Women's Mating Strategies and Mate Value Are Associated with Viewing Time to Facial Masculinity

Sexual selection has shaped women's preferences for ideal physical features in men that signal good health. Facial masculinity is often used as a proxy in signaling health, viability, and disease resistance, and it is thought to be attractive because it advertises heritable benefits. Preferences for facial masculinity are also associated with individual differences in one's sociosexuality and mate value, where women oriented toward a short-term mating orientation and are of high mate value may prefer men with masculine features. The current study examined women's sociosexuality and mate value (i.e., self-rating of overall desirability) in rating attractiveness and visual attention to facial masculinity in men's faces using an eye-tracking task. Overall, women (N = 72) did not show any significant preferences for men with masculinized over feminized faces. However, women who scored high on sociosexuality (i.e., unrestricted sociosexuality) and mate value demonstrated increased visual attention and looking frequency to masculinized over feminized faces. The study highlights the unique role of cognitive mechanisms in visually assessing a potential mate and how individual differences in short-term mating strategies and mate value may moderate those preferences. These findings underscore the importance of examining individual differences in mate preferences research.

The Family Biorhythm: Contributions of the HPA and HPG Axes to Neuroendocrine Attunement

Objective

The vast majority of research on biobehavioral influences on development has focused on mothers and infants, whereas research on paternal biobehavioral influences remains sparse. This study aims to increase understanding of paternal influences on the biobehavioral dynamics of the family unit, using a multi-system approach.

Methods

Participants consisted of 32 predominantly high-risk families recruited during pregnancy who completed monthly questionnaires and in-home visits when infants were 4, 12, and 18 months of age. In-home visits included semi-structured interaction tasks and saliva samples for cortisol and progesterone assays.

Results

Mothers and infants, but not fathers and infants, showed adrenocortical attunement, with the strongest attunement at 18 months. Second, mothers' couple satisfaction did not significantly impact infants' cortisol levels or mother-infant cortisol attunement, but mothers' progesterone moderated the relationship between couple satisfaction and infant cortisol levels such that mothers with low couple satisfaction, but high progesterone, had infants with lower cortisol levels. Finally, mothers' and fathers' progesterone levels were attuned across the time points.

Conclusions

This is some of the first evidence of the establishment of the family biorhythm and suggests that fathers play an indirect role in facilitating mother-infant adrenocortical attunement.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40750-023-00215-0.

Ecological influences and visual attention to infant phenotypes

In humans, the allocation of resources, such as parental care and attention, is vital to offspring survival. Life history strategies are influenced by cues in the environment, particularly those that signal the availability of resources. What has yet to be determined is how individuals allocate resources to infants as a function of perceived ecological harshness and life history strategy. In the current research we hypothesized that perceived ecology would influence infant ratings (Study 1), and that visual attention to infant phenotypes would be associated with life history strategies (Study 2). Study 1 investigated the effect of ecological conditions (control vs. harsh) on preferences to infant phenotypes (i.e., underweight, average weight, overweight). Participants (N = 246) were less likely to rate infants favorably under a harsh ecological condition. Study 2 investigated visual perception in processing infant images. Using an eye-tracking task, participants (N = 239) viewed images of infants while their eye movements were recorded. Participants displayed an early attentional bias (i.e., first fixation duration) to the head of the infant and focused most of their visual attention to the torso of infants (i.e., total visit duration). The results of the both studies indicate that ecological factors play an important role in rating infants, and data from eye-tracking demonstrates that phenotypes influence the amount of attention given to infants.

An Eye Tracking Study Examining the Role of Mating Strategies, Perceived Vulnerability to Disease, and Disgust in Attention to Pathogenic Cues

Disgust is an emotion that regulates disease avoidance and reduces the likelihood of pathogenic infections. Existing research suggests a bidirectional relationship between disgust and mating, where disgust inhibits sexual behavior and sexual behavior inhibits disgust. In the current study, we investigated the role of individual differences and mating motivations on visual attention to pathogenic cues. Participants (N = 103) were randomly assigned to a mating prime or control condition, and they were asked to view images of pathogenic cues (i.e., rotten food, exposed cuts, bodily fluids) paired with their non-pathogenic counterparts. The findings showed no effect of mating prime on visual attention to pathogenic stimuli; however, dispositional mating strategies (SOI-R) were associated with attention to pathogenic stimuli. Individuals with unrestricted sociosexual orientations viewed pathogenic stimuli longer. The findings demonstrate that dispositional mating orientation is associated with greater attention to disgusting images, a link between pathogens and mating orientation that warrants further exploration.

The role of hormones in attraction and visual attention to facial masculinity

The current study investigated the ovulatory shift hypothesis, which suggests that women prefer more masculine traits when estradiol is high, and progesterone is low (E/P ratio). The current study used an eye tracking paradigm to measure women's visual attention to facial masculinity across the menstrual cycle. Estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) were collected to determine if salivary biomarkers were associated with visual attention to masculine faces in a short- and long-term mating context. Women (N = 81) provided saliva samples at three time points throughout their menstrual cycle and were asked to rate and view men's faces that had been manipulated to appear feminine and masculine. Overall, masculine faces were viewed longer compared to feminine faces and this was moderated by mating context, where women viewed masculine faces longer for a long-term relationship. There was not any evidence suggesting that E/P ratio was associated with preferences for facial masculinity, but there was evidence to suggest that hormones were associated with visual attention to men in general. In line with sexual strategies theory, there was evidence to suggest that mating context and facial masculinity are important in mate choice; however, there was no evidence to suggest that women's mate choice was associated with shifts across the menstrual cycle.

The Interacting Effects of Height and Shoulder-to-Hip Ratio on Perceptions of Attractiveness, Masculinity, and Fighting Ability: Experimental Design and Ecological Validity Considerations

Previous research has shown that men's height and upper body size are both associated with the perception of attractiveness, because they might be cues to men's genetic fitness, fighting ability, and resource holding power. However, the combined effects of men's height and upper body size have not been explored. In this research, across four studies (N = 659 heterosexual women), we systematically explored the perception of men's muscular upper body at different heights on perceptions of attractiveness, masculinity, and fighting ability. Women rated male stimuli with heights ranging from 160 cm (5'3″) to 190 cm (6'3″) and three values of shoulder-to-hip ratio (SHR). In general, results showed that women considered taller men and men with larger SHR as more attractive, masculine, and better in fighting ability. However, a robust interaction between height and SHR was dependent on participants being exposed to variation on both variables and the ecological validity of the stimuli (silhouettes vs. more realistic rendered figures).

Women's Preferences for Strong Men Under Perceived Harsh Versus Safe Ecological Conditions

Ecological conditions provide information about available resources for one's environment. In humans, this has been shown to influence reproductive behavior, as individuals may engage in trade-offs between partner quality and investment. For instance, many women may trade-off preferences for men with physical features indicative of social dominance and health over physical features indicative of commitment and investment. The current study explored women's preferences for formidable men under safe vs. harsh ecological conditions. Across three studies, U.S. university women (N = 1,098) were randomly assigned to a perceived harsh or safe ecological condition. They were asked to rate the attractiveness of men's body types (i.e., muscular vs. less muscular). Findings revealed that in general, women rated stronger men as more attractive than weaker men irrespective of the ecological condition. Evidence for preference as a function of ecology appeared only when a two-alternative forced-choice task was used (Study 3), but not in rating tasks (Studies 1 and 2). Study 3 showed that women had a relatively stronger preference for stronger men for short-term relationships in a resource scarce ecological condition. This research provides some evidence that perceived ecological conditions can drive women's preferences for men with enhanced secondary sex characteristics as a function of mating context. These findings are consistent with previous research indicating the importance of physical characteristics in men's attractiveness, and it adds to the existing literature on ecological factors and mating preferences.

The endocrinology of female friendships: Cortisol and progesterone attunement after separation

Friendships constitute important relationships, and often function to reduce stress, but have been under-studied. In mother-child dyads, infants coordinate their stress response with their caregivers without experiencing the stressor themselves. The current study used a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test to examine whether i) friends are physiologically attuned (i.e., cortisol and progesterone); ii) attunement differs as a function of social acceptance or rejection external to the dyad; and, iii) friends can 'catch' a stress response only through non-verbal cues. Friends showed both cortisol and progesterone attunement at the beginning of the study. Friends showed cortisol attunement across time and conditions. Friends' progesterone levels were significantly, but negatively associated across time and conditions. They did not, however, show a stress contagion as a result of one friend experiencing stress. These findings suggest that cortisol and progesterone play different roles in the attunement of stress and subsequent affiliation.

Effects of Women's Short-Term Mating Orientation and Self-Perceived Attractiveness in Rating and Viewing Men's Waist to Chest Ratios

Women's mating strategies are dependent on multiple factors, such as identifying which men advertise physical features indicating high genetic quality, as well as identifying which men are willing to invest in offspring. Research has suggested that women pursuing short-term mating prioritize physical attraction to facilitate the acquisition of good genes. Although it is known that physical characteristics are important in mate choice, research investigating the saliency of physical features in assessing male fitness has not been readily explored. The current study used an eye-tracking paradigm to investigate the role of short-term mating in women and their attraction and visual attention to men's waist to chest ratios (WCRs). Women's short-term mating orientation (N = 130) was associated with attraction to men with low WCRs; however, their visual attention was not influenced by their mating strategy. Interestingly, women who perceived themselves as attractive rated men with low WCRs as more attractive and allocated attentional resources to physical features important in mate choice, such as the head and midriff region. The findings from this study lend some support to sexual strategies theory (Buss & Schmitt, 1993) and strategic pluralism (Gangestad & Simpson, 2000), and they suggest that mate preferences may be calibrated as a function of one's mate value.

An Eye Tracking Examination of Men's Attractiveness by Conceptive Risk Women

Previous research has indicated that women prefer men who exhibit an android physical appearance where fat distribution is deposited on the upper body (i.e., shoulders and arms) and abdomen. This ideal physical shape has been associated with perceived dominance, health, and immunocompetence. Although research has investigated attractability of men with these ideal characteristics, research on how women visually perceive these characteristics is limited. The current study investigated visual perception and attraction toward men in Hispanic women of Mexican American descent. Women exposed to a front-posed image, where the waist-to-chest ratio (WCR) and hair distribution were manipulated, rated men's body image associated with upper body strength (low WCR 0.7) as more attractive. Additionally, conceptive risk did not play a strong role in attractiveness and visual attention. Hair distribution did not contribute to increased ratings of attraction but did contribute to visual attraction when measuring total time where men with both facial and body hair were viewed longer. These findings suggest that physical characteristics in men exhibiting upper body strength and dominance are strong predictors of visual attraction.

Male and Female Perception of Physical Attractiveness

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and breast size are morphological traits that are associated with female attractiveness. Previous studies using line drawings of women have shown that men across cultures rate low WHRs (0.6 and 0.7) as most attractive. In this study, we used additional viewing measurements (i.e., first fixation duration and visual regressions) to measure visual attention and record how long participants first focused on the female body and whether they regressed back to an area of interest. Additionally, we manipulated skin tone to determine whether they preferred light- or dark-skinned women. In two eye tracking experiments, participants rated the attractiveness of female nude images varying in WHR (0.5–0.9), breast size, and skin tone. We measured first fixation duration, gaze duration, and total time. The overall results of both studies revealed that visual attention fell mostly on the face, the breasts, and the midriff of the female body, supporting the evolutionary view that reproductively relevant regions of the female body are important to female attractiveness. Because the stimuli varied in skin tone and the participants were mainly Hispanic of Mexican American descent, the findings from these studies also support a preference for low WHRs and reproductively relevant regions of the female body.

Abstract P1-06-05: Expansion of tumor initiating cells is mediated by tumor microenvironment in breast cancer metastasis

Background: Breast cancer metastasis which ultimately results in breast cancer death, is an event believed to be initiated by the migration of tumor initiating cells (TIC) from the primary tumor to niches for micrometastatic disease. Recent data suggests the tumor microenvironment promotes TIC. The clinical relevance of secreted factors from the microenvironment on TIC surrogate, mammosphere (MS) formation and MS sensitivity to drug therapy was investigated using breast cancer patient fluids inherently conditioned by the tumor microenvironment: post-operative seromas and malignant pleural effusions.

Methods: Fluids from 48 patients with breast cancer (15 seromas and 33 pleural effusions) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from healthy donors were collected on IRB approved protocols. Cellular components were eliminated from patient-derived fluids using density-gradient centrifugation. MSC conditioned media (MSC-CM) was collected from 3D cultures of primary MSC. Luminex multiplex array platform was used to characterize 79 cytokine and growth factor components of all fluids. In addition, MSC-CM and patient-derived fluids were added to cultures of breast cancer cell lines: MCF-7, an estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cell line; SUM149, a triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer cell line; and SUM159, a triple-negative metaplastic breast cancer cell line and MS forming efficiency was examined.

Results: Our results show that pleural effusions and seromas are enriched for factors also secreted by MSC such as MCP-1, GRO, IL-6, and VEGF-A. We found remarkable similarities regarding the cytokines and growth factors profile in pleural effusions and seromas. Both patient-derived fluids have comparable amount of Angiopoetin-2, Leptin, TNF-beta, VEGF, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4 and IL-10. EGF, TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-16 were significantly different between pleural effusions and seromas. Seroma fluid from bilateral drains in a patient with an invasive cancer and a contralateral benign mastectomy had very similar cytokine concentrations. Moreover, MSC-CM and pleural fluids from ER-positive and ER-negative patients increased the MS formation efficiency of both triple-negative cell lines while seroma fluids from ER-positive and ER-negative patients increased the MS formation efficiency of ER-positive cell line MCF-7. Finally, we evaluated the impact of a panel of drugs (simvastatin, pravastatin and erlotinib) on cell cultures grown with MSC-CM and patient-derived fluids. We found that the effect of chemotherapies on MS formation can be attenuated by patient-derived fluids.

Conclusions: Seroma and pleural effusion fluids from breast cancer patients have similar cytokine profiles, change MS formation efficiency of standard breast cancer cell models, and mediate sensitivity to therapy. Here we demonstrate that host and microenvironmental factors are critical for determining resistance to therapy and may be independent of obvious tumor related factors. Future studies will investigate the prognostic implications of factors that promote TIC survival in the fluid tumor microenvironment.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-06-05.

Dose-volume factors to select patient-specific image-guidance action thresholds in prostate cancer

For radiation delivery tracking systems that monitor intrafraction prostate motion, generalized departmental threshold protocols may be used. The purpose of this study is to determine whether predefined action thresholds can be generally applied or if patient-specific action thresholds may be required. Software algorithms were developed in the MatLab (The Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA) software environment to simulate shifts of the patient structure set consisting of prostate, bladder, and rectum. These structures were shifted by 1/2 10 mm in each direction in 1 mm increments to simulate displacements during treatment, without taking into consideration organ deformity. Dose-volume data at each shift were plotted and analyzed. A linear relationship was observed between planning dose-volume parameters and shifted dose-volume parameters. For a 5 mm anterior shift, it was observed that individual rectal V70 values increased by absolute magnitudes of 6-15%, dependent on the planning rectal V70 of each patient. Likewise, for a 5 mm inferior shift, individual bladder V70 values increased by 1-14%, dependent on planning bladder V70. This linear relationship was observed for all levels of shifts up to 10 mm. Since rectum and bladder dose-volume changes due to patient shifts are dependent on dose-volume parameters, this study suggests that patient-specific action thresholds may be necessary.

Molecular mapping of genes for resistance to the bean pod weevil (Apion godmani Wagner) in common bean

The bean pod weevil (Apion godmani Wagner) is a serious insect pest of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in Mexico and Central America that is best controlled by host-plant resistance available in Durango or Jalisco genotypes such as J-117. Given unreliable infestation by the insect, the use of marker-assisted selection is desirable. In the present study, we developed a set of nine molecular markers for Apion resistance and mapped them to loci on chromosomes 2, 3, 4 and 6 (linkage groups b01, b08, b07 and b11, respectively) based on genetic analysis of an F (5:10) susceptible x resistant recombinant inbred line population (Jamapa x J-117) and two reference mapping populations (DOR364 x G19833 and BAT93 x JaloEEP558) for which chromosome and linkage group designations are known. All the markers were derived from randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) bands that were identified through bulked segregant analysis and cloned for conversion to sequence tagged site (STS) markers. One of the markers was dominant while four detected polymorphism upon digestion with restriction enzymes. The other markers were mapped as RAPD fragments. Phenotypic data for the population was based on the evaluation of percentage seed damage in replicated trials conducted over four seasons in Mexico. In single point regression analysis, individual markers explained from 3.5 to 22.5% of the variance for the resistance trait with the most significant markers overall being F10-500S, U1-1400R, R20-1200S, W9-1300S and Z4-800S, all markers that mapped to chromosome 2 (b01). Two additional significant markers, B1-1400R and W6-800R, were mapped to chromosome 6 (b11) and explained from 4.3 to 10.2% of variance depending on the season. The latter of these markers was a dominant STS marker that may find immediate utility in marker-assisted selection. The association of these two loci with the Agr and Agm genes is discussed as well as the possibility of additional resistance genes on chromosome 4 (b07) and chromosome 3 (b08). These are among the first specific markers developed for tagging insect resistance in common bean and are expected to be useful for evaluating the mechanism of resistance to A. godmani.

Adenocarcinoma de próstata metastático a pene

Prostate cancer is a disease that appears with a very high frequency. However, the presence of metastasis to the penis is rare. Only 98 cases reported in the literature up to 2003. We present one case of a patient with painless metastatic nodules on the penis secondary to a prostate cancer.

Hypersensitive response of beans to Apion godmani (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

High levels of resistance to Apion godinani Wagner have been reported in bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., landraces from Mexico. We report on the role of hypersensitivity to A. godmani in five resistant and three susceptible bean genotypes. In susceptible genotypes (cultivars 'Canario 107','Jamapa', and 'Zacatecas 45'), the eggs and first instars of A. godmani were embedded in the pod mesocarp and usually were surrounded by healthy tissue. In contrast, in resistant landraces ('Amarillo 154', 'Amarillo 155', 'J-117', 'Puebla 36', and 'Pinto 168'), necrotic tissues developed concentrically around the oviposition site, encapsulating eggs and dead larvae. An inverse relationship between percentage egg and larval encapsulation at the early immature pod stages and percentage of damaged seeds at harvest was found. Results indicate that hypersensitivity in developing pods plays an important role in antibiosis to A. godmani in beans. This information will facilitate future genetic and biochemical research and provide much needed information concerning the phenotypic basis of resistance to A. godmani in bean.

A practice pathway for the initial diagnostic evaluation of isolated sixth cranial nerve palsies

PURPOSE

To define a practice pathway for the evaluation of sixth-nerve palsies (SNPs) and to determine its cost-effectiveness and validity in a retrospective chart review.

METHODS

A Medline search of the English-language literature from 1966 to 1995 was performed to define the available clinical evidence and develop the practice pathway. The authors retrospectively reviewed 407 charts with the diagnosis of SNP seen at three centers. Information obtained included: etiologic diagnosis if known; development of new neurologic or ophthalmologic findings; and results and costs of neuroimaging studies, if performed.

RESULTS

Of the 407 patients, 98 underwent computed tomography scans and 212 underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the head. Eighty cases were non-isolated, 317 were isolated SNP, and ten could not be classified from chart information. Of the 317 cases of isolated SNP, 49 were classified as traumatic; 5, congenital; 158, vasculopathic; 63, nonvasculopathic; and 42, progressive or unresolved. Following the recommendations of the practice pathway, the 158 patients classified as having vasculopathic SNP would not have undergone neuroimaging studies, realizing a savings of $100,000 in this study population of 407 patients.

CONCLUSION

The recommendations of the practice pathway are supported by review of the literature and the retrospective review of these cases. However, a prospective study with a matched control group is needed to demonstrate regional and specialty-specific variations in care and to strengthen the clinical certainty of the pathway recommendations.

Screening for anisometropia in preschool children

PURPOSE

A preschool vision screening program was reviewed to evaluate eccentric photoscreening (EP), visual acuity, and stereopsis in identifying anisometropia.

METHODS

Patients referred by the screening were examined to assess efficacy of the three screening techniques in a population of preschool children. Testability and comparison of screening results to the classification of anisometropia (> or = 1 D) by retinoscopy obtained during a complete examination were evaluated.

RESULTS

Although EP identified 94.5% of the anisometropic children as abnormal, only 27.8% were classified as anisometropic by EP. Of the anisometropic children, 36.1% failed acuity, but only 19.4% failed based on a 2 line or greater interocular acuity difference. Stereopsis correctly identified only 7.3% of anisometropes as abnormal.

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity of EP in identifying anisometropic children as abnormal was superior to acuity and stereopsis, yet its ability to identify anisometropia specifically was poor. Anisometropia of low magnitude or that masked by the dead zone of the EP system was frequently classified as isometropic. Altering the EP referral criterion and/or taking photographs through adequate power plus lenses may improve the sensitivity for specifically identifying anisometropia. However, caution must be exercised when using EP to examine the prevalence of anisometropia in a population or if used to screen for only amblyogenic refractive errors (i.e., anisometropia), because many anisometropes will be missed, resulting in inaccurate prevalence data and significant underreferrals.

Predictors of the rate of renal function decline in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

A multivariate analysis of 263 Mexican-American, African-American, and Non-Hispanic white non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients with end-stage renal disease revealed that in subjects following a linear course of decline of renal function, Mexican-American ethnicity (p = 0.0503) and female sex (p = 0.0036) hasten the rate of decline of renal function, while age (p = 0.0004), hypertension duration (p = 0.0058), and diabetes duration (p = 0.0587) slow the rate of decline of renal function. Blood pressure and glycemic control do not predict the rate of decline. These data suggest that ethnicity and sex-related factors may be as important as blood pressure and glycemic control during the course of non-insulin-dependent diabetic nephropathy.

Inheritance of resistance to the bean-pod weevil (Apion godmani Wagner) in common beans from Mexico

The bean-pod weevil (BPW), Apion godmani Wagner, often causes heavy losses in crops of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Farmers need resistant bean cultivars to minimize losses, cut production costs, stabilize seed yield, and reduce pesticide use and consequent health hazards. To design effective breeding methods, breeders need new and better sources of resistance and increased knowledge of their modes of inheritance. We therefore: (1) compared sources of resistance to BPW, (2) studied the inheritance of resistance, and (3) determined whether the sources possess similar or different genes for BPW resistance. The following sources of resistance, originating from the Mexican highlands, were evaluated for 3 years at INIFAP-Santa Lucía de Prias, Texcoco, Mexico: 'Amarillo 153', 'Amarillo 169', 'Hidalgo 58', 'J 117', 'Pinto Texcoco', 'Pinto 168', and 'Puebla 36'. All except 'Puebla 36' were crossed with the susceptible cultivar 'Jamapa'. 'Amarillo 153' and 'Puebla 36' were crossed with another susceptible cultivar, 'Bayo Mex'. The parents, F1 hybrids, and F2 populations were evaluated for BPW damage in 1992. Backcrosses of the F1 of Jamapa/Pinto 168 to the respective susceptible and resistant parents were also evaluated in 1992. All seven resistant accessions were crossed in all possible combinations, excluding reciprocals. The resulting 21 F1 hybrids and 21 F2 populations were evaluated for BPW damage in 1994. 'J 117' had the highest level of resistance to BPW. 'Pinto Texcoco' and 'Puebla 36' had the highest mean damage score of all seven sources of resistance. The F1 hybrids between susceptible parents and resistant sources were generally intermediate. Two genes segregating independently controlled the BPW resistance in each accession. One gene, Agm, has no effect when present alone, whereas the other gene, Agr, alone conferred intermediate resistance. When both genes were present, resistance to BPW was higher. Based on mean BPW damage scores, all 21 F1 hybrids and their F2 populations, derived from crosses among seven resistant accessions, were resistant. However, data from individual plant damage scores in F2 populations of Amarillo 169/Pinto 168 and Pinto Texcoco/Pinto 168 suggested that at least one gene in each of the three accessions was non-allelic. Data also indicated that 'Amarillo 169' had a dominant gene that conferred high levels of BPW resistance, irrespective of the alleles at the other locus; and that 'Pinto Texcoco' and 'Pinto 168' possessed two different genes for intermediate resistance.

[Frequency of allergens in immediate, late, and dual allergic skin response at the National Institute of Pediatrics]

We studied 126 children with allergic illness in Instituto Nacional de Pediatria. We applied cutaneous test to determine the early, late and dual response. The results were 68% for the early response, 6% late response and 26% dual response. The allergens more frequently found in the early and late response were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae and house dust. Approximately the third part of the children studied presented late cutaneous response (dual response more isolated late response). It is important to make the evaluation of the late response in patients with allergy disease for a good etiologic diagnosis.

Influence of soluble environmental factors on the development of fetal brain acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons cultured in a chemically defined medium: comparison with the effects of L-triiodothyronine (L-T3)

In cerebral hemisphere neuronal cultures derived from 15-day-old rat embryos, the addition of L-triiodothyronine (L-T3) or nerve growth factor (NGF) enhanced the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in a dose-dependent manner. When cultures were supplemented with both agents at maximal effective concentrations, the stimulation in ChAT and AChE activities was significantly greater than the sum of the individual effects. Conversely, when the cultures were exposed to astrocyte conditioned medium grown in the presence or absence of L-T3 (CM + L-T3 or CM-L-T3). laminin and fibroblast growth factor (FGF), ChAT and AChE activities were not stimulated above those of control cultures when added alone or in combination with L-T3. Furthermore, L-T3, NGF, CMs, laminin and FGF did not affect AChE+ cell survival, but significantly increased neurite outgrowth and branching with NGF and L-T3 being the most powerful agents followed by CMs, laminin and FGF. Additionally, the simultaneous addition of L-T3 with either laminin or FGF in culture, caused an additive effect of L-T2 in the neurite density of AChE+ cells with both agents. This study shows that (1) thyroid hormones do not act through the regulation of soluble neurotrophic factors produced by astroglial cells, (2) thyroid hormones interact with the effect of NGF on ChAT and AChE activities, (3) the regulation of ChAT and AChE activities and the neurite outgrowth are independently regulated. and (4) the regulation of ChAT and AChE activities is very specific compared with that of neurite outgrowth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Extended en bloc resection of a primary mediastinal parathyroid carcinoma

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare endocrine tumor infrequently seen in the mediastinum. This report describes a patient who underwent en bloc resection of a primary mediastinal parathyroid carcinoma. The tumor originated from the thymus and extended from the aortic arch to the thyroid; local invasion suggested malignancy. En bloc resection of this carcinoma with all surrounding tissue provided local control of the tumor and relief of symptomatic hypercalcemia.

Immunocytochemical localization of thyroid hormone nuclear receptors in cultured acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons: a correlation between the presence of thyroid hormone nuclear receptors and L-tri-iodothyronine morphological effects

A monoclonal antibody against the rat liver L-tri-iodothyronine nuclear receptor and acetylcholinesterase cytochemistry were used for the localization of thyroid hormone nuclear receptors in acetylcholinesterase-positive cell nuclei in fetal rat cerebral hemisphere neuronal cultures. After 3 days in vitro, the ratio of acetylcholinesterase-positive cells that were immunoreactive for the thyroid hormone nuclear receptor to those not stained for this receptor (74-26%, respectively) remains unchanged despite an increase in the number of acetylcholinesterase-positive cells with time (from day 3 to day 21) in culture. Furthermore, the addition of 3 X 10(-8) L-tri-iodothyronine in culture did not modify this ratio or have an effect on the number of acetylcholinesterase-positive cells, but significantly increased the neurite density in those acetylcholinesterase-positive cells that were immunoreactive for the thyroid hormone receptor. Conversely, no difference in the neurite densities of those acetylcholinesterase-positive cells not stained for this receptor was observed when cultured in the presence or absence of thyroid hormone. In other experiments with the same fetal brain cultures, treatment of cultures for 8 days with L-tri-iodothyronine, beginning on culture day 20, demonstrated the presence of a critical period which occurs in vitro around day 20, since the stimulatory effect of L-tri-iodothyronine on immunoreactive acetylcholinesterase-positive cell neurite density is lost after 20 days in vitro. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of L-tri-iodothyronine nuclear receptors in fetal rat acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons and the existence of a cellular heterogeneity in the distribution of the thyroid hormone receptor. The presence of these receptors in fetal brain acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons suggests that some effects of L-tri-iodothyronine on the maturation of a subpopulation of acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons may result from a direct effect of this hormone through an interaction with its specific nuclear receptors.

Influence of triiodothyronine (L-T3) on the morphological and biochemical development of fetal brain acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons cultured in a chemically defined medium

In cerebral hemisphere cultures initiated from 15-day-old rat embryos, the number of acetylcholinesterase-positive (AChE+) cells increased from 6.8 +/- 1.6 cells/well on day 3 to 112 +/- 16 cells/well on day 15. With time in culture, AChE+ cells increased both in size of the perikarya and neurite length. The addition of L-triiodothyronine (L-T3) at a concentration of 3 x 10(-8) M at the initiation of the culture had no effect on the number of AChE+ cells but significantly increased the size and neurite length of AChE+ neurons after 5 days in vitro. These morphological effects are associated with biochemical effects. L-T3 increased AChE activity in both a dose- and time-dependent manner (the stimulatory effect of L-T3 becomes significant between day 8 and day 15). Since a major part of AChE+ cells may be cholinergic neurons, we have also measured the effect of L-T3 on ChAT activity. L-T3 also increased ChAT activity in a dose and time dependent manner. Furthermore, treatment of cultures with L-T3 at different times in culture demonstrated the presence of a critical period which occurs in vitro around day 20, since the stimulatory effect of L-T3 on ChAT activity is lost after 20 days in vitro. Studies of the time necessary for L-T3 to increase both ChAT and AChE activities show that 2 days and 15 days, respectively, are required for L-T3 to significantly stimulate both enzyme activities. This in vitro analysis demonstrated the morphological effect of L-T3 on the size and the neurite length of AChE+ cells. These effects are associated with biochemical effects on ChAT and AChE activities. Thus, it appears that thyroid hormones regulate several steps of neuronal maturation.

Lactate oxidation and sodium reabsorption by dog kidney in vivo

Lactate uptake (Qlact) and oxidation (QCO2lact), oxygen consumption (QO2) and net tubular Na+ reabsorption (TNa), were estimated in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs under control conditions and following unilateral intrarenal injection of ouabain or intravenous infusion of acetazolamide, ethacrynic acid, or furosemide. QCO2lact accounted for approximately half of simultaneous Qlact and for about one-third of QO2 in control periods. Ouabain injection resulted in significant decreases in several functions of the injected kidney: TNa, 46%; TNa/FNa, 36%; QO2, 40%; Qlact, 59%; and QCO2lact, 70%. Acetazolamide infusion decreased TNa, 33%; TNa/FNa, 12%; QO2, 10%; and QCO2lact, 38%; but did not change Qlact. Ethacrynic acid diminished TNa, 60%; TNa/FNa, 36%; QO2, 45%; Qlact, 31%; and QCO2lact, 73%. Furosemide lowered TNa, 37%; TNa/FNa, 28%; QO2, 25%; and Qlact, 48%; but did not change QCO2lact, 2%. Results indicate that decarboxylation is a major pathway of renal lactate metabolism, that lactate oxidation is a substantial source of aerobic energy for the kidney, and that QCO2lact is probably functionally related to sodium reabsorption. This relationship appears to be closer for a fraction of TNa associated with ouabain- and ethacrynic acid-sensitive mechanisms.

Liposarcoma of the larynx: a multicentric or a metastatic malignancy

The third case of liposarcoma of the larynx, this one arising from the preepiglottic space, is presented. The report is unique in so far as the patient previously had been treated for a liposarcoma in another anatomic region. The diagnosis in this case was in doubt until electron microscopic studies were done. Since the histopathology of the laryngeal and the previous liposarcoma were different, the question of metastasis versus multicentricity was raised. Other discussions of liposarcomas over the past three decades have not resolved this aspect of their behavior completely. In this instance, after considering avenues of metastatic spread in conjuction with the histopathology, it would appear that the laryngeal lesion was a second primary and not a metastasis.

Serum cortisol and 11-desoxycortisol levels in hirsute premenopausal women

It has been postulated that hirsute patients may have a relative deficiency in 11beta-hydroxylase activity of the adrenal cortex. In order to test this postulate, we have measured the serum levels of cortisol (Cp F) and 11-desoxycortisol (Cp S) and estimated the Cp S/Cp F ratio in 9 nonhirsute and 34 hirsute premenopausal women. As a group, the hirsute patients had significantly elevated (P less than 0.05) mean Cp F and Cp S levels but the mean Cp S/Cp F ratio was not significantly different from normal. Considered individually, only 3 hirsute patients had a Cp S/Cp F ratio greater than 2 SD above the mean normal levels. These ratios were 0.0218, 0.0139, and 0.023. If there is indeed an 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency in these 3 patients, it must be relatively minor, since a patient with documented 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency had Cp S levels of 218 ng/ml and a Cp S/Cp F ratio of 0.7. Our data suggest that 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency is not a common cause of hirsutism.

Combined radioimmunoassay of four steroids in one ml of plasma: I. Progestins

Using partially specific antisera combined with a 1 step celite microcolumn chromatography, progesterone (P), 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3-one (20alpha-P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), and 16alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (16alpha-P) could be measured in the same 1 ml aliquot of plasma. The chromatographic step removed known interfering steroids and conferred specificity to the assay. After correction for recovery the sensitivities, expressed as ng/ml of plasma, were respectively: 0.04 for P, 0.03 for 20alpha-P, 0.02 for 17P, and 0.01 for 16alpha-P. Recovery experiments, using steroid-free plasma to which various amounts of each steroid were added and then measured in the assay in 12 replicates, confirmed adequate accuracy and precision. The ability to measure multiple progestogens in small volumes of plasma should permit comprehensive evaluation of the role of these steroids in health and disease.