A stereological study of the human ovarian surface epithelium.

The surface of the ovary has been found to be composed of two types of epithelial cells called A and B cells which are found in their own respective zones, the A and B zones. A quantitative study was undertaken to determine the mean cell volumes and cell ultrastructure. Ovarian biopsies were taken from six women and A and B zones, having been identified by scanning electron microscopy, were re-embedded for transmission electron microscopy. Stereological measurements using point sampled intercepts were made on vertical sections and showed that B cells are significantly larger than A cells. The volume weighted mean cell volumes of the A and B cells were 237.3 microns 3 and 676.8 microns 3 respectively. The volume fractions of the nucleus and mitochondria were similar in the two cell types. Although the vesicle content of each type was similar, a large variation between cases made the interpretation difficult. The stereological tools used in this study proved to be easy and efficient estimators of surface cell ultrastructure and give an important direction for ultrastructural research.     

Mammalian wound repair environment does not permit skeletal muscle regeneration

Repair and regeneration are mutually exclusive responses to injury. Previous studies have shown that wound fluids promote proliferation, but not differentiation, of myoblasts in vitro. This study explored the ability of the repair environment within polyvinyl alcohol sponges to support cellular events of skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo. Neonatal rat L8 myoblasts were modified to express beta-galactosidase then inoculated into plain sponges or sponges containing minced muscle. Labeled myoblasts were found in myotubes within minced muscle. In contrast, myoblasts inoculated into sponges lacking muscle remained mononucleate. Occurrence of labeled myoblasts within myotubes, which required fusion, represents differentiation of inoculated myoblasts to participate in regeneration. Failure of myoblasts to form myotubes in sponges lacking muscle suggests that this wound repair environment cannot support morphologic differentiation of myoblasts. Although this repair environment can support the survival of myoblasts, it did not support myogenesis, an event necessary to complete skeletal muscle regeneration. Data from this study reinforce earlier studies in vitro and suggest that the properties attributed to wound fluids are inherent in the wound environment. Whether the inability of this environment to support myogenesis is the consequence of the absence of essential factors or the presence of inhibitors remains to be determined.     

Balloon dilatation versus surgical revision of infra-inguinal autogenous vein graft stenoses: long-term follow-up

Although infra-inguinal autogenous vein graft stenoses may be treated by balloon dilatation (PTA) or surgical revision, the optimal approach is undefined. Over the last 7 years 24 PTA procedures were performed on 37 vein graft stenoses in 19 grafts. Graft stenoses were diagnosed from 2 to 72 (mean = 17.3) months after implantation. PTA was successfully completed in 23 (96%) of the 24 procedures including 18 (95%) of the primary, and 5 (100%) of the secondary procedures. Recurrent vein graft stenosis or graft thrombosis developed in 12 (67%) grafts from 3 to 47 (mean = 12.5) months after primary PTA. Long-term patency after primary PTA was 69% at 6, 29% at 12, and 22% at 36 months; secondary patency was 81% at 6, 45% at 12, and 27% at 36 months. During the same period vein graft stenosis in 7 fem-pop and 2 fem-tib grafts were surgically revised with an initial success rate of 100%, and 2 (22%) complications. Four (44%) of these grafts occluded from 1-17 (mean 6.2) months after repair, yielding a primary 5-year patency of 62%. Although vein graft stenosis may be safely, effectively, and repeatedly treated with PTA, long-term durability appears to be superior after surgical revision.     

Red cell autoantibody production in utero: a case report

BACKGROUND: Autoantibody production by the fetus is thought to be extremely unlikely. Only one possible case of in utero autoantibody production against red cells by the fetus has previously been described. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A case of apparent red cell IgG autoantibody production in utero is reported. RESULTS: This was established by a positive direct antiglobulin test in a newborn infant without evidence of maternal alloantibodies or autoantibodies. There was no evidence of clinically significant hemolysis at the infant's birth. After 6 weeks, his direct antiglobulin test remained strongly positive. The infant thrived without evidence of hemolysis, and after 6 months the direct antiglobulin test was negative. CONCLUSION: The production of autoantibodies to red cells in utero is possible, though rare. This did not result in apparent hemolysis in this patient.     

Progesterone and environmental tobacco smoke act synergistically to exacerbate the development of allergic asthma in a mouse model

BACKGROUND: Asthma affects males and females differently. Females have a higher incidence than males after the onset of puberty. This suggests a hormonal component to the development of the disease. Progesterone, a female hormone, has previously been shown to illicit a T-helper type 2 (TH2) immune response similar to that seen in allergic asthma. Previous studies performed by our laboratory have shown that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) enhances the immune response to allergens. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the combination of exposure to ETS and progesterone would further exacerbate the immune response in a mouse model of allergic asthma. METHODS: Female mice were ovariectomized and then implanted with time-release progesterone pellets. Mice were housed in either filtered air (FA) or ETS chambers and half were exposed to aerosolized house dust mite allergen (HDMA). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed for cell differentials; lung and spleen cells were harvested to compare IL-4 and IFN-gamma production by ELISPOT. RESULTS: Progesterone pellet implantation resulted in increased serum progesterone levels (28.3+/-8.43 vs. 13.5+/-7.22 ng/mL in placebo-treated mice, P<0.0001). Serum total IgE levels were significantly greater in progesterone vs. non-progesterone treated animals that were also exposed to HDMA. ETS exposure enhanced total IgE levels as well. Lung homogenate cells from HDMA/progesterone-treated animals stimulated with Concavalin A produced significantly more IL-4 compared with HDMA/placebo-treated animals (200+/-17.6 vs. 146+/-17.5 spots/well, P<0.01 in ETS exposed animals and 221+/-28.9 vs. 167+/-23.4 spots/well, P<0.01 in animals housed in FA). HDMA/ETS-treated animals had higher eosinophilia in lavage than all other groups. CONCLUSION: Increased serum progesterone levels exacerbate the allergic asthmatic phenotype in a mouse model. These effects are further exacerbated by the addition of environmental tobacco smoke. Progesterone provides a major contribution to the gender differences seen in the development and elicitation of the asthmatic response.