The Use of Radiomic Tools in Renal Mass Characterization

The incidence of renal mass detection has increased during recent decades, with an increased diagnosis of small renal masses, and a final benign diagnosis in some cases. To avoid unnecessary surgeries, there is an increasing interest in using radiomics tools to predict histological results, using radiological features. We performed a narrative review to evaluate the use of radiomics in renal mass characterization. Conventional images, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR), are the most common diagnostic tools in renal mass characterization. Distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors in small renal masses can be challenging using conventional methods. To improve subjective evaluation, the interest in using radiomics to obtain quantitative parameters from medical images has increased. Several studies have assessed this novel tool for renal mass characterization, comparing its ability to distinguish benign to malign tumors, the results in differentiating renal cell carcinoma subtypes, or the correlation with prognostic features, with other methods. In several studies, radiomic tools have shown a good accuracy in characterizing renal mass lesions. However, due to the heterogeneity in the radiomic model building, prospective and external validated studies are needed.

AB1030 PATIENT CARE AT THE FRACTURE LIAISON SERVICE REDUCE THE GAP IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

Background

Osteoporosis (OP) between men and women is different,and the way it is treated also differs. In men, the gap in clinical care, especially diagnosis and treatment, is worse.

Objectives

To analyze the differences in the clinical characteristics of OP (demographics, comorbidities, diagnosis, and treatment) in an gold star Fracture Liaison Service (FLS).

Methods

Design: Observational, prospective, analytical study of usual clinical practice. All patients treated from an FLS from May 2018 to August 2021 were prospectively included. Of each patient, 160 clinical variables were introduced in a real time database, and they were followed for 2 years.

Results

557 patients were analyzed, 472 (83%) women and 100 (17%) men. The main features are summarized in the table. In women the vertebral fracture predominated followed by the hip fracture, in men the hip followed by the vertebral ones. Men had higher rates of smoking and alcoholism. The frequency of secondary OP and exercise was different between sexes. Weight, height, and BMI were different, due to different body composition. The frequency of specific treatment for OP (bisphosphonate, denosumab, teripatide, SERM) before fracture was very low, lower in men.

The most remarkable result was the low percentage of patients with OP receiving treatment before the FLS, and the differences between sex; 77 (16%) women versus 6 (6%) men had received it at some point in their lives, p=0.008. The probability of a man not receiving prior treatment was 2. 70 (95%CI 1.13- 7.81); p=0,008. After the FLS all the patients were treated. Treatment adherence in the first two years after the FLS was 84% in both sexes.

Conclusion

OP is different between women and men. The probability of not receiving treatment in men was higher among men, these differences disappeared after care in FLS.

Table 1VariableHipn, %239, 43Vertebraln, %159, 28DERn, %96, 17Humerusn, % 41, 7Othern, % 37, 6pWomenMenWomenMenWomenMenWomenMenWomenMen0.0001Number179, 7560, 25129, 8130, 1993, 973, 340, 981, 231, 846, 160.06Current smoker13, 8 *19, 3220, 16 *14, 4816, 17 *1, 333, 80, 08,10.3Drinker >3 cups/day5, 3 *14, 249, 7 *11, 386, 61, 332, 50, 02, 600.001Secondary causes of OP24, 1610, 2124, 2214, 5614, 180, 011, 320, 09, 321, 200,03Exercise0,0001 Bed to armchair35, 28 *12, 2110, 8*8, 281, 10, 03, 81, 3*2, 33 Wanders at home64, 013, 2336, 30*5, 177, 80, 05, 1311, 381, 17 Walk in the street58, 3626, 4653, 4315, 5259, 682, 6725, 6410, 343, 50 Daily exercise4, 25, 922, 181, 320, 236, 157, 240, 0 Total161, 7456, 26121, 8129, 1987, 971, 33 3, 339, 10029, 826, 17BMI ≥ 3053, 3214, 2551, 4313, 4638, 43*3, 717, 451, 59, 292, 400.01OP treatment before FF26, 15 *2, 328, 23 *3, 10 *13, 150, 06, 160, 04, 141, 200,008Re-fracture (one year)11, 94, 86, 70, 05, 80, 02, 81, 1000, 00, 00.9Mean± SDMean ± SDMean ± SDMean ± SDMean ± SDMean± SDMean ± SDMean ± SDMean± SDMean± SDAge, Years79±8.7*75.5 ±10.370.4±9.069.3±10.069±9.273.6±6.571.3± 8.7*7668.6±11.382.6±8.30.6Weight, Kg65.3±14,3*72.1±12.967.2±13.478.5±14.970.7±12.185.5±13.471.7±11.89068.6±18.6*77.7±19.40.00001Size, m1.5±0.06*1.64±0.061.51±0.011.63±0.061.54±0.061.6±0.061.54 ±0.061,631.54±0.06*1.61±0.090.00001BMI28.4 ±5.1*26.7±4.129.2 ±6.329.1±4.829.9±5.433.2±2.630.1±4.933.828.9±6.729.4± 6.20,04

DER= distal end of radius, Others included ribs, tibia and fibula, distal end of femur. BMI Body mass index. *p value between women and men in each group of fragility fractures.

Disclosure of Interests

Blanca Hernández-Cruz Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Lilly, Stada, UCB, GebroPharma, Nordic, Consultant of: Abbvie, MSD, Lilly, Stada, UCB, Maria José Miranda García: None declared, Julia Barrera: None declared, Francisco Jesús Olmo Montes: None declared, María Angeles Vázquez Gómez: None declared, Mercedes Giner García: None declared, Miguel Angel Colmenero Camacho: None declared, José Javier Pérez Venegas: None declared, María José Montoya García: None declared

Method for quantification of porcine type I interferon activity using luminescence, by direct and indirect means

BACKGROUND

Type I interferons are widely used in research applications and as biotherapeutics. Current assays used to measure interferon concentrations, such as plaque reduction assays and ELISA, are expensive, technically challenging, and may take days to provide results. We sought to develop a robust and rapid assay to determine interferon concentrations produced from transiently transfected cell cultures.

METHOD

Indirect quantification of recombinant interferon was evaluated using a novel bi-cistronic construct encoding the Foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A translational interrupter sequence to yield equimolar expression of Gaussia princeps luciferase and porcine interferon α. Direct quantification was evaluated by expression of a novel fusion protein comprised of Gaussia princeps luciferase and porcine type I interferon. Plasmids encoding constructs are transiently transfected into cell cultures and supernatant harvested for testing of luminescence, ELISA determined concentration, and anti-viral activity against vesicular stomatitis virus.

RESULTS

Bi-cistronic constructs, utilized for indirect quantification, demonstrate both luciferase activity and anti-viral activity. Fusion proteins, utilized for direct quantification, retained secretion and luminescence however only the interferon α fusion protein had antiviral activity comparable to wildtype porcine interferon α. A strong linear correlation was observed between dilution and luminescence for all compounds over a dynamic range of concentrations.

CONCLUSION

The correlation of antiviral and luciferase activities demonstrated the utility of this approach, both direct and indirect, to rapidly determine recombinant interferon concentrations. Concentration can be determined over a more dynamic concentration range than available ELISA based assays using this methodology.

[Circumferential calcifications in cromophobe renal cell carcinoma: Description of a clinical case and review of the literature.]

We present a clinical case of an asymptomatic 61-year-old man was found to have a left kidney mass. Ultrasound and CT showed a 6 x 5 cms mass with calcifications. Histologic examination of the radical nephrectomy specimen revealed a chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. The unique feature of this case is the type of calcifications present in a tumor of this category. To our knowledge, were port the first case of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma with peripheral linear calcifications. A literature review onchromophobe renal cell carcinoma with calcifications is performed.

Reported rationales for HPV vaccination vs. Non-vaccination among undergraduate and medical students in South Carolina

Objective: We sought to identify factors that influence Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in individuals at two higher education institutions in South Carolina (SC).Participants: We surveyed 1007 students with a mean age and standard deviation of 20.3 ± 3.3 from September 2018 to December 2018.Methods: Participants answered 13 questions, assessing HPV vaccination rates, demographics, and rationales for vaccination vs. non-vaccination.Results: Of 1007 respondents, 700 received HPV vaccination, 165 were unvaccinated, 75 received partial vaccination and 138 were uncertain. Commonalities in HPV vaccination existed between females (p = 0.037), individuals who received standard childhood vaccinations (p = 0.04), and those not native-born in SC (p < 0.001). Of non-vaccinated individuals, 37% "never thought about vaccination," 32% did not perceive a need for vaccination, and 31% reported vaccine safety as reasons for not receiving the vaccine.Conclusions: Promotion of HPV vaccination may benefit from targeting SC natives, males, and individuals who are under-vaccinated or unvaccinated.

Descriptive study of naevus involution in a series of 74 patients with atypical naevus syndrome under SIAscopy digital follow-up

BACKGROUND

Characterization of nevi involution could help to understand the biological behaviour of melanocytic neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the frequency and morphology of naevus involution in a series of patients with atypical naevus syndrome under digital follow-up with a SIAscopy program and, in a small sample of fading nevi, to analyse histopathological features and immunohistochemical biomarkers.

METHODS

Seventy-four patients registered from April 2007 to July 2014 in the SIAscopy system of the Department of Dermatology of Hospital Arnau de Vilanova of Lleida, Spain, were reviewed. Fourteen naevus cases with fading features were prospectively excised during follow-up. Eleven already excised naevus controls were randomly selected from our archive.

RESULTS

We observed that 81% of patients showed, at least, one involutive naevus and 25% of recorded nevi presented this phenomenon; the mean time of involution was 46.7 months. The predominant structural pattern was reticular (>70%), and the most frequently observed regression structures were vascular (33.8%). Histopathological significant higher intensity of inflammatory infiltrate in controls and higher presence of laminar and compact fibrosis and increase of vessels in cases were demonstrated. Regarding immunohistochemical biomarkers, only higher expression of cytoplasmic activated caspase 3 in controls was significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Naevus involution is a common phenomenon in patients with dysplastic naevus syndrome. It is usually a slow process, more frequent in naevus with reticular pattern. SIAscopy regression structures are uncommon, with the exception of vascular ones. Histologically, fading involutive pattern is characterized by scarce inflammatory infiltrate and melanophages, delicate fibrosis and increase of vessels.

[Laparoscopic renal cyst excision: Large simple renal cyst treatment with renal cell carcinoma cells in its wall. Histogenetic considerations and bibliographic review.]

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of simple renal cysts is very high, especially in elderly people. However, malignant transformation of a simple renal cyst is exceptional. Likewise, the treatment to be carried out, in these rare cases, is controversial, with respect to opting for radical renal surgery. METHODS: We present the case of a patient with a solid nodule in a large cyst. Complete removal of the cyst was performed by transperitoneal laparoscopic technique. The histopathological study of the surgical piece revealed the existence of a cyst with clear renal cell carcinoma with nucleolar grade 2. The clinical evolution has been satisfactory, performing a minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic cyst excision). DISCUSSION: Although it is considered that surgical treatment of choice is radical surgery in these cases, we believe that nephron sparing surgery may represent a therapeutic option, taking into account the young age of our patient. A histogenetic hypothesis is discussed to explain the appearance of a clear cell tumor in a simple renal cyst.

CONCLUSION

The development of a renal cell carcinoma in simple renal cysts is a very infrequent pathology.Laparoscopic total cystectomy is a minimally invasive therapeutic option for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma originating in a simple renal cyst, although it is of an important size. We establish the hypothesis of migration of the cells of the renal collecting tubes into the cyst wall to explain the malignant transformation of the renal simple cyst.

Safety profile of a replication-deficient human adenovirus-vectored foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A24 subunit vaccine in cattle

The safety of a replication-deficient, human adenovirus-vectored foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype A24 Cruzeiro capsid-based subunit vaccine (AdtA24) was evaluated in five independent safety studies. The target animal safety studies were designed in compliance with United States (U.S.) regulatory requirements (Title 9, U.S. Code of Federal Regulation [9CFR]) and international standard guidelines (VICH Topic GL-44) for veterinary live vaccines. The first three studies were conducted in a total of 22 vaccinees and demonstrated that the AdtA24 master seed virus (MSV) was safe, did not revert to virulence and was not shed or spread from vaccinees to susceptible cattle or pigs. The fourth safety study conducted in 10 lactating cows using an AdtA24 vaccine serial showed that the vaccine was completely absent from milk. The fifth safety study was conducted under typical U.S. production field conditions in 500 healthy beef and dairy cattle using two AdtA24 vaccine serials. These results demonstrated that the vaccine was safe when used per the product label recommendations. Additional data collected during these five studies confirmed that AdtA24 vaccinees developed FMDV A24 and the HAd5 vaccine vector serum neutralization antibodies that test negative in a FMDV non-structural protein antibody test, confirming AdtA24 vaccine's capability to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). In conclusion, results from this comprehensive set of cattle studies demonstrated the safety of the replication-deficient AdtA24 vaccine and fulfilled safety-related requirements for U.S. regulatory requirements.

A new plastic scintillation resin for single-step separation, concentration and measurement of technetium-99

Technetium is a synthetic element with no stable isotopes, produced as waste in nuclear power plants and in cyclotrons used for nuclear medicine. The element has high mobility, in the form of TcO4(-); its determination is therefore important for environmental protection. Technetium is found in low concentrations and therefore common methods for its analysis include long treatments in several steps and require large amounts of reagents for its purification and preconcentration. Plastic scintillation resins (PSresin) are novel materials used to separate, preconcentrate and measure radionuclides in a single step. The objective of this study is to prepare and characterise a PSresin for the preconcentration and measurement of (99)Tc. The study first evaluates the reproducibility of the production of PSresins between batches and over time; showing good reproducibility and storage stability. Next, we studied the effect of some common non-radioactive interferences, showing small influences on measurement, and radioactive interferences ((36)Cl and (238)U/(234)U). (36)Cl can be removed by a simple treatment with 0.5 M HCl and (238)U/(234)U can be removed from the column by cleaning with a mixture of 0.1 M HNO3 and 0.1 M HF. In the latter case, a slight change in the morphology of the PSresin caused an increase in detection efficiency. Finally, the PSresin was applied to the measurement of real spiked samples (sea water and urine) with deviations lower than 10% in all cases.

Evaluation and selection of indicators for land degradation and desertification monitoring: types of degradation, causes, and implications for management

Indicator-based approaches are often used to monitor land degradation and desertification from the global to the very local scale. However, there is still little agreement on which indicators may best reflect both status and trends of these phenomena. In this study, various processes of land degradation and desertification have been analyzed in 17 study sites around the world using a wide set of biophysical and socioeconomic indicators. The database described earlier in this issue by Kosmas and others (Environ Manage, 2013) for defining desertification risk was further analyzed to define the most important indicators related to the following degradation processes: water erosion in various land uses, tillage erosion, soil salinization, water stress, forest fires, and overgrazing. A correlation analysis was applied to the selected indicators in order to identify the most important variables contributing to each land degradation process. The analysis indicates that the most important indicators are: (i) rain seasonality affecting water erosion, water stress, and forest fires, (ii) slope gradient affecting water erosion, tillage erosion and water stress, and (iii) water scarcity soil salinization, water stress, and forest fires. Implementation of existing regulations or policies concerned with resources development and environmental sustainability was identified as the most important indicator of land protection.

Evaluation and selection of indicators for land degradation and desertification monitoring: methodological approach

An approach to derive relationships for defining land degradation and desertification risk and developing appropriate tools for assessing the effectiveness of the various land management practices using indicators is presented in the present paper. In order to investigate which indicators are most effective in assessing the level of desertification risk, a total of 70 candidate indicators was selected providing information for the biophysical environment, socio-economic conditions, and land management characteristics. The indicators were defined in 1,672 field sites located in 17 study areas in the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Based on an existing geo-referenced database, classes were designated for each indicator and a sensitivity score to desertification was assigned to each class based on existing research. The obtained data were analyzed for the various processes of land degradation at farm level. The derived methodology was assessed using independent indicators, such as the measured soil erosion rate, and the organic matter content of the soil. Based on regression analyses, the collected indicator set can be reduced to a number of effective indicators ranging from 8 to 17 in the various processes of land degradation. Among the most important indicators identified as affecting land degradation and desertification risk were rain seasonality, slope gradient, plant cover, rate of land abandonment, land-use intensity, and the level of policy implementation.

Historia natural de la enfermedad vascular cerebral en el Perú. Estudio intrahospitalario de 1517 pacientes

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Severe perirenal hematoma in a patient with a single kidney treated with sunitinib for metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

A better understanding of the angiogenic process has markedly expanded the use of antiangiogenic therapy in many solid tumors. It is known that there is a close relationship between cancer disease, vascular homeostasis, angiogenesis and coagulation cascade. In this setting, antiangiogenic therapy could interfere and potentially increase the risk of bleeding or thromboembolic events. Sunitinib is an orally available small molecule multikinase inhibitor recently approved for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic, well-differenciated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with disease progression in adults. Here we present the first case of a severe perirenal hematoma in a patient treated with sunitinib for metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Human adenovirus-vectored foot-and-mouth disease vaccines: establishment of a vaccine product profile through in vitro testing

Next generation, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) molecular vaccines based on replication deficient human adenovirus serotype 5 viral vectored delivery of FMD capsid genes (AdFMD) are being developed by the United States Dept. of Homeland Security and industry partners. The strategic goal of this program is to develop AdFMD licensed vaccines for the USA National Veterinary Stockpile for use, if needed, as emergency response tools during an FMD outbreak. This vaccine platform provides a unique opportunity to develop a set of in vitro analytical parameters to generate an AdFMD vaccine product profile to replace the current lot release test for traditional, inactivated FMD vaccines that requires FMDV challenge in livestock. The possibility of an indirect FMD vaccine potency test based on a serological alternative was initially investigated for a lead vaccine candidate, Adt.A24. Results show that serum virus neutralization (SVN) based serology testing for Adt.A24 vaccine lot release is not feasible, at least not in the context of vaccine potency assessment at one week post-vaccination. Thus, an in vitro infectious titer assay (tissue culture infectious dose 50, TCID50) which measures FMD infectious (protein expression) titer was established. Pre-validation results show acceptable assay variability and linearity and these data support further studies to validate the TCID50 assay as a potential potency release test. In addition, a quantitative physiochemical assay (HPLC) and three immunochemical assays (Fluorescent Focus-Forming Unit (FFU); tissue culture expression dose 50 (TCED50); Western blot) were developed for potential use as in vitro assays to monitor AdFMD vaccine lot-to-lot consistency and other potential applications. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using a traditional modified-live vaccine virus infectivity assay in combination with a set of physiochemical and immunochemical tests to build a vaccine product profile that will ensure the each AdFMD vaccine lot released is similar to a reference vaccine of proven clinical safety and efficacy.

Neurolymphomatosis in a Dog With B-Cell Lymphoma

Lymphoma in the left femoral nerve of a 10-year-old English Cocker Spaniel caused complete paralysis of the affected limb. Neoplastic cells were immunopositive for CD79a and Pax5 and negative for CD3. Neoplastic cells were in multiple lymph nodes and one kidney but spared bone marrow. The clinical and histologic features in this case resemble those of the rare human condition of neurolymphomatosis.

PEAZ-1: a new human prostate neoplastic epithelial cell line

BACKGROUND

The generation of prostatic cell lines provides in vitro models for experimental studies of the pathogenesis of prostate carcinoma. Therefore, we established and characterized a new human prostate epithelial cell line, PEAZ-1 (prostate epithelial Arizona-1).

METHODS

The PEAZ-1 cells were grown from a primary human prostate carcinoma specimen obtained from radical prostatectomy. The isolated cells were characterized by immunobiochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and tumorigenicity studies.

RESULTS

PEAZ-1 cells are near diploid, tumorigenic, and androgen independent for cell growth. PEAZ-1 cells express N-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenins, and p120 at cell-cell contacts, cytoplasmic laminin 5, vinculin, paxillin, and phosphotyrosine at focal adhesions, vimentin, and cytokeratins 8 and 18. They do not express plakoglobin, E-cadherin, and PSA, and do not form desmosomes and hemidesomomes. PEAZ-1 respond to ocadaic acid, a pro-apoptotic agent, by expression of p53.

CONCLUSIONS

PEAZ-1 cells is a human prostate cancer cell line that has a number of mesenchymal characteristics.

Laminin-5-mediated gene expression in human prostate carcinoma cells

Interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and prostate carcinoma cells provide a dynamic model of prostate tumor progression. Previous work in our laboratory showed that laminin-5, an important member of a family of ECM glycoproteins expressed in the basal lamina, is lost in prostate carcinoma. Moreover, we showed that the receptor for laminin-5, the alpha6beta4 integrin, is altered in prostate tumors. However, the genes that laminin-5 potentially regulates and the significance of its loss of expression in prostate cancer are not known. We selected cDNA microarray as a comprehensive and systematic method for surveying and examining gene expression induced by laminin-5. To establish a definitive role for laminin-5 in prostate tumor progression and understand the significance of its loss of expression, we used a cDNA microarray containing 5289 human genes to detect perturbations of gene expression when DU145 prostate carcinoma cells interacted with purified laminin-5 after 0.5, 6, and 24 h. Triplicate experiments showed modulations of four, 61, and 14 genes at 0.5, 6, and 24 h, respectively. Genes associated with signal transduction, cell adhesion, the cell cycle, and cell structure were identified and validated by northern blot analysis. Protein expression was further assessed by immunohistochemistry. Mol. Carcinog. 30:119-129, 2001.

[Molecular characterization of rotavirus in the city of Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. Determination of the electrophenotypes and typing of a strain by RT-PCR]

131 diarrheic samples obtained from children taken to the emergency room of the Misericordia Hospital in Santafé de Bogotá were cultivated for rotavirus. These virus were found to be etiological agents for the diarrhea in 42 (32%) of the patients. In order to characterize electrophoretically the rotavirus they were cultured in cell line MA-104, total RNA was extracted and subjected to electrophoresis in SDS-PAGE and then the retrotranscription polymerase chain reaction. Eight different electrophoretic patterns were found. All patterns correspond to group A. Eight positive PAGE samples and the control type RRV were cultured in cell line MA-104. Viral growth was found only in the control and four of the samples. Total RNA was extracted from all five infected cultures and gene 9, which codifies for protein VP7 was amplified. All four samples and the control were shown to be G3. The finding of eight different electrophoretic types, all of them belonging to group A, show a diversity in co-circulating rotavirus strains. These findings contribute to a better understanding of viral acute gastroenteritis natural history and should help in developing new epidemiological vigilance strategies, prevention and control of rotavirus in children population of Santafé de Bogotá.

Maxillary distraction: aesthetic and functional benefits in cleft lip-palate and prognathic patients during mixed dentition

In the last few years, distraction techniques have been used successfully to correct the hypoplastic human mandible. In patients with cleft lip and palate, normal growth of the maxilla may be impaired by early cleft repair, and many of them do not respond to orthodontic procedures alone. Maxillary distraction is an alternative technique to correct maxillary hypoplasia during mixed dentition. In the last 3 years, the procedure was performed in 38 patients aged between 6 and 12 years; 18 patients had unilateral cleft lip and palate, 9 patients had bilateral cleft lip and palate, 7 patients had unilateral cleft palate, 2 patients had prognathism, and 2 patients had nasomaxillary dysplasia. Photographs, posteroanterior and lateral cephalograms, and dental models are obtained preoperatively (as well as an orthopantomogram) to locate the tooth buds. A subperiosteal dissection is performed exposing the anterior and lateral aspects of the maxilla, and an incomplete horizontal osteotomy is done above the tooth buds. Using a facial mask and an intraoral fixed appliance system as an anchorage, we initiate on the fifth postoperative day the application of distraction forces. Maxillary advancement between 4 and 12 mm is achieved during 3 to 4 weeks, and a satisfactory class I or II molar relationship is also obtained. A combination of forward and downward distraction forces can be used to achieve simultaneous advancement and elongation of the hypoplasic maxilla. The aesthetic results are excellent, and the nasolabial angle is increased, including a more anterior projection of the upper lip. Nasal breathing is improved as well as the air flow and patency of the nasal airway. Velopharyngeal function remains unchanged after the procedure. The follow-up in this series varied from 6 months to 3 years. No relapses have been observed.

Serotonergic potentiation of photic phase shifts of the circadian activity rhythm

Recent evidence suggests that serotonin may function to regulate the sensitivity of the circadian clock to the resetting effect of environmental light. Here we report that systemic administration of NAN-190, a drug that acts at both postsynaptic and somatodendritic serotonin receptors, potentiates light-induced phase shifts by as much as 250%. The effects of the drug are dose-related and are significant at light intensities between 0.2 and 200 lux. It is proposed that drugs with pharmacological properties similar to NAN-190 may prove useful as chronobiologics to adjust the sensitivity of the circadian system to natural 'zeitgebers'.

Anorexia elicited by different catecholamines in rats

Adrenaline (A) produces a strong anorexic effect, possibly by acting on hepatic receptors (nerve endings on hepatocytes). To study whether this is mediated by alpha- or beta-adrenergic mechanisms, or both, the anorexigenic effects of intraperitoneal injections of A, noradrenaline (NA) and isoproterenol (I) were studied under four different experimental conditions: (I) at the beginning of the dark period in rats fed ad libitum, or (II) on a 24 h-feeding/24 h-fasting schedule; (III) during the light period, under the same feeding schedule; (IV) after an acute 24 h fast. In condition I, the three catecholamines produced a marked decrease in feeding, slightly larger for A. In condition II (dark), they elicited a decrease in food intake about double that in condition III (light), their relative potencies also differed: A greater than I greater than NA in II and A greater than I = NA in III. In IV, the same relative potencies were obtained as in III. A mixture of half-doses of NA and I had the same effect in III and IV as either NA or I alone, suggesting that the alpha and beta effects are additive. However, even a mixture of the full doses of NA and I was not as effective as A in condition IV. This suggests that A is more potent than NA or I at stimulating hepatic adrenergic receptors that cannot be classified as either alpha or beta.

Two factors associated with increased uptake of calcium in platelets from essential hypertensive patients

The relative rate of calcium transport into platelets from essential hypertensive patients and healthy normotensive donors was measured using the metallochromic indicator arsenazo III and recording net decrease in optical density per 5 minutes (O.D.U./5 min). When platelets from essential hypertensive patients were suspended in the patient's own serum, calcium was transported more rapidly than when suspended in normal sera (0.0166 vs 0.0113 O.D.U./5 min, P less than 0.01) indicating that the difference is due to a circulating factor. When platelets from healthy normotensive volunteers were suspended in the donor's own serum or in a pool of normal sera, the relative rate of transport was lower than in the case of platelets from hypertensives suspended in the pool of normal sera (0.005 vs 0.0113 O.D.U./5 min, P less than 0.01) which suggests a membrane alteration rendering the platelets from hypertensives more permeable to calcium. It was observed that the increase of calcium entry was inhibited by verapamil. The nature of these circulating and membrane-associated factors is at present unknown, but the circulating factor was capable of increasing the membrane permeability to calcium in normal human platelets (from 0.0057 to 0.011 O.D.U./5 min, P less than 0.01) and even in rat liver mitochondria, an effect that was inhibited by ruthenium red.

Degranulatory action of estradiol on blood eosinophil leukocytes in vivo and in vitro

The degranulatory activity of estradiol was tested on blood eosinophil leukocytes in vivo and in vitro. Treatment of adult ovariectomized rats with 30 micrograms estradiol/100 g body wt. increased the percentage of degranulated eosinophils from 10% to about 70% at 6 or 24 h after treatment, and increased the rate of in vitro eosinophil degranulation of those eosinophils that were non-degranulated at the time of blood sample collection. The addition of estradiol to blood samples from untreated ovariectomized rats (0.05 micrograms/ml) increased the percentage of eosinophils degranulated in vitro at 1 h of incubation from 20% to near 60%. It is suggested that estrogen acts directly on the eosinophils, probably via specific hormone receptors. Considering the hypothesis that eosinophils are involved in the mediation of a group of responses to estrogen in the uterus, it is proposed that the hormone-induced degranulation of these cells may have physiological implications in the regulation of the intensity and duration of the eosinophil-mediated responses. In addition, estrogen-induced eosinophil degranulation may interfere with the action of eosinophils that have migrated to other target organs (lymphoid organs, etc.) under the action of other agents (glucocorticoid hormones, histamine, etc.) or conditions (immune reactions, etc.).