identify Middle Eastern herbs that are worthy of further research for their anticancer potential.

METHODS

A comprehensive research project was developed by a multinational team comprising family physicians, medicine specialists, oncologists, an Islamic medicine history specialist, a traditional medicine ethnobotanist, and a basic research scientist. The project followed two consecutive phases: (i) historical and ethnobotanical search for cancer-related keywords and (ii) Medline search for in vitro and in vivo studies.

RESULTS

This search yielded 44 herbs associated with cancer care. The Medline search yielded 34 herbs of which 9 herbs were reported in various clinical studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This multidisciplinary survey was found to be a valuable way to identify herbs with potential clinical significance in cancer care. Based on this pilot study, it is suggested that the Middle East can serve as a valuable region for future multicultural-oriented cancer research.

P2-04-02: Identification of a Novel Glycosyltransferase-Like Gene as an Autophagic Inducer in Human Mammary Carcinoma Cells Via Down Regulation of BCL-2

Here we report the identification of a previously undescribed glycosyltransferase-like gene, GLTx, and its cellular effect on mammary carcinoma cells. GLTx codes for a novel human protein which is highly conserved in primates. Data obtained from the mRNA expression database Oncomine, demonstrate that GLTx is differentially expressed in a variety of cancers including breast cancer. Western blot analysis of a multiple human tissue blot using a rabbit polyclonal antibody against GLTx demonstrated that GLTx was highly expressed in liver, moderately in kidney, intestine and stomach and undetectable in any other tissues. To functionally characterize GLTx, we attempted to establish stable cell lines with forced expression. However, forced expression of GLTx was completely lethal and resulted in severe cell death in the mammary carcinoma cell lines, MCF-7 and BT549, as well as in any other cell lines tested. Staining of MCF-7 cells transiently transfected with a GLTx expression plasmid by either Hoechst 33258 or fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated annexin V and propidium iodide confirmed that the observed cell death was not caused by apoptosis. Further investigation confirmed that GLTx expressing cells exhibited cytoplasmic accumulation of autophagosomes, consistent with the induction of autophagy, as measured by the fluorescently labelled autophagosome marker LC3. In addition we have shown that GLTx downregulated BCL-2, an inhibitor of autophagy, as measured by BCL-2 gene promoter luciferase activity assay and western blot assay following transient transfection of a GLTx expressing plasmid. Thus, we have demonstrated that GLTx is a novel autophagic inducer that causes cell death by down regulating BCL-2.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-04-02.

Quality assessment of observational studies in psychiatry: an example from perinatal psychiatric research

In perinatal psychiatry, randomized controlled trials are often not feasible on ethical grounds. Many studies are observational in nature, while others employ large databases not designed primarily for research purposes. Quality assessment of the resulting research is complicated by a lack of standardized tools specifically for this purpose. The aim of this paper is to describe the Systematic Assessment of Quality in Observational Research (SAQOR), a quality assessment tool our team devised for a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evidence-based literature regarding risks and benefits of antidepressant medication during pregnancy.

Effects of motherless rearing on basal and stress-induced corticosterone secretion in rat pups

Rearing of rat pups without a mother, artificial rearing (AR), produces substantial changes in the pups' behavior in later life. These changes are similar to those produced by the stress of repeated mother-pup separations. The predominant interpretation is that the long-term effects of disruptions to the mother-pup relationship are mediated by exposure to elevated levels of corticosterone which affect the development of neurobiological systems underlying cognition and behavior. Indeed, repeated separation of pups from the mother sensitizes the pups' corticosterone response to stress. This study examined basal and stress-induced corticosterone release in AR pups. Corticosterone levels were increased immediately following implantation of feeding cannulae. One day after the start of AR, circulating concentrations of corticosterone were not increased unless AR pups were challenged with an additional stressor (injection). Corticosterone levels were lowest when cannulation and AR started on postnatal day (PND) 5 compared with earlier PNDs. On PND 12, there was no evidence of increased corticosterone levels in AR pups at baseline or in response to stress, indicating that AR did not result in persistent sensitization of corticosterone release. The long-term effects of motherless rearing on rat behavior are mediated by mechanisms that are independent of sustained early corticosterone exposure.

Serotonin, depression, and cardiovascular disease: sex-specific issues

The comorbidity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression/anxiety disorders is well established, but the mechanisms are not well understood. This paper will review the epidemiological and biological evidence for the role of depression in CVD, as well as the pathophysiological process underlying both depression and CVD. The focus will be on the roles of serotonin, platelets, and the immune system, with an emphasis on the relevance of sex differences in both depression/anxiety and CVD as they pertain to women.