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The mouse visual system consists of several visual cortical areas thought to be specialized for different visual features and/or tasks. Previous studies have revealed differences between primary visual cortex (V1) and other higher visual areas, namely, anterolateral (AL) and posteromedial (PM), and their tuning preferences for spatial and temporal frequency. However, these differences have primarily been characterized using methods that are biased toward superficial layers of cortex, such as two-photon calcium imaging. Fewer studies have investigated cell types in deeper layers of these areas and their tuning preferences. Because superficial versus deep-layer neurons and different types of deep-layer neurons are known to have different feedforward and feedback inputs and outputs, comparing the tuning preferences of these groups is important for understanding cortical visual information processing. In this study, we used extracellular electrophysiology and two-photon calcium imaging targeted toward two different layer 5 cell classes to characterize their tuning properties in V1, AL, and PM. We find that deep-layer neurons, similar to superficial layer neurons, are also specialized for different spatial and temporal frequencies, with the strongest differences between AL and V1, and AL and PM, but not V1 and PM. However, we note that the deep-layer neuron populations preferred a larger range of SFs and TFs compared to previous studies. We also find that extratelencephalically projecting layer 5 neurons are more direction selective than intratelencephalically projecting layer 5 neurons.

Purpose From 2009 to 2019, more than 175,000 refugees were admitted into the United States from African countries. What is known about sexual and reproductive health in this population is focused on perinatal outcomes; beliefs and attitudes towards family planning and related behaviors, which can impact perinatal health, have not been explored. Understanding these beliefs and attitudes can guide future work with this population. Study design A cross-sectional, convenience survey of 100 community-dwelling African refugee women was conducted. Results The following research questions guided analysis: What are African refugee women's family planning attitudes (pregnancy intention, desired timing, perceived fecundity)? What are African refugee women's family planning behaviors (use vs. non-use of methods, type of methods used)? and What socio-demographic factors and family planning attitudes are related to family panning behaviors (use or non-use of methods)? Almost 49% of participants reported ever using a method of family planning and 35% reported current use. Reasons for non-use included desire for more children (28.8%), infrequent intercourse (22.0%), and fear of side effects (16.9%). Nearly two thirds expressed a desire for a future pregnancy (63.4%), but the majority reported wanting to become pregnant in two or more years (25.7%) or "when God wants" (24.8%). No significant relationship was found between family planning method use and future pregnancy intention, desired timing of future pregnancy, perceived fecundity, marital status, religious affiliation, number of years in the US. Having had any formal schooling decreased the likelihood of using a family planning method. Implications for practice and research Low family planning method use rates among African refugee women are not completely explained by desires for future pregnancy, perceived fecundity, marital status, or other sociodemographic factors. Concern for future fertility and fear of side effects were identified as potentially modifiable reasons appropriate for community based culturally congruent educational interventions on family planning use.

Background Medical literature searches provide critical information for clinicians. However, the best strategy for identifying relevant high-quality literature is unknown. Objectives We compared search results using PubMed and Google Scholar on four clinical questions and analysed these results with respect to article relevance and quality. Methods Abstracts from the first 20 citations for each search were classified into three relevance categories. We used the weighted kappa statistic to analyse reviewer agreement and nonparametric rank tests to compare the number of citations for each article and the corresponding journals' impact factors. Results Reviewers ranked 67.6% of PubMed articles and 80% of Google Scholar articles as at least possibly relevant (P = 0.116) with high agreement (all kappa P-values

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored the NCI Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) State of the Science Conference on October 22–23, 2007 in Bethesda, MD. The 2-day meeting was accompanied by a permanent informational Web site and several on-line discussion periods between May 1 and December 15, 2007 (http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov). This document addresses follow-up procedures and therapeutic options for suggested diagnostic categories. Follow-up options for “nondiagnostic” and “benign” thyroid aspirates are given. The value of ultrasound examination in the follow-up of “nondiagnostic” and “benign” thyroid aspirates is discussed. Ultrasound findings requiring reaspiration or surgical resection are described as are the timing and length of clinical and ultrasonographic surveillance for cytologically “benign” nodules. Options for surgical intervention are given for the diagnostic categories of “atypical/borderline,” “follicular neoplasm,” “suspicious for malignancy” and “malignant” (http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov/pages/info/agenda/). Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:442–448. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

BACKGROUND Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been documented in malignancies associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colon carcinoma and in sporadic malignancies of the colon, stomach, and endometrium. In these malignancies, MSI is associated with defects in the DNA mismatch repair enzymes hMSH2 and hMLH1. Defects in these enzymes result in a phenotype characterized by instability of multiple microsatellite repeat sequences throughout the genome. This study sought to determine the prevalence of MSI in 80 primary Barrett esophagus-associated adenocarcinomas (BEAd) and to examine the relation of MSI with the clinical and pathologic features of the tumors. METHODS Eighty BEAd were evaluated for the presence of MSI by using the microsatellite markers BAT25, BAT26, D10S219, D10S541, and D10S551. These tumors also were evaluated for immunohistochemical expression of hMSH2 and hMLH1. RESULTS High levels of MSI were not found in any of the tumors examined. Furthermore, immunohistochemical expression of hMSH2 and hMLH1 was retained in all cases evaluated. Evidence of low level MSI was found in 16% of tumors. In none of these tumors, however, was MSI present in more than two of five loci. The presence of MSI did not correlate with patient age, tumor stage, degree of differentiation, or with patient survival. CONCLUSIONS High level MSI and loss of hMLH1/hMSH2 expression is uncommon in BEAd. A subset of BEAd demonstrate low level MSI. The presence of low level MSI was not associated with the clinicopathologic features of the tumors examined. Cancer 2001;91:1451–7. © 2001 American Cancer Society.

The haematogenous phase of cancer metastasis facilitates the transport of metastatic cells within the blood and incorporates a sequence of interactions between circulating intravascular cancer cells and the endothelium of blood vessels at the sites of tumour cell arrest. Initial interactions involve mechanical contact and transient adhesion, mediated by endothelial selectins and their ligands on the neoplastic cells. This contact initiates a sequence of activation pathways that involves cytokines, growth factors, bioactive lipids, and reactive oxygen species produced by either the cancer cell or the endothelium. These molecules elicit expression of integrin adhesion molecules in cancer cells and the endothelium, matrix metalloproteinases, and chemotactic factors that promote the attachment of tumour cells to the vessel wall and/or transvascular penetration. Induction of endothelial free radicals can be cytotoxic to cancer cells. Collectively, the sum of these interactions constitutes an interdependent relationship, the outcome of which determines the fate of the metastatic process.

Twelve human laryngeal carcinomas and 14 normal vocal cord epithelia were studied in vitro by the method of tissue culture incorporating video time-lapse microscopy. Different events were photographed by taking 'stills' from the television monitor during play-back. Outgrowths from both tumour and normal explants formed only as monolayers. Mitoses were mainly found to be localized approximately mid-way between explant and the edge of the outgrowth. Some cells were seen to become suddenly active producing oscillating blebs and sometimes they detached themselves from the monolayer culture and changed appearance. This was more prevalent in the tumour cultures. In both tumour and normal cell cultures lymphocytes were observed and their normal chemokinetic movement was changed into a rapid chemotactic attraction by the presence of a mitotic epithelial cell. These lymphocytes appear to represent T-suppressor cells. The present study has shown that primary tissue culture can be a valuable tool in the study of laryngeal carcinoma. The interaction between mitotic tumour cells and lymphocytes may represent a transformation of T-lymphocytes into LAK cells.

A plume of contaminated groundwater originating from an abandoned disposal pit for wood-creosoting waste was characterized. The important organic contaminants in the plume include naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, dibenzofuran and fluorene at individual concentrations of 1,000 to 100 μg/L. Core material from the site was studied to determine if organisms in the subsurface could adapt to this waste and if biological activity influenced the disposition of the plume. Biodegradation of these organic pollutants in subsurface material from the margin of the plume was rapid. No biodegradation of the pollutants was detected in pristine subsurface material from the same geological structure. As a result of this adaptation, the disposition of the plume was not controlled by the rate of utilization of the pollutants by the microorganisms but by the extent of utilization allowed by the supply of oxygen.

Etude de l'adaptation de microbe a la degradation d'une serie d'hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques dans un panache de pollution provenant de dechets produits lors du traitement du bois par du creosote