Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein which promotes the survival and differentiation of neuronal cells in vitro and plays an important role in neuronal development. In this study, we have examined ...the expression of the receptor for NGF (NGFR) in human neuronal and nonneuronal cells, both in tissue culture and in vivo. In addition to cell lines derived from neuroblastoma, astrocytoma, and melanoma, all of which share a common neuroectodermal origin, NGFR was detected in a number of cultured cells of mesenchymal, epithelial, and hematopoietic derivation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that NGFR is expressed in several nonneural human tissues, and the cell types in which NGFR was found include derivatives from all three germ layers. Thus, our findings demonstrate that NGFR is much more widely expressed in human cells and tissues than was previously thought.
A review of the clinical data base of the Hematology/Lymphoma Service at Memorial Hospital was carried out to determine the incidence of Hodgkin's disease (HD) after treatment of non‐Hodgkin's ...lymphoma (NHL). Five patients (four men, one woman) developed HD after treatment for NHL, with an interval ranging from 60 months to 23 years (median, 7.6 years). All but one had no evidence of NHL, when HD was diagnosed. Three patients in whom the diagnosis of HD was made soon after or concommitantly with the diagnosis of NHL also are reported. Supervening HD was more frequently of nodular sclerosis type. The patients were older (median, 63 years) than patients with HD as the first cancer (median, 32 years). The occurrence of HD after NHL has been observed so infrequently that it is unlikely that it may be related to the treatment of the first neoplasia.
The objective of the study was to analyse the relationship between occupational exposures and risk of pancreatic cancer. Incident cases of pancreatic cancer and hospital controls were prospectively ...identified and interviewed during the hospital stay. Occupational history was obtained by direct interview with the patient, and was available for 164 (89%) of 185 pancreatic cancer cases, and 238 (90%) of 264 controls. Two industrial hygienists evaluated exposures to 22 suspected carcinogens previously associated with pancreatic cancer. Occupational exposures were also assessed using the Finnish job-exposure matrix (FINJEM). For each type of pesticide group, moderately increased odds ratios (OR) were apparent in the high-intensity category, highest for arsenical pesticides (OR=3.4; 95% CI 0.9–12.0), and ‘other pesticides’ (OR=3.17; 95% CI 1.1–9.2). ORs for aniline derivatives, and dyes and organic pigments, were also higher for high-intensity exposure, and increased when lagged and restricted to long duration of exposure. ORs above 3 were observed for the following agents evaluated by FINJEM: pesticides, benzoapyrene, lead, volatile sulphur compounds, and sedentary work. Whilst generally negative, results lend moderate support to the hypothesis of an association between exposure to some pesticides and pancreatic cancer. Larger studies could address the potential for these compounds to modify the carcinogenic risk of other environmental exposures. Suggestive increases in risk from aniline derivatives, dyes and organic pigments, and benzoapyrene may also deserve further attention.
Ningún estudio sobre mutaciones en el oncogén K-ras y los cánceres de páncreas exocrino y del sistema biliar ha analizado la fiabilidad de la información clínica y epidemiológica utilizada. En el ...contexto de un estudio prospectivo multicéntrico sobre dichas neoplasias se ha analizado la concordancia entre la información facilitada por el paciente y la facilitada por un familiar respecto a diversos factores asociados a aquéllas.
Se cumplimentaron un total de 110 pares de entrevistas y el acuerdo se midió mediante los índices kappa simple (k) y ponderado (kp), el porcentaje de acuerdo simple, y los porcentajes de acuerdo para los valores positivos y negativos.
La concordancia para los distintos antecedentes patológicos fue excelente (k entre 0,89 y 0,76), al igual que para el consumo habitual de tabaco (k=0,98). El acuerdo fue entre moderado y alto para el consumo habitual de café (k=0,68) y las frecuencias de consumo de grupos de alimentos (kp entre 0,66 y 0,38). Los familiares refirieron sistemáticamente un mayor consumo de bebidas alcohólicas que los pacientes (k entre 0,71 y 0,32).
En general, los familiares pueden tomarse como fuente de información alternativa en caso de incapacidad de los pacientes, aunque deben considerarse con cautela los datos referentes al consumo de alcohol.
No study on mutations in the K-ras oncogene and cancer of the exocrine pancreas or cancer of the biliary system has analyzed the reliability of clinical and epidemiological information.
Agreement between patient and surrogate on factors potentially related to both tumours was evaluated within a multicentre prospective study. Interviews were personally adminstered to both patient and surrogate (N=110 pairs). Agreement was examined viathe simple kappa index (k), the weighted kappa index (kw), the percentage of simple agreement, and the percentages of positive and negative agreement.
Agreement for medical history was excellent (k between 0.89 and 0.76), as it was for tobacco consumption (k=0.98). Agreement was moderate for coffee consumption (k=0.68), frequencies of food groups (kw from 0.66 to 0.38), and consumption of alcoholic drinks (k from 0.66 to 0.32). Surrogates indicated a higher consumption of alcohol than patients.
Surrogates can be an alternative source of information when patients cannot be interviewed, but information on alcohol consumption should be treated with caution.
The objective of the study was to analyse the relationship between occupational exposures and risk of pancreatic cancer. Incident cases of pancreatic cancer and hospital controls were prospectively ...identified and interviewed during the hospital stay. Occupational history was obtained by direct interview with the patient, and was available for 164 (89%) of 185 pancreatic cancer cases, and 238 (90%) of 264 controls. Two industrial hygienists evaluated exposures to 22 suspected carcinogens previously associated with pancreatic cancer. Occupational exposures were also assessed using the Finnish job-exposure matrix (FINJEM). For each type of pesticide group, moderately increased odds ratios (OR) were apparent in the high-intensity category, highest for arsenical pesticides (OR=3.4; 95% CI 0.9–12.0), and ‘other pesticides’ (OR=3.17; 95% CI 1.1–9.2). ORs for aniline derivatives, and dyes and organic pigments, were also higher for high-intensity exposure, and increased when lagged and restricted to long duration of exposure. ORs above 3 were observed for the following agents evaluated by FINJEM: pesticides, benzoapyrene, lead, volatile sulphur compounds, and sedentary work. Whilst generally negative, results lend moderate support to the hypothesis of an association between exposure to some pesticides and pancreatic cancer. Larger studies could address the potential for these compounds to modify the carcinogenic risk of other environmental exposures. Suggestive increases in risk from aniline derivatives, dyes and organic pigments, and benzoapyrene may also deserve further attention.
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