Kidney epithelial targeted mitochondrial transcription factor A deficiency results in progressive mitochondrial depletion associated with severe cystic disease

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Some electrophysiological characteristics of insular cortex efferents to the amygdaloid central nucleus in awake rabbits

Extracellular single unit recordings were obtained from insular cortex neurons that were activated antidromically from the amygdaloid central nucleus in conscious rabbits. Consistent with previous anatomical data, the majority of these neurons were located within the dorsal agranular insula. Ongoing activity in these neurons was infrequent, and was not altered during the presentation of sensory stimuli or during the expression of Pavlovian conditioned bradycardia. These results provide relevant to the functional organization of forebrain area thought to be involved in autonomic control.     

Clinical aspects of uterine papillary serous carcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We review the demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics, and prognosis of women diagnosed with uterine papillary serous carcinoma, with a focus on clinical management. RECENT FINDINGS: Pathologic evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding is preferred for patients who fit the profile of a high-risk endometrial cancer such as uterine papillary serous carcinoma. Women diagnosed with endometrial cancer who fit this profile and all women with uterine papillary serous carcinoma should undergo comprehensive surgical staging and aggressive cytoreduction of extrauterine disease. Adjuvant therapy remains controversial. Several recent investigations reported on the potential benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy, with many recommending additional loco-regional radiation. SUMMARY: Despite the lack of randomized trials on uterine papillary serous carcinoma, several recent reports have provided insight into the diagnosis, surgical management, and adjuvant treatment of this high-risk endometrial cancer.     

Expression of transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) and p-Akt correlates with the progression of cervical neoplasia

AIM: It is supposed that increased glycolysis is crucial for the energy supply during tumor progression. Unfortunately, the relevance of glycolysis in cervical neoplasia is unknown, but what is certain is the fact that cervical cancer shows a high expression of glucose membrane transporters, which are necessary for glucose uptake as an energy source. Transketolase-like enzyme 1 (TKTL1) and the oncogene p-Akt have been described to play an important role in glycolysis during tumorigenesis. Thus, we were interested in their expression in cervical tissue. METHODS: We examined the expression of TKTL1 and p-Akt in 80 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cervical specimens: 20 benign cervical tissues, 20 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 20 high-grade intraepithelial lesions, and 20 invasive squamous cell carcinomas (ISCC). RESULTS: Immunhistochemical analyses revealed that the intensity of the expression of TKTL1 and p-Akt increases significantly with an increase in the histopathological grade of cervical tissues. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that both TKTL1 and p-Akt play an important role in the progression of cervical neoplasia, which may be due to their impact on glycolysis.     

Mifepristone in second-trimester medical abortion: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the adjunctive use of mifepristone in second-trimester induction abortions using misoprostol 1 day after feticidal digoxin. METHODS: This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of mifepristone in second-trimester induction termination using misoprostol after feticidal digoxin. Women seeking abortion between 18 and 23 weeks of gestation were offered enrollment. At the time of digoxin amnioinfusion, participants received a randomly allocated, identical-appearing capsule containing either mifepristone, 200 mg, or placebo. Patients returned the following day for induction with buccal misoprostol. The primary outcome was the time interval from the first misoprostol dose to abortion. Analysis utilized survival curves with log-rank testing. RESULTS: Of 64 women, 32 received mifepristone and 32 received placebo. The groups did not differ by ethnicity, age, parity, reason for termination, or gestational age. Median procedure time was significantly shorter for those who received mifepristone, 10 hours (95% confidence interval [CI] 8-12), than those who did not, 18 hours (95% CI 15-22), P<.01, and those parous, 10 hours (95% CI 9-14), compared with nulliparous, 16 hours (95% CI 12-22, P=.02). Other findings in the mifepristone compared with placebo group included rates of placental retention, 3.1% compared with 6.3% (P=.61), length of hospitalization, 0.66 days compared with 0.8 days (P=.23), and analgesic requirements, 27.2 mg compared with 39.3 mg morphine (P=.22). Side effects during induction were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Addition of mifepristone in second-trimester termination inductions using misoprostol significantly reduces the abortion time interval. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00382538 LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.