Intraepithelial leucocytes in the bovine uterine tube

The epithelium of the uterine tube consists of ciliated cells and secretory cells. Basal cells are a third cell type observed in tubal epithelium and they are located principally in the basal part of the epithelium. The objectives of this study were to characterize these basal cells in normal and superovulated heifers and to determine whether they participate in the replacement of the ciliated and secretory cell populations. All heifers received cloprostenol (PG) to induce oestrus (day 0). Superovulated heifers received 24 mg pFSH at doses of 4.5, 3.5, 2.5 and 1.5 mg given twice daily. Control and superovulated heifers were slaughtered on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 of the oestrous cycle. Another group of normal cycling heifers was slaughtered on days 2-3 and 11-13 of the oestrous cycle and used for immunocytochemistry. Samples from ampulla, pre-isthmus and isthmus of the uterine tube were collected and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative examination by light microscopy showed that there was a significant difference in the number of basal cells between the regions of the heifers' uterine tube. On the basis of ultrastructure two populations of basal cells were observed. One (type I) had a nucleus with much condensed heterochromatin and very sparse cytoplasmic organelles. The second cell (type II) had a nucleus with heterochromatin typically clumped around the nuclear envelope. Its cytoplasm contained many organelles including a number of lysosomes. The ultrastructural features of these cells were similar in all regions and at all days of the oestrous cycle examined. Immunocytochemistry revealed that type I basal cells were lymphocytes and type II basal cells were macrophages.     

Febrile renal colic of pregnancy. A severe emergency

Among the so-called "gravidic pyelonephritis" a special place should be reserved for the retention of purulent urine upstream of an obstruction normally caused by stones. The restoration of the free flow of the urine by direct approach of the obstruction or a temporary stent is the main aspect of the treatment. Antibiotics only play a secondary role.     

双—对二甲氨基苯甲醛缩二胺类希夫碱合成、表征及抗菌活性

目的：合成双－对二甲氨基苯甲醛缩二胺类希夫碱,并对其抗菌活性进行研究。方法：以对二甲氨基苯甲醛和二胺类为原料,经缩合反应,制得4种相应希夫碱。结果：结构经元素分析、红外光谱、核磁共振谱确定,4种化合物均未见文献报道,抗菌活性测试表明,它们具有一定抗菌活性。结论：乙酸是催化剂,对缩合反应有利,希夫碱化合物具有一定抗菌活性。     

Does epidural analgesia influence the mode of delivery in primiparae managed actively? A preliminary study of 1250 women

We studied 1250 primiparous women with a singleton pregnancy, gestational age at delivery of 37-42 weeks, with a single live fetus, vertex presentation whose first and second stages of labour were managed according to strict criteria for the active management of labour. 568 (45%) received epidural analgesia (bupivacaine 0.25%) during labour, and the other 682 (55%) received either Entonox, pethidine or no analgesia. The spontaneous vaginal delivery rate in the epidural group was 67% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63-71%), lower than that in the non-epidural group (87%, 95% CI 84-90%). All instrumental delivery rates were higher in the epidural group. However, the rotational forceps rate in the epidural group (2.5%, 95% CI 1.4-4.1%) was only marginally higher than in the non-epidural group (0.9%, 95% CI 0.3-1.9%). Women who were induced were more likely to request an epidural (56%: 95% CI 50-61%) than those with spontaneous onset of labour (41%: 95% CI 38-45%). Whether labour was spontaneous or induced, a higher proportion of women who received epidural required oxytocin augmentation. The effects of combinations of epidural analgesia, the need for oxytocin augmentation and induction of labour on mode of delivery were additive. This preliminary study suggests that a high rate of spontaneous vaginal delivery can be achieved with epidural analgesia when labour is actively managed.     

Proceedings of the Symposium ‘Angiotensin AT1 Receptors: From Molecular Physiology to Therapeutics’: FUNCTIONS OF ANGIOTENSIN PEPTIDES IN THE ROSTRAL VENTROLATERAL MEDULLA

• 1 It was first shown several years ago that the rostral part of the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) contains a high density of receptor binding sites for angiotensin II (AngII). In the present paper we briefly review recent studies aimed at determining the actions of both exogenous and endogenous angiotensin peptides in the rostral VLM, as well as their specific sites of action.
• 2 The results of these studies have shown that angiotensin peptides can excite pressor and sympathoexcitatory neurons in the rostral VLM, but do not appear to affect non-cardiovascular neurons in this region.
• 3 It is known that pressor neurons in the rostral VLM include both catecholamine and non-catecholamine neurons. There is evidence that, at least in conscious rabbits, both of these types of neurons are activated by AngII. The specific endogenous angiotensin peptide or peptides that affect pressor neurons in the rostral VLM have not yet been definitively identified.
• 4 It is also possible that different angiotensin peptides may have different effects on pressor neurons in the rostral VLM, mediated by different receptors. Further studies will be needed to define these different functions as well as the specific receptors and cellular mechanisms that subserve them.

     

New non-cocaine-containing topical anesthetics compared with tetracaine-adrenaline-cocaine during repair of lacerations

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of three new topical anesthetics that do not contain cocaine (prilocaine-phenylephrine, tetracaine-phenylephrine [tetraphen], and tetracaine-lidocaine-phenylephrine) to that of tetracaine-adrenaline-cocaine (TAC) during laceration repair in children. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. SETTING: The emergency department of an urban children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Children 1 year of age or older with a laceration /= 5 years of age using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Suture technicians, research assistants, and parents also scored pain using a seven-point Likert scale. In addition, suture technicians completed an anesthetic effectiveness scale. RESULTS: There was consistently no difference demonstrated between the effectiveness of tetraphen and that of TAC for each outcome measure of each observer group. A statistically significant difference was seen among anesthetics when comparing VAS and Likert scale scores of suture technicians and Likert scale scores of research assistants. Based on post hoc analyses, these statistically significant differences were between TAC and prilocaine-phenylephrine (suture technician VAS and Likert scale) and between TAC and tetracaine-lidocaine-phenyl-ephrine (suture technician Likert scale), but not between TAC and tetraphen. When power analyses were performed using alpha = 0.05 and beta = 0.20, it was possible to detect a difference of 1.2 VAS units for each of the observer groups. Based on anesthetic effectiveness scale scores, the three new topical preparations collectively performed significantly better on the face and scalp than on the extremities (relative risk = 1.83; 95% confidence interval 1.20 < relative risk < 2.79). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of three new non-cocaine-containing topical anesthetics. Consistently, there was no statistical difference demonstrated between the effectiveness of tetraphen and that of TAC for each outcome measure of each observer group. Tetraphen offers an effective alternative to TAC during laceration repair in children.     

Estimates of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Australia, 2000

Objectives : To estimate the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Australia and attributable proportions associated with specific demographic groups at higher risk of infection.
Methods : Two methods were used to estimate prevalence of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg): (1) Population-based: results of a national serosurvey using sera collected opportunistically from laboratories across Australia were used for 1–59 year olds, with the HBsAg prevalence for 50–59 years extrapolated to the population aged 60 years and over; (2) Risk group-based: estimates for selected high-risk groups (injecting drug users, homosexual men, Indigenous Australians and people born in high-prevalence countries), using source data from antenatal HBV screening in central Sydney, HBV prevalence studies, and estimates for low-risk groups (first-time blood donors) were combined proportionally to their representation in the population.
Results : Prevalence of HBsAg in the national serosurvey increased, with age, from 0.0% for 1–4 and 5–9 year olds to 1.3–1.8% for the 40–49 year age group. Australian population HBsAg prevalence based on minimum and adjusted estimates from this serosurvey were 91,500 (0.49%) and 163,000 (0.87%) infections, respectively. The risk group method estimated an Australian HBsAg prevalence of 88,000 infections (0.47%). Approximately 50% of people with chronic HBV infection were estimated to be immigrants from either South-East Asia (33.3%) or North-East Asia (16.2%).
Conclusion : The range of estimates for chronic HBV infection in Australia is broad, reflecting the uncertainty in source data. A national blood survey encompassing a large and representative population sample may help to provide more accurate estimates. A large proportion of people with chronic HBV infection are Asian born.     

同种异体大鼠小肠移植中监测CD4+ T细胞和CD8+ T细胞数比值的意义

目的 探讨CD4+T细胞数/CD8+T细胞数作为大鼠同种异体小肠移植急性免疫排斥反应指标的可行性.方法 选取健康雄性成年SD、Wistar大鼠建立同种异体小肠移植模型,于大鼠术前和术后1、3、5、7、9d共6个时间段静脉取血,应用免疫荧光染色技术及流式细胞仪检测CD4+T细胞和CD8+T细胞百分率,并计算其比值.同期取移植小肠标本做组织学检测.结果 术后CD4+T细胞数和CD8+T细胞数比值前期增高后期降低.组织病理学检测发现术后小肠移植物的排斥反应由轻到重,术后第5天始CD4+T细胞数和CD8+T细胞数比值与急性免疫排斥反应程度呈正相关.结论 CD4+T细胞和CD8+T细胞数比值作为大鼠同种异体小肠移植术后急性免疫排斥反应的监测指标的可行性较大.