Improving Prenatal Diagnosis of Coarctation of the Aorta

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between fetal echocardiographic measurements and the need for intervention (primary coarctation repair, staged coarctation repair, or catheter intervention) in prenatally diagnosed coarctation of the aorta.

History of Articulators: Henry L. "Harry" Page and the Transograph

The intention of this article is to introduce the reader to the Transograph from a historical perspective. The technical data presented are intended to help the reader understand the design of this unique instrument and how it was programmed, but will not provide the reader a thorough understanding of this philosophy. The article seeks neither to defend nor criticize the principles of Transographics.     

A De Novo novel mutation of the EDNRB gene in a Taiwanese boy with Hirschsprung disease.

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder characterized by an absence of ganglion cells in the nerve plexuses of the lower digestive tract. Although mutations in eight different genes (EDNRB, EDN3, ECE1, SOX10, RET, GDNF, NTN, SIP1) have been identified in affected individuals, it is now clear that RET and EDNRB are the primary genes implicated in the etiology of HSCR. All eight genes are involved in the early development of the enteric nervous system, and most act through two distinct biochemical pathways mediated by RET and EDNRB. Mutations in RET and EDNRB account for up to 50% and 5% of HSCR cases in the general population, respectively. Interaction between these two signaling pathways could modify RET expression and, therefore, HSCR phenotype. Here, we report the case of a 1-year-old Taiwanese boy who presented with abdominal distension since birth and bilious vomiting after feeding. HSCR (short-segment type) was diagnosed based on X-ray, lower gastrointestinal series and biopsy findings. Mutation analysis revealed a heterozygous T>C missense mutation in exon 1 of the EDNRB gene, that substitutes the highly conserved cysteine-90 residue in the extracellular domain of the G protein-coupled receptor with an arginine residue (C90R). No RET gene mutation was detected in this patient.     

Growth and development in rats and deficiency of magnesium and pyridoxine

Eight-eight female weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing either 650 or 150 mg magnesium/kg diet and 7.0 or 3.5 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg diet, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, during growth, gestation, and lactation. The objective of the study was to determine whether concurrent dietary deficiencies of magnesium and pyridoxine were synergistic, additive, or antagonistic with regards to effects on reproductive performance, growth, and development of offspring, and tissue content of magnesium and calcium. Body weight of dams and pups was not different between groups until day 9 of lactation, at which point those animals in either low magnesium group weighed less than the other. Litter size and birth weight were not different. Development, as measured by timing of unfolding of the external ear, opening of both eyes, and clinical emergence of incisors, was delayed in pups from litters in the low magnesium groups. A synergistic effect on delay of onset of ear unfolding by deficiency of both magnesium and pyridoxine was observed. Calcium content of heart and kidney from dams was increased in the low magnesium groups. Renal calcium was not further increased by the level of pyridoxine deficiency in this study. The calcium to magnesium ratio in heart from pups was higher in those from litters in the low magnesium and pyridoxine group than in the others. Results indicate that simultaneous deficiencies of magnesium and pyridoxine may impair function synergistically. Because these two nutrients are often reported to be presented in inadequate amounts in diets of women in their reproductive years, the potential exists for impaired reproductive success.     

Autoimmune-mediated sympathetic hearing loss: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Damage to one inner ear is occasionally followed by contralateral sensorineural hearing loss. This has been defined as sympathetic hearing loss. HYPOTHESIS: It is hypothesized that autoimmunity can play a role in the pathogenesis of sympathetic hearing loss. METHODS: A male patient who developed right-sided sympathetic hearing loss at 20 years of age, 11 years after deafness of the left ear caused by a temporal bone fracture, is described. The patient's serum was analyzed for the presence of autoantibodies against inner ear tissues by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting using rat inner ear tissues. The patient's serum was tested specifically for antibodies against heat shock protein 70 by immunodot blot. The presence of autoantibodies known to play a role in systemic autoimmune disease was also examined. RESULTS: Immunocytochemistry on rat temporal bone sections demonstrated autoantibodies in the patient's serum specifically targeted against cochlear outer hair cells. No reactivity of the patient's serum was observed with control tissues including kidney, brain, and liver. Western blotting using homogenized rat cochlear tissues showed that the patient's serum reacted with a 25- and 27-kDa protein. No reactivity was observed with heat shock protein 70 in the immunodot blot analysis. The patient's serum did not contain autoantibodies against antinuclear antibodies, double-stranded DNA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, basement membrane, reticulin, intestinal mucosa, muscle, collagen, or mitochondria. CONCLUSION: Observations indicate that this patient suffered sympathetic hearing loss caused by organospecific autoimmunity directed to cochlear outer hair cells.     

133Granulation Tissue Induction by Lassar Ointment vs. Collagen‐Polyvynilpyrrolidone in Venous Ulcers

Venous leg ulcers derived from tissue destruction is the consequence of a chronic inflammatory process that produces pain and physical disability, diminishing quality of life in patients. In this work, Lassar ointment and lyophilized collagen‐polyvinylpyrrolidone were administered separated each on one half in the same ulcer to 9 patients at the beginning and every 4 days. On day 16, all patients were auto‐grafted with partial thickness skin. Granulation tissue and graft integration were assessed clinically during 3 months. Inflammatory infiltrate, type I and III collagens, elastic fibers, alkaline phosphatase as well as blood vessels were evaluated histologically or histochemically in biopsies taken at the beginning and 16 days after the local treatment. Clinically and morphologically, both treatments demonstrated appropriate granulation tissue promotion and optimal graft integration since the beginning. Nevertheless, in Lassar ointment treated group regionalization of alkaline phosphatase activity was observed, as well as the presence of granuloma in 2 of the 9 patients. In conclusion, Lassar ointment or lyophilized collagen‐polyvinylpyrrolidone are two different promoters of granulation tissue in venous leg ulcers, however Lassar ointment has the capability to produce granuloma and an exacerbated immune response; in consequence, ulcer recidivism could be present, may be due to mineral deposits in the wound.     

Generation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cell lines from naive precursors

The conditions required for sensitizing naive T cells to nominal antigen are poorly understood. In this report we describe an in vitro system for generating antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells from previously unprimed individuals. Freshly isolated CD4⁺ T cells were cultured with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), sperm whale myoglobin (SWM), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp 160, antigens to which most persons have not been sensitized, in the presence of either dendritic cells (DC) or macrophages (MΦ). In short-term (< 8 days) cultures, CD4⁺ T cells or their CD4⁺, CD45RA (naive) subpopulation mounted significant proliferative responses to KLH, SWM, and HIV gp160, but only if the antigens were presented by DC. In contrast, CD4⁺, CD45RO (memory) T cells responded poorly to these antigens, although they responded vigorously to tetanus toxoid, a recall antigen, presented by either DC or MΦ. KLH- and SWM-specific CD4⁺ T cell lines were established from the starting population that had been sensitized in vitro, following repeated stimulation with antigen and MΦ in medium supplemented with interleukin-2 and interleukin-4. Despite the continued presence of these cytokines during T cell expansion, the expanded lines retained their ability to respond to the priming antigen in the absence of exogenous cytokines. When the CD45RA and CD45RO subpopulations were sensitized and expanded separately, the CD45RA cells alone gave rise to antigen-specific T cell lines, while the CD45RO cells proliferated nonspecifically. These results demonstrate that human naive CD4⁺ T cells can be sensitized in vitro to nominal antigens presented by DC and that the sensitized cells can be expanded into long-term lines that retain their antigen specificity.     

MEASUREMENTS OF INTERFACE PRESSURE BETWEEN BODY SITES AND THE SURFACES OF FOUR SPECIALISED AIR MATTRESSES

SUMMARY Four specialised air mattresses had interface pressure measured under six body sites prone to pressure sores in 10 subjects, supine and sitting. The mattresses were the Clinirest (SSI) and FirstStep (KCI) continuous airflow mattress overlays, and Airwave (Pegasus) and Nimbus (Huntleigh) alternating pressure air mattresses. On the mattress overlays, average supine interface pressures were 2.33 kPa (scapula), 4.15 kPa (elbow), 1.94 kPa (sacrum) and 2.79 kPa (buttock), although they were higher at the occiput (7.97 kPa) and heel (11.7 kPa). The alternating pressure air mattresses had an average minimum interface pressure close to zero for three sites, rising to 4.28 kPa under the heel. Average maximum interface pressures were 8.61 kPa (occiput), 5.21 kPa (scapula), 4.90 (elbow), 4.85 kPa (sacrum), 4.61 kPa (buttock) and 13.2 kPa (heel). No accepted scientific method exists for comparing the two types of mattress. Our data suggest a clinical benefit at the occiput and heel (supine) in using an alternating pressure air mattress and a benefit in using a continuous airflow mattress overlay at other sites.