Determining mechanisms of visual loss in glaucoma using Rarebit perimetry.

Purpose: Evidence for ganglion cell visual dysfunction in human glaucoma is often indirect, being either measured at the cellular level in animal models or being inferred from the pooled responses of a large number of ganglion cells in human observers. Rarebit perimetry (RBP) uses repeated, intense (150 cd/m2) stimuli-whose size is close to the spatial scale of a ganglion cell-to search for small retinal areas with zero sensitivity. Decreasing the stimulus luminance to 64 cd/m2 in normal observers does not alter the percentage of RBP stimuli detected [the mean hit rate (MHR)], and so we hypothesized that a similar response robustness should occur in glaucoma if the elements detecting the RBP target show no signs of visual dysfunction.

Cellular mechanisms mediating the anti-invasive properties of the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) in human breast cancer cells.

We have shown that inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) reduces in vitro invasiveness and metastatic capacity of MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells. These experiments investigated the mechanisms mediating the anti-invasive properties of DFMO. DFMO did not affect phosphorylation of FAK or Akt, but increased ERK phosphorylation by approximately threefold.

Historical perspective of parathyroid disease.

This article highlights key historical developments in the understanding of parathyroid function and disease, a story that involves many clinical investigators and classic scientific debate. The current medical community is certainly indebted to the innate curiosity and perseverance of these historical figures.