Multiple structural and functional abnormalities in the p450 aromatase expressing transgenic male mice are ameliorated by a p450 aromatase inhibitor.

The present study was undertaken to analyze the effect of a P450 aromatase inhibitor (finrozole) on 4-month-old transgenic mice expressing human P450 aromatase (P450arom) under the human ubiquitin C promoter (AROM+). AROM+ mice present several dysfunctions, such as adrenal and pituitary hyperplasia, cryptorchidism, Leydig cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and gynecomastia. The present study demonstrates that these abnormalities were efficiently treated by administration of a P450arom inhibitor, finrozole.

Shortened PET data acquisition protocol for the quantification of 18F-FDG kinetics.

Unlabelled: A modified short dynamic protocol was defined and evaluated to predict kinetic parameters of (18)F-FDG metabolism from a dynamic data acquisition.

Methods: The evaluation included 151 datasets obtained from 60 patients examined with (18)F-FDG and a dynamic data acquisition protocol of 60 min. Standardized uptake values (SUVs) were calculated for the individual time frames, and a 2-compartment model was applied to the data.

Abortion surveillance--United States, 2000.

Problem/condition: CDC began abortion surveillance in 1969 to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions.

Reporting Period Covered: This report summarizes and describes data reported to CDC regarding legal induced abortions obtained in the United States in 2000.

Description Of System: For each year since 1969, CDC has compiled abortion data by state or area of occurrence.

Iterative image reconstruction for clinical PET using ordered subsets, median root prior, and a web-based interface.

Purpose: The development, implementation and validation of simple, flexible and efficient iterative image reconstruction (IIR) methods for their take-up in routine clinical positron emission tomography (PET) static or dynamic studies.

Procedures: The ordered subsets (OS) technique applied for the acceleration of the maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) IIR algorithm is here extended to include the weighted least-squares (WLS), image space reconstruction algorithm (ISRA) and the space alternating generalized EM (SAGE). The median root prior (MRP) has been successfully applied as a Bayesian regularization to control the noise level in the reconstructed images.

[Biologic characterization of soft tissue sarcomes by positron emission tomography (initial results)].

Positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), carbon-11-labeled aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and oxygen-15-labeled water (15O-labeled water) was evaluated for imaging soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Eleven pathologically confirmed STS were evaluated by PET using FDG, AIB and 15O-labeled water. All radiotracers showed an increased activity in viable tumor with a significant differentiation from normal tissue (muscle).

PET-FDG as predictor of therapy response in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of quantitative dynamic FDG PET studies in patients with metastastic colorectal cancer receiving FOLFOX (fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin) chemotherapy.

Methods: The evaluation includes 28 patients with 55 metastases from primary colorectal cancer. Reference for the FDG studies was the clinical response data, according to the WHO classification.

5-bromo-2,3-dihydro-4-methyl-3-nitrothiophene 1,1-dioxide.

The title compound, C(5)H(6)BrNO(4)S, crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2(1)/c. Three weak C-H.O hydrogen bonds dominate the packing of the molecules in the solid.

Performance evaluation of principal component analysis in dynamic FDG-PET studies of recurrent colorectal cancer.

Performance evaluation of principal component analysis (PCA) of dynamic F-18-FDG-PET studies of patients with recurrent colorectal cancer. Principal component images (PCI) of 17 iteratively reconstructed data sets were visually and quantitatively evaluated. The F-18-FDG compartment model parameters were estimated using polynomial regression.

Infant massage programs may assist in decreasing parental perceived stress levels in new parents.

A qualitative study was conducted to determine whether there is a relationship between the perceived stress levels of new parents in interacting with their infant and the parental implementation of infant massage techniques. A sample of four new parents demonstrated decreased perceived stress levels following involvement in a month long infant massage program, indicating an enhanced perception of their individual parenting abilities. The results of the study indicate that infant massage training is an effective tool to be used in assisting parents/caregivers in the acquisition of the parenting role and the development of role related skills.

Abortion surveillance--United States, 1999.

Problem/condition: CDC began abortion surveillance in 1969 to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions and to monitor unintended pregnancy.

Reporting Period Covered: This report summarizes and describes data reported to CDC regarding legal induced abortions obtained in the United States in 1999.

Description Of System: For each year since 1969, CDC has compiled abortion data by state or area of occurrence.

Signaling abnormalities, apoptosis, and reduced proliferation of circulating and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with oral carcinoma.

We have reported earlier that T cells found in the tumor microenvironment of head and neck cancer showed evidence of apoptosis as well as decreased expression of signaling molecules. In this prospective study, spontaneous apoptosis in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and in paired circulating peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was evaluated in 28 patients with oral carcinoma and correlated with zeta-chain expression and anti-CD3 antibody-induced proliferation of the PBL obtained from each patient. In addition, expression of CD3, CD4, and CD8 molecules on TIL and Fas ligand (FasL) on the tumor was studied by immunohistochemistry.

Abortion surveillance--United States, 1998.

Problem/condition: In 1969, CDC began abortion surveillance to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions, to monitor unintended pregnancy, and to assist efforts to identify and reduce preventable causes of morbidity and mortality associated with abortions.

Reporting Period Covered: This report summarizes and reviews information reported to CDC regarding legal induced abortions obtained in the United States in 1998.

Description Of System: For each year since 1969, CDC has compiled abortion data by occurrence.

Effect of sulfated beta-cyclodextrin, a water soluble cycloamylose, on the promotion and/or inhibition of angiogenesis.

Previous studies have reported that sulfated b b-cyclodextrin, a naturally occurring cycloamylose built up from six to eight glucopyranose units, when administered alone promotes angiogenesis, but administered with an angiostatic steroid inhibits angiogenesis in the cick embryo bioassay. In our experiments sulfated b b-cyclodextrin has been shown to possess many properties unrelated to its classical functions in the promotion and inhibition of angiogenesis that were not previously described. We studied the angiogenic and angiostatic properties of b b-cyclodextrin in a subcutaneous plastic sponge model in mice.

The role of quantitative (18)F-FDG PET studies for the differentiation of malignant and benign bone lesions.

Unlabelled: The role of quantitative (18)F-FDG PET studies for the differentiation of benign and malignant bone lesions is still an open question.

Methods: Our evaluation included 83 patients with 37 histologically proven malignancies and 46 benign lesions. Thirty-five of the 46 benign lesions were histologically confirmed.

Inhibition of androgen receptor (AR) function by the reproductive orphan nuclear receptor DAX-1.

DAX-1 (NROB1) is an atypical member of the nuclear receptor family that is predominantly expressed in mammalian reproductive tissues. While a receptor function of DAX-1 remains enigmatic, previous work has indicated that DAX-1 inhibits the activity of the orphan receptor steroidogenic factor 1 and the estrogen receptors (ERs), presumably via direct occupation of the coactivator-binding surface and subsequent recruitment of additional corepressors. In vivo evidence points at a particular role of DAX-1 for the development and maintenance of male reproductive functions.

Assessment of soft tissue lesions suspicious for liposarcoma by F18-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).

Background: F18-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is a promising imaging technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of FDG PET in patients with suspected liposarcomas (LS).

Patients And Methods: Forty-two masses were studied.

The effects of chronic illness on roles and emotions of caregivers.

Approximately one fourth of the population is affected by chrome illness or disability (Schuster and Ashburn, 1992). It has been reported that caregivers of individuals with chronic illness or disability have feelings that were associated with their caregiving role. Olshansky (1962) described and termed these feelings "chronic sorrow.

A phase I study of cranial radiation therapy with concomitant continuous infusion paclitaxel in children with brain tumors.

Background: The prognosis of children with high-grade astrocytomas of the central nervous system is grim and has not been substantially improved by conventional chemoradiotherapy. We performed a multi-institutional phase I study to determine the toxicities and tolerance of concurrent external beam radiation of the brain and a unique dose-schedule of paclitaxel as a radiation sensitizer.

Procedure: Paclitaxel was delivered intravenously as a continuous 24 h/day, 7 days/week infusion during the entire 6-week course of fixed schedule standard radiation therapy.

Paclitaxel for the treatment of progressive or recurrent childhood brain tumors: a pediatric oncology phase II study.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and define the toxicity of paclitaxel given at a dosage of 350 mg/m2 every 3 weeks as a 24-hour continuous infusion to children with recurrent or progressive primary brain tumors.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-three eligible patients, ages 4 months to 19 years, with progressive or recurrent primary brain tumors were treated according to a Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) phase II protocol with paclitaxel (POG 9330). Tumor histologic strata included: astrocytoma (n = 4), malignant glioma (n = 13), medulloblastoma (n = 16), brain stem glioma (n = 15), ependymoma (n = 13), and miscellaneous histologies (n = 12).

Quantitative evaluation of skeletal tumours with dynamic FDG PET: SUV in comparison to Patlak analysis.

This study was carried out to evaluate bone lesions using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and to explore whether dynamic and quantitative PET data may help to differentiate benign lesions from malignant masses. Forty patients with primary bone lesions were studied. The final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology.

Constant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 gene in prostate and the lower urinary tract of estrogen-treated male rats.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (E. C. 1.

Dynamic PET 18F-FDG studies in patients with primary and recurrent soft-tissue sarcomas: impact on diagnosis and correlation with grading.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to evaluate (18)F-FDG PET studies of primary and recurrent sarcomas for diagnosis and correlation with grading.

Methods: The evaluation included 56 patients, 43 with histologically proven malignancies and 13 with benign lesions. Seventeen patients were referred with suspicion on a primary tumor, and the remaining 39 were referred with suspicion on a recurrent tumor.

Microkeratome-assisted posterior keratoplasty.

Microkeratome-assisted posterior keratoplasty is a new surgical technique that may be valuable in treating patients with corneal decompensation secondary to endothelial dysfunction. A hinged anterior stromal flap is fashioned in the host cornea using a microkeratome, and the diseased posterior stroma and endothelium are resected. A complementary donor stromal button is prepared using a microkeratome and an artificial anterior chamber.