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Biomedical subjects

D Reilly

Publications and source records attributed to D Reilly.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor in human breast carcinomas.

We have investigated the occurrence of type-1 inhibitor of plasminogen activators (PAI-1) in human breast tumors. PAI-1 levels, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were significantly higher in malignant breast carcinomas (n = 178) than in benign breast tumors (n = 25). The levels of PAI-1 were found to be correlated with those of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). The presence of PAI-1 in tumor extracts was also demonstrated by immunoblotting analysis. Immunohistochemical investigations by the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies showed that PAI-1 was mostly localized in the tumor islands, associated with the tumor cells; in addition, it was present in vessel walls and in normal duct epithelia, but absent from the stroma. Analysis of RNA extracted from tumors by polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of PAI-1 mRNA. We conclude that PAI-1 is present in human breast carcinoma cells, and that it is--at least partially-- produced locally, either by the cancer cells or by other cells in the tumors. We have previously demonstrated that a high level of u-PA in human breast carcinomas is associated with poor prognosis. These results, combined with our present findings, present 2 possibilities: either the cancer cells need PAI-1 in order to utilize the u-PA-mediated pathway of plasminogen activation for invasion and metastasis; or PAI-1 represents a defense mechanism against tumor invasion.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cathepsin D concentration in breast cancer cytosols: correlation with disease-free interval and overall survival.

Cathepsin D (CD) is an aspartyl protease implicated in cancer metastasis. In this study of 331 patients, we show that patients with primary breast carcinomas containing high concentrations of CD have a significantly shorter disease-free interval (chi-square = 4.28, P < 0.05) and overall survival (chi-square = 7.7, P < 0.01) than patients with low concentrations. CD as a prognostic marker for overall survival was equally valuable for women younger (chi-square = 4.39, P < 0.05) and older (chi-square = 3.97, P < 0.05) than 50 years. CD was also a significant prognostic marker for overall survival within the estradiol receptor (ER)-positive subgroup of patients (chi-square = 5.79, P < 0.025), but not in the ER-negative subgroup. Patients with tumors containing high concentrations of CD and low concentrations of ER had shorter disease-free intervals (chi-square = 15.1, P < 0.001) and lower overall survival (chi-square = 20.9, P < 0.001) than patients with high concentrations of ER but low concentrations of CD.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1991

Reality basis for teaching psychomotor skills in a tertiary nursing curriculum.

This paper, written whilst the authors were working at Curtin University, Western Australia, describes a process of determining the psychomotor skills to be taught in an undergraduate nursing programme. It outlines how consultation with clinical agencies enhanced the planning of the skills component within the new nursing curriculum and details the outcomes in terms of faculty development and curriculum design.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1991

Urokinase-plasminogen activator in breast cancer: assay by both catalytic and immunoassay.

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease implicated in cancer spread and is thus a potential prognostic marker for human cancers. The aim of this investigation was therefore to compare uPA activity and uPA antigen as prognostic markers in breast cancer. Patients with tumours containing high levels of either uPA activity or antigen, had a significantly worse disease-free interval and survival pattern than patients with low levels. However, uPA antigen was a stronger prognostic marker than uPA activity. It is concluded that uPA should be assayed by immunoassay when using this protease as a prognostic marker in breast cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1991

Cathepsin D concentration in breast cancer cytosols: correlation with biochemical, histological, and clinical findings.

Cathepsin D (CD, EC 3.4.23.5) is a lysosomal protease induced by estrogen in certain estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell lines but produced constitutively by ER-negative cell lines. Our aims in this investigation were to study the distribution of CD in human breast cancers and to relate its concentrations to various biochemical, histological, and clinical characteristics. The concentrations of CD were significantly higher in breast carcinomas than in either normal breast tissues or benign breast tumors. In primary carcinomas, CD concentrations did not correlate with the concentrations of ER or with the estrogen-inducible protease t-PA. However, CD concentrations did correlate weakly but significantly with both UK-PA antigen and UK-PA activity. Also, CD concentrations did not correlate with either tumor stage or axillary node status but did correlate significantly with tumor grade. Patients with cancers containing high concentrations of CD had a significantly shorter overall survival than did patients with low concentrations of the enzyme.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Urokinase-plasminogen activator, a new and independent prognostic marker in breast cancer.

Urokinase plasminogen activator (UK-PA) is a serine protease implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis. In this investigation, patients with breast cancers containing high levels of UK-PA antigen had significantly higher risk of early disease recurrence and shorter overall survival than did patients with low levels of the protein. In univariate analysis, UK-PA was a more powerful discriminator for disease-free interval than axillary node status, tumor size, or estradiol receptor. For overall survival, UK-PA as a prognostic marker, was of similar magnitude to axillary node status but stronger than that of tumor size or estradiol receptor. In multivariate analysis, for both disease-free interval and survival, UK-PA was an independent risk factor, being independent of tumor size, axillary node status, and estradiol receptor. UK-PA appears to be a new and independent prognostic marker in breast cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1979

Increased taste thresholds of amino acids with age.

Taste detection thresholds for 19 L-amino acids and four monohydrochloride derivatives were determined for young and elderly subjects. Although the ranges of the thresholds were extensive, the elderly were found to have significantly diminished sensitivity. On the average, thresholds were 2 1/2 times higher in the elderly than in young subjects. Relationships between the taste detection thresholds of amino acids, their chemical structures, and suprathreshold taste qualities were found. Amino acids with aliphatic side chains and those containing hydroxyl groups and having sweet tastes at suprathreshold concentrations tended to have the highest thresholds. Amino acids containing sulfur, as well as those with acidic or basic groups, tended to have the lowest thresholds.

Adolescent↗