Induction of a differentiated ciliated cell phenotype in primary cultures of Fallopian tube epithelium

Human Fallopian tubal epithelial cells in culture lose morphological features associated with the epithelium in situ and the extent to which they retain their in-vivo phenotype or function is unknown. In order to address this question, immunocytochemical markers were identified which distinguish secretory (HMFG2+, LhS28-) from ciliated (HMFG2-, LhS28+) epithelial cells in tissue sections of Fallopian tube. These markers were used to analyse the phenotype of tubal cells in vitro. Primary cultures of human tubal epithelial cells were seeded onto glass and grown to confluence before addition of oestradiol-17beta. In the absence of hormone, tubal epithelial cells expressed cytokeratins and nuclear receptors for oestrogen and progesterone and adopted a homogeneous (HMFG2+, LhS28-) secretory cell phenotype. Following the addition of oestradiol-17beta, a proportion of cells became positive for LhS28. The induction of a ciliated epithelial cell phenotype was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, where on permeable collagen membranes, approximately one-third of tubal epithelial cells became ciliated in the presence of oestradiol-17beta. We suggest that in vitro, tubal epithelial cells adopt an immature secretory-like phenotype and that oestrogen can induce differentiation to a ciliated epithelial cell phenotype.      

Immunofluorescent vascular pattern due to EVI antibody of Chagas' disease. Its diagnostic value.

One hundred fifty-six of 1,250 sera from patients with presumed connective tissue and related diseases showed vascular staining on mouse liver cryostat sections when they were routinely checked for antinuclear factor by the indirect immunofluorescence test. In a third of the cases, the vascular immunofluorescent pattern was given by the EVI antibody reacting with the plasma membrane of striated muscle fibers and endothelial cells, as has been recently described to occur in Chagas' disease. This led to the detection of previously unsuspected Trypanosoma cruzi infection in 67.8% of the serum samples in which the EVI antibody was detected after observation of a positive vascular pattern with mouse liver cryostat sections. On the other hand, no significant relationship between Chagas infection and sera with other anti-striated-muscle immunofluorescent patterns that also showed a vascular staining on mouse liver cryostat sections was established. Consideration of the vascular pattern observed with the EVI antibody on mouse liver cryostat sections can be helpful in detection of previously ignored T. cruzi infection in patients who have connective-tissue diseases and related conditions. This is of interest in view of the fact that anergic immunodepressive therapy, often used in these patients, significantly alters the host-parasite relationship and may lead to severe dissemination of the parasite.     

Effect of photobiomodulation therapy on the proliferation phase and wound healing in rats fed with an experimental hypoproteic diet

Lasers in Medical Science - Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been indicated for enforcement on healing skin wounds. This study evaluated the effects of PBMT on the healing of skin wounds...     

Cardiovascular fitness and absenteeism in 8,301 employed adults

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of the relationship between cardiovascular fitness and absenteeism in the workplace. A total of 8,301 adult males and females who were employed by corporations which participated in a health screening program were used in the study. Absenteeism due to illness, demographic variables, and smoking status were assessed using a written questionnaire, while body fat was measured using skinfold calipers and cardiovascular fitness was assessed using a step test. Results indicated that high levels of cardiovascular fitness were associated significantly with low levels of absenteeism. The relationship remained strong after adjusting for differences in age, gender, income, cigarette smoking, and percent body fat. The association was stronger in females than males.     

A new approach to the study of ocular chromatic aberrations

We measured the ocular wavefront aberration at six different visible wavelengths (between 450 and 650 nm) in three subjects, using a spatially resolved refractometer. In this technique, the angular deviation of light rays entering the pupil at different locations is measured with respect to a target viewed through a centered pupil. Fits of the data at each wavelength to Zernike polynomials were used to estimate the change of defocus with wavelength (longitudinal chromatic aberration, LCA) and the wavelength-dependence of the ocular aberrations. Measured LCA was in good agreement with the literature. In most cases the wavefront aberration increased slightly with wavelength. The angular deviations from the reference stimulus measured using a magenta filter allowed us to estimate the achromatic axis and both optical and perceived transverse chromatic aberration (TCA), (including the effect of aberrations and Stiles-Crawford effect). The amount of TCA varied markedly across subjects, and between eyes of the same subject. Finally, we used the results from these experiments to compute the image quality of the eye in polychromatic light.     

Radiological characteristics of primary intestinal lymphoma of the "Mediterranean" type: observations on twelve cases.

Radiological findings in 12 cases of "Mediterranean" lymphoma are analyzed, 4 of which are associated with gammapathy. These findings have not permitted differentiation of this type of lymphoma from those classically described, although there are two signs that strongly suggest this diagnosis: extension of the lesions along wide areas of the small intestine, almost always including the duodenum, and spiculation of the mucosal fold edges, representing massive plasmocyte infiltration of the lamina propria. The principal clinical, immunological, and pathological aspects are described, as well as the radiological differential diagnosis.