Frequent loss of the BLID gene in early-onset breast cancer.

The BH3-like motif-containing inducer of cell death (BLID) is an intronless gene localized on 11q24.1. Loss of that region has frequently been reported in early-onset breast cancer and is significantly associated with poor prognosis and reduced survival. Downregulation of BLID is associated with younger age, triple-negative phenotype, and reduced disease-free and overall survival of breast cancer patients. In this study, we investigated allelic loss of BLID in breast tumor specimens from 78 women with invasive breast cancer using 2 dinucleotide polymorphic markers closely linked to the BLID gene (no intragenic marker for BLID is available). Seventy-three cases were informative. Overall, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the BLID locus was detected in 32% of the informative cases (23/73). However, in patients 40 years old and younger, LOH was detected in 50% of the cases (9/18). Patients aged 40 years and younger were significantly more likely to experience LOH than those aged 41-55 years (p = 0.04). Specifically, the odds of BLID loss for patients aged 40 years and younger were 3.7 times the odds of loss for patients aged 41-55 years (95% CI, 1.1-13). Our findings suggest a tumor suppressor role of the BLID gene in early-onset breast cancer.

Biventricular function in sickle-cell anemia: radionuclide angiographic and thallium-201 scintigraphic evaluation.

Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function were evaluated at rest and during exercise using radionuclide ventriculography in 10 patients, aged 19-53 years, with sickle-cell anemia (SCA). Seven patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I and 3 were in class II. The resting LV ejection fraction (EF) was normal in 9 patients and the resting RVEF was normal in 4. LV dilation and high cardiac output were observed in 6 patients at rest. The LVEF during exercise was normal in all 10 patients, whereas only 2 patients had normal RVEF at rest and during exercise. The LVEF was lower in patients with SCA at rest (54 +/- 4% versus 61 +/- 6%, p less than 0.001) and exercise (66 +/- 4% versus 74 +/- 6%, p less than 0.001) than in 42 age-matched normal subjects. Rest thallium-201 images from 9 patients showed abnormal RV uptake in 8 and normal LV uptake in 8. Thus, in adult patients with SCA, LV function was normal during exercise in all patients and at rest in all but 1 patient. The LVEF, however, was lower than that in age-matched normal subjects. RV function was abnormal in most patients at rest and during exercise. RV thallium-201 uptake suggested pressure or volume overload (or both), most likely due to pulmonary vaso-occlusive complications of the disease.

Clinical, hematological, and biochemical features of Hb SC disease.

Twenty-seven patients were seen and followed at our Sickle Cell Center over a period of seven years. Their clinical, hematological, and biochemical features were determined and compared to those of patients with sickle cell anemia who were concurrently investigated. The data indicate that the mild anemia of hemoglobin (Hb) SC disease is slightly microcytic and hyperchromatic. Parameters of hemolysis and the complications of chronic hemolytic anemia (cholelithiasis, leg ulcers, hepatomegaly, and cardiomegaly) are milder in Hb SC disease than in sickle cell anemia. Asplenia and its sequelae (increased platelet count and reduced serum IgM levels) are less frequent in Hb SC disease. Cerebrovascular accidents and the decreased leukocyte alkaline phosphatase scores are similar in both diseases. Thromboembolic complications, retinopathy, and renal papillary necrosis are more frequent in Hb SC disease.