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Biomedical subjects

K Benirschke

Publications and source records attributed to K Benirschke.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Localization of a molecule immunochemically similar to eosinophil major basic protein in human placenta.

We have recently reported that human pregnancy is characterized by a 10- to 20-fold elevation of eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) immunoreactivity in maternal blood. Here we show, by immunofluorescence, that placental tissue specifically binds antibody to MBP in and around the placental X cells and placental-site giant cells and, using thin plastic sections, that placenta has no infiltrating eosinophils. The X cells line the inner aspects of placental septal cysts, and the cyst fluid, obtained by aspiration, contains immunoreactive MBP at concentrations of 100 micrograms/ml, a sixfold greater concentration than the highest levels measured in maternal blood. The soluble MBP immunoreactivities in placental homogenates and in maternal serum chromatograph identically on Sephadex G-50, and both these gestational MBP molecules migrate as though substantially larger than the MBP found in serum from patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome or purified from the eosinophil granule. Our inability to demonstrate eosinophils in maternal blood or placental tissue, coupled with the large quantities of immunoreactive MBP highly localized in placental cysts and the chromatographic behavior of this molecule, suggest that the MBP detected in human gestation is produced by placenta.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Complete development of secondary sex characteristics in a case of 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis.

Although pubertal development is unusual in 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis, it may occur in association with gonadal tumors. The authors report a case of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis in a 17-year-old girl remarkable for H-Y+ phenotype and bilateral gonadoblastomas accompanied by dysgerminomatous change and nearly complete female secondary sex development. Endocrinologic activity of the gonads was indicated by marked decrease in sex steroid production after gonadectomy. Occurrence of gonadal neoplasia in this case is consistent with the observation that neoplastic transformation is likely in H-Y+ cases of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Treatment of pulmonary acariasis in rhesus macaques with ivermectin.

Rhesus monkeys were treated for pulmonary acariasis with single injections of ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg). Monkeys were killed and complete necropsies performed. Control monkeys had numerous live mites, while treated monkeys had only dead, frequently fragmented mites. Histopathologically, inflammatory lesions were most severe in control monkeys and monkeys killed one week after treatment. Inflammatory changes progressively decreased with increasing time post treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Calicivirus isolation and persistence in a pygmy chimpanzee (Pan paniscus).

What may be the first calicivirus isolate from any primate species, including man, was recovered from a herpesvirus-like lip lesion on a pygmy chimpanzee and then, 6 months later, from the throat of the same animal. The infected individual and its cage mates had circulating antibodies that were type-specific for this calicivirus. The agent was antigenically different from 30 other calicivirus serotypes and is tentatively designated primate calicivirus Pan paniscus type 1 (PCV-Pan 1).

Animals↗
PubMed1983

The nature of structural defects associated with velamentous and marginal insertion of the umbilical cord.

Previous studies have documented an increased incidence of structural defects in association with velamentous and marginal insertion of the umbilical cord. Evaluation of 4,677 consecutive placentas at the University of California (San Diego) Medical Center revealed 454 marginal insertions and 72 velamentous insertions. An increased incidence of structural defects was found only in association with a velamentous cord insertion. Delineation of the structural defects according to their developmental pathogenesis revealed that the majority were due to deformation of a normally formed part. These data and the finding of a disproportionate number of twins with a velamentous insertion suggest that competition for space at the implantation site leads to both the velamentous insertion of the cord and the associated structural defects.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1983

Placentation.

Placental development differs greatly among members of different taxa. Not only does blastocyst attachment take place at different times, the penetration of trophoblast varies considerably. From an epitheliochorial relationship between fetus and mother to the hemochorial placentation of taxa, such as the higher primates, the trophoblast becomes increasingly exposed to maternal immune recognition which may be one cause of rejection in interspecific embryo transfers or hybridization. Shape of uterus and endometrium and genetic factors govern the morphologic form of the placenta. The paper reviews ungulate placentation, successes and failures of interspecific embryo transfers, and the scant knowledge of genetic determinants in primate placentas.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Urinary estrogen excretion during pregnancy in the gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and the human (Homo sapiens).

Urinary estrogen components were separated, identified and quantified throughout the pregnancy of the gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and compared to estrogen levels in normal human pregnancies. Fetal and neonatal adrenals from each species were also compared in terms of weight and relative amounts of fetal zone. The results demonstrate that gorillas and chimpanzees excrete 4- to 5-fold less estrogen during pregnancy than the human and orangutan which are similar to each other. The lower estrogen excretion appears to be related to a smaller fetal adrenal in both the gorilla and chimpanzee which reveal both a reduced adrenal weight and increased definitive to fetal zone ratio when compared to either the human or orangutan.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1983

Urinary estrogens during pregnancy of the ruffed lemur (Lemur variegatus).

Pregnancy in the ruffed lemur (Lemur variegatus) was monitored by analyses of urinary estrogens. Urine samples were collected weekly throughout pregnancy (gestation: 100 +/- 1.6 days) from ten females analyzed for total immunoreactive estrogen (Et) and indexed by creatinine (Cr). Maternal urinary total estrogen excretion remained low until the last half of gestation at which time excretion increased steadily, reaching values 1000 times greater than those observed at estrus. Chromatographic separation after enzyme hydrolysis of lemur urine indicates that estrone is the major estrogenic component of pregnancy in the ruffed lemur, with the remaining components consisting of equal amounts of estradiol-17 alpha and -17 beta.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Intestinal obstruction and perforation caused by undigested Acacia sp leaves in langur monkeys.

During a 2-week period, 3 hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) died from severe fibrinopurulent and proliferative peritonitis. Partially digested plant material was identified in the necrotic abdominal debris of the 1st and 2nd langurs. In the 3rd, a phytobezoar that extended 17.5 cm distally from the pyloric area had caused a 1-cm perforation. Seven months later, surgery was performed on a douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) to remove 1 gastric and 2 intestinal phytobezoars composed primarily of undigested Acacia sp leaves. An analysis of Acacia sp leaves consumed by these langurs revealed a high cell wall concentration (40%, dry basis), with an exceedingly high proportion of this cell wall composed of indigestible lignin. It was concluded that the species of acacia (Acacia saligna and A longifolia) fed in these cases are inappropriate browse items for langurs.

Acacia↗
PubMed1982

Vascular pathogenesis of transverse limb reduction defects.

Evaluation of four patients with unilateral transverse limb reduction defects indicates that some instances of this structural defect may be the result of an in utero vascular accident. Three of the four patients had microscopic evidence of fetal vascular occlusive disease on multiple sections of the placenta, suggesting that occlusion of the brachial artery was secondary to embolization from the placental vascular thrombi. The fourth, a 116 mm crown-rump long fetus, had a massive thrombus occluding the brachial artery, which was felt secondary to hypovolemia and hypoperfusion associated with fetal blood loss during placental abruption. Recognition of the disruptive vascular pathogenesis of some cases of unilateral transverse limb reduction defects explains their negligible recurrence risk. In such cases attention should be focused on careful gross and, microscopic evaluation of the placenta.

Arm↗
PubMed1982

Cysticercosis of the fallopian tube: histology and microanalysis.

The authors identified a degenerated, focally calcified cestode larva (cysticercus) in the fallopian tube of a 50-year-old woman with endometriosis. The physiologic reaction to the larva was minimal, with some focal granulomatous salpingitis. No other focus of infection was detected. The differential diagnosis included trophoblastic tissue, foreign material, and parasites. Scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis of the organism revealed concentration of iodine in the subcuticular connective tissue of the larva and confirmed the calcium phosphate composition of the calcareous corpuscles. The presumed source of the iodine was the continued exposure of the larva to an environment rich in iodide secreted by the epithelium of the fallopian tube.

Cysticercosis↗
PubMed1982

The chromosomes of the bongo, Taurotragus (Boocerus) eurycerus.

Chromosome studies on 14 bongos, Taurotragus (Boocerus) eurycerus, disclosed that males have 33 and females 34 chromosomes. The acrocentric Y chromosome is fused to the acrocentric autosome 13. Two X-chromosomal types exist, one a large acrocentric that is identical to that of other tragelaphines, and the other a submetacentric. The latter is produced by the addition of heterochromatin as a new short arm and not, as previously believed, by pericentric inversion. The inheritance of the different X-chromosome morphotypes is followed in one pedigree. Homozygous females for both morphotypes exist and appear to be normal.

Animals↗