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Culture supernatants from four species of skin micro-organisms were tested against VERO (monkey kidney cells) and skin fibroblasts for cytotoxic activity. Cytotoxic activity was produced by the three species of Propionibacterium tested (P. acnes, P. avidum and P. granulosum), and this activity was highest when cultures were grown in the presence of glucose. In contrast, Staphylococcus epidermidis was devoid of cytotoxic activity whether grown in the presence of glucose or not. The agent responsible for the cytotoxic activity was heat stable, of low molecular weight and removable from supernatants by ether extraction. These properties, coupled with the finding that the levels of cytotoxicity arc directly proportional to the concentrations of propionate measured in samples, suggests that propionate is the agent responsible for the cytotoxicity of the culture supernatants. Pure propionate and the salts of other carboxylic acids (C1 to C5) were tested at the same concentrations and showed different degrees of cytotoxicity depending on their chain length. Propionate may have an important role in the aetiology of the disease acne vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency, in women with breast cancer, of mutations and other variants in the susceptibility gene, BRCA1, was investigated using a population-based case-control-family study. Cases were women living in Melbourne or Sydney, Australia, with histologically confirmed, first primary, invasive breast cancer, diagnosed before the age of 40 years, recorded on the state Cancer Registries. Controls were women without breast cancer, frequency-matched for age, randomly selected from electoral rolls. Full manual sequencing of the coding region ofBRCA1 was conducted in a randomly stratified sample of 91 cases; 47 with, and 44 without, a family history of breast cancer in a first- or second-degree relative. All detected variants were tested in a random sample of 67 controls. Three cases with a (protein-truncating) mutation were detected. Only one case had a family history; her mother had breast cancer, but did not carry the mutation. The proportion of Australian women with breast cancer before age 40 who carry a germline mutation inBRCA1 was estimated to be 3.8% (95% Cl 0.3-12.6%). Seven rare variants were also detected, but for none was there evidence of a strong effect on breast cancer susceptibility. Therefore, on a population basis, rare variants are likely to contribute little to breast cancer incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the genetic aspects of paleontological research into the genetic aspects of dentition. The challenges associated with the distinction between genetic adaptations and genetic drift are addressed. The possibility that adaptive traits that are unrelated to dentition and mastications could have influenced the evolution of teeth is considered.

The article presents information on research into the impact or prenatal factors on the size of teeth. The maternal conditions of hypertension, hypothyroidism and diabetes were investigated. Length of gestation, birth weight and birth length were also studied. Positive correlations of statistical significance involving both permanent and deciduous teeth are described. Diabetes and hypothyroidism in the mother were associated with larger teeth in the child, while maternal hypertension had the opposite effect.

Determines the sources of Ca[sup2+] in Bradykinin-induced (BK) tissue contraction in the presence or absence of 2-amino-ethoxydiphenylborate, protein kinase C inhibitor H7, and inositol triphosphate receptors. Contraction of the isolated ileum of the rat; Bifurcation of phophoinosidite pathway due to BK receptors; Ingress of extracellular Ca[sup2+].

The concept of 'health literacy' refers to the personal and relational factors that affect a person's ability to acquire, understand and use information about health and health services. For many years, efforts in the development of the concept of health literacy exceeded the development of measurement tools and interventions. Furthermore, the discourse about and development of health literacy in public health and in clinical settings were often substantially different. This paper provides an update about recently developed approaches to measurement that assess health literacy strengths and limitations of individuals and of groups across multiple aspects of health literacy. This advancement in measurement now allows diagnostic and problem-solving approaches to developing responses to identified strengths and limitations. In this paper, we consider how such an approach can be applied across the diverse range of settings in which health literacy has been applied. In particular, we consider some approaches to applying health literacy in the daily practice of health-service providers in many settings, and how new insights and tools - including approaches based on an understanding of diversity of health literacy needs in a target community - can contribute to improvements in practice. Finally, we present a model that attempts to integrate the concept of health literacy with concepts that are often considered to overlap with it. With careful consideration of the distinctions between prevailing concepts, health literacy can be used to complement many fields from individual patient care to community-level development, and from improving compliance to empowering individuals and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]