The junctions between the cells of the organ of Corti have been investigated with the freeze-fracture method in the chinchilla inner ear. Numerous gap junctions have been found among all the supporting cells, particularly at the level of their basal part. This means that the supporting cells have their cytoplasm electrotonically and metabolically coupled. Gap junctions were not observed between supporting and sensory cells nor between sensory cells and nerve endings. At this level the transmission should be chemically mediated.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Connection complex on the cells of Reissner's membrane in freeze-fractured preparations].

The Reissner membrane of the chinchilla inner ear was studied with the freeze-fracture method. Zonulae occludentes, composed of 2 to 8 strands, seal the intercellular space close to the endolymphatic surface. They are morphologically simialr to those seen between the marginal cells of the stri vascularis, but much less developed than those between the basal strial cells.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Alpha interferon in the treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of alpha interferon (IFN) in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, a disease for which therapeutic options are still unsatisfactory. Fourteen sequential unselected patients received recombinant alpha-2b IFN (Intron-A, Schering-Essex) 3 megaU/day, progressively elevated to 10 megaU/day in non responders. Rate and type of response were evaluated in the 10 patients who completed a minimum treatment period of three months. Monocytosis, present in all patients by definition, was reduced in 8 of these 10; neutrophils decreased in 5 of 7 patients with high initial values. Signs of ineffective hemopoiesis were generally not influenced by the treatment, nor were organomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia, when present; however, in 4 patients the Hb level improved with treatment. IFN treatment failed to improve in vitro growth of GM colonies, but there was improvement of the cluster/colony ratio, due to decrease number of clusters. Lysozyme production by pathologic monocytes was inhibited in the presence of IFN in vitro. Tolerance was variable: three patients interrupted the treatment for unmanageable side effects. These results show that alpha IFN can be effective in CMML patients with prominent proliferative aspects.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol and cephamandole.

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Adult↗