Metastasis of mammary carcinomas in GRS/A hybrid mice transgenic for the mts1 gene.

Transgenic mice, carrying the mts1 gene, one of the genes involved in the acquisition of the metastatic phenotype, were generated. The mts1 gene was placed under the control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter leading to overexpression in the lactating mammary gland of transgenic animals. Animals bearing the transgene appear phenotypically normal. Animals of two transgenic lines (Tg463 and Tg507) were crossed with the GRS/A mice. The GRS/A strain is characterized by high incidence of mammary tumors which rarely metastasize. 40% of the tumor bearing hybrid GRS/A mts1 females were found to develop secondary tumors in the lungs. The Mts1 protein was detected in the transgene primary tumor cells as well as in the corresponding metastases. Nontransgenic littermates expressed the Mts1 protein only in the stromal cells surrounding the tumor but not in the tumor cells by itself. Taken together these observations indicate that overexpression of the mts1 gene in the mouse mammary carcinoma cells gives rise to more aggressive tumors which are able to metastasize.

[Sick girls in Norwegian art. Some thoughts based on the paintings of Christian Krohg]. / Syke piker i norsk kunst. Noen tanker med utgangspunkt i Christian Krohgs maleri.

In the last two decades of the nineteenth century the motive of a sick girl was painted several times by Nordic artists. The author describes Christian Krohg's naturalistic painting Sick girl from 1880-81, and uses it as a reference for the discussion of the use of this theme in Scandinavian art.

[Physician's role in Norwegian art of painting]. / Legerollen i norsk malerkunst.

The author reviews paintings of doctors by Norwegian artists. Many interesting pictures have been painted, especially during the era of naturalism at the end of the last century. The artist and journalist Christian Krohg contributed to an early discussion of the role of the doctors in connection with social problems in Norway. In the 1930s, Finn Faaborg illustrated the relation between doctor and patient in the case of tuberculosis, and Carl von Hanno revived the problem of prostitution. Bendik Riis, himself a psychiatric patient, with his huge painting Castraktion, shows his fear of castration and lobotomy, and also his opinion of the health authorities' lack of respect for the patient. Norwegian painters have obviously contributed to a fruitful discussion of the role of the doctor in society.

[Smoking and art. History of smoking in Norway in paintings]. / Røyking og kunst. Røykingens historie i Norge sett gjennom tegninger og malerier.

The habit of smoking was well-known in Norway in the first half of the sixteenth century. Tobacco-smoking is seen in Norwegian paintings. In the nineteenth century, long and artistic pipes were used by men relaxing after a pleasant dinner. In self portraits of Christian Krohg and Edvard Munch we see them smoking pipes and cigarettes surrounded by smoke. In an exhibition of portraits of Norwegian Authors, ten out of seventy authors were portrayed with a pipe, a cigar or a cigarette. There are various interpretations of the use of smoking in art. A simple explanation is that this was an accepted part of life at that time. The authors may have believed that they concentrated better when they smoked and elegance may have been of importance for many of them. The symbolic significance of cigarette-smoking has been of great value in the marketing of tobacco-products.

[Diabetes among immigrants from non-western countries]. / Diabetes hos ikke-vestlige innvandrere.

Around 15% of all inhabitants in Oslo, Norway, have non-western ethnic background. In downtown Oslo the proportion is around one third. Diabetes is more frequent in non-western ethnic groups than among westerners. Treatment of diabetes requires a collaboration between the patient and the health professional and a common understanding of the nature of the disease and the treatment objectives. In the encounter with patients of foreign origin there are several cultural obstacles for compliance: language problems, illiteracy, religious fatalism and reluctance by the patients to take responsibility for his/her own disease. Lovisenberg Diakonale Sykehus in Oslo has conducted education classes for groups of Pakistani persons with diabetes.

[The human face of medicine--the visual art]. / Medisinens menneskelige ansikt--bildende kunst.

This article discusses the role of art in medicine on the background of experience with art lectures for medical students and courses and exhibitions for doctors. From the last half of the 19th century, Norwegian artists have taken an interest in medical themes. Their paintings are an important contribution to medical history in Norway; more generally, they contribute to our understanding of the development of Norwegian society. Visual art is an important element in the decoration of hospitals. The works on display in the new National Hospital buildings in Oslo show how art may successfully be used in indoor as well as outdoor areas. It is important to let artists in on the planning process prior to the building of a new hospital.

A familial syndrome of progressive cone dystrophy, degenerative liver disease, endocrine dysfunction and hearing defect. I. Ophthalmological findings.

Seven patients, 6 females and one male, with progressive cone dystrophy are reported. One patient developed amaurosis in one eye and fere amaurosis in the other. The least affected patient (13 years of age) had fairly good central cone vision, but a rod response only outside the central area. Attenuated retinal vessels, disc pallor and general atrophic appearance without pigmentation were typical findings. Six of the patients originated from 2 sibships. Increasing impairment of vision during pregnancy was seen in two patients. Pathological glucose tolerance, diabetes, liver disease, endocrinological disturbances, and hearing defects were recorded. Thus, this cone dystrophy appears to be part of a disease affecting several organs. The familial occurrence suggests that this disorder is inherited.

Familial syndrome of progressive cone dystrophy, degenerative liver disease, and endocrine dysfunction. III. Genetic studies.

A syndrome of progressive cone dystrophy, endocrine dysfunctions and degenerative liver diseases has been observed in seven patients, six of whom belonged to one extensive kindred. Genetic analyses revealed a segregation ratio indicating autosomal recessive inheritance of the syndrome, and the kindred from which six of the seven patients originated was heavily inbred. Thus, the results of the segregation analyses as well as of the inbreeding analyses provide evidence that this previously unrecognized disorder is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Genetic marker analyses were conducted with respect to 22 marker systems, and linkage information was obtained with respect to 15 of them. No strong suggestion of linkage emerged from the analyses, but very close linkage could be excluded for several of genetic marker systems. Pedigree analysis was helpful in establishing the spectrum of clinical manifestations belonging to the syndrome proper. The data presently available suggest that elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase, which were found in all patients, may be useful in tracing heterozygotes for this disorder. This possibility will be further examined.

Pituitary fuction during X-ray treatment of the hypothalamic-pituitary region as evaluated by the TRH test response.

The effect of conventional radiotherapy on the TRH response was studied in fourteen patients, all but one previously surgically treated for pituitary tumors. No change in the TSH response to TRH could be observed either during or after a four week treatment period, thus demonstrating relative resistance of the pituitary gland against irradiation in these patients. We also conclude that the diagnostic value of the TRH test remains unhampered during and in the immediate period after irradiation.

Amyloid deposits in bone marrow aspirates in primary amyloidosis.

Amyloid deposits aspirated from the bone marrow have a characteristic appearance in May--Grünwald-Giemsa-stained smears, and almost specific fibrillar pattern when viewed in an electron microscope.

[Thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antibodies in a population group over the age of 70. A prevalence study from Oslo and Naeröy]. / Thyreoideadysfunksjon og thyreoideaantistoffer i befolkningsgrupper over 70 år. Prevalenseundersøkelser fra Oslo og Naerøy.

The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antibodies was investigated in a small rural community (Naerøy) and in Oslo. Attendance rates in Naerøy and Oslo were 99 and 71%, respectively. The prevalence of undiagnosed latent hypothyroidism and primary hypothyroidism was 4.0 and 5.3% in women in Oslo and Naerøy respectively and 0 and 3.5% in men. Undiagnosed hyperthyroidism was detected in 1.2% of men in Naerøy and in 1% of women in Oslo. Antibody to the thyroid microsomal antigen in titre greater than or equal to 400 was detected in 10.2 and 17.5% of women and 7.3 and 7.2% of men in Oslo and Naerøy, respectively. Among women with antibody to the thyroid microsomal antigen in both Oslo and Naerøy, and among men in Naerøy, the prevalence of past or present thyroid dysfunction was increased.