MicroRNA dysregulation is observed in different types of cancer. MiR-21 up-regulation has been reported for the majority of cancers profiled to date; however, knowledge is limited on the mechanism of action of miR-21, including identification of functionally important targets that contribute to its proproliferative and antiapoptotic actions. In this study, we show for the first time that miR-21 targets multiple important components of the p53, transforming growth factor-

A lifestyle intervention reducing dietary fat intake, with modest influence on body weight, may improve relapse-free survival of breast cancer patients receiving conventional cancer management. Longer, ongoing nonintervention follow-up will address original protocol design plans, which called for 3 years of follow-up after completion of recruitment.

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Women who are pregnant frequently complain of memory problems. Past research suggests that pregnancy is associated with a measurable decline when memory is tested using free recall but not when memory is tested using recognition. However, no prior studies on recognition memory tested performance across two time periods (e.g., pregnant vs. postpartum). A repeated measures design has greater power than a between-subject design to detect any difference in recognition memory performance that might exist. We administered a standardized memory test to 37 women during pregnancy and then again during the postpartum period 3 to 12 months later. Our results show that during pregnancy free-recall performance was somewhat worse (in agreement with prior research) than postpartum but that recognition performance was not worse and was, if anything, slightly enhanced. These results weigh against a purely biological explanation of the memory difficulties associated with pregnancy and instead point to a strategic explanation. In particular, the results suggest that when women are pregnant they rely more on item-specific processing (which can enhance recognition) but when they are no longer pregnant they rely more on relational processing (which enhances recall).

The effect of age and dietary fat type on tocopherol status was investigated using young and old C57BL/6Nia mice fed semipurified diets containing 5% (by weight) fish, corn or coconut oils and supplemented with 30, 100 or 500 ppm dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate for 6 wk. Tocopherol levels in the diets, plasma, liver, kidney and lung were measured by high performance liquid chromatography following appropriate extractions. The results indicate that mice fed fish oil maintain lower plasma and tissue tocopherol concentrations than those fed corn and coconut oils (fish less than corn oil less than coconut oil). The difference was not due to a loss of tocopherol prior to consumption, but rather appeared to occur during the absorption process. Old mice had lower plasma and liver tocopherol concentrations than young mice. Old mice fed fish oil, however, maintained plasma tocopherol levels better than young mice fed fish oil, presumably due to their larger tocopherol pool. No age effect was detected on kidney and lung tocopherol levels. It is concluded that tocopherol status is affected by age and dietary fat type, especially fish oil.

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Recruitment 1994-2001, Median follow-up 60 months * Tamoxifen required, chemoRx optional for ER+; chemoRx required for ER- .

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