SOME ANATOMICAL DATA RELATED TO THE TRANSNASO- SPHENOIDAL RESECTION OF PITUITARY FOSSA TUMORS

Since the beginning of this century, trans- naso-sphenoidal resection of the pituitary fossa tumors has been widely used clinically. It has more merits than other operative approaches used before. In China it has been adopted by both ENT doctors and neurosurgeons since 1959.1 In order to afford some relevant anatomical data, we measured 137 adult sagittal plane skulls with distinct landmarks.     

An intracellular self protein synthesized in macrophages is presented but fails to induce tolerance

Mice deficient for the fifth component of murine complement (C5), unlike normal mice, do not possess the secreted form of C5 in their body fluids and can be readily immunized to serum-derived normal C5. Although macrophages from C5-deficient mice do not secrete C5, they synthesize the precursor form (pro-C5). Therefore contact of T cells with autologous pro-C5 presented by macrophages is theoretically possible. We show that macrophages from C5-deficient mice can indeed stimulate a class II restricted C5-specific T cell clone without addition of exogenous C5. Immunization of C5-deficient mice with autologous pro-C5 induces vigorous C5-specific T cell proliferation and pro-C5 is recognized by C5-specific T cells in vitro, demonstrating that this protein fails to induce tolerance under physiological conditions. Thus, intracellular pro-C5 is processed and presented by C5-deficient macrophages and can activate T cell clones in vitro, yet is neither immunogenic nor tolerogenic for T cells in vivo.     

Characteristics of manifest glaucoma at early stages

Intraocular pressures and optic disc hemorrhages were studied in all cases of manifest glaucoma detected in a defined population over a decade. High intraocular pressure was found to be an unreliable signat the detection of a glaucomatous visual field defect and an unusual finding 5–10 yearsbefore. The prevalence of optic disc hemorrhages at the detection of a glaucomatous visual field defect was 33%. All but 9 of 44 persons with manifest glaucoma were found to have had at least one optic disc hemorrhage at one time or another.     

c-myc mRNA在成釉细胞瘤中的表达

目的:研究成釉细胞瘤(AB)和牙源性角化囊肿(OKC)中c-mycmRNA的表达,探讨c-myc在AB和OKC中的发生、发展及其生物学意义。方法:使用原位杂交法检测54例AB、16例OKC和7例口腔正常黏膜(NOM)组织中c-mycmRNA的表达,并将AB按原发、复发、恶变分组,结果使用χ2检验进行统计分析。结果:AB、OKC及NOM组织中c-mycmRNA的阳性表达率分别为81.5%(44/54)、75.0%(12/16)和14.3%(1/7),3组比较有显著性差异(χ2=15.488,P<0.05)。原发组AB中c-mycmRNA的阳性表达率为71.0%,复发组为94.7%,恶变组为100.0%,伴随原发、复发、恶变,差异有显著性(χ2=16.912,P﹤0.05)。结论:c-myc表达在AB的发生、发展中有重要作用;c-mycmRNA的表达与AB的临床生物学行为有关,伴随其生物学行为变化,c-mycmRNA表达增强;提示c-myc有可能成为评价预后的有效指标。     

Quantitative three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound predicts the outcome of placental chorioangioma.

The relationship of large and vascularized chorioangiomas to adverse pregnancy outcome is well recognized. We present a patient with a large placental tumor and signs of impending fetal cardiac failure. The angioarchitecture of the tumor depicted by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound enabled us to accurately diagnose a placental chorioangioma. During the follow-up period, quantitative flow data obtained using 3D power Doppler indicated altered hemodynamics in the tumor and concomitant improvement in the condition of the fetus, enabling us to manage the mother conservatively. Spontaneous delivery occurred at 38 weeks without any complications. This report demonstrates the potential value of 3D power Doppler in prenatal diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancies complicated by large, vascularized chorioangioma.     

Association of the GNAS1 gene variant with hypertension is dependent on alcohol consumption.

The beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR)-stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding (Gs) protein system has been shown to play important roles in the cardiovascular system. The gene encoding the alpha-subunit of Gs proteins (GNAS1) is a candidate genetic determinant for hypertension. Because alcohol consumption is known to affect blood pressure partly through the beta-AR-Gs protein system, we examined the possible interaction between GNAS1 T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with hypertension in the present study. As a result, a non-significant but reasonable trend supporting the presence of an interaction was shown (p = 0.076). In line with this trend, the T393C polymorphism significantly interacted with drinking status in the association with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.028). Moreover, supporting the presence of an interaction, T allele carriers consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than CC homozygotes in non-drinkers and light drinkers. In contrast, CC homozygotes consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than T allele carriers in moderate to heavy drinkers. The present study also showed a significant interaction between the T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with pulse pressure (p = 0.026), reflected by a significant association between the T393C polymorphism and pulse pressure in moderate to heavy drinkers (p = 0.026). These findings may be helpful in conducting further molecular and biological studies on the relationship among the effects of alcohol, the beta-AR-Gs protein system, and hypertension.