MEMRI and tumors: a method for the evaluation of the contribution of Mn(II) ions in the extracellular compartment

The purpose of the work was to set‐up a simple method to evaluate the contribution of Mn²⁺ ions in the intra‐ and extracellular tumor compartments in a MEMRI experiment. This task has been tackled by “silencing” the relaxation enhancement arising from Mn²⁺ ions in the extracellular space. In vitro relaxometric measurements allowed assessment of the sequestering activity of DO2A (1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,7‐diacetic acid) towards Mn²⁺ ions, as the addition of Ca‐DO2A to a solution of MnCl₂ causes a drop of relaxivity upon the formation of the highly stable and low‐relaxivity Mn‐DO2A. It has been proved that the sequestering ability of DO2A towards Mn²⁺ ions is also fully effective in the presence of serum albumin. Moreover, it has been shown that Mn‐DO2A does not enter cell membranes, nor does the presence of Ca‐DO2A in the extracellular space prompt migration of Mn ions from the intracellular compartment. On this basis the in vivo, instantaneous, drop in SE% (percent signal enhancement) in T₁‐weighted images is taken as evidence of the sequestration of extracellular Mn²⁺ ions upon addition of Ca‐DO2A. By applying the method to B16F10 tumor bearing mice, T₁ decrease is readily detected in the tumor region, whereas a negligible change in SE% is observed in kidneys, liver and muscle. The relaxometric MRI results have been validated by ICP‐MS measurements. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Results From a Large,Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis On Radium223 Use in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) in the Triveneto Italian Region

Background

Radium 223 was introduced for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer based on the results of a randomized controlled trial showing risk reduction for death and skeletal events. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of patients receiving radium 223 in a real-world setting.

Augmentation technique with semitendinosus and gracilis tendons in chronic partial lesions of the ACL: clinical and arthrometric analysis

Most of the techniques described in the literature for the repair of chronic partial ACL tears, don’t spare the intact portion of the ligament. The aim of this study was to perform a prospective analysis of the results of augmentation surgery using gracilis and semitendinosus tendons to treat partial sub-acute lesions of the ACL. This technique involves an “over the top” femoral passage, which enables salvage and strengthening of the intact portion of the ACL. The study included 47 patients treated consecutively at our institute from 1993 to 1998, with a mean injury-surgery interval of 18 weeks (range 12–36). The patients were followed up by clinical and instrumental assessment criteria at 3 months, 1 and 5 years after surgery. Clinical assessment was performed using the IKDC form. Subjective and functional parameters were assessed by the Tegner activity scale. Instrumental evaluation was done using the KT-2000 instrument: the 30-pound passive test and the manual maximum displacement test were performed. We obtained good or excellent results in 95.7% of cases. No recurrences in ligamentous laxity were observed. We believe that the described technique has the advantage of being compatible with ACL anatomy, and enables very rapid functional recovery.     

Central Sensitization Theory of Migraine: Clinical Implications

The clinical science of migraine headache continues to evolve. Theories of the pathophysiology of migraine have progressed from the early vascular basis of migraine to more complex current theories that emphasize the centrality of neuronal dysfunction. The most recently articulated theory of migraine is the central sensitization hypothesis, which proposes that altered processing of sensory input in the brainstem, principally the trigeminal nucleus caudalis, could account for many of the temporal and symptomatic features of migraine, as well as its poor response to triptan therapy when such treatment is initiated hours after the onset of pain. Both preclinical and clinical data support the central sensitization theory. A critical clinical implication of this theory is that drugs that are capable of either aborting or arresting the process of central sensitization, most prominently dihydroergotamine, may have a unique role in the treatment of migraine. An additional, and highly practical, implication is based upon the finding that cutaneous allodynia—pain arising from innocuous stimulation of the skin, as in hair brushing or the application of cosmetics—is an easily identifiable marker of central sensitization. Thus, the presence or absence of cutaneous allodynia can be integrated into the routine clinical assessment of migraine and utilized as a determinant of treatment. Future basic and clinical research on central sensitization is likely to be of ongoing importance to the field.     

ReProComet: a new in vitro method to assess DNA damage in mammalian sperm.

The increasing request of chemical safety assessment demands for the validation of alternative methods to reduce the resort to animal experimentation. Methods that evaluate reproductive toxicity are among those requiring the largest use of animals. Presently, no validated in vitro alternative exists for the assessment of reproductive toxicity. Mammalian sperm are sensitive targets of DNA-reactive chemicals, which form premutagenic adducts. Here, we propose a new method based on comet assay to detect DNA damage induced by potential germ cell mutagens in bull sperm available from assisted reproduction practices. In somatic cells, chemical-induced adducts can be revealed by comet assay that detects DNA breaks produced during adduct repair. Mature sperm, however, are devoid of repair enzymes, and adducts are processed only after fertilization. For this reason, comet assay is not sensitive to detect DNA lesions induced in sperm by most chemicals. To overcome such limitation, we developed a modified comet assay based on the addition of a protein extract from HeLa cells to agarose-embedded sperm on microscopic slides. To test the method, sperm were treated in vitro with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or melphalan (MLP) and comet assay was conducted both with and without protein supplementation. No effect of MMS or MLP was detected without protein supplementation; on the contrary, a clear-cut dose-dependent effect was measured after addition of the cell extract. These results represent a proof of concept of a novel in vitro mutagenicity test on sperm that could offer a promising approach to complement previously validated in vivo germ cell genotoxicity assays.     

Implications of remarriage and stepfamily formation for marriage education*

Couples in remarriages with stepchildren are a significant portion of the marriage population and have unique educational needs regarding aspects of couple functioning within the context of stepfamily development. From a review of the literature, we examine current curricula focused on these couples. Information is offered on implementation issues regarding recruitment, delivery context, facilitator and participant characteristics, and evaluation.