Pre-and post-surgical non-functional pituitary adenomas and their relationship with high levels of serum glucose.

OBJECTIVES: This clinical, analytical, retro-prospective, auto-controlled, not randomized, and not blinded study, aimed to investigate the association of changes in the serum glucose levels with the pre-and-post changes in the size tumor in mm3 in the Non-Functional pituitary adenomas. METHODS: Pre-and post-surgical MRI, as well as the measurements in the serum glucose levels and immunohistochemical techniques were performed in all the patients in the study, with a mean followed-up until 208.57 days. A comparison was made between the reductions in tumor size of hormonally active pituitary adenomas (HSPAs) vs NFPAs. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included in this study, of whom, 46 were NFPAs. The decrease in the NFPAs tumor size after surgery was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.0001). The Mean of the differences of both type of tumors in mm3 were -9552 ± 10287. Pre-surgery, the mean of the HSPAs were 8.923 ± 2.078; and the NFPAs were 14.161 ± 1.912. The differences in the tumor size were statistically significant (p = 0.039). Post-surgical, the mean of the HSPAs were 2.079 ± 971, with a (p = 0.14): and the NFPAs were 4.609 ± 1.205. After surgery of the NFPAs, most of the patients-maintained serum levels ≤ 100 mg/dL, with a statistical significance (P ≤ 0.0003). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates for the first time the correlation between the presence of pre-and post- surgical changes in the NFPAs, with modifications in the levels of serum glucose, and the comparison, pre- and post-surgical between the tumor size of HSPAs and NFPAs.

Pre- and post-clinical-radiological and surgical evaluation of patients with pituitary adenoma and metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary adenomas are benign tumors located in the anterior hypophysis. Its appearance is associated with the development of parameters related to metabolic syndrome; therefore, surgical treatment could reduce associated morbimortality. METHODS: Pre- and post-surgical MRI, using the Hardy-Wilson and Knosp classification, and clinical data according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) criteria for metabolic syndrome: all the patients were followed-up until 208.57 days were reviewed on 217 consecutive patients with pituitary surgery. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included in this study. There was a significant reduction in tumor size in mm3 [average pre- and post-surgery respectively: 12,362 mm3 (±12,397); 3,910 mm3 (±7,160)], (p < 0.0001). This was confirmed by the Hardy-Wilson and Knosp classification, where most patients went from grade IV C (33.7%) to grade 0 (12.1%), IA (20.2%), IIB (21.36%), and IIC (16.2%); as well as from grade 4 (24.3%) to grade 0 (45.9%), respectively. After surgery, there were statistically significant reductions in total serum levels of glucose [average pre- and post-surgery, respectively: 116 mg/dL (±26.9); 90 mg/dL (±10.2)], (p < 0.001), triglycerides [average pre- and post-surgery, 240 mg/dL (±102); 171 mg/dL (±60.5)], (p = 0.001); and HDL-c [average pre- and post-surgery, respectively: 39 mg/dL (±11.8); 44.6 mg/dL (±8.4)], (p = 0.029). The other parameters remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate the relationship between the presence of pituitary adenoma and significative changes in serum glucose, triglycerides and c-HDL related to metabolic syndrome.

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for the detection and quantification of dactylogyrid parasites infecting Lutjanus guttatus.

Severe infections of the spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus resulting from dactylogyrid monogeneans present a risk to aquaculture. Currently, the diagnosis of this infection requires the morphological identification and manual quantification of parasites. Based on the characterization of the 28S rRNA gene of dactylogyrid species present in L. guttatus, specific primers were designed for real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using EvaGreen® chemistry. The standard curve method estimated the number of dactylogyrids accurately. A total of 85 gill samples from cage-cultured fish infected with dactylogyrids were analysed. The estimated number of dactylogyrids using this molecular method was very similar to the manual count that was performed initially. The standardized qPCR approach will be helpful as a complementary method for the early routine monitoring of dactylogyrid infections and for epidemiological studies in which a high number of fish must be studied.

Schistosomus Reflexus Syndrome in Olive Ridley Sea Turtles ( Lepidochelys olivacea).

The olive ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea), considered the most abundant sea turtle species, is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The most important nesting areas are located in the Eastern Pacific, and congenital malformations have been previously reported in this species. The present study was conducted in a single population at El Verde beach, one of the most important nesting beaches for the species in the northwestern Mexican Pacific. The study was based on embryos that had been incubated in a controlled environment. Schistosomus reflexus syndrome (SRS) was observed in 124 of 20 257 olive ridley embryos (0.6%), comprising 124 of 400 (31%) cases of congenital malformations over a 7-month period. Affected embryos had malformations of the carapace, bridge, or plastron, resulting in exposure of the abdominal or thoracic viscera, as well as spinal malformation and abnormal positioning of limbs adjacent to the head with subsequent ankylosis. SRS phenotypes (although lethal) varied from mild to severe, although most cases were severe. SRS was mostly associated with congenital malformations in the neck (short neck, 80%), tail (anury, 38%), and flippers (different types of dysmelias, 53%). In most cases of severe SRS, ankyloses were present. Documenting these findings could be important to identify the cause of the developmental defects, and identification of the cause of the defects may be of significance to the population and to our efforts to manage this and other populations at risk.

Expression of myostatin in the spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus during larval and juvenile development under cultured conditions.

In this study, the developmental expression pattern of myostatin (mstn) in the spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus under culture conditions is presented. The full coding sequence of mstn from L. guttatus was isolated from muscle tissue, obtaining 1134 nucleotides which encode a peptide of 377 amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that this sequence corresponds to mstn-1. mstn expression was detected in embryonic stages, and maintained at low levels until 28 days post-hatch, when it showed a significant increase, coinciding with the onset of metamorphosis. After that, expression was fluctuating, coinciding probably with periods of rapid and slow muscle growth or individual growth rates. mstn expression was also analysed by body mass with higher levels detected in smaller animals, irrespective of age. mstn was also expressed in other tissues from L. guttatus, presenting higher levels in brain, eye and gill. In brain for instance, two variants of mstn were isolated, both coding sequences were identical to muscle, except that one of them contained a 75 nucleotide deletion in exon 1, maintaining the reading frame but deleting two conserved cysteine residues. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this brain variant was also mstn-1. The function of this variant is not clear and needs further investigation. These results indicate that mstn-1 participates in different physiological processes other than muscle growth in fishes.

[Epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer in the General Hospital of Mexico. A 20 years analysis: 1988-2007]. / Comportamiento epidemiológico del cáncer de colon y recto en el Hospital General de México. Análisis de 20 años: 1988-2007.

INTRODUCTION: Distribution of colon and rectal tumors has been studied by many authors, which have considered that distal colon and rectum are more affected. However, its frequency and distribution have changed in recent years. OBJECTIVE: A descriptive analysis of colorectal cancer in the General Hospital of Mexico during the last 20 years (1988-2007). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a transversal comparative study between decades from the database of the Pathology Service of the General Hospital of Mexico, of cases of cancer diagnosed from January 1988 to December 2007. Variables included age, gender, anatomic site of the tumor,grade of differentiation, stadification and type of surgery. RESULTS: There were 222 cases from 1988 to 1997 and 400 cases from 1998 to 2007. 115 (52%) were female in the firs decade and 210 (53%) in the second. We found a prevalence of 71 cases (32%) for the proximal colon, 24 (11%) for the distal colon and 127 (57%) for the rectum in the first decade; in second decade there were 182 (45%) cases for the proximal colon, 50 (13%) for the distal colon and 168 (42%) for the rectum. CONCLUSIONS: The number of colorectal cancerduring the last decade almost doubled in our hospital (80%); we also found an increase in the number of proximal tumors and a decreasein the number of rectal tumors.

[A new cerebellar neuron: the brush or monopolar cell. Characteristics and possible function]. / Nueva célula 'en cepillo' (brush cell) o célula monopolar del cerebelo. Características y posible función.

The basic neuronal structure and circuitry of the cerebellum has been well known since Cajal's time. In recent years, however, a number of new neuronal connections and new immunohistochemically defined neuronal subtypes and functional cerebellar modules have been described. This new morphofunctional concept of the cerebellum seems to be in agreement with its newly assumed roles in learning and memory. In this new functional structure, a new cell (the brush cell, monopolar cell or monodendritic cell, Altman and Bayer, 1977; Mugnaini, 1994) specific to the cerebellar cortex and cochlear nucleus, could be of great importance. In all species studied, including man, this cell shows very particular morphology, immunohistochemical reactivity (against calretinin, some glutamate receptors and some neurofilament antibodies) and synaptic connections. The main afferents of these neurons are the mossy fibres, which form giant synaptic structures with them. The axons of monopolar cells end either in contact with extracerebellar neurons, or terminate intracortically at other brush cells (in the form of mossy fibres) or other cortical neurons of still-unknown morphology. In every animal species examined, these monopolar cells show different embryological development. No involution of them has been seen either in senility or in neurodegenerative disease.

Nueva célula `en cepillo' (brush cell) o célula monopolar del cerebelo. Características y posible función / A new cerebellar neuron: the brush or monopolar cell. Characteristics and possible function

La estructura del cerebelo y los circuitos que forman sus neuronas se conocen muy bien desde la época de Cajal. En los últimos años se ha descrito un cierto número de nuevas conexiones neuronales y subtipos neuronales, así como compartimentos funcionales mediante técnicas inmunohistoquímicas. Esta nueva concepción morfofuncional del cerebelo se corresponde con las nuevas funciones que se le asignan en aprendizaje y memoria. Dentro de este esquema puede ser clave una nueva célula, mencionada por Altman y Bayer (1977) y descrita por Mugnaini (1994), la célula `en cepillo', monopolar o monodendrítica, específica de la corteza cerebelosa -junto a los núcleos cocleares-, que presenta en todas las especies, incluido el hombre, morfología, reacción inmunohistoquímica (anticalretinina, receptores para glutamato, neurofilamentos, etc.) y conexiones muy características. La formación de una sinapsis gigante con una fibra musgosa es su principal aferencia, y posee o puede poseer terminales extracerebelosos directos, intracorticales -sobre otras células en cepillo en forma de terminal musgosa, o sobre otras neuronas-. En cada especie animal tiene un desarrollo diferente y parece que no involucionan ni en la senilidad ni en las enfermedades neurodegenerativas (AU)

The basic neuronal structure and circuitry of the cerebellum has been well known since Cajal’s time. In recent years, however, a number of new neuronal connections and new immunohistochemically-defined neuronal subtypes and functional cerebellar modules have been described. This new morphofunctional concept of the cerebellum seems to be in agreement with its newly assumed roles in learning and memory. In this new functional structure, a new cell (the brush cell, monopolar cell or monodendritic cell, Altman and Bayer, 1977; Mugnaini, 1994) specific to the cerebellar cortex and cochlear nucleus, could be of great importance. In all species studied, including man, this cell shows very particular morphology, immunohistochemical reactivity (against calretinine, some glutamate receptors and some neurofilament antibodies) and synaptic connections. The main afferents of these neurons are the mossy fibres, which form giant synaptic structures with them. The axons of monopolar cells end either in contact with extracerebellar neurons, or terminate intracortically at other brush cells (in the form of mossy fibres) or other cortical neurons of still-unknown morphology. In every animal species examined, these monopolar cells show different embryological development. No involution of them has been seen either in senility or in neurodegenerative disease (AU)

Vibrio hispanicus sp. nov., isolated from Artemia sp. and sea water in Spain.

Three Gram-negative, small, motile, rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from Artemia sp. and sea water in Barcelona, Spain, during 1990 and 1991. They were fermentative, oxidase-positive, sensitive to vibriostatic agent O/129, arginine dihydrolase-positive, lysine and ornithine decarboxylase-negative and grew in the absence of NaCl. They differed from phenotypically related species by their ability to grow at 4 degrees C and utilize L-rhamnose. Cloning of the 16S rRNA gene of the type strain produced two different 16S rRNA gene sequences, which differed by 15 bases (0.99%); comparison of these sequences with those deposited in GenBank showed close relationships with Vibrio proteolyticus (97.6% similarity), Vibrio diazotrophicus (97.9%), Vibrio campbellii (96.8%) and Vibrio alginolyticus (96.8%), among others. DNA-DNA hybridization levels with the closest phylogenetically related Vibrio species were <26.4%. Sufficient evidence is provided to support the identity of the three strains analysed as members of a novel species of the genus Vibrio, for which the name Vibrio hispanicus sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain LMG 13240T (=CAIM 525T=VIB 213T).

Differential mammary morphogenesis along the anteroposterior axis in Hoxc6 gene targeted mice.

Mammary epithelial cell proliferation, branching, and differentiation span from the appearance of the mammary bud in midgestation through to the cycling mammary gland in adulthood. Here, we show that females homozygous for a targeted disruption of the Hoxc6 homeobox gene produce thoracic mammary glands that are slightly under-developed at birth and completely cleared of epithelium by adulthood, and inguinal mammary ducts that are dilated and fail to regress in response to ovariectomy. Mammary buds are detected in E12.5 Hoxc6 homozygous embryos. However, in newborn Hoxc6 homozygous females, branching ductal structures and fat pad development are reduced. Whole-mount and histologic analyses of mammary glands from adult Hoxc6 homozygous females show the absence of mammary epithelium in thoracic glands and dilated ducts in inguinal glands at 100% penetrance. Histologic analysis of inguinal mammary glands from ovariectomized Hoxc6 homozygous females demonstrates no signs of the expected regression of epithelium, suggesting that these glands are not responsive to the loss of ovarian hormone signals. We further observe repression of Hoxc6 expression specifically within mammary stroma by estrogen and progesterone. Hoxc6 homozygous mice also exhibit a homeotic transformation of the second thoracic vertebra into the first (T2 to T1 conversion with 60% penetrance), corresponding to both the gene's anterior boundary of expression and the most extreme appearance of mammary defects. The position-specific phenotypes observed and the potential role for Hoxc6 in mediating hormone-regulated ductal expansion and regression in the adult female are discussed.

The relationship between climate and the distribution of Culicoides imicola in Iberia.

The biting midge Culicoides imicola was captured at 17 of 27 farms in Spain and Portugal during a survey of its distribution following outbreaks of African horse sickness in Iberia that occurred between 1987 and 1990. Farms were sampled approximately twice weekly from October 1992 to February 1995. Farms were widely spaced apart (maximum 850 km) and had considerable variation in climate. Across sites, summer temperatures ranged from 18.3 degrees C-27.2 degrees C; in winter the range was 4.4 degrees C-11.6 degrees C. Relative humidities in summer ranged from 37.2% to 90.1%. Proximity to southern Spain (Seville) was the most significant predictor of the presence/absence of C. imicola, but high summer temperatures and possibly dry summer conditions, were also important. Vila Nova de Milfontes in Portugal, where C. imicola was abundant and the climate is relatively cool, was an exception to the climatic trends at the other 26 sites. This exception points to a lack of knowledge of climatic requirements for immature development of C. imicola. The absence of C. imicola from the three most easterly sites, which have apparently favourable climates, suggests a relatively recent invasion by this species into Iberia.

Hypotheses concerning the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease.

Theories on the aetiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are revised. After discussing senile involution, the principal characteristic alterations of AD are presented. These pathological changes include involutive morphological phenomena (neurofibrillar tangles, senile neuritic plaques with varying = amyloid content) and functional phenomena (alterations in energy metabolism, in protein synthesis, and in the neurotransmitter metabolism). Currently it is assumed that the neurons most affected seem to be primarily those of the ascending cholinergic activating system, whose somas are situated in Meinert's basal nucleus. Serotoninergic, adrenergic and peptidergic brainstem neurons and serotoninergic neurons of the cerebral cortex are also affected. Secondary to these, the main pathological alterations, triggered by these disfunctions, are observed in neurons of the neocortex, hippocampus and amygdala. These changes are responsible for the symptoms of AD. The aetiology of these changes may be genetic = (related to chromosoma 21), toxic (aluminium) or infective (slow agents similar to those that cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru and scrapie). Various aetiopathological theories emphasized on immunological or vascular phenomena, altered protein synthesis, etc. It seems to be important that certain neurons are affected in most of degenerative diseases: the high-risk neurons. These neurons could be affected by toxic and environmental factors.