Cholesteryl ester accumulation in macrophages treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein

The ability of CuSO4- and hypochlorite-oxidized LDL to promote cholesterol accumulation in macrophages was examined. Both CuSO4- and hypochlorite-oxidized LDL were rapidly metabolized by mouse peritoneal macrophages to a level approximately 10 times that observed for native LDL and both modified lipoproteins increased the accumulation of unesterified cholesterol. However when each modified lipoprotein was incubated with macrophages for 40h, only hypochlorite-oxidized LDL produced significant accumulation of cholesteryl esters, with levels approaching 85 micrograms/mg cell protein. This finding was verified by nile red staining. The cholesteryl ester content of cupric sulfate-modified LDL was found to be significantly decreased when compared to either native or hypochlorite-modified LDL promotes massive cholesteryl ester accumulation because the cholesteryl ester content of the LDL particle is preserved.     

Neuropathy presenting as prolonged dyspnea. Case report and review of literature

Polyneuropathy presented as isolated respiratory muscular paralysis. Transdiaphragmatic pressure measurements, nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and biopsy of intercostal muscle confirmed the nature of the process. Patients with unexplained respiratory insufficiency must be carefully evaulated for underlying neuromuscular disease.     

Electrical polarization in the osteon-system under mechanical stress (author's transl)

The results of a model, designed to estimate the electrical polarization of the mineralized collagen fribril in the osteon-system caused by mechanical stresses are presented. These are potential differences in the mV-range between neighbouring osteon-canals with different orientation of the fibrils in the wall of the canal, local dependent potentials in the cross-sectional area of the osteon-canal and the local dependent radial component of the dielectric displacement within the lamella system, especially nearby the osteocytes.     

Complications of renal cyst puncture

One hundred nineteen renal cyst punctures have been reviewed. There have been four complications (3.4 per cent), three requiring surgery. This should be expected, as all invasive diagnostic procedures are accompanied by some morbidity. The relative benefit of nonoperative diagnostic procedures in differentiating benign renal cyst from adenocarcinoma is discussed.     

Basal cell carcinoma in black patients: the need to include it in the differential diagnosis

We present a retrospective study of 276 basal cell carcinomas which we have identified 5 (1.8%) black patients. This finding agrees with the current literature, which states that basal cell carcinoma in the black population is relatively infrequent. Although basal cell carcinoma in black patients is uncommon, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of any suspicious lesion in this population to avoid the morbidity that is associated with a delay in diagnosis. In this study we also present the possible association of basal cell carcinoma occurring concomitantly with a second primary malignancy in this population. In black patients basal cell carcinoma is found more frequently in regions of the body that are protected from ultraviolet radiation when compared to white patients. This leads to the speculation that a different pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma exists for black patients.