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BACKGROUND: Human T lymphocytes infiltrating tissues in autoimmune diseases are known to express somatostatin receptors amongst other activation markers. In this study, we evaluated whether somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) using a radiolabelled somatostatin analogue ((99m)Tc-EDDA/tricine-HYNIC-tyr(3)-octreotide ((99m)Tc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC)) is able to detect the presence of immune-mediated processes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and secondary Sjögren's syndrome. We also aimed to evaluate whether positivity to SRS was predictive of therapeutic response and if SRS could be used for monitoring the efficacy of immunomodulatory treatment. METHODS: Eighteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis and secondary Sjögren's syndrome not responding to conventional treatment were recruited for treatment with infliximab, a monoclonal antibody against TNF-α. All patients had complete blood cell count, renal and liver function tests, measurements of ESR, CRP, ANA, ENA, and anti-dsDNA antibodies, functional salivary gland scintigraphy, labial biopsy, and ophthalmologic assessment with Schirmer's test and tear film break-up time (BUT). Diagnosis was made according to the revised criteria of the American-European Consensus Group. All patients underwent SRS at baseline and after 3-6 months of therapy with infliximab. Eleven out of 18 had repeat SRS images. Images of the salivary glands and major joints were acquired 3 h after injection of 370 MBq of (99m)Tc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC. Image analysis was performed semi-quantitatively. RESULTS: All patients showed uptake of (99m)Tc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC in the joints. Salivary glands also showed variable radiopharmaceutical uptake in 12 out of 18 patients, but all patients showed presence of lymphocytic infiltration at labial salivary gland biopsy. All patients, who repeated the study after treatment, showed significant reduction of somatostatin uptake in the joints but not in the salivary glands. CONCLUSIONS: SRS using (99m)Tc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC may be a useful imaging tool to assess disease activity and extent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and may help to detect secondary Sjögren's syndrome. It may also aid therapy decision-making with anti-TNFα antibodies in the joints but not in salivary glands.

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OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of chronic daily headaches (CDH) and of high-frequency episodic headaches (HFEH) in preadolescent children from the general population. BACKGROUND: Early-onset cases of neurologic diseases often reflect increased biologic predisposition, specific risk factors, or both. METHODS: Of 2,173 children identified as the target sample, consents were obtained from 1,870 (86.0%), and analyzable data were provided by 1,547 (71.2%). Parents and children were interviewed using a questionnaire consisting of 97 questions, with a validated headache module (10 questions). Crude and adjusted prevalences of HFEH (10-14 headache days per month) and CDH (15 or more headache days per month) were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of CDH was 1.68% (girls 2.09%, boys 1.33%). The overall prevalence of HFEH was 2.52% (girls 2.8%, boys 2.3%). After adjusting for gender, age, parental history of headaches, income, and school of origin, the prevalence of CDH was higher in girls than in boys (2.2% vs 1.1%, p < 0.01) and in nonwhite vs white children (2.2% vs 1.2%, p < 0.01). Similar differences were seen for HFEH (girls 3.1%, boys 2.0%, p < 0.01), (nonwhite 3.1%, white 1.9%, p < 0.01). Income significantly contributed to the model. CONCLUSION: High-frequency episodic headaches and chronic daily headaches are common in the preadolescent pediatric population. Health care providers and educators should be aware of the magnitude of the problem to properly identify and treat children with headaches.

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Homogenates of left ovaries from laying hens incubated with labeled pregnenolone or progesterone produced slightly higher amounts of estrone than of estradiol-17 beta. Progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone are probable intermediates. Left ovaries from 1-, 21- and 40-days-old chicks incubated with progesterone as substrate formed increasing amounts of androgens and estrogens. Weight per weight, ovaries from one-day-old chicks have a greater steroidogenic capability than those from adults. The comparative steroidogenesis by testes and left ovaries from Gallus domesticus during growth is also reported.

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Homogenates of left ovaries from laying hens incubated with labeled pregnenolone or progesterone produced slightly higher amounts of estrone than of estradiol-17 beta. Progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone are probable intermediates. Left ovaries from 1-, 21- and 40-days-old chicks incubated with progesterone as substrate formed increasing amounts of androgens and estrogens. Weight per weight, ovaries from one-day-old chicks have a greater steroidogenic capability than those from adults. The comparative steroidogenesis by testes and left ovaries from Gallus domesticus during growth is also reported.

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Homogenates of left ovaries from laying hens incubated with labeled pregnenolone or progesterone produced slightly higher amounts of estrone than of estradiol-17 beta. Progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone are probable intermediates. Left ovaries from 1-, 21- and 40-days-old chicks incubated with progesterone as substrate formed increasing amounts of androgens and estrogens. Weight per weight, ovaries from one-day-old chicks have a greater steroidogenic capability than those from adults. The comparative steroidogenesis by testes and left ovaries from Gallus domesticus during growth is also reported.

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