Angiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate angiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) and microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and to investigate the relations among angiogenesis, stromal inflammation, and depth of invasion. METHODS: Three groups of women were studied: 22 controls who had undergone hysterectomy for benign conditions; 18 with squamous cell CIS of the cervix who underwent cone biopsy, hysterectomy, or both; and 14 with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma who underwent conization of the cervix and subsequent surgical management according to depth of invasion. All specimens were stained immunohistochemically for factor VIII-related antigen. Areas below the basement membrane with the highest angiogenic density were selected. The degree of stromal inflammatory reaction was assessed. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis, analyses of variance and covariance, Scheffe and Bonferroni-Dunn post hoc procedures, and Pearson correlation analysis. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Microvessel counts per high-power field (x 400) of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix differed significantly from those of controls and squamous cell CIS (median 34.5 per high-power field, range 9-76 versus median 17, range 7-47, and median 19, range 8-39, respectively; P < .005). Microvessel counts per high-power field in squamous cell CIS did not differ significantly from those of controls (P = .91). Among patients with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, no significant correlation was found between microvessel counts per high-power field and the depth of invasion (r = 0.19, P = .51). Stromal inflammatory reaction (graded 0-3) differed significantly among controls, squamous cell CIS, and microinvasive carcinoma (mean 0.40, 0.83, and 1.64, respectively; P < .005). CONCLUSIONS: Microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is angiogenic, but depth of invasion is not associated with increased angiogenicity. Squamous cell CIS is not angiogenic.     

Continuous infusion of porcine factor VIII in the management of patients with factor VIII inhibitors

Increased detection thresholds for pure tones were observed in a large cohort of children exposed to lead environmentally while smaller studies in lead-exposed workers have reported conflicting results on assessments of auditory function. Pure tone detection thresholds were determined in a group of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) dosed with 2 mg/kg/day of lead from birth through testing at 13 years of age. Blood lead concentrations were stable at about 30 micrograms/dl until monkeys were 10-11 years of age at which time they increased to between 50 and 70 micrograms/dl. Five age- and rearing-matched monkeys served as controls. Detection thresholds were determined at six frequencies between 0.125 and 31.5 kHz. Ear phones were fit over both ears, and thresholds were determined for each ear separately. The monkey signaled detection of the tone by breaking contact with a stainless steel bar. Three lead-exposed monkeys exhibited normal pure tone detection functions. Three monkeys had thresholds outside of the control range at some frequencies; there was a tendency for higher frequencies to be differentially more affected. These findings are consistent with reports of elevated pure tone thresholds in humans exposed to lead developmentally, although the effect is smaller than might have been predicted given the concurrent blood lead concentrations of these monkeys.     

Neural plasticity in adults with amblyopia

Amblyopia is a neuronal abnormality of vision that is often considered irreversible in adults. We found strong and significant improvement of Vernier acuity in human adults with naturally occurring amblyopia following practice. Learning was strongest at the trained orientation and did not transfer to an untrained task (detection), but it did transfer partially to the untrained eye (primarily at the trained orientation). We conclude that this perceptual learning reflects alterations in early neural processes that are localized beyond the site of convergence of the two eyes. Our results suggest a significant degree of plasticity in the visual system of adults with amblyopia.     

Diagnostic neuroimaging: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) are commonly used neuroimaging modalities for patients with signs or symptoms of neuro-ophthalmic disorders. Understanding the technology and clinical uses of these modalities is vital in patient management. METHODS/RESULTS: Basic instrument design and technology are presented together with a discussion of indications and contraindications to the use of these imaging techniques. Case reports are presented to illustrate the usefulness in diagnosis of orbital and neuro-ophthalmic disease. CONCLUSIONS: A basic knowledge of CT and MR helps the optometrist correlate imaging with clinical signs and symptoms of disease. This understanding also results in more effective communication with other health care providers and patients.     

Pyramidal nerve cell loss in Alzheimer''s disease

Despite clinical evidence from the National Institutes of Health consensus panel in 1991 that breast-conservation surgery (BCS) with radiation therapy (RT) is appropriate treatment in early-stage breast cancer, the overall rate of acceptance and actual practice of BCS with RT has remained low. We retrospectively reviewed 228 cases of breast cancer in female patients with stage Tis, I or II breast cancer treated between 1987 and 1995. Thirty-five cases (15.4%) were stage Tis, 70 cases (30.7%) were stage I, and 123 cases (53.9%) were stage II, Overall, 57% of Tis, I or II breast cancers received conservative treatment; 57% of stage Tis, 79% of stage I, and 44% of stage II tumors. These rates of conservative therapy are higher than in other reported series in the literature. BCS with RT produces equivalent rates of morbidity and survival as MRM, and, because it preserves the breast, is preferable for the majority of women who present with stage Tis, I, or II breast cancer.     

Juvenile chronic arthritis: a cephalometric analysis of the facial skeleton

A retrospective cross-sectional cephalometric investigation was undertaken to examine the facial form of a group of Finnish children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). Following digitization, the radiographs were divided into three age groups, and according to whether or not 'bird-face' deformity was present. From a total of 67 cases (39 females and 28 males) 19 per cent were judged to be 'affected'. Analyses were carried out and the groups compared using t-tests. The mandible was found to be smaller both in ramal height and body length in the affected sample, with reduction in posterior face height being only partly compensated by increase in bony apposition at the angle producing antegonial notching. There was posterior rotation of the mandible with a reduction in angles S-N-B and S-N-Pog, and an increase in the gonial angle, the angle between the mandibular plane and S-N, maxillary, and occlusal planes. The changes in the maxilla were less marked. Although S-N-A was reduced in all three age groups, it was not significantly so. Maxillary length (ANS-PNS) was significantly smaller in the two younger age groups. In the vertical plane maxillary dimensions were reduced in the two younger age groups. A highly significant increase in the occlusal to maxillary planes angle was observed in all groups. There was, however, no difference in S-N to maxillary planes angle, indicating a more steeply inclined occlusal plane due to subnormally erupted maxillary molars. Although the inter-incisal angle was reduced there was no significant difference in the incisor inclinations in relation to the jaws and despite the posterior rotation of the mandible there was no significant increase in size of overjet or in the frequency of anterior open bite.     

Maximum cardiac output during incremental exercise by first-pass radionuclide ventriculography

A flow injection hydride atomic absorption spectrometric (FI-HAAS) method was developed for determining selenium in human milk and whole blood after microwave digestion of the sample. The sample (2 mL human milk or 0.25 mL blood) was introduced into the microwave vessel with 1.5 mL HNO3 and 0.25 mL H2O2 and 300 W (4 min) and 600 W (4 min) were applied. The digestion was completed by heating to 140 degrees C (2-3 h). Se (VI) was reduced to Se (IV) with hydrochloric acid. The instrumental conditions for FI-HAAS (concentrations of reducing agent and carrier acid, flow rate of argon carrier gas, and sample volume injected) were optimized. The detection limit of the proposed method was 0.23 ng/mL (assay) or 115 pg Se (absolute) in biological samples (1.15 ng/mL milk, 10.4 ng/mL blood). The precision values were 5.0% for milk and 4.0% for blood. The accuracy was evaluated with 2 reference materials, National Institute of Standards and Technology Non-Fat Milk Powder (found: 104.3 +/- 7.2 ng/g, certified: 110 +/- 10 ng/g) and Whole Blood Seronorm (found: 81 +/- 7.3 ng/mL, reference: 83 +/- 4 ng/mL). The results show the suitability of the method for selenium determination in human milk and whole blood. The method was applied to whole blood samples obtained from pregnant women and to human milk.     

Microinjection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogue into the central nucleus of the amygdala stimulates gastric contractility in rats

The effect on gastric contractility following bilateral microinjection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog, RX 77368, into the central nucleus of the amygdala was examined in fasted, urethane-anesthetized rats. Extraluminal force transducers were used to measure gastric corpus contractility. Bilateral microinjection of RX 77368 (0.5 microgram, 1.0 microgram, n = 6 each) stimulated gastric contractility for up to 120 min post-injection, P < 0.05. Gastric contractility was not significantly stimulated by microinjection of 0.1 microgram RX 77368, 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) into the central nucleus or RX 77368 (0.5 microgram, 1.0 microgram) into sites adjacent to the central nucleus. Peak responses (1.0 microgram) occurred 40 min post-injection and represented a 16-26-fold increase over basal values. The frequency of gastric contraction waves was attenuated for 0-90 min in rats receiving central amygdaloid microinjection of RX 77368 (0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 microgram) versus rats microinjected with the vehicle or RX 77368 into sites adjacent to the central nuclei. The stimulatory effect of RX 77368 (1.0 microgram) on gastric contractility was abolished by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. These results indicate that the TRH analog, RX 77368, acts within the central amygdala to vagally stimulate gastric contractility.