Two dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms at the D8S1442 and D8S1443 loci

Two polymorphic dinucleotide (CA) repeat clones were isolated from cosmids, cCI8-1121 and cCI8-1199, mapped to chromosome 8p11.2-p12.     

Conduction pattern of excitation in the amphibian atrium assessed by multiple-site optical recording of action potentials

Spontaneous action potentials were monitored from multiple sites in the bullfrog atrium using a voltage-sensitive merocyanine-rhodanine dye together with a 100-element photodiode matrix array, and we have assessed the spread of the excitation from the pacemaker. Isochrone curves of conduction were obtained by timing the initiation of the action potential-related optical signals: we constructed maps of the spread. Excitatory waves appeared to conduct radially from the pacemaking area over the atrium, and the conduction velocity in the left atrium exceeded that in the right atrium.     

Identification, characterization and biological activity of oxytocin receptor in the developing human penis

Although abnormalities of the male external genitalia (MEG) are a relatively common problem, little is known concerning the molecular mechanisms that finely regulate penile development. We report here the expression of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) gene by real-time RT-PCR in human fetal tissues (11th-12th week of gestation), including the MEG. The developing penis expressed a very high level of OTR mRNA, only a half log(10) unit lower than fetal central nervous system, used as a positive control. The OTR protein is also highly expressed (western, immunohistochemistry and binding studies) and immunolocalized both in the mesenchymal body and in the surrounding blood capillaries, which will later constitute penile trabeculae and sinusoids. Binding studies using [125I]oxytocin antagonist ([125I]OTA) in cultured human fetal penile smooth muscle cells (hfPSMC) revealed the presence of specific OTR with a high capacity and affinity for oxytocin (OT) and for OTA. Increasing concentrations of OT dose-dependently induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Furthermore, OTR mediated an increase in the proliferation and the migration of hfPSMC. In conclusion, we demonstrate that in the developing human MEG, OTR is highly expressed and might be involved in coordinating timely and appropriate proliferation and migration of the penile cells. Thus, OTR might represent an additional target for investigating human fetal MEG organogenesis.     

Consistency behind trial-to-trial variation in intrinsic optical responses to single-whisker movement in the rat D1-barrel cortex

We examined consistent characteristics behind the trial-to-trial variati on in intrinsic optical imaging of single barrel cortical responses to D 1-whisker movement in 2-5-week postnatal (2-5 W) and adul t (>9-weeks) Wistar rats, and we identified the effective are a of the neural response. The extent/size, configuration and orientation of the intrinsic optical response area varied from trial-to-trial with the same whisker stimulation. We argue that the trial-to-trial variation was due to cortical blood circulation related to the barrel neural activity. Subsequently, interpolating a family of the traces of the optical response area imaged with repeated stimulation for each animal, we extracted a centered circular area from the trial-to-trial response for each animal. Although the trial-to-trial variation decreased gradually with age, the spatial extent of the interpolated response area was consistently about 660 microm in diameter, in agreement with that measured morphologically and/or histochemically. A possible interpretation is that the optically defined area appears to image the actual effective single-barrel response area, as a first approximation. Furthermore, the constancy of the extracted area independent of age suggests that the barrel cortex is, in fact, virtually mature by 2 weeks of age. The extracted area was also nearly independent of the frequency (>/=5 Hz) of whisker movement.     

Localization in situ of the co-stimulatory molecules B7.1, B7.2, CD40 and their ligands in normal human lymphoid tissue

Functional interactions between B and T lymphocytes are known to depend on the expression of co-stimulatory molecules B7.1/CD80, B7.2/CD86 and their counter-receptors CD28 and CTLA4, as well as CD40 and its ligand CD40L. To study the role of these molecules in situ, an immunohistochemical analysis was carried out on normal human lymphoid tissue. In the germinal centers (GC), B7.1 and B7.2 were differentially expressed. In the dark zone, centroblasts were predominantly B7.1⁺, while centrocytes in the light zone were B7-2⁺, resulting in reversed gradients of both markers in GC. Follicle mantle cells were negative for B7.1 and B7.2. Macrophages and interdigitating dendritic cells (IDC) in T cell zones both expressed B7.1 and B7.2. Moreover, clusters of B7.2⁺ T cells were demonstrated in interfollicular areas. Intrafollicular CD4⁺ T cells in GC, predominantly in the apical light zone, expressed CD28 and CTLA4, as did the majority of interfollicular T cells. CTLA4 showed a striking excentric cytoplasmic staining, which was also seen on T cells activated in vitro. CD40 was expressed on all B cells and more strongly on macrophages and IDC. Moreover, small clusters of T cells in a rim outside the GC showed CD40 expression. CD40L was expressed both on intrafollicular CD4⁺ T cells as well as on T cells in T cell zones. The differential distribution of co-stimulatory molecules in different compartments of normal human lymphoid tissue in situ indicates that these interactions play a distinctive role in different stages of B cell differentiation and in the immune response.     

Treating acute colonic diverticulitis with extraluminal pericolic air: An Acute Care Surgery in the Netherlands (ACCSENT) multicenter retrospective cohort study

BackgroundOwing to improved quality of computed tomography, a new category of complicated acute diverticulitis, including patients with pericolic air but without abscess formation, can be defined (Hinchey 1a). Recent studies question whether this new category of acute diverticulitis could be treated as uncomplicated cases. The aim of our study is to report on the clinical course of acute diverticulitis Hinchey 1a in current clinical practice.MethodsFor this multicenter retrospective cohort study, patients presenting at the emergency department with Hinchey 1a acute diverticulitis as demonstrated by computed tomography scan, were identified. The primary outcome measure was successful conservative treatment with observation alone, antibiotics, and/or hospital admission. Readmissions, percutaneous drainage of abscesses, and emergency operations were considered as failure.ResultsBetween October 2016 and October 2018, 1,199 patients were clinically suspected for acute diverticulitis, of whom 101 (8.4%) were radiologically diagnosed to have type 1a acute diverticulitis (average age 57 (±13) years, 45% female) and started with conservative treatment. This was successful in 86 (85%) patients. One of the 15 unsuccessfully treated patients (1%) received percutaneous drainage of an abdominal abscess. Surgery was required in 9 cases (9%) after a median time of 6 days (range, 3 to 69 days). Although a difference in the volume of extraluminal air on computed tomography scan was found, this was not shown to be a risk factor for the clinical course.ConclusionPatients with type 1a acute diverticulitis can be treated successfully by conservative therapy in the majority of cases (85%). More research is required to define predictive factors for successful conservative management.     

A VEP investigation of parallel visual pathway development in primary school age children

Different features of visual function mature along unique timescales through infancy and early childhood. It is not clear which functions continue to mature in school age children. Functions believed to be mediated by the Magnocellular (M) and Parvocellular (P) pathways were compared in five- (n=25), eight- (n=21) and eleven-year-old children (n=21) and young adult controls (n=20). Steady-state visual evoked potentials were recorded from occipital electrodes in response to very low spatial frequency gratings, at a series of contrasts (M), and to high contrast gratings at a series of spatial frequencies (P). No evidence was found to indicate M pathway development across these age groups. However, the youngest children demonstrated elevated VEP thresholds to the high contrast gratings compared with either the adults or eleven-year-olds. This difference in threshold implies an immaturity of the high contrast, high spatial frequency stream, i.e. the putative P pathway. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.