A new method for the two-dimensional analysis of bone structure in human iliac crest biopsies

A new method is described for the analysis of the two-dimensional structural pattern of trabecular bone in human iliac crest biopsies. 8 μm thick undecalcified sections stained with the von Kossa technique were examined at a magnification of ×9. Using an Ibas II image analyser, the ratio of nodes to free ends and the length of different strut types (cortex to free end, node or cortex, free end to free end and node to node, loop or free end) expressed as a percentage of total strut length were assessed. The reproducibility of the method was good for most of the measured indices but inter-observer and inter-section variation were greater. Comparison of biopsy sections obtained from eleven young healthy control subjects and eleven patients with hepatic osteoporosis revealed a significantly higher node to free end ratio, node to loop and node to node strut length and significantly lower cortex to free end and free end to free end strut length in the controls. No significant differences were seen in node to free end, cortex to cortex or cortex to node strut length. This approach to trabecular bone structure analysis should prove useful in determining patterns of bone loss in health and disease and in examining the effects of treatment on bone structure in osteoporosis.     

Automated cell counting in tissue sections: a new approach by ‘multiple grey-level analysis‘

A system is described for the automated quantitation in tissue sections of the follicular and stromal cell populations of the thyroid gland, using a computer-linked TV image analyser. The paper illustrates how the problems of variable staining intensity and clustering of images (nuclei) may be overcome by a novel approach, in which multiple analyses of each field are made at increasing grey-level thresholds, and then ‘synthesized’ by computer to give a composite image. Discrimination between cell (nuclear) types was by a single minimum width criterion. The results were highly reproducible and correlated well with counts obtained by a comparable manual method.     

Effects of cooking on levels of PCBs in the fillets of winter flounder

A total of 91 breast cancer patients died of advanced and recurrent breast cancer at the Osaka Teishin Hospital from 1986 to 1996. There were 18 cases (19.8%) among them showing hypercalcemia (serum corrected Ca > or = 11.0 mg/dl). These 18 cases were analyzed to determine the incidence of hypercalcemia and to find a more effective treatment. All these patients had multiple bone metastases during their clinical course, and six patients (33.3%) had pathologic bone fracture just before the occurrence of hypercalcemia. Their common symptoms were general fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, renal dysfunction or neurological symptoms. There was no definitive correlation between clinical signs and serum calcium values. Among various therapies, the use of pamidronate disodium (Aredia) in combination with hydration, steroid and calcitonin was found to be the most effective treatment for hypercalcemia. The survival time from the diagnosis of hypercalcemia in the patients undergoing treatment with Aredia was significantly better than without it (p < 0.01). This suggests that Aredia should be effective and useful for advanced breast cancer patients with hypercalcemia.     

Intelligent network overview

The International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph (CCITT) program of work that addresses global international intelligent network (IN) standards and a framework for the standardized evolution of IN are described. Bell Communication Research's (Bellcore's) IN work, referred to as the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), is also discussed in relation to the CCITT IN Recommendations. In addition, IN activities of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the Telecommunications Technology Committee (TTC) of Japan are described     

Mechanism of bone loss after liver transplantation: A histomorphometric analysis

This work analyzed the rat soleus muscle after single and recurrent contusions at different stages of regeneration. A noninvasive contusion was produced by a type of drop-mass equipment. The posterior region of the right hind limb received a trauma and both right and left soleus muscles were analyzed 1, 4, and 6 days after a single contusion (1x), and 6 and 30 days after periodic contusions (10x, one trauma per week for 10 weeks). Single contusion: there was no significant difference between right and left soleus muscle weight. All animals showed abundant signs of acute damage in the right soleus. AChE activity was identified in regeneration segments of the right soleus. Periodic contusions: there was an increase in the right soleus muscle weight (alpha = 5%) only in the animals evaluated 6 days after periodic contusions. The right soleus muscle showed a high incidence of chronic signs of damage, such as split fibers and a centralized nucleus, which predominated when compared with the acute signs. Right soleus muscles showed split fibers with AChE activity in both the proximal and middle regions. There was no difference in the incidence of muscle fiber types (I, II, and IIC) between right and left soleus muscles after periodic contusions. Skeletal muscle contusion is common in humans, especially in sport activities, where repetitive traumas are also frequent. The results of this work indicate that despite the regeneration process there is an important change in the morphological aspect of regenerated muscle fibers, which possibly affect muscle performance.     

The future of the intelligent network

This article examines the role the intelligent network (IN) can play as carriers move to next-generation networks. It discusses possible transition scenarios and examines how the IN could interwork with the Internet and packet-based networks to produce new hybrid services. The article presents a view of a fully converged network, and concludes that IN will continue have a vital role in voice and data services     

Cortical remodeling following suppression of endogenous estrogen with analogs of gonadotrophin releasing hormone

The effects of estrogen suppression on osteonal remodeling in young women was investigated using transiliac biopsies (eight paired biopsies + four single pre; three single post biopsies) taken before and after treatment for endometriosis (6 months) with analogs of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH). Estrogen withdrawal increased the proportion of Haversian canals with an eroded surface (106%, p = 0.047), a double label (238%, p = 0.004), osteoid (71%, p = 0.002), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 116%, p = 0.043) but not those showing tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity (p = 0.25) or a single label (p = 0.30). Estrogen withdrawal increased TRAP activity in individual osteoclasts in canals with diameters greater than 50 microns (p = 0.0089) and also the number of osteons with diameters over 250 microns (p = 0.049). ALP activity in individual osteoblasts was increased but not significantly following treatment (p = 0.051). Wall thickness was significantly correlated with osteon diameter (p < 0.001). In a separate group of patients (four pairs + one post biopsy) on concurrent treatment with tibolone, there was no significant increase in the osteon density, cortical porosity, median canal diameter, or the markers of bone formation and resorption. Enzyme activities and numbers of active canals were also not increased with the concurrent treatment, but there was still an increase in the osteon diameter. As previously shown for cancellous bone, estrogen withdrawal increased cortical bone turnover. We have now shown that resorption depth within Haversian systems was also increased with treatment. The enhanced TRAP activity in individual osteoclasts supports the concept that osteoclasts are more active following estrogen withdrawal in agreement with theoretical arguments advanced previously. Understanding the cellular and biochemical mechanisms responsible for increased depth of osteoclast resorption when estrogen is withdrawn may allow the development of new strategies for preventing postmenopausal bone loss.