Circular intestinal and esophageal suture with universal suture device (experimental trial)

A universal suture device (USD) able to make simultaneous two-line and cross-shaped circular clips stitches on various tube-shaped organs (vessels, intestines, esophagus, stomach, ets), creating end-to-end and end-to-side anastomosis with the external cuff is proposed. The results of experimental trials of USD and its clinical use in anastomosing main vessels were published before (8, 9, 11, 12). In this article the results of experiments with the use of USD in intestinal and esophageal sutures in 35 dogs are analysed. There were 4 series of experiments with 45 anastomoses (31 intestinal and 14 esophageal anastomoses). The anastomosed segments of the intestines and esophagus healed at the level of the lower side of the cuff. The cuff completely resumes its shape in 2.5-5 months, and the clips come off by month 7-8 after the surgery. The mucous layer of the esophagus straightened by the 2-3d month, while adventitial-muscular layer does not straigheten at all, and the clips from it could be found till the 10th month after the surgery. There were no cases of anastomotic incompetence.     

Renal cancer: preoperative evaluation with dual-phase three-dimensional MR angiography

Using a highly sensitive allele-specific PCR amplification method, we have previously shown that maternal cells could be detected in all 10 cord bloods tested. This raised the question of whether maternal cells are released into cord blood during the process of delivery or whether they are already present during pregnancy. We have now used the same PCR method to detect the presence of maternal cells in nine fetal blood samples collected at different gestational ages. Maternal cells were detected in eight samples obtained between 24 and 35 weeks of gestation. They were estimated to amount between 10(-4) and 10(-5) of nucleated fetal blood cells. In two cases mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell fractions were separated by Ficoll gradient centrifugation and maternal cells were detected as comparable levels in both fractions. Maternal cells could not be detected in the one fetal blood sample obtained at 20 weeks of gestation, suggesting that maternal cells could appear at detectable levels in fetal blood during the third trimester of pregnancy. These results are discussed in terms of materno-fetal immune tolerance and of transmission of viruses (and more specifically of the human immunodeficiency virus) from mother to child.     

Cholesterol-independent targeting of Golgi membrane proteins in insect cells

Distinct lipid compositions of intracellular organelles could provide a physical basis for targeting of membrane proteins, particularly where transmembrane domains have been shown to play a role. We tested the possibility that cholesterol is required for targeting of membrane proteins to the Golgi complex. We used insect cells for our studies because they are cholesterol auxotrophs and can be depleted of cholesterol by growth in delipidated serum. We found that two well-characterized mammalian Golgi proteins were targeted to the Golgi region of Aedes albopictus cells, both in the presence and absence of cellular cholesterol. Our results imply that a cholesterol gradient through the secretory pathway is not required for membrane protein targeting to the Golgi complex, at least in insect cells.     

Virologic diagnosis of an outbreak of epidemic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Cuba.1989

The causative agent of an hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak was assessed through the study of 18 conjunctival exudates using the indirect immunofluorescence technique and isolation in cell culture of human embryo fibroblasts. In addition, 395 paired serum samples were studied and Enterovirus 70 was found to be responsible for the outbreak.     

Conductivite ionique du lithium dans les verres du systeme B2O3  Li2O  LiCl

New vitreous electrolytes with lithium ion carriers have been obtained in the B₂O₃  Li₂O  LiCl system. They are ionic conductors with high performances. Evolution of their electrical properties as a function of the composition in Li₂O and LiCl is specified and discussed.     

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment with dental appliance

The case of a 40-year-old male patient with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is reported, with emphasis on treatment with a dental appliance. This therapeutic approach, which has been focused on recent research, has as its objective, the posturing of the mandibule and, consequently, the tongue more anteriorly, thus in turn leading to an increase in the posterior oropharyngeal airway space (PAS). Cephalometry contributed determining in this case whereby enlargement limits were observed in the PAS with mandibular displacement. Clinical and polysomnographic controls showed subjective reduction of the excessive daytime sleepiness and objective decrease in apneas intensity to normal limits. Eight months follow-up evidenced the steady improvement.     

A pregnancy-specific glycoprotein is expressed in the brain and serves as a receptor for mouse hepatitis virus

Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), a murine coronavirus known to cause encephalitis and demyelination, uses murine homologues of carcinoembryonic antigens as receptors. However, the expression of these receptors is extremely low in the brain. By low-stringency screening of a mouse brain cDNA library, we have identified a member of the pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) subgroup of the carcinoembryonic antigen gene family. Unlike other PSG that are expressed in the placenta, it is expressed predominantly in the brain. Transfection of the cDNA into COS-7 cells, which lack a functional MHV receptor, conferred susceptibility to infection by some MHV strains, including A59, MHV-2, and MHV-3, but not JHM. Thus, this is a virus strain-specific receptor. The detection of multiple receptors for MHV suggests the flexibility of this virus in receptor utilization. The identification of this virus in receptor utilization. The identification of a PSG predominantly expressed in the brain also expands the potential functions of these molecules.     

Cultural effect on postoperative pain

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the S + G2/M fraction (proliferative index) is a prognostic determinant in breast cancers classified as Auer IV. STUDY DESIGN: Prognostic evaluation of Auer IV DNA histograms with respect to the high versus low S + G2/M fraction, obtained by image cytometry on consecutive breast cancer imprint preparations. RESULTS: When studying recurrence-free survival (n = 136), the prognostic value of S + G2/M was found to vary with time: it was negligible before the median time to relapse (1.5 years) but thereafter statistically significant, in both univariate and multivariate analysis. The same pattern was found when overall survival was used as the end point; the effect was delayed to about the median time until death (three years). Tumors with a low S + G2/M fraction were smaller and more often estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive than those with a high S + G2/M fraction. CONCLUSION: According to ICM-DNA values corresponding to the S + G2/M region, patients with breast cancers classified as Auer IV can be divided into subgroups with different tumor characteristics and prognoses.