Histological characterization of a delayed wound healing model in pig

Chronic wounds, such as venous ulcers and pressure ulcers, frequently remain unresponsive to currently available treatments. Several animal models of wound healing have been published, including models of impaired healing developed to mimic the clinical condition of chronic wounds better. We used a delayed wound healing model in the pig that uses irradiation of the skin prior to creation of the surgical wounds and characterized it histologically. Radiation was used on one side of the back prior to making four full-thickness wounds on each side. Clinical observations were performed to record granulation tissue, reepithelialization, and wound area as a function of time. Histology data were obtained at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, and slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for general observations. Immunohistochemistry was performed using laminin as a marker for blood vessels, and the number, size, and circularity of blood vessels found in the granulation tissue were measured. Our results show that this model causes a delay in wound healing that is mostly apparent between days 7 and 15. Granulation tissue took more time to form and fill the wounds on the irradiated side, and blood vessels were slower to develop. Blood vessels were larger and more irregular in shape on the irradiated side than on the control side. After 2 weeks, healing resumed, indicating that the induced damage was not irreversible. These results suggest that this model can be used to test the effects of therapeutic approaches intended to treat chronic wounds.     

Kinetic parameters of serum and lung tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme in patients with lung cancer

Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and its kinetic parameters were determined in both serum and lung tissue samples obtained from 17 patients with lung cancer and 21 control subjects, regardless of ethical base. The specific activities for cancerous and normal lung tissues were 67.2 +/- 27.3 (mean +/- SD) U/g protein and 28.5 +/- 5.4 U/g protein, respectively (P less than 0.001). Serum enzyme activity, on the other hand, was found to be higher in controls (198 +/- 42 U/L) than in patients (237 +/- 68 U/L) (P less than 0.01). The effects of chloride and zinc ions, pH and temperature on the enzyme activity were investigated as kinetic parameters in both serum and tissue samples.     

Handedness and maternal smoking during pregnancy

Nonright-handedness (NRH) has been attributed to hypoxia-induced brain changes in the fetus and associated pregnancy and birth complications (PBCs). Maternal smoking during pregnancy is known to produce prenatal hypoxia for the fetus, which may result in low birth weight and other PBCs. It was hypothesized that maternal smoking during pregnancy results in a leftward shift of handedness in the offspring. This study compared the distribution of handedness in the offspring of mothers who did and did not smoke cigarettes during pregnancy. Information on maternal smoking, handedness, and PBCs was analyzed for 803 university students. There was a significant shift to the left in the distribution of handedness scores for the offspring of smoking mothers (N = 216), as compared to those of nonsmoking mothers (N = 587). Offspring of smoking mothers also reported significantly more PBCs. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that NRH is associated with pathological neurodevelopment.     

Characterization of lymphocyte β-adrenoceptor activity and Gs-protein in patients with rheumatic heart valvular disease

Summary— In order to test whether the β-adrenoceptor activity in rheumatic heart valvular disease depends on the ventricular load conditions, we determined their density and binding affinity to [¹²⁵I]-iodocyanopindolol in lymphocytes, as well as plasma catecholamine and cAMP levels in 69 patients with regurgitant and stenotic lesions of the aortic and mitral valves. The patients were classified as having left ventricular pressure overload (LVP), left ventricular volume overload (LVV), mixed lesions (MOL) or right ventricular pressure overload (RVP). The β-adrenoceptor activity was determined by radioligand binding methods, catecholamines by high performance liquid chromatography using an electrochemical detector and cAMP by radioimmunoassay. The mean β-adrenoceptor density (B_max) of the control group was 60.1 ± 9.5 /mol ( n = 29) per 10⁶ lymphocytes. In the study population, the density was decreased by 83% in LVP, 78% in LVV, 87% in MOL and 86% in RVP. Plasma norepinephrine was elevated by 89% in LVP and 60% in MOL, epinephrine by 43% in LVP, 50% in VOL, 115% in MOL and 20% in RVP, while dopamine was not significantly changed, and cAMP was slightly elevated in all four groups. Screening for activating mutational changes in the G_sα-protein gave negative results, possibly dissociating the elevation in plasma cAMP from stimulatory effects of such abnormalities in the G_s-protein signaling. These results show a significant attenuation in lymphocyte β-adrenoceptor density of patients with rheumatic heart valvular disease, irrespective of the type of the prevailing ventricular load conditions. The reduction in receptor density is accompanied by a significant increase in plasma norepinephrine levels in patients with a left ventricular pressure overload and epinephrine in those with volume overload.     

Malignant Centroblastic-Histiocytic Lymphoma of the Skin

A mixed B-cell type centroblastic lymphoma with extraordinarily many histiocytes in a 68-year-old man is reported. Multiple skin tumours were the only clinical manifestation during the first 5 months. The disease then progressed to the lymph nodes, spleen, and parenchymal organs, but the bone marrow remained unaffected until death, 11 months after the onset of signs. C3d receptors were the only surface markers of the centroblasts. The histiocytes were normal with respect to morphology, muramidase staining, and Fc and C3b receptors. This highly unusual spread from skin to lymphoid and parenchymal organs is discussed in the light of lymphoid cell kinetics.     

Giant-cell tumour in the cervical spine: a case report

A forty-six-year-old man presented with a two-month history of increasing neck pain of insidious onset. He received treatment from his familty doctor and chiropractor consisting of analgesics and manipulation respectively, both of which did not offer relief. The patient presented to University Hospital where plain radiographs and CT showed a pathological fracture of the C4 vertebral body. A neoplasm was suspected and surgical excision revealed a giant-cell tumour of bone. This type of neoplasm is rare in the spine and difficult to manage in this site. This case highlights some of the problems encountered in the treatment of giant-cell tumour of the spine.