Dietary mineral intakes of rural midlife to older adult women with prehypertension in Midwestern United States.

OBJECTIVES: Midlife to older rural women with prehypertension are at increased risk for hypertension and its impact on cardiovascular health with advancing age. Because modification of dietary factors could help alleviate risk, the objective of this study was to explore calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium intakes of midlife to older rural women, with identification of their top food sources. DESIGN: Survey of baseline dietary intake data of women and comparison to standard recommendations. SETTING: Rural Midwestern United States. PARTICIPANTS: 289 rural women, age 40-69, with prehypertension who volunteered for lifestyle modification to reduce blood pressure. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline nutrition data using the Block Health Habit and History Questionnaire were collected over a twelve-month rolling enrollment period from rural women with prehypertension. Mineral intakes were calculated and compared to recommended standards. Top ten foods contributing to each mineral were identified. RESULTS: The percent of women who met the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)/Adequate Intake (AI) recommendations for their age groups ranged from a high 42.9% for magnesium to a low of 4.2% for potassium. Mean intakes of calcium, magnesium and potassium were all below recommended levels and sodium intakes were above recommendation. CONCLUSION: Midlife to older rural US women with prehypertension were eating some of the foods that would help them meet mineral recommendations. As a preventive approach to reducing hypertension risk, clinical practice could include advising on ways to increase both commonly and less commonly consumed nutrient-rich foods with awareness of what is typically available in the rural area.

Reliability of foot trajectory measures within and between testing sessions.

BACKGROUND: Impaired control of foot trajectory during the swing phase of gait is hypothesized to increase the risk of slipping or tripping. Before assessing the predictive validity of foot trajectory measures with respect to incidence of falls, it is necessary to establish their reliability. The purpose of this study is to assess within- and between-session reliability of foot trajectory measures and traditional temporal-distance measures in healthy elderly women during gait. METHODS: Sixteen healthy, elderly women (ages 65-79 years) completed six sets of five trials each of natural and fast cadence gait during a 3.5-hour period on each of 4 days. An optoelectric motion analysis system and heel switches were used to obtain both foot trajectory (minimum toe clearance during swing, vertical, and horizontal heel contact velocities) and temporal-distance measures (step width, cadence, velocity, stride length, and time). RESULTS: Within-session test-retest reliability of all variables at natural and fast speeds was good to excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of greater than 0.9 for all but one measure (fast cadence stride time). ICCs for between-session test-retest reliability were slightly lower, but still greater than 0.9 for all but two measures (fast cadence stride time and natural cadence vertical heel contact velocity). Heel contact velocities quantified at the instant of heel contact correlated strongly with values obtained by averaging over the last 2% of the gait cycle. DISCUSSION: The good to excellent within- and between-session reliability of these foot trajectory measures supports their use as a possible means of assessing subtle changes in gait motor control. Confirmation of an association between alterations in foot trajectory measures and incidence of falls awaits further study.

Effect of paclitaxel (Taxol) on CA 125 expression and release by ovarian cancer cell lines.

Two ovarian cancer cell lines, OVC432 and the newly established CVU4I, were used to study the effect of Taxal on cell growth and simultaneous CA 125 antigen expression. Growth of both cell lines was effectively inhibited by drug concentrations of 0.1 microM and higher. Complete inhibition of cell growth may result from high concentrations of Cremophor EL present in the Taxol formulation. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that both cell lines retained the CA 125 expression on the cell surface during exposure to paclitaxel. This was reflected in a constant statistically significant correlation between cell numbers and CA 125 concentrations found in cell lysates. CA 125 levels in the culture medium showed a significant relation to cell numbers and, consequently, to the response of the cell line to the administered anticancer drug. It may be concluded from this study that CA 125 seems to be a reliable tumor marker in monitoring tumor response during paclitaxel treatment.

A clinicopathological study on overexpression of cyclin D1 and of p53 in a series of 248 patients with operable breast cancer.

Overexpression of cyclin D1 is frequently found in various types of human tumours and results from clonal rearrangement and/or amplification involving chromosomal region 11q13. In order to evaluate the pathological relevance of cyclin D1 overexpression in human breast cancer, we generated a polyclonal antiserum against the carboxy-terminal part of the cyclin D1 protein. After affinity purification, the antiserum specifically detected overexpression of cyclin D1 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumour material also. The intensity of the nuclear stainings was, in general, proportional to the degree of cyclin D1 amplification. We did not encounter significant variability of staining within individual tumours with overexpression of cyclin D1. Overexpression of cyclin D1 appeared to be associated with oestrogen receptor-positive breast tumours, but not with any other clinicopathological parameter tested. Overexpression of cyclin D1 was not prognostic value for recurrence of survival in a consecutive series of 248 operable breast cancer patients (stage I and II). Overexpression of p53 was also not of prognostic significance in this series, but was associated with undifferentiated histology and oestrogen receptor-negative breast tumours, as has been reported previously by others. A high proportion of breast tumours with a low grade of malignancy in this series of operable breast cancer patients may explain discrepancies concerning the prognostic value of amplification and of overexpression of cyclin D1.

Cytokeratin 18 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Cytokeratin (CK) expression was studied in squamous cell carcinomas of different subsites in the head and neck by using cryostat sections from 27 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) and 6 cell lines established from HNSCC. All tissues were analyzed immunohistochemically with a panel of monospecific anti-keratin monoclonal antibodies. Most carcinomas recapitulated the expression pattern of keratins present in the basal layer of normal epithelium from the site of tumor origin. Regional differences in the expression of simple-epithelial type of keratins in stratified (pseudostratified) epithelia were to a large extent repeated in corresponding carcinomas. In the present study, localization of various keratins were surveyed and CK 18 specific monoclonal antibodies were specifically used to distinguish SCCs of the larynx or hypopharynx from SCCs of the oral cavity. CK 18 staining of almost all tumor cells was detected in 11 of 12 SCCs of the larynx and hypopharynx, but was only detected sporadically in 3 of 9 SCCs of the oral cavity. The present results show that CK 18 typing might be useful for distinguishing sites of origin of various HNSCCs. Findings also indicate that CK 18 expression in SCC might be modulated by microenvironmental factors.

Age and gender effects on postural control measures.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying age-related changes in the postural control system is an important first step towards understanding the risk for falls in older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine whether age or gender had any effects on six relatively new postural control measures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, 2 x 2 factorial design, representing two ages (younger [20 to 35 years], and older [60 to 75 years]) and both sexes. SETTING: University campus. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four community dwelling healthy adults (12 women, 12 men) participated in each of the younger and older groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included five force platform measures and functional reach (cm). The force platform measures, obtained using the Balance Master system, included movement time and path length to targets, and sway area under conditions of eyes open, eyes closed, and with visual feedback. RESULTS: Although gender was not significant for any outcome measure, age was significant in all six outcome measures. Older adults demonstrated larger areas of sway regardless of condition (eyes open, eyes closed or with visual feedback). Older adults had longer movement times, longer path lengths, and shorter distances of functional reach when compared with younger adults. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the measures studied are sensitive to age-related changes in healthy elderly.

Expression of the gene encoding growth hormone in the human mammary gland.

Progestins cause a syndrome of growth hormone (GH) excess and enhanced mammary tumorigenesis in the dog. This has been regarded as being specific for the dog. Recently we reported that progestin-induced GH excess originates from foci of hyperplastic ductular epithelium of the mammary gland in the dog. In the present report we demonstrate by reverse-transcriptase PCR and immunohistochemistry that a main factor involved in tissue growth, i.e. GH, is also expressed in normal and neoplastic human mammary glands. The gene expressed in the human mammary gland proved to be identical to the gene encoding GH in the pituitary gland. The role of progesterone in the GH expression of the human mammary gland needs, however, to be proven. It is hypothesized that this locally produced hGH may play a pathogenetic role in breast cancer.

Tenascin expression in basal cell carcinoma.

Tenascin (hexabrachion, cytotactin) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein whose expression is strongly increased in hyperproliferative skin diseases, as shown by immunohistochemistry with polyclonal sera. In this study we describe a new monoclonal antibody (T2H5) against human tenascin. The specificity of T2H5 was validated by sequential immunoprecipitation of tenascin with polyclonal sera. T2H5 was used to analyse the presence of tenascin in basal cell carcinoma. Using Western blotting, at least two forms of tenascin were found, with approximate molecular weights of 210 and 300 kDa. In cultured human skin fibroblasts only the high molecular weight form was found.

Carcinoma-associated monoclonal antibodies in head and neck carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry and biodistribution of monoclonal antibodies 175F4 and 175F11.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 175F4 (IgG1) and 175F11 (IgG2a), originally raised against the human mammary carcinoma cell line (ZR-75-1), react with a carcinoma-associated antigen in both adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of different origins. Immunohistochemically, the mAbs exhibited reactivity with 42 out of 43 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Normal squamous epithelia were also reactive with the antibodies in the basal and suprabasal cell layer. 111In 175F4 F(ab')2 fragments localized a squamous cell carcinoma xenograft (HT-6) in nude mice with low blood pool activity, indicating a potential clinical usefulness for staging of squamous cell carcinomas in the head and neck.

Metastatic ovarian or colonic cancer: a clinical challenge.

Clinical problems arise when histology is unable to differentiate between an ovarian carcinoma infiltrating into the rectosigmoid region and a colonic cancer with ovarian metastases. To evaluate the discriminative value of immunohistochemistry we studied four groups: (A) ovarian carcinoma (n = 21), (B) ovarian carcinoma with sigmoid stenosis (n = 18), (C) colonic carcinoma (n = 20) and (D) a group in which the differential diagnosis was a problem (n = 19). Paraffin sections stained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies revealed specific patterns: in group A and B a negative Parlam-4 and positive OC-125; in group C the opposite; in group D the 'colonic' pattern in 15 cases, and the 'ovarian' pattern in only 2. The clinical diagnosis in group D during follow-up was ovarian carcinoma in 7, colonic carcinoma in 8, double tumour in 1 and still unknown in 3. This was based on high levels of serum tumour markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (n = 5) and CA-125 (n = 4), laparotomy (n = 4), autopsy (n = 1), barium enema and/or endoscopy (n = 5). The response to chemotherapy in group D was extremely poor.

Fetal mouse alveolar type II cells in culture express several type II cell characteristics found in vivo, together with major histocompatibility antigens.

Alveolar type II cells were isolated from fetal mouse lung by differential adherence and obtained in monolayer culture. Cultures display a high degree of purity as shown by histochemical and immunocytochemical staining procedures. Seventy-five percent of cells stained positive with specific anti-lavage serum mouse (SALS-M), an antiserum specific for (pre)alveolar type II cells of the mouse, and osmiophilic bodies were present in 82% of cells. These and other characteristics of type II cells in culture correspond to those of alveolar type II cells in fetal mouse lung. The pattern of reactivity of these cells with various anti-cytokeratin antibodies is described, and we show that, in contrast to rat type II cells, they do not exhibit alkaline phosphatase activity. Identity of the type II cell cultures was shown by their specific phospholipid composition and surfactant protein A (SP-A) content. The fetal alveolar type II cells in culture were found to synthesize and express class I but not class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens. The possibility to culture fetal alveolar type II cells of the mouse and the availability of genetically well-defined inbred and transgenic mouse strains opens ways to study the genetics of type II cell differentiation and function. Also, the in vitro availability of alveolar type II cells, the progenitor cells of mouse lung tumors, will enable us to study in vitro several of the processes involved in lung tumorigenesis in the mouse.

Keratin subtypes in carcinomas of the uterine cervix: implications for histogenesis and differential diagnosis.

Normal epithelia and carcinomas of the human uterine cervix were studied by monoclonal antibodies chain specific for cytokeratins 4, 8, 10, 13, 14, 18, and 19. Most cells in 13 examined squamous carcinomas revealed a cytokeratin phenotype detected in ectocervical basal cells and endocervical subcolumnar reserve cells: 8+, 14+, 18+, 19+, 4-, 10-, 13-. We propose that these two cell types are closely related or identical and that squamous carcinoma of the cervix originates in this cell type. In more differentiated tumor cells cytokeratins 4, 10, and 13, which are present in suprabasal layers of the normal ectocervical epithelium, were coexpressed with basal cell cytokeratins. Thus, contrary to previous beliefs, all cytokeratins detected in carcinomas were also present in normal epithelium of uterine cervix. The cytokeratin profile of cervical adenocarcinomas corresponded to that of columnar endocervical cells (8+, 18+, 19+), although two of the three adenocarcinomas also expressed cytokeratin 4, which in the normal endocervix was detected in scattered single columnar cells only. The new monoclonal antibody DE-K14, specific for cytokeratin 14, proved a specific marker of subcolumnar reserve cells in the endocervix. It was also the only one that reacted with all cervical squamous carcinomas but with none of the cervical adenocarcinomas and, as such, has a potential value for pathological differential diagnosis of cervical tumors.

New monoclonal antibodies recognizing epidermal differentiation-associated keratins in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Keratin 10 expression in carcinoma of the vulva.

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific for differentiation-related epidermal keratins have been developed. They represent specific molecular probes for different stages of epidermal differentiation. Antibody DE-K10 is chain-specific for cytokeratin polypeptide no. 10 (56.5 kD) expressed in all suprabasal layers of the epidermis. Antibody DE-SCK is specific for modified stratum corneum keratins and thus represents a marker for the terminal step of epidermal differentiation. Since the epitopes identified by both antibodies are preserved in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, these antibodies can be used for retrospective studies of differentiation in various pathological processes. We have used antibody DE-K10 to study the cytokeratin 10 expression in 26 stage II or III vulvar squamous cell carcinomas. Preliminary data suggest an increased risk of recurrence in cytokeratin 10 negative tumours.

Comparison of gait of young men and elderly men.

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the free-speed gait characteristics of healthy young men with those of healthy elderly men. Data collection consisted of high-speed cinematography resulting in synchronized front and side views of 24 healthy male volunteers, 12 between 20 and 32 years of age and 12 between 60 and 74 years of age. Young men were recruited to match the elderly men on the basis of right-leg length. Each subject participated in three filmed trials of free-speed ambulation down a 14-m walkway. The processed film was analyzed for eight gait characteristics. Differences in characteristics between the two groups were examined using a correlated t test (p less than .01). No significant differences were observed between the groups for step and stride length, velocity, ankle range of motion, vertical and horizontal excursions of the center of gravity, and pelvic obliquity; however, the younger men demonstrated a significantly larger stride width than the elderly men (p less than .01). The results suggest that the two populations of healthy adult men have similar gait characteristics.

Effects of position and speed on eccentric and concentric isokinetic testing of the shoulder rotators.

This study investigated the effects of position and speed on peak torque values of the shoulder internal and external rotators during concentric and eccentric activity. The dominant shoulder of 9 males and 10 females, 21-33 years, were tested at two velocities (60 and 180 degrees /sec) in two positions (45 degrees glenohumeral abduction and 45 degrees glenohumeral flexion) and two contraction types (eccentric and concentric). Results indicated that 1) concentric internal rotation decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) at the higher speed in males, 2) eccentric external rotation increased significantly (p < 0.003) at the higher speed in females, and 3) peak torque values were significantly greater (p < 0.01) in the 45 degrees glenohumeral abduction position compared to the 45 degrees glenohumeral flexion position during eccentric and concentric external rotation for both females and males, and for eccentric internal rotation in females. These findings are useful when planning to progress the intensity of the testing and training of the shoulder rotators according to patient tolerance. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1989;11(2):64-69.

Generation of monoclonal antibodies against human carcinosarcoma cell line for identification of myoepithelium and basement membrane.

An immunohistochemical method is described for identification of myoepithelial cells and basement membrane for cryostat tissue sections of normal, benign, and in situ carcinomas of the breast using two monoclonal antibodies 155C1 and 155D10 generated against human breast carcinosarcoma cell line HS578T. In the majority of infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast, there was a discontinuity in the myoepithelial cell layer, as a result an intact basement membrane could not be visualized. The reactivity of these two monoclonal antibodies might prove useful in the study of myoepithelial differentiation antigens and in the delineation of basement membrane. Among the other types of tissues studied, prominent staining was present with soft tissue tumors like leiomyosarcoma and synovial sarcoma.

Ratings of clinical clerkship feedback by allied health faculty and students.

The purpose of this survey study was to investigate allied health faculty members' and students' ratings of the clinical educational feedback process. Faculty members and students from seven allied health programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who were currently involved with clinical education, were asked to indicate their feelings on a seven-point scale for each of 22 feedback characteristics. An ANOVA and a Scheffe's test for post hoc analysis were used for data analyses. The results indicated that while both faculty members and students perceived eight feedback characteristics as equally important, they differed significantly (p less than .01) in their ratings of actual feedback provided in the characteristics of specific, timely, encouraging, and recommending improvement. Other significant faculty/student discrepancies were found in the area of student reception of feedback provided. The results are useful to guide and direct improvements in the clinical education of allied health students.

A monoclonal antibody specific for cells of the melanocyte lineage.

A monoclonal antibody, NKI/beteb, was prepared against membranes from a human melanoma metastasis, and in immunoprecipitates of melanoma cell lysates specific 100- and 7-kd glycoproteins were found. The large glycoproteins were also present in conditioned medium of melanoma cell lines. The antigen is located on the inner side of membranes of (pre)melanosomes and premelanosomelike vesicles. The antibody reacted in the immunoperoxidase test on frozen tissue sections with 27 of 28 nevocellular nevi (15/16 common, 12/12 dysplastic), 39/39 primary melanomas (3 intraepidermal, 24 cutaneous, 12 choroidal), 56/63 melanoma metastases, and 4/4 clear-cell sarcomas (melanoma of soft tissue). With sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, the reaction was less sensitive. No reactivity was detected with frozen sections of 185 other tumors, except for 1 case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in which macrophages were positive. With the exception of melanocytes, all frozen sections of adult tissues that were tested were negative with NKI/beteb. On the basis of its tissue distribution so far, the antigen recognized by NKI/beteb seems to be a specific and sensitive diagnostic marker for cells of the melanocyte lineage.

Career profile of and feedback from graduates of a midwest curriculum.

The purpose of this survey study was to create a career-activity profile of all physical therapy graduates from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (1972-1985) and to gather evaluative information for the planning of a postbaccalaureate entry-level degree program for physical therapy. A majority of the survey respondents (91%) were employed in physical therapy when the survey was made and were satisfied with their undergraduate program. A majority of the respondents resided in Nebraska or surrounding states and identified similar changes within the physical therapy profession. The results supported the hypothesis that a negative correlation would exist between the salaries of full-time physical therapists and the size of the population they serve. Graduates' recommendations to increase clinical education and student exposure to specialties were included in the University of Nebraska's postbaccalaureate physical therapy degree proposal. This graduate feedback system was helpful with physical therapy program planning to meet the identified needs of this regional area.

Effects of Speed and Limb Dominance on Eccentric and Concentric lsokinetic Testing of the Knee.

This study investigated the effects of speed and limb dominance on torque values and ratios of the quadriceps and hamstrings during both eccentric and concentric exercise. Both knees of 12 males and 13 females, 21-33 years of age, were tested at 30 degrees /sec and 180 degrees /sec on the KIN-COM. Results indicated that: 1) concentric quadriceps torque values and torque/body weight ratios decreased significantly at the higher speed, 2) no significant changes in eccentric quadriceps or eccentric hamstrings torque occurred at the two speeds, 3) no significant differences were demonstrated in the torque values or torque/body weight ratios between dominant and nondominant knees during both concentric and eccentric exercise at both speeds, 4) hamstrings/quadriceps torque ratios increased significantly at the higher speed during concentric exercise, and 5) for males, the hamstrings/quadriceps ratios were significantly greater in the nondominant limb during both concentric and eccentric exercise at both speeds. These findings are important when establishing appropriate and safe rehabilitation goals during isokinetic eccentric activity.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1988;10(2):59-65.