Variable expression of tenascin‐C,osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung

Kaarteenaho R, Sormunen R, Pääkkö P. Variable expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung. APMIS 2010; 118: 91–100. The aim of this study was to analyse the expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung, which is a rare tumour of unknown aetiology. Nine patients with an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of lung were studied by immunohistochemistry for the presence of tenascin‐C, osteopontin, fibronectin and alpha‐smooth muscle actin, which is a common marker for myofibroblasts. The ultrastructure of myofibroblasts was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin, fibronectin and alpha‐smooth muscle actin was also studied by immunoelectron microscopy. All cases displayed all of the studied extracellular matrix proteins and also alpha‐smooth muscle actin‐positive spindle‐shaped fibroblastic cells that were undoubtedly myofibroblasts. The immunoelectron microscopic studies demonstrated labelling for alpha‐smooth muscle actin in intracellular filament bundles within myofibroblasts, for fibronectin in the extracellular filaments of the fibronexus and for tenascin‐C extracellularly often adjacent to myofibroblasts. Labels for osteopontin were observed within myofibroblasts and plasma cells. These results demonstrate that tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin were expressed in all three kinds of subtypes of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours of the lung and further, variable amounts of myofibroblasts could be observed by light and transmission electron microscopy as well as by immunoelectron microscopic techniques.     

Reversal of Atrial Remodeling after Cardioversion of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Measured with Magnetocardiography

Background : Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes electrical, functional, and structural changes in the atria. We examined electrophysiologic remodeling caused by AF and its reversal noninvasively by applying a new atrial signal analysis based on magnetocardiography (MCG).
Methods : In 26 patients with persistent AF, MCG, signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG), and echocardiography were performed immediately after electrical cardioversion (CV), and repeated after 1 month in 15 patients who remained in sinus rhythm (SR). Twenty-four matched subjects without history of AF served as controls. P-wave duration (Pd) and dispersion (standard deviation of Pd values in individual channels) and root mean square amplitudes of the P wave over the last 40 ms portions (RMS40) were determined.
Results : In MCG Pd was longer (122.8 ± 18.2 ms vs 101.5 ± 14.6 ms, P < 0.01) and RMS40 was higher (60.4 ± 28.2 vs 46.9 ± 19.1 fT) in AF patients immediately after CV as compared to the controls. In SAECG Pd dispersion was increased in AF patients. Mitral A-wave velocity and left atrial (LA) contraction were decreased and LA diameter was increased (all P < 0.01). After 1 month, Pd in MCG still remained longer and LA diameter greater (both P < 0.05), while RMS40 in MCG, Pd dispersion in SAECG, mitral A-wave velocity, and LA contraction were recovered.
Conclusions : Magnetocardiographically detected atrial electrophysiologic alterations in persistent AF diminish rapidly although incompletely during maintained SR after CV. This might be related to the known early high and late lower, but still existent tendency to AF relapses.     

Irradiation of human dental tissues with CO2-, Nd:YAG-, and CO2-Nd:YAG combination laser

Abstract— Extracted third molars were used to study the effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation combined with CO₂ laser beam on dental hard tissues. The specimens were studied with SEM after lasing and the size of the impact areas and beam penetration into enamel and dentin were planimetrically analyzed. High-energy CO₂ laser (e.g. 10 s irradiation with 10 W output energy) penetrated all enamel and dentin. The simultaneous addition of Nd:YAG irradiation to the CO₂ beam was found to increase the effect of CO₂ laser, while Nd:YAG irradiation alone, used with equivalent energy densities, did not cause any effect on enamel surface. Thus, Nd:YAG laser was found to potentiate statistically significantly the effect of CO₂ irradiation, but the morphologic alterations on dental hard tissues, such as crater formation at the beam focus site, appeared to be due to CO₂ irradiation alone.     

Experimental sports drinks with minimal dental erosion effect

Abstract – The effects of new experimental sports drinks on dental enamel were studied in vitro using bovine tooth specimens. Profilometric analysis was used to measure the loss of tooth material after immersion of the specimens in the drinks. Thereafter the specimens' surface hardness was measured and scanning electron microphotographs were taken. In addition, 13 commercial sports drinks and experimental drinks containing either citric acid or malic acid were tested for their capacity to dissolve hydroxyapatite in vitro. The erosive effect increased markedly with decreasing pH. The citric acid containing drinks were more erosive than malic acid containing drinks. No erosion was observed with the malic acid containing drink (pH 5.90) but the drink of similar composition containing citric acid caused an erosion 1.3± 1.1μm deep and a commercial citric acid containing drink caused a lesion 12.3± 4.5μm deep after 120 min immersion. Softening of enamel was greater in specimens immersed in citric acid than in those immersed in malic acid containing drink. The in vitro hydroxyapatite dissolving effect of the commercial sports drink samples studied (all having a pH under 4.22) was markedly greater (0.48–4.38 mmol/l) than that of the malic acid containing experimental drink (pH 5.50, Ca⁺⁺ concentration in the supernatant 0.19 mmol/l) and of the similar citric acid containing drink (0.35 mmol/l). The hydroxyapatite dissolving effect of both drinks started to be marked at a pH level of about 5.0 but increased thereafter exponentially with decreasing pH. At pH levels above 4.0 the hydroxyapatite dissolving effect of citric acid containing drinks was greater than that of malic acid containing drinks.     

Clinical and radiographic study of pulpectomy and root canal therapy

abstract — A clinical and radiographic reexamination of 2,459 roots 2–7 years after initial pulpectomy or root canal therapy is presented. The overall success rate, which was 53%, was not affected by the sex or age of the patient, or by the jaw in which the tooth was situated. The tooth group, however, had a significant influence on the success rate, the worst results being obtained for incisors and especially the mandibular central and maxillary lateral incisors. The prognosis was clearly better for the pulpectomies than for the root canal therapy. Mortal pulpectomy was found to succeed more often than vital. The presence of a primary periapical rarefaction worsened the success rate. The success rate was lower for the teeth in which a posttreatment prosthetic crown had been fitted. Fillings which went beyond the apex had a significantly lower success rate than those which nearly or exactly reached the apex.     

ELEVATED ERYTHROCYTE ADENOSINE DEAMINASE ACTIVITY IN DOWN'S SYNDROME

Abstract. Puukka, R., Puukka, M., Linna, S-L., Joensuu, T. and Kouvalainen, K. (Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland). Elevated erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity in Down's syndrome. Acta Paediatr Scand, 70:739,.–Erythrocyte ADA activity was measured in 29 cases of Down's syndrome and in 29 age- and sex-matched control subjects. The mean activity (± S.D.) of ADA in Down's syndrome was 1 883±463 mU/g Hb (37°C) and 1 361 ±294 mll/g Hb in the controls. The difference was statistically significant ( p <0.001). The purine metabolism of Down's syndrome patients is discussed.     

Lectin binding sites in human seminiferous epithelium, in CIS cells and in seminomas

The distribution of glycoconjugates in germ cells during spermatogenic differentiation, in carcinoma-in-situ (CIS) cells and in seminoma were studied by lectin histochemistry. The results show that human germ cells are rich in carbohydrate-containing compounds with specific alterations in the expression of glucosyl moieties during germ cell development. CIS cells reveal different lectin binding sites from spermatogenic cells, but the distribution of glycosubstances in CIS cells is similar to that of seminoma cells which supports the suggestion of the malignant nature of CIS germ cells.     

PANCREATIC ISLET CELL FUNCTION AND METABOLIC CONTROL IN AN INFANT WITH PERMANENT NEONATAL DIABETES

ABSTRACT. A girl with typical clinical manifestations of neonatal diabetes was observed for 16 months with consecutive evaluations of pancreatic beta and alpha-cell function and metabolic control. At the diagnosis both the plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and C-peptide concentrations were inappropriate for the contemporaneous hyperglycemia. During the follow-up, the C-peptide fell twice below the detection limit but the beta-cell function recovered partially on both occasions. Based on 24-hour urinary C-peptide excretion, the endogenous insulin secretion was less than 10% of that in non-diabetic infants. When diagnosed the patient had plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) and glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) concentrations below the reference range for normal neonates. The IRG normalised within the first month, while the GLI increased to a level exceeding the reference range. Hemoglobin A₁ had already risen at the time of diagnosis and subsequently rose to a level indicating poor metabolic control. The findings indicate an immature function of both beta- and alpha-cells at the diagnosis with the alpha-cells maturing within the first month. The recovery of the beta-cell function, after two failures in this patient with permanent neonatal diabetes, suggests that the beta-cell damage was at least partially reversible.