Early organization of the pituitary gland in Sparus aurata L. (Teleostei) An ultrastructural study

The cell organization of the pituitary gland and the relationship between neurohypophysis and adenohypophysis in the early developmental stages of the gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata, were studied by electron microscopy. In newly hatched larvae, the pituitary gland was embedded in the ventral floor of the diencephalon and separated from the hypothalamus by a continuous basal lamina. Elongated mesenchymal cells next to the ventral surface were observed. At this stage, there was no neurohypophysis and the adenohypophysis consisted of undifferentiated endocrine cells with small scarce secretory granules and a few stellate cells, with no distinctive zonation. An incipient neurohypophysis was present in 1-day-old larvae. The first evagination of the neurohypophysis into the adenohypophysis were observed in 2-day-old larvae and developed progressively with age, being deeper in the caudal zone. Two regions in the adenohypophysis, one anterior — the presumptive pars distalis — and one posterior — the presumptive pars intermedia — were found in 2-day-old larvae. Three regions (rostral and proximal pars distalis and pars intermedia) were clearly distinguishable in 4-day-old larvae. The ultrastructural features of the pituitary endocrine cells varied during gland differentiation, with the secretory granules gradually increasing in number and size, accompanying organelle development. Nevertheless, even in the oldest larvae studied (65 days), undifferentiated cells similar to those in the earliest stages were observed. The first blood vessels appeared in the neurohypophysis around 16 days after hatching. During early development, the pituitary gland progressively emerged from the ventral floor of the brain. By 16 days, the principal pattern of the pituitary gland architecture appeared to be established.     

粮谷尘致肺损害的实验研究

粮谷尘为混合性粉尘，含游离ＳｉＯ２９．７７％，分离培养出普通高温放线菌。染尘动物肺脏早期病变主要为小灶性肺泡炎、灶性间质性肺炎、异物肉芽肿等，大、中支气管壁脱颗粒肥大细胞增多。９０ｄ以后，上述病变明显减少，但逐渐出现少数小的细胞结节，间质轻度纤维组织增生、支气管慢性炎症和小叶中央型肺气肿样病变，观察１ａ（年）未见明显纤维化。     

Stimulation of phagocytic function in mouse macrophages by neurotensin and neuromedin N

The neuropeptides neurotensin and neuromedin N (from 10^{−12} M to 10^{−9} M) have been showed in this study to stimulate significantly in vitro several steps of the phagocytic process: adherence to substrate, chemotaxis, ingestion of inert particles (latex beads) and production of superoxide anion measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction in resting peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. A dose-response relationship was observed, with a maximal stimulation of the phagocytic process at 10^{−11} M. The two neuropeptides induced no change of intracellular cyclic AMP in murine macrophages. Moreover, adherence and chemotaxis decreased significantly in the presence of EGTA (1 mM), a chelator of extracellular Ca²⁺, or ryanodine (0.5 mM), a blocker of a Ca²⁺-gated channel from the endoplasmic reticulum, in both controls and samples with the addition of neurotensin or neuromedin N. These results suggest that there is no relation between the cAMP messenger system and the phagocytic process stimulation in murine peritoneal macrophages by neurotensin or neuromedin N. In addition, the results observed with EGTA and ryanodine could indicate that these two neuropeptides produce their effects through an increase of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration.     

Late postpartum eclampsia. Apropos of a case

We report the case of a 32-year-old multipara who presented preeclampsia on the fourth day after childbirth without receiving proper treatment that progressed to eclampsia 4 days later. Pregnancy and delivery had been uneventful. The patient presented proteinuria (30 mg/dl), serum total proteins 5.3 g/dl and serum albumin 3.3 g/dl. Blood pressure was controlled with methyldopa, 500 mg at six-hour intervals by intravenous route. The patient presented hypoxemia secondary to bilateral pleural effusion and aspirative pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation and invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Treatment with cefotaxime, 1 g at six-hour intervals by intravenous route and clindamycin, 600 mg at six-hour intervals by intravenous route was initiated. Sedation was maintained with thiopental sodium, 3 mg/kg/hour in continuous infusion. At dismission, the patient was completely recovered from her clinical picture and needed no antihypertensive therapy. Physiopathologic features and the aforementioned complications are discussed with particular reference to differential diagnosis.     

Recycling and EH domain proteins at the synapse

In neurons, a network of endocytic proteins accomplishes highly regulated processes such as synaptic vesicle cycling and the timely internalization of intracellular signaling molecules. In this review, we discuss recent advances on molecular networks created through interactions between proteins bearing the Eps15 homology (EH) domain and partner proteins containing the Asn–Pro–Phe (NPF) motif, which participate in important aspects of neuronal function as the synaptic vesicle cycle, the internalization of nerve growth factor (NGF), the determination of neuronal cell fate, the development of synapses and the trafficking of postsynaptic receptors. We discuss novel functional findings on the role of intersectin and synaptojanin and then we focus on the features of an emerging family of EH domain proteins termed EHDs (EH domain proteins), which are important for endocytic recycling of membrane proteins.     

Extraperitoneal endometriosis: a diagnosis to be considered

Summary BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a relatively common pathology in women of childbearing age and of low parity but rarely shows extraperitoneal involvement. The main aim of this paper is to raise the attention of specialists to the necessity of carrying out penetrating diagnosis of nonspecific extraperitoneal masses occurring in women of reproductive age. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of six patients diagnosed with extraperitoneal endometriosis who were treated at the Vega Baja University Hospital (Spain) during the last 5 years. RESULTS: Surgical treatment had positive results in five patients. The preoperative diagnosis was correctly made in only two patients. The accurate aetiology of endometriosis remains unknown and diagnosis is based on clinical and cytopathological findings. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of extraperitoneal endometriosis is recommended. However, postoperative follow-up is obligatory and hormonal suppressive therapy may be necessary. Medical treatment with gestagens, Danazol, or agonists of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone are ineffective in endometriomas which are bigger than 2 cm.      

Implications of postvaccination hepatitis B surface antigenemia in the management of exposures to body fluids.

A neonate vaccinated against HBV was the source of an occupational exposure to blood. She was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and found to be positive, leading to unnecessary treatment, retesting, and concern. Evaluation of the infectious status of HBV should rely on other means if vaccination has recently occurred.