Secretory Component Production by Polarized Epithelial Cells from the Human Female Reproductive Tract

At mucosal surfaces, the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) is responsible for transporting polymeric IgA across epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to determine whether normal epithelial cells from the female reproductive tract form tight junctions and produce secretory component, the external domain of the pIgR. Uterine, cervical and vaginal tissues from women at different stages of the menstrual cycle and following menopause were used to prepare purified epithelial cell sheets, which were cultured in cell chambers. Transepithelial resistance was measured and the media from apical and basolateral compartments assayed for secretory component. Secretory component produced by uterine epithelial cells accumulated preferentially in apical compartment and correlated with increased transepithelial resistance. Seeding as epithelial sheets at 1×10⁶ cells/cm² of matrix coated cell chambers was required for growth. Epithelial cells from endo-cervix and ecto-cervix, but not the vagina, also showed preferential production and release of secretory component into the apical chamber. In conclusion, normal epithelial cells from the human female reproductive tract grow to confluence, become polarized and produce secretory component. Our results suggest that uterine and cervical epithelial cells play a key regulatory role in the control of IgA transcytosis from tissue into secretions.     

饮料导致釉质组织和形态学改变的观察

目的 :观察不同种类饮料对釉质组织和形态学的改变。方法 :采用体视显微镜、偏光显微镜和扫描电镜观察不同种类饮料浸泡釉质后 ,釉质表面超微结构和组织学的改变 ,饮料的处理是 3 7℃ ,每天 10次 ,每次 5min。设去离子水为对照组。结果 :体视显微镜观察表明 ,除矿泉水外 ,其余饮料导致釉质表面不同程度组织缺失 ,有色饮料能导致釉质表面颜色的改变且随处理时间的延长而加深。偏光显微镜观察表明磨片浸喹啉后脱矿区呈负性双折射 ,而浸水时则呈正性双折射。扫描电镜也观察到釉柱出现不同程度的脱矿 ,可乐和橙汁的脱矿作用较钙奶强。矿泉水和去离子水处理的釉质未见脱矿征象。结论 :实验饮料除矿泉水外均能导致釉质脱矿     

含镁极化液治疗急性心肌梗塞100例疗效分析

本文采用含镁极化液治疗(极化液加25％硫酸镁5～10ml,每日1次,持续9～21天)急性心肌梗塞(AMI)100例,其中男75例、女25例,年龄最小31岁、最大80岁,痊愈92例、死亡8例。通过对其疗效分析,认为心肌缺血、梗塞时血清镁含量降低.严重影响心肌代谢及功能,静滴含镁极化液效果显著。其主要作用为:对抗儿茶酚胺,改善冠脉循环,保护缺血和再灌注心肌,缩小梗塞面积,通过改善钾钙代谢,稳定暎电位,延长不应期,预防、消除心律失常;促进前列环素合成,降低周围血管阻力,减轻心脏后负荷,预防、治疗泵衰竭。除并发严重呼衰、肾衰、出血倾向者外,含镁极化液可作为AMI的常规治疗措施。     

The effects of a high-carbohydrate diet on the stress-strain behavior of the periodontal ligament of the distal root of the mandibular first molar in hamsters

We analyzed stress-strain curves in transverse sections at three different root levels of the cervical, middle, and apical regions of the distal root of the mandibular first molar in hamsters fed a high-carbohydrate (experimental group) or standard (control group) diet for 8 weeks. Each section was loaded in vitro at a rate of 5 mm/min in an extrusive direction. The rupture sites and the structures of birefringent collagen fibers in the periodontal ligament were also analyzed. The maximum shear stress, tangent modulus, and failure strain energy density of the periodontal ligament were significantly greater in the cervical region than in the middle and apical regions in both the control and experimental groups. The maximum shear stress, tangent modulus, and failure strain energy density of the periodontal ligament in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the cervical and middle regions. The maximum shear strain was significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group at the middle and apical regions. Histological sections showed that the periodontal ligament ruptured irregularly in both groups. The collagenous fibers of the ligament in the experimental group appeared to be thinner and less birefringent at the cervical and middle regions of the root. These results suggest that a high-carbohydrate diet differentially affects the collagen fibers in the periodontal ligament as a function of the root level, and that these effects are evident in changes in the mechanical properties of the ligament.     

Polarized Ends of Human Macula Densa Cells: Ultrastructural Investigation and Morphofunctional Correlations

The morphology of the kidney macula densa (MD) has extensively been investigated in animals, whereas human studies are scanty. We studied the fine structure of human MD cells focusing on their apical and basal ends and correlating structure and function. The MD region was examined by transmission electron microscopy in six renal biopsies from patients with kidney disease. Ultrastructural analysis of MD cells was performed on serial sections. MD cells show two polarized ends. The apical portion is characterized by a single, immotile cilium associated with microvilli; apically, cells are joined by adhering junctions. In the basal portion, the cytoplasm contains small, dense granules and numerous, irregular cytoplasmic projections extending to the adjacent extraglomerular mesangium. The projections often contain small, dense granules. A reticulated basement membrane around MD cells separates them from the extraglomerular mesangium. Although the fact that tissue specimens came from patients with kidney disease mandates extreme caution, ultrastructural examination confirmed that MD cells have sensory features due to the presence of the primary cilium, that they are connected by apical adhering junctions forming a barrier that separates the tubular flow from the interstitium, and that they present numerous basal interdigitations surrounded by a reticulated basement membrane. Conceivably, the latter two features are related to the functional activity of the MD. The small, dense granules in the basal cytoplasm and in cytoplasmic projections are likely related to the paracrine function of MD cells. Anat Rec, 301:922–931, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Multiple tuberous and tendinous xanthomas diagnosed on fine‐needle aspiration cytology—report of a rare case

Xanthomas are papulonodular skin lesions present in lipoprotein metabolism disorders, which result in cholesterol deposits in subcutaneous tissue, tendons, ligaments, periosteum, etc. A 11‐year‐old male presented with multiple soft tissue swellings, prominently over joints. Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) from multiple sites had similar appearance with foamy histocytes and giant cells. Oil Red O and polarized microscopy were also positive for fat. We describe an unusual case of tendinous and tuberous xanthoma diagnosed by cytology. Acquaintance with fine‐needle aspiration cytology findings in xanthomas can help to avoid the need of surgical biopsy, as xanthomas can regress on medical therapy alone.     

偏振光皮肤镜在白癜风早期诊断及与其他色素减退斑鉴别中的应用

目的 探讨偏振光皮肤镜图像分析技术在白癜风早期诊断中的应用及与其他色素减退斑的鉴别.方法 收集局限性色素减退斑患者,采用偏振光皮肤镜观察皮损微观形态、特征和颜色;所选病例除花斑糠疹经临床与实验室检查确诊外,其余病例均经病理活检确诊.结果 176例患者中,白癜风97例,进展期毛周色素残留发生率达91.94%,显著高于稳定期(62.86%),两者之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);毛细血管扩张、早期色素岛形成和皮周色素加深等与病程和近期有无治疗有关.79例色素减退斑,包括花斑糠疹、炎症后色素减退、白色糠疹、老年性白斑、无色素痣、贫血痣和特发性滴状色素减退症,未见毛周色素残留.结论 偏振光皮肤镜有效地排除了白癜风皮损中的反射光干扰,是一种可直接观察到肉眼不可见微细结构与特征的影像技术;对白癜风的早期诊断及与其他色素减退斑相鉴别提供了参考依据.     

Functional similarities between polarization vision and color vision

Consideration o the similarities between color vision (CV) and polarization vision (PV) leads to improved theoretical understanding of PV and to suggestions for new kinds of behavioral and electrophysiological experiments involving partially polarized light. We propose that angle and degree of polarization as parameters for a PV system are analogous to dominant wavelength and purity as parameters for a CV system. Although three linearly independent receptors must cooperate to determine polarizational angle independent of both degree and intensity, a PV system based on only two receptors is not polarization-blind but is characterized by neutral points and confusion states of polarization if the eye fixates.     

Masthead,Volume 65, Issue 2

T₂ was used in this study to assess tendon microstructure. Two unloaded digital extensor tendons were bent such that their long axes were imaged throughout 180° with respect to B₀. T₂‐weighted images reveal periodic banding (～200 μm) when tendons were oriented at ±55° with respect to B₀. Five pairs of tendons were used to study the influence of load on T2W MRI: one tendon of each pair was loaded with a 7.8‐N mass, and both tendons were fixed in formalin then imaged at 55° to B₀. MRI banding was present in the unloaded, but not loaded, tendons. In unloaded tendons, polarized‐light microscopy revealed collagen crimp with a periodicity similar to MRI. In loaded tendons, there was a strain‐induced extinction of periodicity on both MRI and polarized‐light microscopy. These studies confirm that crimp is detectable by high‐field MRI and could serve as an in vivo index of physiological strains in collagenous tissues. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.