Acute pancretitides in childhood with special reference to the association with gallbladder and biliary tract diseases

The effects of 575 and 875 Rontgen (R) of whole-body irradiation in common Indian hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus Collaris) were studied. At 875 R it showed typical signs and symptoms of radiation sickness, transient body loss and radiation mortality. Extensive vasculitis, pyknosis, chromatorrhexix and chromatolysis was noticed in the testes of irradiated hedgehogs. Epididymides and vas deferens were devoid of spermatozoa. Whole body irradiation inhibited the RNA, protein and sialic acid synthesis in the testes. Total cholesterol per gram of testes was increased significantly. Sialic acid contents of the irradiated epididymides were low. Reduced androgen production was confirmed in non-active Leydig cells, with diminished sex accessory organs and decreased fructose contents in the seminal vesicles of irradiated hedgehogs.     

Structural alterations of rabbit ovarian follicles after mating with special reference to the overlying surface epithelium

Rabbit ovarian preovulatory follicles and in particular the overlying surface epithelium were studied by morphological and ultrahistochemical means at different times after mating. By light microscopy an increase of cytoplasmic granules was found in the surface epithelium at the follicle apex 4 h after mating. The granules increased in amount and showed maximal accumulation 8-9 h after mating. They then disappeared at the same time as the connective tissue elements in the underlying tunica albuginea and theca externa disintegrated. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the membrane-bounded granules or dense bodies fused with one another and by 8 h after mating they often changed character and appeared more electron lucent. Furthermore, open communications were found between altered granules and vacuoles and between vacuoles and the extracellular space below the epithelium. Acid phosphatase reaction product was localized to the granules and Golgi cisternae. Not all the dense bodies were enzyme positive. At later stages, close to the time of follicle rupture, the epithelial cells were attenuated and thin, with only a few granules. By scanning electron microscopy it was found that the epithelial cells at the follicle apex increased in size approaching the time of follicle rupture and that their microvilli decreased in number and in size. At 8 h and later, the contours of intracellular granules could be visualized. The results of this study were similar to those found when rabbits were induced to ovulate by HCG-stimulation. This further strengthens the hypothesis that the surface epithelium contributes porteolytic enzymes which help to disintegrate the follicle apex prior to rupture.     

Growth of the cervical spine with special reference to its lordosis and mobility

STUDY DESIGN: The cervical spine of the healthy Japanese children aged between 1 year and 18 years was radiographically examined. OBJECTIVES: To examine the correlation between growth of the cervical vertebral body and the facet joint and the development of the cervical lordosis and intervertebral motion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although the growth of body height and facet angle have been well documented, their correlation with curvature or mobility has not been elucidated. METHODS: We evaluated plain lateral radiographs of 180 boys and 180 girls regarding diameters and central heights of the cervical vertebra, the anterior and posterior vertebral height ratio, body height index, the facet joint angles, and tilting and sliding motions. Cervical length as the summation of the central height from C3 to C7 and the cervical lordosis angle (C3-C7 angle) were also measured. RESULTS: The mean C3-C7 angle and body height index gradually decreased until 9 years of age and then increased. The C3-C7 angle showed a significant correlation with cervical length, body height index, and facet joint angles before 9 years of age, and with cervical length and body height index after 9 years of age but not with facet joint angles. Facet joint angle decreased until 10 years of age and remained almost unchanged thereafter. Total sliding showed a significant age-related decrease and showed a significant correlation with facet joint angle. CONCLUSION: Although the lordosis angle showed a significant correlation with the other values, cervical length, body height index, and facet joint angle, the determinants of the lordosis could not be elucidate in the present study. As for the mobility of the cervical spine, changes of tilting motion were small, whereas changes of sliding motion were restricted by the change of orientation of the facet joints.     

Postnatal development of Schwann cells at neuromuscular junctions, with special reference to synapse elimination

The neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of postnatal rat soleus muscles were examined by immunohistochemical staining for S100, a marker of Schwann cells (SCs), and for protein gene product 9.5, a neuronal marker, to elucidate the involvement of SCs in synapse elimination. The morphological maturation of S100-immunoreactive terminal SCs at NMJs proceeded with the gradual increase in their number. The number of terminal SCs per NMJ was one or two at postnatal day (P) 7, reaching the adult number at P28, when it became three or four. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of multi-innervated NMJs, whose number decreased between P7 and P14, revealed a change in the ratio between terminal SCs and axons with age. At P7, the ratio between axons and terminal SCs per NMJ was > or = 2:1, which was exactly the reverse of that in adults, while at P14 this had changed to 2:2. A structural change appeared to occur at the same time at the preterminal region, this being prior to the establishment of a 1:1 relationship between axon and SC sheath which was detected at P14, with the > or = 2:1 relationship seeming to occur at P7. Thus, synapse elimination seems to proceed, at least for one week, with the gradual loss of axons which are at different stages of maturation with respect to their spatial relationship with SCs. From our results it seems unlikely that SCs play an active role in selecting a single axon to survive.     

Myocardial distribution and biotransformation in vitro and in vivo of nicorandil in rats, with special reference to mitochondria

This study reports subcellular localization of nicorandil in the myocardium and metabolism in mitochondria after oral dosing of 3 mg/kg nicorandil to rats. In the in vitro experiments, nicorandil, which was incubated with tissue homogenates (liver, kidney, heart, and small intestine), was metabolized to its denitrated compound, SG-86, and unknown substances. In the absence of a NADPH-generating system in the heart, the metabolic activity existed only in the mitochondrial fraction, but not in cytosolic and microsomal fractions. In the presence of the system, the activity in the mitochondrial fraction became much higher. To examine subcellular distribution of nicorandil in the myocardium, [14C]nicorandil was orally given to rats. Fifteen minutes after oral dosing of 3 mg/kg [14C]nicorandil, of which myocardial concentration reached a peak, nicorandil and SG-86 were found in mitochondrial fractions as well as in cytosolic and microsomal ones of the heart. Electron-microscopic autoradiograms, 15 min after oral dosing of 3 mg/kg [3H]nicorandil to rats, also showed the existence of the silver grains (showing radioactivity) in mitochondria of the heart. We conclude that nicorandil given orally is distributed in mitochondria of the heart, being partly transformed into SG-86, and that the myocardial mitochondria may be a potential site of action of nicorandil, an opener of KATP channels, which have been demonstrated to be present in this subcellular particle.     

The perception of bodily sensations, with special reference to hypochondriasis

Bodily sensations are relevant to problems such as hypochondriasis, but the issue of whether people are accurate in their perception remains unclear. The accuracy of perception of bodily sensations was analysed in 20 male and 20 female volunteers using two methods: a heart beat tracking procedure and the within-S correlational approach described by Steptoe and V?gele (1992, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 30, 597-607). The correlational approach involved monitoring of heart rate, skin conductance level and total respiratory resistance during relaxation and task periods, and computing correlations between appropriate physiological parameters and ratings of heart rate, sweaty hands and difficulty with breathing. In general, subjective ratings of bodily sensations were tied more closely with feelings of distress than with objective physiological state. Error scores on the heart beat tracking procedure showed no association with hypochondriacal concerns or with vigilant and avoidant coping styles measured with the Mainz Coping Inventory. Individuals varied considerably in accuracy as assessed with the correlational approach. However, there was a significant negative association between hypochondriacal concerns and accuracy of perception of sweat gland activity. The results are discussed in relation to measures of somatic perception and the experience of bodily sensations.     

The accessory optic fiber system of the golden hamster with special reference to retinohypothalamic projection

The hamster accessory optic fiber system has been investigated with the use of de Olmos-Ingram and Fink-Heimer silver methods following the production of unilateral ocular enucleation. It was found that this fiber system consists of both crossed and uncrossed inferior and superior fasciculi. The fibers of the inferior fasciculus (anterior accessory optic tract) run along the medial edge of the cerebral peduncle and terminate within the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system. The fibers of the superior fasciculus (posterior accessory optic tract) leave the main optic tract, pass superficially over the medial geniculate nucleus and the cerebral peduncle; they synapse within the dorsal, the lateral and the medial terminal accessory optic nuclei. The presence of a retinohypothalamic tract could not be confirmed.     

Rat parathyroid gland, with special reference to its blood vascular bed, pericapillary space and intercellular space

The blood vascular bed, perivascular space and intercellular space of the rat parathyroid gland were studied using scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts, freeze-cracked tissue samples, and NaOH-digested tissue blocks. The findings were supplemented by transmission light and electron microscopy of iron colloid-treated or enzyme-digested tissue sections. The rat parathyroid gland contained a rich network of capillaries. These capillaries were surrounded by marked pericapillary spaces which were demarcated by basal lamina of both capillaries and parenchymal cells. The pericapillary spaces contained numerous collagen fibrils, and issued many crista-like projections which ran deep into the sheets of parenchymal cells. The intercellular spaces of parenchymal cells contained neither basal lamina nor collagen fibrils. The surfaces of the parenchymal cells showed strong negative charging, and maintained the intercellular spaces. The luminal surfaces of the capillary endothelium also showed strong negative charging, and maintained the capillary lumen.     

Cerebral abscess with special reference to the angiographic changes

From 1961 to 1973 forty patients with surgically confirmed intracranial abscesses had preoperative cerebral angiography. The findings were abnormal in all cases but one. In 20 patients (50%) the primary diagnosis was a space-occupying lesion. In 19 patients (47.5%) an abscess was suggested by the presence of a capsule, the only finding definitely diagnostic of an abscess. Subtraction technique provided essential information in detecting the capsule. Angiography proved indispensable in suggesting the nature of the lesion.