Neonatal exposure to p-tert-octylphenol causes abnormal expression of estrogen receptor alpha and subsequent alteration of cell proliferating activity in the developing Donryu rat uterus

In the present study, we investigated immunohistochemically the time-course alterations in estrogen receptor alpha (ER) expression and cell proliferating activity in the developing uteri of Donryu rats exposed neonatally to a high dose p-tert-octylphenol (OP), an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). OP-treatment (sc injections of 100 mg/kg, every other day from postnatal days 1 to 15) induced an early and enhanced ER expression in the luminal epithelium compared with age-matched controls from postnatal day (PND) 10, and increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells up to PND21. At PND28, ER expression in the luminal epithelium of the OP-treated group was decreased, in association with decline in the luminal epithelial areas. PND14, the second week of life, is coincident with the normal time for differentiation when the luminal epithelium invaginates into the stroma to form uterine glands. OP-treatment, however, delayed and inhibited gland-formation, and suppressed ER expression in the invaginated-luminal and glandular epithelium at this time. These results indicate that ER expression in these sites is strongly linked with cell proliferating activity. In stromal cells, ER was expressed from PND6 in both groups without any PCNA positive cells, but significantly lower values were noted in the OP-treated group up to PND10. Our immunohistochemical investigation did not reveal any abnormalities in expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos, mitotic inhibitor p21, or epidermal growth factor antigen, although the apoptotic index in the luminal epithelium was slightly increased in the OP-treated group. These results demonstrate neonatal effects of a high dose of OP, already detectable at PND10, with early and enhanced ER expression, resulting in increase of cell proliferative activity in the luminal epithelium, though expression in the glandular epithelium was suppressed in relation to inhibited gland-genesis. The present study thus suggests that neonatal exposure to high doses of EDCs with estrogenic activity can induce abnormal differentiation in the developing rat uteri via abnormal ER expression and subsequent alteration of cell proliferating activity.     

Effects of different embedding gels on periostealchondrogenesis in vitro

To develop a more useful organ culture model for periosteal chondrogenesis in vitro, we compared the effects of the embedding of explants in agarose versus collagen gels. Chondrogenic differentiation was examined by means of histological observation and in terms of the expression of mRNA encoding two cartilage markers, Type II collagen and Aggrecan. Periosteal explants were derived from the tibiae of rabbits. These explants were embedded in either agarose gel or collagen gel and cultured for 6 weeks. Histological examinations revealed that in the agarose gel, cells were neither present in the explants nor in the gel. In the collagen gel, cells migrated from the explanted tissues into the gel, and some cells were round. However, no explants showed safranin-O staining. Only 10% of 10 surviving explants in the agarose gel expressed the Type II collagen gene and the Aggrecan gene. On the other hand, of 25 surviving explants in the collagen gel, the expression of the Type II collagen gene was detected in 18 explants (72%) and that of the Aggrecan gene was detected in 21 explants (84%). In conclusion, we demonstrated that the periosteum exerts chondrogenesis in certain circumstances and its chondrogenesis is closely related to the culture material.     

Abdominal compartment syndrome and intrahepatic portal venous gas: a possible complication of endoscopy

OBJECTIVE: We report the first patient to developed abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) with intrahepatic portal venous gas (IHPVG) and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis following emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old man underwent an emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for suspicion of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient developed intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS associated with IHPVG after the endoscopy. Although the patient developed severe shock following ACS, he was managed conservatively and successfully recovered. CONCLUSIONS: An emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy may be associated with intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS. Our report provides an additional case of a survivor who required no surgical intervention for ACS and IHPVG following endoscopy.     

Ventricular afterload and ventricular work in fontan circulation: comparison with normal two-ventricle circulation and single-ventricle circulation with blalock-taussig shunts

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have indicated that there are inherent limitations associated with Fontan physiology. However, there have been no quantitative analyses of the effects of right heart bypass on ventricular afterload, hydraulic power, and resultant overall hemodynamics. Methods and Results- During routine cardiac catheterization, aortic impedance and ventricular hydraulic power were determined, both at rest and under increased ventricular work induced by dobutamine, in 17 patients with Fontan circulation, 15 patients with a single ventricle whose pulmonary circulation was maintained only by Blalock-Taussig shunts, and 13 patients who had normal 2-ventricle circulation. Both vascular resistance (nonpulsatile load on the ventricle) and pulsatile components of ventricular afterload (represented by low-frequency impedance) were significantly higher in the Fontan group than in the other groups (P<0.01), and this was associated with decreased cardiac output in the Fontan patients. In addition, hydraulic power cost per unit forward flow was 40% lower in the 2-ventricle circulation than in the single-ventricle circulation, suggesting lower ventricular efficiency in single-ventricle circulation attributable to the lack of a pulmonary ventricle. Furthermore, in the Fontan group, beta-adrenergic reserve was markedly decreased because of a limited preload reserve. CONCLUSIONS: Fontan physiology is associated with disadvantageous ventricular power and afterload profiles and has limited ventricular reserve capacity. Thus, to improve the long-term prognosis of patients after Fontan surgery, future research should be conducted into medical interventions that can overcome these limitations inherent in Fontan circulation.     

Plasma adiponectin concentrations in children: relationships with obesity and insulinemia

Adiponectin, a novel adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties, has been found to have independent negative associations with obesity and hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance in adults. We measured fasting plasma adiponectin and insulin concentrations and body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or doubly labeled water) in 30 5-yr-old (11 boys and 19 girls) and 53 10-yr-old (17 boys and 36 girls) Pima Indian children. A subgroup of 20 children (5 boys and 15 girls) had all measurements at both 5 and 10 yr of age. Cross-sectionally, plasma adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with percentage body fat and fasting plasma insulin concentrations at both 5 yr (r = -0.35, P = 0.06, r = -0.42, P = 0.02) and 10 yr (r = -0.46, P = 0.001, r = -0.38, P = 0.005) of age. At age 10 yr, percentage body fat (P = 0.03) but not fasting plasma insulin (P = 0.59) was independently associated with fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations. Longitudinally, plasma adiponectin concentrations decreased with increasing adiposity. In summary, these results confirm our previously reported findings in adults of an inverse relationship between plasma adiponectin concentrations and adiposity in children. Longitudinal analyses indicated that hypoadiponectinemia is a consequence of the development of obesity in childhood. We did not find evidence that adiponectin is an early mediator of obesity-induced insulin resistance, a preliminary observation that needs to be confirmed in studies using a more direct measurement of insulin action than the one used in this investigation.