Effect of timing of iron supplementation on maternal and neonatal growth and iron status of iron-deficient pregnant rats

We have previously shown that maternal iron (Fe) deficiency not only reduces fetal size, but also increases blood pressure in the offspring when they are adults. In this paper we examine whether there are critical periods when supplementation reverses or fails to reverse the effect both on size and on expression of genes of Fe metabolism. We made dams Fe deficient, mated them and provided supplements of Fe in the diet from the beginning of gestation (0.5 days), from 7.5 days or from 14.5 days. Within 12 h of birth, dams and neonates were killed and tissues taken and examined. Fe deficiency throughout pregnancy reduces neonatal size. Supplementation from the beginning of the first, second or third week all reduced the effect. Maternal haematocrit was restored to normal levels only in animals given supplements for at least 2 weeks. In contrast, the neonates' Fe levels were normal in all supplemented groups. These results were mirrored in liver Fe levels and in transferrin receptor mRNA. Iron-responsive element (IRE)-regulated divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) increased in maternal and neonatal liver. Non-IRE-regulated DMT1 levels did not change in the maternal liver, but decreased in the neonatal liver. H and L ferritin mRNA levels also showed different patterns in the mother and her offspring. Finally, the neonatal size correlated with maternal Fe stores, and not with those of the fetus. The data demonstrate that Fe supplementation during pregnancy is most effective when given early, rather than later, in gestation.     

Microtiter solid-phase radioimmunoassay for detection of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin.

The development of a microtiter solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of Vibrio cholerae enterotoxin and heat-labile Escherichia coli enterotoxin is described. The test is based on the immunological similarity between V. cholerae toxin and E. coli heat-labile toxin. The assay is easy to perform, quantitative, and at least as sensitive and specific as the Y-1 adrenal cell system.     

Ultrastructural features of the muscle fibers in congenital hypothyroidism

Summary Muscles of three patients (2 years, 2 years and 7 months, and 11 years of age) affected by congenital hypothyroidism due to dysgenesis of the thyroid gland were studied by electron microscope. The biopsies were performed on the quadriceps muscle. Several alterations were found in the ultrastructure of the muscle fibers. The contractile material underwent atrophy by two recessive processes: by reduction and by degeneration. The former, which affected mainly the white fibers, led to the progressive detachment of myofilaments from the periphery of the myofibrils while they maintainad a normal arrangement in the center. Consequently, their diameter decreased and their interfibrillar spaces enlarged. The latter enlargment, involving the red fibers, caused areas of dedifferentiation involving either the contractile apparatus or the other cell organelles. Modifications of the sarcolemma and basement membrane were seen in the fibers affected by the atrophying processes of the contractile material. Changes of the ultrastructure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and of the T system were observed with numerous morphological abnormalities of the mitochondria. In addition, accumulation of glycogen and striking changes of the satellite cells were found. The ultrastructural findings are reviewed and discussed in relation to the literature on hypothyroid myopathy.     

Facial Muscle Tonus During REM and NREM Sleep

Equipment and procedures were devised for quantifying relatively noise-free recordings of low amplitude chin and lip electromyograms (EMGs) during sleep. A total of 28 REM periods were recorded from 5 young adult female Ss. Tonic EMG levels tended to decline toward their lowest level of the night beginning 5 min in advance of REM periods. With very rare exceptions, the lowest EMG levels of the night were maintained throughout REM sleep. During the 20 min of NREM sleep which followed REM periods, mean EMG levels increased over the REM levels but were lower than those recorded during the 20 min of NREM sleep which preceded the REM periods. This pattern of tonic EMG variation obtained for each of the first 3 REM periods of the night.     

人胚胎大脑海马发育过程中凋亡神经元超微结构观察

本文借助电子显微镜技术对 4月胎龄组及 6月胎龄组水囊引产胎儿海马中段部位的凋亡神经元超微结构进行观察、拍照 ,并对结果进行了分析讨论。结果显示 :两组对象中均可见凋亡神经元 ,所见的凋亡神经元的超微结构变化基本相同 ,即细胞核内有明显的染色质边集和凝结成块的现象 ,并可见核膜皱缩和扭曲。另外 ,6月组凋亡细胞的结构变化较 4月组更为明显。在 6月组细胞质内和核内均有小体出现 ,其他细胞器无显著变化。从而更进一步说明在胚胎海马发育中存在着神经元不同性质的死亡现象 -即正常死亡和凋亡。而且提出 6月组显现出更为明显的凋亡神经元形态变化     

PENA方法的建立及与ELISA IgM检测CMV的比较

目的　介绍一种敏感、稳定、快速、简便的实验室检测CMV的方法 ,同时探讨该种新方法与ELISA检测CMV方法的优、缺点。方法　对 5 5 2例病人应用间接荧光免疫法测定细胞核中的特异病毒早期抗体 (PENA)和ELISA法测定IgM抗体。结果　PENA方法 :强阳性 88例 ,阳性率 15 4 9% ,弱阳性 2 73例 ,阳性率 5 9 4 6 % ;ELISA -IgM方法 :阳性 34例 ,阳性率6 16 %。结论　PENA方法操作简便 ,与ELISA方法相比较 ,可对CMV感染进行早期测定及诊断 ,并可区分既往感染和即时感染 ,具有敏感性和稳定性 ,是测定小儿CMV感染的一种较好的方法     

Detection of carriers of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy using the fluorescence in situ hybridization method

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD/BMD) are X-linked recessive disorders caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. A large intragenic deletion has been described in about 65% of DMD/BMD patients. Mothers of affected males are DMD/BMD carriers in two thirds of the cases. Routine deletions detection in DMD/BMD males is performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR), RT-PCR with a protein truncation test (PTT) or using Southern blotting. In females the deletions detection is complicated by the presence of a normal gene copy on the second X-chromosome. We are presenting the diagnostic strategy using FISH for the deletions detection in the dystrophin gene of female DMD/BMD carriers. We have used a set of six cosmid probes for the detection of the most frequently deleted areas of the dystrophin gene from the Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center. We have examined 14 mothers of DMD/BMD males with a deletion in the dystrophin gene identified using mPCR. Four mothers of affected males have been diagnosed as carriers of a deletion in the dystrophin gene. We have revealed no deletion mutations in the exons examined in a control group of four healthy females. No discrepancy has been found between the FISH analysis results and the results of mPCR. Our results indicate that FISH is an effective and direct method for the identification of DMD/BMD carriers and we suggest this method as a method of a first choice in the identification of DMD/BMD carriers.     

Leiomyosarcoma of the breast: a pathologic and comparative genomic hybridization study of two cases

Leiomyosarcoma is an extremely rare form of primary breast sarcoma. We present the pathologic and genetic findings of two cases of leiomyosarcoma of the breast. The patients were 44 and 52 years of age and they presented with circumscribed masses of 3.0 and 4.5 cm, (greatest dimension) respectively. Microscopically, the two tumors showed diffuse proliferation of spindle cells with oval and blunt-ended nuclei arranged in short fascicles or bundles. There was moderate cytologic atypia in both cases, and 6 and 12 mitotic figures per 10 high power fields, respectively. No epithelial component was identified. The tumor cells were strongly immunoreactive for markers of smooth-muscle differentiation, including desmin, muscle-specific actin, and smooth-muscle actin. Comparative genomic hybridization analysis showed losses of 10q (two of two cases), 13q (two of two cases), 17p (one of two cases), and gains of 1q (one of two cases) and 17p (one of two cases). The patterns of chromosomal imbalances identified in leiomyosarcoma of the breast are similar to those reported in leiomyosarcoma of soft tissue and uterus and are different from those reported for leiomyoma, indicating that these alterations may be important for development of malignant smooth-muscle tumors regardless of site or organ of origin.