Detection of drug-induced apoptosis by flow cytometry after alkaline extraction of ethanol fixed cells

A new flow cytometric method was developed to detect apoptotic cells with fragmented DNA and to determine cell cycle distribution of viable cells, in the same sample, by propidium iodide staining. Apoptosis, in HT58 human B lymphoma cells, was induced by etoposide and/or by staurosporine. Using appropriate alkaline solutions (between 1-10 mN NaOH in 150 mM saline) followed by neutralization with buffer solution, the fragmented DNA can be extracted quantitatively from ethanol fixed cells. Further, good resolution of the cell cycle distribution can be obtained in unimpaired cells without RNase treatment. Furthermore, unlike the widely used hypotonic-detergent extraction of unfixed cells, the suggested extraction method can prevent drug-induced disintegration of dead cells when karyorrhexis occurs. This work was supported by Hungarian National Research Foundation (OTKA I/352 and OTKA II/2622).     

Phase-encode order and its effect on contrast and artifact in single-shot RARE sequences

Substantial manipulation of tissue contrast can be achieved by varying the order in which phase-encode values are applied to individual echoes within a 128-echo single-shot rapid acquisition relaxation enhanced (RARE) sequence. Appropriate ordering can then permit imaging of short T2 species like muscle and white matter with single-shot RARE. For sequential phase encoding with an arbitrary initial phase-encode value, the timing of the zero phase (ZP) encoded echo is found to be analogous to the echo time (TE) of standard spin-echo sequences. This is demonstrated qualitatively with human brain images and is verified quantitatively with NiCl2 phantoms by correlating the time constant for signal decay with ZP echo time, with transverse relaxation times T2, as obtained with a 128-echo Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) imaging sequence. Banding artifacts accompanying the discontinuous traverse through K space are experimentally demonstrated in a rectangular phantom and expressions are developed for determining the dependence of this artifact on the phase-encode gradient increments and durations, the ZP echo number, echo spacing, and T2. Simulations based on the expressions are shown to be useful for characterizing the observed "banding" artifacts perpendicular to the phase-encode direction and for predicting the extent of tissue-tissue overlap to be expected with the use of this ultrafast rf echo planar imaging method.     

Possible association between maternal recurrent orofacial herpes in pregnancy and a lower rate of preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible association between orofacial herpes during pregnancy and pregnancy complications including preterm birth and low birth weight, since the results of previous studies are inconsistent. METHOD: The population-based large data set of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance System of Congenital Abnormalities was used; pregnancies in mothers with and without recurrent orofacial herpes were compared. RESULTS. Of 38,151 newborn infants, 572 (1.5%) had mothers with recurrent orofacial herpes during pregnancy, while 37 577 had mothers with no orofacial herpes. Pregnant women with recurrent orofacial herpes had a higher prevalence of severe nausea and vomiting, threatened preterm delivery, and placental disorders but a lower prevalence of preeclampsia. Mothers with recurrent orofacial herpes during pregnancy also had a somewhat longer (0.4 weeks) gestation (adjusted t = 2.7; p = 0.006) and an obviously lower proportion of preterm births (3.5% vs. 9.3%; adjusted POR with 95% CI = 0.42, 0.27-0.65). However, there was no significant difference in the mean birth weight and rate of low birth weight infants between the two study groups. CONCLUSION: Recurrent orofacial herpes during pregnancy is associated with a smaller proportion of preterm births.     

A case of cutaneous angiolipoleiomyoma (angiomyolipoma) in a budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)

We report a case of cutaneous angiolipoleiomyoma (angiomyolipoma) found on the anterior wall of the ventral part of the abdomen of a three-year-old female budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). Histologic examination of the well-circumscribed, surgically removed tumour (1.5 cm in diameter) showed a benign admixed proliferation of blood vessels of different size, smooth muscle bundles, and mature adipose tissue, without evidence of malignancy. Endothelial cells of the haemangioma component were positive for claudin-5 endothelium-specific immunohistochemical marker, and the leiomyoma component was positive for α-smooth muscle actin. The differentiated lipocytes showed S-100 protein positivity. The Ki-67 labelling index was 2 to 3%. The mesenchymal tumour was negative for HMB45 melanocytic immunhistochemical marker. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a cutaneous angiolipoleiomyoma in a budgerigar with histological and immunohistochemical analyses.     

Only Hyperuricemia with Crystalluria,but not Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia,Drives Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

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Subcutaneous Granuloma Annulare of the Penis Associated with a Urethral Anomaly: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Granuloma annulare (GA) is an uncommon benign inflammatory skin condition, most often found on the extremities of young females. The subcutaneous variant of GA involving the penis is very rare. We report a case of subcutaneous GA associated with a urethral anomaly in a 15‐year‐old boy that persisted for a year. Treatment options are discussed with a review of the current literature.