Testicular microlithiasis: an unreported feature of McCune-Albright syndrome in males

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the incidence of testicular microlithiasis (TM) in boys with McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS). STUDY DESIGN: Study population consisted of 8 boys with MAS whose medical records were reviewed with emphasis on their past genitourinary histories. All of the boys underwent a clinical and ultrasonographic (US) scanning of the scrotal and inguinal regions. US results in boys with MAS were compared with those obtained in two control populations consisting of 20 healthy subjects and 12 boys with idiopathic and untreated central precocious puberty (CPP). RESULTS: Clinical examination revealed urological abnormalities in no patients, whereas US showed a typical picture of TM in 5 of 8 boys. TM was observed in none of the subjects belonging to control populations (v=15.2 and 11.3, respectively; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a series of 8 boys with MAS we demonstrated a high prevalence (62%) of TM that was associated with neither malignant nor nonmalignant conditions. This finding is unlikely to be only occasional, considering the very low prevalence of TM reported until now in healthy children and young adults and in our results in control populations. TM may be another marker for MAS.     

In vitro culture of rat neuromicrovascular endothelial cells on polymeric scaffolds

Polyphosphazenes are polymers possessing a skeleton composed of alternating phosphorous and nitrogen atoms, and two side-moieties linked to each phosphorous atom. Polyphosphazenes with amino acid esters as side-moieties are biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. Two polyphosphazenes, poly[bis(ethyl alanate) phosphazene] and poly[(ethyl phenylalanate)0.8(ethyl alanate)0.8(ethyl glycinate)0.4 phosphazene] (PPAGP) were synthesized, and processed to form small fibers. Their ability to support rat neuromicrovascular endothelial cell (EC) adhesion and growth has been studied, using poly(D,L-lactic acid) as reference compound. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that both poly[bis(ethyl alanate) phosphazene] and PPAGP fibers were thinner than poly(D,L-lactic acid) fibers, and possessed a more irregular and porous surface. All polymers increased EC adhesion, compared with polystyrene, but only polyphosphazenes were able to improve EC growth. The highest increase in EC proliferation was induced by PPAGP, which, as revealed by environmental scanning electron microscopy, was also able to induce ECs to arrange into tubular structures. The conclusion is drawn that PPAGP may provide the best scaffold for engineered blood vessels, because it promotes adhesion, growth, and organization of ECs into capillary-like structures.     

Alcohol consumption and acute myocardial infarction: a benefit of alcohol consumed with meals?

BACKGROUND: The apparent favorable effect of alcohol on the risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI) may be related to its hypoinsulinemic effect when consumed with meals. We studied how the timing of alcohol consumption in relation to meals might affect the risk of MI in a population with relatively high regular alcohol consumption. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study between 1995 and 1999 in Milan, Italy. Cases were 507 subjects with a first episode of nonfatal acute MI, and controls were 478 patients admitted to hospitals for other acute diseases. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Compared with nondrinkers, an inverse trend in risk was observed when alcohol was consumed during meals only (for > or =3 drinks per day: OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.30-0.82). In contrast, no consistent trend in risk was found for subjects drinking outside of meals (for > or =3 drinks per day: 0.98; 0.49-1.96). The pattern of risk was similar when we considered people who drank only wine. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol drinking during meals was inversely related with risk of acute MI, whereas alcohol drinking outside meals only was unrelated to risk.     

Evaluation of 2 indicators for the presence of toxic substances in land used as unauthorized dumpsites

The aim of this study was to experiment with simple, low cost tests which are able to detect the presence of compounds and/or toxic substances in soil. Their genotoxic potential was evaluated using the Ames and Tradescantia Micronuclei tests. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were also performed to assess the presence of edaphic micro and macro fauna in soil samples collected from both the contaminated and adjacent areas. Our results show that these tests are a useful screening method to check for the presence of harmful, toxic substances affecting the quality of soil and the surrounding ecosystem.     

Effect of oral vitamin D2 yearly bolus on hip fracture risk in elderly women: a community primary prevention study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vitamin D deficiency is a well-known risk for hip fracture, and vitamin D insufficiency is so frequent in the elderly that population-wide preventive intervention would be useful. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D bolus on hip fracture incidence in elderly women. METHODS: All women aged > 65 years registered at Health District 20 of the Regione Veneto, Italy, were eligible for this quasi-experimental, prospective community intervention study. A vial containing 400,000 IU vitamin D2 (Ostelin 800, Teofarma, Italy) was offered for oral administration to all women in the winters of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. The only exclusion criteria for treatment were age and gender, and the control group included women who did not participate in the Health District initiative. Analysis of hip fracture incidence was carried out for 4 years, from 1999 to 2002. Patients with incident hip fracture were identified as soon as they were admitted to one of the 3 hospitals of the health district and interviewed regarding their participation in the vitamin D preventive intervention program. In 120 of the women (age range 68-90 years), serum concentrations of 25-OH vitamin D were measured from October to June, both before and 1 and 4 months after vitamin D administration. RESULTS: 23,325 and 24,747 women received the vitamin D bolus during winters 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 respectively, i.e. 45-47% of eligible women. The proportion of women who accepted the bolus declined with advancing age, from 50-55% in women aged 60-70 years to 22-26% in those aged > 90 years. The two-year intervention on the community decreased the incidence of fracture by 10% (p = 0.050) in comparison with the previous two years. The age-adjusted risk reduction (RR) of hip fracture during 2001 and 2002 in women who had received vitamin D, with respect to women who had not, decreased by 17% (p = 0.056) and 25% (p = 0.005) respectively. The RR was considerably greater and statistically significant over both 2001 and 2002 in the cohort aged > 75 years. 25-OH vitamin D concentrations, in the subset of women in whom it was measured, rose significantly (p < 0.0001) by 9 ng/ml over 4 months after administration. CONCLUSION: Despite several obvious limitations due to its nature, this study sufficiently documents that yearly vitamin D bolus supplements, given as primary prevention to elderly Caucasian women, may decrease the incidence of hip fracture. For its probable safety and excellent feasibility and cost-effectiveness, this primary intervention has a great potential for generalisability.     

Acquisition of bone mass in normal individuals and in patients with growth hormone deficiency

Children and adolescents with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) have reduced bone turnover and bone mass in comparison with normal individuals. GH replacement therapy stimulates bone turnover and improves bone mass during childhood and adolescence. At final height, patients with GHD treated with GH have normal mean values of bone mass, but some patients have reduced lumbar BMD (Z score <1) with an increased susceptibility to fractures. Children and adolescents with GHD have approximately a fourfold decreased fracture frequency during treatment in comparison with controls. The changes of bone mass during the transition to adulthood in patients with GHD who discontinued GH treatment after final height are not defined. An increase of lumbar BMD after final height has been reported until 2 years after discontinuation of GH treatment; this could be the result of a spontaneous progression towards peak bone mass or of a persisting effect of GH treatment on bone mass accumulation. GH has an important role in the accrual of bone mass during childhood and adolescence, but the impact of GHD on bone mass during the transiton to adulthood is unknown.     

Tumor rejection by gene transfer of the MHC class II transactivator in murine mammary adenocarcinoma cells

The murine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line TS/A is a highly malignant MHC class II-negative tumor. We show that transfection of TS/A cells with the MHC class II transactivator CIITA renders them MHC class II-positive and highly immunogenic in vivo. These cells were fully rejected by 51% of syngeneic recipients and had a significantly lower growth rate in the remaining 49% of animals. This directly correlated to the amount of MHC class II molecules expressed in the transfected tumor. Tumor rejecting animals were protected against rechallenge with the parental TS/A tumor. The rejection required CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. CD4(+) T cells were fundamental in the priming phase of the antitumor response. CTL-specific for a peptide of the envelope gp70 of an endogenous ecotropic retrovirus were identified and explained the specificity of the effector mechanism of rejection against the TS/A and the antigenically related C26 carcinoma cells but not against the unrelated gp70-negative syngeneic fibrosarcoma F1F cells. This is the first example of successful tumor vaccination by genetic transfer of CIITA. These results open the way to a possible use of CIITA for increasing both the inducing and the effector phase of the antitumor immune response.     

Oral contraceptives and the risk of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE: A role of female hormones, including oral contraceptives, has been suggested in the etiology of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver. There is, however, no epidemiologic quantification of this relationship. STUDY DESIGN: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Italy of 23 women with histologically confirmed focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver and 94 controls in the hospital for acute diseases. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed by use of multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Focal nodular hyperplasia was not associated with menstrual and reproductive factors. Ever oral contraceptive use was reported by 83% of cases and 59% of controls. The multivariate OR was 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-9.4) for ever use, and 4.5 (95% CI, 1.2-16.9) for use > or = 3 years. The trend in risk with duration was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms previous clinical observations, and provides a quantitative estimate of the association between use of oral contraceptives and focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver.