Examination of microvascular structures of midcortical region in sheep kidneys: a three dimensional approach

Polyester-crystic cast was observed to reach the peritubular capillary plexus following injection in sheep kidneys. Microvascular structures in this region are also reported in this study. Glomeruli were found to vary in size and shape. Diameters of afferent arterioles were larger than those of efferent arterioles. The glomerulus is supplied by more than one afferent arteriole, and in some regions, the blood in afferent arterioles joins collateral circulation via the intercapillary plexus. Morphological properties at the end of the peritubular capillary plexus were found to be remarkably significant.     

Enhanced maze performance and reduced oxidative stress by combined extracts of zingiber officinale and ginkgo biloba in the aged rat.

Here we assessed the effects of i.g. administration of Zingicomb (ZC), a mixture of zingiber officinale and ginkgo biloba extracts, on learning and memory, and on indicators of oxidative stress in aged rats. Effects of ZC (1 and 10 mg/kg) were investigated in 22-24 months old Wistar rats using the Morris water maze, in which they show deficient performance as compared to 3 months old rats in the undrugged state (days 1 and 2). Treatment was administered on days 3 and 4 of training, then over 7 days with training discontinued, and again on days 5 and 6 when training was resumed. Thereafter chronic treatment was maintained over 5 months. 1 mg/kg ZC improved escape learning in the water maze. The two capital indicators of oxidative stress in brain homogenates, the amount of oxidized proteins (assessed as carbonyl group containing proteins) and lipid peroxidation, were significantly reduced in ZC treated animals. Thus, ZC, which had previously been shown to improve inhibitory avoidance learning and to have anxiolytic properties in adult animals, might also facilitate spatial learning in aged animals, and reduces indices of oxidative stress in brain tissue after chronic treatment.     

Endolaryngeal resection of laryngeal chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma is a rare tumor. In this study, we present a case with laryngeal chondrosarcoma that was treated by an endolaryngeal approach using an operation microscope. The patient remains disease-free to date, with no evidence of new or recurrent disease more than 3 years after the endolaryngeal surgery. The computerized tomography and endoscopic examinations did not reveal any recurrent disease, indicating the success of the endolaryngeal approach.     

Tools in the Assessment of Sarcopenia

This review provides a framework for the development of an operational definition of sarcopenia and of the potential end points that might be adopted in clinical trials among older adults. While the clinical relevance of sarcopenia is widely recognized, there is currently no universally accepted definition of the disorder. The development of interventions to alter the natural history of sarcopenia also requires consensus on the most appropriate end points for determining outcomes of clinical importance which might be utilized in intervention studies. We review current approaches to the definition of sarcopenia and the methods used for the assessment of various aspects of physical function in older people. The potential end points of muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle power, and muscle fatigue, as well as the relationships between them, are explored with reference to the availability and practicality of the available methods for measuring these end points in clinical trials. Based on current evidence, none of the four potential outcomes in question is sufficiently comprehensive to recommend as a uniform single outcome in randomized clinical trials. We propose that sarcopenia may be optimally defined (for the purposes of clinical trial inclusion criteria as well as epidemiological studies) using a combination of measures of muscle mass and physical performance. The choice of outcome measures for clinical trials in sarcopenia is more difficult; co-primary outcomes, tailored to the specific intervention in question, may be the best way forward in this difficult but clinically important area.     

Systolic and diastolic heart function in SLE patients

Cardiovascular pathology is frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is its common findings. The aim of the study was to assess the systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle (LV) in SLE patients without clinically evident cardiovascular disease, using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Another purpose was to estimate whether there is a correlation between the duration and severity of SLE and the degree of LV diastolic dysfunction. A comparison of the average values of echocardiographic measurements was made between the SLE group and control group, which constituted healthy volunteers. No statistically significant differences in systolic heart function between groups were observed, except for lower values of the fractional shortening (SF 35.9 ± 1.2 and 37.1 ± 0.9, P = 0.01) in SLE patients, particularly in long (more than 10 years) disease duration (34.9 ± 0.6 vs. 37.0 ± 0.8, P < 0.005) and the value of SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) higher than six points (35 ± 0.9 vs. 37.1 ± 0.5, P < 0.01) Left atrial end-systolic diameter (LA) was greater (3.69 ± 0.37 vs. 3.5 ± 0.28, P < 0.05) and the ejection fraction (EF) was lower (64.6 ± 1.5 vs. 66.3 ± 1.3, P < 0.05) in SLE subjects of long disease duration than in the controls. SLE patients demonstrated significantly higher late diastolic velocity (A’) and lower E’/A’ ratio than the control group. No differences were observed in A’ values between SLE subset of short disease duration and the controls. Isovolumetric relaxation time in turn was significantly longer and E/A ratio as well as E’/A’ ratio lower in SLE of long disease duration versus the short one. In older patients, peak velocity at the time of atrial contraction (A) and A’ values were higher and peak early velocity wave (E), early diastolic velocity (E’), E/A ratio and E’/A’ ratio lower than in the younger subset. Increased the value of SLEDAI correlated with increased A’ and decreased E, E/A ratio and E’/A’ ratio in SLE subjects. Further analysis concerning the strong connection of these parameters with patients’ age, however, revealed no statistically significant correlation between SLEDAI values and LV diastolic function parameters. In long (>10 years) disease duration LV diastolic properties were worse.     

The graded anxiety test: a novel test of murine unconditioned anxiety based on the principles of the elevated plus-maze and light-dark test

The trajectory of secretory vesicles to their fusion sites at the plasma membrane is expected to give insight into the mechanisms that underlie vesicle transport, maturation and the initiation of membrane fusion. Evanescent-wave (EW) microscopy allows the tracking of fluorescently labeled granules and vesicles prior to fusion with nanometer precision in xy-direction. At the same time, the exponential sensitivity of granular fluorescence to experimental parameters can preclude quantitative estimates of the granule's approach to the plasma membrane. Thus, it has remained controversial to which extent axial distance can be obtained from simple intensity measurements. We used the information contained in a stack of images acquired at 80-125 nm penetration depth of the EW field to estimate individual granule diameter and axial distance. A population analysis on 90 granules revealed an average diameter of 305 +/- 47 nm, below the diffraction-limited 352 +/- 31 nm obtained from xy measurements at fixed depth penetration. Stimulation of exocytosis by potassium depolarization resulted in the selective loss of the 18 +/- 5% of granules located closest to the plasma membrane, while a second population of granules located 60 nm deeper within the cytoplasm increased by recruitment of granules previously located at > or = 120 nm depth. These measurements extend and corroborate previous observations at fixed penetration depth of functionally distinct granule populations. Parameters influencing the accuracy of the parameter estimation are evaluated in the appendix.     

Ethmomaxillary sinus

Ethmomaxillary sinus is a variation of the posterior ethmoid cells. It is formed by the extension of the posterior ethmoid cells into the maxillary sinus and drains into superior nasal meatus. It is incidentally seen on paranasal sinus computerized tomography (CT) scans. Its prevalence has been reported as 0.7 and 2% in two studies. In this study, paranasal CT scans of 466 patients were investigated for the presence of ethmomaxillary sinus. The patients had paranasal CT with the preliminary diagnoses of septal deviation, chronic inflammatory paranasal sinus disease and nasal turbinate disorders. The ethmomaxillary sinus was present in nine of those patients (1.93%). It was septated in one of them. The CTs were further investigated for other anatomical variations and co-existent mucosal disease of the paranasal sinuses.     

Coexistence of Addison-Biermer's anaemia with endocrine glands' dysfunctions

Addison-Biermer's anaemia is an autoimmune disease. It may coexist with other auto-aggressive diseases, precede them or join the other existing autoimmune diseases. It most often accompanies the Hashimoto disease but also may coexist polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PGA). Three types of PGA are distinguished: PGA1--Blizzard's Syndrome, PGA2--Schmidt's Syndrome, and PGA3. The latter, unlike the remaining ones, is characterized by normal function of adrenal glands. Addison-Biermer's anaemia occurrence may be often difficult to diagnose as coexisting illnesses might ouflage its clinical symptoms. The aim of this paper was to analyse patients with different types of PGA with coexisting Addison-Biermer's anaemia. Group of 24 individuals was analysed: 2 women with PGA1, 10 patients with PGA2, 10 patients with PGA3. In 2 remaining ones PGA was not confirmed. Addison-Biermer's anaemia occurred in 7 patients (2 with PGA2 and 5 with PGA3 syndrome). Decreased concentration of vitamin B12 was diagnosed in 3 individuals among 24 examined patients (1 with type 3 and 2 with type 2), as well in 2 patients with unconfirmed PGA. Addison-Biermer's anaemia was not observed in patients with PGA1. We observed that megaloblastic anaemia occurred characteristic schedule depending on appearance of autoimmune diseases: in PGA2--many years after other immunopathies were found, in PGA3--as first auto-aggressive disease. Our analysis suggests the necessity of detailed check-ups on patients with Addison-Biermer's anaemia, as with time they may develop other diseases, especially hypothyroidism and/or PGA failure. On the contrary, in individuals with thyroid gland diseases and PGA syndromes further checkups should be megaloblastic anaemia-sensitive. In both cases it is important to consider substitutive treatment. The possibility of family coexisting both pernicious anaemia and autoimmune endocrinopathies needs diagnostics of members of the patient's family.     

Higher order memories for objects encountered in different spatio-temporal contexts in mice: evidence for episodic memory

The ability to build higher order multi-modal memories comprising information about the spatio-temporal context of events has been termed 'episodic memory'. Deficits in episodic memory are apparent in a number of neuropsychiatric diseases. Unfortunately, the development of animal models of episodic memory has made little progress. Towards the goal of such a model we devised an object exploration task for mice, providing evidence that rodents can associate object, spatial and temporal information. In our task the mice learned the temporal sequence by which identical objects were introduced into two different contexts. The 'what' component of an episodic memory was operationalized via physically distinct objects; the 'where' component through physically different contexts, and, most importantly, the 'when' component via the context-specific inverted sequence in which four objects were presented. Our results suggest that mice are able to recollect the inverted temporal sequence in which identical objects were introduced into two distinct environments. During two consecutive test trials mice showed an inverse context-specific exploration pattern regarding identical objects that were previously encountered with even frequencies. It seems that the contexts served as discriminative stimuli signaling which of the two sequences are decisive during the two test trials.