Evaluation of immunogenicity and reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but there are limited data on COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women when administered according to the 12-week-interval dosing schedule recommended in the UK. METHODS: This was a cohort study of pregnant women receiving COVID-19 vaccination between April and September 2021. The outcomes were immunogenicity and reactogenicity after COVID-19 vaccination. Pregnant women were recruited by phone, e-mail and/or text and were vaccinated according to vaccine availability at their local vaccination center. For immunogenicity assessment, blood samples were taken at specific timepoints after each dose to evaluate nucleocapsid protein (N) and spike protein (S) antibody titers. The comparator group comprised non-pregnant female healthcare workers in the same age group who were vaccinated as part of the national immunization program in a contemporaneous longitudinal cohort study. Longitudinal changes in serum antibody titers and association with pregnancy status were assessed using a two-step regression approach. Reactogenicity assessment in pregnant women was undertaken using an online questionnaire. The comparator group comprised non-pregnant women aged 18-49 years who had received two vaccine doses in primary care. The association of pregnancy status with reactogenicity was assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 67 pregnant women, of whom 66 had received a mRNA vaccine, and 79 non-pregnant women, of whom 50 had received a mRNA vaccine, were included in the immunogenicity study. Most (61.2%) pregnant women received their first vaccine dose in the third trimester, while 3.0% received it in the first trimester and 35.8% in the second trimester. SARS-CoV-2 S-antibody geometric mean concentrations after mRNA vaccination were not significantly different at 2-6 weeks after the first dose but were significantly lower at 2-6 weeks after the second dose in infection-naïve pregnant compared with non-pregnant women. In pregnant women, prior infection was associated with higher antibody levels at 2-6 weeks after the second vaccine dose. Reactogenicity analysis included 108 pregnant women and 116 non-pregnant women. After the first dose, tiredness and chills were reported less commonly in pregnant compared with non-pregnant women (P = 0.043 and P = 0.029, respectively). After the second dose, feeling generally unwell was reported less commonly (P = 0.046) in pregnant compared with non-pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Using an extended 12-week interval between vaccine doses, antibody responses after two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were found to be lower in pregnant compared with non-pregnant women. Strong antibody responses were achieved after one dose in previously infected women, regardless of pregnancy status. Pregnant women reported fewer adverse events after both the first and second dose of vaccine. These findings should now be addressed in larger controlled studies. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Different Concentrations of Diclofenac Sodium Phonophoresis (1.16% vs 2.32%) in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: a Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The objective of the present study is to compare the efficacy of two different concentrations of diclofenac sodium phonophoresis (DSPH) (1.16% vs 2.32%) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). MATERIAL AND METHODS A randomized, double-blind, controlled design was applied. Ninety patients (mean age± SD, 59.98 ± 8.89 years) who had Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades II to III knee OA were randomly allocated into three groups; 1.16% DSPH, 2.32% DSPH, TUS (30 in each group). Each patient was treated five sessions per week for two weeks. A 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) for usual pain and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were evaluated before and after treatment in all groups. RESULTS The VAS pain and WOMAC scores were significantly improved after treatment in all groups (p < 0.05). The 2.32% DSPH showed more significant effects than the 1.16% DSPH, both in improving WOMAC- pain and physical function scores (p = 0.020, p = 0.008) and reducing the VAS pain measure, although it did not reach the level of significance (p = 0.077). The 2.32% DSPH was superior to the TUS, both in reducing the VAS pain measure (p < 0.001) and in improving WOMAC-pain, stiffness, physical function and total scores (p = 0.022, p = 0.016, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively). 1.16% DSPH significantly reduced stiffness and physical function scores compared with TUS (p = 0.042, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS DSPH and TUS are effective treatments for knee OA. Our results indicated that 2.32% DSPH produces additional benefits to functional improvement and pain reduction compared with 1.16% DSPH in K-L grades II to III knee OA. Key words: diclofenac sodium, knee osteoarthritis, phonophoresis, therapeutic ultrasound, topical formulation.

Workaholism: are physicians at risk?

BACKGROUND: Work addiction (WA), often called 'workaholism', is a relatively recent concept that has not yet been clearly defined. Ongoing studies have found prevalence rates that are highly variable due to the diversity of the models used and the populations studied. AIMS: To assess the characteristics of WA among hospital medical staff. METHODS: All physicians practising at a French university hospital were invited to participate in a survey based on two questionnaires: the Work Addiction Risk Test (WART) for WA and the Job Contents Questionnaire (JCQ) to assess psychosocial constraints at work. RESULTS: There were 444 responding physicians. The response rate was 45%. Thirteen per cent of respondents were considered to be highly work addicted and a further 35% were considered mildly work addicted. Professors had the highest average WART score, but neither age nor sex was associated with WA. Furthermore, all 3D scores obtained using the JCQ correlated with the WART score; the highest correlation coefficient being obtained between the WART score and the job demands score, indicating that workaholics experienced high job demands. CONCLUSIONS: WA especially affects professors, who have the highest status amongst doctors in the hospital hierarchy. This study highlights the importance of constraints and workload, which are consistent with individual vulnerability factors. These factors may help identify ways of preventing and managing this type of addiction, through improvement of working conditions and organizational structures.

Cross-education of muscle strength: cross-training effects are not confined to untrained contralateral homologous muscle.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on dominant wrist flexors causes an increase in the muscle strength of the contralateral wrist extensors. Twenty-three healthy, young, adult men were included in this prospective, double-blind, controlled study. Participants were randomly allocated to the EMS group or Control group. Electrodes were placed over the flexor aspect of the right forearm in both groups. In the EMS group, passive wrist extension and (EMS) that caused powerful muscle contraction were simultaneously applied. In the Control group, a conventional mode of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was applied without causing any contraction. A group effect (P=0.0001) and group-by-time interaction were found (P=0.0001) for both the wrist flexor and extensor muscles, but not group-by-time-by-arm interactions. This implies that the effect of the interventions was similar in both arms, but that the response was significantly larger in the EMS than in the Control group. The results of the current study suggest that cross-education is not confined to the untrained contralateral wrist flexors and that the strength increase may also be observed in the contralateral wrist extensors.

Neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the frontal cortex in rats: persisting effects on locomotor activity, learning and nicotine self-administration.

Dopaminergic innervation of the frontal cortex in adults is important for a variety of cognitive functions and behavioral control. However, the role of frontal cortical dopaminergic innervation for neurobehavioral development has received little attention. In the current study, rats were given dopaminergic lesions in the frontal cortex with local micro-infusions of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) at 1 week of age. The long-term behavioral effects of neonatal frontal cortical 6-OHDA lesions were assessed in a series of tests of locomotor activity, spatial learning and memory, and i.v. nicotine self-administration. In addition, neurochemical indices were assessed with tissue homogenization and HPLC in the frontal cortex, striatum, and nucleus accumbens of neonatal and adult rats after neonatal 6-OHDA lesions. In neonatal rats, frontal 6-OHDA lesions as intended caused a significant reduction in frontal cortical dopamine without effects on frontal cortical 5-HT and norepinephrine. The frontal cortical dopamine depletion increased 5-HT and norepinephrine levels in the nucleus accumbens. Locomotor activity assessment during adulthood in the figure-8 maze showed that lesioned male rats were hyperactive relative to sham-lesioned males. Locomotor activity of female rats was not significantly affected by the neonatal frontal 6-OHDA lesion. Learning and memory in the radial-arm maze was also affected by neonatal frontal 6-OHDA lesions. There was a general trend toward impaired performance in early maze acquisition and a paradoxical improvement at the end of cognitive testing. Nicotine self-administration showed significant lesion x sex interactions. The sex difference in nicotine self-administration with females self-administering significantly more nicotine than males was reversed by neonatal 6-OHDA frontal cortical lesions. Neurochemical studies in adult rats showed that frontal cortical dopamine and DOPAC levels significantly correlated with nicotine self-administration in the 6-OHDA-lesioned animals but not in the controls. Frontal cortical 5-HT and 5HIAA showed inverse correlations with nicotine self-administration in the 6-OHDA-lesioned animals but not in the controls. These results show that interfering with normal dopamine innervation of the frontal cortex during early postnatal development has persisting behavioral effects, which are sex-specific.

Intrathecal Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Hematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy in Neurological Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Cellular transplantation is a promising treatment strategy for neurological diseases. OBJECTIVE: To report the results of intrathecal hematopoietic stem cell therapy in different neurological diseases in the past 6 years in a single center. METHODS: From October 2011 to September 2018, 220 patients with various neurological diseases were transplanted intrathecally by their bone marrow stem cells. To have a longer follow up, we only reported the first 80 patients, transplanted up to July 2015-10 patients had spinal cord injuries and paralysis, 12 had advanced Parkinson's disease, 28 had cerebral palsy, 7 had hypoxic brain damage, 2 had autism, 4 had multiple sclerosis, 5 had progressive cerebellar atrophy, and 12 had other neurological diseases. The patients were admitted to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. On the first day, 50-200 (median 100) mL bone marrow was aspirated from the patients' posterior iliac crests, mixed with 120 mL culture media (RPMI), and 12 mL heparin. The samples were then transferred to immunology lab in cold box. Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were separated by a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient, washed, and suspended in ringers. Cell viability was assessed with trypan blue viability test. Transplantation was performed 3-4 hours after bone marrow collection. 5-10 mL of the cerebrospinal fluids were aspirated and about 20 mL MNCs (containing stem cells) in ringers were injected intrathecally (IT). The patients were laid down on their back for 4-5 hours. The median number of MNCs was 4×107 (range 1-450×107). The median viability of the cells was 90% (range 60%-98%). The patients received intravenous ceftriaxone every 12 hours and were discharged from the hospital few days after autologous stem cell therapy. RESULTS: We noted clinical improvements in 9 of 12 patients with Parkinson's disease, 20 of 28 patients with cerebral palsy, 6 of 7 patients with hypoxic brain damage, 2 of 4 patients with multiple sclerosis, and 4 of 5 patients with cerebellar atrophy. The improvements were noted after 2-4 weeks of cell therapy. There were no improvements in patients with spinal cord injury and complete paralysis and those with autism. There were variable improvements in other patients treated. CONCLUSION: Most patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, hypoxic brain damage, progressive cerebellar atrophy, and kernicterus neuropathy reported clinical effects of this safe intervention resulting in better functioning and an increased quality of life.

Demographic parameters of wrinkling aphid of pistachio leaf, Forda hirsuta Mordv. (Hem.:Pemphigidae) insitu of Rafsanjan's orchards.

Wrinkling aphid of pistachio leaf, Forda hirsuta Mordv. (Hem.:Pemphigidae) is one of the pests of pistachio trees. This aphid caused the shrinkage, thickening, and changing the color of the pistachio leaves. Since insect feeds from leave edges, the thick and rolled upward wrinkles were formed, which its green color turned into red. Therefore, its economical damages are out of direct feeding from plant extraction, twisting pistachio leaves, and the decrease of photosynthesis. In this research two orchards and 10 trees that each of them were selected in Rafsanjan region and 58 fundatrix galls, 120 nymphal galls were marked and the demographic parameters for apterus parthenogenesis female of this aphid were calculated via daily observations. The results indicated that intrinsic rates of increase (r) for 1, 2 and 3 generations were 0.01, 0.0638 and 0.0575 femal/femal/days respectively, Doubling time (DT) were 69.31, 10.52 and 12.04 days, respectively, net fecundity rates were 1.71, 11.5 and 7.37 femal/femal/days, respectively, Net fertility rates were 1.11, 8.87 and 5.01 days, respectively, and mean generation times (Tc) were calculated to be 31.5, 32.2 and 31.87 days, respectively. Other reproductive parameters such as gross hatch rate, gross fecundity rate, gross fertility rate, mean age gross fecundity and fertility, mean age net fecundity and fertility, mean age hatch, finite rate of increase (lambda), intrinsic birth rate (b) intrinsic death rate (d) and daily reproductive rate were also calculated. The results revealed that population parameters especially r in the first and second generations were lowest and highest, respectively and mean longevity of fundatrix was 30 days and the born nymphs made separate galls in the edge of pistachio leaves.

Long-term characterization of the Flinders Sensitive Line rodent model of human depression: Behavioral and PET evidence of a dysfunctional entorhinal cortex.

The etiology of depression is unknown but has been associated with dysregulation of neuronal activity at numerous loci on the limbic-cortical circuitry. The Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) is a validated rodent model of human depression with spontaneously emerging behavioral and physiological phenotype, however, the durability and robustness of the phenotypes have not been described. The objective of the current study was to evaluate longitudinal dynamics of the depressive-like symptoms in this animal model. FSL and control rats of both genders were assessed over 8 months, characterizing their performance at different time points on motor, sensorimotor and complex learning/memory based tasks. Changes over time in physiological parameters, such as corticosterone and blood glucose levels, were monitored. Regional glucose metabolism, used as a marker of neuronal activity, was assessed at different time points using F18-FDG Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Results show that certain deficits at 2-3 months--on tests such as the Elevated Plus Maze, Object Recognition, and the Forced Swim Test--were transitory and the phenotype was no longer present when re-testing at 6-7 months of age. However, a stable impairment was detected on a learning and memory task, particularly indicating dysfunction in retention of spatial information. Furthermore, at multiple time points, the PET scan indicated a significate bilateral, hypo-metabolism in the temporal lobes in the FSL rats compared to healthy controls. The data suggests possible alterations of entorhinal cortex metabolism concomitant with specific behavioral changes and supports the importance of understanding the dynamics and the time and gender dependence of the phenotypes present.

[Five-year survival of Ile-de-France cancer patients diagnosed in 1994]. / Survie à cinq ans des patients ayant eu un diagnostic de cancer en 1994 en Ile-de-France.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate survival at 5 years by localization, sex and stage of the patients who presented a new cancer in 1994 in the Ile-de-France area. METHODS: A cohort study began in 1994 by an exhaustive collection of the incidental cancers notified in the Ile-de-France area at the health insurance (27,080 patients). A stratified random sample based on tumor localization was followed at 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The analysis of the observed survival was carried out according to Kaplan-Meier method. Relative survival was calculated according to Ederer II method. RESULTS: The follow-up sample concerned 4,166 patients. For all cancers, relative survival at 5 years was 65% for the women and 51% for the men. Relative survival rate at 5 years was 82% for the women with a breast cancer (98% for the patients in stage I) and 66% for those with a cancer of the cervix. Relative survival at 5 years for colonic cancer was 67% for men and 54% for women. For lung cancer, the relative survival rate fell from 47% for patients in stage I to 5% for those in stage IV. CONCLUSION: Our study produces population-based survival data for a entire geographical area covering 20% of the French population. Survival improves with earlier diagnosis but depends also on quality of care and availability of care: access to medical care can be a favouring factor. While in terms of incidence the situation in the Ile-de-France area is close to the national situation, survival at 5 years for a set of tumors appears to be better in this area than the nationwide figures. Besides providing information useful to determine mortality and incidence, the health insurance data offer additional insight to cancer epidemiology and contribute to better knowledge of this disease.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation after failed autologous transplant for lymphoma using TLI and anti-thymocyte globulin conditioning.

We describe 47 patients with lymphoma and failed prior autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) who received TLI-ATG (anti-thymocyte globulin) conditioning followed by allogeneic HCT. Thirty-two patients had non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n=19), T-cell NHL (n=6), mantle cell lymphoma (n=4) or other B-cell subtypes (n=3)), and 15 had Hodgkin lymphoma. The median follow-up was 4.9 (range, 2.1-11.9) years. The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute GvHD at day +100 was 12%, and the cumulative incidence of extensive chronic GvHD at 1 year was 36%. The 3-year cumulative incidences of overall survival (OS), PFS and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were 81%, 44% and 7%, respectively. Fifteen patients died (relapse, n=10; NRM, n=5). Among the 25 patients with relapse after allogeneic HCT, 11 (44%) achieved durable (>1 year) CRs following donor lymphocyte infusion or chemoradiotherapy. The majority of surviving patients (75%; n=24) were able to discontinue all immunosuppression. For patients with relapsed lymphoma after autologous HCT, allogeneic HCT using TLI-ATG conditioning is a well-tolerated, predominantly outpatient therapy with low NRM (7% at 3 years), a low incidence of GvHD, durable disease control and excellent OS (81% at 3 years).

Role of beta-endorphin in the control of body temperature in the rabbit.

There is evidence of release of the opioid peptide beta-endorphin (beta-E) in the hypothalamus during development of fever and stress-induced hyperthermia. In the unanesthetized rabbit, microinjection of beta-E in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus (POAH) results in peripheral vasoconstriction, inhibition of evaporative heat loss, and a prolonged elevation of body temperature. These reactions are magnified with increases in ambient temperature. Injections of beta-E nearly abolish vasodilation to back heating and also postural enhancement of heat dissipation ( sprawling , limb extension) in a hot environment. beta-E has also been found to reduce the thermal sensitivity of single POAH neurons to ambient heating. However, POAH beta-E injections do not alter metabolic rate at ambient temperatures from 2 to 27 degrees C, and to this extent beta-E-induced hyperthermia is distinct from fever. It is suggested that beta-E reduces sensitivity of POAH neurons to high ambient temperature and that this reduction leads to increased peripheral vasoconstriction, inhibition of evaporative heat loss, and modification of behavioral thermoregulation resulting in a regulated-type elevation in body temperature. A general neural model is proposed to explain the thermoregulatory effects of beta-E in the rabbit.

Cognitive effects of nicotine.

Nicotine and other nicotinic agonists have been found to improve performance on attention and memory tasks. Clinical studies using nicotine skin patches have demonstrated the efficacy of nicotine in treating cognitive impairments associated with Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Experimental animal studies have demonstrated the persistence of nicotine-induced working memory improvement with chronic exposure, in addition to the efficacy of a variety of nicotinic agonists. Mechanistic studies have found that alpha7 and alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus are critical for nicotinic involvement in cognitive function. Clinical and experimental animal studies provide mutually supporting information for the development of novel nicotinic therapies for cognitive dysfunction.

Genetic animal models of depression and ethanol preference provide support for cholinergic and serotonergic involvement in depression and alcoholism.

The present article summarizes some comparative studies of the Fawn-Hooded (FH) rat, a potential animal model of ethanol preference, and the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat, a potential animal model of depression. Both FH and FSL rats exhibit high degrees of immobility in the forced swim test and have difficulty learning a two-way active avoidance task. However, there were no differences between the FH and FSL rats in the elevated plus maze. Studies of ethanol preference indicated high rates of ethanol intake (greater than 4 g/kg) and preference (greater than 50%) in the FH rats, but low rates of ethanol intake (less than 1.1 g/kg) and preference (less than 20%) in FSL rats. It is concluded that the FSL rats exhibit behaviors consistent with their being an animal model of depression, whereas the FH rats exhibit features consistent with their being an animal model of both depression and alcoholism. Psychopharmacological challenges indicated that both FSL and FH rats were more sensitive to the hypothermic effects of oxotremorine, a muscarinic agonist. However, FSL rats were also more sensitive to serotonergic agonists, and some of the present results and other investigators have reported serotonergic subsensitivity in the FH rats. Thus, FSL rats exhibit both cholinergic and serotonergic supersensitivity, whereas FH rats exhibit cholinergic supersensitivity but normal or reduced serotonergic sensitivity. Progeny from a genetic cross between FH and FSL rats exhibit cholinergic supersensitivity and have high ethanol preference scores. These data are consistent with genetic models suggesting that ethanol preference may be influenced by dominant genes, whereas cholinergic sensitivity may be influenced by recessive genes.

Nicotinic treatment for cognitive dysfunction.

Nicotinic medications may provide beneficial therapeutic treatment for cognitive dysfunction such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For development of nicotinic treatments we are fortunate to have a well characterized lead compound, nicotine. Transdermal nicotine patches offer a way to deliver measured doses of nicotine in a considerably safer fashion than the more traditional means of administration, tobacco smoking. We have found that transdermal nicotine significantly improves attentional function in people with Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia or ADHD as well as normal nonsmoking adults. To follow-up on this proof of principal that nicotinic treatment of cognitive dysfunction holds promise, it is important to use animal models to determine the critical neurobehavioral bases for nicotinic involvement in cognitive function so that more selective nicotinic analogues that improve cognitive function with fewer side effects can be developed. We have found with local infusion in rat studies that the hippocampus and amygdala are important substrates for nicotinic effects on working memory function. Both alpha7 and alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptors are involved in working memory. Nicotinic interactions with dopaminergic and glutaminergic systems are also important in the basis of cognitive function. Studies of the neural nicotinic mechanisms underlying cognitive function are key for opening avenues for development of safe and effective nicotinic treatments for cognitive dysfunction.

Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in a proposed animal model of depression with genetic muscarinic supersensitivity.

Rats from the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) and Flinders Resistant Line (FRL), which have been bred for differences in sensitivity to cholinergic agonists, were killed by decapitation under quiet, nonstressful conditions and the concentrations of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in various brain regions, the concentrations of CRF receptors in the anterior pituitary, and plasma ACTH and corticosterone concentrations were determined. A first study revealed that the cholinergically hypersensitive FSL rats exhibited lower concentrations of CRF in the median eminence, locus ceruleus, and prefrontal cortex, but no such changes in some 13 other brain regions. In this first study, the FSL rats had significantly lower plasma ACTH concentrations. However, there were no differences in plasma corticosterone concentrations between the two groups. A second study confirmed the results of the first study and revealed that the density of anterior pituitary CRF receptor binding sites was elevated in the FSL rats. The observed pattern of alterations in these measures of HPA axis activity suggest that the cholinergically supersensitive FSL rats may possess diminished HPA activity.

Radiotherapy alone in breast cancer. Analysis of tumor and lymph node radiation doses and treatment-related complications. The experience of the Gustave-Roussy Institute and the Princess Margaret Hospital.

This retrospective analysis was conducted on breast cancer patients treated by radiotherapy alone at The Princess Margaret Hospital and at the Institut Gustave-Roussy. These patients had either operable tumors, but were unfit for general anesthesia, or had inoperable tumors due to local contraindications to surgery. Previous results showed that a radiation dose increase of 15 Gy can decrease the relative risk of tumor or lymph node recurrence twofold. In this third report, the same data were analyzed to determine the treatment-related complication rates and to correlate these to the radiation dose levels. Overall results were analyzed on 453 patients, but detailed analyses on complications were conducted on 372 patients not developing local recurrence in the first 6 months of follow-up. Each complication was graded on a 3-level previously defined scale. Most frequent complications were skin changes of different degrees, which were usually asymptomatic. More disabling complications were arm edema, impaired shoulder mobility, rib fractures and brachial plexopathy. The incidence of disabling complications was low. The only factor significantly increasing the risk of complications was the radiation dose level to the tumor and axilla. Technical factors such as overlapping fields should also be taken into account. As the more effective control of tumor and lymph nodes obtained in patients treated with higher radiation doses is counterbalanced by an increase in the complication rate, the dose to be delivered for each patient should be carefully chosen according to individual risk factors.

Behavioral differences between two inbred strains of Fawn-Hooded rat: a model of serotonin dysfunction.

The Fawn-Hooded rat (FH) strain has attracted the attention of some psychopharmacologists because of reports of its exaggerated immobility in the swim test, hypercortisolemia, excessive voluntary intake of alcohol, platelet and central serotonin abnormalities and subsensitivity to serotonergic agonists. However, there appears to be some controversy over several behavioral and physiological characteristics of these rats. The present paper proposes that the lack of reproducible findings can be traced to there being several distinct inbred strains of FH rats. Of the two compared in this communication, the FH/Wjd strain is more immobile in the forced swim test, spends more time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze, and drinks more saccharin and alcohol voluntarily than the FH/Har (Iowa Reactive) strain. Future workers are cautioned to report the source of their FH rats.