We investigated the possibility that norepinephrine from the human ovary is released after nerve stimulation and that this neurotransmitter is coupled to a steroidogenic response. Biologically significant levels of both norepinephrine and dopamine were found in human ovarian biopsies. [3H]norepinephrine incorporated in vitro was readily released by electrical stimulation in a Ca2+-dependent process. Ovarian membrane preparations exhibited specific binding sites for the beta-adrenergic antagonist [3H]dihydroalprenolol. Displacement of [3H]dihydroalprenolol with zinterol (a specific beta2-agonist) indicated that 72% of these sites were type beta2-receptors. beta-receptors were also present on granulosa cells. Stimulation of granulosa cells with luteinizing hormone or the beta-agonist isoproterenol increased the release of progesterone after 4 d in culture. These results suggest that the sympathetic nerves present in human ovary are coupled to beta-adrenergic receptors present in endocrine cells and, as in nonprimate mammals, appear to participate in the regulation of ovarian function.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. The cancer incidence rate in Chile is 133.7/100,000 inhabitants and it is the second cause of death, after cardiovascular diseases. Most of the antineoplastic drugs are metabolized to be detoxified, and some of them to be activated. Genetic polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzymes can induce deep changes in enzyme activity, leading to individual variability in drug efficacy and/or toxicity. The present research describes the presence of genetic polymorphisms in the Chilean population, which might be useful in public health programs for personalized treatment of cancer, and compares these frequencies with those reported for Asian and Caucasian populations, as a contribution to the evaluation of ethnic differences in the response to chemotherapy. We analyzed 23 polymorphisms in a group of 253 unrelated Chilean volunteers from the general population. The results showed that CYP2A6*2, CYP2A6*3, CYP2D6*3, CYP2C19*3, and CYP3A4*17 variant alleles are virtually absent in Chileans. CYP1A1*2A allele frequency (0.37) is similar to that of Caucasians and higher than that reported for Japanese people. Allele frequencies for CYP3A5*3(0.76) and CYP2C9*3(0.04) are similar to those observed in Japanese people. CYP1A1*2C(0.32), CYP1A2*1F(0.77), CYP3A4*1B(0.06), CYP2D6*2(0.41), and MTHFR T(0.52) allele frequencies are higher than the observed either in Caucasian or in Japanese populations. Conversely, CYP2C19*2 allelic frequency (0.12), and genotype frequencies for GSTT1 null (0.11) and GSTM1 null (0.36) are lower than those observed in both populations. Finally, allele frequencies for CYP2A6*4(0.04), CYP2C8*3(0.06), CYP2C9*2(0.06), CYP2D6*4(0.12), CYP2E1*5B(0.14), CYP2E1*6(0.19), and UGT2B7*2(0.40) are intermediate in relation to those described in Caucasian and in Japanese populations, as expected according to the ethnic origin of the Chilean population. In conclusion, our findings support the idea that ethnic variability must be considered in the pharmacogenomic assessment of cancer pharmacotherapy, especially in mixed populations and for drugs with a narrow safety range.

NGF promotes ovarian angiogenesis by enhancing the synthesis and secretion of VEGF from hGCs via a trkA- and ERK2-dependent mechanism.

Objective  To assess the incidence and type of laparoscopic complications. Design  A series of 1649 operative laparoscopies were reviewed in a retrospective study of patient records. Setting  A tertiary care university hospital. Interventions  Operative laparoscopy including minor procedures (minimal adhesiolysis, destruction of minimal endometriosis foci, ovarian biopsy, ovarian puncture, tubal sterilization); major laparoscopic surgery (extended adhesiolysis, tuboplasties, uterine suspension, treatment for ectopic pregnancy, salpingitis, ovarian cyst, moderate and severe endometriosis), and advanced laparoscopic surgery (hysterectomy, myomectomy, bladder neck suspension). Results  There was one major vascular complication, two intestinal injuries, one anaesthesiological complication and two urinary tract injuries. In addition there were two minor and five postoperative complications. The overall complication rate was 13/1649 (0.8%). The major complication rate was 6/1649 (0.36%). Conclusions  This review has been useful in helping surgeons to reduce the risk of injuries and to inform patients about possible complications. These rates were similar to those that have been previously reported.

Background. Ovarian dysplasia has been defined by histologic1,2 and morphometric studies3,4 focusing on architectural and nuclear profile changes. A new technique is used to enhance the accuracy of this diagnosis by a quantitative evaluation of the nuclear texture that represents the nuclear chromatin pattern on which conventional diagnoses of malignancy are usually made. Methods. Histologic sections from 35 ovaries classified as malignant (12), dysplastic (12), and normal (11) were evaluated by tracing boundaries of nuclear profiles and measuring “textons” (texture primitives) with a histogram analysis of three zones of gray level densities (called for simplification white, gray, and dark). The average combined area was tabulated for specimens with the same diagnosis, and linear regression plots compared the texton area with total nuclear area. Results. The dimensions of textons originally hidden inside the chromatin and revealed by histograms were found to be closely clustered in normal epithelium, and increasingly dissociated from the containing nucleus as the lesion progressed from dysplastic to malignant. The statistical multivariate analysis including nine parameters correctly classified the three diagnostic categories as normal, dysplastic, and malignant. Conclusions. Computerized image analysis of nuclear texture adds accuracy to the recently elaborated morphometric methods to define ovarian dysplasia, a potential precursor of ovarian carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The tumorigenesis of ovarian carcinoma is poorly understood. The authors studied morphologic features and immunohistochemical expression patterns of neoplasia‐associated markers in prophylactically removed ovaries, normal ovaries, and papillary serous ovarian carcinomas to identify possible preneoplastic changes in ovarian surface epithelium. METHODS Morphologic features and immunohistochemical expression patterns of CA‐125, Ki‐67, p53, E‐cadherin, and Bcl‐2 were evaluated in 21 normal ovaries, 31 ovaries that were removed prophylactically for increased carcinoma risk, and 7 ovarian papillary serous carcinomas. Representative slides from formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue blocks were submitted to immunohistochemical staining and were evaluated independently by three gynecologic pathologists. For statistical analyses, Fisher exact tests, multivariate analyses, Spearman rank correlation coefficients, Wald statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Mann–Whitney tests were used. Immunohistochemical staining results were correlated with morphologic findings. RESULTS The authors found progressive increases in reactivity with the lowest expression in normal ovarian epithelium, stronger expression in epithelium from prophylactically removed ovaries, and the highest expression in carcinomas for Ki‐67 and p53. A similar trend was observed for CA‐125. Positivity for Ki‐67 and p53 was seen predominantly in the epithelium of inclusion cysts and deep invaginations, including those areas that had been identified as hyperplastic or dysplastic on routine hematoxylin and eosin‐stained sections. CONCLUSIONS The current results suggest biologic/molecular evidence for the existence of preneoplastic changes in ovarian surface epithelium and support the previously proposed concept of ovarian dysplasia. Subtle morphologic alterations of the ovarian epithelium may be biologically significant. Cancer 2003;98:2599–606. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

Os autores analisaram Programas de Prevenção de Riscos Ambientais (PPRA) e Programas de Controle Médico de Saúde Ocupacional (PCMSO) implementados por 30 empresas, de diferentes ramos econômicos, com mais de cem empregados, em atividade em Salvador, Bahia. As inconsistências verificadas foram estudadas segundo os riscos ocupacionais, levando-se em conta as diversas etapas de desenvolvimento dos programas. Os Autores constataram a baixa qualidade técnica desses programas e apontam a evidente necessidade de ampliar a cobertura da fiscalização estatal, assim como de estimular a participação dos trabalhadores e dos seus representantes no desenvolvimento dos programas PPRA e PCMSO. Consideram, ainda, de fundamental importância o desenvolvimento e o aprimoramento de condutas, procedimentos e instrumentos de inspeção na área de segurança e saúde no trabalho.

Palabras clave: cementos de silicato, cementos dentales, materiales dentales, recubrimiento de la pulpa dental.Corral-Núñez C, Fernández-Godoy E, Martin-Casielles J, Estay J, Bersezio-Miranda C, Cisternas-Pinto P et al Revisión del estado actual de cementos de silicato de calcio en odontología restauradora. Rev Fac Odontol Univ Antioq 2016; 27(2): 425-441. DOI: http://dx