Mental retardation and unilateral anophthalmia in hemifacial microsomia

A 3-year-old boy with left anophthalmia and hemifacial microsomia was found to be not severely retarded. Previous reports have emphasized concomitant severe mental retardation in patients with this malformation complex. Review of the literature and the present case indicate that mental retardation is a variable feature of this condition.     

Growth of mandibular prognathism after pubertal growth peak

Until recently, the signal transduction pathways involved in the processes of tumor growth have been poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated cell surface receptors which utilize phosphatidylinositol (Pl) turnover/Ca2+ mobilization as a signal transduction pathway to regulate cell growth in a metastatic human lung carcinoma cell line, PG. We found that purinoceptor agonists, including ATP and its analogs, and bombesin, an amphibian tetradeca-peptide of mammalian homology gastrin-releasing peptide, induced rapid transient increase of cytoplasmic-free Ca2+ in PG cells loaded with fura-2. The Ca2+ responses were derived both from release from internal stores and the opening of plasma membrane Ca2+ channels. HPLC analysis of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and its isomers showed a receptor-linked phospholipase C activation by ATP and bombesin. Although ATP and bombesin were both able to induce Pl turnover and Ca2+ mobilization in PG cells, they had differential growth regulatory effects on PG cells. Treatment with bombesin stimulated PG cell growth while treatment with ATP inhibited significantly PG cell growth. Pharmacological studies showed that the purinoceptors on PG cells were of the P2 subtype. Other hydrolysis-resistant P2 purinoceptor agonists, including ATP gamma S and AMP-PNP, were as effective as ATP in stimulating Pl turnover and Ca2+ mobilization as well as in inhibiting PG cell growth in vitro, suggesting the potential usefulness of such ATP analogs in clinical trials. Preliminary results suggest G protein involvement in the differential regulation of ATP and bombesin signal transduction pathways.     

A cephalometric analysis of six Twin Block patients. A study of mandibular (body and ramus) growth and development

A study of the effect of the Twin Block appliance on the underdeveloped mandible. Significant growth has been measured cephalometrically and charted on 6 patients, 4 males and 2 females, who have worn the Twin Block for approximately one year. With Pre-Twin Block cephalometric taken, the Twin Block was inserted and bite blocks were advanced approximately every 8 weeks. Progress and Post-Twin Block cephalometric (lateral) radiographs show a significant increase in ramus height and mandibular body length. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate actual mandibular bone growth. A number of the subjects still are in the process of finishing their fixed bracketing phase, and we hope to follow this article with another, demonstrating post Twin Block occlusion and other case finishing factors.     

Technical note: a blind test of mandibular ramus flexure as a morphologic indicator of sexual dimorphism in the human skeleton

Following axotomy most medial septal neurons in the adult rat brain have dramatically reduced numbers of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) positive neurons. Since leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promotes cholinergic expression in several neuronal populations, the aim of this study was to determine if LIF would continue to support cholinergic expression in axotomized medial septal neurons. Mini-osmotic pumps were used to infuse saline or LIF into the lateral cerebral ventricle. Counts of ChAT and low-affinity nerve growth factor (p75NGFR) immunostained neurons indicated that LIF-treated animals retained ChAT expression in > 90% of axotomized neurons whereas in saline-infused animals this was < 30%. Also, LIF was equally effective in maintaining p75NGFR expression levels in axotomized medial septal neurons.     

Insufficiency fractures of the pubic ramus

Affinity filters were investigated for their potential in the recovery of proteins from complex samples. The experiments covered membranes carrying high and low molecular weight affinity ligands as well as group and substance specific ones. For the ready-to-use affinity filters the specific protein binding capacity was determined and compared to that of the respective Sepharose affinity gels (Pharmacia). In the case of the pre-activated membranes the influence of the coupling chemistry on the affinity mediator concentration and the protein binding capacity were considered in the study. In the case of low molecular weight ligands (e.g. Cibacron Blue, Heparin) either type of membrane yielded stationary phases of a ligand concentration, binding capacity, resolution, and long term stability similar to that of the corresponding Pharmacia material. However, the membranes could be used at a higher flow rate than the columns, since they are less mass transfer limited and cause significantly less back pressure. The immobilization of high molecular weight ligands such as antibodies (immuno filtration) on the other hand, resulted in low ligand concentrations and worse antigen binding capacities whenever conventional immobilization procedures, e.g. epoxy group-based reactions, were used. In contradistinction, good results were obtained with tosyl- and tresyl activated membranes. Such membranes were successfully employed for the immobilization of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and Concanavalin A. Concanavalin A and an anti gp 220/350 mAb were subsequently used to produce affinity filters for the isolation of a recombinant gp 220/350 Epstein-Barr virus surface antigen from culture supernatants of a Chinese hamster ovary cell line grown in protein-free medium.     

Assessment of symphysis morphology as a predictor of the direction of mandibular growth

The purpose of this study was to determine whether symphysis morphology could be used as a predictor of the direction of mandibular growth and to assess growth changes of the symphysis. Cross-sectional data included lateral cephalometric radiographs of 115 adults (58 women, 57 men) with the longitudinal sample a subset of 62 subjects (30 females, 32 males) at four age groups. The direction of mandibular growth was evaluated with seven cephalometric measurements that included Y-axis, SN to mandibular plane, palatal plane to mandibular plane, gonial angle, sum of saddle, articulare and gonial angles, percentage lower facial height, and posterior/anterior face height. The mandibular symphyseal dimensions studied were height, depth, ratio (height/depth), and angle. Symphysis morphology was found to be associated with the direction of mandibular growth, especially in male subjects with symphysis ratio having the strongest relationship. A mandible with an anterior growth direction was associated with a small height, large depth, small ratio, and large angle of the symphysis. Conversely, a posterior growth direction was associated with a large height, small depth, large ratio, and small angle of the symphysis. Symphysis dimensions continued to change until adulthood with male subjects having a greater and later occurring change compared with female subjects.     

Determinants of graft survival after renal transplantation

We studied multiple determinants of graft survival at a single center and the effects of nonimmunologic graft loss on transplant survival. This retrospective study examined the results of 589 cadaver donor transplants performed between 1986 and 1992. Graft survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates for both overall graft survival (all causes of graft loss) and immunologic graft survival (function lost due to acute or chronic rejection and noncompliance). Cadaver graft survival was significantly poorer with an increasing degree of DR mismatch (P=0.02). An analysis of pretransplant variables showed graft loss risk was highest with greater DR mismatches, two B-antigen mismatch, higher donor serum creatinine, and younger recipient age. After transplantation, acute rejection was the most significant factor associated with long-term graft survival. Our data demonstrate a significant advantage for zero DR and one DR mismatch cadaver donor transplants, with excellent immunologic graft survival. This study suggests that a combination of immediate graft function, prevention of acute rejection by appropriate early immunosuppressive therapy, and acceptable DR match enhances cadaveric graft survival.     

Candida costochondral osteomyelitis, report of a case and review of the literature

A 49-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with swelling and redness overlying the left anterior chest wall. He had been treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization for acute myocardial infarction with central venous catheter one year and four months earlier. Since then, he had had no symptoms. An incision and drainage was performed and specimen showed acute and chronic granulation tissue containing pus with involvement of underlying left third rib and cartilage. Candida albicans was cultured from the drainage specimen. Treatment with fluconazole was began. The lesion failed to clear following incision and drainage, continuing to exude pus, then open surgical excision and curettage of the cartilage and rib was performed. After 2 months of therapy, the lesion had resolved. This is a rare case of candida costochondral osteomyelitis without a definite proof of former hematogenous candida infection.     

Genotypic variation in the transforming growth factor-beta1 gene: association with transforming growth factor-beta1 production, fibrotic lung disease, and graft fibrosis after lung transplantation

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is a profibrogenetic cytokine that has been implicated in the development of fibrosis in transplanted tissues. In this study, we have analyzed the genetic regulation of TGF-beta1 production in lung transplant recipients. METHOD: A polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformational polymorphism technique was used to detect polymorphisms in the TGF-beta1 gene from genomic DNA. Polymorphisms were shown to correlate with in vitro TGF-beta1 production by stimulated lymphocytes. A single-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization method was devised to screen for these polymorphisms in lung transplant groups and controls. RESULTS: We have identified five polymorphisms in the TGF-beta1 gene: two in the promoter region at positions -800 and -509, one at position +72 in a nontranslated region, and two in the signal sequence at positions +869 and +915. The polymorphism at position +915 in the signal sequence, which changes codon 25 (arginine-->proline), is associated with interindividual variation in levels of TGF-beta1 production. Stimulated lymphocytes of homozygous genotype (arginine/arginine) from control individuals produced significantly more TGF-beta1 in vitro (10037+/-745 pg/ml) compared with heterozygous (arginine/proline) individuals (6729+/-883 pg/ml; P<0.02). In patients requiring lung transplantation for a fibrotic lung condition, there was an increase in the frequency of the high-producer TGF-beta1 allele (arginine). This allele was significantly associated with pretransplant fibrotic pathology (P<0.02) (n=45) when compared with controls (n=107) and with pretransplant nonfibrotic pathology (P<0.004) (n=50). This allele was also associated with allograft fibrosis in transbronchial biopsies when compared with controls (P<0.03) and with nonallograft fibrosis (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The production of TGF-beta1 is under genetic control, and this in turn influences the development of lung fibrosis. Hence, the TGF-beta1 genotype has prognostic significance in transplant recipients.     

A genetic study of dentin growth in the mandibular second and third molars of male mice

Although the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the completed crown size of mandibular molars in mice is well known, such influence on the growth process of the mandibular second and third molars of mice has not yet been clarified. The purpose of the present study is to examine the growth pattern of the dentinal formation and evaluate the relative contributions of both genetic and environmental factors to longitudinal dentin formation by the use of the partial diallel cross-genetic approach, the time-marking method and a computerized image measurement system. The following results were obtained: 1) the onset of dentinal formation in the second molar was on the 6-9th day after birth, while that of the third molar was on the 9-12th day after birth; 2) the best fitted growth curve of the dentinal formation for the first molar was the fifth order polynomial equation, while for the second molar the fourth order polynomial equation was best, and for the third molar the third order polynomial equation was best; 3) maternal effect strongly influenced the second and the third molar dentin growth at an early stage of postnatal growth. Thus, it could be concluded that the dentinal formation growth pattern differed among the three kinds of mouse molars while maternal environmental factors, in addition to genetic factors, played an important role in the mouse second and third molar dentin growth during the early stage of postnatal growth.     

Effect of stenting on graft vascularization after laryngotracheoplasty

This study examined the effects of acute continuous incremental exercise on lymphocyte mitogenic function and cytokine production in physically active and sedentary males and females. Physically active (n = 32) and sedentary (N = 32) male and female subjects were randomly assigned to an exercise or control condition. Exercise involved a continuous incremental protocol consisting of cycling for 3 periods of 6 min at workrates corresponding to 55%, 70% and 85% VO2peak. Blood samples were drawn from a venous catheter at baseline, 6 min, 12 min and 18 min, and 2 h following completion of exercise. Relative to baseline and control condition the percentage of T (CD3+) and B cells (CD19+) significantly decreased, and the percentage of NK cells (CD3-CD16+CD56+) increased (p < 0.001) during each stage of the incremental exercise test. The proliferative response to ConA was suppressed, enhanced, or unchanged using 1.25 micrograms/ml, 2.5 micrograms/ml and 5.0 micrograms/ml ConA, respectively. The in-vitro production of IL-1 and IFN-gamma increased during each workload. In contrast IL-4 production did not change during exercise. The resting and exercise induced alterations in lymphocyte function and cytokine production were independent of gender and fitness level, and returned to baseline 2 h into recovery. The in-vitro production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 suggests that physical activity may alter the balance of TH1 and TH2 lymphocytes.