Neuron-specific enolase as a marker of hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal development in postnatal Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia)

In the newborn Monodelphis domestica, pituitary and brain are far from their definite shape and structural organization. The presumptive neurohypophysis appears as a mass of proliferating cell immunonegative for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the newborn, while perikarya positive for NSE are present in the rostroventral area of the hypothalamus. At the same time, the periventricular areas of the brain, consisting of proliferating cells, are non-reactive for NSE. In the 2.5-day-old specimens of this study, the neurohypophysis displays anti-NSE reactions in the peripheral regions. In animals 8-10 days of age, the amount of reaction product in the neurohypophysis has reached highest levels. This dramatic increase parallels the increase of NSE expression in perikarya of the rostroventral and caudoventral hypothalamus as well as the formation of a band-like reaction zone between the respective hypothalamic areas and the neurohypophysis.

Heterogeneity of the chromatin fine structure in DNA-diploid breast cancer cells

The chromatin fine structure of Feulgen-stained DNA-diploid tumour cells was studied by means of image cytometry in fine-needle aspiration biopsies of 115 breast cancer patients. The investigation was focused on diploid, several subtypes of polyploid, and aneuploid tumours. Only the clearly separable diploid peaks of these tumours were measured cytometrically by an OPTIMAS-based image analysis system, which led to a set of 93 primary cytometric features in each diploid subpopulation. The results demonstrate that the diploid tumours are clearly different to the diploid compartments of various subtypes of polyploid and aneuploid tumours. Between those diploid subpopulations from polyploid tumours, chromatin structure differences also exist. A higher degree of similarity between polyploid and aneuploid tumours, compared to diploid, became evident. The actual structural differences between the diploid subpopulations indicate both increasing variances within the peak and increasingly coarse and contrasted, irregular chromatin structure with the occurrence of tetraploid, octoploid, and aneuploid DNA-histogram peaks. Therefore, the structural effects of an increasing genomic instability seems not to be restricted to the non-diploid cell populations.

Prenatal development of the integument in Delphinidae (Cetacea: Odontoceti)

The prenatal development of epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis was studied in embryos of different age of two delphinid species (Stenella attenuata, Delphinus delphis), using light and transmission electron microscopical methods. The delphinid embryo is covered by a multilayered tissue formed by four different epidermal generations (periderm, stratum intermedium-I, str. intermedium-II, str. spinosum) produced by the str. basale. The first layer appears at about 40-50 mm of body length, the second type (s.i.-I) about 60-160 mm, and the third type (s.i.-II) is present at 160-500 mm. The first spinosal cells are produced at 225-260 mm body length; thenceforth, the epidermis increases continuously in thickness. Epidermal ridge formation begins about 400-mm body length. The development of the dermis is characterized by the early production of thin connective tissue fibers (40-70-mm body length) and simultaneously the cutaneous muscle matures in structure. Vascular development intensifies between embryos of 150-225 mm, and collagen production increases markedly in fetuses of 225-260-mm length. These events are paralleled by an increase in dermal thickness. The first elastic fibers can be recognized in the skin from the abdomen at about 600-mm body length. The development of the hypodermis is marked by very rapid and constantly progressing growth, beginning about 60-mm body length. The first typical fat cells appear in animals of 360-400 mm. Regional differences are obvious for all skin layers with regard to the flippers, where structural maturation proceeds more rapidly than in dorsal or abdominal regions.

[Reactions to cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a study on emotions and communication behavior of the resuscitating physician]

Reactions of 20 physicians to cardiopulmonary resuscitation were examined by describing their emotions and communication in over 260 situations of resuscitation. All actions of physicians being helpful for the relatives in their grief change physicians' emotions after resuscitation. Though denial helps the physicians in confrontation with the relatives, it also seems to impair their emotional coping. Coping strategies of physicians are quite different: Young physicians show a pattern of emotional denial and activity in their resuscitation behaviour. Doctors being more experienced tend to deny less in this sense. Physicians with recent loss seem to cope very little emotionally. Active resuscitation behaviour results after resuscitation in being relieved for a short time, but coping is impaired because of the activity pattern. Speaking after resuscitation seems to improve coping.

[Repeat liver resection in colorectal liver metastases]

For patients with recurrent operable liver metastases from colorectal cancer operative resection is the only chance of getting rid of their tumorous disease for a longer time. As there are not therapeutic alternatives more and more authors are reporting on repeated resections of liver metastases. From 1986 to 1994 we performed 12 recurrent liver resections with curative intent in 8 patients suffering from liver metastases of colorectal cancer: 4 synchronous and 4 metachronous metastases were removed, the primary procedure being anatomic hemihepatectomy in 5 cases and segmentectomy or bisegmentectomy in 3 cases. The mean time interval between the first and the second resections was 14 (4-23) months. Two patients underwent 4 consecutive liver resections because of recurrent metastases. In these cases the interval between the second, third and fourth procedures was 10 months. The postoperative complication rate was 16% and not a single patient died in hospital. Three patients died an average of 28 (9-54) months after the last liver resection, and the other 5 patients are still alive after an average of 14 (4-28) months: 3 are free of tumor and 2 have recurrent metastases in the liver. Compared with untreated or only locally treated cases, patients in whom operative risk is low can achieve prolonged survival times after resections of colorectal metastases to the liver.

Lectin histochemistry of snout skin and foot pads in the wolf and the domesticated dog (Mammalia: Canidae)

The distribution and selectivity of complex carbohydrates in the snout skin and the foot pads of the wolf and the domesticated dog were studied by means of light-microscopic histochemical methods, particularly lectin histochemistry. In the snout, moderate to strong staining reactions were confined to intercellular substances among the epidermal cells, containing neutral glycoconjugates (glycoproteins, glycolipids) with various saccharide residues (alpha-D-mannose, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, beta-D-galactose). In the foot pads, distinct reactions were found in neutral glycoconjugates of intercellular substances of the stratum corneum, with alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl and beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl residues, but only in the wolf, whereas in the dog such substances were concentrated in the spinosal and basal epidermal layers, additionally marked by D-galactose. The eccrine glands exhibited high amounts of mainly neutral glycoconjugates in the secretory portion, especially in the wolf. A clear spectrum of saccharide residues was demonstrable in the dark cells (alpha-D-mannose, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, alpha-D-galactose), and in the clear cells which lacked mannose and contained beta-D-galactose. In contrast to the wolf, strong reactions for glycoconjugates were visible among intercellular substances of intradermal excretory duct cells in the dog. Only in the wolf did the periphery of the intracorneal excretory ducts and the outer surface of the foot pads show clearly positive reactions for glycoconjugates. The results obtained are discussed with regard to the specific functions of the body regions investigated and the behavioural biology of the Canidae. It is obvious that differences in amounts, quality, and localization of the glycoconjugates produced exist between the wolf and its domesticated descendant.

Comparison of binding affinity of oxytocin antagonists to human and rat uterine oxytocin receptors and their correlation to the rat uterine oxytocic bioassay

One of the primary methods used to screen the development of oxytocin antagonists (OTAs) is the rat oxytocic bioassay. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the rat oxytocic bioassay is a good predictor of binding affinity to human and rat uterine oxytocin receptors (OTr). The binding affinities of five OTAs to human and rat uterine OTr were determined and correlated with pA2 values derived from the rat uterine oxytocic bioassay. Human uterine myometrial tissue was obtained from patients at the time of cesarean section. Rat uterine tissue for the OTr assay was taken at Day 21 of pregnancy. OTr assays were accomplished by isolating uterine cell membranes and performing saturation analysis with cold OTAs and tritium-labeled oxytocin. The association constants (Ka; 10(+8)/M) were calculated by nonlinear curve-fitting techniques. The Ka for the five OTAs (Mpa1-OT, Antag I, L366948, Antag II, and Antag III), as estimated from the human OTr assay, were 0.55, 0.60, 2.27, 1.91, and 47.20, respectively. Ka estimates obtained through use of rat uterine membranes were 0.51, 1.16, 5.89, 2.03, and 24.40, respectively. Correlation of the log10 of the rat oxytocic bioassay results with those of the rat and human OTr assay was 0.94 and 0.98, respectively (p < 0.01). Antag III was approximately 55, 48, and 90 times more potent than Mpa1-OT as determined by the rat bioassay and rat and human uterine OTr assays, respectively. Mpa1-OT is an OTA that is currently undergoing clinical evaluation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Microscopic studies of the skin of Turkish angora goats. III. Cyclic annual growth of the sebaceous glands and hypodermis]

The study describes circannual variations of growth in sebaceous glands and hypodermis. The results have been obtained by light microscopical and lipid histochemical methods. The sebaceous glands showed high secretory activities during the summer months, obviously as related to increasing fibre lengths. The hypodermis was thickest by fat accumulation during summer, as probably connected with high growth rates of the hair follicles. The findings are discussed with regard to the general, seasonally varying feeding conditions of goats in Central Anatolia. A direct relation between diet quantity and quality, and fleece quality is postulated.

[The physician's cognition during cardiopulmonary resuscitation of the human]

The cognitions of 20 emergency-physicians while working on a mobile resuscitation unit were examined by means of questionnaire in over 260 situations of resuscitation. A pattern of cognitions could be detected: Emergency physicians appear not to think very much during resuscitation. If there are thoughts, these usually concern the obvious, or what is immediately present in the situation, i.e. the patient or the patient's relatives; repression may also play a role. Cognitions which are reflective of self are rare and only develop late in the situation, depending on the surroundings and the amount of stress. The cognitions concerning the relatives are frequent in those situations with direct physician-relative contact. The physicians often report in retrospect having felt compelled to a decision for resuscitation by the presence of the relatives; nevertheless, the decision itself appears to be a result, rather, of their cognitions of the relatives. Distancing by means of cognition was ubiquitously employed as a coping strategy by physicians when in situations which were perceived as not having a positive outcome. Thoughts about "own death" or "about the patient" are specific, however, for certain groups of doctors. Results of the present investigation suggest that physicians have cognitions about relatives during the process of decision making, and cognitions about the patient during the resuscitation manoeuvre.

[Determination of prognosis-relevant factors in patients with hypo- or oropharyngeal carcinoma]

The influence of pathomorphological parameters (keratinization, grading, nucleolar organizer region (NOR) counts, automatic analysis of micrographs) on prognosis was determined for 284 patients with carcinomas of the oropharynx or hypopharynx. Keratinization was found to have no influence on prognosis. Histopathological grading and automatic analysis of micrographs with mark 22 were seen to be of major relevance. Patients with grading 3 were noted to have a poorer prognosis than those with gradings of 1 or 2. This latter finding was statistically significant. Although the absolute NOR counts had no influence on prognosis, they did show a statistically significant effect on the extent of lymphogenic formation of metastases. Cox regression analysis of clinical and pathomorphological parameters revealed that combination therapy, tumor grading, and mark 22 of automatic analysis of micrographs were important factors relevant to prognosis.

Fingerprinting reveals gamma-ray induced mutations in fungal DNA: implications for identification of patent strains of Trichoderma harzianum

We have analyzed different patent strains and gamma-ray induced mutants of Trichoderma harzianum by DNA fingerprinting and PCR fingerprinting (RAPD). Applying wild-type phage M13 DNA, with the oligonucleotides (CT)8 and (GTG)5 as probes for hybridization, as well as the oligonucleotides GGCATCGGCC, (GTG)5, (CAC)5 and the M13 sequence GAGGGTGGCGGTTCT as primers in PCR, we were able to obtain different and discriminative fingerprint patterns for all strains and mutants investigated. Irradiation of fungi led to mutations which resulted in new fingerprint patterns. Consequently, irradiation-induced mutants can be clearly distinguished from the original wild-type isolates by genomic fingerprinting which is of importance for the patent protection of fungal strains. Sequencing of the ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions of the rDNA gene complex revealed the same sequence for all mutant strains and the original wild-type strain.

Phase I study of oral etoposide in children with refractory solid tumors

PURPOSE

To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity, and plasma concentrations of orally administered etoposide (VP-16) in pediatric oncology patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a phase I study, 20 children with refractory solid tumors received oral VP-16 (the intravenous preparation diluted with sodium chloride) three times daily for 21 days. Daily dose levels studied were 50 mg/m2 (n = 5), 60 mg/m2 (n = 7), and 75 mg/m2 (n = 8). VP-16 concentrations were measured in blood samples collected on days 1, 7, 14, and 21.

RESULTS

Grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia and/or neutropenia causing interruption of the 21-day course or persisting for more than 7 days after the last day of chemotherapy was seen at all dose levels, but was not dose-limiting. One patient treated at the 50-mg/m2 daily dose died of sepsis. At the 75-mg/m2 dose level, diarrhea was dose-limiting. Estimated plasma VP-16 concentrations were greater than 1 micrograms/mL for median periods of 9.4, 15.4, and 13.5 hours per day at daily doses of 50, 60, and 75 mg/m2, respectively. Responses were observed in seven of 14 patients who received at least one additional course of etoposide after a rest period of 7 days. There was one complete and two objective responses. Four patients were considered to have stable disease.

CONCLUSION

The intravenous preparation of VP-16 administered orally appears to be well tolerated by heavily pretreated pediatric patients. On the three-times daily, 21-day schedule, a daily dose of 75 mg/m2 exceeds the MTD, with diarrhea as the dose-limiting toxicity. The recommended dose for oral etoposide is 60 mg/m2/d administered every 8 hours.

Phase I study of recombinant interleukin-1 beta in patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplant for acute myelogenous leukemia

A phase I trial was conducted with recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta) in patients undergoing autologous bone marrow (BM) transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia. rhIL-1 beta was administered at 3 dose levels (0.01, 0.02, 0.05 microgram/kg) by 30 minute intravenous infusion once a day beginning on the day of BM infusion and continuing for a total of 5 doses. A total of 17 patients were entered on the trial, and their results were compared with those of 74 consecutive historical control patients that did not receive colony stimulating factors. Moderate toxicity was observed in all patients. All 17 patients developed fever and chills within 30 minutes after initiation of rhIL-1 beta, and hypotension was observed in 14 of 17 patients 5 to 8 hours after the infusion. A total of 30% of patients required therapy (normal saline or dopamine) for treatment of hypotension. Therefore, dose escalation was discontinued at the 0.05 microgram/kg dose level. The number of days required to achieve an absolute neutrophil count greater than 500 mL in patients who received rhIL-1 beta was less than in historical patients (25 v 34; P = .02). This appeared to correlate with a reduced incidence of infection between days 0 and 28 after BM infusion (12% v 23%; P = .049). Median bilirubin, median creatinine, platelet recovery, and days in the hospital were not different between study patients and historical controls. Survival of patients who received rhIL-1 beta compared with that of historical patients was improved (30% v 20%; P = .04). These possible benefits were achieved at the cost of moderate toxicity during rhIL-1 beta administration.

Nitrovasodilator-induced relaxation and tolerance development in porcine vena cordis magna: dependence on intact endothelium

1. Isolated segments of porcine vena cordis magna exhibited a reproducible contractile activity upon application of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) or KCl, that was independent of the presence of intact endothelium. Substance P (3 nM) elicited strictly endothelium-dependent relaxations amounting to 46.1 +/- 1.4% (n = 206) of contractions induced by 10 microM PGF2 alpha. 2. S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP), a compound that spontaneously liberates nitric oxide, concentration-dependently relaxed PGF2 alpha-precontracted (50 microM) venous segments. Tolerance induction (incubation with 100 microM SNAP for 30 min) within the same segments resulted in a 3 fold attenuation of this effect, which was not further reduced after additional preincubation with glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Removal of endothelium or the presence of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) significantly improved the potency of SNAP before and after tolerance induction. 3. Concentration-dependent relaxations induced by GTN in non-tolerant veins were similar in the presence and absence of endothelium but much more reduced in tolerant endothelium-denuded (75 fold) compared to intact (20 fold) segments. In contrast, the presence of L-NAME significantly improved GTN-activity solely in non-tolerant veins, which, therefore, also resulted in a more pronounced attenuation of activity due to tolerance induction (100 fold). Preincubation of intact veins with SNAP also reduced GTN-activity but to a lesser extent (10 fold). 4. The more delayed but much longer, and compared to GTN somewhat weaker, acting new nitrovasodilator N-(3-nitrato-pivaloyl)-1-cysteineethylester (SPM 3672) was more potent in denuded than intact non-tolerant venous segments. Induction of tolerance by GTN resulted in a 2 fold-attenuation of potency. This effect was increased to 15 fold in denuded veins but solely due to enhanced potency of SPM 3672 caused by removal of endothelium.5. These data demonstrate that intact endothelium of porcine vena cordis magna attenuates the relaxant potency of nitrovasodilators but also probably participates in vascular bioactivation of GTN.We suggest that the reduced potency of nitrovasodilators is due to endogenous production of nitricoxide, which may affect the soluble guanylate cyclase/cyclic GMP-system or inhibit nitrate bioactivation pathways.

Demonstration of NADPH-diaphorase (NO-synthase) in the apocrine and eccrine skin glands of domesticated mammals

The study demonstrates a strong enzyme histochemical and immunohistochemical reaction staining for NADPH-diaphorase/NO-synthase in the secretory cells of the apocrine glands in the hairy skin, and the eccrine glands in the foot pads of domesticated mammals. The results obtained are discussed in view of a regulatory action of the NO generated by these enzyme activities, implying a direct influence of NO on the contractile properties of glandular myoepithelial cells. In this way, a basic and simple mechanism to couple secretion production and secretion extrusion can be proposed.

Feasibility and limitations of a cytometric DNA ploidy analysis procedure in tissue sections

To produce IOD histograms from tissue sections interpretable in terms of DNA ploidy, compromises between section thickness, nuclear volume and cellularity have to be found. In most cases, some kind of correction for capping effects will be inevitable. One of the correction procedures for that purpose was studied, i.e. that concerning the extent of errors which are necessarily introduced by assuming a distributional model of nuclei in the tissue slide. This procedure is mainly based on the assumptions of a spherical shape of the nuclei, of their homogeneous chromatin distribution, and of an equal distribution of the equatorial plane inside the tissue slide sectioned. Measurements on rat liver sections with a series of section thicknesses demonstrated that the correction procedure would lead to an exact position of the IOD peaks from the tetraploid nuclei on the ploidy axis. The width of the IOD peaks will not be diminished considerably as compared to uncorrected IOD histograms. Therefore, there are serious limitations to the procedure as compared to the DNA ploidy analysis on smears or imprints. If applied very critically in the case of tissue sections, the method may provide additional information about the DNA ploidy in those cases which lack a uniform tumour cell population or adequate material for smear preparations.

Laparoscopic drainage of a lymphocele after renal transplantation

Lymphoceles are a well-known complication of renal transplantation, with incidence rates up to 18%. The management of symptomatic lymphocele remains controversial. We report the case of a lymphocele which was successfully drained into the peritoneal cavity using laparoscopic surgery.

NADPH diaphorase (nitric oxide synthase) in the central nervous system of spiders (Arachnida: Araneida)

The distribution of NADPH diaphorase (nitric-oxide synthase) in the CNS of spiders was determined in 10 species of five families, applying enzyme histochemical technique on sections of fresh frozen, unfixed material. Positively reacting cells could be found only in the peripheral neuropil and along internal and external lamellae of all species studied. These cells were numerous and showed long and widespread arborizations in the ventral cord of orthognath species. The results obtained are discussed in view of possible glial functions of such cells and the relation of nitric oxide to other neurotransmitters in the condensed brain of the Araneida.