Antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc

Summary To study the antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc, the columns of forty eight embryos and fetuses were examined histologically. The primitive disc is composed of two structures: the notochord which shows a progressive expansion into the disc, and the fibrocartilaginous perinotochordal disc. No histological sign of interaction between notochordal and perinotochordal cells, which may explain the notochordal expansion into the discs, was seen. On the other hand, the notochordal intervention in the cartilaginous differentiation of the inner zone is probable.

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Différenciation anténatale du disque intervertébral humain

Résumé Cette étude de la différenciation anténatale du disque intervertébral humain repose sur l'examen de coupes histologiques de quarante huit colonnes vertébrales d'embryons et de foetus. Le disque primitif est composé de deux structures : la notochorde, qui présente une expansion progressive de son diamètre au sein du disque, et le disque périnotochordal, d'abord mésenchymateux puis fibrocartilagineux. Il n'a pas été mis en évidence de signe histologique témoignant d'une interaction entre les cellules notochordales et les cellules périnotochordales qui puisse expliquer l'expansion de la notochorde au sein des disques. Le rôle de la notochorde dans la différenciation cartilagineuse de la zone centrale est par contre probable.

     

Acute cytomegalovirus infection modulates the intestinal microbiota and targets intestinal epithelial cells

Primary and recurrent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections frequently cause CMV colitis in immunocompromised as well as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Additionally, colitis occasionally occurs upon primary CMV infection in patients who are apparently immunocompetent. In both cases, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms are largely elusive - in part due to the lack of adequate access to specimens. We employed the mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) model to assess the association between CMV and colitis. During acute primary MCMV infection of immunocompetent mice, the gut microbial composition was affected as manifested by an altered ratio of the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes phyla. Interestingly, these microbial changes coincided with high-titer MCMV replication in the colon, crypt hyperplasia, increased colonic pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and a transient increase in the expression of the antimicrobial protein Regenerating islet-derived protein 3 gamma (Reg3γ). Further analyses revealed that murine and human intestinal epithelial cell lines, as well as primary intestinal crypt cells and organoids represent direct targets of CMV infection causing increased cell death. Accordingly, in vivo MCMV infection disrupted the intestinal epithelial barrier and increased apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. In summary, our data show that CMV transiently induces colitis in immunocompetent hosts by altering the intestinal homeostasis.     

温血心停跳液与冷晶体心停跳液对狗心率变异性的影响

为探讨体外循环（ＣＰＢ）导致心脏植物神经系统（ＣＡＳ）损伤的机理,了解温血心停跳液能否防止ＣＰＢ后心率变异性（ＨＲＶ）的降低,采用对照方法观察了温血心停跳液与冷晶体心停跳液对狗ＨＲＶ的影响。结果显示：ＣＰＢ后温血心停跳液组（ＷＢ组）和冷晶体心停跳液组（ＣＣ组）的全频谱（ＴＰ）、低频（ＬＦ）和高频（ＨＦ）均较术前明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）,而且ＣＣ组比ＷＢ组降低更明显（Ｐ＜０．０５）,但ＬＦ／ＨＦ在组内及组间均无明显变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）。ＣＰＢ后２４小时平均心率（ＭＨＲ）明显增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,且ＣＣ组高于ＷＢ组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。本研究表明：采用温血心停跳液或冷晶体心停跳液的ＣＰＢ不会干扰ＣＡＳ平衡,但均能使ＨＲＶ降低,温血心停跳液不能防止ＨＲＶ损害。     

Robot training enhanced motor outcome in patients with stroke maintained over 3 years

In an attempt to improve motor recovery of the upper limb after stroke, we added a robot (MIT-Manus) experience that provided additional goal-directed sensorimotor activity to standard rehabilitation treatments. The first trial produced a significant decrease in motor impairment in the upper limb for the treated group. In re-evaluating 12 of those 20 patients, nearly 3 years later, robot-trained patients showed further significant decreases in impairment measures of the affected limb. The groups were comparable at the start of the study.     

Heterogeneity ofin vitro chemosensitivity in perioperative breast cancer cells to mitoxantroneversus doxorubicin evaluated by a microplate ATP bioluminescence assay

Summary Apart from clinical trials, mitoxantrone (MX) is rarely used in breast cancer (BC) due to the anticipated anthracycline cross-resistance. We have examined this drug versus doxorubicin (DOX) using data obtained fromin vitro microplate ATP tumor chemosensitivity assays (ATP-TCA) of BC cells which were derived from 55 chemotherapy-naive patients at time of primary surgery. Both drugs were tested at 6 different concentrations ranging from 6.25% to 200% peak plasma concentrationin vivo (PPC). Differences between DOX and MX observed for mean IC₅₀, IC₉₀, and a sensitivity index (SI) were not statistically significant.In vitro response rates were 44% for DOX and 52% for MX. 34 of 52 eligible assays (65%) showed comparable activity of both drugs whereas a lack of cross-resistance was observed in the remaining 18 (35%) tumors as indicated by differences for SI. Cumulative concentration-response plots of tumors respondingin vitro with a 50 percent or 90 percent tumor cell inhibition showed a strong dose-dependence for both DOX and MX at concentrations which normally can be achieved within clinical tumors (i.e. 6.25%-50% PPC). At higher concentrations, however, cytotoxicity of DOX and MX could not be improved by furtherin vitro dose escalation. Moreover, a substantial proportion of BC specimens (DOX: 48.1%; MX: 40.4%) did not experience a 90 tumor cell inhibition at 200% PPC. In conclusion,in vitro results obtained by ATP-TCA indicate that there is no cross-resistance between MX and DOX in a substantial proportion of BC patients. This may be clinically useful and suggests that combinations including MX should be tested in patients clinically resistant to DOX containing regimens. Since both drugs produced sigmoidal concentration-response curves, dose escalation beyond a certain point may not produce increased sensitivity.     

306. Martin Kirschner zum 100. Geburtstag

Zusammenfassung Kirschner wurde 1879 in Breslau geboren. 1916 erhielt er den Ruf auf den Lehrstuhl in Königsberg, 1927 nach TÜbingen und 1934 nach Heidelberg. An diesen Stätten erbaute er neue Kliniken. Erfolgreich arbeitete er auf allen chirurgischen Teilgebieten. Besonders erwähnenswert seien die erste erfolgreiche pulmonale Embolektomie, die einzeitige Lungenlappenresektion, ein neues Verfahren in der Oesophaguschirurgie, die EinfÜhrung des halbstarren Kirschner-Drahtes, in der Schmerzbekämpfung die Avertinnarkose, die Spinalanaesthesie und die Elektrocoagulation des Ganglion Gasseri. 1932 begrÜndete er die heute von Zenker fortgefÜhrte Operationslehre.     

Romberg's progressive hemifacial atrophy: an association with scleral melting

We report the unusual case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with Romberg's progressive facial hemiatrophy and spontaneous scleral perforation in the ipsilateral eye, for which scleral grafting was performed. Histologic and ultrastructural examination of the scleral specimen revealed a noninflammatory lytic process. The location of the scleral loss, exactly on the line of the "en coup de sabre" atrophy, as well as the light microscopy and ultrastructural histopathologic findings suggest that the scleral destruction was a late manifestation of Romberg's disease.     

The capsid protein-encoding sequence of foot-and-mouth disease virus O2Brescia

Summary Nucleotide sequences encoding the four capsid proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus subtype O₂Brescia/1947 have been determined. These and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared with those of a subtype O₁ virus strain. The nucleotide sequences differed at 259 positions, causing only 35 amino acid changes. VP 4 and VP 2 differed by 2.4 and 1.8%, whereas VP 1, known as major viral antigen, and VP 3 differed by 8% and 5.5%, respectively. The differences occur mainly in protein domains not involved in the formation of -helices and -sheets, suggesting that the surfaces of both viruses are more variable than their scaffolds. The O₂Brescia sequence has been submitted to the GenBank data base and has the accession number M 55287.     

Cellular sensitization against sperm and seminal antigens in women

In 13 healthy women and 6 virgins the cellular sensitization against sperm and seminal plasma antigens was demonstrated by an indirect lymphokin assay, the leucocyte migration inhibition test (LMI-test) using the following preparations: "washed" spermatozoa, seminal plasma and spermatozoa of the supernatant prepared with the "swim-up" technique. In both groups of women a cellular sensitization against sperm and seminal plasma antigens could be observed. Further, a dose dependent correlation was found in that way, that increasing concentrations of spermatozoa lead to an increased inhibition of macrophage migration. In virgins cellular sensitization against seminal plasma proteins did not differ from non-virgins, only the percentage of significant reactions in the LMI-Test was reduced. As low sperm concentrations (1 million ml-1), which represent best the physiological situation in the uterus, induced an enhanced migrations of macrophages the enhancement of macrophage migration is considered as physiological cellular sensitization of females against sperm-associated antigens.