Treatment of pituitary tumors: history

Over the past century our understanding of the pituitary disease has undergone an amazing evolution, accompanied by impressive advances in the therapeutic approaches to pituitary tumors. This historical review aims to provide insights into the contributions of key medical and scientific pioneers, their occasionally serendipitous discoveries, and the lively global debates, which have ultimately improved the therapeutic targets and the long-term outcome of these patients. The development of the three main modalities is discussed (surgery, irradiation, pharmacotherapy). More recent experimental data, which may provide a path to a stronger therapeutic armamentarium for these undoubtedly challenging tumors, are also briefly reported.     

Adaptation to hydrogen peroxide enhances PC12 cell tolerance against oxidative damage

The adaptive responses to H2O2 and the resulting protective effect against oxidative stress have been investigated using PC12 cells. Pretreatment of sublethal doses of H2O2 significantly protected PC12 cells against the cytotoxicity induced by lethal H2O2. The endogenous antioxidant defense systems, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, were enhanced quickly by the pretreatment of low doses of H2O2. This pretreatment also exerted protective effect against the oxidative insults induced by 6-hydroxydopamine and paraquat, but not against alkyl peroxyl radicals. Our results, taken together, suggest that the stimulation by low dose of H2O2 enriches the cellular antioxidant defense systems, thereby enhancing cell tolerance against the forthcoming oxidative insults induced by H2O2 and related hydroxyl radicals.     

Quantitative and qualitative determinations of the combined effect of tetracycline and oleandomycin. I. In vitro effect.

Growth inhibitory effect of combined treatment of tetracycline (TC) and oleandomycin (OM), at a ratio of 2:1, on certain species of pathogenic bacteria including drug-resistant ones was examined. By the crossed paper strip method, synergistic effects were demonstrated against 9 of the 16 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and all of the 5 strains of Escherichia coli studied. Antagonism was observed with none of the strains and with 2 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes and 2 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae tested in the present experiments. The MICs determined by the agar dilution method, also gave similar results, although synergism was not conclusively demonstrated by this method. With representative strains of S. aureus, synergism was evidenced by quantitative measurement of growth inhibition. In some strains, 1.0 mug of one drug per ml of medium inhibited the induction of resistance to the second drug. Such a small dose of one drug also inhibited the development of a mutant resistant to the second drug. These inhibitory actions were thought to be one of the important factors causing the synergistic effect of TC and OM on drug resistant bacteria.     

Inflammatory chemokine expression in the peripheral blood of neonates with perinatal asphyxia and perinatal or nosocomial infections

AIM: The inflammatory response induced by perinatal infections and asphyxia is considered to participate in neonatal brain damage. Inflammatory responses are characterized by the expression of chemokines. Although chemokine levels have been investigated in healthy newborns, their role during neonatal pathological conditions has not been studied. The aim of our study was to examine chemokine serum levels in asphyxiated and infected neonates. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from perinatally asphyxiated and infected neonates during the first days of life and from neonates who developed nosocomial infections. Serum levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), and regulated upon activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) were determined. RESULTS: In perinatally asphyxiated neonates, IL-8 levels were significantly elevated on the 1st day of life. In perinatally infected neonates, IL-8 and IP-10 levels were significantly increased on the 1st day of life, while RANTES levels were significantly lower and remained so until the 4th day. In nosocomially infected neonates, IL-8, IP-10 and MIP-1alpha levels were significantly increased on diagnosis of infection. CONCLUSION: The neonatal immune system is able to produce chemokines for the induction of an inflammatory response during perinatal asphyxia and perinatal or nosocomial infections. Blockade of inflammatory chemokines could possibly contribute to the prevention of brain damage.     

Amyloid β 38, 40, and 42 species in cerebrospinal fluid: More of the same?

Various C-terminally truncated amyloid beta peptides (Abeta) are linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of Abeta38, Abeta40, and Abeta42 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 patients with AD and 26 control subjects. CSF Abeta42 levels was decreased in patients with AD, whereas CSF Abeta38 and Abeta40 levels were similar in patients with AD and control subjects. All three Abeta peptides were interrelated, particularly CSF Abeta38 and Abeta40. Diagnostic accuracy of CSF Abeta42 concentrations was not improved by applying the ratios of CSF Abeta42 to Abeta38 or Abeta40.     

Gastric emptying in very-low-birth-weight infants treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure

OBJECTIVE: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is frequently used for prolonged periods in very low birth weight infants. We asked if NCPAP affects gastric emptying. STUDY DESIGN: Preterm newborn infants (n = 16) with a mean body weight of 935 g (SD, 155) and a mean gestational age of 27.7 weeks (SD, 1.9) were treated with NCPAP and fed by orogastric tube. A comparison group of 20 newborn infants with a mean body weight of 1090 grams (SD, 130) and a mean gestational age of 28.2 weeks (SD, 1.2) were not receiving NCPAP. All newborn infants received a milk formula containing 81 kcal/dL given in similar quantities. The antral cross-sectional area was measured by means of an ultrasound technique. RESULTS: Mean half-time of antral cross-sectional area was 28 minutes (SD, 12) in the NCPAP group and 40 minutes (SD, 17) in the comparison group ( P < .05). There were no differences in gastrointestinal complications between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The gastric emptying time was shorter for newborn infants treated with NCPAP.