Factors determining normal adult height in girls with gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty treated with depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs

Context: Several factors can affect adult height (AH) of patients with gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty (GDPP) treated with depot GnRH analogs. Objective: Our objective was to determine factors influencing AH in patients with GDPP treated with depot GnRH analogs. Patients: A total of 54 patients (45 girls) with GDPP treated with depot GnRH analog who reached AH was included in the study. Design: Univariate and multivariate analyses of the factors potentially associated with AH were performed in all girls with GDPP. In addition, clinical features of the girls who attained target height (TH) range were compared with those who did not. Predicted height using Bayley and Pinneau tables was compared with attained AH. Results: In girls the mean AH was 155.3 +/- 6.9 cm (-1.2 +/- 1 SD) with TH range achieved by 81% of this group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the interval between chronological age at onset of puberty and at the start of GnRH analog therapy, height SD scores (SDSs) at the start and end of therapy, and TH explained 74% of AH variance. The predicted height at interruption of GnRH therapy, obtained from Bayley and Pinneau tables for average bone age, was more accurate than for advanced bone age in both sexes. In boys the mean AH was 170.6 +/- 9.2 cm (-1 +/- 1.3 SDS), whereas TH was achieved by 89% of this group. Conclusions: The major factors determining normal AH in girls with GDPP treated with depot GnRH analogs were shorter interval between the onset of puberty and start of therapy, higher height SDS at the start and end of therapy, and TH. Therefore, prompt depot GnRH analog therapy in properly selected patients with GDPP is critical to obtain normal AH.

Terrorism and the quest for identity

This chapter begins with a definition of terrorism and a brief review of some of the more traditional applications of social psychology theory. The authors then outline a broadly based theory of the self and explore the implications of the theory for the recruitment of terrorists. The final section examines some of the important social norms that facilitate and regulate the behavior of terrorists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)

In vitro schistosomicidal effects of some phloroglucinol derivatives from Dryopteris species against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms

The rhizomes of Dryopteris species have popularly been used as vermifuge in flatworm infections. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro schistosomicidal activity of some phloroglucinol compounds, obtained from the rhizomes of Dryopteris species, against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. All worm pairs were dead after 24 h of incubation with aspidin 25 to 100 mu M (1), flavaspidic acid 50 and 100 mu M (2), methylene-bis-aspidinol 100 mu M (3), and desaspidin 25 to 100 mu M (4). Worms incubated with 1 (25 to 100 mu M) and 2 (50 to 100 mu M) showed decrease motor activity with tegumental alterations, while 3 (100 mu M) and 4 (10 to 100 mu M) showed decrease motor activity without tegumental alterations. Desaspidinol (5) and filicinic acid (6), at the tested concentrations (10 to 100 mu M), did not show activity against adult worms of S. mansoni. Praziquantel (10 mu M), used as positive control, caused death of the parasites and tegumental alterations without separation of worms. In the groups treated with 100 A mu M of compounds 1-4, the viability of the adult worms was similar to the positive control group, in which the worms were dead. Also, both the egg productions and the development of eggs produced by the adult worms were inhibited by the incubation with compounds 1-4 (10 and 100 mu M) in comparison with the negative control (RPMI 1640 medium). It is suggested that the in vitro schistosomicidal effects of phloroglucinols derivatives 1, 2, 3, and 4 may be related to the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation pathway in S. mansoni. The present results confirmed the traditional indications of rhizomes from Dryopteris species, which possess phloroglucinol compounds, in the treatment of tapeworm infections.

Characterization of juvenile and young adult mice following induction of hydrocephalus with kaolin

Hydrocephalus is a common neurological problem in humans, Usually caused by an impairment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow or absorption. A reliable induced model of chronic hydrocephalus in mice would be useful to test hypotheses using genetic mutants. Our goal was to characterize behavioral and histological changes in juvenile and Young adult mice with kaolin (aluminum silicate) -induced hydrocephalus. Seven-day old and 7-8 week old mice received injection of kaolin into the cisterna magna. Behavior was assessed repeatedly. Seven or 14 days following kaolin, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to assess ventricle size. In hydrocephalic mice, body weight was significantly lower than in age-matched saline-injected sham controls and the gait and posture score were impaired. Juvenile mice developed severe ventriculomegaly and had reduced corpus callosum thickness with gross white matter destruction by 14 days. Reactive astroglial change in white matter and cortex and reduced cellular proliferation in the subependymal zone were also apparent. Young adult mice developed only moderate ventricular enlargement without overt white matter destruction, although there was corpus callosum atrophy and mild astroglial reaction in white matter. Glial fibrillary acidic protein content was significantly higher in juvenile and young adult hydrocephalic mice at 7 and 14 days, but myelin basic protein content was not significantly altered. In conclusion, hydrocephalus induced by percutaneous injection of kaolin in juvenile and young adult mice is feasible. The associated periventricular alterations are essentially the same as those reported in rats of comparable ages. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Adult Chronic Chagas` Heart Disease Diagnosis by Molecular and Serological Methods

Chagas` disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic in Latin America. T. cruzi presents heterogeneous populations and comprises two main genetic lineages, named T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II. Diagnosis in the chronic phase is based on conventional serological tests, including indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and diagnosis in the acute phase based on parasitological methods, including hemoculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic procedures of Chagas` disease in adult patients in the chronic phase by using a PCR assay and conventional serological tests, including TESA-blot as the gold standard. Samples were obtained from 240 clinical chronic chagasic patients. The sensitivities, compared to that of TESA-blot, were 70% for PCR using the kinetoplast region, 75% for PCR using the nuclear repetitive region, 99% for IIF, and 95% for ELISA. According to the serological tests results, we recommend that researchers assess the reliability and sensitivity of the commercial kit Chagatest ELISA recombinant, version 3.0 (Chagatest Rec v3.0; Wiener Lab, Rosario, Argentina), due to the lack of sensitivity. Based on our analysis, we concluded that PCR cannot be validated as a conventional diagnostic technique for Chagas` disease. These data have been corroborated by low levels of concordance with serology test results. It is recommended that PCR be used only for alternative diagnostic support. Using the nuclear repetitive region of T. cruzi, PCR could also be applicable for monitoring patients receiving etiologic treatment.