Endothelial cell loss due to repeated traumatic wound dehiscence after penetrating keratoplasty

A patient with keratoconus suffered two traumatic ruptures of her corneal graft wound, both of which were successfully repaired with restoration of graft clarity. There were also two apparently unrelated episodes of rejection. The endothelium was monitored by specular microscopy during this period. Our findings suggest that the insult to a transplanted cornea from an episode of rejection may be greater than that from traumatic wound rupture.     

Use of Telemetered Electrograms in the Assessment of Normal Pacemaker Function

The facility of direct real-time endocardial electrogram recording offered by newer pacemaker models can be helpful in the assessment of normal pacemaker function. Confirmation of the main hallmarks of sensing (amplitude, slew rate, and timing of the electrogram) can be achieved. Assessment of pacing capture also can be made; techniques for further analysis using external signal averaging can enhance this. The measurement of atrial and ventricular electrograms by telemetry has led to alterations in the protocol used at implantation to allow for the input impedance of the sensing circuit of the pacemaker. Accurate measurements of retrograde VA conduction times and confirmation of normal upper rate limit behavior of ODD pacemakers can be achieved simply and reliably using telemetered electrograms from the permanent pacemaker system.     

Cellular infiltrates in the target organs associated with acute graft-versus-host disease

Acute graft-versus-host disease (AGVHD) has been one of the major obstacles in successful bone marrow transplantation for many years. The histologic manifestations of AGVHD have been well defined but much less is known about the cellular infiltrates in the target organs during AGVHD, the structure of the inflammation is different in different target organs and is not necessarily similar to classical allograft rejection. This review covers, in addition to the histologic approach, the cytologic and functional approaches to the AGVHD associated with inflammatory cells.     

Worldwide epidemiology and modes of transmission of delta hepatitis

Conclusions Since the discovery of HDV in 1977 byRizzetto and collegues (10), several studies regarding the pathogenesis, natural history and epidemiology of this infection have been accumulated. It emerges that HDV is an agent with unusual biologic properties which requires HBV replication for its expression. Given the obligatory association between HDV and HBV, transmission of HDV follows the same routes of HBV transmission. This implies that one expects HDV infection to be much more prevalent in countries with high HBsAg carrier rates. This is true in most areas of the world but not in Far East Asia. Endemicity of HDV is maintained in the community through the network of HBsAg carriers. HDV can be transmitted to HBV positive and negative individuals, but survives only after encountering the carrier. Recent outbreaks of severe epidemics of fulminant hepatitis due to HDV among the Yucpa Indians in Northern Venezuela, pointed out very clearly that HDV superinfection is an ominous risk for all populations where HBV is endemic.     

Percutaneous management of lymphatic fluid collections

Eight lymphatic fluid collections were drained percutaneously. There were no immediate or late complications. Seven patients had follow-up; 1 required surgical drainage of a residual or recurrent lymphocele, and another had reaccumulated fluid in a lymphocele which was detected on autopsy. The remaining lymphatic collections responded to percutaneous drainage. Percutaneous drainage is safe and can be an effective tool in the management of lymphatic collections.     

Flow measurement by the development of phase differences during slice formation in MR imaging

A method for measuring flow based on the shifting of the rephasing pulse following slice selection in partial saturation is described. The technique is based on a partial saturation sequence and retains much of the high signal which is a feature of the use of this sequence. Images obtained while encoding for the flow signal compated with those when not encoding appear very similar.     

Alterations in hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase system during different levels of food restriction in adult male and female rats

Wistar strain adult male and female rats were given 25, 50 and 75% less food than an ad libitum-fed group of rats for 45 d and the effects of food restriction on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes, microsomal electron transport components, NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation and glutathione-S-transferase activities were studied. Compared to ad libitum-fed controls, the cytochrome P-450 levels were higher in food restricted male rats, while they were lower in food restricted females. The activities of NADPH cytochrome c reductase were lower in food restricted females than in ad libitum-fed controls. The activities of drug metabolizing enzymes, aminopyrine N-demethylase and acetanilide hydroxylase were higher in food restricted males, whereas in food restricted females these activities were lower than in respective groups fed ad libitum. Microsomal, NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation was higher in 25 and 50% food restricted females while in 50 and 75% food restricted males it was lower than in ad libitum controls of the same sex. The cytosolic glutathione-S-transferase activities were lower in food restricted rats of both the sexes than in the same sexed controls. Another group of male and female rats were given 75% less food than the ad libitum-fed rats and refed for 3 d prior to killing. Here also, the effects of restriction were different between sexes. It is concluded that hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase system (MFOS) is altered due to feed restriction and food restriction followed by refeeding, in a sex-related manner.