Identification of high-risk patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma based on interphase-FISH.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of four significant aberrations based on our previous studies by array-CGH to develop a prognostic Fluorescence-in situ-hybridisation (FISH) assay for clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC). METHODS: Fluorescence-in situ-hybridisation experiments were performed on 100 ccRCCs (52 metastasised out of 48 non-metastasised). The mean/median follow up of patients was 59/54 months. Commercially available FISH probes were used for each critical chromosomal region (1q21.3, 7q36.3, 9p21.3p24.1 and 20q11.21q13.32). The total number of specific aberrations (TNSA) was calculated for each tumour based on the specific genomic alterations. RESULTS: Total number of specific aberrations was the best predictor of metastasis (area under the curve (AUC)=0.814) compared with single aberrations (AUC: 0.619-0.708) and to 11 different combinations of these 4 aberrations in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Total number of specific aberrations, tumour grade and tumour size were independent predictors of metastasis in the multivariate analysis (P<0.001) for the whole cohort as well as for organ-confined tumours. Total number of specific aberrations and grade could also independently predict cancer-specific mortality (CSM). Total number of specific aberrations demonstrated the highest significance in COX proportional hazard models of overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS). CONCLUSIONS: We identified TNSA as an independent prognostic factor which is associated with metastasis occurrence, CSM, OS, CSS and PFS in patients with ccRCCs.

Influence of Higenamine on Exercise Performance of Recreational Female Athletes: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to determine the ergogenic effects and the safety profile of a one-component higenamine supplement in female recreational athletes. Twelve recreational female basketball players (age 29-41 years, oxygen consumption (VO2max) > 30 ml⋅kg-1⋅min-1, with training > 5 h wk-1) were randomized either to the higenamine group, or to the placebo group for 3 weeks. In order to determine ergogenic effects and safety profile of higenamine administration, we assessed the following variables before and after 3 weeks of supplementation: anthropometric parameters, resting metabolic rate (RMR), exercise testing variables, serum free fatty acids (FFAs), blood pressure, enzyme activity, urea, lipid profile, and complete blood count. There were no differences between groups in anthropometric parameters, including basal metabolic rate (BMR), RMR and body fat [p = 0.706 (Cohen's d 0.223), p = 0.169 (Cohen's d 0.857), and p = 0.223 (Cohen's d 0.750), respectively], FFAs [0.43 ± 0.03 vs. 0.54 ± 0.23, p = 0.206 (Cohen's d 0.540)], neither significant differences in cardiopulmonary parameters after the intervention period. Furthermore, all measured outcome variables in the safety assessment were not significant, with values remaining stable during the intervention period for participants in both groups. This is the first study to document the effects and the safety profile of higenamine-based dietary supplements at a specified dose in female recreational athletes. Our data indicate that 21-day of supplementation with 75 mg higenamine would not result in improving cardiopulmonary exercise fitness and weight loss in female recreational athletes. Moreover, supplementation with 75 mg higenamine is safe and well-tolerated in younger recreational female athletes.

Differential hemispheric asymmetries in depression and anxiety: a reaction-time study.

Several lines of evidence suggest impaired right hemisphere function in depression. In order to further investigate this phenomenon, simple reaction times (RTs) to lateralized visual stimuli were studied in patients with mild unipolar depression, in patients with chronic anxiety, and in medical patients free of psychiatric symptoms. The results showed a marked slowing of RTs to left visual field (right hemisphere) stimuli in depressed patients. Anxious patients showed a trend toward an opposite asymmetry, with slower responses to right field (left hemisphere) stimuli. In the nonpsychiatric group no visual field differences were present. The results are discussed in light of two alternative interpretations: depression may engage the right hemisphere's mechanisms, interfering with its functioning at a premotor level, or it may influence the regulation of performance by arousal and vigilance mechanisms lateralized to the right hemisphere, possibly operating at an earlier sensory stage.

Right hemisphere superiority for programming oculomotion: evidence from simple reaction time experiments.

Simple reaction times (RTs) to lateralized unstructured visual stimuli were measured in normal subjects while they were carrying out concomitant oculomotor tasks. Four tasks were used. In the first task, subjects had to find the correct path in a maze presented at the centre of a screen; in the second task, subjects had to follow a bright dot moved on a screen with variable direction, trajectory and velocity with their eyes; in the third task, the subjects had to follow a bright dot moved back and forth either horizontally or vertically along the same trajectory and at a constant velocity; in the fourth task, the subjects had to monitor the movement of a bright dot moved with variable direction, trajectory and velocity without moving the eyes. In all tasks, with the exception of the third, there was a selective lengthening of RTs mediated by the right hemisphere. It is concluded that the right hemisphere is dominant in programming eye movements.

Effect of copper sulfate on experimental atherosclerosis.

Serum copper concentration increases significantly (p < 0.01) in rats with experimental atherosclerosis compared to a control group. The serum zinc, the zinc, and copper concentration in abdominal aorta and in liver decreases significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Administration of copper sulfate for 100 d in these animals induces a significant increase of serum copper (p < 0.01), decrease of serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and increase of liver copper concentration as compared with the group fed only a high cholesterol diet. In the aorta of these animals the copper concentration increases and edema and lipid infiltration are considerably less than in the group of animals fed only a high lipid diet.

[Different effects of subacute administration of S. Croce oligo-mineral water on colonic vs rectal constipation]. / Effetti differenziati sulla stipsi colica rispetto a quella rettale del trattamento subacuto con acqua oligominerale S. Croce Sponga.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a subacute administration of oligomineral water "S. Croce Sponga" in subjects affected by chronic constipation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospitalized patients (13 females and 4 males) have been classified according to radiologically evaluated transit times if affected by colonic or rectal constipation, and by clinical interview if suffering from chronic colonic constipation due to increased resistance or hypomotility. Treatment consisted in the administration of 1.5 litres/day of S. Croce Sponga oligomineral water for 7 days or a control water of known composition. The study started after seven days of hospital stay. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that S. Croce Sponga oligomineral water was effective in resolving the condition of chronic colonic constipation in almost 80% of the subjects. No effect was observed in subjects with chronic rectal constipation. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with S. Croce Sponga oligomineral water resolved chronic colonic constipation by enhancing velocity of the colonic transit.

[Hemispheric differences of simple reaction times in non-psychotic unipolar depressed patients]. / Differenze emisferiche nei tempi di reazione semplici in pazien ti depressi unipolari non-psicotici.

Simple reaction times to visual stimuli were studied in 8 patients affected by depression and in 8 normal subjects. Regardless of the hand used, the condition of depression produced a specific lengthening of the responses to stimuli located in the left visual field. It is concluded that the right hemisphere plays a major role in modulation of negative emotional behaviour.

Inadequate cortisol synthesis in prophyria cutanea tarda.

Many common clinical features suggest that between corticosuprarenal insufficiency (CSRI) and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) there may be some pathogenic relationships. In order to further understand these relations we have performed the ACTH-depot stimulation test (1 mg, i.m.) in 9 patients (from 13 males) with PCT. In 8 patients cortisolemia was assayed 1, 2, (12) and 24 hours post-stimulation. In all 13 cases the basal eliminations of cortisol metabolite (17-OH-corticosteroids) were under normal limits: 2.88 mg/24 h/g creatinine vs 15 controls with 7.06 mg/24h/g creatinine. After ACTH four cases showed lack of stimulation, considered on the second day for 17-OH-corticosteroids. In one case, after one year of PCT treatment, the early post-stimulation level is only moderately decreased. In one case, the test was normal. In four cases the ACTH stimulation was over-normal, i.e., greater than on the first day, suggesting supraphysiological responses. In this group 2 patients showed unexpectedly low early stimulation slopes on cortisolemia (at 1 and 2 hours) associated with concordant high late stimulation levels. This later phenomenon suggests a functional impaired secretion of cortisol in PCT, which seems to be similar to that of insulinemia after glucose in NIDDM, as a receptor lesion. The lesions of cortisol secretion in PCT could have been made by porphyrin storage, impaired hem-enzyme synthesis (cyt P-450) and as a new and attractive hypothesis, could be due to mitochondrial porphyrin receptor decreased activity.

[Selective interference for the right hemisphere in a task of visual-motor exploration]. / Interferenza selettiva per l'emisfero di destra in un compito di esplorazione visuo-motoria.

Simple reaction times to lateralized visual stimuli were studied in normal subjects while they were carrying out a concomitant task. The concomitant task consisted in the exploration of a visual maze presented in the middle of a screen. Regardless of the hand used, the concomitant task produced a specific lengthening of the responses to stimuli located in the left visual field. It is concluded that the right hemisphere plays a major role in the organization of ocular movements during active exploration of visual environment.