DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS (DISH) OF THE SPINE: A CAUSE OF BACK PAIN? A CONTROLLED STUDY

This is the first controlled study of the frequency of backpain in a European caucasian population with diffuse idiopathicskeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Elderly patients admitted to hospital for reasons other thanback pain were assessed for the presence of spinal DISH usingthe routine lateral chest radiograph films. A total of 106 probands(82 males, 24 females) with a mean age of 70 years fulfilledthe criteria for DISH as defined previously. One hundred andseventyeight patients (117 males, 61 females) not meeting thesecriteria were used as controls. The prevalence of back painwas assessed by a blinded interviewer using a structured questionnaire.Our primary hymthesis was that spinal DISH positive probandshad not had back pain more often than controls. The controlledstudy showed no statistically significant difference in painfrequency between spinal DISH positive probands and controlsat any spinal level. We conclude that back pain does not occur more often in radiographicallydefined DISH positive probands than in controls. The radiologicalfinding of spinal DISH, as far as it does not lead to stenosisof the spinal canal or dysphagia, thus seems to be a findingwithout clinical relevance. KEY WORDS: Spine, Radiographs, Pain, Osteoarthritis, Forestier's disease, Ankylosing vertebral hyperostosis     

差速贴壁技术对大鼠脑皮质星形胶质细胞纯化率的影响

目的:观察差速贴壁技术对星形胶质细胞纯化率的影响,旨在建立一套可靠的大鼠脑皮质星形胶质细胞的取材分离、纯化培养技术。方法:实验于2006-06/08在泰山医学院生命科学研究所完成。实验材料:出生2～3d的Wistar大鼠,雌雄不拘,由泰山医学院生命科学研究所实验动物中心提供。实验方法:选用出生二三天的Wistar大鼠进行脑皮质星形胶质细胞原代培养。实验分两组培养:常规培养组和差速贴壁培养组。差速贴壁培养组分别于15,30min取出,轻轻翻转培养瓶,将上清液移至另一培养瓶中,放入培养箱中继续培养。7～10d后传代,待细胞分层生长后,置于37℃摇床中250r/min振荡18h,倒掉上清液,D-Hank’s液洗3次后,加入0.25%胰酶消化,倒置显微镜下观察,待细胞突起回缩后加入含血清的培养基终止消化,用吸管反复吹打使细胞从瓶壁上脱落,细胞悬液1000r/min离心5min后,弃上清液,加入含体积分数为0.2血清的DMEM培养基混悬沉淀,接种入预先涂有L-多聚赖氨酸的培养瓶中继续培养。采用双重免疫荧光法鉴定星形胶质细胞纯度,测定积分吸光度值判断星形胶质细胞的生长状况。结果:①应用差速贴壁技术培养星形胶质细胞可明显提高星形胶质细胞纯度[常规培养组:(82±3)%,差速贴壁培养组15min:(94±2)%,差速贴壁培养组30min:(95±2)%,P<0.01]。差速贴壁需要充分的时间,15min组和30min组在提高星形胶质细胞纯度方面无明显差别。②差速贴壁培养组星形胶质细胞积分吸光度值高于常规培养组(常规培养组:528±25,差速贴壁培养组15min:972±17,差速贴壁培养组30min:996±35,P<0.05)。结论:①差速贴壁技术可明显提高星形胶质细胞纯化度,并且星形胶质细胞生长状态明显优于常规培养方法。②最佳差速贴壁时间为15min,过长差速贴壁时间对提高星形胶质细胞纯度无明显影响。     

Cryopreservation of all prezygotes in patients at risk of severe hyperstimulation does not eliminate the syndrome, but the chances of pregnancy are excellent with subsequent frozen-thaw transfers

In-vitro fertilization patients (n = 15) at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) (oestradiol > or =4500 pg/ml on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration and 25 or more follicles of intermediate or large size) underwent aspiration of all follicles and cryopreservation of all fertilized oocytes at the pronuclear stage. Patients were monitored for up to 2 weeks post- retrieval. Subsequent transfer of cryopreserved-thawed embryos was performed in programmed cycles using exogenous oestrogen and progesterone for endometrial preparation. Two patients (13%) developed OHSS necessitating hospitalization and vaginal aspiration of ascitic fluid. Two other patients (13%) developed moderate OHSS requiring ascitic fluid vaginal aspiration in the office setting, with dramatic improvement of the condition. Subsequent transfer of cryopreserved- thawed embryos yielded a clinical pregnancy rate of 58% per transfer and ongoing or delivery rates of 42 and 67% per transfer and per patient respectively. By eliminating pregnancy potential with cryopreservation of all prezygotes and examining the pregnancy potential with subsequent cryopreserved-thawed transfers, it is concluded that OHSS is reduced, but not eliminated for patients at risk. Subsequent transfer of cryopreserved-thawed prezygotes in a programmed cycle with exogenous steroids yields an excellent pregnancy rate.      

Clinical and molecular genetics of patients with the Carney-Stratakis syndrome and germline mutations of the genes coding for the succinate dehydrogenase subunits SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) may be caused by germline mutations of the KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRA) genes and treated by Imatinib mesylate (STI571) or other protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, not all GISTs harbor these genetic defects and several do not respond to STI571 suggesting that other molecular mechanisms may be implicated in GIST pathogenesis. In a subset of patients with GISTs, the lesions are associated with paragangliomas; the condition is familial and transmitted as an autosomal-dominant trait. We investigated 11 patients with the dyad of 'paraganglioma and gastric stromal sarcoma'; in eight (from seven unrelated families), the GISTs were caused by germline mutations of the genes encoding subunits B, C, or D (the SDHB, SDHC and SDHD genes, respectively). In this report, we present the molecular effects of these mutations on these genes and the clinical information on the patients. We conclude that succinate dehydrogenase deficiency may be the cause of a subgroup of GISTs and this offers a therapeutic target for GISTs that may not respond to STI571 and its analogs.     

Immunolocalization of G‐Protein Alpha Subunits in the Olfactory System of the Cartilaginous Fish Scyliorhinus Canicula

In the olfactory and vomeronasal systems of vertebrates, the morphology of the receptor neurons, the receptor gene family they express, the G‐protein coupled with the receptor (in particular the G‐protein alpha subunit), and their projection to the olfactory bulb are correlated. Much information about this complicated system have been collected in different groups, but nothing is known about Chondrichthyes. In this work, the presence and distribution of immunoreactivity for different types of G‐protein alpha subunit (Gα_o, Gα_q and Gα_s/olf) were investigated in the olfactory mucosa and olfactory bulb of the shark Scyliorhinus canicula. Only Gα_o‐like immunoreactivity was detected in the olfactory mucosa and bulb, both in tissues and homogenates. Its distribution was partially similar to that found in other vertebrates: it was localized in the microvillous receptor neurons, in numerous axon bundles of the fila olfactoria, in the stratum nervosum and in the most of glomeruli in the stratum glomerulosum. No immunoreactivity was instead observed in the crypt neurons, the second type of olfactory neurons present in cartilaginous fish. The projections of crypt neurons to olfactory bulb probably correspond to the few ventrally‐located glomeruli which were negative to the antiserum against Gα_o. These data suggest, in S. canicula, different olfactory neuron types send projections to the olfactory bulb with a segregated distribution, as observed in other vertebrates. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Palmar Type of Median Artery as a Source of Superficial Palmar Arch: A Cadaveric Study with Its Clinical Significance

The superficial palmar arch (SPA) and its contributing arteries are highly variable. The palmar type of median artery (PMA) can be involved in the formation of the SPA by replacing the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery (RA) or the ulnar artery (UA). The present study was undertaken to investigate the presence of the PMA and its contribution in the formation of SPA in 42 cadavers (84 upper limbs) of Indian origin. When there was a PMA, its outer diameter was measured in the carpal tunnel. The PMA was found in 13 upper limbs (15.4%), and of these ten incidences (11.9%), the PMA took part in the formation of SPA, and in three instances (3.5%), the PMA did not make up part of the SPA. Out of the ten cases in which the PMA contributed to the formation of SPA, in six cases (7.1%), the PMA anastomosed with the UA; in three cases (3.5%), the PMA anastomosed with both the UA and the RA, and in one incidence (1.1%), the PMA joined the arteria radialis indicis (deep branch of the RA) to complete the SPA. The outer diameters of the median arteries varied between 0.8 and 2.6 mm with the mean value of 1.7 mm. The present study concludes that the median–ulnar type of SPA was the most common type of SPA when the PMA was encountered as a source of superficial arterial arcade of the hand, followed by the radial–median–ulnar type. The vascular patterns found in this study are important to hand surgeons. The present study of PMA origin, course, and its contribution to the SPA will add to the existing knowledge of the vascular anatomy of forearm and hand.     

Congenital atrichia and hypotrichosis

Background  

Alopecia present from birth includes a broad differential diagnosis and often represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the involved physician.