Carcinoma of the breast is the most prevalent cancer among Egyptian women and constitutes 29% of National Cancer Institute cases. Median age at diagnosis is one decade younger than in countries of Europe and North America and most patients are premenopausal. Tumours are relatively advanced at presentation. The majority of tumours are invasive duct subtype and the profile of hormone receptors is positive for estrogen receptors and/or progesterone receptors in less than half of cases. This overview examines genetic changes, potential and established predictive and prognostic markers and end results of surgery, radiotherapy and systemic therapy for early, locally advanced and metastatic disease stages. Disease presentations common to the region and early detection strategies are presented.

PURPOSE: To examine postmortem human globes containing an anterior chamber and a posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL).

SETTING: Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices, Storm Eye Institute, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

METHODS: The globes were sectioned at the equator, and the anterior and posterior segments were macroscopically examined. Gross photographs were taken using the Miyake-Apple posterior photographic technique. Histological sections were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and Masson's trichrome.

RESULTS: Histopathological findings included a large Soemmering's ring, a tear in the posterior capsule, 1 haptic of the anterior chamber IOL displaced into the iridectomy, thin and atrophic corneal epithelium, separation of Bowman's layer and stroma by fibrovascular tissue, and atrophy of the retinal ganglion cell layer and nerve fiber layer.

CONCLUSION: In cases in which secondary IOL implantation is indicated, removing the dislocated IOL appears to be a reasonable choice.

The miscibility, melting and crystallization behaviour of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate], PHB, and oligo[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate]-diol, oligo-HB, blends have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry: thermograms of blends containing up to 60 wt% oligo-HB showed behaviour characteristic of single-phase amorphous glasses with a composition dependent glass transition, Tg, and a depression in the equilibrium melting temperature of PHB. The negative value of the interaction parameter, determined from the equilibrium melting depression, confirms miscibility between blend components. In parallel studies, glass transition relaxations of different meltcrystallized polymer blends containing 0-20 wt% oligo-HB were dielectrically investigated between -70°C and 120°C in the 100 Hz to 50 kHz range. The results revealed the existence of a single α-relaxation process for blends, indicating the miscibility between amorphous fractions of PHB and oligo-HB. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.

A specially prepared olive leaf extract (EFLA 943) has been tested for its blood pressure lowering activity in rats rendered hypertensive by daily oral doses of L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 50 mg/kg) for at least 4 weeks. Oral administration of the extract at different dose levels at the same time as L-NAME for a period of 8 weeks showed a dose dependent prophylactic effect against the rise in blood pressure induced by L-NAME, best effects being induced by a dose of 100 mg/kg of the extract. In rats previously rendered hypertensive by L-NAME for 6 weeks and then treated with that dose of the extract for a further 6 weeks without discontinuation of L-NAME, normalisation of the blood pressure was observed. The findings confirm previous reports on the hypotensive effects of olive leaf. The special extract, EFLA 943, was shown to give consistent results with little individual variability. The antihypertensive effect of the extract may be related to a variety of factors involving reversal of vascular changes involved in the L-NAME induced hypertension.

A specially prepared olive leaf extract (EFLA 943) has been tested for its blood pressure lowering activity in rats rendered hypertensive by daily oral doses of L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 50 mg/kg) for at least 4 weeks. Oral administration of the extract at different dose levels at the same time as L-NAME for a period of 8 weeks showed a dose dependent prophylactic effect against the rise in blood pressure induced by L-NAME, best effects being induced by a dose of 100 mg/kg of the extract. In rats previously rendered hypertensive by L-NAME for 6 weeks and then treated with that dose of the extract for a further 6 weeks without discontinuation of L-NAME, normalisation of the blood pressure was observed. The findings confirm previous reports on the hypotensive effects of olive leaf. The special extract, EFLA 943, was shown to give consistent results with little individual variability. The antihypertensive effect of the extract may be related to a variety of factors involving reversal of vascular changes involved in the L-NAME induced hypertension.

A specially prepared olive leaf extract (EFLA 943) has been tested for its blood pressure lowering activity in rats rendered hypertensive by daily oral doses of L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 50 mg/kg) for at least 4 weeks. Oral administration of the extract at different dose levels at the same time as L-NAME for a period of 8 weeks showed a dose dependent prophylactic effect against the rise in blood pressure induced by L-NAME, best effects being induced by a dose of 100 mg/kg of the extract. In rats previously rendered hypertensive by L-NAME for 6 weeks and then treated with that dose of the extract for a further 6 weeks without discontinuation of L-NAME, normalisation of the blood pressure was observed. The findings confirm previous reports on the hypotensive effects of olive leaf. The special extract, EFLA 943, was shown to give consistent results with little individual variability. The antihypertensive effect of the extract may be related to a variety of factors involving reversal of vascular changes involved in the L-NAME induced hypertension.