Immunohistochemical and histochemical study on colorectal adenomas and polyps]

Immunohistochemical staining and histochemical approach for mucin were applied in studying 58 cases of colorectal adenomas. Among them, there were 13 cases of multiple adenomas (polyps), 5 cases of inflammatory polyps and 5 cases of juvenile polyps. The results indicated that positive expression of both McAb MC5 and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1(UEA-1) were correlating with the degree of dysplasia, the histological type and the size of adenomas. The positive expression of peanut agglutinin (PNA) was correlating with the degree of dysplasia. Moderate and heavy stainings were mainly seen in adenomas accompanying with moderate and severe dysplasia, as well as adenomas with early carcinomatous changes. PAT-KOH-PAS method could sensitively reflect the occurrence of dysplasia and malignancy of the adenomas. These findings support the concept of an adenoma(dysplasia)-carcinoma sequence. In comparing multiple adenomas (number of adenomas > 100) with the solitary ones, a notable difference was obtained in the expression of McAb MC5. It's concluded that combined use of certain immunohistochemical and histochemical stainings is well be useful in detecting the malignant potentiality of adenoma.     

Endothelins and sarafotoxins: effects on motility, binding properties and phosphoinositide hydrolysis during the estrous cycle of the rat uterus.

The effects of four peptides of the endothelin/sarafotoxin (ET/SRTX) family on the motility of the rat uterus were examined during the different stages of the estrous cycle. ET-1, ET-3, SRTX-b and SRTX-c showed similar effects on the contraction of the uterus: a slight increase in the maximum tension of the spontaneous rhythmic contractions, a suppression of the relaxation phase of these contractions and an increase in their rate. All three effects were concentration dependent. Of the four peptides, ET-1 and SRTX-b showed the highest potency and efficacy, suggesting that among the various peptides of this family so far studied, ET-1 and SRTX-b are the two full agonists. The rank order of susceptibility of the different stages was, in most cases: proestrus greater than estrus greater than metestrus. Freshly excised diestrus uteri showed no spontaneous contractions and did not respond to any of the peptides. The binding potency of ET-1 and SRTX-b to uterine membranes was similar at the various estrous stages, but their maximal binding decreased gradually from proestrus to diestrus. All four peptides induced phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in uterine slices at all four different stages, with ET-1 and SRTX-b again being more potent than ET-3 or SRTX-c. The maximal PI hydrolysis correlated with the increased rate of the rhythmic contractions. It is suggested that the reaction of the rat uterus to the ET/SRTX peptides depends on its hormonal status and that ET may act in concert with steroid hormones in the modulation of the estrous cycle.     

Massive air embolism--a possible cause of death after operative hysteroscopy using a 32% dextran-70 pump.

Although considered a safe procedure, operative hysteroscopy has been reported to result in serious and even fatal complications. A fatal outcome is described after operative hysteroscopy. The attending team made a diagnosis of massive air embolism. However, HBO therapy, which is the specific treatment for air embolism, yielded only transient improvement. The pathologist's diagnosis on autopsy was anaphylaxis. These two complications must be borne in mind during the procedure, and a contingency plan developed for dealing with them should they arise.     

Research on rapid identification of auto-microbiology system for pathogenic yeast.

The auto-microbiology system yeast biochemical card (AMS-YBC; Vitek System, Inc.) was studied in 77 clinical isolates and 50 laboratory kept isolates on the basis of routine identification. Results of 123 isolates were obtained in 24 hours, while that of the other 4 in 48 hours. 122 (96.1%) were coincidently identified with AMS and routine method. The results suggest that AMS is a rapid, accurate and simple identification method for common pathogenic yeast.

     

A new anthropometric scale for discrimination between sexes.

Sexual dimorphism with respect to body size and shape has been analysed by means of discriminant function. An anthropometric score has been derived from 111 adult normal males and 108 females, based on 11 anthropometric and three dermatoglyphic variables. The score represents the range of quantified physical phenotypes of 'maleness' and 'femaleness'. Complete separation between the distributions of this score in either sex has been achieved. Predominantly, application of the anthropometric score can be in assessing a relationship between the anthropometric status of 'maleness' or 'femaleness', and cytogenetic or submicroscopic anomalies of sex chromosomes, and in studies of normal inter- and intra-population variation in sexual dimorphism.     

Oral contraceptive use and cardiovascular disease: is the relationship real or due to study bias?

BACKGROUND. Epidemiologic studies link oral contraceptive use with several cardiovascular events, but the literature is difficult to summarize, and potential biases remain poorly addressed. This study uses meta-analysis to summarize study results and to analyze the influence of study characteristics, including susceptibility to bias, on study outcome. METHODS. Forty-seven case-control and cohort studies of oral contraceptives and four cardiovascular events were coded for relative risk (RR) and study characteristics, including adherence to 14 bias-control standards. Key RRs were pooled to summarize findings for each disease type. Univariate determinants of the magnitude of the relative risks were identified, and partial correlation analysis was performed for each disease type. RESULTS. Relative risks were significantly greater than 1.0 for venous thromboembolism (RR = 2.8, CI = 2.4 to 3.2), stroke (RR = 1.8, CI = 1.6 to 2.0), and myocardial infarction (RR = 1.6, CI = 1.4 to 1.8), but not for death due to any cardiovascular cause (RR = 1.0, CI = 0.8 to 1.3). Study characteristics were diverse, and potential biases were frequently uncontrolled. For three of ten study characteristics identified as independently influencing relative risk, methodologically stronger studies of venous thromboembolism tended to have higher RRs. The RRs for stroke and myocardial infarction were lower in studies that were methodologically stronger with regard to variables identified as important. In studies of cardiovascular death, bias-control standards identified as important were generally well addressed by the studies. CONCLUSIONS. Oral contraceptive use does not appear to increase overall cardiovascular mortality. The associations noted with stroke and myocardial infarction may be due to methodologic flaws in the studies, while the association with venous thromboembolism is more likely to be valid.