Induction of HSP27 nuclear immunoreactivity during stress is modulated by vitamin C

For the investigation of the skin irritancy potential of chemicals in an in vitro model it is necessary to have sensitive endpoints that predict the effects of those compounds on native human skin. Recently, we have identified that 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) can serve as a sensitive marker of skin irritation, as exposure of human skin to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) both in vitro and in vivo induced relocalization of HSP27 from the cytoplasm to the cell nucleus. The aim of the present study was to determine whether nuclear localization of HSP27 could be used as a parameter for evaluation of potential skin irritants in screening assays in vitro. For this purpose, human skin equivalent consisting of epidermis reconstructed on de-epidermized dermis was exposed to SLS or UV light. Stress-induced nuclear relocalization of HSP27 was observed in excised skin exposed to SLS or UV light and in reconstructed epidermis only when the latter was generated in the absence of vitamin C. The omission of vitamin C results in an impaired barrier function. In the presence of vitamin C, however, the barrier function was comparable with excised skin, suggesting that vitamin C may control the response to stress in the reconstructed epidermis. Besides the presence of vitamin C, the response of skin equivalents may strongly depend on other conditions under which they are generated, because the stress-induced HSP27 relocalization was not detected in the commercially available epidermal kit EpiDerm. The results of the present study show that HSP27 nuclear staining can serve as a sensitive marker for skin irritation or cellular stress in excised skin as well as in certain well-characterized human skin equivalents in vitro.     

Increased risk for cervical disease progression of French women infected with the human papillomavirus type 16 E6-350G variant.

To test the significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and HPV16 E6 variants as risk factors for viral persistence and progression to high-grade lesion, we did a nested case-control study within a cohort study of >15,000 Caucasian French women. Three groups infected with high-risk HPV were compared: (a) women with cleared infection (controls, n = 201), (b) women with persistent infection (cases, n = 87), and (c) women who progressed into high-grade lesion (cases, n = 58). Women with persistent HPV infection and those that progressed into high-grade lesions were likelier to harbor HPV16 than other high-risk HPV types [odds ratio (OR), 2.4; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.3-4.3 and OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.2-8.1, respectively]. Notably, especially elevated ORs of persistence (3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.7) and progression (6.2; 95% CI, 2.7-14.3) were found among women who harbored the HPV16 350G variant. Thus, HPV type and HPV16 variant seem to be risk factors for viral persistence and progression of infections into high-grade cervical lesions.     

CT and MRI of the semicircular canals in the normal and diseased temporal bone

Imaging of the semicircular canals specifically is part of the imaging process of the temporal bone in general. The semicircular canals are easily seen on CT images and 3DFT-CISS-weighted MR images, both performed with 1.0-mm-thick slices, or even thinner slices. In selected cases, the T1-weighted images give unique information on the semicircular canals. This article briefly reviews the variety of semicircular canal anomalies that are most frequently present and can be routinely seen on CT and MR examinations of the temporal bone. It also provides a list that can be used by the radiologist in clinical practice to decide which technique, CT or MR, should be used to detect specific anomalies at the level of the semicircular canals.     

Communication problems in Turner syndrome: a sample survey

Turner syndrome is a condition first recognized in 1938 with an incidence estimated at 1/2500 female births. It is known to result from a missing X chromosome and has as its main features a short stature, ovarian dysgenesis, neck webbing, congenital peripheral lymphedema, coarction of the aorta, cubitus valgus, dysplastic nails, and pigmented nevi. In addition, psychosocial difficulties including communication disorders may occur. While the physical characteristics of Turner syndrome have been well documented, information on the communication problems in Turner syndrome is scarce. This study reports the results of a sample survey in 128 girls with Turner syndrome ranging in age from 2.4 to 58.8 years. Results are presented on the occurrence and nature of speech and language problems (voice disorders, articulation problems, stuttering, and delayed language development), on the presence of learning disabilities, and on educational history.     

Clinical features of the spinal form of multiple sclerosis

Out of a data pool of 1271 patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) a total of 109 cases are selected having a sole spinal symptomatology throughout the course of the disease. This group differs in three particular features from the non-spinal forms of MS: In this group there is a higher percentage of females, the age at onset of the disease is higher, and the course of the disease is more often chronic progressive from the beginning. After the mean duration of 11 years, the spinal and the non-spinal cases show the same grade of disability. The ability to work is slightly better for spinal cases; office workers are able to keep their jobs longer after the onset to the disease than patients with any other occupation. The spinal form of MS is discussed in respect to its relationship to the classical form of MS and as a differential diagnosis to other spinal processes.     

Behandlungsergebnisse bei Aplasien im Frontzahngebiet

Zusammenfassung Bei einer Patietenzahl von 3055 wurden in 133 Fällen, das sind 4,35%, Nichtalagen einer oder mehrerer Frontzähne festgestellt. Die verschiedenen Behandlungsmöglickeiten, die ausschließlich kieferorthopädische und die kieferorthopädisch-prothetische, fanden Berücksichtigung. Es zeigte sich, daß nicht tramer die rein kieferorthopädische Therapie zum besten Behandlungsergebnis geführt hat, sondern daß man der Stellung des Eckzahnes besondere Beachtung schenken muß. Die Frage der Ausgleichsextraktion muß ebenso sorgfiltig bei der Planung bedacht werden. Verzichter man auf diese, sollte eine Distalokklusion von 1 Pb angestrebt werden. Ziel einer jeden Behandlung sollte die geschlossene Zahnreihe, vergesellschaftet mit einem funtkionellen und ästischen Optimum, sein.

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Summary Follwing a survey of 3.055 patients, 133 or 4,35% were found to have one or more front teeth missing. When comparing the different prosthetic and orthodontic methods used, it was found that orthodontic arethods by themselves do not always show the best results. The position of the canines is especially importaut as also is the question of balancing extractions when considering the functional and aesthetic reslts.

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Résumé Parmi 3.0355 patients, on a décelé chez 133 d'entre eux (soit le 4,35 %) l'absence d'une ou plusieurs dents antérieures. On aussi envisagé les différentes possibilités de traitement, soit exclusivement orthopodique dento-fciale, soit mi-orthopédique. Ce n'est pas toujours la seule orthopédie dento-faciale qui a donné les meilleurs résultats d'une part, et il faut faire bien attention à la position de la canine d'autre part. La question d'une extraction compensatoire doit être bien étudiée dans le plan de traitement. Y renonce-t-on, qu'il devient avantageux de recourir à une distoclusion d'une largeur de prémolatre. Le but de traitement tend à supprimer toute solution de continuité au niveau de l'arcade dentaire et à obtenir le meilleur résultat fonctionnel et esthétique.

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Mit 10 Abbildungen     

Differential alterations by chronic treatment with morphine of pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA levels in anterior as compared to intermediate pituitary lobes of rats

Chronic treatment of rats with morphine by implantation of pellets over a period of 10 days resulted in a differential alteration of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA levels in individual pituitary lobes: Hybridisation studies using a 32P-labelled mouse POMC cDNA fragment of 150 bases as a probe revealed that chronic morphine treatment causes about 50% enhancement of POMC mRNA levels in the anterior lobe and about 40% decrease in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary. Significant changes were observed 3 days following commencement of administration and persisted over the rest of the morphine treatment.     

The limbus spiralis and its relationship to the developing tectorial membrane in the cochlear duct of the guinea pig fetus

Summary The development of the interdental cells of the limbus spiralis and of the inner spiral sulcus cells as well as the formation of the mesenchymal teeth of Huschke are described during fetal life up to the day of birth in the guinea pig. Additionally, the changes of the developing tectorial membrane are studied. The ultrastructural observations allow the conclusion that during fetal development at least a considerable part of the material of the tectorial membrane is secreted by the interdental cells of the limbus spiralis.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Inhalation of concentrated particulate matter produces pulmonary inflammation and systemic biological effects in compromised rats

Although significant progress has been made over the past few years, there is still debate on the causal fractions that are responsible for particulate matter (PM)-associated adverse health effects. A series of 1-d inhalation exposures to concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) were performed in compromised rats, focusing on pulmonary inflammation and changes in blood factors as biological outcomes. Studies were carried out in The Netherlands at an urban background location in Bilthoven, an industrialized location in the city of Utrecht, as well as at a location that is heavily dominated by freeway emissions. It was hypothesized that exposure to CAPs resulted in oxidative stress in the lung, producing a release of inflammatory mediators, which in turn can result in cardiovascular effects. Both spontaneously hypertensive rats and rats preexposed to ozone were studied. The effects were studied at 2d postexposure, focusing on pathology and cell proliferation, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis (including cytokines, biochemistry, cell differentials, cell viability and proliferation, and Clara-cell 16 protein), and blood analyses (fibrinogen, Clara-cell 16 protein, Von Willebrand factor, and cell differentials). Using CAPs exposures as a binary term, mild inflammation (increased numbers of neutrophils) and increased lung permeability (protein and albumin leakage in BALF) were evident. In addition, CAPs also produced increased fibrinogen concentrations in blood of spontaneously hypertensive rats. In conclusion, inhalation up to 3700 microg/m3 CAPs in the size range of 0.15-2.5 microm did induce statistically significant effects in the lung and blood, but the effects observed may not potentially be very biologically relevant. PM mass concentrations and lung permeability were weakly associated. This suggests that other PM metrics might be more appropriate.