Expression of mRNAs related to connective tissue metabolism in rat hepatic stellate cells and myofibroblasts

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and liver myofibroblasts (MFB) are two cell populations most likely responsible for the synthesis of most connective tissue components in fibrotic liver. They differ in their origin and location, and possibly in patterns of gene expression. Normal and carbon tetrachloride-cirrhotic livers from rats were used to isolate HSC. Liver was perfused with pronase and collagenase solutions, followed by centrifugation of the cell suspension on a density gradient. HSC were quiescent 2 days after plating on plastic but they became activated after another 5 days in culture. When the culture was passaged 5 times, its character changed profoundly as HSC were replaced by MFB. Microarray analysis was used to determine gene expression in quiescent HSC, activated HSC and MFB. The expression of 49 genes coding for connective tissue proteins, proteoglycans, metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, growth factors and cellular markers was determined. The pattern of gene expression changed during HSC activation and there were distinct differences between HSC and MFB. Little difference between normal cells and cells isolated from cirrhotic liver was found.     

Jellinek's developmental stages and their reality under our sociocultural conditions

In a group of 250 hospitalized male patients with the diagnosis 303 the author tested the aptness of Jellinek's developmental stages of alcoholism which are widely used in Czechoslovak alcohology. It was demonstrated that the developmental stages are not integrated developmental stages, that they lack the necessary compactness in the chronological sequence and in the frequency of individual phenomena. Loss of control (8) in the reported form is closer to the onset of development and the frequency of palimpsests (7) develops later, usually is overlaps with prolonged drunkedness (31). At the onset of development dominates "non-adaptive" drinking evaluated frequently as loss of control and in the more advanced stage the constant incidence of palimpsests causes frequent intoxication and declining tolerance. Among individual phenomena the following are important: in stage I regular contact with the drug (04) and increased tolerance (05), in stage II secret drinking (2) and frequency of palimpsests (7), in stage III signs derived mostly from rationalization and alcohol-centered behaviour and finally in stage IV impaired thinking (33), reduced tolerance (37) and possible ethic degradation (32). As to different developmental stages the chronic stage sounds most convincing.     

Analysis of LMNB1 Duplications in Autosomal Dominant Leukodystrophy Provides Insights into Duplication Mechanisms and Allele‐Specific Expression

Autosomal dominant leukodystrophy (ADLD) is an adult onset demyelinating disorder that is caused by duplications of the lamin B1 (LMNB1) gene. However, as only a few cases have been analyzed in detail, the mechanisms underlying LMNB1 duplications are unclear. We report the detailed molecular analysis of the largest collection of ADLD families studied, to date. We have identified the minimal duplicated region necessary for the disease, defined all the duplication junctions at the nucleotide level and identified the first inverted LMNB1 duplication. We have demonstrated that the duplications are not recurrent; patients with identical duplications share the same haplotype, likely inherited from a common founder and that the duplications originated from intrachromosomal events. The duplication junction sequences indicated that nonhomologous end joining or replication‐based mechanisms such fork stalling and template switching or microhomology‐mediated break induced repair are likely to be involved. LMNB1 expression was increased in patients’ fibroblasts both at mRNA and protein levels and the three LMNB1 alleles in ADLD patients show equal expression, suggesting that regulatory regions are maintained within the rearranged segment. These results have allowed us to elucidate duplication mechanisms and provide insights into allele‐specific LMNB1 expression levels.     

Isolated endobronchial metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma a decade after primary diagnosis: a case report with review of literature

Endobronchial metastasis from extrapulmonary malignant tumors is rare. The clinical and radiological features of endobronchial metastases and primary bronchogenic carcinoma are indistinguishable. Here, we report a case of isolated endobronchial metastasis of renal cell carcinoma almost a decade after initial presentation. The importance of histopathology and immunohistochemistry has been emphasized in this case. It is thereby worthwhile to consider endobronchial metastases as a differential diagnosis in patients with persistent pulmonary symptoms having a previous history of non-pulmonary malignancy.     

S-POEM in treatment of achalasia and esophageal epiphrenic diverticula – single center experience

Abstract

Background: Standard treatment for esophageal epiphrenic diverticula associated with achalasia includes surgical diverticulectomy, myotomy and anterior fundoplication. However, several case reports published recently suggest that endoscopic approach using per oral endoscopic myotomy is a safe and effective alternative.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of a single center case series of patients with achalasia and epiphrenic diverticula. During the treatment, the POEM guided on the opposite site of the diverticular neck without diverticulotomy was performed. Symptomatic outcome was evaluated 3 months after procedure and afterwards with the median follow-up time of 24 months. High resolution manometry was performed 3 months after the procedure.

Results: Seven patients with esophageal epiphrenic diverticula were included. POEM was successfully performed in all patients, with no complications in the periprocedural period. We observed a significant reduction of Eckardt score and the relaxation pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (31.8 vs. 8.8?mmHg, p < .0001).

Conclusions: POEM is a promising approach in the management of achalasia and esophageal epiphrenic diverticula. We demonstrated its safety, efficiency and ability to provide symptom reduction and decrease of the LES relaxation pressure even without diverticulotomy. Multicentric studies on larger cohorts of patients and with longer follow-up time are required to confirm these results.     

Microanalysis of Worn Surfaces of Selected Rotating Parts of an Internal Combustion Engine

The present paper analyzes the damage of surfaces at spots of frictional contact, namely, the friction nodes on a camshaft and the connecting rod pins of a crankshaft. The resulting wear of the monitored friction nodes reduces the technical life of the machines, which can lead to the decommissioning of the machine. Wear was assessed by measuring roughness and microhardness and by observing the microstructures of the materials. The results of the experiments show that the rotating parts displayed visible wear on the cams, as well as on the connecting rod pins. The experiments revealed that wear was caused by the heating of the material to a high temperature during the operation of the machine and that there was a gradual cooling and tempering of the material, which led to a reduction in the microhardness of the monitored object. Lower microhardness values can be a cause of greater wear of the monitored objects. When comparing the microhardness of the used and the new camshaft, the hardened layer of the new camshaft from secondary production has a significantly smaller thickness compared to worn cams, which leads to the finding of a different material quality compared to the original parts from primary production. This fact indicates that the wear of a new camshaft as a spare part can contribute to the shortening of the technical life of friction nodes.     

徐金合剂治疗白塞氏病眼部病变106例临床分析

自1972年,我科用中药徐金合剂治疗白塞氏病并发眼病106例,多数为中青年,眼并发症主要有葡萄膜炎和视网膜血管病变(77.68％),近期疗效的有效率和显效率各占86.79％和57.55％,长期持续治疗有效率93.44％,显效率为75.41％,失明率3.28％,与停药对照组比较有显著差异。     

Malleus-to-footplate ossicular reconstruction prosthesis positioning: cochleovestibular pressure optimization.

AIMS: To determine 1) the best position for hydroxylapatite malleus-to-footplate (MFP), ossicular replacement prosthesis (ORP) in reconstructed ears, and 2) whether preserving the stapes superstructure (SS), when present, has acoustic advantages. BACKGROUND: Positioning of the MFP-ORP head beneath the neck of the malleus may produce maximal force, whereas positioning beneath the manubrium of the malleus may produce the greatest displacement. It is not clear which is the optimal placement position. In addition, we look at the effect of the SS on sound transmission to the inner ear in ossicular reconstruction. METHODS: The ear-canal air pressure and vestibular hydro-pressure were measured in human cadaver temporal bones with incus intact, removed, and replaced with the MFP-ORP; the ORP head was placed at three different positions on the malleus (head, mid-manubrium, and umbo) while keeping its base at the center of stapes footplate with intact or removed stapes SS. The vestibular pressure ratio between the ear with intact incus and MFP-ORP reconstructed ear is defined as Lmfp, the loss caused by the prosthesis in relation to the normal ossicular chain. RESULTS: The mean magnitude of Lmfp, averaged in the important speech frequency region of 0.5 to 3 kHz, is approximately 7.8 dB at the neck with stapes SS. In comparison, mean magnitude of Lmfp for mid-manubrium without stapes SS is 15 dB (p = 0.04), and with the stapes SS it is 16 dB (p = 0.05), whereas at the umbo without SS it is 15 dB (p = 0.03). In the 8 kHz region, the mean magnitude of Lmfp is approximately 1 dB with the stapes SS intact and approximately 8.5 dB when it was removed (p < 0.09). CONCLUSION: There are significant physiologic advantages to placing the hydroxylapatite MFP-ORP beneath the neck of the malleus and preserving the SS.