An islet transplantation model was established with the two congeneic Lewis rat strains LEW.1W and LEW.1A, which were made diabetic by a single i.p. injection of 50 mg/kg b.w. streptozotocin. Isolated neonatal islets of the two strains served as a graft. Syngeneic transplantation into the spleen resulted in permanent graft survival and in normoglycemia of streptozotocin diabetic rats of the two strains. 200 days after transplantation functionally intact islets were demonstrable in the spleen by histological, histochemical and electron microscopical investigations. Histochemical findings indicate an activation of interdigitating reticular cells in the white pulp and of macrophages in the red pulp of the spleen as consequences of the islet transplantation. In addition a few electron microscopical findings concerning possible interactions between host plasma cells, lymphocytes and transplanted beta cells of islets are described and discussed.

Animals↗

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MR features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

We report on two patients presenting with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The important tumor size and the marked tissular hypersignal seen on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) should be considered as magnetic resonance (MR) features strongly indicating diagnosis of GIST.

Aged↗

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Parenthood following liver transplantation.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biodegradation of phenylbenzoate and some of its derivatives by Scedosporium apiospermum.

Scedosporium apiospermum, a recently isolated phenol-degrading hyphomycete, was shown to be able to productively utilise the diaryl ester phenylbenzoate as its sole source of carbon and energy. The characterisation of degradation intermediates together with the detection of the corresponding catabolic enzymes in crude extracts enabled us to propose a pathway for the degradation of this diaryl ester. According to our results, an inducible esterase initiated the biodegradation of phenylbenzoate by hydrolysing the ester bond to yield stoichiometric amounts of phenol and benzoate. While phenol was catabolised via catechol and hydroxyhydroquinone, the benzoate was further degraded via the protocatechuate branch of the ortho-pathway. In addition, the fungus utilised p-tolylbenzoate and 4-chlorophenylbenzoate by employing similar catabolic sequences.

Benzoates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolite-specific (IgG) and drug-specific antibodies (IgG, IgM) in two cases of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-induced immune thrombocytopenia.

Two cases of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)-induced immune thrombocytopenia are reported in which unusual drug-dependent platelet antibodies were demonstrated by immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whereas two distinct sulfamethoxazole-dependent antibodies of the IgG and IgM class were detectable in the serum of one patient, the serum of the other patient contained a platelet antibody exclusively reactive with N-4-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole, a metabolite of sulfamethoxazole. Urine from a healthy volunteer collected after administration of therapeutic doses of TMP-SMX proved to be an appropriate source of ex vivo metabolites for antibody testing. The results of this study stress the role of metabolite-specific antibodies in drug-dependent immune thrombocytopenia and underscore the necessity of including metabolite preparations of drugs in serologic analyses.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Detection of fetal cells in maternal blood with magnetically activated cell sorging (MACS) and EGF receptor antibody MAb 425].

BACKGROUND: In this study separation and enrichment of fetal trophoblastcells have been investigated in venous blood of pregnant women, in order to see, if this non-risk method can replace invasive methods of gaining fetal cells for antenatal diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: First investigation of antigen-patterns of fetal cells, placenta-tissue and leucocytes as well as of different MAb 425-concentrations in chorioncells, A-431-cells and leucocytes was done, thereafter staining of A 431-cells, staining and evidence of A 431-leucocytes mixtures (group 1: n = 11), staining of chorioncells, staining and evidence of chorioncell-leucocytes mixtures (group 2: n = 13), staining and evidence of leucocyctes of nonpregnant (group 3: n = 18) and pregnant women (group 4: n = 6). A FACScan was used. Antigen patterns of fetal cells, placenta tissue and leucocytes were tested by means of specific antibodies. RESULTS: Almost all chorioncell-cultures have been EGF-receptor positive, whereas leucocytes were negative. For separation of trophoblastcells the EGF-receptor was the most suitable. 18 leucocyte samples of non-pregnant and 6 of pregnant women were tested. There were no significant differences either concerning staining with MAb 425 or in evidence in the MiniMACS. In pregnant women there was no sufficient number of EGF-receptor-positive cells available, in order to recognize, if these cells were of fetal origin. CONCLUSIONS: Before trophoblastcells could be used for antenatal diagnosis potential influences concerning presence time and separation of these cells should be investigated. DISCUSSION: We did not have enough fetal cells for further cytogenetic investigations. One reason for not enough evidence of fetal cells could be a lack of capacity of the MiniMACS. There were probably none or not enough trophoblastcells in the maternal blood. Which parameters could be of influence, is not yet known.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Blood volume changes and oxygenation during labor--a laser spectroscopic analysis].

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic patterns and the distribution of blood volume are influenced by the onset of labour. This study evaluates patterns of oxygenation and changes of blood volume after the induction of contractions. METHODS: A prototype NIR-laser spectrometer was applied in 28 cases. RESULTS: We found a rise of blood volume and oxygen saturation (HbO2) during the peak of contractions. Cerebral tissue oxygenation was monitored by registration of relative changes of cytochrome-aa3. No significant change of tissue oxygenation was detected during variable volume load. DISCUSSION: This implicates compliance of the redox state during labour.

Blood Volume↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of modified labor posture on oxygenation of the fetus--a pulse oximetry study].

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the birth position and its effects on maternal and fetal wellbeing has been a topic of perinatal research over the last decades. The aim of our observational study was to determine the effects of a modified and vertical maternal position on fetal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry. METHODS: Fetal oxygen saturation was measured by pulse oximetry in 56 labouring women randomly and successively adopting the supine position in 96.4%, the sitting position in 25.0%, the standing position in 14.3% and the prone position in 12.5%. The statistical analysis addressed the integrated 10 minutes period of SpO2 registrations before versus after adopting the modified position. Furthermore the mean values and the standard deviation (SD) for the total registration periods of different birth position was calculated. RESULTS: While the supine position induced a reduction in oxygen saturation, sitting and prone position were favorable for fetal oxygenation as compared to horizontal position. DISCUSSION: These findings implicate a clinical benefit of the modified birth position.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Three-dimensional fetal echocardiography--current status and future prospects].

The purpose of echocardiographic imaging in the fetus is to provide clear representations of the underlying cardiac anatomy. Studies on pre- and postnatal 3D echocardiography have shown this technique can provide an alternative form of image display for comprehensive assessment of congenital heart disease. To date, several different methods are used for 3D echocardiography in the fetus. The technique used at our institution is analogous to the 3D technology employed in studies on neonates and children and uses an electromagnetic location device to register transducer position during data acquisition. As it derives from a complex assembly of sequentially acquired two-dimensional images this technique has important limitations due to fetal movement artifacts and difficulties in cardiac gating. Despite good three-dimensional appreciation of some anatomical detail, this often results in inadequate image quality when compared with 2D echocardiography. Potential advantages of 3D fetal echocardiography include the following: the ability to slice the acquired 3D volume data into an infinite number of two-dimensional cross-sections, and the ability to reconstruct unique three-dimensional views not seen with two-dimensional imaging. However, considering the limitations and the time needed for 3D image processing its practical clinical relevance in the antenatal situation is still not clear. Ongoing research should be aimed toward improved image resolution and applying this new technique to more immediate "on-line" analysis of 3D reconstructions.

Artifacts↗