MATERIALS AND METHODS: The miR-302 cluster was amplified by polymerase chain reaction technique from human genomic DNA and was ligated into pTRIPz, an inducible lentiviral vector.
RESULTS: MRC5 fibroblasts and HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) cells were infected with pTRIPz-302 cluster lentivirus and the family of 302 miRNAs were strongly expressed in HEK293 cells but lowly expressed in MRC5 fibroblasts. When cultured in hESC conditions, MRC5 cells expressed only low levels of DNMT3B, Nanog, Oct4 and Lin28 and failed to show stem cell induction. The red fluorescent expression seen in the majority of MRC5 cells, indicated that the rate of infection by lentivirus was efficient.
DISCUSSION: The efficiency of reprogramming may be improved perhaps by either using a different cell type or a high expression vector with a different type of promoter.
CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old female presented with a 3-cm painless right axillary mass. Extensive radiological investigations that include mammography, ultrasonography of the breasts and positron emission tomography (PET) scan failed to conclude the primary site of the tumour. Histological examination of the lymph node revealed loosely cohesive sheets of poorly differentiated malignant cells, without discernible glandular or squamous differentiation. Immunohistochemically, the malignant cells exhibited diffuse immunoreactivity toward pan-cytokeratin and CK7, while leukocyte common antigen, S100 and CK20 were negative. A second panel of immunomarkers was carried out. The malignant cells expressed breast-specific markers (GATA-3, GCDFP-15 and mammaglobin), and were negative for ER, PR and TTF-1 immunohistochemistry. A diagnosis of OBC was rendered.
DISCUSSION: Breast primary must always be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with sole presentation of axillary lymphadenopathy. The breast-specific immunomarkers play a pivotal role in the diagnosis of ER, PR-negative occult breast cancer.
METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed on 5 databases from inception up to 31 December 2019. These interactions were classified depending on the likelihood of interaction and supporting evidences.
RESULTS: A total of 149 articles describing 78 herbs, food or dietary supplements were reported to interact with warfarin. These reports described potentiation with 45 (57.7%) herbs, food or dietary supplements while 23 (29.5%) reported inhibition and 10 (12.8%) reported limited impact on warfarin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Twenty unique herb and dietary supplements also reported to result in minor bleeding events, such as purpura and gum bleeding as well as major events such as intracranial bleeding that led to death.
CONCLUSION: While most food, herbs and supplements can be safely taken in moderation, healthcare professionals should be aware of the increased risk of bleeding when taking several food and herbs. These include Chinese wolfberry, chamomile tea, cannabis, cranberry, chitosan, green tea, Ginkgo biloba, ginger, spinach, St. John's Wort, sushi and smoking tobacco. Patients should be counselled to continue to seek advice from their healthcare professionals when starting any new herbs, food or supplement.
METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Psychological Medicine, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess anxiety and depression among ATS users. Religiosity and religious coping were measured with Duke University Religious Index and Brief RCOPE.
RESULTS: This study involved 215 ATS users. Almost half of the ATS users had either anxiety (n = 96; 44.6%) or depression (n = 108; 50.2%), which were associated with polysubstance use or having an existing psychiatric disorder. Subjects with higher religiosity and positive religious coping were less anxious or depressed. However, negative religious coping was significantly associated with anxiety and depression in ATS users.
CONCLUSION: Anxiety and depression are prevalent in ATS users. Integrating religiosity and religious coping into the ATS users' treatment plan helps to improve their mental well-being.