Haematocrit and haemoglobin decrease following image-guided percutaneous core needle biopsies.

AIM: To determine the clinical significance of variation in haematocrit (Ht) and haemoglobin (Hb) values before and after image-guided percutaneous core needle biopsies (PCNBs) and evaluate its clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-centre, retrospective study included all the patients who underwent image-guided PCNBs between November 2012 and September 2018. In total, 105 cases (56 male; 53.3%; mean age 72±8 years) were available for analysis. Biopsies included lesions of the liver, lung, kidney, bone, paravertebral and soft-tissue masses, peritoneal implantations, and retroperitoneal neoplasms. The study's primary outcome was to compare the pre- and post-procedural Ht and Hb values and to evaluate their clinical significance. RESULTS: A significant decrease of the mean Hb and Ht values was detected post-biopsy (12.79±1.85 g/dl versus 12.03±1.72 g/dl and 38.75±4.93% versus 36.49±4.73%; p<0.0001). A decrease in the Ht and/or Hb level was noted in 93/105 (88.6%) and 94/105 (89.5%) of the patients; respectively. Four minor bleeding complications were noted (4/105; 3.8%), which resolved without any further treatment. An >4% decrease in Ht value was noted in 17/105 cases (16.2%) and an Hb decrease of ≥1.5 mg/dl was noted in 10/105 cases (9.5%), all without any haemodynamic compromise. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate post-PCNB decrease in Ht and Hb values compared to baseline should be expected, but should not raise concerns regarding an ongoing bleeding event, if not correlated with haemodynamic and clinical signs of haemorrhage.

17ß-Estradiol/N-acetylcysteine interaction enhances the neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic neurons in the weaver model of dopamine deficiency.

The weaver mouse, is a phenocopy of Parkinson's disease (PD) in which dopaminergic neurons degenerate gradually during development, reaching at P21 a neurodegeneration of 55%. Thus, the weaver mouse constitutes an appropriate in vivo PD model for investigating the effect of neuroprotective agents. In the present study, long-term treatment (from P1 to P21) with 17ß-estradiol (17ß-estradiol) significantly protected the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) of weaver mouse by 54%, as was detected by immunohistochemical experiments, using the specific antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). This dopaminergic neuroprotection is in line with our biochemical results showing that 17ß-estradiol treatment significantly decreased the high lipid peroxidation levels seen in the SN of weaver mouse, indicating high oxidative stress. Interestingly, co-administration of 17ß-estradiol with N-acetylcysteine (NAC, precursor molecule of glutathione (GSH)) further significantly increased the survival of dopaminergic neurons in the SN (by 85%), with a parallel further decrease of lipid peroxidation to normal levels. Our results show the in vivo neuroprotective effect of 17ß-estradiol, which is strongly enhanced by co administration of NAC, indicating a strong synergistic effect of the two drugs. Furthermore, the main mechanism underlying this neuroprotective action seems to be the reversal of the oxidative stress shown by the high peroxidation levels. These results could be of clinical relevance since both drugs are already used separately in the clinic, 17ß-estradiol for treatment of PD and NAC as a mucolytic agent and for the treatment of several disorders.

Pharmacologic characterization of [3H]dopamine and [3H]spiperone binding in mouse cerebellum.

1. [3H]Dopamine and [3H]spiperone binding to cerebellar homogenates was characterized utilizing dopaminergic agonists, antagonists and non-dopaminergic drugs. 2. The [3H]DA binding to low affinity binding sites reveals a heterogeneous population consisting of dopaminergic as well as serotonergic and noradrenergic sites. However, the high affinity binding of [3H]DA reflects dopaminergic sites, although a small contribution of serotonergic and noradrenergic binding sites cannot be excluded. 3. [3H]Spiperone also labels a heterogeneous population of binding sites which, however, are mainly dopaminergic.

Cerebellar and striatal dopamine receptors: effects of reeler and weaver murine mutations.

The presence and the binding characteristics of D1 and D2 receptors were investigated in normal-reeler and normal-weaver mutant mice utilizing [3H]spiperone (D2 antagonist), [3H]SKF 38393 (D1 agonist), and [3H]DA as ligands. Analysis of the binding data showed that in the cerebellum there are two binding components for all [3H]ligands. Comparison of the binding constants from cerebellum and striatum showed that in cerebellum the high affinity-low capacity component has similar affinity with that of striatum. The reeler and weaver mutations affected the binding of all ligands: In reeler, total cerebellar specific binding sites for [3H]spiperone and [3H]SKF 38393 decrease significantly (approximately 50% and approximately 70%, respectively), while those for [3H]DA show a small (approximately 10-15%) but not significant decrease. In weaver, total cerebellar specific binding sites for [3H]spiperone, [3H]SKF 38393, and [3H]DA also decrease significantly (approximately 60%, approximately 70%, and approximately 50%, respectively). In reeler striatum [3H]SKF 38393 binding (Bmax) is significantly decreased (approximately 24%), while [3H]spiperone and [3H]DA binding (Bmax) is not affected. In weaver striatum, [3H]SKF 38393 binding is significantly increased (approximately 40%), while [3H]DA binding (Bmax) decreases significantly (approximately 70%). On the basis of the cytoarchitectural aberrations that characterize the cerebellum of these mutants and some well-established information regarding the dopaminergic system of the cerebellum, the above results indicate that in this region a) D1 receptors are mainly localized on granule cells and b) D2 receptors are localized postsynaptically on granule cells and presynaptically on the DA fibers innervating the cerebellum.

Dopaminergic innervation and binding in the rat cerebellum.

In the present study, we used an antiserum against dopamine (DA), and specific [3H]ligands in order to shed more light on the dopaminergic system of the rat cerebellum. The immunocytochemical approach showed that the entire rat cerebellum is innervated by DA fibers. All cerebellar layers were found to receive a considerable amount of DA afferents but the molecular layer was the most heavily innervated. The analysis of [3H]DA and [3H]spiperone binding showed that in the rat cerebellum there exists DAergic binding with kinetic parameters similar to those reported for the mouse cerebellum. The results of the present study support the existence of a DA system in the rat cerebellum.

Kinetic and pharmacologic characterization of dopamine binding in the mouse cerebellum and the effects of the reeler mutation.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the dopaminergic system in the mouse cerebellum and to determine whether the dyskinesia of the reeler mutant is accompanied by alterations in cerebellar and/or striatal dopamine binding. From the analysis of (3H) dopamine ((3H)DA) and (3H)spiperone ((3H)Sp) binding, the study of the effects of several drugs on this binding, and the comparison of these parameters between the cerebellum and striatum, we conclude that a dopaminergic system exists in the cerebellum with properties common to the striatal system but also with some differences. That is, 1) with (3H)DA as ligand, we find two binding sites in cerebellum with similar Kd to those of striatum but of lower density, 2) with (3H)Sp as ligand we observe two binding sites in cerebellum and one in striatum, and 3) the competition of (3H)DA binding by various drugs shows that among the cerebellar sites, relative to striatum, there is a higher proportion that corresponds to high affinity D3 and D4 (D2 high) binding sites. In cerebellum and striatum of reeler mice, (3H)DA binding increases 125-174% and 14%, respectively.