The present study will help researchers consider appropriate models for animal experiments, depending on focus of investigation. In vivo CLSM can be used for the characterization of the living cornea over time, thus, reducing the number of animal experiments.

Purpose: To correlate pineal parenchyma volume (PP) to circadian melatonin profiles and to determine the 24-hour melatonin per volume of pineal tissue (MLPV). Furthermore, we compared melatonin profiles of cystic and solid glands. Methods:In 15 healthy male subjects (20 -27 years) the PP was determined using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (trueFISP, isotropic voxel: 0.8 mm 3 ). Melatonin plasma concentrations (MC) were determined every 2 hours for 24 hours.Results: Mean PP was 125 Ϯ 54 mm 3 . PP correlated linearly to maximum MC and to 24-hour melatonin (r ϭ 0.61 and r ϭ 0.64, P Ͻ 0.05) but not to minimum MC. The 24-hour melatonin was 653 Ϯ 242.6 pg/mL, MLPV was 5.8 Ϯ 2.3 pg/mL*ml Ϫ1 . Nine pineal glands were solid and six were cystic. PP of solid glands showed higher linear correlations to maximum melatonin, to 24-hour melatonin, and to the slope of the melatonin increase of the curve (P Ͻ 0.05). Conclusion:PP correlates linearly to melatonin plasma concentrations in humans. MLPV displays similar interindividual differences as 24-hour melatonin. PP of solid glands show better correlation to melatonin profiles than cystic.

Background: Thrombocytosis is triggered by and promotes tumor growth. The relationship between the change in circulating platelets after chemoradiation therapy (CRT) or adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) and survival in glioblastoma remains unclear. We hypothesized that an increase in platelets after these treatments would be predictive of a shorter survival. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data on 122 patients with newly diagnosed, pathologically proven glioblastoma who had been treated with surgery, followed by CRT and adjuvant TMZ, from 2007 to 2016. The association between the changes in blood count levels and survival was analyzed by the log-rank test. To adjust for confounding, we performed a multivariate analysis using known prognostic co-variates. Results: Patients were dichotomized on the basis of the relative change in platelets after CRT from the baseline: ≤30% increase, low (n = 101) vs >30% increase, high (n = 12). The median survival for high vs. low platelets were 11 vs 28 months (p = 0.0062). No significant survival differences were observed on the basis of platelet changes during adjuvant TMZ. Similarly, changes in lymphocyte counts were not significantly prognostic. On multivariate analysis, MGMT, performance status, and an increase in platelets after CRT were significantly associated with survival (HR for platelets, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-12.6). Conclusions: Increased platelet counts after CRT are predictive of poor survival in glioblastoma. The effect is platelet specific and does not reflect bone marrow changes, as lymphocyte changes were not significantly prognostic. These results suggest an interaction between platelets and tumor aggressiveness. Thus, platelets serve as a novel, minimally invasive liquid biopsy for predicting outcome.

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