Two familial cases with a lethal gracile bone dysplasia and intrauterine growth retardation

A number of more or less distinct entities with low birth weight and abnormal radiographic appearances have been identified. We studied two sisters who were unusual because of severe intrauterine growth restriction, absence of growth after birth, decrease of pre- and postnatal spontaneous mobility, and early fatal outcome. The chondro-osseous morphology documented a distinctive osteochondrodysplasia. The radiographic examination was superficially similar to gracile bone dysplasias but was inconsistent with any known types of this group. These two patients appear to have a unique gracile bone dysplasia.     

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) concentration in serum and pleural fluid of patients with pleural malignancy and pleural tuberculosis

The purpose of this study was comparison of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) levels in serum and pleural fluid and estimation of this test usefulness in diagnosis of pleural effusions. VEGF levels were measured by ELISA method in 68 patients (45 males and 23 females) aged 19-81 years. By Light's criteria in 16 cases transudate and in 52 cases exudate was recognized. By means of fluid cytology, pleural biopsy, microbiology or thoracoscopy in 10 cases pleural metastases from distant organs, in 15 cases coexisting pulmonary neoplasm, in 11 cases mesothelioma and in 16 cases tuberculosis were determined as a cause of fluid accumulation in pleural space. The mean VEGF levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with exudates than in patients with transudates (3833 pg/ml and 325 pg/ml respectively). Based on likelihood ratios analysis, as a cut off value in differentiation of exudates and transudates a value 700 pg/ml was accepted. The sensitivity of this test was 75% and the specificity 93% and likelihood ratio (LR) 12.5. The mean VEGF level in exudates was seven times higher than mean VEGF level in serum (3833 pg/ml and 573 pg/ml respectively). Mean VEGF levels in malignant exudates (4615 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in tuberculous exudates (2073 pg/ml). As a cut off value in differentiation between malignant and tuberculous exudates a value of 4500 pg/ml was accepted. We conclude that our results suggests the local VEGF production in pleural cavity and the significant role of this cytokine in pleural exudates accumulations and also suggests the usefulness of VEGF estimation in pleural fluid in differentiation transudates from exudates and malignant from tuberculous pleural fluids.     

Jansen type of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia

Metaphyseal dysplasia, type Jansen (JMD), is a rare skeletal dysplasia with characteristic radiographic abnormalities. Of the various types of metaphyseal dysplasia, JMD shows the most severe alteration in metaphyseal architecture. All of the long tubular bones, including those of the hands and feet, show metaphyseal irregularity with a fragmented appearance and slight widening. The adjacent physes are abnormally widened, while the epiphyses tend to be slightly enlarged, rounded but otherwise normal. The spine in infancy and childhood usually appears normal. This report describes a young girl with metaphyseal changes typical of JMD except for the hands and feet, which appeared normal. She also showed very unusual abnormalities of the spine. This appears, therefore, to represent a unique osteochondrodysplasia for which we propose the term spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, type Jansen. Received: 4 April 1999 Revision requested: 6 April 1999 Revision received: 29 November 1999 Accepted: 1 December 1999     

Presowing seed treatment with melatonin protects red cabbage seedlings against toxic copper ion concentrations

Abstract:  One of the targets of modern plant physiology is to identify tools for improving seed germination and plant growth under unfavorable environmental conditions. Seeds of Brassica oleracea rubrum were pretreated with melatonin at concentrations: 1, 10, and 100 μ m using a hydropriming method. Air-dried seeds of each experimental variants that were nonpretreated (control), hydroprimed (H) or hydroprimed with melatonin (HM1, HM10, and HM100) were germinated in darkness for 3 days at 25°C. Young seedlings were then transferred to the light and grown for an additional 5 days. Both germination and growth tests were performed in water and in CuSO₄ water solutions in concentrations of 0.5 and 1 m m . H, HM1 and HM10 improved seed germination both in water and in the presence of Cu²⁺. One or 10 μ m melatonin eliminated the inhibitory effect of the 0.5 m m metal concentration on the fresh weight of seedlings. HM100 had a negative effect; thus seed germination was lower and seedlings had poor establishment. The toxic effect of Cu²⁺ manifested by membrane peroxidation and DNA endoreplication blocking in the seedlings grown from nontreated (control) and H seeds was not observed in the seedlings grown from HM1 and HM10 seeds; in contrast, HM100 enhanced the toxic effect of Cu²⁺.     

Anomalous pulmonary artery as a cause of wide, polycyclic pulmonary hilus--case report

Changes of lymphatic system, vascular disease during pulmonary hypertension or aneurysms are very often considered to be a cause of wide pulmonary hilus. However, we should remember developmental anomaly of pulmonary artery, too. We present a case of a patient hospitalized very often due to necessity of diagnostic wide, polycyclic pulmonary hilus. Only digital subtraction angiography allowed us to know the reason of wide pulmonary hilus as the developmental anomaly of pulmonary artery.     

Effects of old age on vascular complexity and dispersion of the hepatic sinusoidal network

OBJECTIVES: In old age, there are marked changes in both the structure of the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell and liver perfusion. The objective of this study was to determine whether there are also aging changes in the microvascular architecture and vascular dispersion of the liver that might influence liver function. METHODS: Vascular corrosion casts and light micrographs of young (4 months) and old (24 months) rat livers were compared. Fractal and Fourier analyses and micro-computed tomography were used. Vascular dispersion was determined from the dispersion number for sucrose and 100-nm microspheres in impulse response experiments. RESULTS: Age did not affect sinusoidal dimensions, sinusoidal density, or dispersion number. There were changes in the geometry and complexity of the sinusoidal network as determined by fractal dimension and degree of anisotropy. CONCLUSIONS: There are small, age-related changes in the architecture of the liver sinusoidal network, which may influence hepatic function and reflect broader aging changes in the microcirculation. However, sinusoidal dimensions and hepatic vascular dispersion are not markedly influenced by old age.     

Beziehungen zwischen Kalium- und Kohlenhydratstoffwechselstörungen bei Diabetes Mellitus

Zusammenfassung Bei 84 Personen mit stabilem Kohlenhydratstoffwechsel wurde die Glucosetoleranz und ihre Beziehung zum Kaliumspiegel im Serum, Plasma und in Erythrocyten untersucht. Bei 43 Fettsüchtigen wurde mehrmals oral 2 mg eines Salureticums Polythiazid-Renese, Pfizer verabreicht. Die danach auftretende Hypokaliämie verursachte eine Verminderung der Glucosetoleranz, die bei 23 Kranken mit Diabetes mellitus am ausgeprägsten war. Bei 12 Kranken mit latentem Diabetes wurde eine mittelstarke und bei 8 Fettsüchtigen ohne Kohlenhydratstoffwechselstörungen nur eine schwache Verschlechterung der Glucosetoleranz gefunden. 36 Patienten mit Hypokaliämie erhielten eine Kaliumacetatund Bromkaliummischung bis zur Erlangung der Normokaliämie. Daraufhin normalisierte sich die Glucosetoleranz. Die gleichzeitige Verabreichung von Renese und der Kaliummischung in 15 Fällen führte zu einer unbedeutenden Erniedrigung des Kaliumspiegels ohne wesentliche Glykämieveränderungen. Beim Altersdiabetes erreichte man nach Anwendung der Kaliummischung allein bei 33 von 36 Behandelten eine deutliche Verbesserung der Glucosetoleranz und gleichzeitig einen geringgradigen Anstieg des Kaliumspiegels im Serum. Bei 5 Gesunden waren die Veränderungen unwesentlich. Sämtliche Ergebnisse sind statistisch gesichert. — Schlußfolgerung: Bei Beurteilung des latenten Diabetes und Diabetes mellitus sollte der mögliche Einfluß einer Störung des Kaliumstoffwechsels mit in Betracht gezogen werden.

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Relationships between disturbances in Potassium and carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes mellitus

Summary The glucose tolerance was measured in 84 patients examined under controlled conditions, and related to the potassium concentration of serum, or plasma and that in erythrocytes. Forty-three obese patients were given 2 mg of Polythiazid-Renese [Pfizer] by mouth for 7 days to promote elimination of salt. The resulting hypokaliaemia caused a reduction in glucose tolerance. This was greatest in 23 patients with diabetes mellitus, moderate in 12 patients with latent diabetes, and least in 8 obese patients with normal carbohydrate metabolism. Thirty-six hypokaliaemic patients were given a mixture of potassium acetate and potassium bromide for several days until serum potassium was normal. This brought about a return to normal of the values obtained in the glucose tolerance test. Simultaneous administration of Renese and the potassium mixture in 15 cases caused only an insignificant fall in serum potassium without any appreciable change in blood glucose. In 33 out of 36 patients with maturity-onset diabetes, the administration of the potassium mixture alone caused a noticable improvement in the glucose tolerance test and at the same time a small rise in serum potassium. In 5 normal subjects the changes were unimportant. The results obtained were statistically significant. — Conclusion: In the assessment of latent diabetes and of diabetes mellitus the role of disturbances in potassium metabolism should not be overlooked.

Nach einer Mitteilung auf der II. Tagung der Europäischen Gesellschaft für Diabetologie in Aarhus am 6. 7. 1966.