Isochromosome 12p-positive pineal germ cell tumor

We report the chromosomal characteristics of a recurrent pineal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor in a 16 year-old male patient. This nonseminomatous tumor had the following components: embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, yolk sac tumor, and trophoblastic giant cells. Chromosome analysis showed a near-triploid karyotype (64 chromosomes), including two copies of an isochromosome 12p. This latter finding could be confirmed using 12p-specific competitive in situ hybridization techniques applied to cultured cells (T2219-P6 cell line) derived from the tumor. The present findings are in keeping with the hypothesis that isochromosome 12p formation is associated with the development of malignant extragonadal germ cell tumors

Study on lifestyle-intervention and impaired glucose tolerance Maastricht (SLIM): Design and screening results

The study on lifestyle-intervention and impaired glucose tolerance Maastricht (SLIM) is a 3 years randomised clinical trial designed to evaluate the effect of a combined diet and physical activity intervention program on glucose tolerance in a Dutch population at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Here the design of the lifestyle-intervention study is described and results are presented from the preliminary population screening, conducted between March 1999 and June 2000. In total, 2820 subjects with an increased risk of having disturbances in glucose homeostasis (i.e. age >40 years and BMI > 25 kg/m2 or a family history of diabetes) underwent a first oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Abnormal glucose homeostasis was detected in 826 subjects (30.4%): 226 type 2 diabetes (type 2DM, 8.3%), 215 impaired fasting glucose (IFG, 7.9%) and 385 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, 14.2%). Both increasing age and BMI were strongly related to the prevalence of IGT and diabetes. After a second OGTT, 114 subjects with glucose intolerance and in otherwise good health were eligible for participation in the intervention study (SLIM). The high prevalence of disturbances in glucose homeostasis observed in the preliminary screening underscore the importance of early (lifestyle) interventions in those at risk for developing diabetes. SLIM will address this topic in the Dutch population