Immunohistochemical characterization of extracellular matrix in the developing human cornea

Collagen, fibronectin and laminin are important components of the extracellular matrix of the human cornea. We used the immunofluorescence technique with polyclonal antibodies directed against these proteins and to bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPA), in order to study their distribution in human corneas from 8 weeks of gestation to term and in adult corneas. Immunoreactivity was observed with antibodies to type I collagen in the limbus and the corneal stroma at 8 weeks of gestation. At 11 weeks of gestation it was found in epithelial basement membrane (EBM) and Descemet's membrane (DM) and continued thus throughout fetal and adult life. Type II collagen was not detected in fetal or adult cornea. Type III collagen was detected during 8-20th weeks of gestation in the EBM, DM and stroma. After 27th weeks of gestation, type III collagen could no longer be detected in the central cornea. Type IV collagen was detected in the EBM as early as 8 weeks of gestation and remained positive throughout fetal and adult life. Descemet's membrane was negative for type IV collagen at 8 weeks of gestation and became positive thereafter. Immunostaining for fibronectin in DM was negative at 8 weeks of gestation, followed by patchy staining of corneal stroma and EBM up to the age of 37 weeks of gestation. Staining in the EBM was negative or variable up to 70 years of age, and then became positive again in a 77 year old individual. Staining for LN was positive in the EBM after 8 weeks of gestation. Staining was negative in DM at that age, but became positive after 9 weeks of gestation. Staining for BPA was negative at 8-9 weeks of gestation, then gradually became positive.     

Synthesis and bacterial mutagenicity of the cyclopenta oxides of the four cyclopenta-fused of isomers of benzanthracene

Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing peripherallyfused cyclopenta rings are believed to be activated primarilyby epoxidation of the cyclopenta ring. The cyclopenta epoxidesof a series of four cyclopenta benzanthracene derivatives, benz[e]aceanthrylene-5,6-oxide,benz[j]ace-anthrylene-1,2-oxide, benz(l)anthrylene-1,2-oxideand benz[k]acephenaceanthrylene-4,5-oxide were synthesized fromtheir parent hydrocarbons by formation of the bromohydrin followedby dehydrobromination, and characterized by u.v. – vis,and ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The mutagenicityof these compounds was investigated in the Ames plate incorporationassay with Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98. All the oxideswere active without exogenous metabolic activation (170–320His⁺ revertants per nanomole) and also toxic above 0.5 µg/plate.Addition of S9 protein did not increase, and generally decreased,the mutagenicity of the oxides, while toxicity was largely unchanged.These results are consistent with the postulated role of cyclopentaoxides as major contributors to the mutagenicity of the parentcompounds in the Ames assay.     

Larvicidal effect of perbendazole on experimental infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in mice

Perbendazole was given orally and subcutaneously to mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis at different stages of infection. The subcutaneous route of administration was more effective than the oral one. On the 5th day after infection, the perbendazole had a higher efficacy than on the 10th day postinfection. This finding shows that perbendazole had complete larvicidal effect at early stages of infection.     

Intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute limb ischemia: a three-year experience

Peripheral arterial thromboembolism and thrombosis of arterial grafts continue to threaten viability of extremities. Percutaneous intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) and angiodilatation have afforded limb salvage in some of these patients. Proper patient selection appears to be the hallmark of success with IAT. During a recent three-year period, we used IAT in 32 extremities in 28 patients who had acute arterial insufficiency. Before IAT, 16 extremities were painful at rest, and 16 had incapacitating claudication. The overall success rate was 38%, but some degree of thrombolysis occurred in 88%. Limb salvage was achieved in 27 of 32 extremities (84%). Only five of 17 limbs (29%) with arterial graft thrombosis required no operation or an operation of lesser magnitude than predicted before IAT. Of six extremities with native arterial embolism, four (67%) were completely cleared with IAT. Major complications occurred in eight cases (25%), with two IAT-related deaths (6%). This study suggests that IAT is best reserved for individuals with acute limb ischemia caused by arterial embolus, those whose degree of ischemia would tolerate a 24-hour trial of IAT, and those whose femoral or tibial runoff is not likely to require remedial operation.     

Stellenwert der Second-look-Laparotomie im Behandlungsschema des progredienten Ovarialkarzinoms

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Microinjection of an Adenosine A1 Agonist into the Medial Pontine Reticular Formation Increases Tail Flick Latency to Thermal Stimulation

Background: Both pain and the pharmacologic management of pain can cause the undesirable effect of sleep disruption. One goal of basic and clinical neuroscience is to facilitate rational drug development by identifying the brain regions and neurochemical modulators of sleep and pain. Adenosine is thought to be an endogenous sleep promoting substance and adenosinergic compounds can contribute to pain management. In the pontine brain stem adenosine promotes sleep but the effects of pontine adenosine on pain have not been studied. This study tested the hypothesis that an adenosine agonist would cause antinociception when microinjected into pontine reticular formation regions that regulate sleep.

Methods: The tail flick latency (TFL) test quantified the time in seconds for an animal to move its tail away from a thermal stimulus created by a beam of light. TFL measures were used to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-p-sulfophenyladenosine (SPA). Pontine microinjection of SPA (0.1 [mu]g/0.25 [mu]l, 0.88 mm) was followed by TFL measures as a function of time after drug delivery and across the sleep-wake cycle.

Results: Compared with saline (control), pontine administration of the adenosine agonist significantly increased latency to tail withdrawal (P < 0.0001). The increase in antinociceptive behavior evoked by the adenosine agonist SPA was blocked by pretreatment with the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 0.75 ng/0.25 [mu]l, 10 [mu]m).