Mast cells from human colonic mucosa and submucosa/muscle: a comparison with human lung mast cells.

The functional properties of enzymically dispersed mast cells from human lung parenchyma, colonic mucosa and colonic submucosa/muscle were compared. In general, the cells responded in a similar fashion to the histamine releasing action of a variety of immunological and non-immunological stimuli. However, some differences were observed in their responses to anti-allergic compounds. In total, these data indicate that there are subtle variations between human colonic and pulmonary mast cells but that these differences are much less sharply defined than in the rodent.     

Autosomal dominant megalocornea with congenital glaucoma: evidence for germ-line mosaicism

After the presentation of a newborn with congenital glaucoma, four additional members in two generations of a family were found to be affected with megalocornea. The absence of the disorder in the parents of three affected siblings can be explained by autosomal recessive inheritance, autosomal dominant inheritance or germ-line mosaicism. Each affected member showed iris stroma hypoplasia, miotic pupils and defects of the iris pigment epithelium. Less frequently encountered features included increased axial length, high myopia and congenital cataract. Most of the abnormalities can be accounted for by a disturbance in the growth and development of neural crest cells of the anterior chamber angle.     

Human mast cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage: their morphology, histamine release and the effects of sodium cromoglycate

Mast cells make up between 0.5 and 3% (mean 1.35%) of total cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The majority of these cells have the morphological characteristics of mucosal mast cells in that they fail to stain in the alcian blue-safranin reaction after fixation in formol-saline but stain well after fixation in Carnoy's solution. Cells staining with berberine sulphate were seen in only four of the 26 lavages. BAL cells released histamine in response to anti-human immunoglobulin E (IgE) in a dose-dependent manner that was optimal at a dilution of anti-IgE of 1:100. Maximum release was obtained by 2 min. Histamine release was completely inhibited by a combination of 2-deoxyglucose (5 mmol/l) and antimycin A (1 mumol/l). Disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) significantly inhibited this histamine release at 1 mmol/l (P less than 0.02), 100 mumol/l (P less than 0.002) and 10 mumol/l (P less than 0.003), with maximum inhibition of 50.1% at 10 mumol/l.     

Retrotrapezoid nucleus in the rat

The retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), recently described in the cat, is an anatomically identified cell group of the ventral medulla. It is of interest because of its possible role in the generation or control of breathing. The present investigation confirms the existence in the rat of an analogous cell group, as identified by retrograde transport of rhodamine microbeads from an injection site in the ventral respiratory group of the ventral medulla. Electrophysiological recordings from the region of RTN reveal individual units with respiratory related activity. These results support a possible role for the RTN in the control of breathing.     

Chronic hypernatremia due to impaired osmoregulated thirst and vasopressin secretion

We report the case of a young man who became adipsic following a subarachnoid hemorrhage and subsequently had two episodes of life-threatening hypernatremia. Investigations demonstrated that he had defective osmoregulated thirst and AVP release, but normal AVP responses to hypotension and nausea. There is also evidence that he had intact baroregulated thirst. We discuss the results of our investigations in the context of current models of hypothalamic-neurohypophysial function.     

Timing and method of reversal of Hartmann's procedure.

The outcome of 145 patients undergoing Hartmann's resection between 1973 and 1989 has been reviewed. The mortality rate of the primary procedure was 8 per cent. Eighty patients proceeded to reanastomosis. Multifactorial analysis of these patients was undertaken to determine the risk involved. The interval between the primary and secondary procedures was found to be the most important factor. Six of 12 patients had clinical evidence of a leak when this interval was < 3 months, compared with seven of 28 for 3-6 months, and none of 40 when the second operation was delayed for > 6 months. All deaths (three patients) and clinical septicaemia (four) occurred in the two 'early' groups. All colovaginal fistulae (three patients) and strictures (three) were associated with stapled anastomoses. No association was found between the complication rate following reanastomosis and the initial pathology or grade of surgeon undertaking the secondary operation.