The experimental induction of parathyroid hyperplasia in rats,and the use of toluidine blue O forin vivo identification of parathyroid tissue

An experiment was designed to compare the degree of parathyroid hyperplasia induced in rats by subtotal nephrectomy and by oral phosphate administration singly or in combination. The greatest degree of parathyroid hyperplasia was×4.49 and was seen in the rats with both subtotal nephrectomy and oral phosphate administration. Over the 77-day period of the experiment, subtotal nephrectomy alone did not produce a significant increase in the size of the glands, whereas phosphate fed to otherwise normal rats did produce a significant increase.Toluidine blue was given intravenously before killing the rats and was found to stain the hyperplastic glands in the same way that it stains normal and adenomatous glands. Staining was found to be satisfactory for identification purposes in both the normal and in the hyperplastic glands with 5 mg/kg body weight. A greater depth of staining was given by 10 mg/kg body weight.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde ein Experiment an Ratten durchgeführt, um den Grad der Parathyreoidea-Hyperplasie anhand folgender Punkte zu vergleichen: subtotale Nephrektomie, orale Phosphatverabreichung oder eine Kombination von beiden. Die maximale Parathyreoidea-Hyperplasie war 4,49mal größer als bei den Kontrollen und wurde bei Ratten mit subtotaler Nephrektomie und mit oraler Phosphatverabreichung festgestellt.Während der 77 Tage des Experimentes erzeugte subtotale Nephrektomie allein keine bedeutende Zunahme der Drüsengröße; Phosphat hingegen, welches im übrigen normalen Ratten verfüttert wurde, bewirkte eine bedeutende Zunahme.Toluidinblau wurde den Ratten intravenös injiziert, bevor sie getötet wurden; es färbte die hyperplastischen Drüsen ebenso befriedigend wie normale und adenomatöse Drüsen. Die Färbung war mit 5 mg/kg Körpergewicht befriedigend zur Identifizierung der normalen wie der hyperplastischen Drüsen. Eine tiefere Färbung wurde mit 10 mg/kg Körpergewicht erreicht.

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Résumé Le degré d'hyperplasie parathyroidïenne a été étudié chez le Rat après néphrectomie subtotale, après administration buccale de phosphate ou par combinaison des deux. Le degré le plus élevé d'hyperplasie parathyroidïenne est de ×4.49 et a été observé chez le rat après néphrectomie sub-totale et administration buccale de phosphate.Au cours des77 jours d'expérience, la néphrectomie sub-totale ne produit pas une augmentation significative de la taille des glandes, alors que le phosphate, mélangé à l'alimentation de rats normaux, produit une augmentation significative.Le bleu de toluidine, administré par voie intra-veineuse avant le sacrifice des rats, colore les glandes hyperplasiques de la même façon qu'il colore les glandes normales et adénomateuses. La coloration s'avère intéressante pour l'identification des glandes normales et hyperplasiques à la concentration de 5 mg/kg de poids corporel. Une coloration plus intense est obtenue avec 10 mg/kg de poids corporel.

     

Prune belly syndrome in young females

The cases of three females with deficiency of the abdominal muscles are reported. In one, severe urinary tract changes, typical of the prune belly syndrome in males was found. Twenty-three cases of prune belly syndrome in young females are reviewed. In over half, urinary tract changes were present. Intravenous urography and micturating cystourethrography are indicated in all young females with reduced abdominal musculature.     

Combined horizontal and longitudinal colomyotomy for diverticular disease: Preliminary report

Summary The operation of horizontal and longitudinal colomyotomy for diverticular disease is described and satisfactory short-term results in six patients are presented. The indications and reasons for the use of this procedure are discussed. It is suggested that the operation is a satisfactory treatment, without the risks associated with division of all the circular muscle fibers, or with resection and anastomosis. The necessity for long-term high dietary fiber intake is stressed.     

The Last Frontier in Cardiovascular Health: A Landmark Lecture for the XVII World Congress of the International Society for Heart Research

Following World War II, Vannevar Bush described science as an "endless frontier" that should be made accessible to all Americans. Since then, cardiovascular health has improved markedly, largely because substantial investments in biomedical research led to numerous therapies and prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease. Despite these advances, however, science remains an endless frontier and we continue to face an infinite array of opportunities for improving cardiovascular health. A standard definition for "frontier" is the "farthermost limit of knowledge or achievement". The limits of our knowledge are expanding at an ever accelerated pace. Unfortunately, we do not always apply what we know, and therefore fail to achieve all we could. For example, we have known for two decades that heart attack patients benefit from beta-blockers, but even today, the drugs are not always prescribed. And, health disparities continue to exist among races and communities. Therefore, the "last frontier of cardiovascular health" is the translation and application of our knowledge to improve the cardiovascular health of all people. We will not reach the farthermost limit of achievement without new knowledge. But, in our zeal to expand our knowledge of cardiovascular diseases, we must remember to ensure that what we learn is rapidly applied to improve cardiovascular health.     

Roles of fibroblast growth factors in the inner ear

The basic biology of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors and their splice variants is first reviewed, followed by a review of the known roles of FGFs in the inner ear. They include induction of the otocyst by FGF19, followed by FGF3 in further development of the otocyst. In later development, FGF3 or FGF10 acting on FGF receptor 2b is likely to be involved in development of the walls of the cochlear spaces, while FGF receptor 3 is involved in differentiation of the pillar cells of the organ of Corti. FGF1 and FGF2 act as trophic factors for the developing cochlear nerve fibres.