In 44 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis serum levels of vitamin A, retinol-binding protein and transthyretin (prealbumin) were found to be significantly lower than in 25 sex- and age-matched controls. Liver biopsies were available for chemical analyses in 28 of the patients. Their mean liver vitamin A concentration (2.8 +/- 2.0 mumoles per gm wet weight) did not differ significantly from that in 22 cases of sudden death which served as controls (2.0 +/- 1.5 mumoles per gm wet weight). Immunohistochemical investigation showed a normal distribution of serum retinol-binding protein in the patients' livers, whereas the staining pattern of cellular retinol-binding protein, believed to be involved in the intrahepatic transport of vitamin A, was abnormal. Thus, the number size and cellular retinol-binding protein staining intensity of fat-storing (Ito) cells were clearly higher in the patients as compared with controls. The results suggest that the low serum vitamin A levels in primary biliary cirrhosis are not a consequence of vitamin A deficiency but instead reflect a defective mobilization of vitamin A from the liver.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Binding of platelet factor 4 to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

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Binding Sites↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of low molecular weight fibrin degradation products on endothelial cells in culture.

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Adenine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Unbiased estimation of neuronal numbers in the human nucleus coeruleus during aging.

The total number of the neuromelanin-containing neurons of the nucleus coeruleus was determined by means of a newly developed unbiased stereological counting scheme and a low-cost apparative set-up. The individuals (n = 20, age from 49-98 years) included in this study were carefully examined for absence of neurological or psychiatric disorders. However, minor Alzheimer's disease-related neurofibrillary changes occurred in some of the individuals of higher age and these changes were staged. The mean number of neurons per side of the nucleus coeruleus was 15,731 +/- 3,408 SD with a range from 11,737 to 25,319. In three individuals, we compared the left and right nuclei and did not observe significant side differences between the numbers of neurons. There was no correlation between the age of the individuals and the cell number. Also, no correlation was detected between the cell number and the staged occurrence of minor neurofibrillary changes of the Alzheimer type. Due to the novel counting method, the determination of the total cell number took less than 2 h per case.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Spatial, temporal and numeric analysis of Alzheimer changes in the nucleus coeruleus.

The distribution of neurofibrillary tangles in the nucleus coeruleus was topographically and quantitatively analyzed. The topographical analysis showed statistically significant differences with regard to the distribution of neurofibrillary tangles in the dorsal-ventral and medial-lateral axes. More neurofibrillary tangles were found to be located in the dorsal and medial regions than in ventral and lateral areas. No significant difference in neurofibrillary tangle content was found between the rostral and the caudal areas of the nucleus coeruleus. Neurofibrillary tangle formation begins in the central parts of the nucleus coeruleus. The total number of neuromelanized neurons in the nucleus coeruleus was determined using a modern, unbiased sampling scheme and related to the cortical stage of Alzheimer's disease-related neurofibrillary changes present. A statistically significant reduction (50%) in nucleus coeruleus neurons was evident only in cases meeting the histopathological criteria for Alzheimer's disease. The extent of reduction in the total number of neurons in the nucleus coeruleus did not correlate with the number of neurofibrillary tangles observed. Our data suggest that despite the relatively early susceptibility of the nucleus coeruleus to neurofibrillary tangle formation, significant neuronal loss appears to occur much later, with an estimated average delay time of at least 25 years. Nonetheless, comparison of the topographical pattern of neurofibrillary tangle formation and cell loss indicates that neuronal loss is tangle-related.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Three-dimensional modeling of biopsy protocols for localized prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in American men, yet only a small percentage of men will develop clinically significant disease. Needle core biopsies are used to confirm the presence of cancer prior to surgery. While needle core biopsies have shown some ability to predict tumor volume and grade in prostatectomy specimens, for the individual patient they are neither sensitive nor specific enough to guide therapy. In this paper, we describe a system for simulating needle biopsies on three-dimensional models of cancerous prostates reconstructed from serial sections. First we segment the serial sections, delineating tumors and landmarks. Next, we register the sections using a color-merging scheme, and reconstruct the three-dimensional model using modified-shape-based interpolation. The resulting volume can be rendered, and simulated needle core biopsies can be taken from the reconstructed model. We use our system to simulate two different biopsy protocols on a reconstructed prostate specimen.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reproductive energetics and thermoregulatory status of nestlings in pampas mice Akodon azarae (rodentia: sigmodontinae).

We evaluated metabolic rates during reproduction and the thermoregulatory status of preweaning pups of Akodon azarae (Fisher 1829). Metabolic rates during late pregnancy and lactation were 159% and 200%, respectively, of the basal metabolic rate. Metabolic rates of 10-d-old pups were 447% of the adult's metabolic rates. No difference in metabolic rates of pups was detected among different ambient temperatures. Differences were detected in body temperatures between pups without mothers before and after exposure to different ambient temperatures below the thermoneutral zone. Differences were not detected in body temperatures among solitary or grouped pups.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of graded infusions of monomethylmethacrylate on coagulation, blood lipids, respiration and circulation. An experimental study in dogs.

In 4 dogs injected intravenously (i.v.) with 125I labeled fibrinogen, 51Cr labeled platelets and 99mTc labeled albumin, and subjected to successively increasing amounts of i.v. infused monomethylmethacrylate, doses corresponding to the amounts released into the blood stream following implantation of acrylic cement during total hip replacements did not affect the clotting mechanism, did not cause trapping of platelets and fibrin in the lungs, did not generate fat emboli, and did not cause depression of the arterial oxygen tension or blood pressure. Monomethylmethacrylate in whole blood was associated with both blood cells and plasma.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of comparative genomic hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry in urinary bladder cancer.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was applied to screen the genetic events in six invasive urinary bladder cancers. These cases were also studied by flow cytometry (FCM) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Four samples showed partial gain on chromosome 8, with the common region involved was on 8q23-qter. Full or partial deletion on chromosome 2 and 17p in addition to gain on 20q was found in two cases. Interestingly one diploid tumor with low mitotic index, stage and grade showed more genetic aberrations (8 gains and 7 losses) by CGH than other aneuploid tumors with high mitotic index, stage and grade. The numerical chromosomal aberration detected by FISH for chromosomes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 17 were 50% in T1 cases and 100% in T2-T4 cases. FISH was performed on chromosome 8q and 17p to compare and validate the sensitivity of CGH. The agreement was 100% for 8q24 locus and 50% for p53 locus. This indicates that different molecular genetic techniques showed relatively different aspect of genomic aberrations.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Modifications of the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection.

Surgery for chronic pancreatitis has gained wide acceptance because of excellent results regarding pain alleviation and control of complications arising from adjacent organs. After the introduction of the duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection by Beger almost three decades ago, many modifications have been proposed, evaluated and compared. This article reviews the variety of operations, the reported results and potential advantages. Besides the Beger- and Frey procedure, none of the modifications have been properly evaluated in a prospective randomised trial. Both procedures managed to relief the outlined problems while achieving low operative mortality and morbidity. Only the operations according to Beger and Frey can be considered standard procedures in chronic Pancreatitis.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pancreas-sparing duodenectomy in duodenal pathology: indications and results.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreas sparing-duodenectomy is an organ-preserving surgical procedure suitable for patients with premalignant or early malignant lesions of the duodenum. The surgical technique is challenging due to the close anatomical relationship between the pancreas and the duodenum. METHODOLOGY: All patients undergoing pancreas-sparing duodenectomy for benign or premalignant condition of the duodenum operated on between 1998 and 2001 were analyzed prospectively. The surgical technique, the hospital course, and complications are described. RESULTS: A total of four patients underwent pancreas sparing-duodenectomy. Two patients experienced an uncomplicated postoperative course. In one patient, after completing the pancreas sparing-duodenectomy, the operation was converted to a Whipple procedure after the intraoperative diagnosis of malignant disease in the fresh frozen section. One patient had a complicated postoperative course with postoperative pancreatitis requiring several reoperations. At follow-up all patients are well, free of recurrence and alive. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreas-sparing duodenectomy is a challenging surgical technique and requires excellent knowledge of the anatomy. Intraoperative fresh-frozen section is mandatory to exclude malignant disease. If performed for appropriate indications, pancreas sparing-duodenectomy offers the potential to preserve the anatomical gastrointestinal passage and the integrity of the pancreas.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Retinoid-binding proteins in craniofacial development.

Cephalic neural crest cells are known to form the frontonasal mesenchyme and contribute to the mesenchyme of the visceral arches. Retinoids affect neural crest cells and their derivatives during development, and thus cause craniofacial, thymus, and conotruncal heart malformations. In addition, retinoids induce malformations of the central nervous system (CNS). Retinoic acid (RA) and its congeners accumulate in a saturable manner in neural crest and neural crest-derived cells, in the hindbrain, and the spinal cord of mouse embryos. Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) was localized by immunohistochemistry in the same areas as were the labelled RA congeners. Thus, CRABP and RA congeners were found in the transitional zone between surface ectoderm and neuropeithelium, from where neural crest cells are known to emanate (day 8 1/2). Later, specific labelling was found in the frontonasal mesenchyme and in the visceral arches. Also in the trunk, neural crest cells were labelled. In CNS, strong staining was seen in the rhombomeres (especially numbers 4-6) of the hindbrain and in the spinal cord. Retinol and cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) were more evenly distributed, with exception of surface ectoderm, epithelium of gut, and myocardium, where CRBP was specifically expressed. These findings are discussed in relation to the differential expression of nuclear RA receptors and homeobox genes in the craniofacial region and in the hindbrain. It is possible that RA is important for the normal pattern formation in these regions and acts as a morphogen as previously proposed in limb development.

Animals↗