The phonotactic response by female crickets is influenced by Juvenile Hormone III, which affects selectivity to the syllable period of the calling song. This pathway is influenced by an inhibitory input in the prothoracic ganglion, possibly chloride-mediated inhibition. In order to identify potential neurotransmitters involved in such pathway, we performed nanoinjection of five neurotransmitters into the prothoracic ganglion of virgin female Acheta domesticus. Phonotaxis for these females was evaluated before and after injections. All five neurotransmitters that were nanoinjected are known to bind to chloride channels. Nanoinjection of histamine significantly decreased phonotactic selectivity to the syllable period of the calling song while glycine, gamma aminobutyric acid, serotonin and saline controls did not. Octopamine significantly decreased phonotactic responses overall. The effect of histamine was tested further by nanoinjecting the antihistamine pyrilamine into the prothoracic ganglion of older unselected females, which resulted in increased phonotactic selectivity.

Introduction: Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is a useful therapy for mixed chimerism (MC) and measurable residual disease (MRD) after allogeneic transplantation (HSCT). Multiple DLI products can be obtained through apheresis and cryopreservation, but their costs can be prohibitive in developing countries. T-cells in whole blood units can reach 1 £ 10 6 /kg in healthy donors and are increased after G-CSF exposure. The ideal CD3+ cell dose remains undefined. Objectives: We aim to assess the safety and efficacy of G-CSF-primed whole blood units (WB-DLI) in peripheral blood HLA-matched sibling (MSD) and haploidentical (Haplo) transplant recipients. Methods: Adults who received WB-DLI at any time after HSCT due to relapse, MRD, MC or poor graft function were included. Patients with active graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were excluded. Donors received filgrastim 5 mg/kg QD (days 1-3) followed by a 450 mL whole blood draw on day 4 with crossmatching and lymphocyte quantification. For patients with major/bidirectional ABO mismatch without group switch or a mixed field reaction, a reactive major crossmatch was an absolute contraindication. WB-DLI was infused fresh and unmanipulated in an outpatient basis. Concurrent chemotherapy was allowed. Disease and chimerism were assessed on day 30 and 60, respectively. GVHD prophylaxis included oral cyclosporine/tacrolimus tapered in 60 days. Results: Fourteen patients received a single WB-DLI, median age was 32 years (range, 16-67), 50% were women. Most common diagnoses were ALL, (n=5) and AML (n=5), followed by MDS (n=2), NHL (n=1) and CML (n=1). Nine had were Haplo grafts, while 4 were MSD. Indication for WB-DLI was relapse in 6 patients, 3 had MRD, 4 MC and 1 had poor graft function. Median chimerism pre-WB-DLI was 72% (range, 38-100%). Median mononuclear cell count obtained was 32 £ 10x 6 /kg (range, 9-74), while median CD3+ cell count was 6.7 £ 10 6 /Kg (range, 5.2-19). No immediate severe adverse effects were observed. Febrile non-hemolytic reaction occurred in n=4. No complications were observed in n=4 ABO mismatch cases. Overall 50% responded; chimerism improved in 50%, with a median increase of 28% (range, 9-53%). Median post-DLI chimerism was 92.5% (range, 20-100). Regarding patients treated for relapse or MRD 4/9 responded (33%). Overall 8/14 patients relapsed (57%) with 12-month progression free survival of 27.5% which was significantly lower in relapsed/MRD patients (log rank test p=0.042). Overall survival at 12 months was estimated at 61.2%. Three developed aGVHD, 2 grade III/IV in a median of 13 days (range, 7-38). Four died due to relapse. Median follow-up was 5 months (0.6-20.1 months). The cost of performing WB-DLI was $350 USD per unit. Conclusions: DLI obtained from GCSF-primed whole-blood is safe and affordable. It improves mixed chimerism, while it is less effective for overt relapse, similarly to DLI obtained through standard methods.

We studied the developmental trajectory of the putamen in 13–21 months old children using multivariate surface tensor-based morphometry. Our results indicate surface changes between 12 and 15 months’ age groups in the middle superior part the left putamen. The growth of the left putamen at earlier ages slows down after 15 months. The most important surface changes were detected in the right putamen between 18 and 21 months and were located in the anterior part of the structure. Our results demonstrate the heterochronic growth of the right and left putamen related to different functional subregions within putamen. Our results are compatible with previous studies devoted to total putamen volume changes during normal development.

We evaluated the association between serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and kinetics to predict 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-NaF PET-CT) positivity for first bone metastases in men with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. All 18F-NaF PET-CT scans that were performed at our institution during 2010–2014 were queried to find patients who demonstrated biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Records were reviewed to obtain data on PSA levels and kinetics at the time of 18F-NaF PET-CT and pathologic features of the prostatectomy specimen, which were then used for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine predictability for 18F-NaF PET positivity. Thirty-six patients met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 8 (22.2%) had positive 18F-NaF PET-CT scans. Mean values for PSA, PSA doubling time (PSADT), and PSA velocity (PSAV) were 2.02 ng/ml (range: 0.06–11.7 ng/ml), 13.2 months (range: 1.11–60.84), and 1.28 ng/ml/year (range: 0.1–5.28) for 18F-NaF PET-CT negative scans, and 4.11 ng/ml (range: 0.04–14.38 ng/ml), 8.9 months (range; 0.7–27.8), and 9.06 ng/ml/year (range: 0.04–50.2) for 18F-NaF PET-CT positive scans, respectively (P = 0.07, 0.47, and 0.02, respectively, for PSA, PSADT, and PSAV). ROC analysis for 18F-NaF PET-CT positivity resulted in area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.634 for PSA, 0.598 for PSADT, and 0.688 for PSAV. ROC analysis with combined models gave AUC values of 0.723 for a combination of PSA and PSADT, 0.689 for a combination of PSA and PSAV, and 0.718 for grouping of PSA, PSADT, and PSAV. There was no significant association between 18F-NaF PET-CT positivity and primary tumor Gleason score, TN staging, and status of surgical margins. 18F-NaF PET-CT detected first-time osseous metastases in 22.2% of our patients with biochemical recurrence after prostatectomy with the PSA level range ≤11.7 ng/ml. PSAV was statistically significant in predicting 18F-NaF PET-CT positivity. ROC analysis demonstrated higher AUCs when PSA was combined with PSA kinetics parameters.