Complex radiation diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors and tumor-like states

The paper presents the results of complex radiation diagnosis of 118 cases of retroperitoneal tumors and tumor-like states, including 71 patients with tumors of mesenchymal origin, 7 with those of neurogenic origin, 6 with cysts, 9 with lymphogranulomatosis, 8 with retroperitoneal fibrosis, 12 with metastases, and 5 with hematomas. A wide complex of routine and up-to-date high-technology radiation diagnostic techniques was used to study the patients. The authors show the merits and dismerits of each technique. Greatest attention is given to the assessment of current techniques, primarily to ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). The studies have indicated that despite some specific features, many retroperitoneal tumors and tumor-like states bear similarities when various radiation methods are employed. The authors describe some syndromes which can be used to make a diagnosis. Despite the high capacities of US and CT in studying the normal and pathological structures of the human body, there are still great difficulties in differentiating different abnormalities when even the latest techniques are applied, these cases need paracentic aspiration or open biopsy.     

Calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the human thalamus

To identify plant defense components that are important in restricting the growth of virulent pathogens, we screened for Arabidopsis mutants in the accession Columbia (carrying the transgene BGL2-GUS) that display enhanced disease susceptibility to the virulent bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola (Psm) ES4326. Among six (out of a total of 11 isolated) enhanced disease susceptibility (eds) mutants that were studied in detail, we identified one allele of the previously described npr1/nim1/sai1 mutation, which is affected in mounting a systemic acquired resistance response, one allele of the previously identified EDS5 gene, and four EDS genes that have not been previously described. The six eds mutants studied in detail (npr1-4, eds5-2, eds10-1, eds11-1, eds12-1, and eds13-1) displayed different patterns of enhanced susceptibility to a variety of phytopathogenic bacteria and to the obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen Erysiphe orontii, suggesting that particular EDS genes have pathogen-specific roles in conferring resistance. All six eds mutants retained the ability to mount a hypersensitive response and to restrict the growth of the avirulent strain Psm ES4326/avrRpt2. With the exception of npr1-4, the mutants were able to initiate a systemic acquired resistance (SAR) response, although enhanced growth of Psm ES4326 was still detectable in leaves of SAR-induced plants. The data presented here indicate that eds genes define a variety of components involved in limiting pathogen growth, that many additional EDS genes remain to be discovered, and that direct screens for mutants with altered susceptibility to pathogens are helpful in the dissection of complex pathogen response pathways in plants.     

Congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome

The congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome is characterized by pseudobulbar palsy, moderate delay in mental and motor development and epilepsy. Three characteristic case stories are presented. Epileptic seizures are most frequently generalized: tonic, astatic, atypical absences and tonic-clonic seizures. Partial seizures are less frequent. Seizure control is often unsatisfactory. Neuroimaging demonstrates thickening of the cerebral cortex in the perisylvian area bilaterally; these changes together with the clinical picture establish the diagnosis. The etiology is unknown.     

The small-cell variant of mycosis fungoides. A clinicopathological and quantitative electron microscopic study on 14 patients

Small-cell variants of Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides (MF) have been described. However, in these studies the nuclear area of the small-cell variant of MF (SC-MF) as compared to histological classical MF (CL-MF) was not characterized objectively by quantitative electron microscopy. In a 14-year follow-up period, of a total of 76 patch/plaque stage MF patients seen in the Department of Dermatology of the University Hospital Utrecht, 14 (18%) had an infiltrate composed of atypical lymphocytes characterized by a distinctly smaller cell diameter and smaller, hyperchromatic, deeply indented nuclei as compared to the usual cell type of MF. The aim of the investigation was to confirm this observation objectively using quantitative electron microscopy (morphometry) and to define SC-MF as compared to CL-MF. The study was performed on the 14 patients with SC-MF, and 10 patients with clinical and histological CL-MF and 4 patients with chronic eczema. Electron micrographs of sections obtained from each biopsy were analysed by computer to produce the following data: a nuclear contour index (NCI), the mean nuclear area (MNA), the mean nuclear area of the cells above the 75th percentile (P75NA) and the percentage of cells larger than 30 microm2. The values of MNA differed significantly between patients with SC-MF and those with CL-MF (17.6 vs 23.2 microm2; P = 0.02), as did the values of P75NA (20.7 vs 27.9 microm2; P = 0.01). The NCI of the SC-MF and CL-MF patients were similar. These results are consistent with our observations that SC-MF does indeed exist.     

Structural features of arabinoxylans from Sonalika variety of wheat: comparison between whole wheat flour and wheat bran

Arabinoxylans (AX) were extracted from Sonalika variety of wheat (whole wheat flour and wheat bran) with barium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide and purified by a combination of alcohol precipitation and glucoamylase digestion. Structural features of purified AX were elucidated by methylation analysis, ¹³C NMR, FT‐IR, periodate oxidation and optical rotation measurements. The AX showed a backbone of xylose residues with β(1–4) linkages and were branched mainly through O‐3 of xylose residues. Completely branched xylosyl residues were also present. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of high oxygen concentrations on microbial biosensor signals. Hyperoxygenation by means of perfluorodecalin

Amperometric biosensors register oxygen depletion in response to analyte catabolism, and thus are limited by the availability of dissolved oxygen. Microbial sensors containing immobilized cells of Gluconobacter oxydans were hyperoxygenated to 400% of control levels and the effects on sensor responses to glucose were determined. Oxygenated perfluorodecalin (a completely fluorinated organic substance) was as effective in hyperoxygenation as direct sparging with O2, increasing sensor base medium oxygen concentrations from 9.3 to 37 mg/l. Hyperoxygenation enhanced maximal biosensor response amplitudes, particularly at high cell loading densities. Maximal response rates were also improved, although less dramatically. Results suggest that hyperoxygenation may be a new general approach for modulating biosensor responses.     

Porous composites of hydroxyapatite‐filled poly[ethylene‐co‐(vinyl acetate)] for tissue engineering

A novel porous composite of hydroxyapatite/poly[ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate)] (HAP/EVA) having better osteointegration was fabricated by gas foaming technique using a non toxic gas blowing agent intended for bone replacement applications. Combined techniques of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray microcomputed tomography (µCT) analysis showed that the pore size and pore volume of the porous composite decrease with the increase of HAP content. The gravimetric analysis evidenced for good pore interconnectivity within the porous composites. Energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX) studies inveterated the even scattering of Ca ions which in turn indicate the uniform dispersion of HAP particles in the composites. The significant gradation in Ca ion concentration seen in EDX studies is well accordance with the amount of HAP loading in the sample. Mechanical properties of the porous composite having different HAP content were measured to have the compressive strength varying from 1.06 to 2.2 MPa. Non‐cytotoxic character of the material was observed by the cytocompatibility studies. The metabolic activity of L929 cells seeded on the material assessed by [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol)‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyltertrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was found to be 91.8%. The adhesion and migration of the cells inside the pore walls were visualized by confocal microscopy. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pseudomutagenesis. The persistent increase in the level of cellular variability induced by radiation and some other agents

Electron microscopic investigation of capillary endothelium cells in myocardium of irradiated rats revealed an unusual effect of persistent increase of probability of cell damage, similar in many relations to that described earlier for various unicellular species. New effect, unlike those traditionally studied, is characterised by non-stochastic nature, large number of the involved cells, reveals itself even after faint influences, and can be induced as well by agents other than radiation. The question is put on the probable commonness between these changes and the pseudomutagenesis which has the similar phenomenology.