Several studies have provided evidence that epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) mediate some of the physiological effects of estrogen. The object of the present study was to determine whether exogenous EGF could initiate embryo implantation in the rat, a response known to depend upon the action of estrogen in a progesterone-primed uterus. Immunocytochemical examination showed the presence of immunoreactive EGF, TGF alpha and the EGF receptor in luminal glandular epithelium of uteri on days 4,5 and 6 of pregnancy. EGF receptor was also present in the implanting embryo and in decidual cells of the uterine stroma. Attempts to initiate implantation by intravenous injection of murine EGF into ovariectomized or hypophysectomized delayed-implanting rats maintained with progesterone were unsuccessful. Implantation sites were found, however, in 24 of 33 (73 per cent) hypophysectomized progesterone-primed rats given 100 micrograms EGF immediately after intrauterine transfer of blastocysts from hypophysectomized delayed implanting animals. Although EGF is capable of initiating implantation in the delayed implanting rat model it remains to be determined whether this growth factor is responsible for the implantation inducing action of estrogen in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Adenovirus vectors as potential vaccines against herpes simplex virus.

Increased attention is being paid to adenoviruses as expression vectors and as recombinant virus vaccines. Adenovirus serotypes 4 and 7 have been administered orally to large numbers of military recruits as vaccines, and no adverse effects have been noted. We have constructed recombinant adenovirus vectors expressing glycoproteins of herpes simplex virus (HSV) that induce humoral and cellular immunity to HSV. Mice vaccinated with an adenovirus vector expressing HSV glycoprotein B (gB) were protected from a lethal challenge with HSV. Further studies are under way in monkeys to examine the possibility that oral administration of adenovirus vectors can produce protective immunity. In addition, adenovirus vectors have been used to identify viral antigens that are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and to further characterize these T cell responses. A small region in HSV gB, which acts as a major target for HSV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, was defined with use of adenovirus vectors expressing deleted forms of gB.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of screening aqueous contrast swallow in detecting clinically significant anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Aqueous contrast swallow study is recommended as a screening procedure for the evaluation of esophageal anastomotic integrity following esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of water-soluble contrast swallow screening as a predictor of clinically significant anastomotic leak in patients with esophagectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 505 consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy in Mayo Clinic from January 1991 through December 1995 were retrospectively reviewed. 464 (92%) patients had water-soluble contrast swallows performed in the early postoperative period (median postoperative day 7, range 4-11 days). RESULTS: A total of 39 radiological leaks were obtained but only 17 of these had clinical signs of anastomotic leakage. Furthermore, 25 patients who had normal swallow study developed a clinical anastomotic leak. There were therefore 22 (4.7%) false positive and 25 (5.4%) false negative results giving values for the specificity, sensitivity and false negative error rate of the radiological examination of 94.7, 40.4, and 59.5% respectively. Aspiration of the contrast agent was noted on fluoroscopy in 30 (6.5%) patients. Only 2 (0.4%) patients developed aqueous contrast agent-caused aspiration pneumonia. There was no procedure-related mortality. CONCLUSION: While radiological assessment of esophageal anastomoses in the early postoperative period using aqueous contrast agents appears to be a relatively safe procedure, the poor sensitivity and high false negative error rate of this technique, when performed on postoperative day 7 and in a series with clinical anastomotic leak rate of 9%, is insufficient for it to be worthwhile as a screening procedure.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Simultaneous occurrence of a ganglioneuroma and a neurilemmoma of the vagus nerve: a case report.

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Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epizootiological investigation of an outbreak of pullorum disease in an integrated broiler operation.

An integrated broiler company experienced a major outbreak of pullorum disease during 1990. The outbreak resulted in the distribution of Salmonella pullorum-infected birds to more than 150 roaster flocks in five states. Twenty-two parent (multiplier) breeder flocks became infected. An epizootiological investigation uncovered a grandparent male line breeder flock as the index flock supplying males to the affected parent flocks. Transmission apparently occurred vertically through the egg and horizontally by contact in the hatcheries and by placement of chicks on contaminated litter.

Animals↗