Bone Densitometry of the Femoral Midshaft the Protein-Deprived Rat

Densitometric assessment of radiographs of the femoral midshafts in protein-deprived and age-matched control rats, has shown a significant loss of total bone density in the protein-deprived group. This reduction is no greater than can be accounted for by the loss of cortical bone surface area, suggesting that while bone mass is reduced as a result of protein deprivation, the mineral composition of the residual bone is likely to be normal. These findings are supported by data on the ash content of extirpated bone in the same group of animals.S. Afr. Med. J., 47, 1 (1973

GnRH and LHR gene variants predict adverse outcome in premenopausal breast cancer patients

Background: Breast cancer development and progression are dependent on estrogen activity. In premenopausal women, estrogen production is mainly regulated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Methods: We have investigated the prognostic significance of two variants of genes involved in the HPG-axis, the GnRH (encoding gonadotropin-releasing hormone) 16Trp/Ser genotype and the LHR (encoding the luteinizing hormone receptor) insLQ variant, in retrospectively collected premenopausal breast cancer patients with a long follow-up (median follow-up of 11 years for living patients). Results: Carriership was not related with breast cancer risk (the case control study encompassed 278 premenopausal cases and 1,758 premenopausal controls). A significant adverse relationship of the LHR insLQ and GnRH 16Ser genotype with disease free survival (DFS) was observed in premenopausal (hormone receptor positive) breast cancer patients. In particular, those patients carrying both the GnRH 16Ser and LHR insLQ allele (approximately 25%) showed a significant increased risk of relapse, which was independent of traditional prognostic factors (hazard ratio 2.14; 95% confidence interval 1.32 to 3.45; P = 0.002). Conclusion: We conclude that the LHR insLQ and GnRH 16Ser alleles are independently associated with shorter DFS in premenopausal patients. When validated, these findings may provide a lead in the development of tailored treatment for breast cancer patients carrying both pol

Sindrome de russel tumor diencefálico em uma criança

Apresenta-se o caso de criança do sexo masculino com síndrome de Russel devida a astrocitoma pilocítico localizado na região diencefálica. O diagnóstico foi realizado aos 16 meses de idade, mas sua sintomatologia se iniciou aos 4 meses, com emagrecimento progressivo. À internação apresentava-se com peso de 6150g e 74cm de estatura, emaciada, sem panículo adiposo, irritadica e com sinais de hipertensão intracraniana. Existia estrabismo convergente, nistagmo vertical do olho esquerdo e papiledema bilateral. Os reflexos tendinosos eram exaltados e tinha tetraparesia espástica. A avaliação endócrina demonstrou aumento basal do GH (23 ng/ml), do TSH (6,2 mUI/l) e da prolactina (26 ng/ml). Os dois primeiros hormônios não responderam ao teste agudo com o TRH, enquanto a prolactina teve resposta pobre. Foi submetida a radioterapia com acelerador linear (dose total de 4000 rads) e a cirurgia, na qual não se conseguiu extirpar todo o tumor, devido a seu tamanho. Nove meses após, a criança encontra-se bem, com apreciável ganho ponderai (2500g)