Diminished responsiveness of Gs-coupled receptors in severely failing human hearts: no difference in dilated versus ischemic cardiomyopathy

In end-stage heart failure, cardiac beta-adrenoceptors are decreased and cardiac Gi protein is increased. We assessed beta-adrenoceptors, G proteins, and effects of several beta-adrenoceptor agonists, histamine, and 5-HT on adenylyl cyclase activity in right and left atria and left ventricles and on left ventricular contractility in six potential heart transplant donors (nonfailing hearts; NFHs) and in nine patients with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 11 patients with end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) to establish whether the functional responsiveness of all cardiac Gs-coupled receptors is reduced. Beta-adrenoceptors were reduced in all three tissues; in DCM, beta1-adrenoceptors were more markedly downregulated; in ICM, both beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors were diminished. In all three tissues, isoprenaline-, terbutaline-, histamine- and 5-HT-induced adenylyl cyclase activation was reduced similarly in DCM and ICM. Moreover, in DCM and ICM, guanosine triphosphate (GTP)- (involving Gs and Gi) activated adenylyl cyclase was significantly diminished, whereas NaF-activated (involving only Gs) and Mn2+-activated (acting at the catalytic unit of the enzyme) adenylyl cyclase was unaltered. Left ventricular positive inotropic responses to beta1- (noradrenaline, dopamine, and dobutamine), beta2- (terbutaline), and beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors (isoprenaline, adrenaline, and epinine), as well as H2-receptor (histamine) stimulation were significantly reduced. The extent of reduction was not different for each agonist in ICM and DCM. We conclude that in DCM and ICM, functional responsiveness of all cardiac Gs-coupled receptors is similarly reduced.     

Number and function of Sertoli cells, number and yield of spermatogonia, and daily sperm production in three breeds of boar

The objective of this study was to determine the number of Sertoli cells per boar, daily sperm production, and germ cell yield per type A spermatogonium in mature Whitecross, Meishan, and West African boars. The paired parenchymal mass was greatest in the Whitecross boars and greater in Meishan than in West African boars. Daily sperm production per boar (x 10(9)) differed significantly (P < 0.05) among breeds (Whitecross: 12.5 +/- 1.5; Meishan: 6.0 +/- 0.5; West African: 2.9 +/- 0.3). Daily sperm production per boar was positively (P < 0.01) correlated with parenchymal mass (r = 0.97), number of A spermatogonia per testis (r = 0.88), and Sertoli cells per testis (r = 0.87). Daily sperm production per gram of testis was similar among breeds. Number of Sertoli cells and number of type A spermatogonia per boar were greater for the Whitecross but similar in the Meishan and West African boars. The number of Stage VII germ cells per Sertoli cell was greater (P < 0.05) in the Meishan (39.08 +/- 5.07), but similar in the Whitecross (19.91 +/- 1.62) and West African boars (15.81 +/- 2.43). The number of type A spermatogonia per testis was highly and positively (P < 0.01) correlated with number of Sertoli cells per testis (r = 0.95), and parenchymal mass (r = 0.88). There was a trend for the spermatid yield per type A spermatogonium to be greater in the Meishan boars, and this ratio was positively correlated with spermatid:Sertoli cell ratio (r = 0.62) but not with daily sperm production per boar or Sertoli cells per testis. No significant germ cell degeneration occurred during the long meiotic prophase, but the loss of progeny during postprophase of meiosis averaged 32.62% across all breeds. Germ cell degeneration was similar (P > 0.05) across breeds during spermiogenesis, and on average amounted to 8.6%. The increased number of type A spermatogonia and of Sertoli cells associated with larger testes for the Whitecross over West African or Meishan boars is sufficient to explain the higher sperm production in the Whitecross. However, the lower index of degeneration and more efficient Sertoli cell function in Meishan boars results in the daily sperm production being intermediate between that of the Whitecross and West African boars.     

The effect of inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on proliferation and death of tumor cells

We describe a distinctive tissue artifact that results from the use of biopsy bags for processing small impressionable pieces of tissue. In its fully developed form, the artifact produces a tic-tac-toe pattern, while in less pronounced cases it may produce elongated oval spaces in the tissue or a serrated contour at the periphery of the tissue. The artifact was observed in 60% of endometrial specimens, 55% of endocervical curettings, and sporadically in other small specimens. In the endometrial and endocervical specimens, the artifact was focal and did not interfere with the diagnosis. In occasional small lung and prostate specimens, there was focally significant distortion that potentially could compromise the diagnosis.     

Dynamics of morbidity at health care institutions and penal labor facilities in the Udmurt Republic

Comparative analysis indicated that morbidity in the corrective labour institutions, Ministry Internal Affairs of the Udmurt Republic, is much higher than that in the therapeutical-and-prophylactic institutions of the republic. In the corrective labour institutions, patients who isolate bacteria and who have destructive processes are much more common. The clinical course of clinical tuberculosis is noted to be aggravated, there is an increase in the incidence of caseous pneumonia.     

Attitude to and practice of Norwegian gynecologists concerning hormone replacement therapy in climacteric

A questionnaire was sent to all 475 members of the Norwegian Gynaecological Society. It was based on a similar study previously performed in Denmark and Sweden. 85% of the members returned the questionnaire. 382 (80%) had answered the questions; 153 (40%) women, 228 (60%) men, and one case where the sex was not stated. The mean age was 48 years (SD 10). The male gynaecologists had a more liberal attitude towards hormone replacement therapy than their female counterparts, 43% of them recommending oestrogen for all women, compared to 31% of the female gynaecologists. The younger doctors were more restrictive in their recommendations but attitudes became more liberal the older the doctors were. Among gynaecologists over 55 years, 49% of males and 50% of females recommended oestrogen for all women. The final decision as to whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy was most often made by the patient herself (61%). The majority of both female (86%) and male (75%) gynaecologists considered risk factors for heart disease to be an indication for oestrogen. In perimenopausal women, 356 (93%) preferred oral cyclical oestrogen combined with progestagen, whereas in postmenopausal women 333 (87%) preferred to take oral oestrogen combined with progestagen continuously.     

Laparoscopic treatment of inguinal hernia

It is always important to treat conditions which may be cancerous with respect and, where there is suspicion, to take biopsies for histological examination. A hoarse voice may, in addition, be a sign of tuberculosis of the larynx, and the clinical appearance can be similar to a carcinoma. Preoperative chest x-ray (not always performed) and an awareness by the histologist of such a possibility are important now that this condition is increasing in frequency in parallel with conditions where immunological status is compromised.