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Morphology of the chromaffin cells of Triturus cristatus during a complete annual cycle has been investigated. General ultrastructural characteristics are similar for all chromaffin cells, including numerous small mitochondria, well-developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum with short cisternae. The primary difference among cells is the type of the chromaffin granules they posses. These are of two kinds: adrenalin (A) and noradrenalin granules (NA). Both types are simultaneously present in the chromaffin cells but with different ratios during the year. During December-January and May-August, NA granules largely prevail, while in September-November and February-April, A and NA granules are present in about equal quantities. The total quantity of catecholamine granules, however, is relatively constant throughout the year. These findings suggest that T. cristatus has a single type of chromaffin cell, the granule content of which varies according to different functional states. The catecholamines are apparently discharged by exocytosis.

The aim of our retrospective cohort study is to analyze the persistence rates in relation to antiosteoporotic drugs using administrative databases in the Campania Region. Patients, aged ≥40 years, were included if at least one prescription for any antiosteoporotic drugs had been filled in between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Overall, 37,594 patients were incident users of antiosteoporotic drugs. Among them, 15,978 patients had undergone spot-therapies. A total of 2,618 (14.1%) were classified as switchers. Switching rates were highest for patients taking Alendronate 18.9 or Strontium Ranelate 15.0 and lower for patients taking Ibandronate 12.8 or Risedronate 10.8. In the overall population, 33.5% of subjects were still on therapy after 6 months. At 1 year, persistence rates were: Ibandronate 21.6%, Risedronate 15.8%, Alendronate + Vitamin D 15.7%, Raloxifene 14.3%, Alendronate 12.6% and Strontium Ranelate 5.0%.