ERCP and CT findings of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate ERCP and CT findings of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb. CONCLUSION: Although rare, the diagnosis of ectopic drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb is important to prevent inadvertent damage during biliary tract or gastric surgery and to clarify the cause of chronic peptic ulcers.     

Coding region of NKX3.1, a prostate-specific homeobox gene on 8p21, is not mutated in human prostate cancers

Loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 8p21-22 is common in human prostate cancer, suggesting the presence of one or more tumor suppressor genes at this locus. A homeobox gene that is expressed specifically in adult human prostate, NKX3.1, the expression of which is regulated by androgen, maps to chromosome 8p21. Fine structure in situ mapping showed that NKX3.1 is proximal to MSR32 (macrophage scavenger receptor type II) and LPL (human lipoprotein lipase) and very close to NEFL (human neurofilament light chain) on 8p21. Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of 48 radical prostatectomy cancer specimens and 3 metastases for the entire coding region of NKX3.1 showed no tumor-specific sequence alterations in 50 specimens and total absence of the gene in 1 specimen known to have a biallelic deletion of 8p21. NKX3.1 was found to have a polymorphism at nucleotide 154 in codon 52 that resulted in a CGC-->TGC sequence change and an Arg-->Cys amino acid alteration (R52C). This polymorphism was present in 20% of DNA samples. If NKX3.1 is a target of the 8p21 LOH, it is not via disruption of the coding region of the gene.     

Memory beyond the hippocampus

Cultured hepatocytes of silver eel actively secreted only chylomicron-like lipoprotein. The rate of secretion per mg cellular protein per 24 hr was 2.2 times higher compared with that by yellow eel hepatocytes. Silver eel hepatocytes secreted lipids 2.5 times higher through the lipoprotein than yellow eel hepatocytes. Main lipid was triacylglycerol in either secreted lipoprotein and composition of apolipoproteins of both secreted lipoproteins was the same. The incorporation of 3H-leucine into the lipoprotein secreted by silver eel hepatocytes was 2.4 times higher, but that of 14C-acetate was not significantly different. Protein and lipids composition of plasma lipoproteins of silver eel was significantly higher and lower compared with those of yellow eel, respectively. We suggest that the secreted lipoprotein of silver eel hepatocytes transport much more lipids to other tissues than that of yellow eel hepatocytes.     

Late rectal sequelae following definitive radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a dosimetric analysis

OBJECTIVE: The structure of the collagen scar during healing of a myocardial infarction is a determinant of the function of the remodeled tissue. We hypothesize that the passive deformations of both scar and normal tissue are related to the underlying collagen uncoiling as the tissue stretches, and that the unloaded tortuosity of the collagen may be a determinant of tissue stiffness at low ventricular pressure. Hence collagen uncoiling and tissue strain were measured during passive loading in normal tissue, and in healing infarct tissue. METHODS: Left ventricles of rats were infarcted by ligation of the left anterior descending artery for 2 weeks. Surface strains were measured during passive inflation in the scar region in one set of excised hearts, and other arrested hearts were fixed at different ventricular pressures, after which collagen tortuosity was measured in the infarcted and normal tissue. RESULTS: Passive loading strains were smaller in the scar in both the fiber and cross-fiber directions. Tortuosity decreased with load in normal and infarcted tissue, with fibrils tending to straighten more in the scar tissue at higher pressures (1.056 +/- 0.009 vs. 1.024 +/- 0.009 at P = 20 mmHg) with similar tortuosities at zero pressure (1.110 +/- 0.012 vs. 1.098 +/- 0.019). The decrease in tortuosity with strain was greater for the infarcted tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The greater stiffness of infarcted tissue at low pressure is not due to 'straightened' collagen fibers, and there may be a different three-dimensional structure of infarct vs. normal coiled collagen fibers which can affect the material properties of these tissues.     

Decreased levels of a soluble form of the human adhesion receptor CD58 (LFA-3) in sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The mode of interaction between muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a compound with immunopharmacological activities, and 5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) was studied in isolated nerve-smooth muscle preparations of the carp stomach. Application of exogenous 5-HT evoked direct smooth muscle contractions; electric neurogenic stimulation evoked twitches due to release of 5-HT from nerve endings. Contractions evoked by a high concentration of 5-HT (3-30 microM) were resistant to atropine and potentiated in the presence of MDP. Isamoltan (5-HTID antagonist) decreased the amplitude of contractions, whereas ketanserin (5-HT2 antagonist) and MDL 72,222 (5-HT3 antagonist) had no effect. The addition of low concentrations (0.1-1.5 microM) of 5-HT did not contract the preparation but caused a decrease in the amplitude of neurogenic twitches, which might be due to the presynaptic inhibition of serotonin release. This effect of 5-HT was not changed by isamoltan or ketanserin, but it was largely reduced in the presence of 5-HT3 antagonists tropisetron and MDL 72,222. This inhibitory effect of 5-HT on twitch amplitude was potentiated by MDP. The interaction of MDP with the serotonergic system thus involved not only potentiation of the postsynaptic effect of higher 5-HT concentrations, which might have been mediated via the 5-HT1 subsystem, but also presynaptic inhibition. MDP enhancement of 5-HT's inhibitory effect, mediated via 5-HT3 receptors, might represent a new feature in mutual 5-HT-MDP interactions.