It's all about sex: gender, lung development and lung disease.

Accumulating evidence suggests that gender affects the incidence, susceptibility and severity of several lung diseases. Gender also influences lung development and physiology. Data from both human and animal studies indicate that sex hormones might contribute to disease pathogenesis or serve as protective factors, depending on the disease involved. In this review, the influence of gender and sex hormones on lung development and pathology will be discussed, with specific emphasis on pulmonary fibrosis, asthma and cancer.     

A randomised trial of ultrasonic dissection versus electrocoagulation to reduce lymphatic complications after surgery for recurrent sapheno-femoral incompetence.

OBJECTIVE: Prospectively to compare lymphatic drainage after ultrasonic dissection, an electrocoagulation technique and sharp dissection in the groin during surgery for recurrent sapheno-femoral incompetence. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised study comparing three surgical techniques. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients undergoing surgery for recurrent sapheno-femoral incompetence were randomised. Twelve patients underwent dissection with ultrasound, 12 with electrocoagulation and 12 controls had sharp dissection with ligation of scar and lymphatic tissue using absorbable suture material. RESULTS: The mean drain output per patient was 13.5 ml in the ultrasonic group, 15.4 ml in the electrocoagulation group and 8.3 ml in the suture ligation group. Six minor cases of lymphatic leakage occurred in the ultrasonic group. This resulted in no clinical problem. There were no other significant differences between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is no detectable advantage for the use of ultrasound or electrocoagulation in recurrent saphenous high ligation compared to sharp dissection.     

Results of total and subtotal colon resections in children.

AIM: The treatment of long-segment neuronal intestinal malformations confronts the paediatric surgeon with the problems of diagnosis, suitable surgical methods and postoperative care. The evidence based only on ganglion cells is inadequate to decide about the required extent of resection and does not exclude hypoganglionosis and disseminated dysganglionosis. For the surgical treatment, pouch procedures as well as the usual resection techniques according to Rehbein, Soave, and Duhamel are discussed. Since studies with greater numbers of patients are rare, we present here our own results. METHODS: 48 patients with long segment intestinal malformations were treated in our hospital between 1990 and 2000. A total of 35 patients were examined 1.5-6 years after definitive surgical therapy. Rehbein's anterior resection was performed in all cases. RESULTS: Our findings showed that the surgical treatment with Rehbein's technique offers good results, both with respect to complications as well as to the postoperative course, although a 4 cm long aganglionic segment remains in situ. We found that results were better after ascendorectostomy (n = 22) compared to ileorectostomy (n = 11). Earlier publications of this group (13) show that the histology of the proximal resection margin is decisive for the prognosis. Hypo- and aganglionic segments should be completely resected while short IND segments of the colon or terminal ileum may remain in situ. However, the additional effect of the aganglionic segment of the distal rectum and the decreased peristaltic flow of the pre-anastomotic bowel has to be taken into account. Further investigations are required to find out whether a combination of Soave's endorectal pull-through with a remaining neuronal dysplastic segment proximal to the resection margin may give better results or if the frequency of postoperative enterocolitis and incontinence increased in cases of long segment intestinal neuronal malformations. Accurate diagnosis of myenteric plexus is decisive for an optimal treatment and therefore, considering our results, it is essential that in case of newborns getting to hospital with colon obstruction and suspicion of neuronal intestinal malformation full thickness biopsies from the distal and proximal colon may be taken simultaneously with the enterostomy. Generally ileostomy is performed in patients suspected of long-segment neuronal intestinal malformations. Mucosa suction biopsies from the distal and proximal stoma side are less informative compared to full thickness biopsies.     

Focus cleaning using mini-thoracotomy for cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculoma: case study of 18 human subjects

Zusammenfassung GRUNDLAGEN: Das Ziel dieser Untersuchung war, die Machbarkeit und Wirksamkeit der Fokus-Sanierung via Mini-Thorakotomie zur Therapie einer kavernösen Lungentuberkulose zu prüfen. METHODIK: Der Mini-Thorakotomie-Zugang wurde in 18 Patienten angewendet (Alter, 25–75 Jahre; median, 47,5 Jahre). Die Patienten hatten eine kavernöse Lungentuberkulose oder ein Lungentuberkulom nach tuberkulostatischer Therapie oder waren Patienten, die auf diese Therapie nicht angesprochen haben. 8 Patienten mit chronischer kavernöser Lungentuberkulose und 10 Patienten mit Tuberkulom haben sich der Fokus-Sanierung, Spülung und Faltnaht unterzogen. ERGEBNISSE: Es gab keine operative Mortalität. Alle Patienten waren klinisch saniert, hatten keinen Nachweis für Bakterien im Sputum, im Röntgen hatten die Lungenschatten abgenommen. Die Dauer der Operation betrug 30–120 min (median, 75 min), der intraoperative Blutverlust war 100–200 ml (median, 153 ml). Der postoperative Spitalsaufenthalt betrug 21–42 Tage (median, 30 Tage). Das Follow-up nach 1–4 Jahren (median, 2,5 Jahre) zeigte keine Komplikation und kein Rezidiv der Grunderkrankung. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: MTFC ist eine sichere und technisch machbare Methode zur Therapie der Lungentuberkulose oder des Tuberkuloms bei Schonung der Lungenfunktion.     

Genetic Analyses of the Mouse Deafness Mutations Varitint-Waddler (Va) and Jerker (Espnje)

Genetic studies on spontaneous mouse mutants with hearing defects have provided important insights into the function of genes expressed in inner ear hair cells. Here we report on our genetic analyses of the deaf mutants varitint-waddler (Va) and jerker (Espnje). A high-resolution genetic map localizes VaJ to a 0.14 ± 0.08 cM region between D3Mit85 and D3Mit259 on distal chromosome 3. By comparative mapping, the human ortholog resides at 1p22.3 between markers D1S3449 and D1S2252. To study the effect of different genetic backgrounds on the hearing phenotype, Espnje and VaJ were crossed to various inbred strains. Auditory-evoked brainstem response tests on F2 progeny demonstrate that expression, inheritance, and penetrance of the hearing phenotype are solely controlled by the mutant allele. To test for a genetic interaction between Espnje and Cdh23v, auditory function was analyzed in double heterozygotes; no significant increases of thresholds of sound pressure levels were observed. The results establish the framework for cloning the Va gene and provide valuable insights into the genetics of deafness mutations in the mouse.     

Physiologic and pathologic evaluation of chronic extra-aortic counterpulsation with latissimus dorsi flap. Preliminary results

This study attempted to evaluate the efficacy of chronic extra-aortic counterpulsation with a latissimus dorsi neuro vascular flap. Five dogs had a preliminary procedure consisting of the creation of a latissimus dorsi flap and a thoracotomy in which the flap was wrapped around the descending aorta just distal to the left subclavian artery. An epicardial lead was placed on the left ventricle and a nerve stimulating lead placed around the thoraco-dorsal nerve. Three weeks later, both leads were connected to a cardiomyostimulator programmed to function in a counterpulsation mode with a 1:2 assist frequency. Hemodynamic measurements were made at 6 and 8 and 10 and 12 weeks and the dogs were sacrificed. Three dogs had all sets of hemodynamic measurements made. Two of the three dogs demonstrated diastolic augmentation at 6 and 8 and 10 and 12 weeks average 20 to 25 mmHg. The third dog failed to demonstrate any change. All dogs were sacrificed at 12 weeks and specimens were submitted for histologic evaluation. The muscle flap was preserved in all animals. The aorta subjacent to the flap showed, (1) normal intima with no evidence of disruption or thrombus in all animals, (2) in the animals in whom counterpulsation was observed, there appeared to be thinning of the media in the aorta subjacent to the muscle flap, and (3) no evidence of distal emboli. This study demonstrated that chronic counterpulsation can be obtained with a latissimus dorsi flap. The actual hemodynamic benefits are not determined from this study. The medial thinning in the aortic wall may limit the long-term benefit of this procedure.     

Effects of cepharanthin on neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and reactive oxygen species generation.

The effects of cepharanthin on inflammatory parameters such as neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, were examined. Cepharanthin significantly decreased the levels of O2-, H2O2, and OH. generated by neutrophils. H2O2 and OH. generated in a cell-free, xanthine-xanthine oxidase system were also reduced in the presence of cepharanthin. However, the drug did not affect neutrophil chemotaxis or phagocytosis. The present study indicates that cepharanthin is an effective ROS scavenger, exerting its anti-inflammatory action by reducing the potent ROS species excessively generated in tissues and organs, especially at the sites of inflammation.     

Characteristics of deoxycholic acid-induced histamine release from mast cells of guinea-pig rectocolonic mucosa and rat peritoneal cavity

Deoxycholic acid (DA) caused a dose-related release of histamine (HR) from mast cells of rat peritoneum (RPMC) and mucosal cells of guinea pig rectocolon (RCMC). In both cell populations, DA-induced HR was: (1) accompared by a parallel release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), (2) not affected by metabolic inhibitors, (3) dependent on time of incubation, temperature and pH, and affected by Ca⁺⁺ concentration in RPMC but not in RCMC. DA-induced HR from RCMC may be involved in certain functional disorders of the colon.