Sound-generating (sonic) motor system in a teleost fish (Porichthys notatus): sexual polymorphisms and general synaptology of sonic motor nucleus

The sonic motor nucleus of the plainfin midshipman, Porichthys notatus, is a midline nucleus located at the junction of the caudal medulla and rostral spinal cord. Its motoneurons innervate sonic "drumming" muscles that are attached to the lateral walls of the swimbladder. There are two classes of sexually mature males referred to as Type I and Type II. The Type I males are larger and generate sounds during the breeding season. The Type II males are smaller and, like adult females, have not yet been shown to generate sounds. This study examined possible sex differences in the size of sonic motoneurons, and the type and distribution of their afferent terminal boutons. The average soma diameter of motoneurons of Type I males is about 50% larger than that of Type II males and females. There is also a small but significant difference in soma diameter between Type II males and females; they are smaller in the former class. There were no sex differences in the presence or distribution of different classes of axosomatic and axodendritic terminal boutons, which included: (1) active zones with either clear, round, or pleomorphic vesicles, (2) active zones with both clear, round vesicles, and larger dense core vesicles, (3) "mixed synapses" with gap junctions and active zones usually associated with pleomorphic vesicles. The results are discussed within the context of sexual differentiation of vertebrate motor systems and the functional organization of the sonic motor system in fishes. Sex differences in soma diameter correlate with a number of sex differences in the gross and ultrastructural features that distinguish the sonic muscles of Type I males from those of Type II males and females, which are similar to each other. The absence of qualitative sex differences in synaptic morphology suggest that the central neuronal circuitry of the sonic motor system is similar among all three adult morphs.     

Asteroid bodies and calcium oxalate crystals: two infrequent findings in fine-needle aspirates of parotid sarcoidosis.

We have studied 3 cases of sarcoidosis involving the parotid gland by means of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The main findings were noncaseating granulomas, multinucleated giant cells (MGCs), and lymphocytes. In one case MGCs contained asteroid bodies and in another case we observed calcium oxalate crystals (COCs) over both stromal fragments and MGCs. Although nonpathognomonic for sarcoidosis, these 2 findings may help in the diagnosis of this condition. However, both are easily overlooked and must be borne in mind when viewing noncaseating granulomas. Sarcoid granulomas displaying COC must be differentiated from foreign-body granulomas. The aforementioned cytological findings must be assessed in conjunction with clinical findings. Nevertheless, in most cases the diagnosis of sarcoidosis is made by exclusion.     

Sperm morphological assessment based on strict criteria and in-vitro fertilization outcome.

One-hundred-and-twenty-three in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles were analysed in order to clarify the influence of strictly normal morphology (SNM) of spermatozoa on IVF outcome. SNM was defined using strict criteria according to Kruger with our modifications. The IVF cycles studied were divided into three groups: %SNM less than 12% (13 cycles), 12 less than 40% (68 cycles), greater than or equal to 40% (42 cycles). The cleavage rates per oocyte were higher in the groups with 12-40% and greater than or equal to 40% of %SNM than in the group with %SNM less than 12%. The embryo transfer rate per cycle increased with increasing %SNM. The overall pregnancy rate per cycle increased with increasing %SNM (7.7% in %SNM less than 12%, 22.1% in 12-40% of %SNM, and 40.5% in %SNM greater than or equal to 40%). The ongoing pregnancy rate per cycle also increased with increasing %SNM (7.7% in %SNM less than 12%, 14.7% in 12-40% of %SNM, and 31.0% in %SNM greater than or equal to 40%). The miscarriage rate was lower in %SNM greater than or equal to 40% (23.5%) than in 12-40% of %SNM (33.3%). It was suggested that %SNM is a good predictor of IVF outcome.     

Pituitary choristoma composed of corticotrophs and adrenocortical cells in the sella turcica

A pituitary tumour composed of well-differentiated corticotrophs and adrenocortical cells is reported. Sections of the tumour revealed a mixture of small round cells with amphophilic or basophilic periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive cytoplasm and large spherical and oval cells with abundant, granular, partly vacuolated PAS-negative cytoplasm. The small cells contained type 1 cytokeratin-positive microfilaments, numerous 250–500 nm endocrine-type secretory granules immunoreactive for adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and -lipotropin. The large cells possessed ample cytoplasm filled with abundant vesicular smooth endoplasmic reticulum, numerous mitochondria possessing tubulovesicular cristae and frequent dense bodies. They lacked the features of pituitary endocrine cells or folliculostellate cells and were found to contain a panel of steroidogenic dehydrogenases and hydroxylases. The tumour was classified as a choristoma, in which two distinct cells types, corticotrophs and adrenocortical cells, were mixed. We suggest that, under continued ACTH stimulation, uncommitted stem cells may differentiate into adrenocortical cells. Alternatively, the presence of adrenocortical cells may be the result of heterotopia.     

Clinicopathologic features and incidence of invasive lobular carcinoma in Japanese women

Intending to clarify the true Incidence of Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast In Japanese women as well as the frequency of unilateral multlcentriclty, 362 cases of clinically defined monocentrlc breast cancer without pre-operative biopsy (previously fine needle aspiration or needle biopsy were routinely carried out for every case) were examined by whole mammary gland serial sectioning. On the basis of pathology and the World Health Organization classification of breast tumors, each case was assigned to one of two main histologlc types: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) or Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Invasive lobular carcinoma was further separated into classic and variant types by employing previously published criteria. Twenty-one cases of ILC (5.8%) were diagnosed, which Is more than In most previous Japanese studies. Unilateral multicentric breast carcinoma was detected In 9.5% of ILC and 16.1% of IDC (the difference was found not significant). Microscopically, ILC tumors were found to be, on average, larger than IDC. Patients with classic type ILC tended to be younger than those with variant type or IDC. Estrogen receptor expression was found more frequently In variant type ILC than in classic type. These results suggest that the incidence of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast In Japanese women is low and that unilateral multicentricity Is not significantly higher in ILC than in IDC.     

Morphology and Thermal Properties of MCPA6/ABS by in situ Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactam

Summary: In this work, blends of monomer casting polyamide 6 (MCPA6) and acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) were successfully prepared by in situ polymerization via the application of ε‐caprolactam as a reactive solvent. The morphology and thermal properties of MCPA6/ABS were investigated by means of wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The domain sizes of the ABS phase in MCPA6/ABS blends were much finer than those in corresponding polyamide 6 (PA6)/ABS blends prepared by simple melt blending. With an increased amount of ABS in MCPA6, the melt enthalpy (ΔH_f), the rate of crystallization (T_c) and the degree of crystallinity (X_c(DSC)) of MCPA6 in MCPA6/ABS blends were all decreased. The degree of supercooling (ΔT_d) showed a contrary trend. However, the melting temperatures of these blends were almost unchanged. All the results could be attributed to in situ polymerization and the hydrolysis reaction of ABS that occurred during the polymerization process. Furthermore, WAXD results showed that only α‐form crystals existed in the MCPA6/ABS blends, despite the ABS content and heat treatment.

SEM micrograph of the fractured surface of an MCPA6/ABS blend with an ABS content of 20 wt.‐% (×10 000).     

Age-related accumulation of congophilic fibrillar inclusions in endocrine cells

Summary Intracellular fibrillar congophilic inclusions are well known as neurofibrillary tangles in neurons and as Biondi bodies in choroid plexus epithelial cells. Recently similar amyloid-like inclusions in adrenal cortical cells were described (Eriksson and Westermark 1990). This study on 150 adrenal glands confirms these observations. In our material the age-related accumulation of congophilic inclusions starts earlier (in the sixth decade) and reaches a higher incidence (42.7%). We found similar intracellular inclusions in other endocrine organs, for example in the anterior lobe of the pituitary, in the cells of parathyroid glands and in Sertoli cells. The age-related incidence of these fibrillar inclusions in the pituitary was 68%; the co-incidence with interstitial amyloid deposits was 49.5%. Thus the intracellular accumulation of congophilic fibrils in old age is a widespread phenomenon and occurs not only in neurons but also in endocrine cells (adrenal, pituitary and parathyroid glands) and in active secretory cells (choroid plexus and Sertoli cells).     

Morphological evaluation of human embryos and derivation of an embryo quality scoring system specific for day 3 embryos: a preliminary study

A scoring system specific for day 3 embryos has not been extensively explored. Most IVF laboratories continue to grade embryos solely on the basis of cell number and percentage fragmentation as was traditionally done for day 2 embryos. Additional morphological features, some unique to day 3 embryos, may be useful in selecting embryos most likely to blastulate and implant. The objective of this study was to derive an embryo scoring system for day 3 transfers which is predictive of positive pregnancy outcomes. A total of 316 transferred embryos from 93 patients was recorded on videotape and evaluated. The following parameters were used to grade the embryos: cell number, fragmentation pattern (FP), cytoplasmic pitting, compaction, equal sized blastomeres, blastomere expansion and absence of vacuoles. The clinical pregnancy rate was 41.9%, with an implantation rate of 18% per embryo transferred. The mean number of embryos transferred per patient was 3.4. Three formulae were derived to score embryo quality in each transfer based on the average score of individual embryos transferred. In the first scoring system, cell number alone was used to predict pregnancy outcome. The second scoring system was based on blastomere number and the observed FP. The third scoring system utilized both blastomere number and FP but also combined this with five morphological criteria to yield a final day 3 embryo quality (D3EQ) score. We found the D3EQ score to be prognostic of pregnancy outcome. This study suggests that although cell number and FP are certainly predictors of positive pregnancy outcomes, additional parameters specific to day 3 embryos should be used to stratify a cohort of embryos further.     

Partial sweat gland aplasia in incontinentia pigmenti Bloch-Sulzberger

Dermatoglyphic investigation of palm prints in patients with Incontinentia pigmenti revealed in five of eight cases a partial ridge dissociation with lack of sweat gland pores. This disease can, therefore, be accepted as a second X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, which, however, is only segregated in the female.     

不同年龄组儿童甲状腺测量值及其变化的研究

调查了90具童尸用状腺的基本形态,可分四型。其中以甲状腺由两侧叶及峡部组成者为最多,占50.22%。测量了甲状腺各部的长、宽、厚。分年龄组进行了数据的统计学处理,并计算出儿童与成人甲状腺各部相应值的百分比。结果显示:小儿甲状腺侧叶的长度和宽度在幼儿期(1—3岁)就已发育近成人的一半。随着年龄的增长,甲状腺各部的均值逐渐增加。除各部的宽度以及锥体叶的长度外,各相邻两组间同项均数的比较,经双侧T检验发现差异具有高度显著性(P<0.01)。