Further study on the vascular basis for the reimplantation of the hand amputated through the palm

Summary Based on the anatomic data obtained from earlier studies on the vascular anatomy of the hand, the vascular architecture in the palm of the hand was studied on 60 sides of unembalmed adult upper extremities. Each palm was divided into 64 squares by 8 sagittal and 8 transverse sections. The vascular architecture in these squares and the arterial relations between them were observed and measured by angiography, operative microscopic dissection and computerised three-dimensional reconstruction. According to the pattern of the blood-vessels, the amputated palms can be classified into 4 types. The anatomic basis for the vascular anastomosis in each type is defined. There are three key-areas for the blood-supply of the palm and their significance is discussed. Apart from the 4 types of transversely amputated palms, the repair programe of the blood-vessles in 4 types of common obliquely amputated palms are also discussed.

---

Etude complémentaire de l'anatomie vasculaire de la main pour la réimplantation des amputations transpalmaires

Résumé Sur la base de données anatomiques obtenues lors de précédents travaux sur l'anatomie vasculaire de la main, l'architecture vasculaire palmaire a été étudiée sur 60 extrémités supérieures de cadavres d'adultes, non embaumés. Chaque paume a été divisée en 64 carrés par 8 sections sagittales et 8 sections transversales. L'architecture vasculaire à l'intérieur des carrés et les relations artérielles entre eux ont été étudiées et mesurées par angiographie, dissection au microscope opérateur et reconstruction computérisée en 3D. Les paumes amputées ont été regroupées en 4 types d'après la distribution des vaisseaux sanguins. Les données anatomiques concernant les anastomoses vasculaires sont précisées. Il existe trois zones clés pour l'irrigation de la paume. Leur importance quant à l'irrigation de la main est exposée. Outre la division des paumes amputées transversalement en 4 types, le programme de réparation de vaisseaux dans les 4 types d'amputations obliques communes de la paume et aussi discuté.

     

Structural and functional aspects of platelet-derived growth factor and its role in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family consists of three different dimeric forms, AA, BB, and AB, of the two consitituent polypeptide chains, A and B. These interact with two different cell surface receptors that, in part, mediate different cellular functions. The various forms of PDGF, as well as the receptors, are expressed at high frequency in glioblastoma multiforme, and it has been suggested that the growth of this tumor might be affected by autocrine loops involving PDGF and its receptors. The present paper focuses on recent discoveries regarding the family of PDGF ligands and receptors, as well as reviews results concerning PDGF-dependent autocrine growth in experimental and spontaneous glioblastoma.     

Age-related accumulation of amyloid inclusions in adrenal cortical cells.

Cytoplasmic fine fibrillar inclusions with properties of amyloid occur as neurofibrillary tangles in the brain and in the aging choroid plexus. In the present study we show that inclusions, similar but not identical to those in the choroid plexus, are common in the adrenal cortex of elderly persons. The inclusions consist of aggregates of parallel fine fibrils, often in contact with lipid droplets and partially limited by a membrane. The inclusions have affinity for Congo red and exhibit a bright green birefringence after this staining. Therefore, the inclusions can be regarded as a form of senile amyloid.     

Senile aortic amyloid. Evidence for two distinct forms of localized deposits.

Aortic tissues obtained at autopsy were examined from 84 patients (age, 18-96 years). Amyloid deposits were present in the media in 61 of 63 (97%) of the patients above the age of 50. In addition, intimal amyloid deposits were present in 35% of this group. Intimal amyloid differed from medial amyloid both in its morphologic characteristics and its association with atherosclerosis. An antiserum raised to a low molecular weight protein extracted from amyloid fibrils of the aortic media reacted specifically with medial amyloid but did not react with intimal deposits. Neither type of amyloid reacted with anti-ATTR (Senile systemic amyloid), anti-AANF (isolated atrial amyloid), or antisera to other known forms of amyloid. These findings are consistent with the presence of two separate forms of localized amyloid in the aging aorta.     

Islet amyloid polypeptide in proliferating pancreatic B cells during development, hyperplasia, and neoplasia in humans and mice.

The occurrence of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) immunoreactivity was investigated in fetal pancreas, islet cell hyperplasia, and tumors in humans and mice. Transgenic mice heritably developing endocrine tumors of the pancreas (AVP/SV40, Rip 1 Tag2/Rip2PyST1 and Glu2-Tag strains) were used as murine models of islet cells proliferative disease. In the mouse, IAPP immunoreactivity was found in B cells at embryonic day 12 (E12), paralleling the onset of insulin immunoreactivity. In hyperplastic/dysplastic islets and in B-cell tumors of transgenic mice (n = 16), IAPP immunoreactivity was localized consistently to insulin-immunoreactive cells. Ultrastructural single- and double-immunogold labeling of transgenic mice B-cell tumors (n = 3) showed insulin and IAPP to be colocalized in beta granules. In human fetuses, IAPP immunoreactivity was found in insulin-immunoreactive B cells, but at a later gestational age than the onset of insulin immunoreactivity. In pancreatic specimens of infantile/neonatal persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (11 cases) and in pancreatic endocrine tumors (21 cases, 10 of which were functioning insulinomas), IAPP immunoreactivity was found consistently in insulin-immunoreactive B cells. Congo-red-positive amyloid deposits present in tumors also were IAPP immunoreactive. Ultrastructural single and double immunogold labeling of infantile/neonatal persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia cases (n = 3) and functioning insulinomas (n = 2) showed IAPP and insulin to be colocalized in beta granules. In addition, IAPP immunoreactivity was observed in amyloidlike fibrils. These findings indicate that IAPP is a constitutive component of B cells. Possible relationships between IAPP and insulin expression and interspecies differences are suggested and discussed.     

p190RhoGAP can act to inhibit PDGF-induced gliomas in mice: a putative tumor suppressor encoded on human chromosome 19q13.3

p190RhoGAP and Rho are key regulators of oligodendrocyte differentiation. The gene encoding p190RhoGAP is located at 19q13.3 of the human chromosome, a locus that is deleted in 50%-80% of oligodendrogliomas. Here we provide evidence that p190RhoGAP may suppress gliomagenesis by inducing a differentiated glial phenotype. Using a cell culture model of autocrine loop PDGF stimulation, we show that reduced Rho activity via p190RhoGAP overexpression or Rho kinase inhibition induced cellular process extension, a block in proliferation, and reduced expression of the neural precursor marker nestin. In vivo infection of mice with retrovirus expressing PDGF and the p190 GAP domain caused a decreased incidence of oligodendrogliomas compared with that observed with PDGF alone. Independent experiments revealed that the retroviral vector insertion site in 3 of 50 PDGF-induced gliomas was within the p190RhoGAP gene. This evidence strongly suggests that p190 regulates critical components of PDGF oncogenesis and can act as a tumor suppressor in PDGF-induced gliomas by down-regulating Rho activity.     

Serum prealbumin and retinol-binding protein in the prealbumin-related senile and familial forms of systemic amyloidosis

In a series of 13 elderly patients with proven prealbumin-related senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA), depressed serum prealbumin values (110.7 +/- 14.1 micrograms/ml) were found as compared to an age-matched control group (175.1 +/- 20.3 micrograms/ml). As expected, there was a significant correlation between serum prealbumin and serum retinol-binding proteins in both groups of patients. Patients with reactive amyloid protein AA amyloidosis had slightly depressed serum prealbumin concentrations, whereas patients with prealbumin-related familial amyloidosis of Swedish type had prealbumin values within normal limits. Since the serum levels of the acute phase reactants, haptoglobin and amyloid-related serum protein AA, were higher in the group of patients with reactive amyloidosis than in patients with SSA, the depression of the prealbumin levels in SSA is not a result of inflammation. Since SSA is known to contain prealbumin, it is possible that a disturbed prealbumin metabolism in old age results in low prealbumin serum values and deposition of amyloid.     

Chain mobility in solid polyelectrolyte complexes

²H NMR is used to study the mobility of the alkylene chain in solid poly[(dimethyliminio)-alkylene]s (α,ω-ionenes) complexed with poly(styrenesulfonate). In 10, 10-ionene the alkylene chain motion was probed on samples selectively deuterated at the 1-, 2-, and 4-position as well as in the methyl part of the quaternary ammonium groups. ²H NMR spectra show that all positions in the polymethylene chains are involved in conformational jumps between trans and gauche states. The mobility of the methylene units adjacent to charged centres was found to be significantly reduced compared with that of units in the inner part of the chain. The charged quaternary ammonium groups themselves, however, do not take part in trans-gauche isomerization. An increase in mobility resulting from increasing the length of the alkylene chains between the charge centres was observed in 3,3-, 6,6- and 10,10-ionene complexes labelled in the 2-position. The differences in chain dynamics were also detected via EPR line shapes of small spin probe molecules incorporated into the complexes.