Endovascular Retrieval of Intracaval Cement: A Fishing Net Technique

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology - To describe a novel endovascular technique for intracaval cement retrieval after spinal surgery. We produced a replica of the intracaval cement...     

Inhibition of in vitro Friend murine leukemia virus infection of lipopolysaccharide-activated B-cells with concanavalin A.

Stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of splenic B-lymphocytes infected in vitro with Friend virus complex increased the number of cells with replicating murine leukemia virus (MuLV) [i.e., infectious centers (IC)] up to 100-fold. Concanavalin A (Con A) did not have such an effect. However, the addition of Con A to the LPS-stimulated cultures decreased the number of IC. The inhibitory concentration of Con A (2.5 microgram/ml) was eightfold less than that capable of neutralizing the in vitro infectivity of MuLV (20 microgram/ml). The effect of Con A was not mediated by T-cells; the inhibition of infection was comparable with use of whole spleen cell suspensions from normal BALB/c mice, with T-cell-depleted cell suspensions, or with spleen cells with congenitally athymic nude mice. However, specific removal of Con A from the surface of B-cells with alpha-methyl-D-mannopyranoside prior to the infection reversed the inhibitory effect entirely. It is suggested that the lectin interferes with MuLV on the membrane of B-cells.     

Influence of genotype and the organ of origin on the subtype of T-cell in Moloney lymphomas induced by transfer of preleukemic cells from athymic and thymus-bearing mice

Thymus, spleen, and bone marrow of 1-month-old neonatally Moloney murine leukemia virus-inoculated mice have been transferred to 400-R-irradiated syngeneic recipients of the opposite sex. The donor or recipient origin of T-cell lymphomas arising in the host animal was identified by the sex chromosome marker. Spleen and bone marrow of athymic BALB-nu/nu mice contain cells with the potential to develop into T-cell lymphomas upon transfer to thymus-bearing BALB/c recipients. Such lymphomas arise from at least two subsets of T-cells, one terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) positive and the other 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase positive. The enzyme-negative precursor T-cells from the BALB-nu/nu spleen and bone marrow can thus mature to enzyme-positive cells and give rise to lymphoma in the thymus-bearing recipient. Preleukemic spleen and bone marrow, but not thymus, from CBA and BALB/c mice regularly contained cells with the potential to develop lymphoma. The subset of T-cell involved was influenced by the genotype since lymphomas arising after the transfer of CBA and BALB/c spleens were TdT positive and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase positive, respectively. In thymus-bearing mice, but not in nude mice, the transfer of preleukemic spleen cells gave lymphomas earlier than did transfer of bone marrow cells. This suggests that the more mature lymphoid cell population in the spleen of thymus-bearing mice may allow leukemic transformation to occur more rapidly than do the less mature cells in the bone marrow. In one-third of the cases, the virus produced by the preleukemic cells transferred induced new lymphomas involving recipient host cells. These de novo-induced lymphomas were all TdT positive. We suggest that leukemic transformation of TdT-positive cells may occur through a different mechanism than does transformation of cells bearing the 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase marker.     

Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis

Surface-active agents (surfactants) are characterized by the possession of 2 different moieties, both polar and non-polar regions on the same molecule. Surfactants are broadly classified as anionic, cationic, amphoteric, or non-ionic, according to the nature of the hydrophile yielded in aqueous solution. In currently marketed household, personal, and industrial cleaners, anionic surfactants are the most common class because of their relative ability to solubilize fats is and oils, lower the surface tension of aqueous solutions, or form microemulsions. Many surfactants elicit irritant reactions when applied to the skin, partially due to their relative ability to solubilize lipid membranes. Hence, surfactants have become important implements in skin irritation investigations. In general, the physicochemical properties of surfactants are a crucial factor in eliciting skin irritation. Anionic surfactants are broadly accepted as potent irritants to human and animal skin. Cationic surfactants are reputedly at least equally irritating, but more cytotoxic than anionic, while the irritation potential of non-ionic surfactants is considered the lowest. Such classification of innumerable surfactants is convenient and held in high practical esteem. However, the categorization does not permit the exact determination of irritation and cytotoxicity potential of each surfactant. Ranking of surfactant skin irritancy and cytotoxicity obtained by both in vitro and in vivo assays provides a helpful orientation for future Work.     

The influence of body mass index on skin susceptibility to sodium lauryl sulphate

Background:   The influence of nutrition on the physiological functions of man is well studied. Numerous diseases can be exacerbated by obesity. However, it has not yet been determined whether body weight and body mass index (BMI), as an indicator of a high body fat store, can influence skin sensitivity.
Objective:   This study investigates the correlation between body mass index and the epidermal functions, evaluated by bioengineering methods, before and after an irritant patch test with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).
Methods:   Epidermal functions were evaluated using an evaporimeter, chromameter and laser-Doppler-flowmeter. Patch testing was conducted for 48 h with two different concentrations of SLS (0.25% and 0.5%) on the forearms of healthy volunteers. Measurements were performed 24 h after patch removal.
Results:   Obese individuals showed significantly increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin blood flow and skin colour (red) as compared to a control group. However, the degree of skin sensitivity to SLS was not correlated with BMI.
Conclusion:   Basal biophysical parameters of the skin are primarily correlated with the BMI. This may be caused by obesity-induced physiological changes, e.g. increased sweat gland activity, high blood pressure and physiological temperature-regulating system. The epidermal barrier function, as evaluated after SLS patch testing is, however, not correlated with a high BMI, indicating a normal skin barrier.     

Acrodermatitis- enteropathica-ähnliche Hautveränderungen durch parenterale Ernährung

Zusammenfassung Wir stellen einen Fall von Acrodermatitis-enteropathica-?hnlichen Hautver?nderungen bei einer Patientin mit l?ngerfristiger parenteraler Ern?hrung vor. ?hnlich der autosomal rezessiven Acrodermatitis enteropathica beruhen auch die Hautver?nderungen dieser Patientin auf einem Zinkmangel des Organismus. Die Substitution von Zink führt zu einer beeindruckenden Besserung. Eingegangen am 9. Februar 1998 Angenommen am 11. M?rz 1998