Correlation between amount of retinal afferents to the pretectal nucleus of the optic tract and dorsal terminal accessory optic nucleus and performance of horizontal optokinetic reflex in rat.

Intraocular kainic acid injection in Long-Evans rats induces loss of retinal afferents to subcortical visual centers as assessed by the axoplasmic transport of [14C]valine. The optical terminal fields of the pretectal nucleus of the optic tract (NOT), superior colliculus and accessory optic system (AOS) nuclei appear particularly affected. Since NOT and the AOS dorsal terminal nucleus (DTN) represent the first relay station of the visuomotor pathway mediating horizontal optokinetic nystagmus (HOKR), we have studied the characteristics of HOKR after various degrees of retinal deafferentation of these nuclei induced by intraocular KA injection. Taking advantage of the arrangement of the primary optic projections to NOT-DTN, that in rats are almost entirely crossed, in each animal, monocular HOKR induced by stimulation of the injected eye was compared to monocular HOKR elicited by stimulation of the intact, ipsilateral eye. Following NOT-DTN optic denervation, HOKR gain always worsened, and in a way, that the greater the deficits of retinal afferents, the greater the HOKR inability to compensate for visual motion. Furthermore, for any given retinal denervation the higher the stimulus velocity, the greater the HOKR deficit. While the correlation between HOKR gain and the amount of retinal afferents to NOT-DTN would seem to indicate a functional homogeneity of the retinal ganglion cells sending axons to these nuclei, the finding that the extent of HOKR impairment also varied with velocity might not support the above view.     

Perfluorochemicals as US contrast agents for tumor imaging and hepatosplenography: preliminary clinical results

In animals, perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are effective ultrasound (US) contrast agents that produce hepatic, splenic, and tumor enhancement. The use of Fluosol-DA 20%, an emulsion of perfluorodecalin and perfluorotripropylamine, was studied in nine non-critically ill patients with cancer who had liver lesions. US studies without Fluosol were compared with studies obtained 24, 48, and 72 hours after Fluosol infusion. Vital signs and extensive laboratory analyses are performed before and after Fluosol infusion. Liver metastases from colonic, pancreatic, and gastric carcinoma exhibited rim or diffuse enhancement after a Fluosol dose of 1.6 g/kg or greater. Fluosol produced echogenic enhancement of the liver and spleen relative to kidney at a dose of 2.4 g/kg, allowing the detection of nonenhancing lesions. In addition, Fluosol at a dose of 1.6 g/kg or greater allowed detection of lesions not seen before contrast medium was administered in three of the seven patients studied. There was a mild increase in the level of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in two patients, one given 2.4 and the other 3.2 g/kg of Fluosol. Mild and transient allergic reactions without change in vital signs were experienced by two patients.     

Quantitative assessment of the mucosal architecture of jejunal biopsy specimens: a comparison between linear measurement, stereology, and computer aided microscopy.

Fifty jejunal biopsy specimens obtained from normal subjects and from untreated and treated patients with coeliac disease were assessed blindly by three independent observers, each of them using different morphometric techniques-namely, linear measurement, stereology, and computer aided microscopy. In two of 26 control biopsy specimens linear measurement was not possible because of distortion of villi. Highly significant (p less than 0.001) correlation coefficients were found between the different techniques. With all methods significant differences between controls and patients with coeliac disease and between treated and untreated coeliac patients were found. Only by stereology, however, was there no overlap between results for patients and those for controls. In view of the limitations of linear measurement and the high cost and complexity of computer aided microscopy, we propose that a simple stereological technique using an eyepiece graticule is the method of choice in the quantitative assessment of mucosal architecture in jejunal biopsy specimens.     

The nitric oxide pathway in pre-eclampsia: pathophysiological implications

Pre-eclampsia, one of the most significant health problems inhuman pregnancy, complicates 6-7% of all gestations and is theleading cause of fetal growth retardation, infant morbidityand mortality, premature birth and maternal death. Recent researchimplicates free radicals in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.This review covers the biochemistry of nitric oxide (NO) andpossible interactions with other free radicals. Studies in therat show that pregnancy is associated with enhanced productionand responsiveness to NO in both reproductive tissues and bloodvessels. Rats infused with N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor) have been used as an animalmodel of pre-eclampsia, and the effects of steroid hormoneson blood pressure in this model have been tested. Results suggestthat pre-eclampsia may be a state of NO deficiency. However,in humans there seem to be contradictions regarding the involvementof NO in maternal adaptation to pregnancy. It is suggested thatNO may be one of several systems that act in concert to maintaina symbiotic relationship between mother and fetus. However,the input of each system may be genetically determined.     

Surgical sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection as treatment of obstructive azoospermia

Male genital tract obstructions may result from infections, previous inguinal and scrotal surgery (vasectomy) and congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD). Microsurgery can sometimes be successful in treating the obstruction. In other cases and in cases of failed surgical intervention, the patient can be treated by microsurgical or percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA, PESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). We present the results of 39 ICSI procedures for obstructive azoospermia in 24 couples. The aetiology of the obstruction was failed microsurgery in 11 patients, CBAVD in nine and genital infections in four. Sperm retrieval was accomplished via MESA in four cases, PESA in 18 cases and via TESE in 11 cases. TESE was only applied when PESA failed to produce enough spermatozoa for simultaneous ICSI. In six patients, the ICSI procedure was performed with cryopreserved spermatozoa after an initial PESA procedure. Fertilization occurred in 47% of the metaphase II oocytes; embryo transfer was performed in 92% of procedures and resulted in a clinical pregnancy in 13/39 procedures. Ongoing pregnancy was achieved in 10/39 procedures. One pregnancy was terminated early after prenatal investigation showed a cytogenetic abnormality (47,XX+18, Edwards syndrome). The other nine pregnancies resulted in the live birth of 10 children, without any congenital abnormalities. Epididymal and testicular retrieved spermatozoa were successfully used for ICSI to treat obstructive azoospermia, and resulted in an ongoing pregnancy in 10 of 24 couples (41.6%) after 39 ICSI procedures, a success rate of 25.6% per treatment cycle and of 27.7% per embryo transfer.