Differences in body condition of gilts that are maintained from mating to the end of gestation affect mammary development.

The goal of this project was to determine if different body conditions in late gestation that are due to varying body conditions at mating affect mammary development and mammary gene expression of gilts. Gilts that were fed ad libitum in the growing period were selected based on their backfat depths to form 3 groups at mating, namely, low backfat (LBF; 12-15 mm; = 14), medium backfat (MBF; 17-19 mm; = 15), and high backfat (HBF; 22-26 mm; = 16). During gestation, LBF, MBF, and HBF gilts were fed approximately 1.25, 1.43, and 1.63 times maintenance requirements to maintain their differences in body condition. Feed intake was increased by 1 kg in the last 10 d of gestation. Backfat depths of gilts were ultrasonically measured at mating and on d 30, 50, 70, 100, and 109 of gestation. Blood samples were obtained at mating and on d 109 of gestation to measure concentrations of IGF-1, glucose, insulin, estradiol, urea, free fatty acids, leptin, and adiponectin. Gilts were slaughtered on d 110 of gestation to collect mammary glands for compositional analyses. Mammary extraparenchymal tissue weight was lesser in LBF and MBF gilts than in HBF gilts (1,259.3, 1,402.7, and 1,951.5 ± 70.4 g, respectively; < 0.01). The weight of parenchymal tissue was not affected by treatment ( > 0.10), but its composition was altered. Concentrations of DNA and RNA decreased as backfat depth increased ( < 0.05), whereas percent fat and DM increased ( < 0.05). Circulating concentrations of leptin tended to be lower at mating ( < 0.10) and were lower on d 109 of gestation ( < 0.05) in LBF gilts than in HBF gilts. On d 109 of gestation, concentrations of insulin ( < 0.01) and IGF-1 ( < 0.05) were lower in LBF and MBF gilts than in HBF gilts, whereas those of urea were greater ( < 0.05). The mRNA abundance in parenchymal tissue for all genes studied was not affected by treatments ( > 0.10) with the exception of , which had a greater expression level in LBF gilts than in MFB or HBF gilts ( < 0.05). Percent of Ki-67-positive cells, used to assess mammary cell proliferation rate, was greater in HBF gilts than in LBF gilts ( < 0.05). When differences in body conditions of gilts that were present at mating were maintained throughout gestation, it had an impact on mammary development. Extraparenchymal tissue mass was affected and, more importantly, composition of parenchymal tissue was altered, indicating a beneficial effect of gilts being in the thinner treatment groups at mating.

Neuroendoscopic management of hydrocephalus secondary to midline and pineal lesions.

AIM: In patients with space-occupying lesions of the pineal region, increased intracranial pressure is due to direct compression of the sylvian aqueduct. Based on results of the recent literature, neuroendoscopic management of obstructive hydrocephalus, secondary to tumors of the pineal gland, has gained a preeminent role respect to shunting procedures. METHODS: In 14 select cases, hydrocephalus was secondary to midline and pineal lesions. The patient's age ranged from 1 to 56 years (mean 47.3+/-12.5), with a follow-up ranged from 3 months to 5 years after discharge. In 9 cases the endoscopic procedure represented the only surgical treatment. In 5 cases, microsurgical removal of the lesions and/or ventriculo-peritoneal shunts placement were performed, as additional treatment, while adjuvant radiotherapy was utilized in 4 cases; high dose chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation was performed in 3 cases. RESULTS: In our series, obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to midline and pineal lesions, was successful treated by neuroendoscopic approach alone in 9 cases, with an unremarkable course and good outcome, except in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroendoscopic approach affords a minimally invasive way to obtain 4 objectives by one-step surgical approach, such as resolution of obstructive hydrocephalus by endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), cerebrospinal fluid sample to detect tumor markers and to perform cytological analysis, biopsy specimens and tissue diagnosis, associated to absence of shunt-related complications. Therefore, in experienced hands, ETV should be the treatment of first choice, in cases of hydrocephalus secondary to lesions of the pineal gland.

High incidence of other neoplasms in patients with low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma is an uncommon tumour for which a close association with chronic Helicobacter pylori infection has been suggested. However, given the rarity of MALT lymphoma of the stomach despite the high prevalence of H. pylori infection, it seems plausible that genetic host factors might play a fundamental role in gastric lymphomagenesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 83 patients with low-grade gastric MALT, all of whom resided in a geographic area (southern Switzerland and northern Italy) where the incidence of gastric tumours appears to be uncommonly high. RESULTS: One or more additional cancers were observed in 17 of 83 patients (20%, 95% CI 12% to 31%) for a total of 23 tumours. Of these, 5 were diagnosed prior to, 12 concomitantly with, and 7 after the gastric MALT lymphoma. Eleven patients had a single additional solid tumour (13%, 95% CI 7% to 22%); 3 patients had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and one had Hodgkin's disease. Multiple additional cancers were present in 3 cases. Nine of 83 patients have died and 8 of them of a second cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Unexpectedly an extraordinarily large number of patients with other malignancies was observed in this series. The reasons for this finding are still unknown, but genetic alterations are speculated to play an important role.

Primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a population-based registry.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) appears to have increased worldwide in recent years, and this seems to be confirmed by large-sample population studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We derived our data from the Lombardy Cancer Registry, which provides the incidence of cancer in the province of Varese, Northern Italy. From 1978 to 1987 we identified 3261 cases of gastric neoplasms, 119 of which were gastric NHL: 32 (1.87%) from 1978 to 1982, and 87 (5.32%) from 1983 to 1987. The difference in the age and sex standardized incidence trend between these two time periods was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The overall survival rate of the 112 evaluable patients was 54% at 5 years and 45% at 10 years. A multivariate analysis was performed. Age (p < 0.0005), clinical stage (p < 0.04) and therapy (p < 0.0005) were found to be significant prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study stresses the utility of prospective randomized clinical trials that could indicate the optimal management of patients with primary gastric lymphoma.