Ability of systemic interleukin-12 to hamper progressive stages of mammary carcinogenesis in HER2/neu transgenic mice

Previous studies in mice have shown that chronic administration of recombinant interleukin-12 (IL-12) hampers the progression of both chemical- and oncogene-dependent carcinogenesis. This suggests that a new preventive strategy may be envisaged for individuals with a genetic risk of cancer or carrying preneoplastic lesions. Starting at progressive stages of mammary carcinogenesis, female BALB/c and FVB mice carrying the activated rat HER2/neu oncogene (BALB-neuT) or the proto-oncogene (FVB-neuN) under the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter received multiple 5-day courses of different doses of IL-12. The times of tumor appearance, multiplicity, and histopathological features of the neoplastic lesions were evaluated. In both BALB-neuT and FVB-neuN mice, 5-day i.p. courses of 50/100 ng of IL-12/day inhibited mammary carcinogenesis when they coincided with the progression of early preneoplastic lesions. Inhibition appears to depend primarily on the ability of IL-12 to interfere with early tumor angiogenesis. Later treatments are much less effective, and daily doses of 10 and 2 ng are useless. The efficacy of early IL-12 courses suggests that they could be used to prevent mammary tumors in individuals at risk, whereas their lower efficacy in later stages of carcinogenesis and the dose range required pose some constraints on their use in the management of overt preneoplastic lesions. Precise understanding of tumor progression means that effective treatments can be commenced relatively late in the life of individuals at risk and that no lifetime administration is required.     

Campomelic acampomelic dysplasia presenting with increased nuchal translucency in the first trimester

This is the first report of a fetus affected with campomelic acampomelic dysplasia presenting with increased nuchal translucency. Ultrasonography at 13 weeks of amenorrhea showed a nuchal translucency 5.6 mm thick. The karyotype performed on amniotic fluid cells was normal (46,XY). Ultrasonography at 22 weeks revealed a normal femoral length and female genitalia. A second amniocentesis was performed to confirm the karyotype and for dosage of steroid hormones. Testosterone dosage was low, corresponding to a female fetus. Ultrasonography at 32 weeks showed growth retardation of the long bones (< 3rd centile) that were not curved. A severe malformation syndrome was suspected and the pregnancy was terminated at 33 weeks. The fetus displayed macrocephaly, facial dysmorphism and female external genitalia. X ray showed straight and thickened long bones, hypoplastic scapulae and moderate platyspondyly. In view of the association of sex reversal, hypoplasia of the scapulae, and the presence of straight long bones, campomelic acampomelic dysplasia was suspected and confirmed by the finding of a SOX9 mutation. This case shows the importance of a careful echographic survey in a fetus with a nuchal translucency > 4 mm, especially if there is discordance between phenotypic and genotypic sex, since growth retardation may occur later during the pregnancy.     

Use of reboxetine in bulimia nervosa: a pilot study

The pharmacological approach to bulimia nervosa is mainly based (BN) on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but many elements suggest the possible involvement of the noradrenergic system in this disorder. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of reboxetine--a selective norepinephrine uptake inhibitor--in a sample of bulimic outpatients, after 3 months of treatment. Twenty-eight of 77 consecutively admitted patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of BN (without Axis I comorbidity) received reboxetine. All patients were assessed at baseline (T0), and after 1 month (T1) and 3 months (T3), respectively, of treatment with reboxetine 4 mg/day. The subjects were administered the following questionnaires: Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) and for Depression (HAM-D), Global Assessment Functioning (GAF), Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Sixty percent of the patients were responsive to treatment(evaluated as a 50% decrease of bulimic behaviours). After 3 months of treatment, a significant reduction emerged in the scores of various EDI-2 subscales (Bulimia, Drive for Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction, Social Insecurity, Interpersonal Distrust, etc.) and in the BSQ total score. Moreover, depressive symptoms (HAM-D) and Global Functioning (GAF) scores showed a significant improvement. These data support a fast and favourable effect of reboxetine in the treatment of BN, both on symptoms and psychopathological features. Moreover, the specific and strong action of reboxetine on improvement of social functioning is also supported in this disorder.     

Quality of life and personality disorders in heroin abusers

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the personality disorders (PD) and personality profile of heroin-abusers and their quality of life (QoL), and to investigate the correlation between the two. METHOD: One hundred and eighty heroin-abusers during their residential treatment participated in the study. The Structured Clinical Interview-II (SCID-II) allowed the identification of two subgroups of heroin-abusers on the basis of presence/absence of a PD. All patients filled in the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the McGill QoL Questionnaire (MQOL) and an anamnestic sheet. A control group of 63 non-clinical subjects was recruited. RESULTS: Abusers with a PD differ in their personality profile from abusers without PD and score lower on the total MQOL. As regards TCI scales, novelty seeking (NS), reward dependence (RD) and self-directedness (SD) predict the age of onset of the abuse, while cooperativeness (C) is a predictor of the number of community admissions. DISCUSSION: Low scores on self-directedness and cooperativeness in abusers support the hypothesis of an immature character and relational difficulties. Novelty seeking is the only dimension which is altered both in abusers with and without a PD and is not strictly dependent on Axis II comorbidity. QoL is lower in abusers than in controls, according to their physical, psychological and existential suffering. Last, an interesting link emerged between personality and perceived QoL.     

An outbreak of food poisoning in a military establishment

Background: An outbreak of food poisoning in a military establishment mess was investigated and remedial measures suggested.