Altered functional status of the hypothalamic dopaminergic tone in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a pilot study.

We compared the functional status of the hypothalamic dopaminergic tone in patients given an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with that observed in patients with allo-HSCT without chronic GVHD and in healthy controls. The effect of acute dopaminergic blockade with intravenous metoclopramide on serum prolactin (PRL) concentrations was evaluated. Twenty volunteers, 20 to 52 years of age, seronegative for both hepatitis C virus and the human immunodeficiency virus, were studied: (1) 10 clinically healthy men (group 1), and (2) 9 patients with leukemia, and 1 patient with refractory aplastic anemia who underwent allo-HSCT, 5 of whom (3 men and 2 women) developed chronic GVHD (group 2), and 5 (3 men and 2 women) who did not develop chronic GVHD (group 3). Serum PRL concentrations were measured both fasting and after intravenous administration of metoclopramide (10-mg bolus). The area under the PRL curve was calculated. Patients in group 2 were older than those in groups 1 and 3 (P<.018), but their body mass index was similar. Fasting serum PRL concentrations were similar among the 3 groups; however, group 2 had higher PRL concentrations throughout the test (P<.001) and a greater area under the PRL curve than groups 1 and 3 (P<.001), without differences between the last 2 groups. The differences remained significant after adjustment for age (P<.01). Our results in a small group of patients with chronic GVHD after allo-HSCT suggest the existence of an increased functional level of their hypothalamic dopamine tone, which would favor a tendency toward a diminished endogenous production, release of pituitary PRL, or both. This could represent an adaptive mechanism aiming to maintain circulating PRL concentrations within a physiological range.     

Hybrid tumours of the salivary glands. A report of two cases involving the palate and a review of the literature

Hybrid tumours are very rare salivary gland lesions composed of two or more different tumoural entities in a single neoplasm that arise within a definite topographical region. In most cases adenoid cystic carcinoma has been the predominant component in these lesions. In this study we describe two patients with hybrid tumours located in the palate, one in a 49-year-old woman and one in a 71-year-old man. The first case involved adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and the patient in the second case exhibited adenoid cystic carcinoma and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. Both patients were treated with surgery and radiotherapy, and there has been no evidence of recurrence after 13 and 36 months of follow-up, respectively. The recognition of the histologic component with the higher grade of malignancy in every case of hybrid tumour of the salivary glands is a necessary step to determine the biological behaviour and, consequently, to determine the proper therapeutic approach.     

Contribution to the study of diseases in Italy caused by Coxsackie B group of viruses I. Clinical and virological aspects of an outbreak of Bornholm disease

Summary The virological findings obtained during an outbreak of Bornholm disease which took place in the summer 1957 in Cermignano, in the province of Teramo, Italy, are described. During this study it was possible to isolate 15 strains of a Goxsackie B2 type virus. 3 strains were isolated simultaneously from rectal and pharyn geal swabs, while 9 strains were isolated from pharyngeal swabs only.     

Photobiomodulation therapy does not depend on the differentiation of dental pulp cells to enhance functional activity associated with angiogenesis and mineralization

Lasers in Medical Science - The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of InGaAlP diode laser (660&nbsp;nm) with or without an odontogenic medium (OM) in the functional activity of...     

Hepatitis C virus infection and related liver disease in children of mothers with antibodies to the virus

Objective: To evaluate the clinical, biochemical, and virologic features associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection acquired early in life from mothers with antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV).Study design: Multicenter prospective-retrospective study in Italian children.Patients: Two groups of children were investigated. Group 1 included 14 infants, born to mothers with anti-HCV but without human immunodeficiency virus infection, who became seropositive for HCV RNA during the first year of life and were thus considered infected. Group 2 included 16 children with chronic hepatitis C, aged 1 ½ to 14 years, whose mothers were the unique potential source of infection. Both groups were followed for 12 to 48 months.Methods: Alanine transaminase (ALT), anti-HCV, and HCV RNA were investigated by the polymerase chain reaction on entry to the study and during follow-up.Results: All children in group 1 had anti-HCV throughout follow-up, and all had ALT abnormalities, ranging from 1.5 to 10.5 times the normal value during the first 12 months. During further follow-up, 5 of 10 children had HCV RNA with abnormal ALT values, 3 had a return to normal of the ALT values but continued to have viremia, and 2 eventually had normal ALT values and clearance of HCV RNA. Of the 16 children in group 2, all were free of symptoms and 62% had only slight ALT elevations; 7 who underwent liver biopsy had histologic features of minimal or moderate hepatitis.Conclusions: HCV infection acquired early in life from mothers with anti-HCV is usually associated with biochemical features of liver damage during the first 12 months of life. Progression to chronicity seems to occur in the majority of cases, although HCV-associated liver disease is likely to be mild throughout infancy and childhood. (J Pediatr 1997;130:990-3)     

Soft palate preservation after tumor resection with transoral laser microsurgery

Background: Management and preservation of the soft palate is dependent on clinical stage and tumor histology. However, available literature is scarce regarding the palate preservation with the use of laser CO2. Objectives: We report the results obtained after management with laser surgery and soft palate preservation in three patients with salivary gland neoplasms. Method: Three patients with minor salivary gland tumors were treated by means of transoral laser microsurgery. All tumors were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. All tumors were >3 cm. Soft palate function was preserved and reconstruction was performed with primary closure. Patients began oral feeding the same day and were discharged after 24 h. Conclusions: Transoral laser microsurgery is recommended for treatment of soft palate tumors. This treatment can be considered a better option when compared with other modalities such as radio- or chemoradiotherapy which require a longer time of treatment, are more expensive and tend to produce significant toxicity. Key words:Laser CO2, neoplasms, salivary gland.     

Genotyping Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in Cattle,Sheep, Goats and Swine from the North of Portugal

Background: Epidemiological investigations on Toxoplasma gondii infection have found a significant association between human toxoplasmosis and consumption of raw or undercooked meat. The present study aimed to characterize genotypes of T. gondii in 20 cattle, 40 sheep, 15 goats and 16 pigs from the North of Portugal.Methods: Nested PCR amplified the surface antigen 2 (SAG2) gene. Sequencing analysis was performed in order to assess the prevalence of SAG2 type strains (I, II and III). Results: Three and 4 strains of SAG2 type II were identified in heart samples of cattle and sheep, respectively. Three SAG2 type II strains were detected in brain, diaphragm and heart of 3 pigs. Three strains detected in heart samples of 3 goats belonged to SAG2 types I or II; with the same result being observed in heart samples from 2 sheep and in 2 brain and 1 heart samples from 3 pigs. Conclusion: SAG2 type II has been shown for the first time to infect cattle in North of Portugal. In addition, SAG2 type II has also been confirmed as the predominant strain in sheep and pigs in the same region. This is the first molecular report of T. gondii in goats from Portugal.Key Words: Genotypes, Portugal, Ruminants, Swine, Toxoplasma gondii