Cancer Clinical Trials Education Program: A Training Program to Reach Patients and the Public

Despite advances in cancer research, accrual of cancer patients or participants to clinical trials, as a treatment or prevention option, has remained low, hindering both research progress and patient access to potentially beneficial therapy. As one response, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the NCI-supported Cancer Information Service, partnered with the Oncology Nursing Society, the Association of Oncology Social Work, and Novartis Oncology, to implement the NCI’s Cancer Clinical Trials Education Program (CCTEP) for health professionals, using a “train-the-trainer” approach. From June 1997-June 1999, approximately 300 “charter” trainees completed the training program and presented programs for over 1,500 participants. Evaluation efforts are ongoing. The CCTEP was developed and is being implemented within a collaborative partnership model, insuring a broad reach to health professionals, patients and the public. The use of this partnership model for a far-reaching educational effort can be adapted by other program planners.

Numerical computation of an Evans function for travelling waves

We demonstrate a geometrically inspired technique for computing Evans functions for the linearised operators about travelling waves. Using the examples of the F-KPP equation and a Keller-Segel model of bacterial chemotaxis, we produce an Evans function which is computable through several orders of magnitude in the spectral parameter and show how such a function can naturally be extended into the continuous spectrum. In both examples, we use this function to numerically verify the absence of eigenvalues in a large region of the right half of the spectral plane. We also include a new proof of spectral stability in the appropriate weighted space of travelling waves of speed c≥2√δ in the F-KPP equation.

A novel ISWI is involved in VSG expression site downregulation in African trypanosomes

African trypanosomes show monoallelic expression of one of about 20 telomeric variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) gene-expression sites (ESs) while multiplying in the mammalian bloodstream. We screened for genes involved in ES silencing using flow cytometry and RNA interference (RNAi). We show that a novel member of the ISWI family of SWI2/SNF2-related chromatin-remodelling proteins (TbISWI) is involved in ES downregulation in Trypanosoma brucei. TbISWI has an atypical protein architecture for an ISWI, as it lacks characteristic SANT domains. Depletion of TbISWI by RNAi leads to 30-60-fold derepression of ESs in bloodstream-form T. brucei, and 10-17-fold derepression in insect form T. brucei. We show that although blocking synthesis of TbISWI leads to derepression of silent VSG ES promoters, this does not lead to fully processive transcription of silent ESs, or an increase in ES-activation rates. VSG ES activation in African trypanosomes therefore appears to be a multistep process, whereby an increase in transcription from a silent ES promoter is necessary but not sufficient for full ES activation.

Characterisation of 3-methylorcinaldehyde synthase (MOS) in Acremonium strictum: first observation of a reductive release mechanism during polyketide biosynthesis

Isolation and sequencing of a PKS gene isolated from xenovulene-producing cultures of Acremonium strictum indicated the presence of NT-, KS-, AT-, PT-, C-MeT- and R-domains; heterologous expression in Aspergillus oryzae resulted in the production of 3-methylorcinaldehyde, demonstrating the role of the terminal reductase domain in product release.

Synthesis and evaluation of a new non-fluorescent quencher in fluorogenic oligonucleotide probes for real-time PCR

A non-fluorescent quencher, based on the diaminoanthraquinone Disperse Blue 3, has been incorporated into oligonucleotides at the 5'-end, the 3'-end and internally as a thymidine derivative. Fluorimetry and fluorogenic real-time PCR experiments demonstrate that the quencher is effective with a wide range of fluorescent dyes. The anthraquinone moiety increases the melting temperature of DNA duplexes, thus allowing shorter, more discriminatory probes to be used. The quencher has been used in Scorpion primers and TaqMan probes for human DNA sequence recognition and mutation detection.

Mutation of the gene encoding the enamel-specific protein, enamelin, causes autosomal-dominant amelogenesis imperfecta

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a group of inherited defects of dental enamel formation that shows both clinical and genetic heterogeneity. To date, mutations in the gene encoding amelogenin have been shown to underlie a subset of the X-linked recessive forms of AI. Although none of the genes underlying autosomal-dominant or autosomal-recessive AI have been identified, a locus for a local hypoplastic form has been mapped to human chromosome 4q11-q21. In the current investigation, we have analysed a family with an autosomal-dominant, smooth hypoplastic form of AI. Our results have shown that a splicing mutation in the splice donor site of intron 7 of the gene encoding the enamel-specific protein enamelin underlies the phenotype observed in this family. This is the first autosomal-dominant form of AI for which the genetic mutation has been identified. As this type of AI is clinically distinct from that localized previously to chromosome 4q11-q21, these findings highlight the need for a molecular classification of this group of disorders.

Origins of autobiographical memory

This study tested the predictions of M. L. Howe and M. L. Courage's (1993, 1997) theory of infantile amnesia compared with a social-interactionist account of autobiographical memory development (R. Fivush & E. Reese, 1992; K. Nelson, 1993b). Fifty-eight mother-child dyads were assessed for maternal styles of talking about the past and for children's self-recognition, language production, and nonverbal memory when the children were 19 months old. Children's shared and independent memory reports were then assessed from 19 to 32 months. Maternal reminiscing style and self-recognition uniquely predicted children's shared memory reports across time, even with children's initial language and nonverbal memory factored out. Self-recognition skills also predicted children's later independent memory. These results support a pluralistic account of the origins of autobiographical memory.

Origins of autobiographical memory

This study tested the predictions of M. L. Howe and M. L. Courage's (1993, 1997) theory of infantile amnesia compared with a social-interactionist account of autobiographical memory development (R. Fivush & E. Reese, 1992; K. Nelson, 1993b). Fifty-eight mother-child dyads were assessed for maternal styles of talking about the past and for children's self-recognition, language production, and nonverbal memory when the children were 19 months old. Children's shared and independent memory reports were then assessed from 19 to 32 months. Maternal reminiscing style and self-recognition uniquely predicted children's shared memory reports across time, even with children's initial language and nonverbal memory factored out. Self-recognition skills also predicted children's later independent memory. These results support a pluralistic account of the origins of autobiographical memory.

Tooth wear in the child and the youth

Tooth surface loss is an increasing problem in younger individuals. Preventive strategies are essential while adhesive dentistry should be used whenever possible if restoration is necessary.

The MFDS/MFD examination

The MFDS is a new examination designed and administered by the Royal Surgical Colleges of England, Scotland and Ireland. It can be taken after GPT and will be a pre-requisite to the commencement of specialist training.

Quality of Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR) data

SMR1 is an episode based record relating to all inpatients and day cases discharged from non psychiatric, non obstetric wards in Scottish hospitals. A record is raised when a patient is discharged from hospital, changes consultant or is transferred to another hospital. SMR1 records contain clinical and non clinical data. Approximately 1 million records are created annually.