Hereditary breast cancer: syndromes, tumour pathology and molecular testing

Hereditary factors account for a significant proportion of breast cancer risk. Approximately 20% of hereditary breast cancers are attributable to pathogenic variants in the highly penetrant BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. A proportion of the genetic risk is also explained by pathogenic variants in other breast cancer susceptibility genes, including ATM, CHEK2, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D and BARD1, as well as genes associated with breast cancer predisposition syndromes - TP53 (Li-Fraumeni syndrome), PTEN (Cowden syndrome), CDH1 (hereditary diffuse gastric cancer), STK11 (Peutz-Jeghers syndrome) and NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1). Polygenic risk, the cumulative risk from carrying multiple low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility alleles, is also a well-recognised contributor to risk. This review provides an overview of the established breast cancer susceptibility genes as well as breast cancer predisposition syndromes, highlights distinct genotype-phenotype correlations associated with germline mutation status and discusses molecular testing and therapeutic implications in the context of hereditary breast cancer.

The first observation of osmotically neutral sodium accumulation in the myocardial interstitium

The aim of this study was the detection and quantification of the Na+ depositions in the extracellular matrix of myocardial tissue, which are suggested to be bound by negatively charged glycosaminoglycan (GAG) structures. The presented experimental results are based on high resolution X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectromicroscopy technique used to perform a comparative analysis of sodium containment in intracellular and interstitial spaces of cardiac tissues taken from animals selected by low and high sodium intake rates. The experimental results obtained show that high sodium daily intake can result in a remarkable increase of sodium content in the myocardial interstitium.

Molecular Sensitization Profile to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Dust Mite in Portugal

OBJECTIVE

To analyze component resolved diagnosis to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) in patients with respiratory allergy and its relationship with clinical severity in different geographical areas.

METHODS

217 patients (mean age 25.85±12.7 years; 51.16% females) were included, selected from 13 centers in Portugal (5 from North, n=65). All had allergic rhinitis, with or without asthma, and had positive skin prick tests to at least one dust mite. Specific IgE (sIgE) to Der p, Dermatophagoides farinae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Der p1, Der p 2, Der p 10 and Der p 23 were determined by ImmunoCAP. Statistical analysis (Mann Whitney U test) compared patients with rhinitis vs rhinitis and asthma; mild vsmoderate-to-severe rhinitis; North vs South.

RESULTS

Prevalence of sensitization was 98.2% to Der p, and 72.4%, 89.4%, 9.7% and 77% to Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 10 and Der p 23, respectively. Corresponding median sIgE levelswere 8.56, 17.7, 0.01 and 3.95 kUA/L. sIgE to all allergens was higher in patients with moderate-to-severe rhinitis and rhinitis with asthma but not statistically significant (NSS). sIgE to Der p 2 was significantly higher in the South when compared with the North (p=0.0496).

CONCLUSIONS

sensitization to Der p is the most common in Portugal. Der p 2 had the highest prevalence and median sIgE levels. All sIgE to molecular components were higher in more symptomatic patients (NSS). sIgE to Der p 2 was higher in the South, which may be related to the warmer temperature and/or the larger sample size.

Atopic Dermatitis Host and Environment Model: Revisiting Therapeutic Options

Summary

Atopic Dermatitis affects both children and adults and is a serious health concern in many countries. AD is a complex disease with host and environmental factors underlying its pathology. Its treatment is multidimensional reflecting the diverse nature of its triggers and includes emollients, topical steroids and calcineurin inhibitors among others. Immunological dysfunction can be addressed broadly with systemic immunosupressors and specifically with monoclonal antibodies. Dupilumab, which targets IL-4 and IL-13 was granted approval for treatment of moderate-to-severe AD. Biologics targeting IgE/Th2 pathways may have its role in patients with overlapping AD and asthma. Psychological distress can exacerbate symptoms and is associated with increased severity of AD. Environmental triggers, such as, allergens can be addressed in selected cases with allergic immunotherapy. In this paper, we discuss AD treatment and propose a new step-by-step approach aiming at maintaining disease control and improving quality of life.

THE MAYAK WORKER DOSIMETRY SYSTEM (MWDS-2013) FOR INTERNALLY DEPOSITED PLUTONIUM: AN OVERVIEW

The Mayak Worker Dosimetry System (MWDS-2013) is a system for interpreting measurement data from Mayak workers from both internal and external sources. This paper is concerned with the calculation of annual organ doses for Mayak workers exposed to plutonium aerosols, where the measurement data consists mainly of activity of plutonium in urine samples. The system utilises the latest biokinetic and dosimetric models, and unlike its predecessors, takes explicit account of uncertainties in both the measurement data and model parameters. The aim of this paper is to describe the complete MWDS-2013 system (including model parameter values and their uncertainties) and the methodology used (including all the relevant equations) and the assumptions made. Where necessary, Supplementary papers which justify specific assumptions are cited.

Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy

Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy is a small vessel leucocytoclastic vasculitis affecting young infants. It is characterized by large, target-like, macular to purpuric plaques predominantly affecting the face, ear lobes and extremities. Non-pitting edema of the distal extremities and low-grade fever may also be present. Extra-cutaneous involvement is very rare. Although the lesions have a dramatic onset in a twenty-four to forty-eight hour period, usually the child has a non-toxic appearance. In most cases there are no changes in laboratory parameters. The cutaneous biopsy reveals an inflammatory perivascular infiltrate. It is a benign and auto-limited disease, with complete resolution within two to three weeks leaving no sequelae in the majority of cases. No recurrences are described. We report a case of a 42-day old girl admitted at our hospital with Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy.

Synergistic use of synchrotron radiation techniques for biological samples in solution: a case study on protein-ligand recognition by the peroxisomal import receptor Pex5p

Circular dichroism spectropolarimetry and X-ray scattering data, obtained using synchrotron radiation, can yield information about the secondary and tertiary structure of proteins in solution. These techniques have been used to analyse the architecture and shape of a complex of two proteins in solution. The crystal structures of two separate proteins, the C-terminal domain of Pex5p and SCP2, are available but their complex has not previously been structurally characterized. Circular dichroism spectropolarimetry indicated that complex formation requires little secondary structure rearrangement. X-ray scattering data fit an elongated irregular 'shoe'-shaped particle of the complex of the two proteins, with dimensions of the order of 30 A x 40 A x 90 A. Comparison with the known crystal structures suggests that this 'shoe' shape requires a conformational change of the C-terminus of SCP2 to appropriately locate its peroxisomal targeting signal type-1 recognition motif into the binding pocket of the Pex5p receptor. Implications of the combined use of synchrotron-based circular dichroism spectropolarimetry and X-ray scattering in structural biology and proteomics are discussed.

Solution structure of bacteriophage PRD1 vertex complex

Bacteriophage PRD1 is a prototype of viruses with an internal membrane. The icosahedral capsid and major coat protein share structural similarity with the corresponding structures of adenovirus. The present study further explores similarities between these viruses, considering the 5-fold vertex assemblies. The vertex structure of bacteriophage PRD1 consists of proteins P2, P5, and P31. The vertex complex mediates host cell binding and controls double-stranded DNA delivery. Quaternary structures and interactions of purified spike proteins were studied by synchrotron radiation x-ray solution scattering. Low resolution models of the vertex proteins P5, P2, and P31 were reconstructed ab initio from the scattering data. Protein P5 is a long trimer that resembles the adenovirus spike protein pIV. The receptor-binding protein P2 is a 15.5-nm long, thin monomer and does not have an adenovirus counterpart. P31 forms a pentameric base with a maximum diameter of 8.5 nm, which is thinner than the adenovirus penton pIII. P5 further polymerize into a nonameric form ((P5(3))(3)). In the presence of P31, P5 associates into a P5(6):P31 complex. The constructed models of these assemblies provided support for a model of vertex assembly onto the virion. Although similar in overall architecture, clear differences between PRD1 and adenovirus spike assemblies have been revealed.