Menstrual cycle and appetite control: implications for weight regulation

Hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle influence appetite control and eating behaviour. Energy intake varies during the reproductive cycle in humans and animals, with a periovulatory nadir and a luteal phase peak. Patterns of macronutrient selection show less consistency but a number of studies report carbohydrate cravings in the premenstrual phase, particularly in women with premenstrual syndrome. The cyclical nature of food cravings are frequently, but not invariably, associated with depression. Fluctuations in appetite, cravings and energy intake during the menstrual cycle may occur in parallel with cyclical rhythms in serotonin, which can be accompanied by affective symptoms. The premenstrual phase can be considered as a time when women are especially vulnerable to overconsumption, food craving and depression; this is often associated with low serotonin activity.      

Expression of superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase in myometrium, fetal membranes and placenta during normal human pregnancy and parturition

Superoxide, an agent which attenuates the half-life of nitric oxide, is metabolized and synthesized by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase, respectively. Over the last few years much work has focused on the role of nitric oxide in human parturition. The aim of this study was to determine whether the onset of human parturition is associated with a change in the expression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) or xanthine oxidase within the uterus. Samples of myometrium, placenta, decidua and fetal membranes were obtained from women before and after the onset of labour at term. Immunocytochemistry was used to localize Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD and xanthine oxidase and measure SOD enzyme activity. Cu/Zn and Mn SOD-like immunoreactivity was detected in syncytiotrophoblast cells, villous stromal cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels in the placenta. In the myometrium Cu/Zn and Mn SOD were localized to myocytes and endothelial cells and to some vascular smooth muscle cells. In the fetal membranes we observed staining for Cu/Zn SOD and Mn SOD in the amnion, chorion, extravillous trophoblast and decidua. There was no difference in SOD enzyme activity or staining intensity for SOD between different cell types before and during labour. Xanthine oxidase immunoreactivity was identified in each of the tissues examined and again there was no difference in immunostaining in tissues obtained from women delivered before or after the onset of labour. These results show that the pregnant uterus is capable of both synthesizing and degrading superoxide and suggest that superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase may play a role in the maintenance of uterine quiescence during pregnancy, but not in the initiation of parturition.      

In vivo mammalian brain imaging using one- and two-photon fluorescence microendoscopy

One of the major limitations in the current set of techniques available to neuroscientists is a dearth of methods for imaging individual cells deep within the brains of live animals. To overcome this limitation, we developed two forms of minimally invasive fluorescence microendoscopy and tested their abilities to image cells in vivo. Both one- and two-photon fluorescence microendoscopy are based on compound gradient refractive index (GRIN) lenses that are 350-1,000 microm in diameter and provide micron-scale resolution. One-photon microendoscopy allows full-frame images to be viewed by eye or with a camera, and is well suited to fast frame-rate imaging. Two-photon microendoscopy is a laser-scanning modality that provides optical sectioning deep within tissue. Using in vivo microendoscopy we acquired video-rate movies of thalamic and CA1 hippocampal red blood cell dynamics and still-frame images of CA1 neurons and dendrites in anesthetized rats and mice. Microendoscopy will help meet the growing demand for in vivo cellular imaging created by the rapid emergence of new synthetic and genetically encoded fluorophores that can be used to label specific brain areas or cell classes.     

Hydrosalpinges adversely affect markers of endometrial receptivity

While in-vitro fertilization (IVF) was initially developed in women with tubal factor infertility, recent clinical studies have suggested that the presence of hydrosalpinges lowers implantation and pregnancy rates. We postulated that these hydrosalpinges cause impaired endometrial receptivity. A total of 103 women with hydrosalpinges were prospectively evaluated, and compared with 55 infertile and 44 fertile controls. All women had endometrial biopsies during the window of implantation, analysed by conventional histological criteria, and also stained for three integrin markers of endometrial receptivity (alpha1beta1, alpha4beta1 and alpha vbeta3). Women with hydrosalpinges (cases) expressed significantly less of the alpha vbeta3 integrin compared with controls. There was no difference in expression of alpha1beta1 or alpha4beta1 among groups. A significantly greater number of cases had out of phase histology and missing alpha vbeta3 (type I defects) and absent integrin expression despite normal histological maturation (type II) defects, compared with controls. Of 20 women with impaired endometrial receptivity who were also biopsied after hydrosalpinx surgery, 70% demonstrated increased alpha vbeta3 expression. Seventy-seven percent of type I and 57% of type II defects were corrected postoperatively. Using markers of endometrial receptivity, this study demonstrates that inflammatory hydrosalpinges have an adverse effect on endometrial receptivity, which in some cases may be overcome by surgical treatment of the hydrosalpinx.      

Composite germ cell tumor and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma arising in the sella turcica

We report the case of a composite malignant neoplasm consisting of germ cell tumor and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring in the sella turcica of a young girl who presented with hypopituitarism. Routine hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of a resected suprasellar tumor demonstrated a neoplasm composed of 2 distinct morphologies. A panel of immunohistochemical markers was used to confirm the morphologic impression of germinoma (cytokeratin AE1/AE3-CAM 5.2, cytokeratin 7, neuron-specific enolase, and focally placental alkaline phosphatase positive) and mature B-cell lymphoma (CD20 positive; pancytokeratin, placental alkaline phosphatase, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase negative). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of such a composite tumor in the central nervous system.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">TCF7L2</Emphasis>variant genotypes and type 2 diabetes risk in Brazil: significant association,but not a significant tool for risk stratification in the general population

Background  

Genetic polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene are strongly associated with large increments in type 2 diabetes risk in different populations worldwide. In this study, we aimed to confirm the effect of the TCF7L2 polymorphism rs7903146 on diabetes risk in a Brazilian population and to assess the use of this genetic marker in improving diabetes risk prediction in the general population.     

Reliability of the acetabular teardrop as a landmark

Summary This study investigated the effect of tilt and observer reliability on radiographic measurements of the position of a prosthetic acetabular cup in seven dry bone pelves using the teardrop as a landmark. Coronal or sagittal tilt of more than five degrees was easily recognisable and there was effectively no observer variation in the measurements up to this limit. In addition, 90 out of 100 randomly selected antero-posterior pelvic radiographs from an outpatient department were not significantly rotated and 93 demonstrated a clearly defined teardrop. Measurements about the teardrop on routine radiographs are therefore sufficiently accurate to allow assessment of prosthetic position.

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La valeur du sourcil cotyloidien comme repère d'analyse radiologique

Résumé Cette étude, conduite sur 7 bassins secs, apprécie l'effet de l'inclinaison du bassin sur la qualité de l'analyse radiographique de la position d'une cupule prothétique de hanche en utilisant le sourcil cotyloïdien comme repère. Une inclinaison du bassin dans les plans coronal et sagittal est aisément détectable et il n'existe pas de variation d'analyse entre les différents observateurs en dessous de 5° d'inclinaison. De plus, sur 100 radiographies antéro-postérieures de bassin choisies au hasard dans les dossiers de consultation, 90 avaient été réalisées sans incidence particulièrement adaptée et l'on pouvait repérer facilement le sourcil sur 93% d'entre elles. Les mesures faites sur des radios de routine sont donc suffisamment précises pour permettre l'évaluation de la position d'une prothèse à partir du sourcil cotyloïdien.

     

Precursor B-lymphoblastic transformation of grade I follicle center lymphoma

Part of the natural history of follicle center lymphoma (FCL) is transformation to a more aggressive neoplasm, almost always a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We describe a rare example of a precursor B-lymphoblastic transformation of grade I FCL occurring in a 45-year-old woman 12 years after initial presentation and 3 years after successful treatment for a diffuse large cell transformation. The lymphoblastic lymphoma shared the same immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement as the FCL as assessed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing, as well as identical kappa light chain gene rearrangements by Southern blot analysis. The immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene sequences of both tumors showed numerous identical base substitutions compared with germline sequences and 3 additional mutations in the lymphoblastic lymphoma not present in the low-grade FCL. These results indicate origin of the lymphoblastic process from the mature follicle center B-cell clone, rather than divergent origin of the 2 tumors from a common immature B-cell precursor.     

Inhibition of Respiratory syncytial, parainfluenza 3 and measles viruses by 2-deoxy-D-glucose.

2-Deoxy-d-glucose was found to inhibit the replication and cytopathic effects of respiratory syncytial, parainfluenza 3 and measles viruses. The effects of the drug were completely reversible and appeared directed against viral functions occurring in the second half of the viral growth cycle. At least some viral functions appeared to be unaffected by the agent. Electron microscopic studies with a temperature-sensitive mutant of respiratory syncytial virus indicated that 2-deoxy-d-glucose produced a morphological change. Surface projections were greatly reduced in virions grown in the presence of the drug.