Magnetic resonance microscopy versus light microscopy in human embryology teaching

A study was carried out on the application of magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) in teaching prenatal human development. Human embryos measuring 8 mm, 15 mm, 18.5 mm, and 22 mm were fixed in a 4% paraformaldehyde solution and sections obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared to those prepared for light microscopy (LM), using the same embryos. The MRM and LM slices were of a similar quality. In the MRM sections, embryonic organs and systems were clearly visible, particularly the peripheral and central nervous systems, and the cardiovascular and digestive systems. The digitalization and clarity of the MRM images make them an ideal teaching aid that is suitable for students during the first years of a health-science degree, particularly medicine. As well as providing students with their first experience of MRM, these images allow students to access, at any time, all embryos used, to assess changes in the positions of different organs throughout their stages of development, and to acquire spatial vision, an absolute requirement in the study of human anatomy. We recommend that this technique be incorporated into the wealth of standard embryonic teaching methods already in use.     

Differential uptake of systemic fluorochrome Hoechst 33342 in lung and liver metastasis of B16 melanoma

Summary The growth and vascularization patterns of B16 melanoma colonies in the liver and lungs were measured and compared by histological techniques and dye diffusion patterns after injection of the fluorochrome Hoechst 33342. In the liver, the fluorescent pattern of dye diffusion revealed that uninodular tumours measuring up to 146 n in diameter were not functionally vascularized. However, when the nodules fused to give rise to multinodular tumours measuring between 256 and 366 n in diameter, a reticular dye diffusion pattern revealed functional tumour vascularization. In the lungs, subpleural, parenchymal and peritubular (i.e. surrounding blood vessels and airways) tumours were observed. The two former classes were vascularized down to thicknesses and diameters of 49 and 24 m respectively. In contrast, dye diffusion was never seen in peritubular tumour cuffs up to 609 m in thickness. The results indicate differences in vascularization patterns in B16 tumours in the liver and lungs, and differences between tumours growing in different sites within the lungs. If these results are applicable to metastases in these two organs, they indicate potential diffusion-mediated resistance to chemotherapy, and potential hypoxia-mediated resistance to radiotherapy of both metastases and micrometastases.     

Sequence of Echinochloa hoja blanca tenuivirus RNA-5

The sequence is presented of RNA-5 of Echinochloa hoja blanca tenuivirus, a second tenuivirus associated with rice cultivation in Latin America (after rice hoja blanca virus). The RNA is 1334 nucleotides long and contains in the complementary sense RNA a single long open reading frame. The deduced amino acid sequence of this open reading frame shows that it encodes a highly basic and hydrophilic 44 kD protein (pc5) with about 50% similarity to the pc5 protein of maize stripe virus (MStV). This and other features of the RNA are discussed.The GenBank accession number of the sequence reported in this paper is L47430.     

Stunning and myocardial contractile autoregulation studied on the isolated isovolumic blood-perfused dog heart

AIM: To study, for the first time, the effects of stunning on homeometric and heterometric autoregulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ischaemia (15 min)/reperfusion (30 min) was induced in the isovolumic blood-perfused dog heart preparation. Heart rate elevations (n = 9) from 60 to 200 beats min-1, in steps of 20 beats min-1, promoted the same inotropic stimulation in control (C) and stunning (S), indicating that ischaemia/reperfusion does not affect the changes in calcium kinetics elicited by the Bowditch effect. Sudden ventricular dilation (VD) (n = 10) evoked an instantaneous increase in developed pressure (Delta1DP) followed by a continuous slow performance increase (Delta2DP) in C and S. Delta1DP (C: 35 +/- 2.2 mmHg; S: 27 +/- 2.1 mmHg; P = 0.002) and Delta2DP (C: 20 +/- 1.6 mmHg; S: 14 +/- 1.3 mmHg; P = 0.002) decreased proportionally, while Delta2/Delta1DP (C: 0.57 +/- 0.13; S: 0.58 +/- 0.14) and slow response time course (T/2) were unchanged (C: 55 +/- 6.6 s; S: 57 +/- 7.7 s) after ischaemia/reperfusion. The reduction of Delta1DP can be understood as a decline of the myofilaments calcium responsiveness, the main pathophysiological effect of stunning. The reason for the weakening of Delta2DP, due to intracellular calcium gain, was not determined but it was supposed that its complete manifestation could be restricted by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) myocardial content reduction. As reported by others, Delta2DP depends on myocardial cAMP, and it has been shown that myocardial cAMP is decreased after ischaemia/reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Contractile depression due to stunning has no effect on the inotropic stimulation generated by the Bowditch phenomenon. Immediate and time-dependent enhancements of contraction evoked by sudden VD are proportionally reduced and the slow response time course is unaffected in the stunned myocardium.     

Prevalence of obesity and hyperinsulinemia: its association with serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in healthy individuals from Maracaibo,Venezuela

The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of obesity and hyperinsulinemia and their association with lipid profile alterations on apparently healthy individuals from Maracaibo, Venezuela. We evaluated 306 men and 41 women, ages ranging from 33 to 65 years. All subjects underwent cardiovascular evaluation and laboratory examination after 10-12 h fasting, for glycaemia, total cholesterol, TG, VLDL-C, LDL-C and HDL-C as well as insulin. Seventy-four percent of men and 56.1% of women showed obesity (BMI > 25 Kg/m2). Men showed high concentrations of TG (48.3%), total cholesterol (40.2%), VLDL-C (48.3%) and LDL-C (33.9%) and low HDL-C levels (48%). The most frequent alteration on the lipid profile in women was high total cholesterol (46%) and LDL-C (51.2%). Men had significantly higher insulin concentrations than women (p < 0.005). After they were classified as obese or non obese, the obese subjects (men and women) showed higher prevalence of lipid profile alterations and insulin concentrations than non obese. The insulin concentration in obese men correlated with BMI, TG, VLDL-C and HDL and, in women with BMI, TG and VLDL-C. In conclusion, a high percentage of men and women in this study showed obesity and this obesity, specially in men, was strongly associated with lipid profile alterations and high insulin concentrations both well known cardiovascular risk factors.     

Bacteremia in HIV-infected patients: short-term predictors of mortality

To identify characteristics associated with mortality in HIV-infected patients with bacteremia, 88 bacteremic episodes in 80 HIV-infected patients were prospectively identified over a 5-month period and observed for 30 days. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data were collected. Mean and median age was 41 years. Most study subjects were homosexual men. Median CD4 count was 20 cells/mm3. Gram-positive organisms predominated (65%). The most common source of bacteremia was intravascular catheters (45%). Overall mortality was 30%. A history of malignancy, three or more opportunistic infections, shock, low hemoglobin, source of bacteremia other than an intravascular catheter, resistance to therapy, and a second bacteremic episode during the study period, were all found to be independent predictors of mortality. In this cohort of HIV-infected patients, most of whom were severely immunosuppressed, several factors were found to be significantly and independently associated with mortality.     

Siberian hamster: a new indoor source of allergic sensitization and respiratory disease

BACKGROUND: The identification of 'unknown' allergic sensitizations may determine the prognosis and treatment of patients with respiratory airway disease. Currently, the presence in homes of 'exotic' animals as pets is increasing. In this article the Siberian hamster or dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus) was identified as a new indoor source of aeroallergens and respiratory disease. METHODS: The subjects were six outpatients who were treated for asthma and rhinitis. Siberian hamster hair extract was prepared with a standard wt/vol method, and patients were skin-prick tested with the extract. Serum-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E against the Siberian hamster, common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) and golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) was determined. IgE-immunoblotting was also performed for all six sera. Specific bronchial challenge was carried out with the Siberian hamster extract. RESULTS: Skin prick tests (SPT) with the Siberian hamster extract, and specific IgE-antibodies against Siberian hamster, were strongly positive in all six patients. Determinations of specific IgE-antibodies against C. cricetus and M. auratus were negative in all patients. IgE-immunoblotting of the sera revealed two IgE-binding fractions (MW 18 and 32 kDa) in five of the six sera. Specific bronchial provocation tests resulted in early asthmatic responses in the two patients who were challenged. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals the Siberian hamster to be able to induce both sensitization and disease, and this species of hamster should be taken into consideration as a cause of respiratory disease in exposed subjects. A noteworthy finding was the lack of sensitization in our patients to common hamster allergens (M. auratus and C. cricetus) that are usually tested when hamster allergy is suspected.     

Characterization and identification of an iron-oxidizing,Leptospirillum-like bacterium,present in the high sulfate leaching solution of a commercial bioleaching plant

Most copper bioleaching plants operate with a high concentration of sulfate salts, caused by the continuous addition of sulfuric acid and the recycling of the leaching solution. Since the bacteria involved in bioleaching have been generally isolated at low sulfate concentrations, the bacterial population present in the high-sulfate (150 gl(-1)) leaching solution, employed in a copper production plant, was investigated. The iron-oxidizing bacteria able to grow in the leaching solution were enriched by several batch cultivations and, after serial dilution, an abundant bacterial strain was isolated. This strain, called LA, exhibited a relatively constant rate of iron-oxidation in media containing sulfate ions at concentrations ranging from 10 to 150 gl(-1). Culture collection strains of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans showed limited abilities to grow at sulfate ion concentrations higher than 70 gl(-1). In spite of its tolerance to high sulfate concentrations, strain LA was as sensitive to NaCl as A. ferrooxidans. Comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of strain LA indicated that it is phylogenetically related to strains described as Leptospirillum ferrooxidans. Bacterial community DNA restriction patterns of 16S rRNA genes suggested that strain LA was a minor component of the bacterial population present in leaching solution, but is abundant in ore leached with this solution.