Pregnancy-specific reference ranges for haematological variables in a Scottish population.

Using laboratory reference ranges, B12 deficiency is inappropriately diagnosed and treated in pregnancy. We aim to define reference ranges for ferritin, folate, haemoglobin and B12 in a pregnant population with advancing gestation. A total of 190 women participated in a cross-sectional study, 113 in the 1st and 77 in the 3rd trimester. All variables studied except red cell folate, decreased significantly from the 1st to the 3rd trimester. A total of 34% (64/190) of women were found to have 'low' B12 as defined by traditional ranges. In women with anaemia and apparent B12 deficiency, co-existing ferritin deficiency was demonstrated. All women with 'low' B12 levels were invited to attend postnatally for re-testing. A total of 28% (18/64) attended, in whom all B12 levels spontaneously increased. The use of gestation specific reference ranges for haematological variables may reduce inappropriate diagnosis of B12 deficiency. In most women with apparent low B12 levels and anaemia, ferritin deficiency was demonstrated. Therefore iron should be the initial management therapy.

Telomeric aggregates and end-to-end chromosomal fusions require myc box II.

Telomeres of tumor cells form telomeric aggregates (TAs) within the three-dimensional (3D) interphase nucleus. Some of these TAs represent end-to-end chromosomal fusions and may subsequently initiate breakage-bridge-fusion cycles. Wild-type (wt) and myc box II mutant (mt) Myc induce different types of genomic instability when conditionally expressed in mouse proB cells (Ba/F3). Only wt Myc overexpressing Ba/F3 cells are capable of tumor formation in severe combined immunodeficient mice. In this study, we investigated whether telomere dysfunction leading to TA formation is linked to the genetic changes that permit wt c-Myc-dependent transformation of Ba/F3 cells. To this end, we examined the 3D organization of telomeres after the deregulated expression of deletion myc boxII mutant (Delta106) or wt Myc. Delta106-Myc overexpression did not induce TAs, whereas wt-Myc deregulation did. Instead, Delta106-Myc remodelled the 3D telomeric organization such that telomeres aligned in the center of the 3D interphase nucleus forming a telomeric disk owing to a Delta106-induced G1/S cell cycle arrest. In contrast, wt-Myc overexpression led to distorted telomere distribution and TA formation. Analysis of chromosomal alterations using spectral karyotyping confirmed Delta106-Myc and wt-Myc-associated genomic instability. A significant number of chromosomal end-to-end fusions indicative of telomere dysfunction were noted in wt-Myc-expressing cells only. This study suggests that TAs may play a fundamental role in Myc-induced tumorigenesis and provides a novel way to dissect tumor initiation.

Internal family systems therapy for children in family therapy.

This article presents a developmentally supported implementation of Internal Family Systems Therapy for school-age children and their families. Relevant developmental characteristics of children are described. Suggestions for working with parents, child-oriented interventions, and a case example are presented.

Characterizing the three-dimensional organization of telomeres.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative analysis can be used in combination with fluorescence microscopy. Although the human eye is able to obtain good qualitative results, when analyzing the spatial organization of telomeres in interphase nuclei, there is a need for quantitative results based on image analysis. METHODS: We developed a tool for analyzing three-dimensional images of telomeres stained by fluorescence in situ hybridization in interphase nuclei with DNA counterstained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. After deconvolution of the image, we segmented individual telomeres. From the location of the telomeres we derived a distribution parameter rhoT, which indicated whether the telomeres were in a disk (rhoT >> 1) or not (rhoT approximately 1). We sorted mouse lymphocyte nuclei and measured rhoT. We also performed a bromodeoxyuridine synchronous cell sorting experiment on live cells and measured rhoT at several instances. RESULTS: Measuring rhoT for nuclei in G0/G1, S, and G2 produced 1.4 +/- 0.1, 1.5 +/- 0.2, and 14 +/- 2, respectively, showing a significant difference between G2 and G0/G1 or S. For the bromodeoxyuridine synchronous cell sorting experiment, we found a cell cycle dependency of rhoT and a correlation between rhoT and an observer. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we present a quantitative method to characterize the organization of telomeres using three-dimensional imaging, image processing, and image analysis.

Eyewitness performance in cognitive and structured interviews.

This paper addresses two methodological and theoretical questions relating to the Cognitive Interview (CI), which previous research has found to increase witness recall in interviews. (1) What are the effects of the CI mnemonic techniques when communication techniques are held constant? (2) How do trained interviewers compare with untrained interviewers? In this study, witnesses (college students) viewed a short film clip of a shooting and were questioned by interviewers (research assistants) trained in conducting the CI or a Structured Interview (SI)--similar to the CI except for the "cognitive" components--or by untrained interviewers (UI). The CI and SI groups recalled significantly more correct information compared to the UI group. However they also reported more errors and confabulated details. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed in terms of precisely identifying the CI facilitatory effects and consequent good practice in the forensic setting.