Interaction between DRD2 variation and sound environment on mood and emotion-related brain activity.

Sounds, like music and noise, are capable of reliably affecting individuals' mood and emotions. However, these effects are highly variable across individuals. A putative source of variability is genetic background. Here we explored the interaction between a functional polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2 rs1076560, G>T, previously associated with the relative expression of D2S/L isoforms) and sound environment on mood and emotion-related brain activity. Thirty-eight healthy subjects were genotyped for DRD2 rs1076560 (G/G=26; G/T=12) and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of an implicit emotion-processing task while listening to music or noise. Individual variation in mood induction was assessed before and after the task. Results showed mood improvement after music exposure in DRD2GG subjects and mood deterioration after noise exposure in GT subjects. Moreover, the music, as opposed to noise environment, decreased the striatal activity of GT subjects as well as the prefrontal activity of GG subjects while processing emotional faces. These findings suggest that genetic variability of dopamine receptors affects sound environment modulations of mood and emotion processing.

Determination of ifosfamide by HPLC using on-line sample preparation.

The Authors have developed a novel and easily applicable HPLC method for ifosfamide (IF) determination. This method involves on-line sample processing and its solid-phase extraction by means of an automatic preparator integrated with the chromatographic system. The calibration graph of the method is linear in the concentration range 6-200 microg/ml; minimum detectable concentration is 6 microg/ml. This highly accurate and easily reproducible method was used by the Authors in the treatment of osteosarcoma with slow infusion of ifosfamide.

Correlation between cystatin C and serum creatinine as markers of renal function in patients with neoplasms of the locomotor system.

Creatinine levels and clearance are used to monitor renal function in clinical practice. Cystatin C is produced by most nucleated cells in a consistent manner, uninfluenced by inflammatory processes, sex, age, eating habits or nutritional status. Serum cystatin C concentrations are mainly dependent on glomerular activity and are an endogenous biochemical marker of glomerular filtration. The aim of this study was to test the efficiency of cystatin C assay as an alternative marker of renal function. Statistical analysis of our results showed that cystatin C levels were significantly correlated to creatinine and creatinine clearance levels. However, it is still premature to suppose that cystatin C can replace creatinine in routine tests. Establishing cystatin C levels can be useful in cases in which it is not possible to determine creatinine clearance.

[Determination of carbohydrate trasferrin (CDT) in the legal medical assessment of being fit to drive]. / Il dosaggio della transferrina carboidrato carente (CDT) nella valutazione medico-legale dell'idoneità alla guida.

BACKGROUND: According to the literature carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is thought to be the most sensitive and specific marker of alcohol abuse, but must always be combined with other laboratory tests. Until now the amount of CDT that indicates a state of chronic alcoholism has not been established. Therefore, our aim was to quantify the percentage of CDT that discriminates social drinkers from alcoholics. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out covering a period of four months on patients who came to us after having their driving licenses suspended for drink driving: 100 male and female subjects aged between 21 and 65 years were examined. This population was compared to a control group of 50 subjects matched for age, who consumed a moderate amount of alcohol, and had never had their driving licenses suspended. RESULTS: The percentage of CDT was found by heterogenous enzyme immunoassay that involves column separation and turbidimetry. There was a notable difference in the amount of CDT between the two groups. The ANOVA and Levene tests were used for statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found the percentage amount of CDT that discriminates the two groups, highlighting the important role of this marker of alcohol abuse in a relevant social context.

Urinary excretion of pyridinium cross-links and serum osteocalcin levels in patients with primary high-grade osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary high grade bone tumor, usually occurring in adolescents and children. The aim of the present study was to investigate parameters of bone turnover as urinary excretion of pyridinoline (Pyr), and deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr), serum osteocalcin (OC), and total alkaline phosphatase (AP) in patients with osteosarcoma. Thirty-five patients aged 7-22 (median age 14) with primary high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremity entered the study. A control population of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals was studied. Urinary excretion of Pyr, D-Pyr was measured on fasting urine specimens, corrected for creatine excretion (Ucr), and expressed as pM/microM UCr. At the same time as urine collection, blood samples were taken for measurement of AP and OC. In patients with osteosarcoma the urinary excretion of D-Pyr (74.5 +/- 41) was significantly higher (P = 0.005) than in controls (38.2 +/- 22.5). The serum level of OC was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in patients with osteosarcoma than in controls. Moreover, significantly (P = 0.03) higher excretion of D-Pyr (85.3 +/- 43) was found in patients who relapsed after surgical removal of the tumor and chemotherapeutic treatment compared with those (58.1 +/- 22) who remained continuously free of disease. The present study showed significant abnormalities of urinary excretion of pyridinium crosslinks and serum OC level in patients with osteosarcoma. The relation between urinary excretion of D-Pyr and biological tumor aggressiveness observed in the present study requires further investigation.

Prospective evaluation of high-dose ifosfamide-related nephrotoxicity in young adult patients with recurrent osteosarcoma previously treated with cisplatin, methotrexate and standard-dose ifosfamide.

A prospective evaluation of high-dose ifosfamide (IFO)-related nephrotoxicity in adults and young adults previously treated with cisplatin, methotrexate (MTX) and standard-dose IFO was performed. Eighteen patients (median age 22) with recurrent osteosarcoma were studied: 11 were pretreated with MTX, cisplatin and standard-dose IFO, and seven with MTX and cisplatin. The treatment was comprised of four cycles of high-dose IFO (15 g/m2 over 5 days CI) and mesna at equivalent dose with granulocyte colony stimulating factor support. Renal function was assessed before treatment, after each IFO cycle and after chemotherapy completion. Acute nephrotubular damage was always observed after each IFO cycle with significant changes of renal tubular enzymes N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, alanine aminipeptidase, urinary excretion and reduction of tubular reabsorption of phosphate. The appearance of glycosuria was related to the cumulative dose received. Transient and reversible renal tubular acidosis was observed in three patients. WHO grade I renal toxicity was observed in two patients. After chemotherapy completion, persistent mild glomerular and nephrotubular impairment was observed in one patient who had also received aminoglycoside antibiotics due to febrile neutropenia. Persistent and mild glycosuria was documented in another patient. No significant changes compared to baseline values were observed in the remaining patients. We conclude that a chemotherapy regimen with high-dose IFO in young adults pretreated with MTX, cisplatin and standard-dose IFO is feasible with a mild, usually reversible, nephrotoxicity.