A genipin-crosslinked gelatin membrane as wound-dressing material: in vitro and in vivo studies

A naturally occurring crosslinking agent (genipin) was used in this study to crosslink gelatin hydrogel to develop a wound-dressing membrane. The study was to investigate the in vitro characteristics of the genipin-crosslinked gelatin membrane. The glutaraldehyde-crosslinked counterpart, at a similar crosslinking degree, was used as control. Additionally, an in vivo experiment was undertaken to study the wound healings covered with the glutaraldehyde- and genipin-crosslinked dressings in a rat model. The in vitro results obtained suggested that crosslinking of gelatin membranes with glutaraldehyde or genipin may produce distinct crosslinking structures. The differences in crosslinking structure can significantly affect the mechanical property, water-vapor-transmission rate, swelling ratio, degradation against enzyme and cellular compatibility of the crosslinked membranes. In the in vivo study, it was found that the degree of inflammatory reaction for the wound treated with the genipin-crosslinked dressing was significantly less severe than that covered with the glutaraldehyde-crosslinked dressing throughout the entire course of the study. Additionally, the healing rate for the wound treated with the genipin-crosslinked dressing was notably faster than its glutaraldehyde-crosslinked counterpart.     

The mouse Mid1 gene: implications for the pathogenesis of Opitz syndrome and the evolution of the mammalian pseudoautosomal region

We have recently reported isolation of the gene responsible for X- linked Opitz G/BBB syndrome, a defect of midline development. MID1 is located on the distal short arm of the human X chromosome (Xp22. 3) and encodes a novel member of the B box family of zinc finger proteins. We have now cloned the murine homolog of MID1 and performed preliminary expression studies during development. Mid1 expression in undifferentiated cells in the central nervous, gastrointestinal and urogenital systems suggests that abnormal cell proliferation may underlie the defect in midline development characteristic of Opitz syndrome. We have also found that Mid1 is located within the mouse pseudoautosomal region (PAR) in Mus musculus , while it seems to be X- specific in Mus spretus. Therefore, Mid1 is likely to be a recent acquisition of the M. musculus PAR. Genetic and FISH analyses also demonstrated a high frequency of unequal crossovers in the murine PAR, creating spontaneous deletion/duplication events involving Mid1. These data provide evidence for the first time that genetic instability of the PAR may affect functionally important genes. In addition, we show that MID1 is the first example of a gene subject to X-inactivation in man while escaping it in mouse. These data contribute to a better understanding of the molecular content and evolution of the rodent PAR.      

An evaluation of the inactive mouse X chromosome in somatic cell hybrids

The expression of mouseZfx, Rps4, Ube1x, andXist was evaluated in hamstermouse somatic cell hybrids containing either an active or an inactive mouse X chromosome using polymerase chain reaction of reverse transcribed RNA (RT-PCR). The results showed thatZfx, Rps4, andUbe1x are expressed exclusively from the active mouse X, whileXist is expressed exclusively from the inactive X. These findings confirm the pattern of X inactivation for these mouse genes reported previously based on expression in somatic tissues of F₁ females from interspecific crosses. These results demonstrate the existence of differences between human and mouse X inactivation, as the corresponding human genes,ZFX, RPS4X, andUBE1 escape X inactivation.     

Cytochrome P450 1A1 and manganese superoxide dismutase genes polymorphisms in ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations of cytochrome p450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) genes polymorphisms with the susceptibility to AS in Taiwan. METHODS: The polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and MnSOD genes were determined in 70 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 93 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) methods. RESULTS: The genotype frequency of CYP1A1 4887C/A was significantly lower in patients with AS than in controls. The phenotype frequency of CYP1A1 4887A also tended to be decreased in patients with AS. There were no significant differences in the genotype, allele, and phenotype frequencies of MnSOD gene polymorphisms between patients with AS and controls. CONCLUSION: CYP1A1 4887A may be a protective factor for the development of AS in Taiwan. However, MnSOD gene polymorphisms are not associated with the susceptibility to AS.     

A cross-cultural comparison of depressive symptom manifestation: China and the United States

This study compared depressive symptomatology among Chinese psychiatric outpatients versus the general Chinese population, and across 3 cultural groups--Chinese, Chinese American, and Caucasian American students--by use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D; L. S. Radloff, 1977) and the Chinese Depression Scale (N. Lin, 1989), translated from the CES-D. Results indicate that Chinese patients (n = 112) endorsed a higher proportion of somatic symptoms than nonpatients (n = 112). The intercultural comparison found that Chinese students (n = 98) had the lowest levels of somatic depressive symptom endorsement compared to both U.S. groups (n = 198). These findings seem to suggest that the tendency toward somatic symptom reporting is not any greater among Chinese populations but may be a function of having a mental illness or of help seeking in China.     

Growth of Chlamydia trachomatis in enucleated cells.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular parasite of eucaryotic cells. Little is known about the role of the host in supporting chlamydial replication beyond the facts that host cells provide ATP and that de novo host protein synthesis is not required for bacterial growth. To further explore potential contributions of host nuclear function to chlamydial development, we questioned whether murine C. trachomatis could grow in mouse L cells that had been enucleated with cytochalasin B. Following enucleation, cells were infected with chlamydiae and analyzed morphologically and biochemically. Late in infection, substantial numbers of chlamydiae of all developmental stages were seen within large cytoplasmic inclusions that were indistinguishable from those seen in infected intact cells. Normal numbers of infectious progeny particles were produced from enucleated cultures. We conclude that active host cell nuclear function is not required to support the growth of chlamydiae.     

Benign lymphoepithelial cysts of the parotid gland. A histologic, cytologic, and ultrastructural study

Five cases of benign lymphoepithelial cysts (BLCs) of the parotid gland are reported, and the histologic, aspiration cytologic, and ultrastructural findings are described in detail. These uncommon parotid lesions contain epithelium-lined cystic spaces encased by abundant lymphoid tissue with germinal centers. The epithelium was "mucoepidermoid" in three of our cases and squamous in two. Familiarity with the morphologic features of BLCs should make it possible to distinguish them from similar-appearing cystic lesions, especially low-grade cystic mucoepidermoid carcinoma and cystic types of benign lymphoepithelial lesion (so-called Mikulicz's disease). These distinctions, however, are difficult on aspiration cytology specimens.     

X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) C--116G polymorphisms in bipolar disorders and age of onset

X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), a critical gene in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, is located on chromosome 22q12, which has been linked with bipolar disorders in several studies. Recently, associations have been reported between a polymorphism (-116C --> G) in the promoter region of XBP1, and bipolar disorders in both case-control study and family-based association study, however, this finding is not yet confirmed by other research using independent sample populations. To replicate this finding and determine the association between onset age of bipolar disorders and the XBP1 C--116G polymorphism, we investigated the prevalence of this polymorphism in a Chinese population (153 bipolar disorder patients and 174 controls). We were unable, however, to demonstrate a significant association between the C--116G polymorphism and bipolar disorders (P = 0.674 for genotype and P = 0.436 for allele frequency) or age at onset (P = 0.563). Further, no association was demonstrated between this polymorphism and family history in bipolar disorder patients. These negative findings suggest that the XBP1 C--116G polymorphism does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorders in Chinese populations.     

Conduction tissue in congenital heart surgery

The anatomy of the cardiac conduction system in normal and malformed hearts reconstructed from histological serial sections is reviewed. The sinus node and its arterial supply are located in the right superior cavoatrial junction except in hearts with left-sided juxtaposition of the atrial appendages, mirror-image, and isomeric arrangements of the atria. In the presence of normally positioned atrial and ventricular septal structures, the triangle of Koch is a useful guide to the location of the atrioventricular node and the penetrating bundle. In hearts with isolated ventricular septal defects, it is necessary to distinguish between a perimembranous defect and a muscular inlet defect. The conduction axis runs in the area of fibrous continuity at the posteroinferior edge of a perimembranous defect but in the anterosuperior rim of a muscular inlet defect. In most hearts with tetralogy of Fallot, the danger area is the region of aortic-mitral-tricuspid fibrous continuity where the axis penetrates. In hearts with atrioventricular septal defects, the lack of contiguity between atrial and ventricular septum results in a posterior displacement of the nodal triangle and coronary sinus and an elongation of the nonbranching bundle. Hearts with abnormally located atrioventricular nodes and conduction axes are mainly those with atrioventricular discordance, ambiguous atrioventricular connection in presence of left-hand pattern ventricular topology, hearts with univentricular atrioventricular connection to a morphologically left or indeterminate ventricle, and hearts with a straddling tricuspid valve. The location of the atrioventricular node is governed by the orientation of the ventricular septum and by the pattern of ventricular topology.

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Resumen Se revisa la anatomía del sistema de conducción cardiaca en los corazones normales y con malformaciones a la luz de la reconstrucción a partir de cortes histológicos seriados. El nódulo sinusal y su irrigación arterial está ubicado en la unión cavoatrial derecha, excepto en corazones con yuxtaposición izquierda de las auriculillas o con alteraciones en imagen en espejo e isoméricas de las aurículas. En presencia de estructuras septales atriales y ventriculares normalmente ubicadas, el tríangulo de Koch es una guía útil para la localización del nódulo atrioventricular y la penetración del haz. En corazones con defectos septales ventriculares aislados es necesario distinguir entre un defecto perimembranoso y un defecto del tracto muscular de entrada. El haz de conducción avanza en el área de continuidad fibrosa sobre el borde posteroinferior de un defecto perimembranoso, en el filo anterosuperior de un defecto del tracto muscular de entrada. En la mayoría de los corazones con tetralogía de Fallot el área de peligro se encuentra en la región del trígono fibroso aórticomitral y tricuspídeo sobre el cual penetra el haz de conducción. En corazones con defectos septales atrioventriculares la falta de continuidad entre el septo atrial y el ventrícular resulta en un desplazamiento posterior del triángulo de Koch y del seno coronario y en una elongación del haz no ramificado. Corazones con nódulos atrioventriculares y haces de conducción anormalmente ubicados son principalmente aquellos con discordancia atrioventricular, con conexión atrioventricular ambigua en presencia de un patrón izquierdo de arquitectura ventricular, corazones con conexión atrioventricular univentricular a un ventrículo morfológicamente izquierdo o indeterminado y corazones con válvula tricuspídea cabalgante. La ubicación del nódulo atrioventricular está determinada por la orientación del septo ventricular y por el patrón de la arquitectura ventricular.

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Résumé L'anatomie du système de conduction du coeur normal et du coeur siège de malformations reconstituée à partir de coupes sériées histologiques est exposée. Le sinus nodal et sa vascularisation sont situés au niveau de la partie supérieure de la jonction auriculo-ventriculaire droite sauf dans certains cas: coeur avec juxtaposition des auricules du côté gauche, image en miroir et dispositions isomères des oreillettes. Lorsque les cloisons auriculaire et ventriculaire occupent une situation normale, le triangle de Koch constitue un repère utile pour localiser le noyau auriculo-ventriculaire et le faisceau de His. En cas de défects septaux ventriculaires isolés, il est nécessaire de distinguer les défects périmembraneux et les défects musculaires. L'axe nerveux conducteur chemine dans la zone de continuité fibreuse au bord postéroinférieur du défect périmembraneux mais il chemine au bord antéro-supérieur du défect musculaire. En cas de tétralogie de Fallot, le danger se situe souvent au niveau de la zone fibreuse de continuité aortique-mitrale-tricuspide où pénètre l'axe conducteur. En cas de coeur porteur d'un défect septal auriculo-ventriculaire, le défaut de continuité entre la cloison ventriculaire et la cloison auriculaire entraîne le déplacement postérieur du triangle nodal et du sinus coronaire ainsi que l'élongation du faisceau. Les coeurs qui présentent une anomalie du siège des noyaux auriculo-ventriculaires et des nerfs conducteurs sont principalement ceux qui sont le siège d'une anomalie auriculo-ventriculaire, d'une connexion auriculo-ventriculaire ambiguë en cas d'une disposition ventriculaire de type gauche, d'une connexion auriculo-ventriculaire univentriculaire avec une morphologie ventriculaire gauche ou indeterminée, d'une valve tricuspide en fourche. Le siège du noyau auriculo-ventriculaire est fonction de l'orientation du septum ventriculaire et de l'architecture ventriculaire.

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Supported by the British Heart Foundation.     

The pharmacological and pathological studies on Taiwan folk medicine (IV): The effects of echinops grijisii and e. Latifolius

The protective effect of "San-fang-feng" derived from the root of Echinops grijsii Hance on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity has been studied. This crude drug was found to possess a marked hepatoprotective effect. A comparison of the protective effect with "Lou-lu" derived from the root of E. latifolius Tausch and "Pei-chai-hu" original Bupleurum chinense showed that E. grijisii and E. latifolius were more effective than B. chinense as reported previously. The results suggested that both E. grijisii and E. latifolius could correct the hepatocyte necrosis and functional disorder induced by the CCl4 treatment.