Survivors of childhood cancer: long-term edocrine and metabolic problems dwarf the growth distrubance

The long-term effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy are becoming increasingly reconginzed as the cure rates of certain childhood malignancies improve. The endocrine system is particularly sensitive to cancer therapies. Long-term survivors of childhood cancer who received cranial irradiation have been shown to have lower than predicted height, an increased prevalence of obesity and redutions in strength, exercise tolerance, bone mineral density, quality of life and academic achievement. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is the most frequent endocrine deficiency observed following cranial irradiation. Adults with GHD resulting from primary hypothalamic-pituitary disease during childhood have been shown to exhibit a clinical picture similar to that described in long-term survivors of childhood cancer: increased fat mass and reduced lean mass, strength, exercise tolerance, bone mineral density and quality of life. This review considers the possible contributin of GHD to the adverse sequelae observed in long-term survivors of childhood malignancy and includes our preliminary experience in treating 14 adults with GHD resulting from the treatment of childhood malignancies.     

Synthesis of thioether derivatives of quinazoline-4-one-2-thione and evaluation of their antiplatelet aggregation activity

A series of 2-(arylmethylthio)-3-phenylquinazolin-4-one derivatives have been synthesized and their antiplatelet aggregation activities were assessed against ADP and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation in human plasma. Among the tested thioethers, derivative 2, 3, 5 and 16 were the most potent compounds with satisfactory IC₅₀ for inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by ADP. Analysis of global physicochemical parameters shows some correlations between activities and molecular volume and also surface area of the studied derivatives.     

Inhibition of microglial activity alters spinal wide dynamic range neuron discharge and reduces microglial Toll‐like receptor 4 expression in neuropathic rats

It is believed that neuropathic pain results from aberrant neuronal discharges although some evidence suggests that the activation of glia cells contributes to pain after an injury to the nervous system. This study aimed to evaluate the role of microglial activation on the hyper‐responsiveness of wide dynamic range neurons (WDR) and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) expressions in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain in rats. Adult male Wistar rats (230 ± 30 g) underwent surgery for induction of CCI neuropathy. Six days after surgery, administration of minocycline (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, i.p.) was initiated and continued until day 14. After administration of the last dose of minocycline or saline, a behavioral test was conducted, then animals were sacrificed and lumbar segments of the spinal cord were collected for Western blot analysis of TLR4 expression. The electrophysiological properties of WDR neurons were investigated by single unit recordings in separate groups. The findings showed that after CCI, in parallel with thermal hyperalgesia, the expression of TLR4 in the spinal cord and the evoked response of the WDR neurons to electrical, mechanical, and thermal stimulation significantly increased. Post‐injury administration of minocycline effectively decreased thermal hyperalgesia, TLR4 expression, and hyper‐responsiveness of WDR neurons in CCI rats. The results of this study indicate that post‐injury, repeated administration of minocycline attenuated neuropathic pain by suppressing microglia activation and reducing WDR neuron hyper‐responsiveness. This study confirms that post‐injury modulation of microglial activity is a new strategy for treating neuropathic pain.     

Trials which randomize practices II: sample size

BACKGROUND: When practices are randomized in a trial and observations are made on the patients to assess the relative effectiveness of the different interventions, sample size calculations need to estimate the number of practices required, not just the total number of patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to introduce the methodology for appropriate sample size calculation and discuss the implications for power. METHOD: A worked example from general practice is used. DISCUSSION: Designs which randomize practices are less powerful than designs which randomize patients to intervention groups, particularly where a large number of patients is recruited from each practice. Studies which randomize few practices should be avoided if possible, as the loss of power is considerable and simple randomization may not ensure comparability of intervention groups.      

α‐Substitution Effects on the Ease of S→N‐Acyl Transfer in Aminothioesters

In S‐acylcysteines and homocysteines, the efficacy and rate of S→N‐acyl transfer (5 and 6 cyclic TSs) vary with the size of S‐acyl group. Conformational and quantum chemical calculations indicate that the spatial distance, b(N‐C), between the terminal amine and the thioester carbon is shortened by α‐C(O)X (X = OH, OMe, NH₂) substituents.     

Cryptosporidium Spp. Infection in Human and Domestic Animals

Background

Cryptosporidium spp. is a coccidian parasite infected humans and animals. Prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium spp. infection associated with is some parameters such as sampling, age, season, country and contact to domestic animals. This study aimed to determine Cryptosporidium spp. Infection in humans and some animals in rural areas of Shushtar district from Khuzestan Province, south- west of Iran.

Methods

In this study, Stool specimens were randomly collected from 45 cattle, 8 buffalos, 35 calves, 22 turkeys, 3 sheep, 2 geese as well as 62 humans in different seasons selected from rural areas of Shushtar district located in Khuzestan in the south- west of Iran from August 2009 to April 2011. The collected stool samples were examined by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method.

Results

Altogether, 68/115 (59.1%) domestic animals and 9/62 (14.5%) of humans were showed Cryptosporidium spp. infection in the study areas.

Conclusion

In this study we found the high frequency of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in the studied areas.     

Randomized, Evaluator-Blind, Split-Face Comparison Study of Single Cross-linked versus Double Cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Glabellar Lines

BACKGROUND At present, various hyaluronic acids are being used to rejuvenate facial skin. There is no comparative study of single cross-linked hyaluronic acid (SCHA) versus double cross-linked hyaluronic acid (DCHA). The objective of our study is to compare the effectiveness and complications of SCHA versus DCHA in the treatment of glabellar lines.
METHODS Ten female patients were enrolled in this randomized, evaluator-blind study. One side (left vs. right) of each patient's glabellar lines was treated with SCHA and the other side was treated with DCHA. Two independent blinded observers reviewed the clinical photographs at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the treatment and assessed for degree of improvement as well as complications.
RESULTS The two products were equally effective in producing an optimal cosmetic result, although at 6, 9, and 12 months posttreatment, a higher proportion of patients showed over 50% improvement with DCHA than with SCHA. At 12 months posttreatment, DCHA was considered superior in 70% of patients, whereas SCHA was superior in 10% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS Both SCHA and DCHA are equally effective in producing an optimal cosmetic result. DCHA provides a more durable esthetic improvement when compared to SCHA in the treatment of glabellar lines.