IFN-γ and other serum cytokines in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

SUMMARY: Altered immune responses have been reported in head and neck cancer, and some of these responses have been associated with poor clinical outcomes. A multiple-array technology platform was used to simultaneously evaluate the levels of 25 cytokines. Pre-treatment serum levels were evaluated in 31 HNSCC patients and 6 healthy controls. The levels of 8 cytokines, specifically IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IFN-γ and IP-10, were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Among cancer patients we observed lower levels of IFN-γ and IL-7 in cases with nodal metastases compared to those with cN0 disease. We observed increases in the levels of some serum cytokines in HNSCC patients, as well as reductions in selected cytokines associated with regional progression. These findings provide an intriguing perspective on the development and validation of novel markers for follow-up evaluations and predictions of regional spreading in HNSCC patients.

Retrospective epidemiological study of mandibular rotational types in patients with orthodontical malocclusion.

SUMMARY: The primary aim of this study was to illustrate the prevalence of facial skeletal discrepancy in an Italian sample. Another aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the sagittal skeletal discrepancy classification in order to establish a morphologic pattern of growth useful for diagnosis and prediction of therapeutic results. The authors considered a sample of 732 patients (426 females and 306 males) aged between 6 and 17 years old. Cephalometric parameters were evaluated in order to establish a relationship between sagittal skeletal discrepancy and the classification of facial rotations (Lavergne and Petrovic). Facial types with neutral mandibular growth direction were the most prevalent, and were most observed in classes I and II; the latter was more represented than others in our sample. Facial types with posterior mandibular growth direction were the most prevalent in class III. Sagittal skeletal discrepancy classification is not able to establish a specific facial type or predict an individual responsiveness to treatment.

Correlation between musical aptitude and learning foreign languages: an epidemiological study in secondary school Italian students.

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to assess if a correlation exists between language learning skills and musical aptitude through the analysis of scholarly outcomes concerning the study of foreign languages and music. We enrolled 502 students from a secondary Italian school (10-14 years old), attending both traditional courses (2 hours/week of music classes scheduled) and special courses (six hours). For statistical analysis, we considered grades in English, French and Music. Our results showed a significant correlation between grades in the two foreign languages and in music, both in the traditional courses and in special courses, and better results in French than for special courses. These results are discussed and interpreted through the literature about neuroanatomical and physiological mechanisms of foreign language learning and music perception.

Salivary biomarkers and proteomics: future diagnostic and clinical utilities.

Saliva testing is a non-invasive and inexpensive test that can serve as a source of information useful for diagnosis of disease. As we enter the era of genomic technologies and -omic research, collection of saliva has increased. Recent proteomic platforms have analysed the human salivary proteome and characterised about 3000 differentially expressed proteins and peptides: in saliva, more than 90% of proteins in weight are derived from the secretion of three couples of "major" glands; all the other components are derived from minor glands, gingival crevicular fluid, mucosal exudates and oral microflora. The most common aim of proteomic analysis is to discriminate between physiological and pathological conditions. A proteomic protocol to analyze the whole saliva proteome is not currently available. It is possible distinguish two type of proteomic platforms: top-down proteomics investigates intact naturally-occurring structure of a protein under examination; bottom-up proteomics analyses peptide fragments after pre-digestion (typically with trypsin). Because of this heterogeneity, many different biomarkers may be proposed for the same pathology. The salivary proteome has been characterised in several diseases: oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral leukoplakia, chronic graft-versus-host disease Sjögren's syndrome and other autoimmune disorders such as SAPHO, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and genetic diseases like Down's Syndrome and Wilson disease. The results of research reported herein suggest that in the near future human saliva will be a relevant diagnostic fluid for clinical diagnosis and prognosis.

Low dose of cyproterone acetate and testosterone enanthate for contraception in men.

After a control phase, 10 normal men received cyproterone acetate (CPA) at a dose of 25 mg/day (CPA-25; n=5) or 12.5 mg/day (CPA-12.5; n=5) plus testosterone enanthate (TE) 100 mg/week, for 16 weeks. Throughout the study sperm counts were performed every 2 weeks, and luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, biochemical and haematological tests were performed every 4 weeks. All five men in group CPA-25 and three men in group CPA-12.5 achieved azoospermia. One man in group CPA-25 was azoospermic by week 12 of hormone administration, but had a sperm count of 0.1 x 10(6)/ml at week 16. Time to azoospermia was 9.0+/-1.3 and 8.7+/-0.7 weeks in groups CPA-25 and CPA-12.5 respectively. Gonadotrophins were decreased by week 4 of hormone administration, remained around the minimum detectability of the assay for the duration of hormone administration and returned to baseline after stopping hormone administration. Testosterone values did not change. No change in any biochemical parameters was found. Haematological parameters were decreased at week 16 of hormone administration and returned to baseline after stopping hormone administration. In conclusion, these results suggest that an hormonal regimen consisting of testosterone plus a progestin with anti-androgenic properties holds promise as an effective, safe and reversible male contraceptive.

PIP: Previous research conducted by the authors demonstrated that the administration of testosterone together with high doses of the progestin cyproterone acetate (CPA) effectively suppresses spermatogenesis without adverse effects. The present study investigated the effectiveness of lower doses of CPA than those administered previously on spermatogenesis, gonadotropins, and metabolic and hematologic parameters. 10 healthy US men received CPA at a dose of 25 mg/day (CPA-25) or 12.5 mg/day (CPA-12.5) plus 100 mg of testosterone enanthate per week for 16 weeks. All 5 men who received CPA-25 and 3 of the 5 men given CPA-12.5 achieved azoospermia. The mean time to azoospermia in the two groups was 9.0 +or- 1.3 weeks and 8.7 +or- 0.7 weeks, respectively. Gonadotropins were decreased by week 4 of hormone administration, remained around the minimum of detectability of the assay for the remainder of the study period, and returned to baseline when hormone administration ceased. There was no change in testosterone values or any biochemical parameters. Hematologic parameters were decreased at week 16, but returned to baseline at the end of the study period. These findings attest that a hormonal regimen consisting of testosterone together with a progestin with anti-androgenic properties holds promise as an effective, safe, and reversible male contraceptive.