Oestrogen receptors ß1 and ßcx have divergent roles in breast cancer survival and lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The expression of oestrogen receptor (ER) α characterises a subset of breast cancers associated with good response to endocrine therapy. However, the clinical significance of the second ER, ERß1, and its splice variant ERßcx is still unclear. METHODS: We here report an assessment of ERα, ERß1 and ERßcx by immunohistochemistry using quantitative digital image analysis of 340 primary tumours and corresponding sentinel lymph nodes. RESULTS: No differences were seen in ER levels in primary tumours vs lymph node metastases. ERß1 and ERßcx were equally distributed among age groups and tumour histological grades. Loss of ERß1 in the primary tumour was strongly associated with poor survival. Its prognostic impact was particularly evident in young patients and in high-grade tumours. The worst outcome was seen in the tumours lacking both ERα and ERß1. ERßcx expression in the primary tumour correlated with a higher risk of lymph node metastasis, and with poor survival when expressed in sentinel node lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals highly significant although antagonising roles of ERß1 and ERßcx in breast cancer. Consequently, we suggest that the histopathological assessment of ERß1 is of value as a prognostic and potentially predictive biomarker.

Consequences of dam construction upstream of the Upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil): a temporal analysis of the Chironomidae community over an eight-year period.

Our study aimed to identify patterns of temporal variation and changes in the structure of the community of Chironomidae larvae in two rivers in the Upper Paraná River floodplain after the construction of a reservoir upstream (Porto Primavera). Samples were taken with a Petersen grab, and were obtained between 2000 and 2007. Chironomidae larvae were identified down to the lowest taxonomic level possible. The high richness of Chironomidae observed in the Paraná and Ivinhema Rivers (100 morphospecies) in comparison to the world average of rivers of the same size (44 species) emphasizes the importance of these habitats for the maintenance of biodiversity. The composition and density of Chironomidae in the years 2000 and 2001 differed from the other years. This period was characterized by extreme changes in the Paraná River flow caused by the closing of the Porto Primavera Dam, which added to a severe dry period in late 2001. The different compositions of morphospecies and the higher similarities in subsequent years are indicative of the recovery and adaptation of the community. In spite of the changes in the composition of morphospecies, diversity was maintained and the community continued to respond to fluctuations in the hydrometric level.

[Anthihelminthic activity of pyrantel pamoate administered in mass treatment of an isolated population of the South Pacific]. / Activité anthelminthique du pamoate de pyrantel administré en traitement de masse dans une population isolée du Pacifique Sud

A stool examination survey on the Wuvulu island population in Papua-New Guinea let be shown off the high incidence of two helminthiasis, ascariasis and trichocephalosis (75-4 0/0 and 70 0/0 of the tested subjects) compared to the low incidence of ankylostomiasis (7 0/0). With pyrantel pamoate administered in one oral dose of 10 mg by kg of weight, results are excellent in ascariasis with 97-7 0/0 success. The efficiency is only partial in ankylostomiasis with that small dose. It is quite well tolerated and may be used in mass treatment and, taking into account the special characteristics of that small and far away island, an attempt to eradicate ascariasis through systematic reiterated treatments is being carried out.

[Hepatocystis brosseti n. sp. Haemproteidae, parasite of Epomops franqueti, Pteropinae, in Gabon]. / Hepatocystis brosseti n. sp., Haemoproteidae, parasite d'Epomops franqueti, Pteropinae, au Gabon.

Epomops franqueti (Pteriopinae) trapped around Makokou (Gabon) are frequently infected with Hepatocystis brosseti n. sp. Blood smears and tissue sections were made; all schizonts were found in the liver except a single one in the spleen. In liver, near maturity the schizonts are extracellular, convoluted, medium sized (250 mu) and filled with abundant colloidal substance.

[Considerations on the genus Nycteria (Haemoproteidae) parasite of African Microchiroptera with the description of 4 new species (author's transl)]. / Considérations sur le genre Nycteria (Haemoproteidae) parasite de Microchiroptères africains avec description de quatre espèces nouvelles.

5 species of Nycteria from Central Africa (Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville) were studied. They can be divided into two distinct groups: the parasites of Nycteris with gametocytes "en cocarde": N. medusiformis, N. houini n. sp. and N. eradi n. sp.; the parasites of Rhinolophus with gametocytes of the "diffus" type: N. gabonensis n. sp. and N. krampitzi n. sp. The characteristics of the genus Nycteria and its place amongst the other Haemosporidia are analysed.

[Unusual distribution of fluorescent marking during Schistosoma mansoni schistosomiasis (author's transl)]. / Topographie particulière du marquage fluorescent au cours des bilharzioses à Schistosoma mansoni. Intérêt dans le diagnostic précoce

The sera of some patients suffering from intestinal bilharziasis determine, on frozen sections of adult S. mansoni, a labelling of the digestive tract disclosed by the fluorescent sera anti-IgG and IgM. This labelling appears early after the primary infestation and may remain isolated. It is found again later, among West Indian patients of all ages infested by S. mansoni. Its development is followed in the hamster and the mouse, experimentally infested. This labelling is also present in the animal infested with S. haematobium, but it appears exceptional among adults urinary bilharzians. No cross reaction of non-specific origin has been observed. The interest, for the screening, of its research with the help of conjugates anti-IgM, has been proved. Its meaning is discussed.

[The schizogony of Polychromophilus (Haemoproteidae), cosmopolitan parasite of Microchiroptera]. / La schizogonie de Polychromophilus (Haemoproteidae) parasite cosmopolite de Microchiroptères.

The schizogony of Polychromophilus was partially known by the findings of Schingarew, Mer and Goldblum who demonstrated microschizonts in the reticulo-endothelial tissue. The present work completes these data by showing the presence of macroschizonts in the lungs of both African and European species. These schizonts are characterized by their large size, the hypertrophy of the host cell and its nucleus and the evolution of the parasite apparently slow when young, becoming rapid later.

Consequences of dam construction upstream of the Upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil): a temporal analysis of the Chironomidae community over an eight-year period / Conseqüências da construção de um reservatório a montante da planície aluvial do Alto Rio Paraná (Brasil): análises temporais da comunidade Chironomidae em um período de oito anos

Our study aimed to identify patterns of temporal variation and changes in the structure of the community of Chironomidae larvae in two rivers in the Upper Paraná River floodplain after the construction of a reservoir upstream (Porto Primavera). Samples were taken with a Petersen grab, and were obtained between 2000 and 2007. Chironomidae larvae were identified down to the lowest taxonomic level possible. The high richness of Chironomidae observed in the Paraná and Ivinhema Rivers (100 morphospecies) in comparison to the world average of rivers of the same size (44 species) emphasizes the importance of these habitats for the maintenance of biodiversity. The composition and density of Chironomidae in the years 2000 and 2001 differed from the other years. This period was characterized by extreme changes in the Paraná River flow caused by the closing of the Porto Primavera Dam, which added to a severe dry period in late 2001. The different compositions of morphospecies and the higher similarities in subsequent years are indicative of the recovery and adaptation of the community. In spite of the changes in the composition of morphospecies, diversity was maintained and the community continued to respond to fluctuations in the hydrometric level.

Este trabalho teve por objetivos identificar padrões de variação temporal e alterações ocorridas na estrutura da comunidade de larvas de Chironomidae de dois rios da planície aluvial do Alto Rio Paraná nos anos subseqüentes ao fechamento de um reservatório à montante, Porto Primavera. As amostras foram coletadas de 2000 a 2007 com um pegador do tipo Petersen, modificado. As larvas de Chironomidae foram identificadas até a menor categoria possível. A elevada riqueza de Chironomidae observada nos rios Paraná e Ivinhema (100 morfoespécies), quando comparada com a média mundial para rios de mesmo porte (44 espécies), ressalta a importância desses ambientes para a manutenção da biodiversidade. Tanto pela dominância, como também pela composição e densidade numérica, verificou-se que os anos de 2000 e 2001 diferiram dos demais. Este foi um período de fortes alterações no fluxo do Rio Paraná causado pela instalação do reservatório Porto Primavera aliado a uma grande seca ocorrida no final de 2001. Uma nova composição de morfoespécies e maior semelhança entre os anos seguintes são um indicativo da recuperação e adaptação da comunidade. Apesar das mudanças na composição de morfoespécies a diversidade foi mantida e a comunidade continua respondendo às flutuações do nível hidrométrico.