Corrigendum to "Expression of Intratumoral IGF-II Is Regulated by the Gene Imprinting Status in Triple Negative Breast Cancer from Vietnamese Patients"

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/401851.].

Expression of Intratumoral IGF-II Is Regulated by the Gene Imprinting Status in Triple Negative Breast Cancer from Vietnamese Patients

African American women suffer higher incidence and mortality of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) than Caucasian women. TNBC is very aggressive, causing the worst clinical outcome. We previously demonstrated that tumors from these patients express high IGF-II and exhibit high activation of the IGF signaling pathways. IGF-II gene expression is imprinted (monoallelic), promotes tumor progression, and metastasis and regulates Survivin, a TNBC prognostic marker. Since BC mortality has increased among young Vietnamese women, we analyzed 48 (paired) TNBC samples from Vietnamese patients to assess IGF-II expression. We analyzed all samples by qrtPCR for identification of IGF-II heterozygosity and to determine allelic expression of the IGF-II gene. We also analyzed the tissues for proIGF-II and Survivin by RT-PCR and Western blotting. A total of 28 samples displayed IGF-II heterozygosity of which 78% were biallelic. Tumors with biallelic IGF-II gene expression exhibited the highest levels of proIGF-II and Survivin. Although 100% of these tissues corresponding normal samples were biallelic, they expressed significantly lower levels of or no proIGF-II and Survivin. Thus, IGF-II biallelic gene expression is differentially regulated in normal versus tumor tissues. We propose that intratumoral proIGF-II is dependent on the IGF-II gene imprinting status and it will promote a more aggressive TNBC.

US drinking water: fluoridation knowledge level of water plant operators

OBJECTIVES

We determined the knowledge level of water plant operators who fluoridate drinking water, and we compared small and large water plants.

METHODS

A pretested survey was sent to 2,381 water plant operators in 12 states that adjust the fluoride concentration of drinking water. A z-test for proportion was used to test for statistical difference between small and large plants at alpha = 0.05. Small water plants were those treating less than 1 million gallons of water daily.

RESULTS

Eight hundred small and 480 large water plant operators responded, resulting in a response rate of 54 percent. Two-thirds of water plant operators correctly identified the optimal fluoride level, but more than 20 percent used a poor source for choosing the optimal level. Only one-fourth of operators were able to maintain the fluoride concentration to within 0.1 mg/L of the optimal concentration. A significantly greater proportion of operators at large water plants than at small water plants reported that they were able to maintain a fluoride concentration to within 0.1 mg/L of the optimal concentration (33.5% vs 21.3%, z = 4.74, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although most operators correctly identified the optimal fluoride level, small water plant operators were less likely to use accurate reasoning for choosing that level and in maintaining fluoride concentrations within 0.1 mg/L of that level than large water plant operators.

Expression of thyroglobulin gene in maternal and fetal thyroid in rats

The relationship between the changes in thyroglobulin (Tg) mRNA and Tg proteins during thyroid development in the fetus and in maternal thyroid glands during gestation and lactation is studied. While the appearance of Tg mRNA (fetal day 15) showed good temporal correlation with that of 12S Tg, no 19S Tg could be detected until 3 days later. The 12S Tg was the predominant protein on days 18 and 19 of gestation in the fetus, while 19S Tg was the predominant protein on fetal days 21-22 and during the postnatal period in the offspring; by the 20th postnatal day, the 19S Tg content per gland was 4 times the amount of 12S (155 vs. 37 micrograms/gland; P less than 0.001). The 19S iodine content in the fetus was the same as that in 12S up to the 21st day of gestation, except for lower values on day 18. From fetal day 22 and through the postnatal period, the iodine content in 19S was 1.6-5.9 times greater than that in 12S. Therefore, the ratio of atoms of iodine per mol Tg during the experimental period changed from 0.75 to 19.5 for 19S and from 0.72 to 7.2 for 12S. The levels of all of the iodoamino acids were low on fetal days 17-19, after which they increased at different rates for each protein. The greatest increase in monoiodotyrosine and T3 corresponded to 12S, while diiodotyrosine and especially T4 showed a greater increase in 19S than in 12S Tg; 20 days after birth, the T4 content in 19S was about 3 times greater than that in 12S Tg. The soluble thyroid proteins from pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant female controls contained a main protein, 19S, and a smaller amount of 27S. Both 19S Tg and 19S iodine contents were already lower than those in nonpregnant rats at 14 days of pregnancy, and the levels continued to decrease during the experimental period. In contrast, the 27S Tg and 27S iodine levels remained constant and similar to nonpregnant values. Surprisingly, a decrease in the level of Tg mRNA was observed during pregnancy and lactation. We have no explanation for the dramatic decrease in Tg mRNA during the last days of pregnancy. Further studies should help to elucidate the mechanism responsible for the changes in Tg gene expression in the thyroids of pregnant and lactating rats.

Study of the gonadotropic cells in the rat after chronic administration of met-enkephalin: light, electron microscope and image analysis

The effects of a chronic administration of met-enkephalin (40 micrograms/day, for 20 days) on the pituitary gonadotropic cells of Wistar male rats were studied in light (PAS alcian blue-orange G and PAP-immunohistochemical for FSH and LH demonstration techniques) and by electron microscope. Also the D CIRCLE (mean diameter) and FORM PE (circular factor of form; irregularity degree) from secretory granules of these cell types were evaluated. The cellular alterations are variable. Gonadotropic cells show an increase on the cytoplasmic basophilia and immunohistochemical reaction. At the electron microscope level the gonadotropic cells show an enlargement and dilatation of RER and Golgi apparatus. The secretory granules are bigger and more spherical in experimental than in normal and control animals. A lot of cells show a large cytoplasmic vacuole which is formed from dilated RER-cisternae. The authors discuss the possible mechanism of action whereby met-enkephalin exerts control on gonadotropic cells.