Does the meniscus exist in the elbow joint in children?

The authors report a case of meniscus at the elbow joint in a 15-month-old infant causing a limitation of elbow extension. Histological examination demonstrated that this tissue was not a synovial fold or a chondroid metaplasia of the synovial fold. As a meniscus does not appear at any stage of the embryological evolution of the elbow joint, it has been concluded that the presence of the meniscus can be considered as an abnormal condition.     

Heterogeneity of the iron status in the woman population during the pregnancy in Côte-d'Ivoire

The iron deficiency is a major problem of public health in the African countries, particularly in pregnant women population. The aim of our study was to appreciate the iron status during the pregnancy period (first, second and three trimesters); to realize an evaluation and to characterize the biological indicators of pregnant women. Our study was carried out in four medical and urban units of Abidjan in C?te-d'Ivoire with 531 pregnant women. The biological parameters significantly reduced in the third trimester of the pregnancy. But, an enhancement of the transferrin and the total iron binding capacity was observed. Moreover, 66 % of pregnant women presented iron deficiency anaemia (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the study shows that no pregnant woman presented iron normal status in the third trimester of the pregnancy.     

Fun in the sun?

Persons with HIV need to be aware that exposure to the sun can do more than increase their risk of skin cancer; it can interfere with the actions of several drugs that are common treatments for HIV. The most common drug-induced reaction is a rash that looks like sunburn, which may appear in areas exposed to the sun (phototoxic) or everywhere (photoallergic). Photosensitivity occurs with these drugs: Ambien, Bactrim, Benadryl, Cipro, Compazine, Dapsone, Elavil, Hismanal, Lasix, Minocin, Motrin, Norpramin, some oral contraceptives, Periactin, Seldane, Sumycin, Tegretol, Tofranil, Velban, Zithromax, and Zoloft.     

Hepatic stellate cells—the pericytes in the liver

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are pericytes of liver in the space between parenchymal cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells of the hepatic lobule. HSCs comprise specialized functions such as vitamin A storage, hemodynamic functions, support of liver regeneration, and immunoregulation. In pathological conditions, HSCs transform to an activated myofibroblasts-like phenotype, start to proliferate, and de novo express several proinflammatory and profibrogenic genes. These processes are particularly important in the development of cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular cancer. This review highlights recent findings in understanding the biology of HSCs and discusses the physiological functions of HSCs and the role of activated HSCs in pathophysiology and disease.     

Changes in the Nature of Behavior and the Activity of the Hypophyseal-Adrenocortical System in the Offspring of Paternal Rats Subjected to Stress in the Stress–Restress Paradigm before Mating

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology - We report here studies of the effects of stressing male rats in the stress–restress paradigm, which is a model of post-traumatic stress disorder...     

How are the different specialties represented in the major journals in general medicine?

Background  

General practitioners and medical specialists mainly rely on one "general medical" journal to keep their medical knowledge up to date. Nevertheless, it is not known if these journals display the same overview of the medical knowledge in different specialties. The aims of this study were to measure the relative weight of the different specialties in the major journals of general medicine, to evaluate the trends in these weights over a ten-year period and to compare the journals.     

Development of the immune system in the cynomolgus monkey: the appropriate model in human targeted toxicology?

Toxicological research for humans requires model animals that are physiologically and/or developmentally closely related to one another. The development of the immune system (IS) in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) was assessed and compared with selected data of humans and mice with the aim of contributing arguments to the discussion of the most appropriate animal model in toxicological research. Details of the developing IS in the cynomolgus monkey from embryonic day 35 to birth are investigated utilizing cluster development (CD) antibodies. Early immunoreactivity with CD 68, CD 117, and HLA-DR antibody is apparent from days 40 and 45 onward. All principal cell lines-T-, B-, and NK-cells-are present on day 100 in both thymus and peripheral organs. We discuss investigations of the cynomolgus monkey IS development with the reported development in humans and mice and stress 4 topics of significant interspecies differences to be considered in the decision for the appropriate animal model in a toxicological study.     

Does the pineal gland have a role in the psychological mechanisms involved in the progression of cancer?

Psychological factors, e.g., depression and psychological stress have been implicated in the progress of cancer. Similarly, the pineal gland and its principal secretion, melatonin, are known to influence the initiation and progress of cancer. Furthermore, changes in melatonin secretion have been linked with psychological stress and depression, and both the pineal gland and the cerebral cortex act via the limbic system in producing their effects. Both psychological stress and melatonin affect the immune system, as does the hypothalamus and the autonomic nervous system. The pineal gland has both a direct effect on cancer, and via the immune system. Psychological treatment and melatonin treatment have both been found to alleviate the course of cancer clinically. It is thus hypothesized that the pineal gland, and melatonin, are involved in the mechanism of psychological effects in the promotion of the progress of cancer.     

Changes in the expression of syndecan-1 in the colorectal adenoma–carcinoma sequence

 Syndecan-1, a transmembrane heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG), functions as a matrix receptor on the basal surface of epithelial cells. It also co-localizes with E-cadherin at the lateral cell surface where its function is uncertain. Tumour development in the large bowel is associated with loss of normal epithelial adhesion and altered patterns of expression of cell adhesion molecules, possibly including syndecan-1. To evaluate changes in syndecan-1 expression during the development of colorectal neoplasia, 59 adenomas and 20 carcinomas arising from adenomas were investigated by immunohistochemistry. The staining intensity and distribution of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin in sequential sections was examined, semi-quantified and compared. Staining of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin was uniform in normal colorectal epithelial cells, and located at the basolateral surface. No significant change was seen in either molecule in mildly or moderately dysplastic adenomas. A significant reduction in expression of both syndecan-1 and E-cadherin was seen in severely dysplastic epithelium as compared to moderate dysplasia (P=0.001 and P=0.004 respectively). Similarly, there was a significant reduction of both molecules in carcinomas compared with associated adenomas (syndecan-1 P=0.00003; E-cadherin P=0.002). In both cases the loss of syndecan-1 expression was more striking than that of E-cadherin. Previous in vitro studies have shown that epithelial cells made deficient in syndecan-1 cease to express E-cadherin, suggesting a causal association. Our results support these findings and indicate that disruption of cell-matrix adhesion is critical in colorectal carcinogenesis, probably preceding changes in the purely homotypic cell-cell adhesion mediated by E-cadherin. Received: 11 May 1998 / Accepted: 14 September 1998     

Regional specialization in the mucosal immune system: what happens in the microcompartments?

Mucosal immunity is an important arm of the immune system because it operates in tissues involved in everyday infectious defence as well as in tolerance against innocuous environmental and dietary antigens. Here, Per Brandtzaeg and colleagues discuss compartmentalized regulation of mucosal B cells and mechanisms that might explain the strikingly regionalized effector disparity of the human mucosal immune system.     

Trends in the Prevalence of Short Sleepers in the USA: 1975–2006

Study Objectives:

To determine (1) whether short sleep has increased over 31 years; (2) whether trends in short sleep differed by employment status; (3) which sociodemographic factors predict short sleep; and (4) how short sleepers spend their time.

Design:

Time diaries from eight national studies conducted between 1975 and 2006.

Patients or Participants:

U.S. adults ≥ 18 years.

Measurements and Results:

Short sleepers were defined as those reporting < 6 hours of sleep in their time diary. Unadjusted percentages of short sleepers ranged from 7.6% in 1975 to 9.3% in 2006. The 1998-99 study had the highest odds of short sleep. The odds ratio for the 31-year period predicting short sleep was 1.14 (95% CI: 0.92, 1.50, P = 0.22), adjusting for age, sex, education, employment, race, marital status, income, and day of week. When stratified by employment, there was a significant increase for full-time workers (P = 0.05), who represented over 50% of participants in all studies, and a significant decrease for students (P = 0.01), who represented < 5% of participants. The odds of short sleep were lower for women, those ≥ 65 years, Asians, Hispanics, and married people. The odds were higher for full-time workers, those with some college education, and African Americans. Short sleepers in all employment categories spent more time on personal activities. Short sleepers who were full- and part-time workers spent much more time working.

Conclusions:

Based on time diaries, the increase in the odds of short sleep over the past 31 years was significant among full-time workers only. Work hours are much longer for full-time workers sleeping < 6 hours.

Citation:

Knutson KL; Van Cauter E; Rathouz PJ; DeLeire T; Lauderdale DS. Trends in the prevalence of short sleepers in the USA: 1975-2006. SLEEP 2010;33(1):37-45.     

Peptic ulcer disease in the elderly--is there bias against endoscopy in the elderly?

A questionnaire study was circulated to all 109 General Practitioners in the Mid-West region. It was designed to determine whether older age is a factor in referral of patients for endoscopic evaluation of possible peptic ulcer symptoms. Approximately 80% of doctors responded and indicated that proportionately far more older patients were referred for endoscopy. We conclude that in our area at least, current recommendations such as those in the Maastricht Consensus Report are being implemented.     

Alone in the dark? Modeling the conditions for visual experience in human fetuses

It is commonly assumed that, whereas auditory and olfactory learning take place already during fetal development, visual experience and learning are not possible before birth. This paper explores the conditions for visual experience in the last two months of human gestation, when the fetal visual system is mature enough to permit directed vision if a sufficient amount of light is available. Light transmission from the external environment to the uterine cavity is modeled, based on the measured transmission coefficients of biological tissues. Results indicate that illumination in the uterine cavity is highly variable, depending on factors such as external illumination and the mother's abdominal thickness. At least some fetuses can be predicted to develop in conditions allowing for ample visual experience before birth. This finding could have intriguing implications for the ontogeny of early visuo-motor abilities in newborns and infants.     

Does the mendosal suture exist in the adult?

There is a paucity of information in the literature regarding the mendosal suture. Furthermore, reports of the closure of this presumed suture of childhood are variable. This study seeks to establish the presence or absence of this structure in the adult. Fifty adult skulls were evaluated for the presence or absence of the mendosal suture. Sixteen percent of specimens were found to have a mendosal suture. Six specimens were found to have these sutures bilaterally, and two had sutures on the right side only. Most sutures were linear in nature. The mendosal suture approximated the superior nuchal line in all specimens and more or less traveled medial and perpendicular to the lambdoidal suture. The length of these sutures ranged from 0.8 to 1.4 cm (1.1 cm). Our hopes are that these data will prove useful to both the anatomist and clinicians, so that, when present, misinterpretation of the mendosal suture will be avoided.     

Centrosomes in the DNA damage response—the hub outside the centre

Here, we review how DNA damage affects the centrosome and how centrosomes communicate with the DNA damage response (DDR) apparatus. We discuss how several proteins of the DDR are found at centrosomes, including the ATM, ATR, CHK1 and CHK2 kinases, the BRCA1 ubiquitin ligase complex and several members of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase family. Stereotypical centrosome organisation, in which two centriole barrels are orthogonally arranged in a roughly toroidal pericentriolar material (PCM), is strongly affected by exposure to DNA-damaging agents. We describe the genetic dependencies and mechanisms for how the centrioles lose their close association, and the PCM both expands and distorts after DNA damage. Another consequence of genotoxic stress is that centrosomes undergo duplication outside the normal cell cycle stage, meaning that centrosome amplification is commonly seen after DNA damage. We discuss several potential mechanisms for how centrosome numbers become dysregulated after DNA damage and explore the links between the DDR and the PLK1- and separase-dependent mechanisms that drive centriole separation and reduplication. We also describe how centrosome components, such as centrin2, are directly involved in responding to DNA damage. This review outlines current questions on the involvement of centrosomes in the DDR.     

What is the significance of HLA-DR antigen expression in the extraglomerular mesangium in glomerulonephritis?

Introduction and Aims

The HLA-DR antigen is a HLA class II molecule involved in the presentation of antigenic peptides to the T cell receptor, thus regulating the immune response. Renal expression of the HLA-DR antigen may indicate specific sites of immunologically-mediated kidney injury in glomerulonephritis (GN). The aim of our study was to assess the presence of the HLA-DR antigen along the nephron including the extraglomerular mesangium in GN.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 22 patients with glomerulonephritis, mean age: 46.59 ± 10.77 years, 14 male and 8 female, was conducted. Conventional stains, as well as immunohistochemistry for the HLA-DR Antigen Alpha-Chain were employed on kidney biopsies. Immunohistochemistry was assessed using a semi-quantitative score: 0-absent, 1-mild, 2-moderate, 3-intense. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS17.

Results

Four patients presented Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), 5 patients: membranoproliferative GN, 7 patients: membranous nephropathy, 3 patients: mesangial proliferative GN, 2 patients: minimal change disease (MCD), and 1 patient: crescentic GN. Regarding the percentage of cases with HLA-DR positive cells along the nephron out of 22 patients: glomerular endothelial cells were 100% positive, intraglomerular mesangium cells were 81.8% positive, podocytes were 36.4% positive, extraglomerular mesangium cells were 31.8% positive, proximal tubule cells were 95.5% positive, distal tubule cells were 68.2% positive, interstitial capillaries were 77.3% positive, and cells of interstitial infiltrates were 27.3% positive. The percentage of cases staining positively for the HLA-DR antigen in the extraglomerular mesangium was 25% in FSGS, 60% in membranoproliferative GN, 0% in membranous nephropathy, 33.3% in mesangial proliferative GN, 100% in minimal change disease and 0% in crescentic GN.

Conclusions

A prominent HLA-DR antigen distribution was found on glomerular endothelial cells, intraglomerular mesangium cells and proximal and distal tubular cells. Extraglomerular mesangium cells and podocytes stained variably for the HLA-DR antigen, as did the cells of the interstitial infiltrates. The extraglomerular mesangium which serves as a portal of entry into the intraglomerular mesangium is endowed with antigen-presenting capabilities and is a region where induction of immune reactions could take place.