Tyrone County Hospital

Recently, a significant epigenetic component in the pathology of suicide has been realized. Here we investigate candidate functional SNPs in epigenetic-regulatory genes, DNMT1 and DNMT3B, for association with suicide attempt (SA) among patients with co-existing psychiatric illness. In addition, global DNA methylation levels [5-methyl cytosine (5-mC%)] between SA and psychiatric controls were quantified using the Methylflash Methylated DNA Quantification Kit. DNA was obtained from blood of 79 suicide attempters and 80 non-attempters, assessed for DSM-IV Axis I disorders. Functional SNPs were selected for each gene (DNMT1; n = 7, DNMT3B; n = 10), and genotyped. A SNP (rs2424932) residing in the 3' UTR of the DNMT3B gene was associated with SA compared with a non-attempter control group (P = 0.001; Chi-squared test, Bonferroni adjusted P value = 0.02). Moreover, haplotype analysis identified a DNMT3B haplotype which differed between cases and controls, however this association did not hold after Bonferroni correction (P = 0.01, Bonferroni adjusted P value = 0.56). Global methylation analysis showed that psychiatric patients with a history of SA had significantly higher levels of global DNA methylation compared with controls (P = 0.018, Student's t-test). In conclusion, this is the first report investigating polymorphisms in DNMT genes and global DNA methylation quantification in SA risk. Preliminary findings suggest that allelic variability in DNMT3B may be relevant to the underlying diathesis for suicidal acts and our findings support the hypothesis that aberrant DNA methylation profiles may contribute to the biology of suicidal acts. Thus, analysis of global DNA hypermethylation in blood may represent a biomarker for increased SA risk in psychiatric patients.

The Bohaun gold deposit in County Galway, western Ireland, is located in the Caledonian orogenic belt, proximal to a major accretionary boundary. The mineralization is hosted in a normal extensional fault, representing a zone of repeated extension and vein infilling of open cavities, within clastic sedimentary rocks that have only reached the late diagenetic zone of low-grade metamorphism. The mineralization consists of undeformed veins, stockworks, and breccias. Quartz dominates all the veins and commonly shows multiple growth stages and a variety of classic epithermal textures, including comb, plumose, and banded, indicative of low confining pressures. The veins have a simple mineralogy made up of quartz-sericite-chlorite with minor sulfides, hematite, rare visible gold, with a high silver content (up to 41 wt %), and late barite and dolomite. Vein quartz is associated with two fluids compositions: type I with moderate to high salinity (8.0–23.6 wt % NaCl equiv) and type II with low to moderate salinity (0.0–7.8 wt % NaCl equiv). CO2 contents in both fluid types are <3.5 wt percent. The majority of fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures range from 126° to 257°C and geologically constrained depth estimates (≤5 km) indicate maximum fluid inclusion trapping temperatures between 175° and 245°C. The geodynamic setting of Bohaun, which is located in a deformed continental margin of an allochthonous terrane, is typical of orogenic gold deposits. However, an orogenic association for the Bohaun mineralization is discounted on the basis of fluid inclusion evidence, atypical vein textures, gold grain composition, and undeformed veins. While vein textures locally resemble those found in epithermal quartz-adularia mineralization, there is no obvious magmatic association and alteration is restricted to the veins and immediate host rocks. The origin of the gold at Bohaun remains enigmatic. However, we favor an association with widespread Carboniferous or later mineralizing fluids and a model which involves transport and deposition of gold from a basinal brine-type fluid, in a similar fashion to red-bed Au–Pd mineralization. Bohaun provides further evidence that low temperature brines may be capable of generating economic-grade gold mineralization, independent of other fluids.

A retrospective study was performed on fourteen cases of deep cervical space infections in the neck admitted for diagnosis and treatment to the ENT Department, during a period of seven years from 1989-1997. Of the fourteen, four patients had Ludwig's angina and of the fourteen, one had a very serious complication resulting in death. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment were of paramount importance. The role of tracheostomy and management of airway in deep cervical space infections of the neck is discussed to gether with bacteriology, antibiotic treatment and surgical management.

Better understanding of the pathophysiology of sinus disease, and improved technology and imaging modalities have changed nose and sinus surgery in recent years. Precise surgery of the ethmoid sinuses is now possible, improving ventilation and drainage of the sinuses. Newer technology has enhanced the scope of surgery and helped make sinus surgery safer.

Background/Aim: It has been shown in many studies that expression of pyruvate kinase (PK) enzyme plays a key role during cellular metabolism. There is evidence that cancer cells manifesting very dynamic proliferation may control their division in various mechanisms, i.a. by expression of PKM2 isoform. The exact role of PKM2 in ovarian cancer (OC) cells and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have not been elucidated. Materials and Methods: The present study was focused on analysis of PKM2 expression in cancer cells and CAFs in 97 OC cases, mostly of serous histological type. Moreover, relationships between expression of PKM2 and proliferation (Ki-67; MCM-2, -3, -7; cyclin D1), vascular (CD31, D2-40) and mesenchymal (Vim and αSMA) markers as well as receptors (ER, PR, HER2, EGFR) were examined. All observations were evaluated in regard to available clinicopathological data. Results: The expression of PKM2 was disclosed only in cytoplasm of OC cells. No statistically significant correlation between PKM2 and tested markers was found. In regard to available clinicopathological data only an increasing trend of PKM2 expression with increasing grade of histological malignancy G was found (p=0.07). Conclusion: Due to achieved results concerning expression of PKM2 there is a lack of evidence for its diagnostic and prognostic usage in OC.

SUMMARYDissecting aneurysms generally cause radiating back pain, chest pain, or symptoms caused by aortic insufficiency. Presentation solely with abdominal pain is rare. We report on a patient with dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm who presented solely with abdominal pain. The possibility of intrathoracic disease must be considered in every patient with abdominal pain, especially if the pain is in the upper part of the abdomen.

The study of the internal nasal contours dates back to early mankind, when the nose was predominantly associated with the sense of smell. The earliest record of an anatomical observation is in the papyrus of Abers and Egyptian tomb inscriptions, dated well before 1500 bc. This ancient culture used the nose as a route for extracting the contents of the cranial vault as part of the mummification process, thereby avoiding any facial disfigurement. This implies an intimate knowledge of the intricate relationship between the roof of the ethmoids and the brain.

The final ethmoid cavity is bounded by the lateral wall of the nose, the lamina papyracea, skull base and the middle turbinate. Posteriorly the cavity is related to the sphenoid, while antero-inferiorly it communicates with the nasal cavity. Into this space open the enlarged middle meatal antrostomy and the fronto-nasal recess. Thus the cavity acts as a portal for drainage from the maxillary and frontal sinuses.