An evaluation of the marmoset Callithrix jacchus (sagüi) as an experimental model for the dyslipoproteinemia of human Schistosomiasis mansoni

BACKGROUND: There have been only a few brain computed tomography imaging studies, with mostly negative findings, in subjects with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This is the first MRI study which evaluated the structural abnormalities of the brain in subjects with the sole diagnosis of BPD. METHODS: Twenty-five subjects with BPD were compared with age-, gender-matched healthy comparison subjects (n=25) on volumes of the frontal lobes, the temporal lobes, the lateral ventricles, and the cerebral hemispheres in brain magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Subjects with BPD had a significantly smaller frontal lobe compared to comparison subjects (multivariate regression analysis, t=2.225, df=46, P=0.031). There were no significant differences in volumes of the temporal lobes, the lateral ventricles, and the cerebral hemispheres between subjects with and without BPD. LIMITATIONS: Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria employed in the present study may make it difficult to generalize our findings. The gray matter and white matter of the brain were not measured separately. Differences in head tilt during image acquisition were not corrected. CONCLUSIONS: The current study reports a smaller frontal lobe volume on brain MRI in subjects with BPD compared with healthy comparison subjects. This finding may serve as a potentially useful biological variable that may allow for subtyping BPD.     

Mechanism of action of benzene on hematopoiesis (a study of hematopoietic stem cells)

A study was made of the effect of benzol on the colony-forming activity in the spleen and the bone marrow of mice in 4 different experimental variants. In benzol hypoplasia of hemopoiesis there was a decrease in the number of the CFU in the hemopoietic organs without any changes in the distribution of their cell types. Incubation of the cells of normal mouse bone marrow with benzol did not induce any decrease of the colony-forming efficiency. Administration of benzol to the lethally irradiated mice after the transplantation of normal bone marrow suspension led to a sharp decrease in the number of CFU with a preponderant depression of the granulocytic colony formation. These data afford to suppose the change in the properties of microenvironment of the hemopoietic stem cells in experimental benzol poisoning.     

Liver and heart mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity of newborn rats in anoxic hypoxia and starvation

Succinate dehydrogenase activity was determined in the liver and heart of newborn rats after 3 and 48 hours' exposure to anoxic hypoxia (10% O2) and after 48 hours' starvation. Control determinations were made on newborn animals of corresponding ages, full term foetuses (21 days), infantile (1 and 2 weeks) and full grown animals. Hypoxia for 3 h had no influence on succinate dehydrogenase activity at all in either the heart or liver mitochondria of the newborn animals. After 48 h no difference was observed in the liver between the hypoxic animals and the starved controls of the same age, though starvation itself had resulted in a significant increase in activity, as much as 42%. When liver mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase in normal mitochondria was activated by preincubation mitochondria with the substrate, the activity increase obtained was greater than that resulting from starvation. The increase in activity in the heart of the hypoxic or starved animals was not significant (less than 10%).     

Some biochemical properties of Acholeplasma laidlawii mutants defective in glucose carrier

Some membrane properties of glucose transport system of Acholeplasma laidlawii mutants uncapable of uptaking glucose as well as those of its non-metabolizing analogue, 3-0-methylglucose are studied. In contrast to the wild strain the mutant PTL-S cells fail to uptake carbohydrates with the saturation. There is no competition between carbohydrates during transport in this mutant no sugar exit is observed, and the sensitivity of transport to thiol reagents and pronase B is considerably affected. All other investigated membrane functions were intact. The data given indicate the presence of a specific defect in glucose transport system.     

Anatomical and functional considerations in total claviclectomy

There should be no hesitation in performing a total claviclectomy. It is the treatment of choice in cases of ch. pyogenic osteomyelitis of the clavicle and other lesions which demand sacrificing the bone. There was no functional impairment of the shoulder joint or the girdle. There is usually no major postoperative complication and no residual disability. In children, regeneration of bone takes place from the periosteal tube.