Differential Expression Patterns of c-REL Protein in Classic and Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is characterized by numerical gains of the short arm of chromosome 2. The high frequency of 2p overrepresentation including REL, particularly in the nodular sclerosis subtype suggests that constitutive activation of nuclear factor kappaB/REL is a hallmark of Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells. The aim of this study was to investigate c-Rel protein expression patterns in cHL and nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) cases by immunohistochemical analysis. A total of 79 cases of HL were analyzed, which included 59 cases of cHL (49 nodular sclerosis; 8 mixed cellularity; 2 lymphocyte-rich) and 20 cases of NLPHL. Positive staining was defined in this study as a reaction seen in the nuclei or nuclei and cytoplasm of RS or lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) cells in cHL and NLPHL cases, respectively. The percent positivity of c-REL staining of RS cells in cHL was seen in 51 of 59 cases (86.4%). No significant difference in c-REL expression was seen between nodular sclerosis (42 of 49, 85.7%) and mixed cellularity subtypes (7 of 8 cases, 87.5%; P = 1). In comparison, positive c-REL protein expression in L&H cells was seen in 5 of 20 NLPHL cases (25.0%). Therefore, significantly higher positivity of RS cells in cHL was seen compared with positivity of L&H cells in NLPHL; 86.4% vs. 25.0%; P = 0). Expression of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein was seen in 6 of 30 cases (19.0%; 25 cHL, 5 NLPHL) and EBER1 in 5 of 27 cases (18.5%; 24 cHL, 3 NLPHL). The presence of Epstein-Barr virus did not correlate with c-REL protein expression (P = 1). Our results demonstrate that there is differential c-REL protein expression in cHL in comparison with NLPHL and suggest that c-REL may play a role in the pathogenesis of classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

Blood markers for vasculogenesis increase with tumor progression in patients with breast carcinoma

Recent studies show that AC133-a hematopoietic stem cell antigen, when coex-pressed with endothelial markers, identifies a population of endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) in peripheral blood that function in tumor vasculogenesis in animals. Little is known about whether EPCs contribute to human tumor vasculogenesis. We attempted to determine if, through increased peripheral expression of AC133 or endothelial markers previously associated with EPCs,VEGFR-2 and Tie-2, we could detect an EPC response in the blood of patients with breast carcinoma. Thirty patients were segregated based on their breast biopsy histology into infiltrating carcinoma, DCIS and control groups. Using Real Time PCR, we measured the expression of the aforementioned markers in reverse transcribed RNA extracts from preoperative peripheral blood specimens. The cancer patients had significantly elevated Tie-2 expression with the highest levels associated with infiltrating carcinoma. Our data suggest increased circulating EPC markers in tumor patients, but further study of this cell population is needed to better define its role in tumor vasculogenesis.

Acceptability and feasibility of a community approach to asthma management: the Neighborhood Asthma Coalition (NAC)

Understanding of asthma and co-management between patient and physician improves outcome. Feasibility of programs to achieve these goals in underserved settings is not documented. We used the Precede-Proceed model to document (a) community acceptance of a program to engage peer support of asthma management and care; (b) program revision to emphasize greater attention to availability of care and promotional events as channels for education; (c) engagement of intended audiences in planning and implementation; (d) participation of parents in program activities; and (e) peer-based education/support to reach parents, including socially isolated parents whose children experience heightened morbidity.

Treatment-seeking for depression by black and white Americans

This paper examines data from a psychiatric epidemiologic survey of 3004 households in St Louis to determine whether there are distinctions between black and white Americans in their propensities to seek treatment for episodes of depression and to discover those groups least likely to seek care. The process initiated by the experiencing of unusual or distressing signs or symptoms and completed by seeking treatment for those complaints is a complex one, involving several steps. Numerous factors may affect decisions regarding treatment-seeking including characteristics of the individuals themselves, characteristics of the symptoms, and attitudes and beliefs about the causes and proper treatment of psychiatric problems or mood. We, therefore, also examine the available epidemiologic data for some clues concerning those factors which may have contributed to the observed patterns of treatment-seeking. Significantly fewer blacks meeting psychiatric criteria for a diagnosis of depression had sought professional care. Moreover, severity of the problem was significantly related to treatment-seeking among blacks and it was among those with the least severe problems that the greatest differences were found. Whites did not significantly exceed blacks in seeking care when depressive episodes were long lasting, severe or frequent. Although there was some indication that blacks may be more tolerant of depressive symptoms, a considerable proportion of blacks who felt they had a troublesome problem had never sought professional care. There was little evidence to suggest that a fear of being stigmatized prevented blacks from seeking care. However, blacks were more likely to report that fear of treatment and of being hospitalized had prevented them from seeking care. A number of hypotheses generated by the epidemiologic data are presented. Once large-scale surveys such as this have delineated the patterns of health care utilization and identified those groups at high risk of not receiving care, anthropological concepts and problem-oriented field research may be extremely useful in testing hypotheses concerning those factors underlying the observed behavioral patterns.

Statistical methods for analyzing data on daily activity cycles of primates

Many field studies on primates have recently been carried out in which quantitative data have been collected using instantaneous scan sampling techniques. However, data collected in this manner are difficult to analyze statistically because of the problem of independence of samples, and a number of investigators have analyzed such data incorrectly. In this paper, we evaluate such analyses and suggest alternative techniques that may be more appropriate. Examples are drawn from data on daily activity cycles of Lemur catta and Lemur fulvus.