Predicting the likelihood of carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation: validation of BOADICEA, BRCAPRO, IBIS, Myriad and the Manchester scoring system using data from UK genetics clinics

Objectives: Genetic testing for the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 has important implications for the clinical management of people found to carry a mutation. However, genetic testing is expensive and may be associated with adverse psychosocial effects. To provide a cost-efficient and clinically appropriate genetic counselling service, genetic testing should be targeted at those individuals most likely to carry pathogenic mutations. Several algorithms that predict the likelihood of carrying a BRCA1 or a BRCA2 mutation are currently used in clinical practice to identify such individuals.

Breast cancer genetics: Unsolved questions and open perspectives in an expanding clinical practice

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United Kingdom, with a lifetime risk of one in nine in women. Only 5-10% of all cancers is thought to be due to strongly penetrant inherited predisposing genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. However, other less penetrant genes, including some autosomal recessive genes, are likely to be of etiological importance in other families. This review addresses the current knowledge of breast cancer susceptibility genes and explores the possibilities for future developments. Features of tumor pathology, prognosis, and the scope for targeted treatments in mutation carriers are discussed, and the management of known carriers and those at increased risk for developing breast cancer are evaluated. Genetic testing for cancer susceptibility may become widely available in the future, and has important ethical and management implications. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Multiple superoxide dismutase 1/splicing factor serine alanine 15 variants are associated with the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy:the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Genetics study

Despite familial clustering of nephropathy and retinopathy severity in type 1 diabetes, few gene variants have been consistently associated with these outcomes.

Applied aspects of Rhodococcus genetics

Eubacteria of the genus Rhodococcus are a diverse group of microorganisms commonly found in many environmental niches from soils to seawaters and as plant and animal pathogens. They exhibit a remarkable ability to degrade many organic compounds and their economic importance is becoming increasingly apparent. Although their genetic organisation is still far from understood, there have been many advances in recent years. Reviewed here is the current knowledge of rhodococci relating to gene transfer, recombination, plasmid replication and functions, cloning vectors and reporter genes, gene expression and its control, bacteriophages, insertion sequences and genomic rearrangements. Further fundamental studies of Rhodococcus genetics and the application of genetic techniques to the these bacteria will be needed for their continued biotechnological exploitation.

Pathogenicity and molecular genetics of O-specific side-chain lipopolysaccharides of Escherichia coli

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a glycolipid molecule found on the outer leaflet of outer membranes of gram-negative bacteria, consists of three moieties: lipid A, core oligosaccharide, and the O-specific polysaccharide chain. The O-specific side chain, which extends to the extracellular milieu, plays an important role in pathogenicity, especially during the initial stages of infection, because of its ability to interact with serum complement. In recent years, several laboratories have used recombinant DNA tools to determine, at the molecular level, the organization, expression, and regulation of genes involved in LPS biosynthesis in Salmonella and Escherichia coli. An increased understanding of the molecular aspects of the O-specific side-chain genes will shed light on the intimate details related with the formation of the O-specific side chain, its assembly onto the lipid A--core, and the translocation and insertion of the complete LPS molecule into the outer membrane. It will also contribute to the understanding of the evolution of these genes and the correlation of chemical diversity of O-specific side chains with the genetic diversity of O-specific side-chain genes. In addition, since the O-specific side chains are involved in the pathogenicity of medically important gram-negative bacteria, a basic understanding of the regulation and expression of O-specific side chain LPS genes will contribute to the field of molecular pathogenesis. This article provides an overview of the role of O-specific side chains in septicemic infections and also discusses the current status of molecular genetic studies on O-specific side-chain genes from E. coli.

Impact of Age on the Importance of Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressures for Stroke Risk:The MOnica, Risk, Genetics, Archiving, and Monograph (MORGAM) Project

This study investigates age-related shifts in the relative importance of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures as predictors of stroke and whether these relations are influenced by other cardiovascular risk factors. Using 34 European cohorts from the MOnica, Risk, Genetics, Archiving, and Monograph (MORGAM) Project with baseline between 1982 and 1997, 68 551 subjects aged 19 to 78 years, without cardiovascular disease and not receiving antihypertensive treatment, were included. During a mean of 13.2 years of follow-up, stroke incidence was 2.8%. Stroke risk was analyzed using hazard ratios per 10-mm Hg/5-mm Hg increase in SBP/DBP by multivariate-adjusted Cox regressions, including SBP and DBP simultaneously. Because of nonlinearity, DBP was analyzed separately for DBP =71 mm Hg and DBP