Effect of prostaglandin F2alpha at the time of AI on progesterone levels and pregnancy rate in synchronized Italian Mediterranean buffaloes.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of an intravenous or intramuscular PGF2alpha analogue administration on the day of estrus on progesterone concentration and pregnancy rate in buffaloes undergoing artificial insemination (AI). To this end, two experiments were carried out. The first study was performed on 72 Mediterranean buffaloes synchronized by the Ovsynch-TAI Program. On the day of estrus only animals considered in heat were divided into four groups: Groups IVC and IMC received, respectively, an intravenous or intramuscular injection of cloprostenol (0.524 mg), whereas control Groups IVS and IMS received the same injections of saline. Milk samples were collected daily from each animal to assess progesterone concentration in the whey by RIA method. In addition on alternate days, buffaloes underwent transrectal ultrasound analysis. The second study was carried out on 385 buffaloes synchronized by the Ovsynch-TAI Program. On the day of AI, animals were divided in four groups, as described in experiment 1. Pregnancy rate was evaluated either on day 26 or day 45 and embryonic mortality rate was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and chi2 test. A higher (P<0.05) progesterone concentration was recorded on day 11 (Day 0=estrus day) in Groups IVC and IMC compared to Groups IVS and IMS (351.6+/-129.7 and 355.8+/-112.2 pg ml(-1) vs. 239.8+/-81.1 and 243.6+/-90.5 pg ml(-1), respectively). Furthermore, a larger CL was recorded on the same day in treated vs. control groups (1.25+/-0.15 and 1.27+/-0.17 cm, respectively, in Groups IVC and IMC vs. 1.08+/-0.14 and 1.05+/-0.13 cm in IVS and IMS). In the second study, a higher pregnancy rate was observed in treated (IVC+IMC) vs. control (IVS+IMS) groups (46.7% vs. 30.7%; P<0.01), while no differences were recorded between treated groups. From these data, it can be concluded that either intravenous or intramuscular administration of PGF2alpha at the time of AI can enhance progesterone levels and pregnancy rate in buffaloes.

Renal expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and epidermal growth factor in children with obstructive hydronephrosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The authors studied the potential role of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ-O) in causing progressive renal damage in children through the renal expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA. METHODS: Renal tissues were harvested from 11 children with UPJ-O and from 10 normal kidneys to study the renal expression of EGF and MCP-1 detected by means of in situ hybridization. Five of the patients were found to have a history of urinary tract infection (UTI). RESULTS: Children with UPJ-O had marked reduction of EGF gene expression when compared with controls. Interstitial expression of MCP-1 mRNA was present in all UPJ-O cases. Both EGF and MCP-1 expression did not correlate with age, with differential renal function, and with renal thickness measured through MAG3 renal scan. Children with a history of UTI had a more severe reduction of the renal thickness of the affected kidney compared with those without UTI. MCP-1 expression was higher and EGF more reduced in children with a history of UTI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a potential role of EGF and MCP-1 in the pathogenesis of renal damage and growth failure in UPJ-O, especially in children with UTI. These important functional changes begin early in life, possibly during fetal life.

Radioimmunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-225.28S-F(ab')2 in cutaneous and ocular melanomas: cases of particular clinical interest.

In the attempt to contribute to a correct and early diagnosis of melanoma, this paper critically evaluates, in 40 patients with cutaneous localization and 20 with ocular localization, the results of immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-225.28S-F(ab')2 and the clinical, instrumental and biopsy findings. While the cutaneous melanoma group is mainly composed of patients subjected to surgical exeresis of the lesion before radioimmunoscintigraphy (RIS), the ocular melanoma group is composed of patients with the primary lesion in situ or previously treated with contact radiotherapy. In the cutaneous melanoma group 5 cases presented falsely positive immunoscintigraphic findings, and only 2 falsely negative. In the ocular melanomas, the percentage of false negatives was higher (n = 7). This is probably attributable to the antigenic expressivity, higher in the metastases than in the primary melanomas. The cases of particular interest are discussed in relation to the clinical picture, to the instrumental examinations and to the histological findings. The work made it possible to contribute to a more correct interpretation of the RIS findings in the staging and follow-up of cutaneous and ocular melanomas.

Correlation between bone imaging and the clinical picture in two unsuspected cases of progressive diaphyseal dysplasia (Engelmann's disease).

Progressive diaphyseal dysplasia was incidentally discovered in two patients referred for Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy (one for intense sciatica, the other for the detection of breast cancer metastases). Tracer accumulation in the diaphyses of the lower limbs and the base of the skull was accompanied by bone thickening and patency of the medullary cavity, as demonstrated by radiography, MRI, and bone marrow scanning. Comparison of the clinical pictures with the results of instrumental examinations showed that these were cases of sporadic progressive diaphyseal dysplasia of slight and average gravity, respectively. The differentiation of Ribbing's disease is explained and reference also is made to a finding not mentioned in the literature, namely frontal bone resorption lacunules in one patient.

Primary malignant melanoma arising in an ovarian dermoid cyst: proposed use of radioimmunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-F(ab')2 antimelanoma antibody for staging and follow-up. Case report.

A case of primary amelanotic ovarian malignant melanoma arising in a dermoid cyst is presented. Grossly, inside the cyst, pigmented solid lesions were not detected. Histologically, an area with undeniable malignant microscopic features was revealed and its melanomatous identity was confirmed by positive S-100 protein and melanoma antigen immunoreactivity. Recently, after 21 months from surgery this patient has also undergone radioimmunoscintigraphy (RIS) with 99mTc labelled antimelanomatous antibodies which revealed a possible secondary paracolic localization. Regardless of this evidence, although the patient has always refused chemotherapy and second look surgery for removal of the suspicious area, she is alive 1 year after surgery and now doing well. The authors also report the usefulness of employing the RIS technique in evaluating the metastatic spread in this type of malignancy.