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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Thoracic organ transplants in the United States: a report from the UNOS/ISHLT Scientific Registry for Organ Transplants. United Network for Organ Sharing. International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

1. The frequency of heart and lung transplantation has increased dramatically over time. The number of heart transplants increased 170% between 1968 and 1981. Exponential increases began in 1982 and increased through 1990, as evidenced by a 1,835% growth in the number of procedures performed during those years. In more recent years, heart transplant numbers have leveled off, with only an 8% increase in the last 3 years. Lung transplant procedures have grown significantly in the short period of time between 1987 (n = 18) and 1993 (n = 669). 2. Since the beginning of the ISHLT Registry in 1968 the number of thoracic transplant programs has increased 7,767%, from 3 to 236. 3. The most frequently reported indications for thoracic transplantation include: coronary artery disease (43.4%) for heart, cystic fibrosis (39.5%) for double-lung, emphysema/COPD (40.2%) for single-lung and primary pulmonary hypertension (38.3%) for heart-lung. 4. The majority of heart transplant recipients are at least 18 years old (89.5%), male (78.2%), and White (83.8%). The majority of lung transplant recipients are at least 18 years old (93.7%), female (53.2%), and White (91.3%). 5. One-year survival over time has almost doubled for all types of thoracic transplantation, with increases from 47.7% in 1968-79 to 81.6% in 1993 for heart; 35.3% in 1987 to 67.1% in 1993 for lung; and 40% in the early 1980s to 73% in 1993 for heart-lung. 6. Long-term 10-year survival rates were 33.5% for heart and 5.6% for heart-lung transplant recipients. Five-year survival for lung recipients was 37%. 7. Male-to-male donor-to-recipient gender-match heart transplant patients exhibited slightly higher survival (4-5%) than other match pairs from one to 5 years posttransplant. Female-to-male combinations in lung transplant recipients exhibited slightly higher survival (4-8%) at 3 years than other match pairs. 8. There was no significant difference in 5-year survival for donor hearts procured from local, intraregional, or interregional sources. Lungs procured from interregional sources exhibited an 8-10% advantage over local and intraregionally procured organs at 3 years posttransplant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Somatotopic mapping of chordotonal organ neurons in a primitive ensiferan, the New Zealand tree weta Hemideina femorata: II. complex tibial organ.

Most ensiferan insects possess sets of highly specialized chordotonal organs in the proximal tibiae to detect conspecific auditory/vibratory signals or approach of predators. To date, most auditory/vibratory afferents have been classified according to their physiological properties and axonal projection morphology, but not to somatotopic origins. Hence, the functional specialization of identified receptor cells in the tibial organs remains uncertain. To address this question from an anatomical aspect, we investigated the structure of the weta, Hemideina femorata, tibial organs (the most elaborated tibial chordotonal organs among ensiferans) and their central projections by staining small numbers of receptor afferents from identified tibial organs. These organs comprise the "complex tibial organ," including the subgenual organ (primary vibration detector) and its posterior complement, the accessory organ, and the crista acustica (primary auditory organ) and its proximal complement, the intermediate organ. Unlike reports of a membranous organ structure for homologs in other ensiferans, weta tibial organs contain receptor cells embedded in thick solid masses. Primary afferents project ipsilaterally to the medial ventral association center of thoracic ganglia, where axon terminals are arrayed topographically in different areas specific to each organ, except for almost complete overlap of afferents originating from the distal part of the crista acustica and from the intermediate organ. In contrast to somatotopic reflection of sensilla position on limbs, as known for mechanoreceptor hairs, the somatotopic projection map of the insect ear reveals topographic association with acoustic tracheae or tibial cuticular attachment sites, which in turn must reflect determinants of response sensitivity (e.g., frequency or threshold).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Ultrastructure of the maxillary organ of Scutigera coleoptrata (Chilopoda, Notostigmophora): description of a multifunctional head organ.

The maxillary organ of Scutigera coleoptrata was investigated using light microscopy, electron microscopy, and maceration techniques. Additionally, we compared the maxillary organ of S. coleoptrata with those of two other notostigmophoran centipedes, Parascutigera festiva and Allothereua maculata, using SEM. The maxillary organ is located inside the posterior coxal lobes of the first maxillae and extends posteriorly as sac-like pouches. The narrow epidermis of the maxillae is differentiated to form the epithelium of the maxillary organ. Two types of epithelia are distinguishable: a simple cuboidal epithelium of different height and differentiation (types I, II, IV) and a pseudostratified columnar epithelium (type III). These epithelia are covered by a highly specialized cuticle. The pseudostratified epithelium is the most prominent feature of the maxillary organ. It is covered with hundreds of setae, protruding deep into the maxillary organ. Two different types of setae can be distinguished, filiform and fusiform. The maxillary organ communicates with the oral cavity, the maxillary organ gland, the maxillary nephridium, and with a large number of epidermal glands that secrete into the maxillary organ. Epithelium III allows the extension of the maxillary organ when its pouches are filled with secretion. The maxillary organ is a complex multifunctional organ. The organ probably stores excretion from the maxillary nephridia and secretory fluid from the maxillary organ gland and other epidermal glands. The fluid is primarily required as preening fluid. The ammonia of the excretory fluid is thought to evaporate via the setae and the wide opening of the maxillary organ. It is likely that parts of the fluid can be reabsorbed by the animal via the oral cavity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Salicylic acid in soups prepared from organically and non-organically grown vegetables.

BACKGROUND: Salicylic acid is a chemical signal in plants infected by pathogens and it is responsible for the anti-inflammatory action of aspirin. Patients who take aspirin have a reduced risk of developing atherosclerosis and colorectal cancer, both of these pathologies having an inflammatory component. Dietary salicylic acid may help to prevent these conditions. We wondered if foods made from organically-reared plants might have a higher content of salicylic acid than those made from non-organic plants, since the latter are more likely to be protected from infection by the application of pesticides. OBJECTIVE: To determine if organic vegetable soups have a higher salicylic acid content than non-organic vegetable soups. METHODS: The contents of salicylic acid in organic and non-organic vegetable soups purchased from supermarkets were determined. Salicylic acid was identified by varying the chromatographic conditions and comparing the retention times of the unknown substance in the extracts with salicylic acid; by treating extracts of the soups with salicylate hydroxylase; and by using GCMS. Salicylic acid was determined by using HPLC with electrochemical detection. RESULTS: Salicylic acid was present in all of the organic and most of the non-organic vegetable soups. The median contents of salicylic acid in the organic and non-organic vegetable soups were 117 (range, 8-1040) ng x g(-1) and 20 (range, 0-248) ng x g(-1) respectively. The organic soups had a significantly higher content of salicylic acid (p=0.0032 Mann Whitney U test), with a median difference of 59 ng g(-1) (95 % confidence interval, 18-117ng x g(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: Organic vegetable soups contained more salicylic acid than non-organic ones, suggesting that the vegetables and plants used to prepare them contained greater amounts of the phenolic acid than the corresponding non-organic ingredients. Consumption of organic foods may result in a greater intake of salicylic acid.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Xanthine oxidase catalyzes anaerobic transformation of organic nitrates to nitric oxide and nitrosothiols: characterization of this mechanism and the link between organic nitrate and guanylyl cyclase activation.

Organic nitrates have been used clinically in the treatment of ischemic heart disease for more than a century. Recently, xanthine oxidase (XO) has been reported to catalyze organic nitrate reduction under anaerobic conditions, but questions remain regarding the initial precursor of nitric oxide (NO) and the link of organic nitrate to the activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). To characterize the mechanism of XO-mediated biotransformation of organic nitrate, studies using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, chemiluminescence NO analyzer, NO electrode, and immunoassay were performed. The XO reducing substrates xanthine, NADH, and 2,3-dihydroxybenz-aldehyde triggered the reduction of organic nitrate to nitrite anion (NO2-). Studies of the pH dependence of nitrite formation indicated that XO-mediated organic nitrate reduction occurred via an acid-catalyzed mechanism. In the absence of thiols or ascorbate, no NO generation was detected from XO-mediated organic nitrate reduction; however, addition of L-cysteine or ascorbate triggered prominent NO generation. Studies suggested that organic nitrite (R-O-NO) is produced from XO-mediated organic nitrate reduction. Further reaction of organic nitrite with thiols or ascorbate leads to the generation of NO or nitrosothiols and thus stimulates the activation of sGC. Only flavin site XO inhibitors such as diphenyleneiodonium inhibited XO-mediated organic nitrate reduction and sGC activation, indicating that organic nitrate reduction occurs at the flavin site. Thus, organic nitrite is the initial product in the process of XO-mediated organic nitrate biotransformation and is the precursor of NO and nitrosothiols, serving as the link between organic nitrate and sGC activation.

Anions↗
PubMed2006

Influence of organ pathology on the electrical parameters in organ projection areas of the skin.

Pathology of an internal organ causes significant rectification of electrical currents (diode phenomenon) in related skin areas--organ projection areas (OPAs), once the resistance 'breakthrough effect' has been induced in the skin. Also, the impedance of the diseased organ's projection areas is increased. The aim of this double-blind study was to confirm these phenomena statistically using a broad spectrum of measuring parameters. Skin impedance vs. measurement frequency, skin impedance vs. applied voltage, and skin resistance vs. voltage were evaluated at 335 auricular OPAs related to the healthy internal organs and 203 auricular OPAs related to the diseased organs. These measurements confirmed that the skin electrical characteristics of specific locations are dependent on the health state of the corresponding internal organs. It was found that the impedance of OPAs corresponding to the healthy internal organs equals 185 +/- 291 komega at 10 Hz and decreases to 64 +/- 49 komega at 10 kHz; and that the impedance of OPAs related to the diseased organs equals 7.5 +/- 2.2 Momega at 10 Hz and 99 +/- 50 komega at 10 kHz. The disparity of the impedances between the healthy and diseased organs related OPAs is greater at higher potentials. The skin resistance, when measured with a negatively polarized point electrode, undergoes a rapid resistance decrease of approximately two orders of magnitude, if the applied current is sufficient. After this reversible 'breakthrough effect' is obtained the skin exhibits rectification. The degree of rectification is low for OPAs related to the healthy organs. For OPAs related to the diseased organs, the resistance measured with a positive polarisation of measuring electrode could be five times greater than the resistance measured at the same voltage with the same but negatively polarised electrode. The disparity between the resistance measured with a negatively and with a positively polarised electrode at OPAs related to the diseased organs was greater at higher measurement voltages. The influence of organ pathology on the electrical parameters of related OPAs does not depend on the kind of internal organ and is not affected by the etiology of pathology. The degree of rectification or difference in impedance is proportional to the extent of the pathological process within the related organ.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The artificial organ museum in Cleveland (1979-1999) moved to Houston, Texas, and named in 2002 as the ICMT Museum for Artificial Organs.

The artificial organ museum established in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1979 organized by the International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation (ICAOT), was moved to Houston, Texas, in 1999. The museum with expanded and renewed artificial organ exhibits was officially opened on the 8th and 9th of November, 2002, at the Cullen Pavilion of the original Memorial Hermann Hospital. This building is the oldest in the Texas Medical Center, which was built in 1922. The ICMT (International Center for Medical Technologies) Museum for Artificial Organs (Museum) was completed after phase I, II, and III expansions of the exhibit booths, which were made over the last two years. Approximately 250 historically important and currently widely used artificial organs are exhibited in the Museum. The official opening of the Museum was coordinated with the "Symposium on Artificial Organs: Past, Present, and Future" during two days in November. There were approximately 225 participants at these events, and approximately 40 pioneers and clinical experts in the development and practice of various types of artificial organs contributed. During these programs, a proposal to maintain human resources in addition to artificial organ hardware and software was made in addition to the Museum. This new organization would be called the International Academy of Artificial Organ Pioneers (Academy). All contributors to the symposium were invited to be members of the Academy. The attendants of the symposium accepted this proposal unanimously. An additional 40 individuals, who were recognized as contributors to artificial organ technologies, were later added to the original Academy members. Later, the effective utilization of the Museum and Academy was encompassed in the International Faculty for Health and Medical Technologies (Faculty), a new addition to the activities of the ICMT. Dr. Michael DeBakey was elected as Dean of the Faculty. This is considered a "university without walls," a "university linked to the world," and a "university providing simultaneous teaching at multiple sites"--a completely new concept in teaching tools for medical technologies. All of these subsidiary organizations of the ICMT were legally included as nonprofit, nontaxable charity organizations of the state of Texas.

Artificial Organs↗
PubMed2000

Human glandular kallikrein 2: a potential serum marker for predicting the organ confined versus non-organ confined growth of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: We measured serum levels of human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2) in patients with prostate cancer treated with radical retropubic prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer to determine whether preoperative hK2 levels discriminate stage pT2a/b from pathological stage T3a or greater cancer. This finding would help to predict preoperatively the organ confined versus non-organ confined growth of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 68 consecutive men underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Serum was obtained 1 day preoperatively before prostatic manipulation. hK2, and total and free prostate specific antigen (PSA) were measured using immunofluorometric assays. Mean, median and range of hK2, total and free PSA, and the ratio of free-to-total PSA (percent free PSA) were calculated. Each analyte or combination of analytes was evaluated to determine whether it significantly contributed to enhance the discrimination of organ confined from non-organ confined cancer. We calculated the statistical significance of observed differences using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Sensitivity and specificity calculations were performed for hK2, total PSA and the algorithm, (hK2) x (total PSA/free PSA) in addition to receiver operating characteristics curves and the respective areas under the curves. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done for hK2, and total and free PSA RESULTS: Disease was organ and non-organ (extraprostatic extension) confined in 38 and 30 men, respectively. In organ confined cancer mean hK2 was significantly lower than in non-organ confined cancer (0.09 ng./ml., range less than 0.03 to 0.23 versus 0.30, range 0.04 to 0.94, p <0.0001). In addition, there was significantly higher free and total but not percent free PSA in non-organ than in organ confined cases. There were also statistically significant differences in hK2, free PSA and total PSA at each pathological disease stage (p <0.001, <0.01 and <0.05, respectively). Sensitivity for detecting organ confined disease was 37% at 100% specificity (correct identification of all non-organ confined cancer) using hK2 measurements compared with a sensitivity of 14% for total PSA. At a specificity of 95%, sensitivity was 40% for hK2 versus 23% for total PSA, which was a statistically significant gain in sensitivity (p <0.05). Receiver operating characteristics curves demonstrated that hK2 had the largest area under the curve, followed by the algorithm, (hK2) x (total PSA/free PSA), and total PSA (0.76, 0.75 and 0.72, respectively). However, none of area under the curve differences was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with total and free PSA hK2 testing improved the preoperative evaluation of patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy due to the superior discrimination of organ from non-organ confined cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Intensive care management of paediatric organ donors and its effect on post-transplant organ function.

OBJECTIVES: 1. To document the clinical course of paediatric beating heart organ donors. 2. To evaluate the effect of the ICU management of pediatric donors on the immediate function of transplanted organs. 3. To examine the validity of current donor selection criteria. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and case series study. SETTING: Multidisciplinary ICU of tertiary referral paediatric hospital. PATIENTS: All patients who became solid organ donors between January 1980 and July 1990. OUTCOME MEASURES: 1. Incidence of major physiological abnormalities of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal and metabolic systems. 2. Number of organs retrieved and transplanted, reasons for non-transplantation of donated organs. 3. Immediate post-transplant function of transplanted organs. RESULTS: Seventy-seven organ donors were identified from whom 134 kidneys, 31 livers and 12 hearts were transplanted. Sixty (78%) patients developed diabetes insipidus. Sustained hypotension occurred in 41 (53.2%) and was commoner in patients treated with inotropic agents in the presence of a low central venous pressure and in patients with diabetes insipidus who did not receive anti-diuretic hormone replacement. Twenty-seven patients suffered at least one cardiac arrest. The data on post-transplant function were obtained for 129 kidneys (from 70 donors) 30 livers and 9 hearts. Fifty-two kidneys, 10 livers and 2 hearts were transplanted from donors who had suffered at least one cardiac arrest without apparent adverse effect on post-transplant organ function. Thirty-six kidneys from 31 donors suffered either acute tubular necrosis (ATN) or primary non-function. The donors of these organs spent longer in ICU (60.6 +/- 45.7 h versus 41.8 +/- 30.1 h p = 0.045) and had a higher mean maximum serum sodium concentration (163.4 +/- 10.9 versus 158.5 +/- 9.5 mmol/l p = 0.05) than those without these complications. The serum creatinine concentration and degree of inotropic support did not predict post-transplant function. Standard biochemical tests for hepatic function, the dose of inotropic agent received, time in ICU and incidence of hypotension did not predict post-transplant liver function. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive fluid resuscitation and management of diabetes insipidus may promote stability in paediatric organ donors. Donor cardiac arrest does not alter the ICU course or compromise post-transplant organ function. The current criteria used for donor selection failed to predict post-transplant organ function and their use may increase organ wastage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Aerosol organic-mass-to-organic-carbon ratio measurements.

The ratio of organic-mass-to-organic-carbon, typically taken to be between 1.4 and 1.7, has an uncertainty higher than 50%, but this value is used in every measurement to date of the organic fraction of atmospheric particles. A recently developed technique with errors reduced to between 9% and 33% provides measurements of this ratio that show its large variability for samples measured in northeastern Asia and the Caribbean. The technique uses functional groups measured by FTIR spectroscopy to estimate composite organic carbon from the number of carbon bonds present and organic mass from the molecular mass of each functional group associated with the measured bond type. The molecular masses associated with each functional group are not unique and do not account for highly branched organic compositions. For the organic mixtures described by the less than 20% of atmospheric organic mass that has been speciated by GCMS, the theoretical discrepancy in the composite organic-mass-to-organic-carbon ratio is less than 5%. The measured ratios for submicron particle samples are skewed: over 90% of the measurements collected lie between 1.2 and 1.6, with mean values just below 1.4. This variability highlights the importance of measured organic-mass-to-organic-carbon ratios to reduce the uncertainty associated with atmospheric organic aerosol.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2002

[Integration process and organ-related fantasies in patients undergoing organ transplantation].

This review deals with an important aspect of organ transplantation, namely the process of psychic organ integration and organ-related fantasies. The body schema and body self are two important concepts in the integration of a transplanted organ. Different models and theories on organ integration are presented and will be discussed. There is evidence that beside the emotional impact and the influence on well-being, organ integration depends closely on psychic processes involving in the incorporation of the transplanted organ and the respective organ-related fantasies. Therefore, these organ fantasies - whether unconscious or conscious - may play an important role in the future development of the instinctive and highly individual relation the patients elaborate with the new organ. Beside the concern with the new organ, a bereavement to the lost old and sick organ may also influence the patients thoughts. Moreover, the good resolving of all these issues evokes the "good practice" patients develop towards the new situation. This will bring up issues as compliance, infections, rejection episodes and - most important - also organ survival.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Organic phosphorus fractions in organically amended paddy soils in continuously and intermittently flooded conditions.

Soil organic phosphorus (SOP) can greatly contribute to plant-available P and P nutrition. The study was conducted to determine the effects of organic amendments on organic P fractions and microbiological activities in paddy soils. Samples were collected at the Changshu Agro-ecological Experiment Station in Tahu Lake Basin, China, from an experiment that has been performed from 1999 to 2004, on a paddy soil (Gleysols). Treatments consisted of swine manure (SM), wheat straw (WS), swine manure plus wheat straw (SM + WS), and a control (chemical fertilization alone). Organic amendments markedly increased soil total organic phosphorus (TOP) and total organic carbon (TOC), especially in continuously flooded conditions. Based on the fractionation of SOP, organic amendments significantly increased soil labile organic phosphorus (LOP), moderately labile organic phosphorus (MLOP), and moderately stable organic phosphorus (MSOP) compared with the control. For SM and SM + WS treatments, LOP in continuously flooded soils decreased by 30.1 and 36.4%, respectively, compared to intermittently flooded soils. In organically amended soils, continuous flooding showed significantly lower microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and alkaline phosphatase activities (APA) than intermittent flooding. In intermittently flooded conditions, incorporating organic amendments into soil resulted in greater P uptake and biomass yield of rice than the control. In the intermittently flooded soils, APA (P < 0.05) and MBP (P < 0.01) were significantly and positively related to TOP, LOP, MLOP, and MSOP, whereas in continuously flooded soils, there was a significant (P < 0.05) negative relationship between MBP, TOP, and MSOP. Based on soil organic P fractions and soil enzymatic and microbiological activities, continuous flooding applied to paddy soils should be avoided, especially when swine manure is incorporated into paddy soil.

Crops, Agricultural↗
PubMed1998

Hospital development and the performance of organ procurement organizations.

With more than 56,000 patients on the national waiting list for organ transplants and relatively little growth in the number of donors, organ procurement organizations now recognize the need to aggressively market their services and the range of donor procurement opportunities to hospital personnel. This study examines the types and levels of hospital development activities being conducted by organ procurement organizations, the characteristics of organ procurement organizations that are more involved in hospital development, and the relationship between hospital development and organ procurement. Results from a national survey indicate that, as of the mid-1990s, organ procurement organizations had not made major investments in hospital development despite an increased recognition of the importance of these activities. Organ procurement organizations whose directors were more committed to hospital development exhibited higher levels of hospital development activity. Efforts to formalize hospital development activities through the establishment of a hospital development department and evaluation standards were associated with more organs procured per donor.

Hospital Administration↗
PubMed1998

Getting organized: new insights into the organizer of higher vertebrates.

The Organizer of higher vertebrates (e.g., Hensen's node in birds and the node in mammals) functions much like the Organizer of lower vertebrates (e.g., embryonic shield in fish and dorsal lip of the blastopore in amphibians). In all classes of vertebrates, the Organizer displays a number of unique properties including the fate, migratory patterns, morphogenetic movements, and the level of commitment of its cells; its pattern of gene expression; its ability to induce neural differentiation; and its ability to organize and regionalize a secondary embryo when grafted ectopically. The importance of Organizer activity to formation of the neuraxis is highlighted by results from studies in which the Organizer is eliminated experimentally. Such studies demonstrate that an auxiliary system is present that can generate a reconstituted Organizer, which completely mimics the activity of the original Organizer. For almost 50 years after the discovery of Spemann's Organizer, the molecular nature of Organizer activity was virtually unknown. However, recent progress in identifying the morphoregulatory molecules underlying Organizer activity has been substantial, and a full understanding of the molecular basis of this activity is imminent. Thus, the intriguing question of how the Organizer organizes, raised by the seminal experiments of Spemann and Mangold, is finally being answered in this exciting renaissance of developmental biology driven by new molecular and genetic approaches.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Development and innervation of the paratympanic organ (Vitali organ) in chick embryos.

The paratympanic organ (Vitali organ) is a small sensory organ in the middle ear of birds. It possesses a sensory epithelium with hair cells similar to those of the inner ear. Injections of fluorescent carbocyanine tracers into the paratympanic organ of 9- to 11-day-old chick embryos labeled ganglion cells in the facial ganglia. Paratympanic nerve fibers enter the brainstem with the facial nerve but proceed to vestibular brainstem nuclei. A dorsal branch terminates in ventral areas of the cerebellum, while a ventral component projects to the descending vestibular nucleus, with some fibers turning medially into lateral parts of the medial vestibular nucleus. No fibers were labeled in the motor or sensory facial nucleus or in auditory brainstem nuclei. This projection pattern suggests a function of the paratympanic organ in equilibrium rather than audition. Projections similar to those of the paratympanic nerve have been reported for the lagenar nerve. Immunocytochemical techniques using an antiserum to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) demonstrate that hair cells in the paratympanic organ develop GABA immunoreactivity at 5 days of incubation (E5), 2-4 days earlier than GABA immunoreactivity can be detected in hair cells of the inner ear, i.e. in the saccule (E6.5-7.0), the utricle (E7), the cristae (E8-9) and the cochlea (E9-9.5). Afferent fibers that are transiently GABAergic are rare in the paratympanic organ (1-2 fibers), though present from E6 to E7.5. The early onset of GABA immunoreactivity in the paratympanic organ may indicate that this organ matures (and possibly functions) earlier in ontogenetic development than its counterparts located in the inner ear. The present findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the paratympanic organ is homologous with the spiracular sense organ of fishes. The paratympanic organ of birds may represent a sense organ that is derived phylogenetically and ontogenetically from the lateral-line system.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Mono-organic versus multi-organic involvement in primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

The prevalence of mono-organic and multi-organic involvement during long-term follow-up in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (pAPS) was investigated. We studied 60 pAPS patients followed up at least 5 years. Patients with associated systemic lupus erythematosus were excluded. All patients received oral anticoagulant therapy. A diagnosis of mono-organic involvement was considered when one organ was affected exclusively, and multi-organic involvement was considered when two or more organs became affected during follow-up. Average age at diagnosis was 32.9 +/- 12.4 years, 40 subjects were female and 20 male, and mean disease evolution totaled 11.5 +/- 4.5 years. The mean number of clinical events was 3.75 +/- 1.87. Among patients, immunoglobulin G anticardiolipin (IgM aCL) titers totaled 50 +/- 40.3 IgG phospholipid units, and IgM aCL titers totaled 47.3 +/- 35.4 IgM phospholipid units. The most frequent clinical manifestations at study onset were deep venous thrombosis, stroke, pulmonary thromboembolism, fetal loss, and pre-eclampsia. At the beginning of follow-up, 46 patients had mono-organic involvement and 14 had multi-organic involvement (P = 0.0001). In contrast, at the end of the study, only 8 patients still had mono-organic involvement, leading to deep venous thrombosis (n = 3), stroke (n = 3), and retinal thrombosis (n = 2) (P = 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the probability of remaining with mono-organic involvement decreased throughout the cumulative years, especially during the first 3. The hazard risk ratio for developing multi-organic involvement was 1.47 patients per year. In conclusion, PAPS is a chronic disorder with unpredictable clinical course and multi-organic involvement, especially during the first years. The conversion to multi-organic involvement supports the concept that pAPS is a systemic autoimmune disease.

Adult↗