11q deletion or ALK activity curbs DLG2 expression to maintain an undifferentiated state in neuroblastoma

High-risk neuroblastomas typically display an undifferentiated or poorly differentiated morphology. It is therefore vital to understand molecular mechanisms that block the differentiation process. We identify an important role for oncogenic ALK-ERK1/2-SP1 signaling in the maintenance of undifferentiated neural crest-derived progenitors through the repression of DLG2, a candidate tumor suppressor gene in neuroblastoma. DLG2 is expressed in the murine "bridge signature'' that represents the transcriptional transition state when neural crest cells or Schwann cell precursors differentiate to chromaffin cells of the adrenal gland. We show that the restoration of DLG2 expression spontaneously drives neuroblastoma cell differentiation, high-lighting the importance of DLG2 in this process. These findings are supported by genetic analyses of high-risk 11q deletion neuroblastomas, which identified genetic lesions in the DLG2 gene. Our data also suggest that further exploration of other bridge genes may help elucidate the mechanisms underlying the differentiation of NC-derived progenitors and their contribution to neuroblastomas

Uptake of Lead, Cadmium, Thallium, Thorium and Uranium in Wheat, Rye, Lettuce and Potatoes - Results from a Literature Review and a Dose Study

Denna studie behandlar upptaget av de hälsovådliga metallerna bly, kadmium, tallium, torium och uran i några viktiga grödor som vete, råg, potatis och sallat som används för humankonsumtion. Syftet var att studera faktorer och mekanismer som kan påverka grödornas upptag av dessa metaller. Målsättningen var även att utröna hur stor påverkan dessa faktorer har på grödornas upptag av Pb, Cd, Tl, Th och U. En litteraturstudie visade att de domesticerade grödorna vete, potatis, råg och sallat tar upp Pb, Cd, Tl, Th och U. Upptaget är störst hos sallat och potatis, förhöjda koncentrationer i åkermarken medför därför en ökad risk för att hälsovådliga koncentrationer återfinns i grödan. En ökad metallkoncentration av dessa grundämnen i marklösning och odlingssubstrat ger oftast högre metallkoncentrationer i aktuell gröda. De högsta koncentrationerna återfinns oftast i rötterna. Oorganiskt fosfatgödsel kan innehålla Pb, Cd, Tl, Th och U beroende på typ av råvara. Studier visar att fosfatgödsels kadmiuminnehåll åtminstone ger en ökad kadmiumhalt i grödor som råg, vete, potatis och sallat. En ökad användning av fosfatgödsel tycks även ge högre halter av torium och uran i vete. Stallgödsel från nötkreatur kan minska upptaget av bly och kadmium och arbuskulär mykorrhizasvamp kan binda metaller som bly och kadmium till rotvävnader och på så vis minska upptaget i växtdelar som används för humankonsumtion. Vetes upptag av kadmium och uran studerades i en experimentell hydroponisk dosstudie. Resultaten från den experimentella studien indikerade att förhöjd kadmiumhalt och urankoncentration i näringslösning kan ha gett upphov till förhöjda halter i vete, vilket i sin tur kan ha påverkat plantans tillväxt. I uranprovserien fastställdes att perlit tog upp uran. Utifrån data från försöken beräknades fördelningskonstanten Kd för löst uran/uranhalt i perlit. I denna provserie visade beräkningar att roten genom en aktiv process tog upp uran från näringslösningen. Resultaten indikerar att det finns risker med att äta grödor som odlats i jordar med höga halter av Pb, Cd, Tl, Th eller U. Hälsovådliga koncentrationer kan nås utan att något synligt symtom på kontaminering eller förgiftning hos grödan.This study deals with the uptake of noxious metals lead, cadmium, thallium, thorium and uranium in some important crops such as wheat, rye, potatoes, and lettuce that are used for human consumption. The aim was to study factors and mechanisms that influence crop uptake of these metals. Another objective was also to define the impact of these factors on crop uptake of Pb, Cd, Tl, Th and U.  According to a literature review domesticated crops such as wheat, potatoes, rye, and lettuce take up Pb, Cd, Tl, Th and U. Lettuce and potatoes are the crop with the highest uptake. Elevated metal concentrations in arable land therefore entails a greater risk for harmful concentrations found in potato and lettuce. Increased concentrations of these elements in soil solution and growing medium usually give higher metal concentrations in the current crop. The highest concentrations are found mostly in the roots. Phosphate fertilizers may contain Pb, Cd, Tl, Th and U depending on the type of raw material used for manufacturing. Studies show that the cadmium content in phosphate fertilizer can give an increased cadmium content in crops such as rye, wheat, potatoes and lettuce. An increased use of phosphate fertilizers also appears to give higher levels of thorium and uranium in wheat. Animal manure from cattle may reduce the uptake of lead and cadmium and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can bind metals such as lead and cadmium to rot tissues and thus reduce the accumulation in plant parts used for human consumption. Wheat uptake of cadmium and uranium was studied in an experimental hydroponic dose study. The results of the experimental study indicated that elevated cadmium and uranium content in the nutrient solution increased the content of the element in the plant, which in turn may have affected the growth of the plant. The uranium sample series showed that perlite adsorbed uranium. Based on data from the trials the distribution constant Kd for dissolved uranium / uranium content in perlite was calculated. The results from the uranium sample series showed that the root through an active process took up uranium from the nutrient solution. The results indicate that there are risks associated with eating crops grown in soils with high levels of Pb, Cd, Tl, Th and U. Hazardous concentrations may be reached in the crops with no visible signs of contamination or poisoning

Utbildningsverksamhet i maktens tjänst : en kritisk analys av utbildningens betydelse i vårt samtida samhälle

Bakgrund: Inom socialtjänsten används yrkesinriktad utbildning för långtidsarbetslösa människor, trots att de inte är efterfrågade på arbetsmarknaden. De erhåller försörjningsstöd och får ofta detta villkorat med en motprestation, t ex deltagande i en yrkesutbildning. Samtidigt finns det ett stort antal människor som har både gymnasieutbildning och yrkeserfarenhet, och får sägas stå närmare arbetsmarknaden men är ändå arbetslösa. Utbildning tilldelas idag uppgiften att lösa alla möjliga problem i samhället, och en del problem där arbetsorienterad utbildning används är kanske inte arbetsrelaterade. De kanske inte ens är problem. Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka vilken betydelse utbildning har i vårt samtida samhälle. Metod: Analysen av den sociala praktiken utbildning sker, med hjälp av grammatisk och diskursiv textanalys, dialektiskt i sitt samhälleliga sammanhang. Resultat: Utbildning tilldelas i en ökande omfattning en instrumentell karaktär. Den fungerar som ett politiskt verktyg för den ekonomiska och politiska makten i deras strävan att forma samhället, och dess medlemmar, i överensstämmelse med sina egna intressen. Nyckelord: Utbildning, livslångt lärande, Gymnasiekommittén, EU

Loneliness as a predictor of quality of life among older caregivers.

Aim. This paper reports a study investigating quality of life in relation to loneliness, caregiving, social network, gender, age and economic status among caregiving men and women in a population-based sample aged 75 years or older.Background. Because of demographic changes, in the future more care for older people will be given by informal caregivers who are themselves older. Being old and caring for another older person may affect various aspects of life, such as physical and emotional health and decreased time for respite, which may affect social life and quality of life.Method. A postal questionnaire including the Short Form Health Survey was used. The sample consisted of 4278 people, aged 75 years and over, living in Sweden. Of these, 783 (18) were caregivers.Findings. Caregivers had a larger social network and reported feelings of loneliness less often than non-caregivers. Forty per cent of caregivers helped every day. There were gender differences in experiences of loneliness during the last year, with the frequency of intense feelings of loneliness being higher among women. Loneliness and a small or non-existent network were significantly associated with low quality of life among caregivers, as well as in the total sample. The results showed significant association between loneliness, weak social network and low mental quality of life.Conclusions. The fact that loneliness was the most important factor predicting low quality of life among caregivers, as well as older people in general, indicates that it is crucial in the care of older people. From a nursing perspective, the findings indicate the advantage of helping older people to keep up and develop their social networks. Nursing care should involve steps to maintain the social network before an older person becomes too weak, since decreased health status makes social contacts more difficult

Older caregivers' coping strategies and sense of coherence in relation to quality of life.

Aim. This paper reports a study to investigate coping strategies and sense of coherence in relation to gender, the extent of care, caregiving activities and health-related quality of life in a population-based sample of caregivers aged 75 and over. Background. Caring for another person can be stressful both emotionally, and caregiver burden may affect quality of life in a negative way for the carer. Caregivers’ experience of burden may depend on for example, the behaviour of the person cared for, their own health and their sense of coherence. Older people take a great part of caregiving responsibility and thus understanding of their strain and coping is required. Methods. A postal survey was carried out in 2001 with 171 informal caregivers, aged 75 or older. The response rate was 47%. The questionnaire included the Short-Form 12, Carer's Assessment of Managing Index, and Sense of Coherence instrument. Results. Almost 70% of caregivers provided help every day. Higher health-related quality of life was predicted by using self-sustaining coping strategies and by high sense of coherence. Poor economic situation and demanding social and practical support predicted low scores. Conclusion. These findings could help identify those at risk of low quality of life due to caregiving, dysfunctional coping or lack of information about care. Early intervention, including education about alternative coping strategies and practical information, might allow caregivers better possibilities to continue caring with less negative effects on their lives

Inhibition of ConA-induced proliferative response in human lymphocytes by podophyllotoxin and a detergent, Tween80

Podophyllotoxin (CPH86), at concentrations of 5 ng/ml or more, inhibited [3H]-thymidine uptake of ConA-induced proliferation of human peripheral mononuclear blood cells. Tween80, the detergent included in the anti-inflammatory drug Proresid, containing podophyllum lignan derivatives, also inhibited lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Combination of the two drugs did not, or did only weakly, potentiate the inhibitory effect of each drug