地塞米松浓度与脐带间充质干细胞的成骨分化

背景：在地塞米松、维生素C和β-甘油磷酸钠的共同作用下,人脐带间充质干细胞可以向成骨细胞分化。作为糖皮质类激素的地塞米松,其浓度对人脐带间充质干细胞体外成骨分化存在着影响。 目的：探寻人脐带间充质干细胞向成骨细胞诱导分化过程中地塞米松的优选浓度。 方法：采用植块法从正常足月新生儿脐带中分离培养间充质干细胞。取第3代细胞进行日常细胞培养和诱导分化实验。流式细胞术检测所获细胞的表面标记表达情况,成脂、成骨诱导分化鉴定人脐带间充质干细胞。倒置相差显微镜观察成骨分化过程中细胞形态的变化。以含1×10^-8 mol/L,5×10^-8 mol/L,1×10^-7 mol/L 3种浓度地塞米松的成骨诱导液对人脐带间充质干细胞进行成骨诱导。盐酸四环素荧光及Von Kossa染色法对比观察钙结节形成。反转录-聚合酶链反应法对比检测细胞骨桥蛋白基因表达。 结果与结论：植块法分离的人脐带间充质干细胞形态均一,多为梭形,平行排列生长或旋涡状生长。流式细胞术检测CD29,CD73和CD90呈阳性表达,CD31,CD34和HLA-DR呈阴性表达。成脂诱导后可观察到细胞内有脂滴形成,油红O染色呈阳性。盐酸四环素荧光结果和Von Kossa染色结果显示,所形成的钙结节大小及数量,均随着地塞米松浓度的增加而增强、增多。反转录-聚合酶链反应检测结果显示,3种浓度地塞米松组的骨桥蛋白基因均有表达,且表达强度随着地塞米松浓度的增加而增强。提示成骨诱导液中地塞米松浓度为1×10^-7 mol/L时,能更有效地诱导人脐带间充质干细胞向成骨细胞分化。     

辛伐他汀对高糖高脂诱导人骨髓间充质干细胞凋亡的影响

背景：研究表明,他汀类药物能够促进骨髓间充质干细胞的增殖与黏附能力,抑制高糖高脂培养下骨髓间充质干细胞的凋亡。 目的：观察辛伐他汀对高糖高脂诱导条件下人骨髓间充质干细胞凋亡的影响。 方法：将0.001,0.01,0.1,1.0 μmol/L辛伐他汀分别与高糖高脂诱导条件下人骨髓间充质干细胞培养48 h,以正常培养骨髓间充质干细胞及高糖高脂诱导条件下培养的骨髓间充质干细胞为对照。倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态,MTT法比较不同浓度辛伐他汀对高糖高脂环境下骨髓间充质干细胞存活率的影响,应用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,加入PI3K/Akt信号转导通路抑制剂LY294002后辛伐他汀对骨髓间充质干细胞凋亡的影响。 结果与结论：与高糖高脂诱导组比较,辛伐他汀0.01,0.1,1.0 µmol/L组骨髓间充质干细胞存活率均升高(P < 0.01),其中辛伐他汀浓度在0.1 μmol/L时骨髓间充质干细胞存活率升高最显著(P < 0.01);同时流式细胞仪检测结果显示,辛伐他汀0.01,0.1,1.0 µmol/L组细胞凋亡率下降(P< 0.01),其中0.1 µmol/L组凋亡率下降最显著(P < 0.01)。0.1 µmol/L辛伐他汀对骨髓间充质干细胞的影响可被LY294002阻断。说明辛伐他汀能抑制高糖高脂诱导条件下骨髓间充质干细胞的凋亡,其机制可能与PI3K/Akt信号途径有关。     

脐带间充质干细胞在不同培养体系条件下的生物学特性

背景：体外培养的脐带间充质干细胞在不同培养体系下生长状态差异显著,因此选取一种更适合的培养基相当必要。 目的：对比观察人脐带间充质干细胞在3种培养基中的生长增殖情况,并检测细胞免疫表型以及间充质干细胞的诱导分化能力。 方法：在无菌条件下用贴块法收获人脐带间充质干细胞,用T75培养瓶培养传代后,取第3代脐带间充质干细胞分别种入到含体积分数为5%胎牛血清的DMEM/F12培养基、含体积分数为10%胎牛血清的DMEM/F12培养基和Mesen PRO RSTM培养基中,培养第1,3,5,7天进行细胞计数,绘制细胞生长曲线。采用流式细胞仪分析第3代脐带间充质干细胞免疫表型,并检测其成骨及成脂肪诱导分化能力。 结果与结论：培养出的第3代人脐带间充质干细胞高表达CD44、CD73、CD90、CD105,不表达CD29、CD31、CD34、HLA-DR。经成脂诱导后,油红O染色可见胞浆中有大量红色小脂滴;成骨诱导后,茜素红染色后镜下可见成骨样细胞团,说明脐带间充质干细胞在体外具有多向分化的潜能。在倒置显微镜下观察可见含体积分数为10%胎牛血清的DMEM/F12培养基中的细胞集落密集,形态均匀,而其他2种培养基中的细胞集落密集程度和形态都不如前者好。在培养传代细胞时,可优先选择含体积分数为10%胎牛血清的DMEM/F12培养基。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

人脐带间充质干细胞的分离鉴定及多向诱导分化

背景：脐带间充质干细胞取材方便、无创,不受伦理学限制,比一般干细胞原始,免疫原性小,其应用前景广阔,是一种理想的种子细胞。 目的：分离鉴定脐带间充质干细胞,并诱导其向成骨细胞和成脂细胞分化。 方法：组织块贴壁法分离纯化脐带间充质干细胞,取对数生长期的第3代细胞,观察细胞形态、生长方式;流式细胞仪检测干细胞表型CD90、CD105、CD34和CD45的表达情况,并在体外检测能否将其诱导分化为成脂细胞及成骨细胞。 结果与结论：用组织块法成功分离培养出脐带间充质干细胞,流式细胞学鉴定显示细胞强表达CD90和CD105,不表达CD34和CD45;能在体外将其成功诱导为脂肪细胞和成骨细胞。结果显示组织块贴壁法能够从人脐带中分离出间充质干细胞,该细胞可向成脂细胞及成骨细胞分化。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

缺氧预处理脐带间充质干细胞诱导分化为内皮样细胞

背景：糖尿病下肢血管病变发病率的升高,使如何通过改善下肢血管及增加新生血管生成成为关注的焦点,临床上已用人脐带间充质干细胞局部肌肉注射进行治疗,但是具体的治疗效果及机制尚不明确。 目的：探讨缺氧预处理及氯化钴培养液对脐带间充质干细胞诱导分化为内皮样细胞的影响。 方法：分离、培养脐带间充质干细胞,经不同浓度氯化钴模拟体内病理状态下的缺氧,通过ELISA检测细胞上清中碱性成纤维生长因子和血管内皮生长因子基因水平表达、MTT检测细胞增殖,选取最适氯化钴浓度,染色体进行氯化钴诱导前后安全性检测,用含10 µg/L血管内皮生长因子、10 µg/L的碱性成纤维细胞生长因子及体积分数10%胎牛血清的DMEM-LG/F12培养液向内皮样细胞方向诱导分化,鉴定诱导前及诱导后内皮样细胞表型CD31、假性血友病因子,通过三维血管形成模型的观察进行诱导前后脐带间充质干细血管形成能力检测。 结果与结论：分离的脐带间充质干细经流式鉴定高表达脐带间充质干细相关表面标志。经含不同浓度氯化钴的培养液处理后,细胞增殖与作用时间呈正相关。根据碱性成纤维生长因子和血管内皮生长因子基因水平的表达,验证得出氯化钴浓度为200 µmol/L为最适浓度。染色体检测显示氯化钴干预后的安全性可靠。诱导后CD31及假性血友病因子强阳性表达,三维血管成形观察显示脐带间充质干细诱导后可形成直径大小不等的管腔样结构,证实脐带间充质干细可诱导为内皮样细胞,且具有成血管的能力。     

人脐带间充质干细胞诱导分化为心肌细胞的特异性基因表达

背景：脐带来源的间充质干细胞进行自体心肌内移植,修复损伤心肌组织,是心血管研究领域的热点。 目的：应用5-氮胞苷诱导人脐带间充质干细胞转化为心肌样细胞后进行鉴定,以确定心肌样细胞的结构、形态和功能。 方法：分离培养人脐带间充质干细胞,在第2代细胞中分别加入浓度为2.5,5,10,20,40,80 μmol/L的5-氮胞苷,作用24 h后除去,继续培养4周。 结果与结论：5-氮胞苷诱导前,无细丝样结构、无颗粒,胞浆量均匀且少,核/浆比例高,细胞形态呈现典型的梭形,细胞呈漩祸样或同心圆生长,核内会见到较为明显的核仁;在5-氮胞苷处理24 h之后,各组细胞都会出现部分死亡,失去典型的梭形形态,成为棍状或者柱状,40,80 μmol/L组细胞形态变化明显。反转录-聚合酶反应检测2.5,40 μmol/L组诱导4周,5,10,20 μmol/L组诱导1,2,3,4周时人脐带间充质干细胞心钠素、α-骨骼肌动蛋白基因表达呈阳性。提示经5-氮胞苷诱导的人脐带间充质干细胞表达心肌细胞的特定基因。     

不同浓度5-氮胞苷体外诱导人脐带间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞的分化

背景：在体外将人脐带间充质干细胞诱导为心肌样细胞的5-氮胞苷合适浓度的研究较少,且无明确结论。 目的：对比不同浓度5-氮胞苷诱导人脐带间充质干细胞转化为心肌细胞的效果,以确定一种合适的诱导浓度。 方法：第2代人脐带间充质干细胞中分别加入浓度为2.5,5,10,20,40,80 μmol/L的5-氮胞苷,作用24 h后除去,继续培养4周。于诱导后第2周行免疫组化染色检测肌钙蛋白Ⅰ阳性细胞率。 结果与结论：5-氮胞苷诱导后7 d,细胞形态发生变化,细胞多紧密平行排列生长,细胞体积变大,梭形细胞比例下降,40,80 μmol/L组细胞形态变化明显。4周时,40,80 μmol/L组细胞的折光性减低,细胞活性减弱,继续出现死亡的细胞。诱导后2周,2.5 μmol/L组肌钙蛋白Ⅰ染色为阴性,10,20,40,80 μmol/L组细胞肌钙蛋白Ⅰ阳性率均明显高于5 μmol/L组(P < 0.05)。提示5-氮胞苷可诱导人脐带间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞转化,10 μmol/L是较佳的诱导浓度。     

人脐带间充质干细胞体外诱导分化为成纤维细胞

背景：脐带间充质干细胞具有多向分化能力,但其向成纤维细胞分化研究较少。 目的：验证人脐带间充质干细胞向成纤维细胞的分化能力。 方法：采用贴壁法分离脐带间充质干细胞,流式细胞仪分析其表面抗原。取第3代脐带间充质干细胞进行成脂成骨诱导分化,以碱性成纤维细胞生长因子诱导脐带间充质干细胞向成纤维细胞分化。 结果与结论：贴壁法能稳定从脐带中分离出干细胞,脐带间充质干细胞极低表达 CD31、CD45 、CD40、HLA-DR,强表达 CD29、CD90、CD44、CD105。脐带间充质干细胞成脂诱导后油红O染色显示胞浆中充满红色的油滴;成骨诱导后茜素红染色可在细胞密集区见红色的钙结节。碱性成纤维细胞生因子诱导后细胞表达Ⅰ型胶原明显高于对照组。提示贴壁法分离脐带间充质干细胞可靠、纯度高,碱性成纤维细胞生长因子可诱导脐带间充质干细胞向成纤维细胞分化。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

改良原代培养体系提高人脐带间充质干细胞的产量

背景：目前关于脐带间充质干细胞培养方法的研究很多,但尚无关于初次培养后废弃物的相关研究。 目的：探讨优化人脐带来源间充质干细胞体外培养的最佳方法。方法：采用组织块贴壁法分离培养人脐带间充质干细胞,记为初次培养组。将原代培养瓶中的培养液及组织离心,重新分成组织组、混合组和纯液组进行再次培养。观察4组原代细胞的细胞形态、获得时间和细胞得率;MTT法绘制细胞生长曲线,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期及免疫表型。结果与结论：初次培养组、再次培养组织组、再次培养混合组、再次培养纯液组获取细胞的平均时间分别为(15.00±0.45) d,(7.0±0.3) d,(8.00±0.25) d,(8.00±0.25) d。每个T75培养瓶可获取的第1代细胞数分别为(4.0±0.5)×10⁵、(9.0±0.55)×10⁵、(15.0±0.2)×10⁵、(7.0±0.33)×10⁵个。倒置显微镜下观察4组细胞为形态相对均一的梭形贴壁细胞,呈平行排列生长或漩涡状生长。4组细胞的生长曲线、增殖活性、表面标记物检测均无明显差异。结果表明对脐带间充质干细胞的原代培养体系进行再次培养,可在短时间内扩增出大量原代细胞。1库：中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

氯化钴模拟低氧环境下人脐带间充质干细胞增殖及基因蛋白的表达

背景：氯化钴可促进人脐带源性间充质干细胞的增殖,具有时间和浓度依赖性,并对其基因蛋白表达具有调控作用。 目的：研究氯化钴模拟的低氧环境对人脐带源性间充质干细胞的增殖及基因蛋白表达的影响,旨在建立高效的间充质干细胞体外培养扩增体系。 方法：采用组织块法提取人脐带间充质干细胞,氯化钴模拟化学低氧环境,在不同浓度(0,100,150,200,250 μmol/L)和不同时间(0,1,2,3,4 d)条件下,用流式细胞仪进行细胞表面相关抗原的鉴定及细胞周期检测;CCK-8法测定细胞增殖情况;RT-PCR测定缺氧诱导因子1α、诱导型一氧化氮合酶、基质细胞衍生因子1、白细胞介素6、转化生长因子β mRNA的表达;Western blot测定缺氧诱导因子1α蛋白的表达。 结果与结论：人脐带间充质干细胞表面相关抗原CD29、CD73、CD90、CD105表达阳性,CD31、CD14、CD34、CD45、CD11b、HLA-DR呈阴性表达,且不受氯化钴模拟的低氧环境影响。氯化钴模拟的化学性低氧可促进人脐带间充质干细胞增殖,且具有一定时间及浓度依赖性。RT-PCR检测到低氧组缺氧诱导因子1α、诱导型一氧化氮合酶、基质细胞衍生因子1 mRNA表达上调,而白细胞介素6及转化生长因子β mRNA表达下调,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。低氧组中缺氧诱导因子1α蛋白表达增高。结果表明氯化钴模拟的体外低氧环境能促进人脐带间充质干细胞增殖,最佳浓度为200 μmol/L,但过高浓度(250 μmol/L)时反而抑制其增殖,机制可能与缺氧诱导因子1α基因与蛋白表达增加相关。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

Renal dysplasia and asplenia in two sibs

A family is reported in which two sibs, one male and the other female, both died within 24 hours of birth with enlarged polycystic kidneys. Postmortem histology in the second child showed gross renal dysplasia. In both children the pancreas was enlarged, nodular and cystic but the liver appeared macroscopically normal. In the second child, histological examination confirmed pancreatic fibrosis with cystic dilation of ducts, but showed portal fibrosis with bile duct proliferation in the liver.
This combination of findings is very reminiscent of those in a girl and her brother reported by Ivemark et al. (1959). The children reported here also showed absence or hypoplasia of the spleen, cardiac anomalies and other features of the Ivemark syndrome (Ivemark 1955), a quite different, usually sporadic, congenital disorder. It is suggested that the children described here have a distinct lethal congenital disorder, probably inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.     

Schizophrenia in a North Swedish geographical isolate, 1900–1977. Epidemiology, genetics and biochemistry

Over 200 schizophrenic patients belonging to three major and interrelated pedigree complexes have been investigated over the past 30 years in a North Swedish geographically isolated population, presently numbering about 6,000. An intensive investigation of a number of biochemical correlates and genetic markers in a few selected families belonging to one of the major pedigrees has indicated new strategies for the current research program.
Schizophrenia, as defined operationally, is significantly associated with decreased activities of two enzymes (1) blood platelet monoamine oxidase, (2) plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and (3) with the genetic marker Gc² (group specific antigen). Both enzymes are subject to genetic variation. A positive score for linkage between schizophrenia and low plasma DBH activity has been calculated, but, so far, available data are insufficient for discrimination between linkage and partial contribution of genetically controlled low plasma DBH to the pathogenesis of the disease. Alternatively, both mechanisms could be involved.
As a model for continued research, schizophrenia is explained as based on a double dominant-recessive genotype (Aabb), representing a vulnerability which in about 50 % of cases develops into clinical schizophrenia. It is suggested that the dominant mutation (A) operates on or affects MAO activity, and that the recessive genotype (bb) is instrumental in low variates of DBH activity and very likely such variates within the normal range of physiological variation. Moreover, it is suggested that the combined effects of MAO- and DBH-reduced efficiency on the metabolism of e.g. dopamine could be an essential pathogenic mechanism for the schizophrenic illness which is segregating in this population.     

The dominant diseases of modernized societies as omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency syndrome: Substrate beriberi

About 1900, modern food selection and processing caused widespread $\text{epidemics}$ of the B vitamin deficiency diseases of beriberi and pellagra which, for genetic reasons, often expressed as different diseases ranging from bowel and heart disease to dermatoses and psychoses. But the B vitamins merely help convert essential fatty acids (EFA) into the prostaglandin (PG) tissue regulators and it now turns out that, through hydrogenation, milling and selection of w3-poor southern foods, we have also been systematically depleting, by as much as 90%, a newly discovered trace Nordic EFA (w3) of special importance to primates and sole precursor of the PG3(4) series, even as a concurrent fiber deficiency increases body demand for EFA. Since substrate EFA is processed by many B vitamin catalysts, an EFA deficiency will mimic a $\text{panh}$ypovitaminosis B, i.e., a mixture of $\text{substrate}$ beriberi and $\text{substrate}$ pellagra resembling vitamin beriberi and pellagra but exhibiting as even more diverse $\text{endemic}$ disease. This would consitute a second stage of the Modern Malnutrition and explain why some workers now hold the dominant diseases of modermized societies to be new, nutritionally based, pellagraform yet lipid-related and to range, once again, from heart disease to psychosis. It is an assumption that our dominant diseases are unrelated to each other or are merely revealed by our diagnostic acumen and therapeutic success; and that hydrogenating millions of tons of food oils annually, to destroy the rancidity producing w3-EFA, is safe for $\text{primates}$. Extensive beriberiform disease is reported here in 32 typical cases taken from medical practice which responds strikingly to linseed oil supplements (60% w3-EFA) in confirmation of identical results in Capuchins.     

What will studies of Fulani individuals naturally exposed to malaria teach us about protective immunity to malaria?

There are an estimated over 200 million yearly cases of malaria worldwide. Despite concerted international effort to combat the disease, it still causes approximately half a million deaths every year, the majority of which are young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Successes are largely attributed to malaria prevention strategies, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, as well as improved access to existing treatments. One important hurdle to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of malaria is our limited understanding of the biology of Plasmodium infection and its complex interaction with the immune system of its human host. Therefore, the elimination of malaria in Africa not only relies on existing tools to reduce malaria burden, but also requires fundamental research to develop innovative approaches. Here, we summarize our discoveries from investigations of ethnic groups of West Africa who have different susceptibility to malaria.     

'Very sore nights and days': the child's experience of illness in early modern England, c.1580-1720

Sick children were ubiquitous in early modern England, and yet they have received very little attention from historians. Taking the elusive perspective of the child, this article explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of illness in England between approximately 1580 and 1720. What was it like being ill and suffering pain? How did the young respond emotionally to the anticipation of death? It is argued that children’s experiences were characterised by profound ambivalence: illness could be terrifying and distressing, but also a source of emotional and spiritual fulfilment and joy. This interpretation challenges the common assumption amongst medical historians that the experiences of early modern patients were utterly miserable. It also sheds light on children’s emotional feelings for their parents, a subject often overlooked in the historiography of childhood. The primary sources used in this article include diaries, autobiographies, letters, the biographies of pious children, printed possession cases, doctors’ casebooks, and theological treatises concerning the afterlife.     

Guidelines for the Validation and Use of Immunoassays for Determination of Introduced Proteins in Biotechnology Enhanced Crops and Derived Food Ingredients

Recent advancements in agricultural biotechnology have created a need for analytical techniques to determine introduced proteins in crops enhanced through modern biotechnology techniques. These proteins are expressed in plant tissues and may be present in food ingredients. Immunoassays are ideally suited for protein detection and may be used as both quantitative and threshold methods. Microplate ELISA and lateral flow devices are two of the most commonly used immunoassay formats for agricultural biotechnology applications. This paper provides general background information and a discussion of criteria for the validation and application of immunochemical methods to the analysis of proteins introduced into plants and food ingredients using biotechnology methods. It is the result of a collaborative effort of members of the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium. This collaborative effort represents the combined expertise of several organizations to reach consensus on establishing guidelines for the validation and use of immunoassays. Further, the paper offers developers and users a consistent approach to adopting the technology as well as aid in producing accurate and meaningful results.     

Ultracryotomy: development and application (with examples from the yeast cytology) (author's transl)

The preparation steps usually necessary for obtaining ultrathin frozen sections of biological material (chemical prefixation, enclosing, cryoprotective treatment, freezing, sectioning, and post-staining the sections for transmission electron microscopy) are submitted to a critical analysis. The application of cryo-ultramicrotomy, in particularly for cytochemical purposes, is reviewed. Fundamental considerations of chemical prefixation and poststaining are supported by examples from yeast cytology. Furthermore, the efficiency of the cryo-ultramicrotomy (electron optical resolution of ultrastructural details) is demonstrated on yeast cells and protoplasts.     

HLA in North Colombia Chimila Amerindians

HLA-A,-B,-C,-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles have been studied in Chimila Amerindians from Sabana de San Angel (North Colombian Coast) by using high resolution molecular typing. A frequent extended haplotype was found:HLA-A*24:02-B*51:10-C*15:02-BRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02 (28.7%) which has also been described in Amerinndian Mayos Mexican population (Mexico, California Gulf, Pacific Ocean). Other haplotypes had already been found in Amerindians from Mexico (Pacific and Atlantic Coast), Peru (highlands and Amazon Basin), Bolivia and North USA. A geographic pattern according to HLA allele or haplotype frequencies is lacking in Amerindians, as already known. Also, five new extended haplotypes were found in Chimila Amerindians. Their HLA-A*24:02 high frequencies characteristic is shared with aboriginal populations of Taiwan; also, HLA-C*01:02 high frequencies are found in New Zealand Maoris, New Caledonians and Kimberly Aborigines from Australia. Finally, this study may show a model of evolutionary factors acting and rising one HLA allele frequency (-A*24:02), but not in others that belong to the same or different HLA loci.     

The universal muscular chamber. A basic unit of the genitourinary, cardiovascular, gastro-intestinal, skeletal, cutaneous, respiratory and other systems, endocameral hypertension; and spasm, the key to their idiopathic diseases and arthropathies

Starting with the integument, we see many organs are contractile sacs or multiples thereof, which tubes or bags constitute the major part of the entire body. Recognition of this basic unit and its characteristics sheds new light, individually and collectively, on many disorders previously considered unrelated. Muscular tears and perforations develop in the walls of these chambers, being no way peculiar to those organs, wherein, hydrochloric acid occurs. So, it is not necessary to explain the absence of excessive acid from patients who exhibit holes in the gastric, uterine, aortic, duodenal, rectal, pulmonary, retina, and other walls. Muscle, not acid is the great common factor relating idiopathic disorders in the gastrointestinal tract to each other and to similar diseases in other systems. When the units are linked together, the lesions tend to appear as arthropathies, i.e. at the joints. Rephrasing common-place observations, frees us from conventional, conceptual cul-de-sacs. An observation is only as good as its interpretation, so all possibilities must be considered, otherwise, we will remain blinded by our misconceptions.