Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung der Augenlinse bei Primaten und Auswirkungen auf den Elastizitätsverlust im alternden Auge

Das Ziel dieser Studie war die histologische und immunihistochemische Analyse der Ent-wicklung der Affenlinse und im adulten Stadium der Vergleich mit der menschlichen Linse. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine embryonale Expression von Linsenproteinen in den fötalen. Die gängigen Proteine der Extrazellulärmatrix konnten, wenn auch in etwas veränderter Intensität -, in allen Stadien gefunden werden. Weiter wurden überlebensassoziierte Faktoren (BCL-2 und GAP-43) im Linsenkapselepithel dokumentiert. Die Linsenstrukturproteine werden früh in der fötalen Affenlinse exprimiert Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Proteinmuster in der Linse und in den benachbarten Augenkompartimenten früh in der Entwicklung angelegt wird. Die Beobachtungen stützen die Hypothese, dass mit zunehmendem Alter die Elastizität des Kapsel-Epithel-komplexes abnimmt. Dadurch entstehen sehr wahrscheinlich Mikrorisse in der Kapsel, die zur Eintrübung und Exfoliation von Proteinen (Katarakt und Glaukom) führen können

Survival and prognostic factors of early ovarian cancer.

Survival and prognostic factors were analysed in 150 patients with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer stage IA-IIA. The relapse-free and overall survival rates were, respectively, 81% and 88% after 3 and 74% and 84% after 5 years. The analysis of various prognostic factors indicates as the main factor the grade differentiation of the tumour

Transumbilical versus transvaginal retrieval of surgical specimens at laparoscopy: a randomized trial.

Objective We sought to compare transumbilical (TU) and transvaginal (TV) route for retrieval of surgical specimens at laparoscopy. Study design Women scheduled for a laparoscopic resection of an adnexal mass were randomized to have their surgical specimen removed either through a posterior colpotomy (n = 34) or the umbilical port site (n = 32). Group allocation was concealed from patients and bedside clinicians. The primary outcome was postoperative incisional pain assessed by a 10-cm visual analog scale at 1, 3, and 24 hours after surgery. Results TV retrieval caused less postoperative pain than TU specimen extraction at each time point (visual analog scale score at 1 hour: 2.6 \ub1 2.9 vs 1.2 \ub1 2.0, P = .03; at 3 hours: 2.4 \ub1 2.0 vs 1.4 \ub1 2.0, P = .02; and at 24 hours: 1.1 \ub1 1.5 vs 0.5 \ub1 1.4, P = .02). A higher proportion of women in the TU group than in the TV group indicated the umbilicus as the most painful area at 1 and 3 hours postoperatively. Two months after surgery, the participants scored similarly as to their overall satisfaction, cosmetic outcome, and dyspareunia upon resumption of intercourse. Conclusion A TV approach for specimen removal after laparoscopic resection of adnexal masses offers the advantage of less postoperative pain than TU retrieva

Doxorubicin versus doxorubicin and cisplatin in endometrial carcinoma: definitive results of a randomised study (55872) by the EORTC Gynaecological Cancer Group

BACKGROUND: Combination chemotherapy yields better response rates which do not always lead to a survival advantage. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the reported differences in the efficacy and toxicity of monotherapy with doxorubicin (DOX) versus combination therapy with cisplatin (CDDP) in endometrial adenocarcinoma lead to significant advantage in favour of the combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had histologically-proven advanced and/or recurrent endometrial adenocarcinoma and were chemo-naïve. Treatment consisted of either DOX 60 mg/m(2) alone or CDDP 50 mg/m2 added to DOX 60 mg/m2, every 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients were entered and median follow-up is 7.1 years. The combination DOX-CDDP was more toxic than DOX alone. Haematological toxicity consisted mainly of white blood cell toxicity grade 3 and 4 (55% versus 30%). Non-haematological toxicity consisted mainly of grade 3 and 4 alopecia (72% versus 65%) and nausea/vomiting (36 % versus 12%). The combination DOX-CDDP provided a significantly higher response rate than single agent DOX (P <0.001). Thirty-nine patients (43%) responded on DOX-CDDP [13 complete responses (CRs) and 26 partial responses (PRs)], versus 15 patients (17%) on DOX alone (8 CR and 7 PR). The median overall survival (OS) was 9 months in the DOX-CDDP arm versus 7 months in the DOX alone arm (Wilcoxon P = 0.0654). Regression analysis showed that WHO performance status was statistically significant as a prognostic factor for survival, and stratifying for this factor, treatment effect reaches significance (hazard ratio = 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.05-2.03, P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to single agent DOX, the combination of DOX-CDDP results in higher but acceptable toxicity. The response rate produced is significantly higher, and a modest survival benefit is achieved with this combination regimen, especially in patients with a good performance status

Decaying shock studies of phase transitions in MgOSiO2 systems: implications for the Super-Earths interiors

We report an experimental study of the phase diagrams of periclase (MgO), enstatite (MgSiO3) and forsterite (Mg2SiO4) at high pressures. We investigated with laser driven decaying shocks the pressure/temperature curves of MgO, MgSiO3 and Mg2SiO4 between 0.2-1.2 TPa, 0.12-0.5 TPa and 0.2-0.85 TPa respectively. A melting signature has been observed in MgO at 0.47 TPa and 9860 K, while no phase changes were observed neither in MgSiO3 nor in Mg2SiO4. An increasing of reflectivity of MgO, MgSiO3 and Mg2SiO4 liquids have been detected at 0.55 TPa -12 760 K, 0.15 TPa - 7540 K, 0.2 TPa - 5800 K, respectively. In contrast to SiO2, melting and metallization of these compounds do not coincide implying the presence of poor electrically conducting liquids close to the melting lines. This has important implications for the generation of dynamos in Super-earths mantles

Weekly platinum chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer

British Journal of Cancer (2002) 86, 2–4. DOI: 10.1038/sj/bjc/6600062 www.bjcancer.co

Modulation of BDNF expression by repeated treatment with the novel antipsychotic lurasidone under basal condition and in response to acute stress

It is known that long-term treatment with antipsychotic drugs (APDs) produces neuroadaptive changes through the modulation of different proteins that, by enhancing neuronal plasticity and cellular resiliency, may improve core disease symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of chronic treatment with the novel antipsychotic lurasidone to modulate BDNF expression in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, under basal conditions or in response to an acute stress, a major precipitating element in psychiatric disorders. By means of real-time PCR, we found that (1) chronic lurasidone treatment increases total BDNF mRNA levels in rat prefrontal cortex and, to less extent, in hippocampus; (2) the modulation of BDNF mRNA levels in response to acute swim stress in lurasidone-treated rats was markedly potentiated in hippocampus, and to less extent in prefrontal cortex, through the selective regulation of different neurotrophin isoforms. The increase of BDNF mRNA levels in prefrontal cortex was paralleled by an enhancement of mature BDNF protein levels. In conclusion, repeated exposure to lurasidone regulates BDNF expression, through a finely tuned modulation of its transcripts. This effect may contribute to the amelioration of functions, such as cognition, closely associated with neuronal plasticity, which are deteriorated in schizophrenia patients