Further psychometric validation of the GAH scale: Responsiveness and effect size.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the responsiveness of the newly developed Geriatric Assessment in Hematology (GAH) scale to clinical change in older patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies.

Methods: A prospective observational study conducted in 164 patients aged ≥65years and diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML), multiple myeloma (MM), or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Responsiveness of the GAH scales was studied by means of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, the visual analog scale (VAS), and the physician's subjective assessment, used as clinical anchors to identify whether patients had changed clinically (either improved or worsened) or not since the baseline visit.

Expression of TrkB in the murine kidney.

Neurotrophins acting through Trk signal-transducing receptors play essential roles in the nervous system, and probably in some nonneuronal tissues. In the present study we used Western-blot and immunohistochemistry to investigate the occurrence and cellular localization of TrkB in the mouse kidney. Furthermore, the structure and ultrastructure of the kidney in mice carrying a mutation in the trkB gene were analyzed.

Absence of Meissner corpuscles in the digital pads of mice lacking functional TrkB.

The TrkB-expressing sensory neurons seem to be involved in touch and other discriminative sensibilities. Thus, several slowly and rapidly adapting cutaneous mechanoreceptors, as well as muscle spindles, are reduced or absent in the territory of the trigeminal nerve in functionally TrkB-deficient mice. Whether this also occurs in the cutaneous or muscular territories of dorsal root ganglia has not been analyzed.

Age-dependent changes in the nervous and endocrine control of the thymus.

The immune system, especially the thymus, undergoes age-related modifications leading to structural and functional changes in the lymphoid organs and immunocompetent cells. Nevertheless, the consequences of thymic involution in the peripheral pool of T-cells are still a matter of controversy. The control of the thymic function is very complex and involves intrathymic signals, the autonomic nervous system, and the endocrine system.