Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in a cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis characterized by multifocal follicular lymphoid cell infiltrates with germinal centers, thyroid acinar atrophy and pituitary cell hyperplasia/hypertrophy of the adenohypophysis was detected in a vehicle control, 4-year-old female Cynomolgus macaque in a routine toxicology study. Lymphoid cells of germinal centers were positive for the B-cell marker CD20 by immunohistochemistry (IHC), while remaining lymphocytes were positive for the T-cell marker CD3. Hypertrophied/hyperplastic pituitary cells were positive for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by IHC, consistent with an adaptive response due to removal of hormonal negative feedback from the diseased thyroid gland. Features of this case are similar to chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in humans, an autoimmune disorder also known as Hashimoto's disease. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis with compensatory pituitary changes may occur spontaneously in young, clinically normal cynomolgus macaques and its presence in drug treated animals should be interpreted with caution.     

Cardiac autonomic regulation during sleep in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder

OBJECTIVE: To assess cardiac autonomic and respiratory changes from stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in subjects with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and controls. We tested the hypothesis that REM-related cardiorespiratory activation is altered in subjects with RBD. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: University hospital-based sleep research laboratory. PATIENTS: Ten subjects with idiopathic RBD (2 women, mean age 63.4 +/- 6.2 years) and 10 sex- and age-matched controls (mean age 63.9 +/- 6.3 years). INTERVENTION: One-night polysomnography was used to assess R-R variability during NREM and REM sleep. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Spectral analysis of R-R interval and respiration were performed. Mean R-R interval, low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components in both absolute and normalized units (LFnu and HFnu), and the LF/HF ratio were obtained from 5-minute electrocardiogram segments selected during NREM and REM sleep under stable conditions (stable breathing pattern, no microarousals or leg movements). Respiratory frequency was also assessed. Values obtained were then averaged for each stage and analyzed by 2 x 2 analysis of variance with group (RBD subjects and controls) as factor and state (NREM and REM) as repeated measures. RR interval, HF, and HFnu components decreased from NREM to REM in controls but did not change in RBD subjects (Interaction P < 0.05). LFnu (interaction P < 0. 001), LF/HF (interaction P < 0. 001), and respiratory frequency (interaction P < 0. 05) increased from NREM to REM sleep in controls but remained stable in RBD subjects. CONCLUSION: REM-related cardiac and respiratory responses are absent in subjects with idiopathic RBD.     

Sleep architecture and NREM alterations in children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To analyze sleep in children with Asperger syndrome (AS) by means of standard sleep questionnaires, to evaluate sleep architecture and NREM sleep alterations by means of cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) and to correlate objective sleep parameters with cognitive behavioral measures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study involving validated sleep questionnaires, neuropsychological scales, and PSG recording. SETTING: Sleep medicine center. PARTICIPANTS: Eight children with AS, 10 children with autism, and 12 healthy control children. INTERVENTIONS: N/A MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Children with AS had a higher prevalence of problems of initiating sleep and daytime sleepiness. Sleep architecture parameters showed minor differences between the 3 groups. CAP parameters showed an increased percentage of A1 and a decreased percentage of A2 subtypes in subjects with AS vs. controls. All A subtype indexes (number per hour of NREM sleep) were decreased, mostly in sleep stage 2 but not in SWS. With respect to children with autism, subjects with AS showed increased CAP rate in SWS and A1 percentage. In subjects with AS, verbal IQ had a significant positive correlation with total CAP rate and CAP rate in SWS and with global and SWS A1 index. The percentage of A2 negatively correlated with full scale IQ, verbal and performance IQ. CBCL total score correlated positively with CAP rate and A1 index while externalizing score correlated negatively with A3%. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows peculiar CAP modifications in children with AS and represents an attempt to correlate the quantification of sleep EEG oscillations with the degree of mental ability/disability.     

No effect of menstrual cycle on LDL oxidizability and particle size

OBJECTIVES: Premenopausal women have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than men, but this female advantage disappears after menopause, suggesting that female sex hormones exert some cardioprotective effects. One of the mechanisms proposed to explain this cardioprotection is the antioxidant properties of estrogens. The aim of this work was to assess whether fluctuations in ovarian hormones, particularly 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), during the menstrual cycle were associated with changes in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size, fatty acyl composition, alpha-tocopherol content and in vitro oxidizability. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy premenopausal women (mean age: 32.2 years) participated in the study. Blood was drawn on days 3 (menstrual phase), 14 (follicular phase) and 22 (luteal phase) of the menstrual cycle for plasma determinations and LDL isolation. Plasma E(2), progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were determined by immunoassay. LDL oxidation by Cu(2+)- and 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) was measured by the formation of conjugated dienes, LDL particle size by quasi-elastic light scattering, fatty acyl composition by gas chromatography, alpha-tocopherol by reversed phase HPLC. A within-subjects analysis of variance was performed to determine significant differences of the variables over the course of a subject's menstrual cycle. RESULTS: The LDL oxidizability indices (lag time before the onset of propagation and the maximal oxidation rate) did not change during the menstrual cycle. The LDL particle size (24.8+/-1.7 nm diameter), alpha-tocopherol (11.7+/-3.7 nmol/mg LDL protein) and fatty acyl composition also remained constant. CONCLUSIONS: The LDL physicochemical properties and oxidizability are not affected by menstrual cycle phase.     

Comparison between a built-in "dual side" chest imaging device and a standard "single side" CR

An integrated readout computed radiography system (Fuji XU-D1) incorporating dual-side imaging plates (ST-55BD) was analyzed in terms of modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) for standard beam qualities RQA 9 and RQA 5. NPS and DQE were assessed using a detector entrance air kerma consistent with clinical practice for chest radiography. Similar investigation was performed on a standard reader (Fuji FCR 5000) using single-side imaging plates (ST-VI). Negligible differences were found between the MTFs of the two imaging systems for RQA 9, whereas for RQA 5 the single-side system exhibited slightly superior MTF. Regarding noise response, the dual-side system turned out to be better performing for both beam qualities over a wide range of frequencies. For RQA 9, at 8 microGy, the DQE of the dual-side system was moderately higher over the whole frequency range, whereas for RQA 5, at 10 microGy, significant improvement was found at low- and midrange frequencies. As an example, at 1 cycle/mm, the following improvements in the DQE of the dual-side system were observed: +22% (RQA 9, at 8 microGy), +50% (RQA 9, at 30 microGy), and +45% (RQA 5, at 10 microGy).     

The prevalence of food allergy: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty about the prevalence of food allergy in communities. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of food allergy by performing a meta-analysis according to the method of assessment used. METHODS: The foods assessed were cow's milk, hen's egg, peanut, fish, shellfish, and an overall estimate of food allergy. We summarized the information in 5 categories: self-reported symptoms, specific IgE positive, specific skin prick test positive, symptoms combined with sensitization, and food challenge studies. We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for publications since 1990. The meta-analysis included only original studies. They were stratified by age groups: infant/preschool, school children, and adults. RESULTS: A total of 934 articles were identified, but only 51 were considered appropriate for inclusion. The prevalence of self-reported food allergy was very high compared with objective measures. There was marked heterogeneity between studies regardless of type of assessment or food item considered, and in most analyses this persisted after age stratification. Self-reported prevalence of food allergy varied from 1.2% to 17% for milk, 0.2% to 7% for egg, 0% to 2% for peanuts and fish, 0% to 10% for shellfish, and 3% to 35% for any food. CONCLUSION: There is a marked heterogeneity in the prevalence of food allergy that could be a result of differences in study design or methodology, or differences between populations. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: We recommend that measurements be made by using standardized methods, if possible food challenge. We need to be cautious in estimates of prevalence based only on self-reported food allergy.     

Prognostic significance of p53 and p63 immunolocalisation in primary and matched lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

This study evaluates the prognostic significance of p53 and p63 immunolocalisation in oral squamous cell carcinoma samples from 45 matched primary tumors (PT) and lymph node metastases (LNM). Data regarding patient age, gender, primary site, histological differentiation, metastasis, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were available. p53 and p63 immunolabeling was detected in 17 (37.8%) and 23 (51.1%) of the PT, respectively. For LNM, there was p53 and p63 labeling in 23 (51.1%) and 26 (57.8%) cases, respectively. Most cases showed similar labeling in PT and the corresponding LNM (73.3% for p53 and 53.3% for p63, respectively). No statistically significant associations were found between p53 and p63 immunolabeling and histological differentiation; p63 positive tumors showed higher DFS (p=0.006) and OS (p=0.049); and p53-negative tumors had a higher DFS interval (p=0.009). Our findings suggest that initially p53-negative tumors and initially p63-positive tumors that retain this labeling pattern may follow less aggressive biological courses and present better prognoses.     

Structure-activity relationships of 33 piperidines as toxicants against female adults of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) is the primary vector of both dengue and yellow fever. Use of insecticides is one of the primary ways to control this medically important insect pest. However, few new insecticides have been developed for mosquito control in recent years. As a part of our collaborative effort to search for new insecticides to control mosquitoes, piperidine was used as base compound for further optimization. Herein, we report the structure-activity relationships of 33 piperidines against adult female Ae. aegypti. On the basis of 24-h LD50 values after topical application, the most toxic compound was 2-ethyl-piperidine, with an LD50 as low as 0.8 microg per mosquito. The toxicities of piperidine derivatives were significantly decreased when a benzyl moiety was attached to the carbon of the piperidine ring, with an LD50 value as high as 29.2 microg per mosquito. The toxicity order of three moieties attached to the carbon of the piperidine ring was ethyl- > methyl- > benzyl-derivatives. When the same moiety was attached to the piperidine ring, the carbon position to which the moiety was attached conferred different toxicity and the toxicity order was second carbon > third carbon > fourth carbon. Together, these preliminary results may be useful in guiding further piperidine ring modifications in the development of potential new insecticides.