An ELISA has been developed for detection of auto-antibodies against calmodulin. There was a significantly increased frequency (63.1%) of autoantibodies against calmodulin in 103 patients with chronic liver diseases as compared to that (30%) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and to that (6.9%) of normal subjects (p less than 0.01). IgG autoantibodies against calmodulin were detected in the patients with acute hepatitis (37.9%), chronic liver disease (45.6%) and also in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (30%). IgM autoantibodies against calmodulin were frequently found in patients with liver cirrhosis (52.2%), primary biliary cirrhosis (50%) and autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (38.7%), but rarely in patients with acute hepatitis (13.8%), chronic persistent hepatitis (9.5%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (0%). IgA autoantibodies against calmodulin were frequently found in liver cirrhosis (33.3%), primary biliary cirrhosis (42.9%) and autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (53.6%), but rarely in chronic persistent hepatitis (15.8%), chronic active hepatitis (14.3%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (0%). The occurrences of autoantibodies against calmodulin correlated neither with those of antismooth muscle antibody, antinuclear antibody and antimitochondrial antibody, nor with serum IgG concentrations. Autoantibodies against calmodulin did not cross-react with troponin, myosin light chain, calf thymus DNA and actin. The titer of autoantibodies against calmodulin was decreased by absorption of serum with calmodulin and the liver plasma membrane fraction. The immunoblotting experiment revealed the binding of autoantibodies against calmodulin to calmodulin. IgG fraction from a patient with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis inhibited the activation of phosphodiesterase by calmodulin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Breakage of shunt devices (Sophy programmable pressure valve) following implantation in the hypochondriac region.

We report on three cases in which shunt devices (Sophy programmable pressure valve) broke while implanted in the hypochondriac region. None of these patients had an apparent history of trauma related to the shunt valve. The outlet connector was broken at the same site in each case. The dissociation between the movement of the thorax and that of the abdomen may have caused the formation of a crack in the outlet connector.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of p53 and RB proteins in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: their relationship with clinicopathologic characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of the esophagus is one of the most malignant tumors and has a poor prognosis. The p53 and retinoblastoma (RB) genes are involved in the regulation of cell population by suppressing cell proliferative activity. Our goal was to clarify whether expression of p53 and RB genes could be prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. METHODS: Tumor samples taken from 73 patients undergoing subtotal esophagectomy were immunohistochemically stained for the p53 and RB genes. An image analyzer was used for quantitative assessment of the staining, and clinicopathologic characteristics of those patients were investigated. RESULTS: Patients in whom p53 expression was high had greater tumor diameter, deeper tumor invasion, and worse prognosis compared with patients in whom p53 expression was low. Patients in whom RB expression was low had a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and more advanced disease than did those in whom RB expression was high. The combination of p53 and RB expression revealed that the cases with high p53 and low RB expression had significantly worse survival rates and deeper tumor invasion compared with other groups. In various clinicopathologic parameters, (e.g., age, sex, tumor-diameter, tumor type, location, differentiation, TNM classification, TNM stage) tumor type, tumor size, depth of invasion, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, and combined p53 and RB expression showed significant differences in survival by univariate analysis. Among those six variables, only lymph node involvement showed an independent prognostic factor for survival (P = .0055) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of p53 and RB expression is not a prognostic indicator in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acidic glycosaminoglycans, water and lipids in normal and atherosclerotic human cerebral arteries.

The composition of acidic glycosaminoglycans (AGAG) in normal and atherosclerotic human cerebral arteries was studied by enzymatic methods. The main cerebral trunk contained more AGAG than the distal branches. The content and relative proportion of heparan sulfates were greater in normal areas than in those affected, but the reverse was found for dermatan sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate. Quantitative changes in AGAG with severity of the disease were compared with those in water and lipid content.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Animal model of cerebral aneurysms: pathology and pathogenesis of induced cerebral aneurysms in rats.

Saccular cerebral aneurysms are induced in rats treated with ligation of one or both of the common carotid arteries, experimental hypertension, and beta-aminopropionitrile feeding. Combination of ligation of the carotid artery and experimental hypertension is the minimal requirement for inducing aneurysms within a few months. beta-aminopropionitrile makes the arterial wall fragile, increasing the incidence of aneurysmal development. Induced aneurysms are strongly related to haemodynamic stresses. They are located on the large arteries at the base of the brain. Some of them apparently originate from the apex of bifurcation. The macroscopic and microscopic findings are generally in accordance with those of spontaneous lesions in man. The results of electron microscope and histochemical studies indicate the participation of leukocytes and their lysosomal enzymes in the development and growth of aneurysms. Adventitial cells are also suggested to be responsible for the growth of aneurysms.

Aminopropionitrile↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Basic fibroblast growth factor impregnated hydrogel microspheres for embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

To assess the prevention of recanalization at embolized sites in cerebral arteriovenous malformations, the authors devised a novel embolic material, hydrogel microspheres prepared from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate impregnated with basic fibroblast growth factor. In this article, preparation of the microspheres, and preliminary study of in vitro and in vivo performance are discussed. Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, prepared from end capping of poly(ethylene glycol) (molecular weights, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000) with acryloyl chloride and benzophenone derived poly(ethylene glycol), prepared from poly(ethylene glycol) (molecular weight, 2,000) with benzoyl benzoic acid chloride as a photoinitiator, were dissolved in a buffer solution with or without basic fibroblast growth factor. The mixed solution was dropped stepwise into liquid paraffin with stirring. Ultraviolet light irradiation resulted in the formation of relatively rigid hydrogel microspheres (diameter, 100-400 microm). The in vitro study showed that the higher the molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate used, the faster the release rate of immobilized protein. Canine kidneys were embolized with these microspheres via the femoral artery using a microcatheter. Histologic examination showed that microspheres occluded arterioles. The degree of accumulation of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix were larger for basic fibroblast growth factor impregnated microspheres than for nonimpregnated ones. Basic fibroblast growth factor released from microspheres may help regenerate tissues at arteriovenous malformation sites, and recanalization is expected to be prevented.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland: assessment by 1.5 T MR imaging.

Pituitary glands of 60 normal volunteers (30 men 20-36 years old, and 30 women 18-42 years old) were studied by 1.5 T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The T1-weighted images (T1WI) [repetition time (TR) = 400 ms; echo time (TE) = 25 ms] were obtained in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes. Proton density (PD)/T2-weighted images (PDWI/T2WI) (TR = 2,000 ms; TE = 25/100 ms) were obtained in the sagittal plane using 3 mm slice thickness. On T1WIs of all subjects the posterior part (PP) of the pituitary fossa showed the highest signal, which was indistinguishable from fatty tissue. This study reveals that this region of high signal intensity (PP) corresponds to the posterior lobe and not intrasellar fat because its shape, size, and position are compatible with the posterior lobe; its signal intensity differs from that of fatty tissue on PDWI and T2WI; the absence of an intrinsic chemical shift artifact (CSA) characteristic of fat; and due to CSA, a dorsum with fatty marrow is shifted relative to the PP (or may be made to merge with it). Regarding the differentiation of the two lobes of the pituitary gland on MR, the morphology of the anterior and posterior lobes was evaluated and great variation found. Appreciation of normal is particularly important in evaluating coronal images for small pituitary lesions.

Adolescent↗