Chromosome 1 abnormalities in cervical carcinoma

Abnormalities of chromosome 1 have been reported in a number of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, indicating that this is a frequent event in neoplasia. Here we report our observations on aberrations of chromosome 1 in malignancies of the uterine cervix. Tumor material obtained from 148 patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix and two cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) was analyzed on direct preparations by G-banding. The results showed abnormalities of chromosome 1 to be one of the most common karyotypic changes, with 95% of the patients showing rearrangements of this chromosome. These changes were never seen as the sole abnormality but were always found in association with other chromosomal aberrations. Numerical rearrangements were present in 54% of the cases, with losses of unaltered chromosome 1 predominating. Consistent marker chromosomes included deletions of chromosome 1 at bands q32, p34, q42, p32, and p22, isochromosomes of both the "p" and "q" arms and translocations, particularly on the long arm. Specific regions on both arms of chromosome 1 (1p11-p13 and 1q21-q32) were preferentially overrepresented in changes involving this chromosome. Certain breakpoints were nonrandomly involved in the structural changes, particularly band 1q32 breaks occurring at this site in 88 instances. The presence of chromosome 1 aberrations in the two cases of CIS suggests that rearrangements of this chromosome are not always a secondary change contributing to the progression of the cancer, but also may represent an early cytogenetic event as in neuroblastoma, some leukemias, and myeloproliferative disorders

Prevalence and Determinants of Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco in the Rural Population of Karnataka, India

Background: Tobacco is known as a major cause of various preventable non-communicable diseases and kills half of all its users. With a greater prevalence in the rural community compared to the urban, this global health burden is substantially malignant. This study aimed to bridge the gap in the lack of adequate statistical information pertaining to prevalence and determinants of smoking and smokeless tobacco use in the rural population of Karnataka.Subjects and Method: This randomized community interventional study was conducted in primary health center areas of Karnataka, India. A total of 4,576 persons were interviewed (2,087 males and 2,489 females). Subjects ?30 years of age and residents for a minimum of six months were included. Mentally challenged, bedridden or differently abled subjects were excluded. The study employed a validated questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPS questionnaire concerning demographical information, behavioral, physical, and biochemical measurements. Besides tobacco, informa-tion on use of beedis, cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco products (snuff, chewing tobacco) were also elicited. Data analysis of socio-demographic characteristics (age, educational/ marital/ occupational status) was carried out only for the participants with a current smoking habit. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 18.0.Results: The overall prevalence rate of current smoking and smokeless tobacco habit in the study population was 54.8% (95%CI= 53.40 to 56.20) and the prevalence rate of ever/past users was 39.7% (95%CI= 38.26 to 41.10). Genderwise analysis predicted a higher prevalence of males currently smoking, and among them, most were 50 to 59 years of age (43.3%), illiterate (42.7%), widowed/ separated (39.8%), unskilled (44%), and semi-skilled workers (30%).Conclusion: Both genders participate in tobacco use, prevalence of smoking was higher among men and consumption of smokeless tobacco was higher among women. Subjects aged 50-59 years, illiterate, divorced/widowed/separated and, involved in unskilled or semi-skilled labor exhibited greater prevalence of tobacco habit compared to other determinants.Keywords: noncommunicable diseases, global health, tobacco use, tobacco smoking, smokeless tobacco. Correspondence: Dinesh Rajaram, Associate Professor. Department of Community Medicine, M.S. Ramaiah Medical college and Hospital, Bengaluru 560054, Karnataka, India. Email id.: [email protected]. Mobile: +919980336893

Type 2 lepra reactions (ENL) presenting with extensive cutaneous ulcerations

A 45 year old lady presented with multiple painful necrotic ulcerations over the trunk, arms, thighs and gluteal areas of two months duration. She also had erythematous papules and pustules over the face since 1 week. History of recurrent papular lesions, some of them undergoing ulceration were present since 3 years. All biochemical parameters were within normal limits. Rheumatoid factor, ANA, Elisa for HIV and VDRL were negative. Pus culture showed growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Smear for AFB showed multiple globi. Skin biopsy showed atrophic epidermis with grenz zone; dermis showed sheets of foamy macrophages and oedematous blood vessels infiltrated with neutrophils and ocasional plasma cells. Patient was admitted and was started on MDT-MB along with thalidomide and prednisolone

Novel Functional MAR Elements of Double Minute Chromosomes in Human Ovarian Cells Capable of Enhancing Gene Expression

Double minute chromosomes or double minutes (DMs) are cytogenetic hallmarks of extrachromosomal genomic amplification and play a critical role in tumorigenesis. Amplified copies of oncogenes in DMs have been associated with increased growth and survival of cancer cells but DNA sequences in DMs which are mostly non-coding remain to be characterized. Following sequencing and bioinformatics analyses, we have found 5 novel matrix attachment regions (MARs) in a 682 kb DM in the human ovarian cancer cell line, UACC-1598. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), we determined that all 5 MARs interact with the nuclear matrix in vitro. Furthermore, qPCR analysis revealed that these MARs associate with the nuclear matrix in vivo, indicating that they are functional. Transfection of MARs constructs into human embryonic kidney 293T cells showed significant enhancement of gene expression as measured by luciferase assay, suggesting that the identified MARS, particularly MARs 1 to 4, regulate their target genes in vivo and are potentially involved in DM-mediated oncogene activation

Premature chromosome condensation in human cervical carcinoma

Premature chromosome condensation was observed in 22 of 150 cases (15) of cervical cancers studied with G-banding. The percentage of premature chromosome condensation in the tumors ranged from 1.5 to 8.9. Premature chromosome condensation was present in greater frequency (16 of 22 cases) in tumors showing hyperdiploidy, suggesting that this could be a major mechanism of induction of polyploidy in addition to other operative mechanisms, such as endomitosis and endoreduplication. No relationship, either with the disease stage or prognosis, was evident. © 1987