Auditory brainstem response in premenopausal women taking oral contraceptives

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of the new monophasic oral contraceptives on the audiological system in premenopausal women. METHODS: The auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured in 94 women during the follicular, periovular and luteal phases of one menstrual cycle in which ovulation was confirmed using sonography and serum progesterone concentration. The latencies for waves I, III and V were determined, and the inter-peak intervals were calculated for waves I-III, I-V and III-V. All 94 women began taking oral contraceptives: 23 women used 20 microg ethinyl estradiol (EE) plus 150 microg desogestrel, 24 women used 30 microg EE plus 75 microg gestodene, and 47 women used 15 microg EE plus 60 microg gestodene. During the third month of contraceptive intake, each subject was again tested for ABR, as above. RESULTS: The wave latencies and inter-peak intervals showed shorter values during the periovular phase with respect to the luteal phase (P < 0.05), the follicular phase for wave I and for inter-peak interval I-V (P < 0.05) of the menstrual cycle. All of the ABR results in pill users were statistically different from those of the periovular phase (P < 0.05), though similar to those of both the luteal and follicular phases (P = NS). CONCLUSIONS: ABR seems to depend on the variations of ovarian steroids during the menstrual cycle and during oral contraceptive intake.     

Colonic Cell Proliferation in Normal Mucosa of Patients with Colon Cancer

Cell kinetics parameters have been analysed in colonic mucosa at different distances from a tumour in patients with colon carcinoma. Total cell number (TCN), H thymidine labelling index (TLI), mitotic index (MI), Goblet cell index (GCI) and the distribution of labelled cells along the crypt column (cell position frequency plot) were determined in well-aligned crypts. Total cell number, GCI and the labelled cell position frequency plots were similar in different samples from the same individual. A negative linear correlation between TCN and TLI was observed. The analysis of the cell position plots showed two patterns 1) with a high concentration in the bottom fifth of the crypt and 2) with frequent labelled cells at high positions. Whereas a negative correlation between overall TLI and the percent contribution to the TLI of the lowermost fifth was seen, the correlation was positive for the next 3 fifths and labelling was absent in the last part of the crypt.     

Critical appraisal of a non-coplanar technique for radiotherapy of breast minimising lung involvement.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To appraise the potential benefit of a conformal technique with non-coplanar fields to minimise lung irradiation in the radiation treatment of breast. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A comparative study was carried out at planning level for six patients selected for their inadequate sparing of healthy lung tissue with the reference tangential technique. Plans were designed for the conventional tangential technique, for an alternative conformal approach with three beams and for the newly proposed technique with two non-coplanar beams. RESULTS: In average for the new technique compared to the reference, mean lung dose dropped from approximately 16 to 10.5 Gy, V(20 Gy) from 29.5 to 18.2% and the dose delivered to 1/3 (1/4) of the lung volume dropped from 28.5% (67.3%) to 8.7% (13.4%). For PTV, the volume receiving at least 90% of the prescribed dose resulted 97.4% for the new and 97.3% for the reference. Conformity index improved significantly from 2.58 for the reference to 1.84 for the new technique. CONCLUSIONS: For a subgroup population of breast cancer patients, where conventional techniques failed to achieve high conformal avoidance, a treatment modality with non-coplanar beams was developed and clinically tested for six patients. It resulted dosimetrically adequate, particularly when the risk of toxicity is relevant.     

In vivo and in vitro effects of 42-hydroxy-palytoxin on mouse skeletal muscle: Structural and functional impairment

Palytoxins (PLTXs) are known seafood contaminants and their entrance into the food chain raises concern about possible effects on human health. The increasing number of analogs being identified in edible marine organisms complicates the estimation of the real hazard associated with the presence of PLTX-like compounds. So far, 42-OH-PLTX is one of the few congeners available, and the study of its toxicity represents an important step toward a better comprehension of the mechanism of action of this family of compounds. From this perspective, the aim of this work was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro effect of 42-OH-PLTX on skeletal muscle, one of the most sensitive targets for PLTXs. Our results demonstrate that 42-OH-PLTX causes damage at the skeletal muscle level with a cytotoxic potency similar to that of PLTX. 42-OH-PLTX induces cytotoxicity and cell swelling in a Na⁺-dependent manner similar to the parent compound. However, the limited Ca²⁺-dependence of the toxic insult induced by 42-OH-PLTX suggests a specific mechanism of action for this analog. Our results also suggest an impaired response to the physiological agonist acetylcholine and altered cell elasticity.     

Sexual Assistance in Italy: An Explorative Study on the Opinions of People with Disabilities and Would-Be Assistants

Providing assistance services for sexual activity is becoming of increasing importance to the community of people with disabilities and to mental health professionals. Nevertheless, the literature on this topic is sparse. The aim of this study is to explore potential clients’ and assistants’ views, needs, experiences, opinions, and concerns about sexual assistance (SA) in Italy. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people with a congenital physical disability and 10 would-be assistants. A Grounded Theory approach was used to analyze data. Participants with disabilities considered SA useful. Despite most of them having unfulfilled sexual needs, they would prefer to have their sexual needs met within a romantic relationship. Would-be assistants constructed themselves as people who have a “natural aptitude to being useful”. Results suggest that SA services might represent an opportunity for people with disabilities to discover new ways to satisfy their personal needs and to live more autonomously while, at the same time, allowing would-be sexual assistants to fulfill their desire to be helpful. Nevertheless, the use of SA is likely to only be a part of the answer to fulfilling the sexual needs of people with disabilities.     

Risk of cataract in health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation: a systematic review

Background:The eye is an important sensory organ occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) in healthcare workers (HCWs) engaged in medical imaging (MI). New evidence highlights the possible induction of cataract at IR exposure levels to be much lower than expected in the past.Objective:Conduct an updated review on the current evidence on cataract risk in healthcare workers exposed to IR.Methods:Published scientific studies on cataract risk in IR exposed healthcare workers were collected through a systematic search of two biomedical databases (MEDLINE and Scopus). Data from included studies was extracted and summarized. Study quality was also assessed.Results:All 21 eligible studies reported an increased prevalence of cataract, especially posterior subcapsular cataract, in IR exposed HCWs with a higher prevalence in interventional cardiology staff.Discussion:Our review synthesizes the latest evidence to support the hypothesis of a significantly increased risk of occupational cataract in healthcare workers operating MI and exposed to IR, especially in interventional cardiologists. Data also support a dose-response relationship between IR exposure and the prevalence of opacities, especially posterior subcapsular opacities.Conclusions:Findings highlight the need for effective control measures including appropriate training, adherence to protective procedures, and a constant use of shields and eye personal protective equipment in healthcare workers with optical exposure to IR. Periodic health surveillance programs, possibly including lens evaluation, are also important to monitor cataract risk in these MI operators.Key words: Healthcare workers, ionizing radiation, cataract, radiation, radiology, radiologist work-related injury, occupational injury, occupational exposure, interventional radiology, radiation protection, radiation-induced cataract, interventional fluoroscopy, dosimetry, radiation workers, dosimeter, radiation effects