Fine-needle aspiration cytology and differential diagnoses of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic to the mediastinum: case report

We report a case of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) that metastasized to the posterior mediastinum. The diagnosis was made on fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The cytologic features were characterized by the presence of large, dishesive, polygonal cells with granular cytoplasm and well-defined cell outlines resembling oncocytes. Groups of neoplastic hepatocytes containing bile pigment were also noted. The diagnosis of FL-HCC in a metastatic site can pose diagnostic challenges on FNAB. The cytologic features overlap with a variety of tumors that have oncocytic features and also with melanoma and paraganglioma. Recognition of specific cytologic features of FL-HCC can facilitate accurate diagnosis in a metastatic site. The cytologic findings and differential diagnoses of FL-HCC that metastasized to the posterior mediastinum are discussed.     

Endocrine coordination in rhesus monkeys: female responses to the male

Female rhesus monkeys were captured from the free-ranging colony at La Parguera, Puerto Rico during the non-mating season and paired with testosterone propionate-treated and control males daily for 12 weeks. Testosterone propionate-treated males displayed high levels of sexual behavior and low levels of aggressive behavior compared to control males. Pairing females with such sexually active or inactive males had only minor effects on female sexual behavior and no measurable influence on ovarian cyclicity. These results indicate that sexual activity of males apparently failed to coordinate reproductive changes in females. Reproductive coordination previously reported in females may be due to interactions among females.     

Antinociceptive and neurotoxic actions of substance P analogues in the rat's spinal cord after intrathecal administration

Intrathecal administration of both (D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9)-substance P (DPDT) and (D-Arg1,D-Trp7,9,Leu11)-substance P (DADTL) elicited antinociception in hot-plate and tail-flick test, with DADTL as the most potent. The animals injected with 2.0 micrograms DADTL, and several animals administered with DPDT at the same dose, developed bilateral motor blockade of the hind-legs, persisting for up to 3 days after DADTL. The effect of DPDT appeared to be reversible at this dose. On histopathological examination it was found that these animals with persistent paralysis had widespread neuronal necrosis in the lumbar region of the spinal cord. It is concluded that the peptides have antinociceptive effects after the intrathecal administration in rats, but that there is a small margin between the dose producing this effect and that causing irreversible toxic reactions in the spinal cord.     

Catecholamine Output of Males and Females over a One-Year Period

Urine samples were collected under constant conditions once every fourth week over 1 year. The subjects, 13 male and 11 female office employees and workers in industry, participated in the study during their ordinary daily work routine. Large interindividual differences in the rate of catecholamine excretion were obtained, whereas most subject showed a high intra-individual constancy of excretion. Neither variations over the year, nor differences between men and women in the excretion of adrenaline or noradrenaline, were statistically significant. However, the women differed from the men in that their adrenaline excretion was not significantly higher in a test session than during daily work routine.     

Mutations of the flavin-containing monooxygenase gene (FMO3) cause trimethylaminuria, a defect in detoxication

Individuals with the recessive condition trimethylaminuria exhibit variation in metabolic detoxication of xenobiotics by hepatic flavin- containing monooxygenases. We show here that mutations in the human flavin-containing monooxygenase isoform 3 gene ( FMO3 ) impair N - oxygenation of xenobiotics and are responsible for the trimethylaminuria phenotype. Three disease-causing mutations in nine Australian-born probands have been identified which share a particular polymorphic haplotype. Nonsense and missense mutations are associated with a severe phenotype and are also implicated in impaired metabolism of other nitrogen- and sulfur-containing substrates including biogenic amines, both clinically and when mutated proteins expressed from cDNA are studied in vitro . These findings illustrate the critical role played by human FMO3 in the metabolism of xenobiotic substrates and endogenous amines.