Primary leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord with an unusually indolent clinical course

A 33-year-old man referred to our hospital with a painful swelling of the left scrotal content which had gradually enlarged during the past 4 years. Physical examination revealed a hard, irregular, nontender mass of 5x4 cm in the left scrotum. The mass was fixed to the left epididymis and spermatic cord. Local excision was performed and histologcal examination revealed leiomyosarcoma originating from the spermatic cord. Distant metastases were not observed. Because of the reportedly high propensity for local recurrence, we performed radical orchiectomy and adjuvant radiation. The patient has been alive for 13 months with no evidence of disease.     

Forebrain ischemia in the gerbil increases λ opiate binding in hippocampal mossy fibers

Transient forebrain ischemia was produced in gerbils by short-term occlusion of the common carotid arteries under halothane anesthesia. Histological analysis of brains 7 days post-ischemia demonstrated characteristic destruction of CA1 pyramidal cells. λ Opiate binding (measured with [³H]naloxone in the presence of 300 nM diprenorphine) at 7 days post-ischemia was significantly increased in the stratum lucidum of the hippocampus (the mossy fiber layer), but not in any other region measured, including other hippocampal regions, cortex, amygdala, caudate putamen, thalamus, and hypothalamus. The increase in mossy fiber λ binding was slow to develop (no increase detected up to 48 h post-ischemia), and long-lasting (binding remained elevated at 32 days post-ischemia). While MK-801 significantly inhibited CA1 pyramidal cell destruction when administered 20 min prior to ischemia, the increase in mossy fiber λ binding was still evident. None of seven different opioid agonists and antagonists examined had an effect on either the pyramidal cell damage or increased mossy fiber λ binding seen 7 days after ischemia.     

Divorce and Children’s Adjustment Problems at Home and School: The Role of Depressive/Withdrawn Parenting

This study examined linkages between divorce, depressive/withdrawn parenting, and child adjustment problems at home and school. Middle class divorced single mother families (n=35) and 2-parent families (n=174) with a child in the fourth grade participated. Mothers and teachers completed yearly questionnaires and children were interviewed when they were in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Structural equation modeling suggested that the association between divorce and child externalizing and internalizing behavior was partially mediated by depressive/withdrawn parenting when the children were in the fourth and fifth gradesThis study was supported by a grant (R29-48595) from the National Institute of Mental Health awarded to Rena Repetti; Jeffrey Wood was supported by a training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (Biobehavioral Issues in Physical and Mental Health; MH15750) and a UCLA Research Fellowship. We are very grateful to the children, teachers, and school administrators who participated in the study, and to the many research assistants who helped to collect the data.