Broad applications of diffusion bonding

Solid state joining of materials by diffusion bondin

Circulating levels of prolactin in human breast cancer.

Serum prolactin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays in 98 patients with established carcinoma of breast, 12 patients with cystic mastitis and 10 patients with gynaecomastia and compared with that of age matched normal control women. The serum prolactin levels in the patients with breast cancer, gynaecomastia or cystic mastitis were observed to be similar to that in normal women. It was interesting to note that the levels of prolactin in the luteal phase of the cycle were higher than that in the early follicular phase in normal women

Endothelial Function is Preserved in Ultra-Marathon Runners Following a 50 km Race

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Intracytoplasmic type A particles from mammary tumours and leukaemias of strain ICRC mice.

The ovarian-hormone-induced leukaemias of strain ICRC mice, with an abundance of intracytoplasmic type A particles in primary as well as transplanted lesions, were used to study morphological, biophysical, immunological and structural characteristics of type A particles. Mammary tumours of strains ICRC and C3H(Jax) were also used as sources for type A particles. The purified virions banded at the density of 1.20 g/ml in 12--60% linear sucrose-density gradient when subjected to spinning at 113,000 g for 4 h. The SDS-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of type A particles from mammary tumours and leukaemias reproducibly resolved at least 8 polypeptides, 2 of these 54,000 and 24,000 dalton proteins, showing variable expression. Type A particles and B particles, despite the fact that each had a distinct polypeptide pattern, showed common antigens with different electrophoretic mobilities. Proteins of 24,000, 18,000 and 12,000 daltons from B particles were found to be antigenically related to those from type A particles. The bioassay studies carried out with purified A particles showed that 2/7 males of strain ICRC and 1/6 females of strain DBA-MTI developed leukaemias, as against none in the controls, when inoculated between the ages of 1-7 days. Spleen tumour and cervical tumour were seen in one female each of strain DBA-MTI

Ectopic production of human placental lactogen by human breast tumors

Serum samples from 72 patients with established carcinoma of the breast were investigated for ectopic presence of hPL. Further, the relationship of ectopically-secreted hPL and hCG-β in breast cancer was investigated. Ten of 72 patients examined had detectable hPL and 12 had detectable hCG-β, at 1-2 ng/ml serum sensitivity of the assay. The presence of hPL in serum of breast cancer patients was found to be independent of that of hCG-β. Sera of 13 patients with cystic mastitis, five with fibroadenoma, two with acute inflamation of breast, 20 normal women (non-pregnant) and 20 normal men did not show any detectable serum hPL or hCG-β at the above mentioned sensitivity of the assay. Since these hormones were not detectable in normal men, normal non-pregnant women, and in patients having other pathological conditions of breast, the possible use of them as markers in cancer is expected

Differential Post-Exercise Blood Pressure Responses between Blacks and Caucasians

Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is widely observed in Caucasians (CA) and is associated with histamine receptors 1- and 2- (H1R and H2R) mediated post-exercise vasodilation. However, it appears that blacks (BL) may not exhibit PEH following aerobic exercise. Hence, this study sought to determine the extent to which BL develop PEH, and the contri- bution of histamine receptors to PEH (or lack thereof) in this population. Forty-nine (22 BL, 27 CA) young and healthy subjects completed the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to take either a combined H1R and H2R antagonist (fexofenadine and ranitidine) or a con- trol placebo. Supine blood pressure (BP), cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance measurements were obtained at baseline, as well as at 30 min, 60 min and 90 min after 45 min of treadmill exercise at 70% heart rate reserve. Exercise increased diastolic BP in young BL but not in CA. Post-exercise diastolic BP was also elevated in BL after exercise with histamine receptor blockade. Moreover, H1R and H2R blockade elicited differential responses in stroke volume between BL and CA at rest, and the difference remained follow- ing exercise. Our findings show differential BP responses following exercise in BL and CA, and a potential role of histamine receptors in mediating basal and post-exercise stroke vol- ume in BL. The heightened BP and vascular responses to exercise stimulus is consistent with the greater CVD risk in BL

Global effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Although mortality due to COVID-19 has been reportedly low among children with cancer, changes in health-care services due to the pandemic have affected cancer care delivery. This study aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood cancer care worldwide. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to paediatric oncology providers worldwide from June 22 to Aug 21, 2020, through the St Jude Global Alliance and International Society for Paediatric Oncology listservs and regional networks. The survey included 60 questions to assess institution characteristics, the number of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, disruptions to cancer care (eg, service closures and treatment abandonment), adaptations to care, and resources (including availability of clinical staff and personal protective equipment). Surveys were included for analysis if respondents answered at least two thirds of the items, and the responses were analysed at the institutional level. FINDINGS: Responses from 311 health-care professionals at 213 institutions in 79 countries from all WHO regions were included in the analysis. 187 (88%) of 213 centres had the capacity to test for SARS-CoV-2 and a median of two (range 0-350) infections per institutution were reported in children with cancer. 15 (7%) centres reported complete closure of paediatric haematology-oncology services (median 10 days, range 1-75 days). Overall, 2% (5 of 213) of centres were no longer evaluating new cases of suspected cancer, while 43% (90 of 208) of the remaining centers described a decrease in newly diagnosed paediatric cancer cases. 73 (34%) centres reported increased treatment abandonment (ie, failure to initiate cancer therapy or a delay in care of 4 weeks or longer). Changes to cancer care delivery included: reduced surgical care (153 [72%]), blood product shortages (127 [60%]), chemotherapy modifications (121 [57%]), and interruptions to radiotherapy (43 [28%] of 155 institutions that provided radiotherapy before the pandemic). The decreased number of new cancer diagnoses did not vary based on country income status (p=0·14). However, unavailability of chemotherapy agents (p=0·022), treatment abandonment (p<0·0001), and interruptions in radiotherapy (p<0·0001) were more frequent in low-income and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. These findings did not vary based on institutional or national numbers of COVID-19 cases. Hospitals reported using new or adapted checklists (146 [69%] of 213), processes for communication with patients and families (134 [63%]), and guidelines for essential services (119 [56%]) as a result of the pandemic. INTERPRETATION: The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably affected paediatric oncology services worldwide, posing substantial disruptions to cancer diagnosis and management, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. This study emphasises the urgency of an equitably distributed robust global response to support paediatric oncology care during this pandemic and future public health emergencies. FUNDING: American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities. TRANSLATION: For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section

Midlife Cardiovascular Health and Robust Versus Frail Late-Life Status: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Background: We examined the relationship of midlife cardiovascular health (CVH) with late-life robustness among men and women and the impact of survivorship bias on sex differences in robustness. Methods: Prospective analysis of 15 744 participants aged 45-64 (visit 1 median age: 54 years, 55% female, 27% Black) in 1987-1989 from the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. CVH was operationalized according to the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) metric of health behaviors (smoking, weight, physical activity, diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose); each behavior was scored as ideal (2 points), intermediate (1 point), or poor (0 points) and summed. Late-life robust/prefrail/frailty was defined at visit 5 (2011-2013). Multinomial regression estimated relative prevalence ratios (RPRs) of late-life robustness/prefrailty/frailty/death across overall midlife LS7 score and components, for the full visit 1 sample. Separate analyses considered visit 5 survivors-only. Results: For each 1-unit greater midlife LS7 score, participants had a 37% higher relative prevalence of being robust versus frail (overall RPR = 1.37 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.30-1.44]; women = 1.45 [1.36-1.54]; men = 1.24 [1.13-1.36]). Among the full visit 1 sample, women had a similar 1-level higher robustness category prevalence (RPR = 1.35 [95% CI: 1.32-1.39]) than men (RPR = 1.31 [95% CI: 1.27-1.35]) for every 1-unit higher midlife LS7 score. Among survivors, men were more likely to be robust than women at lower LS7 levels; differences were attenuated and not statistically different at higher midlife LS7 levels. Conclusions: Midlife CVH is positively associated with robustness in late life among men and women. Accounting for mortality in part explains documented sex differences in robustness across all levels of LS7