The distribution and the characteristics of A and B synoviocytes were investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy in the study of the three types of synovial membranes (fibrous, areolar, adipose) of the rabbit knee joint. The scanning electron microscope showed that the B-synoviocytes had dendritic processes and were separated by wide spaces in the fibrous synovium. The areolar synovium was covered by numerous B-synoviocytes of fibroblastoid-shape. The B-synoviocytes of the adipose synovium were characterized by short cytoplasmic processes. The transmission electron microscope revealed that the B-cells showed signs of intense synthetic activity such as the presence of an evident rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus and many peripheric vesicles. Our study also revealed that cells with morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of macrophages, the so-called A-synoviocytes, were present in the areolar membrane. We concluded that B-synoviocytes can show variable shape under normal conditions: in particular, dendritic morphology seems to be a normal characteristic of the synoviocytes of the fibrous membrane. Moreover, our results demonstrate that A and B synoviocytes are ultrastructurally and morphologically distinct cells and that each type has different functions.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Placental morphometry in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation with absent or reversed end diastolic flow in the umbilical artery.

The aim of this study was to assess any possible correlation between villous tree architecture and its vascularization, and absent or reversed end-diastolic flow velocity (ARED) in the umbilical artery. The study group included seven pregnancies complicated by IUGR (estimated fetal weight < 10th percentile) and absent end-diastolic flow velocity in the umbilical artery. A gestational-age matched group of seven normally grown pregnancies was selected as control group. At delivery, the placenta was weighed and immersed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to obtain 12 blocks of full-thickness tissue per organ. A single random section was cut from each block. The following morphometric parameters were evaluated in each section: mean vessel diameter, volume density of the villous tissue, stem villi and terminal villi. Measurements were performed using a computerized Video Image Analysis system. No significant difference in mean vessel diameter was found between the two groups (37.1 microns versus 36.1 microns; p = 0.1). There was a significant reduction in the proportion of total villous tissue in the ARED group (43% versus 52%): this was due to a significant reduction in the volume of tissue occupied by the terminal villi (14.1% versus 18.4%). No significant difference was found in the proportion of villous tissue occupied by the stem villi (42% versus 40%). Several studies have investigated the anatomical and/or vasomotor bases of absent end diastolic flow velocity in the umbilical artery of fetuses with severe IUGR. Our observations of a significant reduction in the proportion of villous tissue occupied by the peripheral villi are consistent with the theory that failure of normal development of the terminal villous is responsible for the increased vascular resistance in IUGR pregnancies with ARED.

Chorionic Villi↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasonographic study on the growth and dimensions of healthy children and adults organs.

We measured by ultrasound the spleen, the kidneys, the pancreas in 323 children (age 0-12), the thyroid in 60 children of same age range, and all these organs in 180 adults (in adults we measured additionally the testis, the gallbladder and the choledochus). Children and adults were all healthy, without evidence of pathologies potentially involving these organs. The children have been selected looking at clinical and hematological parameters, while the adults have been selected among a military population, that is the most significant sample of healthy young adults. We measured the length, the transversal diameter and the thickness of the spleen, kidneys, pancreas, testis and thyroid, the diameter of the choledochus and the maximum length of the gallbladder (pre and post stimulus). We found a good correlation between age and dimensions for pancreas, kidneys and spleen in children, representing the progressive growth of these organs. Our data represent an assessment of the normal dimensions of these organs in vivo by means of ultrasound, and therefore they are an useful tool to discriminate pathologically enlarged or reduced organs, both in children and in adults.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison between the heart of young athletes and of young healthy sedentary subjects: a morphometric and morpho-functional study by echo-color-doppler method.

Morphologic and morpho-functional heart differences between healthy young athletes and healthy young subjects who do not practice agonistic sport have been studied using Color Doppler Echography (CDE). Overall, 68 subjects were enrolled in the study (age range: 19-26 yrs). Of them, 34 subjects (17 men and 17 women) were practicing sport agonistically; the 34 controls (17 men and 17 women) did not practice any sport on a regular basis. In each subject, age, height, weight, body mass index, practiced sport, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded. CDE measures included telediastolic left and right ventricular diameters (LVDd and RVDd, respectively), interventricular septum thickness (IVSd), posterior wall thickness of the left ventricle (PLVWd), left and right atrium diameters during ventricular systole (LAD and RAD respectively), and continence of each heart valve (mitral; tricuspid; aortic; pulmonic). In women, LADd was significantly higher in the athletes than in the controls (35.04+/-4.13 vs 31.81+/-3.34; p<0.02). Physiological regurgitation in at least one heart valve was observed in 15 out of 17 (88.2%) of the athletes; in 12 cases only one valve was involved: the mitral valve presented physiological regurgitation in 8 women, the tricuspid in 4, the aortic in 2 and the pulmonic in 6. In the control female population (17 persons), only 2 women showed evidence of regurgitation. In men, except for RVDd, CDE measurements were all significantly higher in the athletes than in the controls: LVDd (49.4+/-3.13 vs 46.02+/-4.46; p<0.02); IVSd (9.79+/-1.24 vs 8.59+/-0.91; p<0.003); PLVWd (8.63+/-1.29 vs 7.48+/-0.66; p<0.002). Physiological regurgitation through one or more heart valves was demonstrated in all the 17 male athletes studied; in 9 cases (52.9%) only one valve was involved. Mitral regurgitation was ob- served in 8 cases (47%); tricuspid in 6 (35.3%). No physiological regurgitation through the aortic valve was found, while 15 cases (88.2%) presented a pulmonic regurgitation. Among male controls, physiological regurgitation was demonstrated only in 2 persons out of 17 (11.8%), both involving the pulmonic and the aortic valve. In the total population of athletes compared to controls, analyzing men and women jointly, we found that LAD (p<0.001),RAD (p<0.001), LIVD (p<0.01) were significantly larger in cases than in controls, while for RVD, IVSd and PLVWd such a difference did not reach statistical significance. No relationship was fouhd between CDE data and either age, height, weight or blood pressure.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Ultrastructural aspects of the synovial membrane of neonatal and adult rats].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The original calibre of the lower limbs arteries as a possible risk factor for complications of atherosclerosis: a statistical investigation in 90 subjects by echocolor-doppler.

Ninety subjects with emodynamically significant atherosclerotic disease of the lower limbs were examined. They had no history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Each subject underwent a color Doppler ultrasonographic study of the common iliac, superficial femoral, and popliteal arteries. In each arterial segment, diameter and blood flow velocity were measured. In evaluating the hemodynamic significance of the stenoses, we used the Windsor method. In a comparison of the calibers of the arteries significant relationship emerged in each given subject in two sexes. Males: a statistically significant difference was found only in the iliac artery, in which the calibre and Windsor indices were greater in the right as compared to the left; right: 1) There was a statistically significant relationship between mean caliber and Windsor indices, (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05); Left: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis (p < 0.05) and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05). Females: Student's t test for paired samples of the three arteries did not reveal a statistically significant predominance of one side over the other. With respect to the coefficients of correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices, the results were as follows. Right: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between age and mean calibre (p < 0.05); Left: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis (p < 0.05) and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05).

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A radiological-anatomical comparison between formalin-preserved organs and "plastinated" ones.

By using conventional radiology and computerized tomography, plastinated organs as will as those preserved in formalin were examined and compared as regards morphological, structural and densitometri differences. Two examiners separately compared and evaluate the images obtained using the two preservation. Plastinated organs presented better preservation of the morphology and structure of the organs than did those preserved in formalin.

Brain↗