Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis in first-degree relatives of patients with sporadic (non-familial) chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Although biological similarities have been described among monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the relationships between these two conditions are not fully understood, and new epidemiological studies in different populations and different countries continue to be reported. Here, we investigated 167 first-degree relatives from 42 families of patients with non-familial (sporadic) CLL, using four-colour flow cytometry. MBL was found in seven of 167 subjects (4.1%). Monoclonality was detected in all cases either by light-chain restriction or by polymerase chain reaction. Fluourescence in situ hybridization did not show any chromosomal abnormality. The prevalence of MBL according to age was 0 (0/54) in individuals aged less than 40 years, 2.5% (2/81) between 40 and 60 years, and 15.6% (5/32) in individuals over 60 years. The prevalence of MBL cases in individuals over 60 years was similar to that found in familial CLL relatives at the same age group. This suggests that in older first-degree relatives of patients with sporadic CLL, the risk of MBL detection is as high as in older first-degree relatives from CLL families, which could render these individuals belonging to `sporadic CLL families` as susceptible as individuals from `familial CLL` to the development of clinical CLL.

Hepatitis B viral markers in banked human milk before and after Holder pasteurization

Background: Blood screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) is not universally performed for donor selection in human milk banks. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of detection of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV-DNA in colostrum of HBV-infected nursing mothers before and after Holder pasteurization. Study design: Forty-two concentrated breast milk samples were obtained within two postnatal weeks from 24 HBsAg-positive women (4 HBeAg-positive and 20 HBeAg-negative, anti-HBe-positive) were tested for the presence of HBsAg and HBV-DNA before and after Holder pasteurization (30 min at 62.5 degrees C). Results: Before pasteurization, HBsAg and HBV-DNA were found in 14/24 (58%), and 20/24 (75%) first milk samples, respectively, obtained by 4 days after delivery. At least one marker was detected in 20/24 (83%) milk samples. Both markers were identified in milk of HBeAg-positive mothers, and most mothers with anti-HBe in blood had at least one HBV marker. Once detected, viral markers were frequently found in milk samples subsequently obtained from the same woman. Holder pasteurization did not affect the probability of detecting HBsAg (8/18, 44%), HBV-DNA (12/18, 67%). or at least one of them (15118, 83%). Conclusions: Although the biological implications of these findings remain to be determined, considering that HBV is highly contagious and most recipients of banked human milk are preterm infants, these findings should be taken into account when donors are enlisted for human milk banks without serological screening. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cultural Consonance, a 5HT2A Receptor Polymorphism, and Depressive Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study of Gene x Culture Interaction in Urban Brazil

In this study in urban Brazil we examine, as a predictor of depressive symptoms, the interaction between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 2A receptor in the serotonin system (-1438G/A) and cultural consonance in family life, a measure of the degree to which an individual perceives her family as corresponding to a widely shared cultural model of the prototypical family. A community sample of 144 adults was followed over a 2-year-period. Cultural consonance in family life was assessed by linking individuals` perceptions of their own families with a shared cultural model of the family derived from cultural consensus analysis. The -1438G/A polymorphism in the 2A serotonin receptor was genotyped using a standard protocol for DNA extracted from leukocytes. Covariates included age, sex, socioeconomic status, and stressful life events. Cultural consonance in family life was prospectively associated with depressive symptoms. In addition, the interaction between genotype and cultural consonance in family life was significant. For individuals with the A/A variant of the -1438G/A polymorphism of the 2A receptor gene, the effect of cultural consonance in family life on depressive symptoms over a 2-year-period was larger (beta = -0.533, P < 0.01) than those effects for individuals with either the G/A (beta = -0.280, P < 0.10) or G/G (beta = -0.272, P < 0.05) variants. These results are consistent with a process in which genotype moderates the effects of culturally meaningful social experience on depressive symptoms. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 21:91-97, 2009. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Cultural consonance and adult body composition in urban Brazil

In previous research in Brazil, we found socioeconomic and gender differences in body mass and percent body fat, consistent with a model in which individuals in higher socioeconomic strata, especially women, could achieve a cultural ideal of body size and shape. In this article, using new data, we examine these processes more precisely using measures of cultural consonance. Cultural consonance refers to the degree to which individuals approximate, in their own beliefs and behaviors, the shared prototypes for belief and behavior encoded in cultural models. We have found higher cultural consonance in several domains to be associated with health outcomes. Furthermore, there tends to be a general consistency in cultural consonance across domains. Here we suggest that measures of body composition can be considered indicators of individuals` success in achieving cultural ideals of the body, and that cultural consonance in several domains will be associated with body composition. Using waist circumference as an outcome, smaller waist size was associated with higher cultural consonance in lifestyle (beta = -0.311, P < 0.01) and higher cultural consonance in the consumption of high prestige foods (beta = -0.260, P < 0.01) for women (n = 161), but not for men (n = 106), controlling for age, family income, tobacco use, and dietary intake of protein and carbohydrates. Similar results were obtained using the body mass index and weight as outcomes, while there were no associations with height. These results help to illuminate the cultural mediation of body composition.

The role of integrated information acquisition and management in the analysis of coastal ecosystem change

This book chapter represents a synthesis of the work which started in my PhD and which has been the conceptual basis for all of my research since 1993. The chapter presents a method for scientists and managers to use for selecting the type of remotely sensed data to use to meet their information needs associated with a mapping, monitoring or modelling application. The work draws on results from several of my ARC projects, CRC Rainforest and Coastal projects and theses of P.Scarth , K.Joyce and C.Roelfsema.

A novel variant genotype C of hepatitis B virus identified in isolates from Australian Aborigines: complete genome sequence and phylogenetic relatedness

There have been no reports of DNA sequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains from Australian Aborigines, although the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was discovered among them. To investigate the characteristics of DNA sequences of HBV strains from Australian Aborigines, the complete nucleotide sequences of HBV strains were determined and subjected to molecular evolutionary analysis. Serum samples positive for HBsAg were collected from five Australian Aborigines. Phylogenetic analysis of the five complete nucleotide sequences compared with DNA sequences of 54 global HBV isolates from international databases revealed that three of the five were classified into genotype D and were most closely related in terms of evolutionary distance to a strain isolated from a healthy blood donor in Papua New Guinea. Two of the five were classified into a novel variant genotype C, which has not been reported previously, and were closely related to a strain isolated from Polynesians, particularly in the X and Core genes. These two strains of variant genotype C differed from known genotype C strains by 5.9-7.4% over the complete nucleotide sequence and 4.0-5.6 % in the small-S gene, and had residues Arg(122), Thr(127) and Lys(160) characteristic of serotype ayw3, which have not been reported previously in genotype C. In conclusion, this is the first report of the characteristics of complete nucleotide sequences of HBV from Australian Aborigines. These results contribute to the investigation of the worldwide spread of HBV, the relationship between serotype and genotype and the ancient common origin of Australian Aborigines.