Vasopressin receptor subtypes differentially modulate calcium-activated potassium currents in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca

Because many testicular toxicants cause damage to specific stages of spermatogenesis, the present study has investigated the utility of a model in which the testis is synchronized to contain only a few closely related spermatogenic stages. The susceptibility of different stages to 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB) toxicity was investigated in rats, the testes of which had been stage synchronized by a vitamin A depletion/repletion (VADR) procedure. 1,3-DNB (25 mg/kg, IP) or vehicle was injected 58, 61, or 78 d after vitamin A readministration, and testicular histopathology was evaluated 48 h later. At the time of sacrifice, testes in the three groups were synchronized to stages I-VI, VII-IX, or X-XIV+I. The data indicated that tubules in all stages of spermatogenesis, in both synchronized and unsynchronized animals, demonstrated histopathologic changes in response to 1,3-DNB. However, the lesion seen in synchronized animals was more severe and less stage specific than that seen in weight-matched, unsynchronized animals. This increase in degree of susceptibility could be partially explained by differences in toxicokinetics. Stage-synchronized testes could provide unique insights into stage-specific cellular and molecular events, especially for in vitro studies where the stage enrichment could be maximally exploited. However, results obtained from in vivo toxicity studies using animals subjected to VADR should be interpreted carefully in light of the confounding physiologic/metabolic perturbations potentially induced by the VADR procedure.     

Protein expression profiles in human breast ductal carcinoma and histologically normal tissue

Reference two-dimensional (2-D) gels are presented for human breast ductal carcinoma and histologically normal tissue. Whole biopsy fragments were analyzed, including epithelial and nonepithelial components. Thirty-five spots have been assigned by gel matching to the human liver SWISS-2DPAGE reference map and/or to the human primary keratinocyte IPG map from the Danish Center for Human Genome. N-terminal microsequencing was applied to confirm randomly chosen matching assignments and to identify six new spots. Protein expression profiles in ductal carcinoma and in normal breast tissue appeared to be similar, except for a pattern consisting of 32 spots, which were highly expressed in all carcinoma specimens, and less intense and occasionally undetectable in normal tissue. This difference was statistically significant. Assignment has been obtained for several spots, namely GRP94, GRP78, GRP75, mitochondrial HSP60, calreticulin, protein disulfide isomerase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, collagen-binding protein 2, fructose bisphosphate aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, thioredoxin, cytochrome c oxidase VA subunit, tubulin beta isoform and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). The cancer- and tissue-specificity of the described pattern was assessed by matching to the Swiss-2DPAGE human liver, hepatoma, lymphoma, erythroleukemia reference maps. The pattern of 32 spots was found to be indicative of epithelial neoplasia.     

An auricular prosthesis attached by intra-mastoid implants. Apropos of 11 cases

The use of osseointegrated implants to provide support for auricle prosthesis as been carried out by Tjellstrom. This method has provided the maxillofacial surgeon with another approach to the treatment of defect of the auricle. The principles and concepts of extra-oral osseointegrated implants are the same as those of the intra-oral application developed by Branemark 26 years ago. This simple and reliable method allow the attachment to splint bar fixated to three or two mastoid osseointegrated implants. This method represent an interesting possibility for the management of auricle defects. We report on our experience of 11 cases.     

Decreased levels of a soluble form of the human adhesion receptor CD58 (LFA-3) in sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The mode of interaction between muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a compound with immunopharmacological activities, and 5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) was studied in isolated nerve-smooth muscle preparations of the carp stomach. Application of exogenous 5-HT evoked direct smooth muscle contractions; electric neurogenic stimulation evoked twitches due to release of 5-HT from nerve endings. Contractions evoked by a high concentration of 5-HT (3-30 microM) were resistant to atropine and potentiated in the presence of MDP. Isamoltan (5-HTID antagonist) decreased the amplitude of contractions, whereas ketanserin (5-HT2 antagonist) and MDL 72,222 (5-HT3 antagonist) had no effect. The addition of low concentrations (0.1-1.5 microM) of 5-HT did not contract the preparation but caused a decrease in the amplitude of neurogenic twitches, which might be due to the presynaptic inhibition of serotonin release. This effect of 5-HT was not changed by isamoltan or ketanserin, but it was largely reduced in the presence of 5-HT3 antagonists tropisetron and MDL 72,222. This inhibitory effect of 5-HT on twitch amplitude was potentiated by MDP. The interaction of MDP with the serotonergic system thus involved not only potentiation of the postsynaptic effect of higher 5-HT concentrations, which might have been mediated via the 5-HT1 subsystem, but also presynaptic inhibition. MDP enhancement of 5-HT's inhibitory effect, mediated via 5-HT3 receptors, might represent a new feature in mutual 5-HT-MDP interactions.     

Wideband chirp measurement technique for high bit rate sources

A Mach Zehnder (MZ) interferometer has been used as an optical discriminator to measure the time-resolved frequency chirp of an optical source     

Experimental fetal tracheal ligation reverses the structural and physiological effects of pulmonary hypoplasia in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (DH) and profound pulmonary hypoplasia are currently unsalvageable. The authors previously demonstrated that tracheal ligation (TL) accelerates fetal lung growth and reverses the pulmonary hypoplasia of fetal nephrectomy. The purpose of this study was to determine if the pulmonary hypoplasia of experimental DH could be similarly reversed and, if so, whether the resulting lungs would show better function than those of their DH counterparts. Eighteen fetal lambs were divided into three experimental groups of six animals each. In group 1, DH was created at 90 days' gestation. In group 2, DH was created at 90 days' gestation and TL performed during the same operation. Group 3 consisted of sham-operated controls. These animals were delivered near full-term, and their lungs analyzed by standard morphometric techniques. Ten additional fetal lambs were divided into two experimental groups of five animals each. In group 4, DH was created at 90 days' gestation. In group 5, DH was created at 90 days' gestation and TL performed 20 days later, at 110 days' gestation. These animals were pressure-ventilated via tracheostomy over a 2-hour period in which PaO2, PaCO2, and compliance were measured. Intratracheal pressure (ITP) was measured at the time of delivery in all groups. Upon retrieval, DH animals had abdominal viscera in the chest and small lungs; in contrast, DH/TL animals had the herniated viscera reduced from the chest by enlarged lungs. DH/TL lungs showed markedly increased growth, with significant increases in lung volume:body weight ratio (LV:BW; P = .0001), alveolar surface area (ALV.SA; P = .0001), and alveolar number (ALV#) (P = .0001) when compared with those of the DH or control group. This growth was associated with a normal maturation pattern based on histological appearance, normal airspace fraction, and normal alveolar numerical density. ITP in the DH/TL group was increased when compared with that of DH and control animals (P = .0001). Total lung DNA and protein were both elevated in the DH/TL animals (P = .0001). However, the DNA:protein ratio remained normal, suggesting lung growth had occurred through cell proliferation, not by hypertrophy. When ventilated over a range of settings, DH/TL lungs were more compliant (P = .0001) and achieved higher PaO2s (P < .003) and lower PaCO2s (P = .0001) than their DH counterparts. From these data, the authors conclude: (1) Experimental fetal DH produces hypoplastic lungs that are not capable of adequate gas exchange with conventional ventilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Use of electrophoretic karyotyping and DNA-DNA hybridization in yeast identification

The behavioral disturbances of 16 nursing home patients with a history of sundowning behaviour and dementia were treated with light therapy instead of psychopharmacological medication. After the withdrawal of the before established medication a very individual, heterogenous deterioration of the symptoms was noted. A significant improvement of the behaviour was not found by light therapy in any patient. The problems in practical handling and possible consequences of further investigation are discussed.     

Terlipressin (glypressin) versus somatostatin in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices--final report of a placebo-controlled, double-blind study

One hundred and six episodes of bleeding from esophageal or gastric varices in 72 patients with cirrhosis of the liver were randomized to treatment either with intravenous terlipressin 2 mg initially and 1 mg every four hours for 24 hours together with bolus injection and continuous infusion of placebo, or with somatostatin 250 micrograms as a bolus and continuous infusion of 250 micrograms/h somatostatin for 24 hours and placebo injections. Standard treatment with transfusions, fluid and electrolyte correction, and lactulose was administered in both groups. In the terlipressin group, 48 out of 53 bleeding episodes (91%) and in the somatostatin group 43 out of 53 bleeds (81%) were initially stopped by the vasoactive drugs. Four of the five bleeds not arrested by terlipressin, and nine of the ten bleeds not arrested by somatostatin, were stopped by balloon tamponade. In one patient in each group variceal bleeding could not be stopped initially, and both patients died. The failure rate of the vasoactive treatment alone, including rebleeds within the study period, was 17% in the terlipressin, and 28% in the somatostatin, group. The initial hemostasis, including balloon tamponade, were 98%, and the definitive bleeding control rates were 89% in both groups. The hospital mortality rate was 21% (11/53) in the terlipressin, and 21% (11/53) in the somatostatin, group. Blood transfusions and duration of bleeding did not differ significantly. The study indicates that a large proportion of bleeds from esophageal and fundic varices can be stopped initially (86%) and definitively controlled (77%) by vasoactive drugs alone.     

Temporal order and functional analysis of mutations within the Fli-1 and p53 genes during the erythroleukemias induced by F-MuLV

The erythroleukemias induced by Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) result from the accumulation of a number of genetic changes, including activation of the Fli-1 proto-oncogene and inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. We have determined the temporal order of mutation of the genes involved in this multistage malignancy, by serial in vivo transplantation of F-MuLV induced primary erythroleukemias into syngenic Balb/c mice. These primary tumors are capable of growing when transplanted into syngenic mice, but die after several days of in vitro culture. From the transplanted tumors grown in syngenic mice, erythropoietin-dependent cell lines were established in culture that are clonally related to cells in the primary tumors. We show that retroviral insertional activation of the Fli-1 ets family member is the first detectable genetic event in F-MuLV induced primary erythroleukemias. Mutations in the p53 gene were observed in the Epo-dependent cell lines but not in the transplanted erythroleukemias used to establish these cell lines in culture. These data suggest that activation of Fli-1 plays an important role in the early stages of F-MuLV-induced leukemia, perhaps by altering the self-renewal probabilities of erythroid progenitor cells and that p53 mutations immortalize these cells, enabling them to grow in vitro in the presence of Epo.