Whole-body muscle MRI of patients with MATR3-associated distal myopathy reveals a distinct pattern of muscular involvement and highlights the value of whole-body examination.

Objective: MATR3-associated distal myopathy is a rare distal myopathy predominantly affecting lower legs as well as wrist- and finger extensors. Whilst most distal myopathies are clinically and genetically well characterized, diagnosis often remains challenging. Pattern-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches offer valuable additional information.

Potentiation of mammary cancer inhibition by combination of antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone with docetaxel.

Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) are being developed for the treatment of various cancers. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of treatment with GHRH antagonist JMR-132 alone and in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy in nude mice bearing MX-1 human breast cancers. Specific high-affinity binding sites for GHRH were found on MX-1 tumor membranes using ligand competition assays with (125)I-labeled GHRH antagonist JV-1-42.

Therapy of ovarian cancers with targeted cytotoxic analogs of bombesin, somatostatin, and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and their combinations.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of treatment of experimental ovarian cancers with targeted cytotoxic analogs as single compounds and in combination. Targeted cytotoxic analogs of bombesin (AN-215), somatostatin (AN-238), and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (AN-207) consisted of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201) linked to the respective peptide carrier. AN-238 at 200 nmol/kg significantly inhibited growth of UCI-107, ES-2 and OV-1063 ovarian cancers.

Comet assay of cumulus cells and spermatozoa DNA status, and the relationship to oocyte fertilization and embryo quality following ICSI.

It has been postulated that apoptosis may affect cumulus cell and sperm DNA integrity, and therefore influence the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques. This study investigates apoptotic levels in both cumulus cells and spermatozoa, and their relationship with fertilization and embryo quality after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The neutral comet assay was performed on cumulus cells and semen samples from 55 couples with male factor infertility undergoing ICSI treatment.

The pharmacokinetics of pranlukast in healthy young and elderly subjects.

Pranlukast is a novel LTD4 antagonist under development for the treatment of asthma. To assess the effect of age, the pharmacokinetics of pranlukast were studied in healthy young (9 females, 10 males, mean 30 years) and elderly subjects (9 per sex, mean 70.4 years).