Fucoidin, but not yeast polyphosphomannan PPME, inhibits leukocyte rolling in venules of the rat mesentery

Leukocyte rolling in venules is inhibited by several sulfated polysaccharides, by antibodies to the leukocyte adhesion receptor L- selectin (LECAM-1), and by recombinant soluble L-selectin. The sulfated fucose polymer fucoidin and the polyphosphomannan PPME bind to L- selectin and inhibit L-selectin-mediated lymphocyte adhesion to lymph node high endothelial venules (LN-HEV). We investigated whether fucoidin and PPME also inhibit leukocyte rolling. Rolling leukocyte flux was determined by intravital microscopy in 47 venules (diameter 21 to 50 microns) of the rat mesentery with and without micro-infusion of each reagent through 8-microns glass micropipettes. Micro-infusion (1 mg/mL) or intravenous (IV) injection (25 mg/kg) of fucoidin, but not vehicle, reduced leukocyte rolling by greater than 90%. The half- effective concentration was approximately 2.5 micrograms/mL. Stroboscopic fluorescence video microscopy showed that fucoidin decreased the fraction of rolling leukocytes from 44% of all leukocytes passing the venules in control to less than 1%. PPME micro-infusion (1 mg/mL) or IV injection (14 mg/kg) did not reduce leukocyte rolling. Hence, leukocyte rolling differs from lymphocyte homing with respect to the effect of PPME. This may be related to fucoidin binding to L- selectin with greater affinity than PPME. Alternatively, inflamed venular endothelium may express a ligand for L-selectin different from that constitutively expressed on LN-HEV.     

术中大剂量放疗治疗局部复发头颈癌

该文旨在介绍Beth Israel医疗中心采用大剂量术中放疗(HDR-IORT)治疗复发头颈癌的经验。对2001-2010年间头颈癌局部复发接受大剂量HDR-IORT的患者进行回顾分析。结果,76例患者的87个部位在肿瘤切除后接受了治疗。术后2年控制率为62%。平均总生存期为19个月,其中42%的患     

Coincidental diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis: a case report

The aim of this case report was to present a case of multiple calcified tuberculous lymph nodes found on a panoramic radiograph coincidently diagnosed in an endodontic clinic. A detailed discussion on the differential diagnosis of similar such calcification found in the same region is also presented. A 14‐year‐old girl was referred to our department with the complaint of painless swelling in the left side of the lower jaw. Clinical and radiographical examinations were performed, leading to the initial diagnosis of chronic periapical abscess. The patient's medical history was re‐evaluated. Advanced imaging and excisional biopsy were performed in order to confirm the final diagnosis. Regarding the presenting signs and symptoms of bilateral carious mandibular molars, a periapical inflammatory process was considered in the provisional diagnosis. A thorough examination and investigations were suggestive of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula), and the patient underwent excision of the same. The clinician should consider the possibility of chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesions in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque lesions.     

Foot and leg problems are important determinants of functional status in community dwelling older people

Purpose.?To determine whether foot and leg problems are independently associated with functional status in a community sample of older people after adjusting for the influence of socio-demographic, physical and medical factors.

Method.?Data were analysed from the Health Status of Older People project, a population-based study involving a random sample of 1000 community-dwelling people aged 65?–?94 years (533 females, 467 males, mean age 73.4 years?±?5.87). A structured interview and brief physical examination were used to investigate the associations between self-reported foot and leg problems and functional status. Functional status was assessed using: (i) timed ‘Up & Go’ test, (ii) self-reported difficulty climbing stairs, (iii) self-reported difficulty walking one kilometer, (iv) self-reported difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and (v) self-reported history of one or more falls in the previous 12 months. These associations were then explored after adjusting for socio-demographic, physical and medical factors.

Results.?Thirty-six percent of the sample reported having foot or leg problems. Univariate analyses revealed that people with foot and leg problems were significantly more likely to exhibit poorer functional status in all parameters measured. After adjusting for socio-demographic, physical and medical factors, foot and leg problems remained significantly associated with impaired timed ‘Up & Go’ performance (OR?=?2.15, 95%CI 1.55?–?2.97), difficulty climbing stairs (OR?=?3.33, 95%CI 1.98?–?5.61), difficulty walking one kilometer (OR?=?3.13, 95%CI 2.09?–?4.69), and history of falling (OR?=?1.73, 95%CI 1.26?–?2.37).

Conclusions.?Foot and leg problems are reported by one in three community-dwelling people aged 65 years and older. Independent of the influence of age, gender, common medical conditions and other socio-demographic factors, foot and leg problems have a significant impact on the ability to perform functional tasks integral to independent living.     

Double anterograde tracing of outputs from adjacent "barrel columns" of rat somatosensory cortex. Neostriatal projection patterns and terminal ultrastructure

The sensory input to the neostriatum from groups of cortical cells related to individual facial vibrissae has been investigated at both light- and electron-microscopic resolution. The purpose of the study was to establish the extent to which corticostriatal input maintains the anatomical coding of spatial information that is present in cortex. A double anterograde tracing method was used to identify the output projections from groups of adjacent neurons in different barrel columns, so that the anatomical relationships between two groups could be studied throughout their length. Adjacent whiskers are represented in adjoining cortical barrels and an examination of corticostriatal projections from these reveals two patterns of projection. In one, the anatomical topography is partially preserved; the barrels are represented in adjoining, discrete, areas of the somatosensory neostriatum. In the second projection pattern, the neostriatal innervation is diffuse and adjacent barrels are represented in overlapping regions of the neostriatum. Moreover, the fibres are thinner, have smaller boutons, and are present in both the ipsilateral and contralateral neostriatum. The two systems also enter the neostriatal neuropile separately. The discrete topographic system enters the adjacent neostriatum as collaterals which leave the descending corticofugal fibres at right angles, while the diffuse system enters directly from the corpus callosum at an acute angle. Examination of the neostriatal terminal fields by correlated light and electron microscopy, shows that characteristic axospinous terminals on spiny neurons are made by both groups of cortical fibres, although they differ in their size and morphology. It is concluded that at least two corticostriatal pathways arise from the barrel cortex. One connection maintains some of the anatomical code implicit in the barrel pattern of primary somatosensory cortex, but another, more diffuse, system is overlaid upon it which may carry different information from this complex area of cortex.     

Surface antigens on malignant Sezary and T-CLL cells correspond to those of mature T cells

Tumor cells from eight adult patients with T-cell chronic malignancies were investigated with a series of monoclonal antibodies recognizing T- cell differentiation antigens. This series allowed definition of discrete subpopulations of mature T cells with functional specialization. All six patients with Sezary syndrome and one patient with T-chronic lymphocytic leukemia had cells with the same phenotype as normal helper/inducer T cells, whereas the other patient with T- chronic lymphocytic leukemia had cell with the same phenotype as normal cytotoxic/suppressor T cells. Some clinical manifestations observed in these patients may reflect retention of functional activities by their malignant cells.