Di(n-butyl) phthalate has no effect on the rat prepubertal testis despite its estrogenic activity in vitro

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) on the rat’s prepubertal testis. Male Wistar rats were given daily subcutaneous injections with DBP (20 or 200 μg) or a vehicle from the 5th to the 15th postnatal day (pd). On the 16th pd, the rats were euthanized, and the testes were dissected, weighed, and paraffin embedded. The blood was collected to determine the serum levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E) and FSH. The following parameters were assessed in the testis sections: diameter and length of seminiferous tubules (st), numbers of spermatogonia A + intermediate + B (A/In/B), preleptotene spermatocytes (PL), leptotene + zygotene + pachytene spermatocytes (L/Z/PA) and Sertoli cells per testis, percentage of st containing gonocytes or pachytene spermatocytes or lumen. An estrogenicity in vitro test was performed by means of a transgenic yeast strain expressing human estrogen receptor alpha. At both doses, DBP had no influence on testis and seminal vesicle weight, st diameter and length, number of germ and Sertoli cells per testis, percentage of st containing gonocytes or pachytene spermatocytes or lumen. DBP did not change E, T or FSH serum levels. The in vitro yeast screen showed that DBP was a weak estrogenic compound, approximately six to seven orders of magnitude less potent than 17β-estradiol. In conclusion, exposure of a rat to DBP in doses 100 or 1,000-fold higher than a Tolerable Daily Intake for humans had no effect on its testicular development. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 685–689

Valence band of Ce2Co0.8Si3.2Ce_{2}Co_{0.8}Si_{3.2} and Ce2RhSi3Ce_{2}RhSi_{3} studied by resonant photoemission spectroscopy and FPLO calculations

This work presents studies of the valence band of two Kondo lattice systems: Ce2Co0.8Si3.2, which is paramagnetic with the Kondo temperature T-K approximate to 50 K and Ce2RhSi3, which is antiferromagnetic below T-N = 4.5 K and exhibits TK approximate to 9 K. The photoemission spectra, which are obtained with photon energy tuned to Ce - 4d 4f resonance, reveal a Kondo peak at the Fermi energy (E-F), its spin orbit splitting partner at 0.24 eV and a broad maximum related to Ce f(0) final state. The spectra indicate that Kondo peak has a higher intensity for Ce2Co0.8Si3.2. The off-resonance photoemission data reveal that a maximum in the 3d electron density of states is shifted towards EF for Ce2Co0.8Si3.2 as compared to Ce2RhSi3. Full-potential local-orbital calculations were realized with local spin density approach +U approach for 213 stoichiometry. They show that a higher density of states near EF is observed for Ce2CoSi3. The calculations also reveal the existing tendencies for antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic ground states in a case of Ce2RhSi3 and Ce2CoSi3, respectively

Features of impaired seminiferous tubule differentiation are associated with germ cell neoplasia in adult men surgically treated in childhood because of cryptorchidism.

Seminiferous tubule differentiation was related to the occurrence of germ cell neoplasia in 38 men, aged 17-47, treated surgically in childhood for cryptorchidism. Tissues from 46 testes obtained from biopsies taken as a neoplastic preventive procedure or whole testes removed because of GCT were evaluated quantitatively. Paraffin sections were treated with antibodies against placental like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), a marker of germ cell neoplasia, and cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), a marker of immature Sertoli cells. Quality of spermatogenesis and number Leydig cells were assessed with a score count. Seminiferous tubules diameter, thickness of basal membrane and size of intertubular spaces were measured with image analysis software. In 17.4% of testes spermatogenesis was normal (9.9 points) (N) and neoplasia was not found there. In the other 38 specimens (83%) spermatogenesis was abnormal (A). When spermatogenesis was arrested or when germ cells were absent (3.7+/-1.8 points), neoplastic lesions were found in 13.1% of the specimens. In A group 5.1+/-7.1% of tubules contained immature Sertoli cells, while in N they were not found. Tubular diameter was significantly lower in A (161.5+/-31.8 microm) than in N (184.6+/-24.3 microm) and the percentage of seminiferous tubules with the thickening of tubular basal membrane was also greater in A. Intertubular spaces were significantly larger in A (49.9+/-18.6%) in comparison to N group (32.6+/-12.5%). Mean number of Leydig cells was similar in both groups. To conclude, in most of the formerly cryptorchid testes, despite surgical treatment, impaired seminiferous tubules differentiation is predominant. Germ cell neoplasia is present in testes with retarded seminiferous tubules differentiation. Retardation of seminiferous tubule differentiation consists of inhibited spermatogenesis, presence of tubules with immature Sertoli cells, decreased tubular diameter, increased thickness of basal membrane and enlarged intertubular spaces. Examination of testicular biopsy with respect to the state of seminiferous tubule differentiation may be helpful to predict the appearance of germ cell neoplasia in adult men with cryptorchidism in anamnesis. Orchiopexy of cryptorchid testes may not prevent the occurrence of features of testicular dysgenesis and the associated germ cell neoplasia

Production of medical Sc radioisotopes with an alpha particle beam

The internal α-particle beam of the Warsaw Heavy Ion Cyclotron was used to produce research quantities of the medically interesting Sc radioisotopes from natural Ca and K and isotopically enriched 42Ca targets. The targets were made of metallic calcium, calcium carbonate and potassium chloride. New data on the production yields and impurities generated during the target irradiations are presented for the positron emitters 43Sc, 44 gSc and 44 mSc. The different paths for the production of the long lived 44 mSc/44 gSc in vivo generator, proposed by the ARRONAX team, using proton and deuteron beams as well as alpha-particle beams are discussed. Due to the larger angular momentum transfer in the formation of the compound nucleus in the case of the alpha particle induced reactions, the isomeric ratio of 44 mSc/44 gSc at a bombarding energy of 29 MeV is five times larger than previously determined for a deuteron beam and twenty times larger than for proton induced reactions on enriched CaCO3 targets. Therefore, formation of this generator via the alpha-particle route seems a very attractive way to form these isotopes. The experimental data presented here are compared with theoretical predictions made using the EMPIRE evaporation code. Reasonable agreement is generally observed

Abdominal Burkitt lymphoma mimicking the ovarian cancer. Case report and review of the literature

Summary Primary Burkitt lymphoma is a lymphoblastic B-cell malignant tumor with very aggressive course. Its abdominal form involving internal genital organs is very rare. Case: We report the case of 27-year-old woman treated for abdominal Burkitt lymphoma. The patient presented bilateral ovarian tumors with ascites, pain and elevated CA 125 over 900 IU/ml. During laparotomy an advanced neoplasmatic disease involving internal genital organs has been diagnosed. Bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy and omentectomy have been performed. Additionally, the neoplasmatic tumor from ileo-coecal region has been ressected in order to prevent ileus. Pathologic examination has revealed an abdominal Burkitt lymphoma. After surgery, polychemotherapy has been administered (COP followed by CODOX-M+IVAC). The patient, 36 months after surgical treatment, remains under the control of our Department. No signs of recurrence have been detected so far. Conclusions: The presence of primary abdominal Burkitt lymphoma may include clinical and laboratory findings suggesting the presence of ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy appears to be an essential therapeutic management for all forms of Burkitt lymphoma. Clinically advanced Burkitt lymphoma may be successfully managed with chemotherapy