Age-associated alterations in CXCL1 chemokine expression by murine B cells

Background  

The CXCL1 chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (KC), have been shown to play a role in a number of pathophysiological disease states including endotoxin-induced inflammation and bacterial meningitis. While the expression of these chemokines has been identified in a variety of cell types in the mouse, little is known about their expression with murine B-lymphocytes.     

Jet stream related iatrogenic retinal breaks during vitreo-retinal surgery

Purpose:To evaluate the causes of jet stream injury (JSI)-related iatrogenic retinal breaks (IRBs) during vitreoretinal surgery (VRS).Methods:The precise surgical environment, which includes the indication and type of surgical procedure, retina status, details of instrumentation and fluidic parameters, and characteristics of the jet responsible for the IRB, was noted from case records. The nature of IRB and its healing and impact on anatomical and visual outcomes were analyzed.Results:Five eyes of five patients with complete documentation of both the JSI and the IRB were included. Two cases were operated for macular hole, and one each for vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and endophthalmitis. One case had infusion-fluid-related JSI, while four developed it because of injection of surgical adjuncts (drugs, PFCL, and dye). JSI developed in two cases when the vitreous cavity was filled with fluid, while it was air-filled in three cases. In four cases, the fluid migrated into subretinal space, necessitating further maneuvers following which the breaks healed, but were directly responsible for vision loss in two cases.Conclusion:JSI related IRBs are rare but may be directly responsible for vision loss if they impact the macula. The balance between jet stream velocity, its distance from the retinal surface, the intervening media (vitreous cavity), and retinal health play an important role. It can occur because of both infusion as well as injection jets. Precautions must be taken in cases vulnerable to complications with suggested modifications in the surgical technique.     

Reevaluation of bone marrow-derived cells as a source for hepatocyte regeneration

We have investigated the contribution of intrasplenic bone marrow transplants or in vivo mobilized hematopoietic stem cells to the formation of hepatocytes in normal and injured liver. Direct intrasplenic injections of bone marrow mononuclear cells (5 x 10(5) cells), Scal+/lin- hematopoietic stem cells (5 x 10(3)) cells, and highly purified "side population" hematopoietic stem cells (5 x 10(3)) derived from enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-transgenic mice [C57Bl/6-TgN(ActbEGFP)1Osb] were performed in normal C57Bl/6 mice (n = 6) and in C57Bl/6 mice following two thirds hepatectomy (n = 8). To test the effect of mobilized stem cells on transdifferentiation, C57Bl/6 mice (n = 12) were lethally irradiated and reconstituted with EGFP-positive bone marrow mononuclear cells in a second series of experiments. Eight to 12 weeks after bone marrow transplantation a subset of mice (n = 3 in each group) received either rhG-CSF for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization, rhG-CSF combined with an intraperitoneal application of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) as hepatocyte regeneration stimulus, or CCl4 alone. All mice were completely perfused with PBS to remove circulating nonorgan cells for analyses 4 weeks later. Liver as well as heart, intestine, spleen, and kidney tissue was analyzed for the presence of EGFP-transgenic cells. In 100 sections (2.3 x 10(7) cells) of any recipient mouse no EGFP-positive hepatocytes were detected either by analysis of native EGFP fluorescence or by immunofluorescence analysis with anti-EGFP and antidipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV antibodies. EGFP-transgenic cells resembling heart, kidney, or intestinal cells could also not be proven. The results demonstrate that there is little or no contribution of bone marrow-derived cells to the regeneration of normal and injured liver in the animal models used. Thus, potential therapeutic prospects of hematopoietic stem cell therapy for liver disease have to be critically reassessed.     

Entropy Stable Scheme on Two-Dimensional Unstructured Grids for Euler Equations

We propose an entropy stable high-resolution finite volume scheme to approximate systems of two-dimensional symmetrizable conservation laws on unstructured grids. In particular we consider Euler equations governing compressible flows. The scheme is constructed using a combination of entropy conservative fluxes and entropy-stable numerical dissipation operators. High resolution is achieved based on a linear reconstruction procedure satisfying a suitable sign property that helps to maintain entropy stability. The proposed scheme is demonstrated to robustly approximate complex flow features by a series of benchmark numerical experiments.     

Prophylaxis of thromboembolism in spinal injuries--survey of practice in spinal units in the British Isles

AIM: Survey and discussion of the current thromboembolic prophylaxis practice in spinal injury units within the British Isles. BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with spinal injuries. A wide range of thromboprophylactic measures have been proposed. The optimum treatment and duration for thromboprophylaxis in spinal injuries is unknown. Different spinal units within the British Isles use different measures despite similar training backgrounds. The present study was performed to review practice and make suggestions on best practice using literature review. METHODS: All the 13 regional and national spinal injury referral centres within the British Isles were contacted to find out their protocols for thromboembolic prophylaxis in patients with acute spinal injuries. RESULTS: All units replied. A wide variation in methods used was found in different spinal units ranging from no chemical prophylaxis to oral anticoagulation with warfarin and contrasting views on the use of antithromboembolic stockings. CONCLUSION: All units recognised the risk of thromboembolism after spinal injuries. A wide variety of thromboprophylactic measures are used.     

Parathyroid Carcinoma: A Single-Institution Experience with an Emphasis on Histopathological Features

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare malignancy that poses a diagnostic challenge on histologic examination. We analyzed various clinicopathologic features of PC. Pathology reports and slides were reviewed to evaluate the diagnostic histopathologic features of archived cases of PC from the years of 2004–2018. The study cohort comprised twenty cases of PC. The median age was 49 years (range 21–73 years) with equal gender distribution (M:F = 1:1). Most patients presented with symptoms of hypercalcemia (n = 7, 54%). Serum calcium and serum parathyroid hormone were elevated in all but one patient. The right inferior parathyroid was commonly involved (n = 8/14, 57%). The mean tumor size was 2.4 cm (range 0.8–3.5 cm). On frozen section examination, PC was diagnosed in 8 out of 9 cases. Vascular (n = 19/20, 95%) and soft tissue invasion (n = 10/20, 50%) were the most common characteristic histologic findings. Capsular invasion was identified in all cases. Perineural invasion or metastasis at presentation was absent in all cases. Other histological features noted were intratumoral fibrous bands (70%), nodular growth pattern (70%), moderate nuclear atypia (30%), prominent nucleoli (20%), and necrosis (20%). Regional lymph nodes were negative for metastatic disease in all cases (n = 10). Eight out of 16 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Follow-up was available in 16 cases (median 21.5 months). Two patients died of disease. Vascular and soft tissue invasion are the most common diagnostic histologic features of PC. Capsular invasion is important to distinguish PC from its benign counterparts. Intraoperative frozen section examination can be used for accurate diagnosis and surgical management.