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Objective: To determine whether a correlation between platelet count and CA-125 exists, and to compare the mean levels of CA-125 in groups with normal and elevated platelet counts., Design: A retrospective analysis of the medical records concerning to 31 ovarian cancer inpatients, treated 1998-2002 with primary surgery and subsequent platinum-based chemotherapy at the Division of Gynecology, Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, University Medical School Poznań., Materials and Methods: 137 serum and whole blood samples collected from 31 ovarian cancer patients during their consecutive hospital stays., Results: There was a positive, moderate (r = 0.49) and highly significant (p < 0.0000001) correlation between platelet count and CA-125 levels. Thrombocytosis occurred in 45% patients before treatment, and in none when the 6th course of chemotherapy was given. In the thrombocytosis group, an average CA-125 level (913.5 U/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.00001) then in the group with normal platelet count (103.7 U/ml)., Conclusions: Platelet count and CA-125 levels do correlate in blood samples taken from ovarian cancer patients at the same time.

The importance of demodicids (Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis) infestation and their effect on skin lesions has been described based on literature data and our own clinical and parasitological investigations. Hair follicle mites have been detected in 45% of patients with rosacea, 27% of patients with perioral dermatitis, 28% of patients suffering from seborrhoeic dermatitis and in 3 out of 7 patients with chronic blepharitis. Clinical picture of demodecosis included erythemato-papulous and pustulous (rosacea-like) skin lesions together with erythemato-desquamative changes of the face.

The aim of the study was the analysis, by means of combined stereologic methods and metaphase arrest technique of the adrenocortical growth of ACTH treated hamster. Adult female hamsters were treated daily with 50 micrograms ACTH (Synacthen Depot, Ciba) for 3, 6 and 9 days. Between days 3 and 9 nearly linear increase in adrenal gland weight was observed, mainly due to the enlargement of the fasciculata and reticularis zones. Throughout the experiment, there was no marked change in the number of the zona glomerulosa cells while from the day 3 a notable increase in the number of fasciculata and reticularis cells occurred. Prolonged ACTH treatment resulted in a significant increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation with the highest value on day 6 and subsequent drop on day 9. Also metaphase index of adrenocortical cells notably increased due to ACTH administration and again the highest value was found on day 6 of experiment. From stereologic data and from metaphase index, adrenocortical cell birth-rates in individual adrenocortical zones and in the entire cortex were calculated. There were great differences between the values calculated from metaphase index and those obtained from stereologic data, with the former significantly lower. ACTH enhances centripetal migration of parenchymal cells in the hamster adrenal cortex and causes their accumulation in the zona reticularis.

Self-stimulation was studied in dogs chronically implanted with electrodes in different points within the basal forebrain. The animals exhibiting pure self-rewarding behavior were defined as "optimal" and "good self-stimulators", whereas those with concomitant aversive phenomena were incorporated into the third category called "self-stimulation-withdrawal". In "optimal self-stimulators" a remarkable resistance of the response to extinction was noted. A strong negative attitude toward food was found in four dogs upon stimulation of the self-rewarding loci. Penile erection accompanied self-stimulation in two animals. Sniffing at first always followed incentive brain stimulation, but later it appeared at the beginning of each experiment and/or preceded the bouts of pressing. A rise of hypothalamic temperature was noted in mast of the animals. In some cases this was equal to or exceeded 1 degree Celsius. The temperature increase was accompanied by intense panting between the bouts. Seizures appeared locally as contractions of masticatory muscles and sometimes developed into a generalized fit. Anatomically the "reward area" in the dog extends from the septum and the preoptic area to the mammillary bodies and reaches laterally to the internal capsule.