Ultrastructural changes in pneumocyte type II cells following traumatic brain injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to demonstrate the time-dependent ultrastructural changes in pneumocyte type II cells following brain injury, and to propose an electron microscopic scoring model for the damage. METHODS: Forty Wistar-Albino female rats weighing 170-200 g were used. The rats were allocated into five groups. The first group was the control and the second was the craniotomy without trauma. The others were trauma groups. Weight-drop method was used for achieving head trauma. Samples were obtained from the right and left pulmonary lobes at 2-, 8-, and 24-h intervals after transcardiac perfusion. An electron microscopic scoring model was used to reveal the changes. RESULTS: There were no ultrastructural pathological findings pointing to lung injury in any rat of the control groups. There was intense intracellular oedema in type II pneumocyte and interstitial oedema in the adjacent tissue in trauma groups. Oedema in mitochondria and dilatation in both smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus was more evident in the 8- and 24-h trauma groups. The chromatin dispersion was disintegrated in the nucleus in all trauma groups. Scores of all trauma groups were significantly different from the controls (P<0.05). All trauma groups were different from each other at significant levels (P<0.05 for each trauma groups). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggested that ultrastructural damage is obvious at 2 h and deteriorates with time. The electron microscopic scoring model worked well in depicting the traumatic changes, which were supported by lipid peroxidation. Further experiments are needed to determine the exact outcome after brain death model.     

The effect of alternate-day low dose prednisolone on bone age in children with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome

Radius, ulna, short bones (RUS), carpal (CARP) bone age (BA), tibial corticodiaphyseal (C/D) ratio and trabecular aspect were assessed in 19 children with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome and 15 age matched healthy children. Both RUS and CARP BA were significantly lower than in the controls. Trabecular aspect and tibial C/D ratio did not show any statistical significance. There was a positive correlation between HSDS and RUS BA delay (r=−0.476, p<0.05); CARP BA delay and RUS BA delay (r=0.563, p<0.01) and RUS BA and CARP BA (r=0.891, p<0.001). In conclusion, RUS and CARP BA are both retarded and positively correlated in steroid dependent nephrotic children.     

Metastasis of Prostate Adenocarcinoma to Testis

Metastatic carcinoma to the testis is very rare. Metastasis of prostate adenocarcinoma to testis was detected incidentally after bilateral orchiectomy for hormonal management of metastatic prostate carcinoma. The metastatic lesion was not identified in physical examination or in macroscopic dissection of the testis after surgery. Microscopy revealed an adenocarcinoma which, given the history of the patient and a positive immunohistochemical stain for PSA, was identified as metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma.     

Neural fibrolipoma of the ulnar nerve in the hand: a case report.

The author reports an unusual case of neural fibrolipoma (lipofibromatous hamartoma) of the ulnar nerve in the hand. A 20-year-old man presented with a fusiform soft tissue mass in his right hand. Neurological examination was normal except to minimal pain on palpation. Surgical exploration revealed that ulnar nerve and its digital branches were infiltrated by fibrofatty tissues. Fibrofatty tissues were dissected and removed from the nerve by microsurgical technique. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis as a lipofibromatous hamartoma of the nerve. The result of surgical debulking was satisfactory.     

Vein of Galen and sinus thrombosis with bilateral thalamic infarcts in sickle cell anaemia: CT follow-up and angiographic demonstration

A 2-year-old boy with known sickle cell disease presented in acute coma. CT revealed bilateral thalamic infarcts and incomplete sinus thrombosis. Angiography confirmed thrombosis of the straight sinus and vein of Galen.     

Inductively coupled transmission of neuro-active signals: analysis of optimal parameters

Fifteen parameters that play a role in the optimal transmission of therapeutic signals by inductively coupled implantable neurostimulator have been investigated. For this purpose, at first, a model of the system was constructed from which the system transfer function was obtained. Then, the relationship between the transfer gain and each parameter was evaluated using mathematical equations and a specifically built computer program. This study showed that the gain could be increased selecting small values for some parameters (the number of active coil windings, first radii of inner and outer paths of the core, heights of the core base and windings, position under the skin, internal resistances of the active and passive coils, tissue impedance between the contacts of electrode), and high values for the others (the number of passive coil windings, second radii of inner and outer paths of the core, frequency of the signal, relative magnetic permeability of the core). Critical saturation values were another considerable point. The nearest commercially available standard values should be preferred in practical applications.     

An MRI study of the meniscofemoral and transverse ligaments of the knee

Our aim was to assess the anatomic localization, dimensions and incidence of the transverse and meniscofemoral ligaments, which can show anatomic variations or be mistaken for some pathologic conditions. In 100 healthy subjects (52 female, 48 male) whose ages ranged from 12 to 84 years, sagittal and coronal magnetic resonance images of the knee were obtained. There was at least one anterior or posterior meniscofemoral ligament in 82 cases. The anterior meniscofemoral ligament was present in 8 of the female and 4 of the male subjects. The posterior meniscofemoral ligament was found in 20 female and 22 male subjects. Both the anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments were present in 15 female and 13 male subjects. The transverse ligament of knee was encountered in 19 female and 12 male subjects. In the females, average lengths of the anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments were 9.87 +/- 4.79 mm and 25.60 +/- 5.50 mm, respectively. The corresponding values in the males were 11.11 +/- 2.57 mm and 28.80 +/- 5.49 mm, respectively. In the females, average width of the anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments were 2.45 +/- 1.02 mm and 2.30 +/- 1.15 mm, respectively. The corresponding values in the males were 2.52 +/- 0.87 mm and 2.30 +/- 1.15 mm, respectively. On MRI assessment, in order to differentiate intra-articular lesions such as osteochondral and meniscal fragments or pseudotear of the lateral meniscus from the normal ligamentous anatomy of knee, the orientation and characteristic localization of the meniscofemoral ligaments should be taken into account. The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0023-8.