Variable expression of tenascin‐C,osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung

Kaarteenaho R, Sormunen R, Pääkkö P. Variable expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung. APMIS 2010; 118: 91–100. The aim of this study was to analyse the expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung, which is a rare tumour of unknown aetiology. Nine patients with an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of lung were studied by immunohistochemistry for the presence of tenascin‐C, osteopontin, fibronectin and alpha‐smooth muscle actin, which is a common marker for myofibroblasts. The ultrastructure of myofibroblasts was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin, fibronectin and alpha‐smooth muscle actin was also studied by immunoelectron microscopy. All cases displayed all of the studied extracellular matrix proteins and also alpha‐smooth muscle actin‐positive spindle‐shaped fibroblastic cells that were undoubtedly myofibroblasts. The immunoelectron microscopic studies demonstrated labelling for alpha‐smooth muscle actin in intracellular filament bundles within myofibroblasts, for fibronectin in the extracellular filaments of the fibronexus and for tenascin‐C extracellularly often adjacent to myofibroblasts. Labels for osteopontin were observed within myofibroblasts and plasma cells. These results demonstrate that tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin were expressed in all three kinds of subtypes of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours of the lung and further, variable amounts of myofibroblasts could be observed by light and transmission electron microscopy as well as by immunoelectron microscopic techniques.     

Percutaneous cholecystostomy: an alternative to surgical cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis?

Emergency percutaneous cholecystostomy was successfully performed in 39 of 40 attempted procedures in 37 hospitalized patients with possible acute cholecystitis. All cholecystostomies were performed with ultrasound guidance and preferentially with the transhepatic route, and all but four were performed at the patient's bedside. The patients had been hospitalized an average of 27 days before the procedure. Twenty-two of the 37 patients (59%) eventually died during hospitalization because of other medical or surgical problems. Only minor complications related to percutaneous cholecystostomy placement occurred in this series: catheter dislodgment without sequelae (n = 2) and significant abdominal pain (n = 2). Technical problems included guide-wire buckling during catheter insertion (n = 1) and failed attempted cholecystostomy (n = 1). Percutaneous cholecystostomy is a safe alternative to surgical cholecystostomy in the treatment of patients suspected of having acute cholecystitis.     

广州队列研究生物库中条形码技术应用与评价

目的建立大规模人群的分子流行病学队列研究生物库，确保快速、准确地识别每一份生物样本，并保持其活性，以便长时间跟踪研究。方法采用条形码识别技术对血液样品的采集、处理及存储、查询过程进行全程管理。结果创建成功以条形码自动识别技术为核心的新型运作管理模式，建立起10000人份的生物样品库。大型生物样本库实施条形码管理系统可缩短每份样品的处理时间，提高工作效率1．5倍。结论条形码技术的应用可有效地避免样品间的相互混淆，使实验室每一项工作准确、可靠、高效，实现医学研究工作全面信息化，提高基因队列研究的质量。     

Retroversion of the humeral head in children with an obstetric brachial plexus lesion

We undertook a prospective MRI study to measure the retroversion of the humeral head in 33 consecutive infants with a mean age of 1 year 10 months (3 months to 7 years 4 months) who had an obstetric brachial plexus lesion (OBPL). According to a standardised MRI protocol both shoulders and humeral condyles were examined and the shape of the glenoid and humeral retroversion determined. The mean humeral retroversion of the affected shoulder was significantly increased compared with the normal contralateral side (-28.4 +/- 12.5 degrees v -21.5 +/- 15.1 degrees, p = 0.02). This increase was found only in the children over the age of 12 months. In this group humeral retroversion was -29.9 +/- 12.9 degrees compared with -19.6 +/- 15.6 degrees in the normal shoulder (p = 0.009), giving a mean difference of 10.3 degrees (95% confidence interval 3.3 to 17.3). This finding is of importance when considering the operative treatment for subluxation of the shoulder in children with an OBPL.     

German register for glaucoma patients with dry eye. I. Basic outcome with respect to dry eye

Background  The purpose of this register was to determine the links between glaucoma, age, concomitant disease, medication, and dry eye in a large group of glaucoma patients. Methods  A total of 20,506 patients from 900 centers across Germany were included. The first 30 consecutive glaucoma patients at each center were recruited. Epidemiological data as well as information on glaucoma, medication, concomitant diseases, dry eye, and local symptoms were elicited by means of a questionnaire. We analyzed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX), and pigmentary glaucoma (PDG). Results  According to the register data, more women develop dry eye and glaucoma than men (56.9 vs. 45.7%). The most frequent concomitant systemic diseases were hypertension (48.1%), diabetes mellitus (22.5%), and dry mouth, nose, and skin (11.3%). As expected, the highest incidence of dry eye was found in those patients with dry mouth, nose, and skin. Dry eye occurred with dissimilar frequencies in association with the various glaucoma types: PEX>POAG>PDG. The incidence of dry eye increases with age. The gender difference in the occurrence of dry eye becomes apparent from the age of 50. Dry eye occurred more frequently when three or more antiglaucoma drugs were used and increased with the duration of glaucoma disease. Conclusions  We publish the first results from the German Glaucoma and Dry Eye Register. We found that the occurrence of dry eye is linked to several factors. Thus, the type of glaucoma has an impact on the risk of dry eye. The quantity of eye drops applied also plays a role in the development of the dry eye syndrome if more than three medications are used. While POAG is usually treated with one drug, PEX and PDG tend to be treated with multiple drugs. The gender difference in the occurrence of dry eye becomes apparent from the age 50 years. Because of the vicious circle of dry eye, antiglaucoma eye drops containing benzalkonium chloride compromises patient compliance. The results of the register are therefore of key relevance for the care of glaucoma patients. Sponsoring organizations: Chibret Pharmazeutische GmbH     

Protection against feline infectious peritonitis by intranasal inoculation of a temperature-sensitive FIPV vaccine

Cats vaccinated intranasally (i.n.) with a temperature sensitive feline infectious peritonitis virus (ts-FIPV) vaccine were protected against an FIP-inducing challenge. Seventeen of 20 vaccinated cats (85%) survived a rigorous virulent FIPV challenge that caused FIP in 12 of 12 non-vaccinated cats (100%), 10 (83%) of which died. Intranasal vaccination stimulated serum IgG and serum and salivary IgA antibody responses (measured by ELISA), FIPV-neutralizing antibody (VN), and a cell-mediated immune (CMI) response as measured by lymphocyte proliferation. The serum antibody response to vaccination was not associated with protection. In fact, the IgG, IgA and VN titres were much higher in control cats than in vaccinated cats following challenge suggesting an immune-mediated pathogenesis. In contrast, stimulation of a mucosal IgA response to vaccination was related to protection. The in vitro proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to virulent FIPV was observed in vaccinated cats, in vaccinated and challenged cats but not in non-vaccinated challenged cats.     

Magnetic resonance imaging using hyperpolarized He-gas

Rationale and Objectives. Current imaging procedures of the lung concentrate on visualization of morphology. Computed tomography is the imaging method of choice for the majority of pulmonary diseases. Functional data are commonly obtained from arterial blood gas analysis, spirometry, and body plethysmography, which all suffer from lack of regional information.Materials and Methods. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lung has been advanced recently by the use of hyperpolarized ³He as a new contrast mechanism. Four different image acquisition modes are performed during a typical patient study.Results. ³He-MRI yields functional information about the lung with a high spatial and temporal resolution, avoiding the risks of ionizing radiation. The method is currently limited by high costs and restricted availability of the gas.Conclusion. In this article, the experience obtained at the University of Mainz, being Europe’s most experienced center performing ³He-MRI in humans, is reviewed against the international background.     

Using a Personal Digital Assistant to Increase Independent Task Completion by Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

In this study, a personal digital assistant (PDA) with picture, auditory, and video prompts with voice over, was evaluated as a portable self-prompting device for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a multiple probe design across three cooking recipes and replicated with three students with ASD, the system was tested for its effectiveness in increasing independent performance across the multiple step tasks. In addition, data were recorded for the number and types of prompts used by the students across time. Results indicate that the students with ASD were able to adjust the prompt levels used on the PDA and to maintain their ability to use the device to independently complete recipes over time.     

Rectal endosonography in inflammatory bowel disease: differential diagnosis and prediction of remission

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: There are few and conflicting data on EUS features of the rectal wall in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of our study was to determine whether rectal EUS could first differentiate between CD and UC, and secondly predict remission in CD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 14 month period we prospectively and blindly studied several parameters on rectal EUS (total wall thickness, mucosal appearance, submucosal thickness, number of enlarged vessels in the submucosa and number of pathological lymph nodes around the rectum and sigmoid colon) in 20 normal subjects, 26 patients with UC, 39 patients with CD, and four with infectious colitis. Comparisons were made between normal controls, patients with acute UC and those with acute CD, as well as between acute flare-ups and quiescent forms of CD and UC in the same patients. RESULTS: Normal subjects showed some features which were significantly different from those in CD or UC patients. A greater number of pathological lymph nodes was characteristic for acute UC, whereas the number of enlarged vessels was increased in acute CD. Quiescent CD showed a lower amount of wall thickening than acute CD. No significant alterations of the five parameters were found in quiescent UC compared to acute UC. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that EUS could be helpful in differentiating acute UC from CD, and to predict remission in CD.