Experimental in ovo transmission of duck hepatitis B virus

Inoculation of fertile Pekin duck eggs with diluted serum containing DHBV into eggs incubated for 24 h and into the extra-embryonic cavities of 14-day-old embryos resulted in a high proportion of viraemic ducklings irrespective of the route of inoculation. Long-term observation of som of the ducks established that the viraemia induced experimentally is long-lasting and has persisted for periods up to 16 mth post-hatch. Separation of DHBV from the plasma of carrier ducks by rate zonal centrifugation was examined by DNA polymerase (DNAP) activity. Particles in the fraction with peak DNAP activity had a buoyant density of 1.16 g X cm-3 in sucrose and an estimated sedimentation coefficient, S20.w of 77. DHBV particles, the morphology of which could be resolved under the electron microscope, consisted of a coat (about 10 nm in thickness) surrounding a core with a diameter measuring 40 nm but not 27 nm as previously reported. Spike-like projections were found on the surface of the core as described previously by W.S. Mason, G. Seal and J. Summers, 1980, J. Virol. 36, 829-836.     

The measurement of CA 125 and placental protein 14 in uterine flushings in women with recurrent miscarriage; relation to endometrial morphology

The concentrations of CA 125 and placental protein 14 (PP14)were measured in uterine flushings obtained throughout the lutealphase of the cycle from eight normal fertile women. The concentrationsof both proteins increased in a similar pattern throughout theluteal phase of the cycle, with the most dramatic increase occurring6 days after their luteinizing hormone surge (day LH +6). However,a greater variation in CA 125 concentrations was seen comparedto that seen for PP14. The concentrations were compared to thoseobtained on day LH + 7 of the cycle from a group (n equals;35) of women with recurrent miscarriage. The ranges in concentrationof PP14 and CA 125 in the flushings of fertile and recurrentmiscarriage patients were very similar. However, a greater proportionof women with recurrent miscarriage (55%) had low concentrations(<5 ng/ml) of PP14 than in the control group (12.5%) andthe concentrations of PP14 in the uterine flushings were significantlyless (P < 0.05) in women with recurrent miscarriage comparedto the normal fertile group. There was no significant differencein the concentrationof CA 125 in the uterine flushings betweenthe two groups. Histological observation of the endometrialbiopsy samples from recurrent miscarriage patients gave menstrualcycle datings that ranged from day LH +2.5 to LH +6.5 with retardedendometrium (;day LH +5) in 12 of 35 (34%) patients. Of these12 patients, 10 (83%) had low PP14 concentrations and six (50%)had low CA 125 concentrations in their uterine flushings. Inthe recurrent miscarriage patients with histologically normal(sequals; day LH +5) endometrial development, 10 out of 23 (43%)also had low PP14 concentrations and 8 out of 23 (35%) had lowCA 125 in their uterine flushings. The results suggest thatPP14 is better than CA 125 as a marker for endometrial functionin this group of women. In some cases (52%) the low concentrationsof PP14 in the uterine flushings couldbe explained by retardedendometrial development but for the others the reduction inPP14 concentration in the uterine flushing was not associatedwith retardation of endometrial development.     

Microvasculature of regular and irregular areolae of the areola-gland subunit of the porcine placenta: structural and functional aspects

To examine the vasculature of the areola-gland subunit of advanced pig placenta, tissues from ten animals between 43 and 112 days of gestation were prepared for histology and for scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts from both maternal and fetal sides. Regular areolae, tributary to one gland only, are round with a wide-meshed and smooth subepithelial capillary network on the maternal side, which is similar to the pre-implantative stage and bordered by an abrupt rim towards the interareolar maternal capillary network. On the fetal side, the capillary network follows papillae which protrude into the areolar cavity or converge to form a ring towards the areolar periphery. Irregular areolae, in contrast, have indistinct boundaries and are characterized by two or more gland openings. The maternal capillary network has moderate density and follows the corrugations, whereas the fetal capillary network is basically two-dimensional with some blunt sinusoidal protrusions. Vessel architecture of both areolar types implies facilitated external inflow of blood into the areola on arteriolar as well as on capillary levels, whereas the outflow from the areolar capillaries comprises venules converging into one or two areolar stem veins, and therefore conducts venous blood in a manner different from that of the interareolar region. It is suggested that this arrangement could favour vascular control mechanisms in uterus, placenta and fetus. On the basis of these observations and the discussion, it is suggested that these areolaspecific vessel systems are important for sustaining the characteristic substance transfers in the areola, the secretion, metabolism and absorption, which according to the literature are not the same in the regular as in the irregular areolar type of the porcine areola-gland subunit of the placenta.     

Morphological characterization of different human cervical mucus types using light and scanning electron microscopy

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted on human cervical mucus using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The objective was the morphological characterization of the different mucus types, with samples taken from the lumen of the cervix and from the different secretory zones of the cervical mucosa. METHODS: A total of 230 samples from 195 women were spread out on slides and air dried. The phenomenon of 'ferning' was observed and assessed in these samples using both LM and SEM. Further samples from the lumen of the cervix and the different secretory crypts were spread out on cover slips and fixed with glutaraldehyde (2.5%) to be studied by SEM. RESULTS: The results show the presence of four different morphological mucus types, namely L, S, P and G, in both types of sample using dried and fixed techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Mucus from the lumen of the cervix appears to be a morphologically heterogeneous entity. It contains different types of secretions, the proportions of which vary throughout the menstrual cycle. The different mucosal types show different types of crystallization, different patterns of ultrastructure (probably related to the arrangement of the glycoprotein network) and are produced in different secretory zones of the crypts in the cervix.     

PTMSP与PMP膜渗透汽化分离性能的研究比较

以聚4－甲基戊烯－1（PMP）为膜材质、分别以环己烷、三氯乙烯以及环己烷／三氯乙烯为溶剂,以浇铸法制备了PMP的均质致密膜。研究了不同溶剂体系的相对溶解能力和挥发速度对PMP膜结晶度和形态结构的影响,并对成膜的渗透汽化特性的影响进行了研究。     

腭裂修复术后患者与正常人群颅颌面形态的比较研究

应用X线头影测量方法对4～7岁时曾接受腭裂修复术的腭裂患者（现年龄为18～25岁）的颅颌面形态进行测量分析,将结果与湖北籍正常人群测量资料比较,结果表明腭裂修复术后患者颅底发育未受影响,面突角显著减少,上颌骨长度显著缩短,下颌角增大,下颌平面陡度增大,腭裂患者在4～7岁时接受手术治疗,至成年时存在不同程度的颅颌面发育畸形。     

运动锻炼对长骨截面几何形态和力学性质的影响

本文通过成年大耳白兔６周的大强度跑跳运动，对胫骨全骨进行三点抗弯和扭转试验，发现大强度运动可明显提高胫骨的抗弯和抗扭强度，胫骨的截面内外长短径、轴惯性矩、抗弯和抗扭截面模量明显加大，使截面更加合理。     

Culture of epithelial cells derived from the oviduct of different species

This study proposes a procedure for the isolation and cultureof oviduct epithelial cells of several species. In-vitro cultureon such a feeder seems to allow full embryonic development andviability. The inner linings of Fallopian tubes from mouse,rabbit, cow and human were trypsinized and the epithelial cellswere enriched with Percoll gradient. Isolated cells, obtainedin high yield with good viability, were maintained in monolayerculture in B2-Menezo medium supplemented with serum, which alsosupports early embryonic development in vitro. The plated primarycultures reached confluence within 8 days, producting a monolayerof cohesive polygonalcells. Associated with this large epithelialcall population, ciliated cells as wellas polykaryotic cellsand few fibroblastic nestswere observed. After the first sub-culture,the ciliated cells disappeared and the epithelial cell monolayergrew rapidly to confluence with in 3 days and displayed contactinhibition. No epithelial cell growth could be obtained inculturein the absence of serum. The addition of oestrogens had no effecton any of the cultured oviductal epithelial cells. A sponotaneousalteration was observed in morphology and growth after severalpassages, the number of which depends mainly upon the species