Silent adenoma subtype 3 of the pituitary--immunohistochemical and ultrastructural classification: a review of 29 cases

The silent adenoma subtype 3 (SAS-3) of undetermined cellular derivation is a seemingly nonfunctioning aggressive pituitary tumor with a high recurrence rate. At the time of diagnosis SAS-3s are macro- or giant adenomas particularly aggressive in young individuals, especially women. They are usually associated with mild hyperprolactinemia and are unremarkable by histology. Immunohistochemistry, demonstrating scattered immunoreactivity mostly for GH, PRL, TSH, and alpha-subunit, is not diagnostic. Presently, only TEM permits conclusive diagnosis. Ultrastructurally, the large polar adenoma cells contain abundant RER, masses of SER, extensive multipolar Golgi apparatus, and unevenly clustered mitochondria, displaced by RER and SER, which may show close spatial relationship to RER. Cell membranes often form plexiform interdigitations. Nuclear pleomorphism and nuclear inclusions are common. The 100- to 200-nm secretory granules accumulate heavily in cell processes, which is a hallmark of glycoprotein hormone cell differentiation. The endothelial cells may contain tubuloreticular inclusions. Complete surgical removal of the large often invasive tumors is difficult necessitating postoperative treatment. SAS-3 is sensitive to conventional radiation. Some tumors express somatostatin receptors and respond well to somatostatin analogues, offering long-term control in patients with residual tumor. Possible derivation of SAS-3 from rostral thyrotrophs, a cell type presently known in rodents is contemplated.     

Permeation of human ovarian tissue with cryoprotective agents in preparation for cryopreservation

The recent improvements in the treatment of cancer by chemo- and radiotherapy have led to a significant increase in the survival rates of patients with malignant disease, but at the expense of distressing side effects. One major problem, especially for younger patients, is that aggressive therapy destroys a significant proportion of the follicular population, which can result in either temporary or permanent infertility. Freeze-banking pieces of ovarian cortex prior to treatment is one strategy for preserving fecundity. When the patient is in remission, fertility could, theoretically, be restored by autografting the thawed tissue at the orthotopic site or by growing isolated follicles to maturity in vitro. Recent studies have found good follicular survival in frozen-thawed human ovarian tissue but to optimize the process an effective cryopreservation method needs to be developed. An essential part of such a technique is to permeate the tissue with a cryoprotectant to minimize ice formation and the extent of this equilibration is an important determinant of post-thaw cellular survival. In the current study, we have investigated the diffusion of four cryoprotective agents into human tissue at both 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C. We have also studied the effect of adding different concentrations of the non penetrating cryoprotective agent, sucrose, to the freezing media using the release of lactate dehydrogenase as a measure of its protective effect. At 4 degrees C propylene glycol and glycerol penetrated the tissue significantly slower than either ethylene glycol or dimethyl sulphoxide. At the higher temperature of 37 degrees C all four cryoprotectants penetrated at a faster rate, however concern about enhanced toxicity prevents the use of these conditions in practice. Thus, the results suggest that the best method of preparing tissue for freezing is exposure for 30 min to 1.5 M solutions of ethylene glycol or dimethyl sulphoxide at 4 degrees C; this achieved a mean tissue concentration that was almost 80% that of the bathing solution. We also report that the addition of low concentrations of sucrose to the freezing medium does not have a significant protective effect against freezing injury.      

Sequencing of the alpha-synuclein gene in a large series of cases of familial Parkinson's disease fails to reveal any further mutations. The European Consortium on Genetic Susceptibility in Parkinson's Disease (GSPD)

A mutation in exon 4 of the human alpha-synuclein gene was reported recently in four families with autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease (PD). In order to examine whether mutations in this exon or elsewhere in the gene are common in familial PD, all seven exons of the alpha- synuclein gene were amplified by PCR from index cases of 30 European and American Caucasian kindreds affected with autosomal dominant PD. Each product was sequenced directly and examined for mutations in the open reading frame. No mutations were found in any of the samples examined. We conclude that the A53T change described in the alpha- synuclein gene is a rare cause of PD or may even be a rare variant. Mutations in the regulatory or intronic regions of the gene were not excluded by this study.      

The antiphlogistic,antinociceptive and antipyretic properties of fenclorac

Fenclorac (a,m-dichloro-p-cyclohexylphenylacetic acid, diethylammonium salt) is a potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent with significant analgesic and antipyretic activity. Fenclorac had an ED₅₀ of 7.9 mg/kg in the carrageenan paw edema assay and had a duration of action of 18–22 hours. Comparative tests in the carrageenan paw edema assay in the rat indicated that the potency of fenclorac was 13 times that of aspirin, 3.4 times phenylbutazone, 3 times ibuprofen and 0.3 times indomethacin. Fenclorac was less potent than indomethacin, but more potent than phenylbutazone or aspirin in treatment of developing or established adjuvant arthritis. The anti-inflammatory effectiveness of fenclorac did not depend upon the integrity of the adrenopituitary axis and was not affected by the route of administration or sex of the test animal. Fenclorac was 77 times more potent than aspirin and more than twice as potent as indomethacin in reducing fever in rats rendered hyperthermic with brewer's yeast. Fenclorac did not affect normal body temperatures. Fenclorac did not interfere with cellular immune mechanisms as measured by its lack of effectiveness in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Antinociceptive testing indicated that fenclorac had peripheral but not central analgesic activity. Fenclorac had an acute oral LD₅₀ in rats and mice of 285 and 430 mg/kg, respectively. The acute gastric lesion UD₅₀ for fenclorac was 7 mg/kg in the fasted rat. Studies using⁵¹Cr-tagged erythrocytes indicated that fenclorac did not produce significant fecal blood loss in the rat at twice the therapeutic ED₅₀ dose for up to 12 days after dosing. Extensive and prolonged fecal blood loss was observed with a corresponding dose of indomethacin for up to nine days after administration. Comparison of the antiinflammatory pharmacology, Therapeutic Ratio and the data obtained from the⁵¹Cr-fecal blood loss studies indicated that fenclorac was well tolerated after acute or subacute administration to the rat.