Rod and cone disc shedding in the rhesus monkey retina: A quantitative study

Four Rhesus monkeys were maintained for several months on a daily lighting schedule of 12 hr light and 12 hr darkness (12L:12D). The animals were then fixed by intracardiac perfusion at 1 and 5 hr following the onset of light, and at 1 and 5 hr after the offset of light. The number of phagosomes/mm of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was counted in the light microscope for both foveal and extrafoveal locations. At extrafoveal sites, phagosomes within the RPE cell bodies and those within the ensheathing processes bordering cone outer segments were counted separately. Counts at foveal and extrafoveal locations suggest that the rate of disc shedding, and therefore the rate of membrane replacement, is probably less for foveal cones than it is for rods. The number of phagosomes above the rod tips 1 hr following light onset and their diminution several hours later suggests that an increase in rod shedding, similar to the “burst” of rod shedding reported for other species, also exists in the monkey retina. The number and location of phagosomes 5 hr after the offset of light indicates that there could be another phase of increased rod shedding somewhere around the middle of the dark period. Phagosome counts in the foveal RPE were highest 5 hr after light offset, however the counts at 1 and 5 hr following light onset were nearly as high. The number of RPE phagosomes at both foveal and extrafoveal locations was lowest 1 hr after light offset. Counts of phagosomes within the sheaths of extrafoveal cones showed that about 20% contained one or more phagosomes within their sheaths. Of those sheaths that did contain phagosomes, approximately 25% had multiple phagosomes. There appears to be a considerable period of time during which extrafoveal cone phagosomes remain within the ensheathing processes, moving from the cone tips toward the apical RPE surface. Rod and cone disc shedding in the monkey retina are probably cyclic processes—although the temporal pattern of shedding may be different than that reported for other species.     

Total versus subtotal hysterectomy: an observational study with one-year follow-up

The aim of this study was to compare total and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy for benign indications, with regard to urinary incontinence, postoperative complications, quality of life (SF-36), constipation, prolapse, satisfaction with sexual life, and pelvic pain at 1-year postoperative. Eighty women chose total and 105 women chose subtotal abdominal hysterectomy. No significant differences were found between the 2 operation methods in any of the outcome measures at 12 months. Fourteen women (15%) from the subtotal abdominal hysterectomy group experienced vaginal bleeding and three women had their cervix removed.     

Reduction of the disintegrin and metalloprotease ADAM12 in preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES: The secreted form of ADAM12 is a metalloprotease that may be involved in placental and fetal growth. We examined whether the concentration of ADAM12 in first-trimester maternal serum could be used as a marker for preeclampsia. METHODS: We developed a semiautomated, time-resolved, immunofluorometric assay for the quantification of ADAM12 in serum. The assay detected ADAM12 in a range of 78-1248 microg/L. Serum samples derived from women in the first trimester of a normal pregnancy (n = 324) and from women who later developed preeclampsia during pregnancy (n = 160) were obtained from the First Trimester Copenhagen Study. ADAM12 levels were assayed in these serum samples. Serum levels of ADAM12 were converted to multiples of the median (MoM) after log-linear regression of concentration versus gestational age. RESULTS: Serum ADAM12 levels in women who developed preeclampsia during pregnancy had a mean log MoM of -0.066, which was significantly lower than the mean log MoM of -0.001 for ADAM12 levels observed in serum samples from women with normal pregnancy (P = .008). The mean log MoM was even lower in serum derived from preeclamptic women whose infant's weight at birth was less than 2,500 g (n = 27, mean log MoM of -0.120, P = .053). CONCLUSION: The maternal serum levels of ADAM12 are significantly lower during the first trimester in women who later develop preeclampsia during pregnancy when compared with levels in women with normal pregnancies. Because the secreted form of ADAM12 cleaves insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and IGFBP-5, the IGF axis may play a role in preeclampsia. ADAM12 may be a useful early marker for preeclampsia. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.     

Absence of an association between past infection with hepatitis A virus and primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Serum samples from 77 caucasians of Greek origin with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) and 77 age- and sex-matched controls were tested for antibody to the hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). Anti-HAV was detected in 63 patients with PHC (82%) and in 70 controls (91%). These data suggest that past infection with hepatitis A virus is not related to the development of PHC, in marked contrast to the strong association between PHC and HBV.     

Results in labyrinthine cryosurgery monitored by evoked response

Cryosurgery is one conservative approach for Ménière's disease designed to control vertigo without adversely affecting the hearing in most cases. Report is made of 47 consecutive cases of cryosurgery. All patients were unresponsive to medical therapy. During the surgical procedure, the hearing is monitored at 2,000 cycles per second, and the vestibular function is monitored by evoked response to a loud click stimuli. Initial testing for threshold at 2,000 cycles and to a click stimulus is done by the evoked response. An initial freeze at —160°C. for two minutes is done, and the vestibular and auditory function is retested. A repeat freeze is completed unless there is a definite hearing change or the vestibular recording changes as evinced by the evoked response. If necessary, a third freeze is done, depending upon vestibular and auditory threshold changes. By this method a significant improvement of vertiginous symptoms resulted in 76 to 80 percent of the patients. The results of postoperative electronystagmography suggest an increase in unilateral weakness, but all cases showed a caloric response. In general, the hearing postoperatively continued to fluctuate as before surgery, accompanied by tinnitus, fullness, and recruitment. Morbidity in the way of hearing loss and temporary facial paralysis occurs in approximately 10 percent of the patients treated in this manner. Until a more knowledgeable approach to Ménière's disease is forthcoming, cryosurgery to the lateral semicircular canal still holds a position in the armamentarium for the treatment of patients who have incapacitating vertigo.     

An enzymatic method permitting early determination of histocompatibility in mixed lymphocyte culture.

The standard mixed lymphocyte culture assay, which measures the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA, usually requires 5 days. We describe a more rapid assay based on changes in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase. An increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase was observed in mixed lymphocyte cultures from genetically defined, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-nonidentical miniature swine as early as 18 hr after plating. No increase was found in mixed cultures from inbred MHC-identical animals. Similar results were obtained with the enzyme S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase with the increase in activity starting at about 32 hr. There was a good correlation between the ornithine decarboxylase values at 18 hr and the results of the [3H]thymidine incorporation assay on day 5. Preliminary experiments with human lymphocytes revealed similar results.     

Alphafetoprotein levels of liver cancer patients and controls in a European population

Serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay for 80 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC), 40 with metastatic liver cancer (MLC), and 204 controls; all were Caucasians of Greek nationality. Among histologically confirmed PHC cases, 62% had more than 1000 International Units per millilitre (IU/ml) AFP. Only one case with MLC (3%) exceeded 1000 IU/ml AFP, but lower elevations were not uncommon (13%). Among controls, none exceeded 40 IU/ml. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected among 6% of 17 histologically confirmed PHC patients with AFP less than 100 IU/ml and 60% of 63 PHC patients with more than 100 IU/ml of AFP (p < 0.001). Control subjects positive for HBsAg had significantly higher AFP values compared to those negative for it (P < 0.01) and male controls had slightly higher AFP values than female controls.