Asthma and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in a community setting.

OBJECTIVES: The association between asthma and COVID-19 mortality remains inconclusive. We examined the association between asthma and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study based on a surveillance cohort in Harris County, Texas. METHODS: Using the data of 21,765 patients who reported having at least one chronic health condition, we investigated the association between asthma and COVID-19 severity, characterized primarily by hospitalization and death. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the multivariable odds ratio (mOR) and its 95 % confidence interval (CI) of COVID-19 severity associated with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, adjusting for demographic and other comorbidities. A P-value < 0.005 was considered statistically significant after correcting multiple testing. RESULTS: In total, 3034 patients (13.9 %) had asthma, and 774 (3.56 %) had other chronic lung diseases. The case death rate among patients with asthma and other chronic lung diseases was 0.75 % and 19.0 %, respectively. Compared to patients without the respective conditions, patients with asthma had lower odds of death (mOR = 0.44, 95 % CI: 0.27-0.69), while patients with other chronic lung diseases had higher odds of hospitalization (mOR = 2.02, 95 % CI: 1.68-2.42) and death (mOR = 1.95, 95 % CI: 1.52-2.49) (P-values < 0.005). Risk factors for COVID-19 mortality included older age, male gender, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, active cancer, and chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: The public health surveillance data suggested that preexisting asthma was inversely associated with COVID-19 mortality.

The Role of Hyperthermia in the Treatment of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hyperthermia is used to treat peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM), particularly during hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). This manuscript provides a focused update of hyperthermia in the treatment of PSM. RECENT FINDINGS: The heterogeneous response to hyperthermia in PSM can be explained by tumor and treatment conditions. PSM tumors may resist hyperthermia via metabolic and immunologic adaptation. The thermodynamics of HIPEC are complex and require computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The clinical evidence supporting the benefit of hyperthermia is largely observational. Continued research will allow clinicians to characterize and predict the individual response of PSM to hyperthermia. The application of hyperthermia in current HIPEC protocols is mostly empirical. Thus, modeling heat transfer with CFD is a necessary task if we are to achieve consistent and reproducible hyperthermia. Although observational evidence suggests a survival benefit of hyperthermia, no clinical trial has tested the individual role of hyperthermia in PSM.

Encapsulation Enhances the Catalytic Activity of C-N Coupling: Reaction Mechanism of a Cu(I)/Calix[8]arene Supramolecular Catalyst.

Development of C-N coupling methodologies based on Earth-abundant metals is a promising strategy in homogeneous catalysis for sustainable processes. However, such systems suffer from deactivation and low catalytic activity. We here report that encapsulation of Cu(I) within the phenanthroyl-containing calix[8]arene derivative 1,5-(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroyl)-2,3,4,6,7,8-hexamethyl-p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (C8PhenMe6 ) significantly enhances C-N coupling activity up to 92 % yield in the reaction of aryl halides and aryl amines, with low catalyst loadings (2.5 % mol). A tailored multiscale computational protocol based on Molecular Dynamics simulations and DFT investigations revealed an oxidative addition/reductive elimination process of the supramolecular catalyst [Cu(C8PhenMe6)I]. The computational investigations uncovered the origins of the enhanced catalytic activity over its molecular analogues: Catalyst deactivation through dimerization is prevented, and product release facilitated. Capturing the dynamic profile of the macrocycle and the impact of non-covalent interactions on reactivity allows for the rationalization of the behavior of the flexible supramolecular catalysts employed.

Colorenal fistula and urinary tract infection in a pediatric patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. / Fístula colorrenal e infección de vías urinarias en paciente pediátrico con leucemia linfoide aguda.

INTRODUCTION: Colorenal fistula is rare in the pediatric population. It may occur at any segment involved by ischemia, chronic inflammation, or necrosis. It is typically associated with a preliminary renal lesion that may arise as a result of interventional procedures, inflammatory conditions, colon tumor, and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, among others. CASE REPORT: 15-year-old female patient diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia admitted at our institution for baseline condition management. During her stay, she experienced gastrointestinal and urinary infectious events. In the assessment and management of those, a left colorenal fistula was found. Surgical treatment was decided upon. DISCUSSION: Colorenal fistula typically occurs secondary to renal inflammation or infection. Clinical signs are highly variable, and treatment is surgical, with the fistulous tract being resected in all cases.

INTRODUCCION: Las fístulas colorrenales son infrecuentes en la población pediátrica. Pueden desarrollarse en cualquier segmento afectado por isquemia, inflamación crónica o necrosis. Suelen estar asociadas a una lesión primitiva en el riñón que puede producirse por procedimientos intervencionistas, enfermedades inflamatorias, tumorales del colon, pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa, entre otras. CASO CLINICO: Paciente femenina de 15 años, con diagnóstico de leucemia linfoide aguda, ingresa a la institución para recibir manejo de su enfermedad de base. Durante su evolución, desarrolla eventos infecciosos (gastrointestinales y urinarios), y en evaluación y manejo de estos se documenta fístula colorrenal izquierda, motivo por el cual se da un enfoque de tratamiento quirúrgico. COMENTARIOS: La fístula renocólica generalmente se presenta secundaria a procesos inflamatorios o infecciosos renales; su presentación clínica es muy variada, y el tratamiento es quirúrgico, incluyendo siempre la resección del trayecto fistuloso.

Fístula colorrenal e infección de vías urinarias en paciente pediátrico con leucemia linfoide aguda / Colorenal fistula and urinary tract infection in a pediatric patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Introducción: Las fístulas colorrenales son infrecuentes en la población pediátrica. Pueden desarrollarse en cualquier segmento afectadopor isquemia, inflamación crónica o necrosis. Suelen estar asociadas auna lesión primitiva en el riñón que puede producirse por procedimientos intervencionistas, enfermedades inflamatorias, tumorales del colon,pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa, entre otras. Caso clínico: Paciente femenina de 15 años, con diagnóstico deleucemia linfoide aguda, ingresa a la institución para recibir manejode su enfermedad de base. Durante su evolución, desarrolla eventosinfecciosos (gastrointestinales y urinarios), y en evaluación y manejode estos se documenta fístula colorrenal izquierda, motivo por el cualse da un enfoque de tratamiento quirúrgico. Comentarios: La fístula renocólica generalmente se presenta secundaria a procesos inflamatorios o infecciosos renales; su presentaciónclínica es muy variada, y el tratamiento es quirúrgico, incluyendo siempre la resección del trayecto fistuloso.(AU)

Introduction: Colorenal fistula is rare in the pediatric population.It may occur at any segment involved by ischemia, chronic inflammation, or necrosis. It is typically associated with a preliminary renallesion that may arise as a result of interventional procedures, inflammatory conditions, colon tumor, and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis,among others. Clinical case: 15-year-old female patient diagnosed with acutelymphoblastic leukemia admitted at our institution for baseline condition management. During her stay, she experienced gastrointestinal andurinary infectious events. In the assessment and management of those,a left colorenal fistula was found. Surgical treatment was decided upon. Discussion: Colorenal fistula typically occurs secondary to renalinflammation or infection. Clinical signs are highly variable, and treatment is surgical, with the fistulous tract being resected in all cases.(AU)

The use of digital tomosynthesis in rheumatology: a systematic review of the literature focused on four diseases. / Uso de la tomosíntesis digital en reumatología: revisión sistemática de la literatura en cuatro patologías.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Digital tomosynthesis has proven useful in the evaluation of damage to joints. This study aims to describe the most common digital tomosynthesis findings for four rheumatological entities and to compare the usefulness of this technique with that of other imaging techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched the literature for articles about the use of digital tomosynthesis in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis, and gout. We used the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) criteria to evaluate the quality of the articles included. RESULTS: We included 13 articles. For rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and spondyloarthritis, digital tomosynthesis detected bone abnormalities better than plain-film X-rays; however, for gout, the results were variable. CONCLUSIONS: Digital tomosynthesis can play an important role in the evaluation of skeletal abnormalities in rheumatological disease, especially compared to plain-film X-rays.

Electronic implementation dataset to monoparametric control the number of scrolls generated.

The increasing usage of chaotic systems in the development of security systems, from mobile surveillance devices to the implementation of secure communication systems, leads to devising analog electronic implementations of research. This article presents the electronic implementation dataset from a multi-scroll chaotic system capable of generates until 9-scrolls throughout a monoparametric control based on a Saturated Non-Lineal Function (SNLF). The implemented system controls the number of generated scrolls being capable of producing attractors of single scroll and attractors with 3, 5, 7, and 9-scrolls. Moreover, the implemented system produces a family of bistable behaviors. The authors report the phenomenon in [1], where a complete analysis in the system has been carried out.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probiotic feed additive to non and pseudo-ruminant feeding: a review.

The production of livestock and poultry faces major challenges to meet the global demand for meat and dairy products and eggs due to a steady increase in the world's population and the ban of antibiotics in animal production. This ban has forced animal nutritionists to seek for natural alternatives to antibiotics. In this context, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has received considerable attention in the last decade. It has been reported that feed supplementation with live yeast cells improve feed efficiency, enhance feed digestibility, increase animal performance, reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria, improve animal health and reduce the negative environmental impacts of livestock production. The current review sheds light on the effects of the use of live S. cerevisiae cells in the diets of nonruminant and pseudo-ruminant's animals and the mechanisms by which they exert its effects. This review work revealed that the addition of S. cerevisiae in poultry feed causes a phenomenon called competitive exclusion of pathogenic bacteria capable of causing disease adhere to the yeast surface, and so removing a large amount of harmful micro-organisms and allowing the Animal defend more effectively, the production of antimicrobial agents, the balancing the gut microbiota and stimulation of host adaptive immune system and improving gut morphological structure, thus these benefits are reflected on the overall poultry health. In addition, in the presence of live S. cerevisiae cells, the immunity of rabbits was improved due to the high number of white blood cell. In addition, apparent digestibility of acid and neutral detergent fibre was improved in horses and rabbits. Saccharomyces cerevisiae in pig diets augment mucosal immunity by increasing IgM and IgA activity against pathogens, enhance intestinal development and function, adsorb mycotoxins, modulate gut microbiota and reduce postweaning diarrhoea.

Four and a half domain 2 (FHL2) scaffolding protein is a marker of connective tissues of developing digits and regulates fibrogenic differentiation of limb mesodermal progenitors.

Four and a half LIM domain 2 (FHL2) is a multifunctional scaffolding protein of well-known function regulating cell signalling cascades and gene transcription in cancer tissues. However, its function in embryonic systems is poorly characterized. Here, we show that Fhl2 is involved in the differentiation of connective tissues of developing limb autopod. We show that Fhl2 exhibits spatially restricted and temporally dynamic expression around the tendons of developing digits, interphalangeal joint capsules, and fibrous peridigital tissue. Immunolabelling analysis of the skeletal progenitors identified a predominant, but not exclusive, cytoplasmic distribution of FHL2 being associated with focal adhesions and actin cytoskeleton. In the course of chondrogenic differentiation of cultures of limb skeletal progenitors, the expression of Fhl2 is down-regulated. Furthermore, cultures of skeletal progenitors overexpressing Fhl2 take on a predominant fibrogenic appearance. Both gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments in the micromass culture assays revealed a positive transcriptional influence of Fhl2 in the expression of fibrogenic markers including Scleraxis, Tenomodulin, Tenascin C, ßig-h3, and Tgif1. We further show that the expression of Fhl2 is positively regulated by profibrogenic signals including Tgfß2, all-trans-retinoic acid, and canonical Wnt signalling molecules and negatively regulated by prochondrogenic factors of the bone morphogenetic protein family. Expression of Fhl2 is also regulated negatively in immobilized limbs, but this influence appears to be mediated by other connective tissue markers, such as Tgfßs and Scleraxis.

Targeted therapy combined with radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer: a review of the Oncologic Group for the Study of Lung Cancer (Spanish Radiation Oncology Society).

In recent years, major advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of lung cancer, together with significant improvements in radiotherapy technologies, have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This has led to the development of new therapies that target molecular mutations specific to each tumor type, acting on the cell surface antigens or intracellular signaling pathways, or directly affecting cell survival. At the same time, ablative dose radiotherapy can be delivered safely in the context of metastatic disease. In this article, the GOECP/SEOR (Oncological Group for Study of Lung Cancer/Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology) reviews the role of new targeted therapies used in combination with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced (stage III) NSCLC and in patients with advanced, metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC.

[Odontogenic fibromyxoma]. / Fibromixoma odontogénico.

A 3-year-old boy presented a submandibular mass that progressively increased in size. Pathological study confirmed an odontogenic fibromyxoma. This entity is rare in children.

Fibromixoma odontogénico / Odontogenic fibromyxoma

Se describe el caso de un niño de 3 años que presenta una masa submandibular, con aumento progresivo de tamaño. El resultado de la anatomía patológica confirma un fibromixoma de origen odontogénico, entidad rara en la edad pediátrica (AU)

A 3-year-old boy presented a submandibular mass that progressively increased in size. Pathological study confirmed an odontogenic fibromyxoma. This entity is rare in children (AU)

Fungal peritonitis in 15 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Peritonitis is a frequent complication in patients with chronic renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment. The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of fungal peritonitis on patients undergoing CAPD, and to determine the antifungal susceptibility pattern of the identified isolates. Samples of the peritoneal dialysis fluid from 165 patients on CAPD treatment with peritonitis manifestations were submitted to mycological study (direct microscopic examination, culture and antifungal susceptibility test). Ten Candida isolates were identified, being C. albicans and C. parapsilosis the most common species. From isolates obtained, three species (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. guilliermondii) presented itraconazole resistance while C. glabrata was resistant to both itraconazole and ketoconazole. Aspergillus fumigatus was associated to peritonitis in three cases and Acremonium sp. in two.

Analysis of the molecular cascade responsible for mesodermal limb chondrogenesis: Sox genes and BMP signaling.

Here, we have studied how Sox genes and BMP signaling are functionally coupled during limb chondrogenesis. Using the experimental model of TGFbeta1-induced interdigital digits, we dissect the sequence of morphological and molecular events during in vivo chondrogenesis. Our results show that Sox8 and Sox9 are the most precocious markers of limb cartilage, and their induction is independent and precedes the activation of BMP signaling. Sox10 appears also to cooperate with Sox9 and Sox8 in the establishment of the digit cartilages. In addition, we show that experimental induction of Sox gene expression in the interdigital mesoderm is accompanied by loss of the apoptotic response to exogenous BMPs. L-Sox5 and Sox6 are respectively induced coincident and after the expression of Bmpr1b in the prechondrogenic aggregate, and their activation correlates with the induction of Type II Collagen and Aggrecan genes in the differentiating cartilages. The expression of Bmpr1b precedes the appearance of morphological changes in the prechondrogenic aggregate and establishes a landmark from which the maintenance of the expression of all Sox genes and the progress of cartilage differentiation becomes dependent on BMPs. Moreover, we show that Ventroptin precedes Noggin in the modulation of BMP activity in the developing cartilages. In summary, our findings suggest that Sox8, Sox9, and Sox10 have a cooperative function conferring chondrogenic competence to limb mesoderm in response to BMP signals. In turn, BMPs in concert with Sox9, Sox6, and L-Sox5 would be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the cartilage differentiation program.

[Utilization of the nine equivalents of nursing manpower use score (NEMS) in a pediatric intensive care unit]. / Utilización de la escala NEMS (nine equivalents of nursing manpower use score) en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos.

In 1994, sponsored by the European Communities Commission and the FRICE (Foundation for Research on Intensive Care in Europe), the EURICUS proyect was born, which, among other objectives, sets out to know objectively the work loads of the nursing staff in the intensive medicine services. As a consequence, the FRICE developed and validated a new therapeutic index, the nine equivalents of nursing manpower use score, NEMS. This scale (NEMS) can determine the therapeutic effort required by critically ill patients in a simple way and only using nine therapeutic variables. The objectives of this study are: to know if the NEMS scale reflects the therapeutic effort of the pediatric critical patients and validate if the NEMS scale measures the health care effect of the nursing staff in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The study was performed in the Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona. The population studied was made up by the patients admitted to the PICU during a three week period (January 17 to February 6, 2001). Eight nurses from the unit having different shifts participated in the data collection. The NEMS scale was measured at 7 am.m. and 7 p.m. respectively in all the patients and then a qualitative assessment of the data obtained was performed. During this period, there were 50 admissions in the unit: 2.2 admissiions per day. The occupancy rate during the days of the study was 75%. A total of 389 measurements were performed, obtaining a mean value of 26.1 on the NEMS scale. Principal contributions of the nurses participating in the study were:They believe that use of the health care effort scales is useful in the intensive care units. The NEMS scale is easy to use and requires little time to be filled out. The NEMS scale reflects the therapeutic effort of the pediatric critically ill patients, but does not reflect the nursing staff cares. In a pediatric ICU, the age of the patient who is hospitalized influences the requirements of the nursing staff. Depending on at what time the scale is measured, not all the nursing activity is reflected, due to the high number of daily admissions and discharges. The NEMS scale is simple to use and reflects the therapeutic effort of the patients admitted to a PICU; however it only measures those cares delegated from therapeutic intervention and does not reflect the basic nursing cares.

Expression of Sox8, Sox9 and Sox10 in the developing valves and autonomic nerves of the embryonic heart.

We describe the expression pattern of Sox8, Sox9 and Sox10 during the development of the chick embryo heart. These Sox genes constitute the group E of the large Sox family of transcription factors. We show that the expression of Sox8, Sox9 and Sox10 in the developing heart correlates with heart septation and with the differentiation of the connective tissue of the valve leaflets. Sox10 appears also as a specific marker of developing heart nerves. These findings fit with the occurrence of morphological and functional anomalies of the heart reported in humans deficient for Sox9 and Sox10.

Comparative analysis of the expression and regulation of Wnt5a, Fz4, and Frzb1 during digit formation and in micromass cultures.

Previous studies have shown that three members of the Wnt signaling pathway, the ligand WNT5A, the receptor FZ4, and the Wnt antagonist FRZB1, are implicated in the formation and differentiation of the digits. In this study, we have attempted to establish a functional correlation between them by comparing their expression patterns and their regulation by the signals controlling proliferation and differentiation of the limb mesoderm during formation of the avian digits in vivo and in micromass cultures. In vivo Wnt5a and Fz4 are expressed in the undifferentiated mesoderm of the autopod and in the differentiating digit cartilages. In the undifferentiated mesoderm, the expression of both genes is regulated positively by FGFs and negatively by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). As chondrogenic differentiation starts, Fz4 becomes intensely up-regulated in the aggregate and in the developing perichondrium, whereas transcripts of Wnt5a are excluded from the core of the aggregate but maintained in the surrounding mesenchyme and perichondrium. In addition, at this stage, the expression of both genes become positively regulated by BMPs. These changes in expression and regulation are coincident with the induction of Frzb1 in the chondrogenic aggregate, which is expressed under the positive control of BMPs. Our findings fit with a role of Wnt5a/Fz4 negatively regulating in vivo the initiation and progression of cartilage differentiation. In vitro, only Frzb1 is expressed and regulated in a manner resembling that observed in vivo. Wnt5a and Fz4 are both expressed in the differentiating mesenchyme of micromass cultures, but their expression is not significantly regulated by the addition of FGF-2 or BMP-7 to the culture medium.

Utilización de la escala NEMS (nine equivalents of nursing manpower use score) en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos / Utilization of the nive equivalents of nursing manpower use score (NEMS) in a pediatric intensive care unit

En 1994, auspiciado por la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y la FRICE (Foundation for Reseach on Intensive Care in Europe), nace el proyecto Euricus, que entre otros objetivos, se plantea conocer de forma objetiva las cargas de trabajo del personal de enfermería en los servicios de medicina intensiva. Como consecuencia, la FRICE desarrolla y valida un nuevo índice terapéutico, the nine equivalents of nursing manpower use score , NEMS. Esta escala (NEMS) es capaz de determinar de una manera sencilla y a través de sólo nueve variables el esfuerzo terapéutico que requieren los pacientes críticos. Los objetivos de este trabajo son: conocer si la escala NEMS refleja el esfuerzo terapéutico de los pacientes críticos pediátricos y validar si esta escala mide el esfuerzo asistencial de enfermería en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP).El estudio se ha realizado en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos del Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona. La población estudiada han sido los pacientes ingresados en la UCIP durante un período de tres semanas (17 de enero al 6 de febrero del 2001). Participaron en la recogida de datos 8 enfermeras de la unidad de diferentes turnos. A las 7 y 19 horas respectivamente, medían la escala NEMS a todos los pacientes ingresados y posteriormente realizaban una valoración cualitativa de los datos obtenidos. Durante este período se produjeron 50 ingresos en la unidad; 2,2 ingresos por día. El índice de ocupación durante los días del estudio fue del 75 per cent. Se realizaron un total de 389 mediciones, obteniéndose un valor medio en la escala NEMS de 26,1. Las principales aportaciones de las enfermeras participantes en el estudio han sido: creen que la utilización de escalas de esfuerzo asistencial son útiles en las unidades de cuidados intensivos. La escala NEMS es de fácil utilización y requiere poco tiempo para su cumplimentación. La escala NEMS refleja el esfuerzo terapéutico de los pacientes críticos pediátricos, pero no refleja los cuidados de enfermería. En una UCI pediátrica, la edad del paciente ingresado influye en los requerimientos del personal de enfermería. Dependiendo de a qué hora se mida la escala, no refleja toda la actividad de enfermería, debido al alto número de ingresos y altas diarias. La escala NEMS es de sencillo manejo y refleja el esfuerzo terapéutico de los pacientes ingresados en una UCIP; pero sólo mide los cuidados delegados de la intervención terapéutica y no refleja los cuidados básicos de enfermería (AU)

Role of FGFs in the control of programmed cell death during limb development.

We have investigated the role of FGFs in the control of programmed cell death during limb development by analyzing the effects of increasing and blocking FGF signaling in the avian limb bud. BMPs are currently considered as the signals responsible for cell death. Here we show that FGF signaling is also necessary for apoptosis and that the establishment of the areas of cell death is regulated by the convergence of FGF- and BMP-mediated signaling pathways. As previously demonstrated, cell death is inhibited for short intervals (12 hours) after administration of FGFs. However, this initial inhibition is followed (24 hours) by a dramatic increase in cell death, which can be abolished by treatments with a BMP antagonist (Noggin or Gremlin). Conversely, blockage of FGF signaling by applying a specific FGF-inhibitor (SU5402) into the interdigital regions inhibits both physiological cell death and that mediated by exogenous BMPs. Furthermore, FGF receptors 1, 2 and 3 are expressed in the autopodial mesoderm during the regression of the interdigital tissue, and the expression of FGFR3 in the interdigital regions is regulated by FGFs and BMPs in the same fashion as apopotosis. Together our findings indicate that, in the absence of FGF signaling BMPs are not sufficient to trigger apoptosis in the developing limb. Although we provide evidence for a positive influence of FGFs on BMP gene expression, the physiological implication of FGFs in apoptosis appears to result from their requirement for the expression of genes of the apoptotic cascade. We have identified MSX2 and Snail as candidate genes associated with apoptosis the expression of which requires the combined action of FGFs and BMPs.

Changes in monoaminergic activity in the anterior, medium and posterior hypothalamus, gonadotropins levels and ovarian hormones during puberty of the female rat.

The aim of present study is the analysis of monoamines concentrations changes in the anterior, medium and posterior hypothalamus, as well as changes in serum gonadotropins levels, ovarian steroids and follicular growth during the prepubertal development of the female rat. Noradrenergic activity in the anterior, medium and posterior hypothalamus reached highest level at day 13 after birth, followed by a subsequent decrease from day 15 to 19 and an increase on days 22 and 27 postnatal. At day 1, neural activity in the medium hypothalamus was higher than the activity in the anterior and posterior hypothalamus. Serotoninergic activity in three portions of the hypothalamus was higher throughout the prepubertal development. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone serum levels increased between days 11 and 17 and decreased from day 19 to 36. The concentration of 17beta-estradiol was consistently low throughout the prepubertal development and increased at day 39 after birth. These results indicate that during the prepubertal development of the rat, the three regions of the hypothalamus show significant changes in the monoaminergic neural activity. There is an inverse relationship between the noradrenergic activity on the anterior and medium hypothalamus and serotoninergic activity in the posterior hypothalamus with ovarian steroids during sexual maturation. These changes may be linked to the development of the neuroendocrine processes that modulate gonadotropin secretion and ovarian function.