Teratogen-induced apoptosis may be affected by immunopotentiation

Intra-uterine immunization of mice with paternal allogeneic or xenogeneic (rat) splenocytes was found to increase embryo tolerance to cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced teratogenesis. As the CP-induced teratogenic effect was shown to be associated with apoptosis, the present study was designed to investigate whether the protective effect of immunopotentiation may be realized via an alteration of CP-induced apoptosis. Various doses of CP were injected intraperitoneally into ICR mice on day 12 of pregnancy. Intra-uterine immunization with xenogeneic rat splenocytes was carried out 3 weeks before mating. Implantation sites, resorptions, live and dead fetuses, as well as soft tissue anomalies and external malformations, were recorded to evaluate the CP-induced embryotoxic effect. In parallel, flow cytometric analysis and DNA fragmentation assay were used for evaluation of CP-induced apoptosis in limbs, tail and whole embryos. The treatment of mothers with a high dose of CP induced the death of almost all embryos and striking fetal growth retardation in survivors. This strong embryotoxic effect was accompanied by very prominent DNA degradation in cells collected from whole embryos. Immunostimulation caused a dramatic decrease of embryonal loss (by ˜ 50%) and a significant (about 30%) increase in fetal weight. Such an increase in fetal survival and in fetal weight was found to be accompanied by a clear decrease in apoptosis level in embryo cell populations as judged by DNA gel electrophoresis with subsequent quantitation of DNA fragmentation in negatives by an image analysis technique. After treatment with a low dose of CP, a decrease in the proportion of fetuses with limb and tail anomalies in immunized females was accompanied by a decrease in the proportion of apoptotic nuclei in cells taken from limbs and tails. The results of this study suggest that the teratogen-induced apoptosis may, at least partly, be dependent on fetomaternal immune interactions.     

Short-Ti inversion-recovery pulse sequence: analysis and initial experience in cancer imaging

Inversion recovery (IR), commonly considered a pulse sequence capable of producing T1-weighted images with excellent display of normal anatomy, is versatile: The null point and peak time provide a useful, succinct summary of the properties of IR and its capacity for producing both T1- and T2-weighted images. Shortening of the inversion time (TI) and creation of a short-TI inversion-recovery (STIR) pulse sequence increases sensitivity to malignancy and other abnormalities by making the effects of prolonged T1 and T2 on signal intensity additive and by nulling the signal from fat. The authors examined over 300 patients with various malignancies and compared STIR images with T1- and T2-weighted images obtained at 0.5 T. In 43 cases, signal-difference-to-noise ratios (SD/Ns) were calculated between tumor, fat, and muscle. In general, STIR images demonstrated tumor as a conspicuously high-intensity area in a background of muted, discernible anatomic detail. The good contrast achieved with STIR sequences between tumor and fat (SD/N = 18.1) and tumor and muscle (SD/N = 12.9) consolidated into a single image the information contained separately on T1- and T2-weighted images, which facilitates efficient detection and localization of malignancy.     

Rupture of the posterior tibial tendon: CT and surgical findings

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 42 patients with 49 clinically suspected tears of the posterior tibial tendon. Twenty-eight of the 49 suspected tears were subsequently surgically explored and repaired. Three patterns of tendon abnormalities were recognized on CT scans: type I-intact, hypertrophied, heterogeneous tendon; type II-attenuated tendon; and type III-absence of a portion of a tendon. Types I and II correlated with partial rupture seen during surgery, and type III correlated with complete rupture of the tendon. CT findings were accurate in 96% of the patients who underwent surgery. In four cases (14%), tendon rupture was seen on CT scans, but the extent of the injury was underestimated and the rupture was misclassified. Reactive periostitis of the distal tibia was seen in 71% of diseased tendons and may represent an important factor in the diagnosis of tendon rupture.     

Periocular involvement in cutaneous leishmaniasis

OBJECTIVE: Although cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occurs mostly in the facial area, periocular involvement accounts for 2-5% of the facial lesions. CL lesions localized in the periocular region can easily be confused with various other diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of periocular involvement in CL in the Cukurova region of Turkey, as well as the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and methods of treatment of this disease. METHODS: Between December 1998 and December 2004, patients who were diagnosed with CL were evaluated prospectively with respect to periocular involvement. RESULTS: From the 2066 patients evaluated with CL, 2622 lesions were identified. In 59 (2.9%) of these patients, a total of 66 (2.5%) lesions were located in the periocular area. Thirty-two (48.5%) of these lesions were of the papular type, 15 (22.7%) the nodulo-ulcerative type, 10 (15.2%) the plaque type, and nine (13.6%) the nodular type. Dacryocystitis was identified in four patients with periocular involvement. Over the follow-up period, no ocular or periocular deformities or complications developed in these patients. CONCLUSION: Patients suspected of CL should be evaluated and treated early in the course of their disease to prevent any permanent ocular or periocular deformities.