Distribution of T-bands and telomeric (TTAGGG)n nucleotide repeats on chromosomes of Bos taurus

Distribution of T-bands on mitotic chromosomes of Bos taurus was studied. Association of T-bands with telomeres and enrichment of T-bands with genes, with a known localization is described. After THA-banding on the chromosomes of cattle, telomeric and pericentromeric regions of all autosomes showed bright fluorescence. The exception was for chromosome 7, which did not have telomeric T-bands. Interstitial T-bands were detected only on chromosomes 7, 16, and Y (7q13, 7q15, 7q22, 7q24, 16q21, and Yp12). A total proportion of centromeric, telomeric, and interstitial T-bands was 11.19, 9.97, and 2.02% of the length of the haploid chromosome set, respectively. By means of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), the presence of the telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)n was shown not only in telomeric regions of all autosome, but also in all pericentromeric regions. The obtained data are indicative of the specificity of T-banding on the chromosomes of Bos taurus.     

ILAE-defined epilepsy syndromes in children: correlation with quantitative MRI

PURPOSE: The role of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluation of childhood epilepsy remains poorly defined, with minimal published data. Previous work from our center questioned the specificity of hippocampal asymmetry (HA) in an outpatient group whose epilepsy was defined by using clinical and interictal data only. By using childhood volunteer controls and defining epilepsy syndromes using video-EEG monitoring, we readdressed the utility of HA in differentiating mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) from other partial and generalized epileptic syndromes in children. METHODS: Seventy children were enrolled; entry criteria were age younger than 18 years with predominant seizure type recorded on video-EEG telemetry with volumetric MRI in all cases. Thirty healthy child volunteers had volumetric MRI. Epilepsy syndrome classification was according to ILAE. RESULTS: Control data revealed symmetric hippocampi, mean smaller/larger ratio of 0.96 (0.95-0.97, 95% CI) with no gender or right/left predominance. Overall 23% of patients had significant HA. Mean hippocampal ratio for MTLE was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.70-0.86), significantly lower than controls and from all other epilepsy syndromes. HA was highly specific (85%) to the syndrome of MTLE. Other potential epileptogenic lesions were found in 27 (39%) patients, lowest yield in frontal and mesial temporal syndromes. Dual pathology was present in 10% of patients. There was no significant association between HA and risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that HA in children with a well-defined epilepsy syndrome is highly sensitive and specific for MTLE. Whether this will correlate with surgical outcome, as in adults, is the subject of ongoing study.     

Obliterative vesicourethral strictures following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer: reconstructive armamentarium

PURPOSE: We report the reconstructive techniques used to correct obliterative vesicourethral strictures related to prostate cancer surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four men with anastomotic obliteration after radical prostatectomy underwent primary excision with end-to-end anastomosis, penile fasciocutaneous flap, free-graft urethroplasty with rectus muscle flap or anterior bladder tube with omental pedicle flap procedure. RESULTS: At mean followup of 33.8 months all patients had urethral patency but none was continent. CONCLUSIONS: Single stage reconstruction of the obliterated vesicourethral anastomosis after prostatectomy successfully restored urethral patency. No technique was applicable in all cases. Sphincteric function is likely to be compromised after the primary procedure, resulting in incontinence after successful urethral reconstruction. Subsequent artificial sphincter placement appears to be safe and helpful in restoring continence.     

Tailed. New options in therapy of bronchial asthma

A correct access opening is the key to endodontics. An adequate anatomical access preparation maximizes cleaning, shaping, and obturation. The major objectives of access preparation are straight line access to the apical area, conservation of tooth structure, and unroofing of the pulp chamber. The safe-ended diamond bur technique provides an efficient and rapid means to obtain the objective of access preparation in posterior teeth.     

The effects of perindopril on vascular smooth muscle polyploidy in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE: To quantify vascular smooth muscle polyploidy and growth kinetics in aortic cells from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, and to examine the effects of treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril on these parameters. DESIGN: The following experimental groups were used: young (age < 20 weeks) and old (age > 20 weeks) untreated WKY rats and untreated SHRSP; SHRSP treated with perindopril, and age- and sex-matched control SHRSP; and SHRSP treated with hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide and age- and sex-matched control SHRSP. The effects of treatment of the SHRSP with perindopril for 30 days on vascular smooth muscle polyploidy and growth kinetics were measured and compared with the effects of equivalent antihypertensive doses of hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide. METHODS: Vascular smooth muscle polyploidy was measured using flow-cytometry DNA analysis of freshly harvested cells. Growth curves were performed on cultured aortic cells. Plasma renin activity was measured by an antibody-trapping method, plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) by radioimmunoassay and plasma ACE activity by a colorimetric method. Cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by measuring the heart weight:body weight and left ventricle + septum weight:body weight ratios. RESULTS: The SHRSP had markedly and significantly elevated G2 + M phase of the cell cycle. Treatment with perindopril resulted in a significant reduction in polyploidy in the SHRSP, whereas treatment with hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide had no effect on the percentage of cells in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle. The regression of polyploidy after treatment with perindopril was associated with a significant reduction in the concentration of Ang II and ACE activity, and with a significant regression of cardiac hypertrophy. Increased mitogenesis of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from the SHRSP was not altered by treatment with perindopril. CONCLUSIONS: ACE inhibition reduces vascular smooth muscle polyploidy in large conduit arteries. This type of vascular protection is mediated by the reduced Ang II and possibly by increased kinins level, rather than by the hypotensive effect alone.     

Relationships between gastric emptying, intragastric meal distribution and blood glucose concentrations in diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of disordered intragastric meal distribution and the relationships between gastric emptying, intragastric distribution, glycemic control and gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with diabetes mellitus had measurements of gastric emptying and intragastric distribution of a radioisotopically labeled solid/liquid meal (100 g beef and 150 ml 10% dextrose), glycemic control (plasma glucose concentrations), upper gastrointestinal symptoms (questionnaire) and autonomic nerve function (cardiovascular reflexes). Results were compared to those obtained in 20 normal volunteers. RESULTS: Solid and liquid gastric emptying were delayed in the diabetic patients and correlated weakly. Intragastric meal distribution was also often abnormal, with increased retention of both solid and liquid in the proximal stomach and increased retention of solid but not liquid in the distal stomach. In all patients with increased retention of solid in the proximal stomach, emptying from the total stomach was delayed. Gastric emptying of liquid was slower in those subjects who had a mean plasma glucose > 15 mmol/liter during the gastric emptying measurement, when compared to the remainder of the group. CONCLUSION: In patients with diabetes mellitus, there is poor relationship between solid and liquid gastric emptying and intragastric meal distribution is frequently abnormal. Interpretation of the results of gastric emptying measurements should consider meal composition and plasma glucose concentrations.     

Randomized controlled trial of open and closed haemorrhoidectomy

BACKGROUND: This study was a prospective randomized comparison of healing following open and closed haemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients (mean(s.e.m.) age 45(1.7) years; 35 men, 32 women) with three prolapsed piles were randomized to open haemorrhoidectomy (n = 34) or closed haemorrhoidectomy (n = 33). RESULTS: Mean(s.e.m.) follow-up was 8.7(0.2) months. There were no differences in the linear analogue pain scores, analgesic requirements and length of hospitalization after open haemorrhoidectomy and closed haemorrhoidectomy. Complete wound healing took significantly longer after closed haemorrhoidectomy (mean(s.e.m.) 6.9(0.7) weeks) compared with open haemorrhoidectomy (4.9(0.4)weeks) (P < 0.05). This was related to wound dehiscence in eight patients. Complication rates, however, were similar except for prolonged serous discharge from unhealed wounds. The anal manometry findings after both procedures were equivalent. CONCLUSION: Open haemorrhoidectomy leads to faster and more reliable wound healing, although this did not result in less pain or fewer complications.     

ACTH-producing carcinoma of the pituitary with haematogenic metastases

Two laboratories equipped with CAS 200 (Becton Dickinson Image Cytometry Systems, San Jose, CA) instruments participated in this study of variability of DNA analysis of bladder tumor specimens. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded specimens were disaggregated and centrifuged onto microscope slides from ten bladder tumor specimens and two specimens of normal urothelium. Sources of variability considered were Specimen, Slide, Run, Laboratory, and Error. Slides were systematically scanned and 200 cells measured followed by the operator selecting 100 nuclei with abnormal morphology. DNA index (DI) and hyperdiploid fraction (HDF) were calculated from the DNA frequency distributions. For systematic sampling, 92% of the variability was due to Specimen indicating that differences in HDF values between specimens reflect biological differences. With selective sampling, only 67% of the variability in HDF is due to Specimen differences. Other factors, Laboratory, Error, and Laboratory x Specimen interaction each accounted for approximately 10% of the variability. Similarly variability of DI with selective sampling was also higher, and less specimen dependent than systematic sampling. It is important that sampling schemes and selection criteria be carefully documented in order to control variability. Enriched (or selective) sampling for abnormal cells has the potential to increase sensitivity but specimen classification based on these measurements must depend on determination of the frequency of such cells in the total population.