Limulus amebocyte lysate test in neonates

The limulus amebocyte lysate test for endotoxin was done on samples of blood from 22 well babies and 33 neonates in an intensive-care nursery. The objective was to determine whether falsely positive test results occurred in samples from newborn infants during acquisition of usual bowel flora. One neonate had a transiently positive limulus amebocyte lysate test; he had clinical signs of spesis, but no bacteremia could be documented. Unlike the nitroblue tetrazolium test, the limulus amebocyte lysate test does not appear to be regularly positive in neonates. The sensitivity of the test in detection of endotoxemia associated with gram-negative spesis in the neonate remains to be determined in a large prospective study.     

The effect of noradrenaline, injected into the hypothalamus, on thermoregulation in the cat

1. Noradrenaline (NA) was microinjected into the anterior hypothalamic/preoptic area(AH/POA) of unanaesthetized cats held at ambient temperatures of 10, 22 or 35 degrees C. Loci in which injection of NA caused body temperature changes were also found to be sensitive to the febrile action of PGE1. 2. At all ambient temperatures, NA caused a dose-dependent fall in body temperature. However the mechanisms by which these temperature changes were brought about varied at different ambient temperatures. In cats maintained at the higher ambient temperature, NA activated heat loss mechanisms whereas in the cats maintained in the 10degrees C environment, the major effect of NA injection was an inhibition of heat conservation and heat production mechanisms. 3. We conclude that NA acts in cats not only as an inhibitor of heat conservation and production, but also acts in an excitatory manner on an active heat loss pathway within the AH/POA.     

Ultrastructure of an ovotestis in a case of true hermaphroditism

A case of true hermaphroditism with bilateral ovotestes is reported. The karyotype was 46, XX. At laparotomy done at the age of 21 months a uterus, bilateral fallopian tubes, and bilateral gonads were observed. On frozen section examination, each gonad was shown to be an ovotestis. By light and electron microscopy, the only cellular abnormality observed in the ovotestes was the absence of primitive germ cells in the seminiferous tubules. The ovarian portion showed primordial follicles and normal follicular development.     

Histologic demonstration of glycosaminoglycans in inner ear fluids

We have shown previously that rat pancreatic periacinar fibroblastoid cells (PFCs) can be cultured from isolated pancreatic acini. In the present study, immunocytochemical examination of the PFC extracellular matrix was performed using antibodies against prolyl hydroxylase alpha and beta subunits, types I, III, and IV collagen, fibronectin, and laminin. The PFC content of alpha-smooth muscle actin and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor were studied by immunoblotting. We demonstrated that PFCs synthesized extracellular matrix and expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin and PDGF receptors. These results suggested that PFCs resemble myofibroblasts and may play a critical role in pancreatic fibrosis. Conversely, pancreatic-type phospholipase A2 (P-PLA2), one of the pancreatic digestive enzymes, has been shown to induce DNA synthesis of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. To determine whether this enzyme is involved in pancreatic fibrosis, we studied P-PLA2's proliferative and chemotactic effects on PFCs as well as its digestive activity. The proliferative and chemotactic effects were investigated using 3H-thymidine incorporation and a chemotactic assay, respectively. P-PLA2 had both proliferative and chemotactic effects. P-PLA2 is considered a growth factor for PFCs and is implicated in pancreatic fibrosis.     

Neurochemistry of brain lesions determined by spectroscopic imaging in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: The significance and etiology of focal brain lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are unknown. Our purpose was to determine whether the neurochemistry of focal lesions and normal appearing brain tissues in SLE were consistent with neuronal loss, demyelination, or ischemia. METHODS: Patients with SLE (n = 14) and controls (n = 13) were studied using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopic imaging (SI) at 1.5 Tesla. RESULTS: MRI detected fixed focal brain lesions (n = 16) and SI measured brain metabolites, including N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cre), choline (Cho), and lactate (Lac). NAA/Cre of normal appearing brain was decreased in patients with SLE compared to controls: grey matter (1.74 +/- 0.16 vs 1.92 +/- 0.18; p = 0.01), occipital white matter (1.98 +/- 0.22 vs 2.23 +/- 0.16; p = 0.004), and periventricular white matter (2.00 +/- 0.23 vs 2.33 +/- 0.23; p = 0.001). Lesions were characterized by markedly decreased NAA/Cre relative to normal appearing tissues in the same patient (1.67 +/- 0.22 vs 1.88 +/- 0.14; p = 0.0002). Elevated Cho/Cre was observed in 25% of focal lesions and 21% of normal appearing tissues. No elevation of lactate was observed in lesions or normal appearing tissues. CONCLUSION: SI detects focal and generalized brain abnormalities in SLE characterized by decreased NAA, elevated choline, and normal lactate. These findings are consistent with widespread neuronal injury and demyelination, but are not consistent with anaerobic metabolism.