Preservation of Bile Ductules Mitigates Bile Duct Loss

The finer branches of the biliary tree (FBBT) contain a regenerative compartment. We hypothesized that preservation of the FBBT together with its microvasculature will lead to recovery of biliary damage and prolonged preservation of bile ductules during the development of chronic liver allograft rejection. The interlobular bile ducts, portal bile ductules and extraportal biliary cells with and without microvessels were studied in sequential biopsies in five patients who fulfilled the Banff criteria of early chronic rejection (CR) (imminence group). Biopsies of CR patients (n = 12) served as controls. Biopsies were double immunostained with CD34 (microvessels) and cytokeratin 7 (biliary structures). Proliferation and proangiogenic activity were assessed with Ki67 and VEGF-A immunostaining. Severe damage of bile ducts in the imminence group did not progress to significant bile duct loss. This was associated with a high proliferative activity in all biliary structures and preservation of the microvascular compartment. VEGF-A expression was increased in all but the reperfusion biopsies. In conclusion, both regenerative activity of the FBBT and an intact microvascular compartment are associated with less damage of the biliary tree and could therefore be prerequisites for biliary regeneration.     

Orthotopic liver transplantation in children

Between 1-1-1982 and 1-1-1988 52 children with an end-stage liver disease were evaluated to determine whether orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) would be appropriate. 24 children were accepted as candidates in the long term. Twelve were not accepted as potential recipients. The parents of 3 decided not to accept OLT as treatment for their children. Two children died before a suitable donor liver was available, so that OLT was carried out in 11 children. Two of these children needed a second transplant. In 3 children only a part of a donor liver was transplanted. Shortage of donor livers of small size is partly alleviated by using a part of a larger liver. The underlying diseases of the transplanted children were cryptogenic cirrhosis (1x), biliary atresia with a hepatoportoenterostomy (8x) and cirrhosis following neonatal hepatitis (2x). Ten children with OLT are clinically and physically well. Postoperatively a primary graft dysfunction occurred in one child. He was retransplanted. The median waiting time for a donor liver was 5 months. The timing for OLT has to take this in account. In treating children with end-stage liver disease (partial) OLT should be considered.     

Climate change, human health, and sustainable development.

Human-induced climate change threatens ecosystems and human health on a global scale. In order to withstand the worldwide threats to ecosystems, the concept of sustainable development was introduced during the 1980s. Since then, this concept has been widely applied to guide and focus policy-making. The present article reviews the health consequences of human-induced climate change on sustainable development, particularly the potential impact of such change of food supply, natural disasters, infectious diseases, ecosystems, and sea level rise. Discussed is an integrated model containing the key indicators of sustainable development. The relevance of climate change, human health, and sustainable development for international climate change policy is also examined.     

Liver transplantation: patients' experiences

The Dutch orthotopic liver transplant programme was evaluated recently. This article focuses on the physical functioning, the pattern of activities, the social functioning and the level of wellbeing of 31 transplant patients. Data were generated by means of questionnaires and interviews. The majority of the patients look upon themselves as 'healthy'. Their physical potential has greatly improved. Three-quarters of the patient group think they are able to go back to work. However, from the interviews it appears that one third of the patient group suffered from more or less serious psychological problems following transplantation.     

Effects of preparation techniques on the porosity of acrylic cements

We investigated four acrylic cement preparation techniques for their effects on cement porosity: hand mixing, pressurization in a pneumatic pistol, centrifugation, and vacuum mixing. All the techniques were tested on three types of cement with different viscosity characteristics. The best results were obtained with vacuum mixing using a newly designed experimental system, yielding porosity reductions of 60-80 percent relative to hand mixing. Vacuum mixing with a commercial system was also effective, but to a somewhat lesser extent.

Pressurization and centrifugation had no substantial effect on the overall porosity. Centrifugation led to considerable nonuniformity in the distribution of pores and additives.     

Distribution of spermatogenesis in the testicles of azoospermic men: the presence or absence of spermatids in the testes of men with germinal failure [published erratum appears in Hum Reprod 1998 Mar;13(3):780]

The aim of the study was to determine whether a prior diagnostic testicle biopsy can predict success or failure of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia caused by testicular failure, and what is the minimum threshold of sperm production in the testis which must be surpassed for spermatozoa to reach the ejaculate. Forty- five patients with non-obstructive azoospermia caused by testicular failure underwent diagnostic testicle biopsy prior to a planned future TESE-ICSI procedure. The diagnostic testicle biopsy was analysed quantitatively, and correlated with the quantitative findings of spermatogenesis in patients with normal spermatogenesis, as well as with the results of subsequent attempts at TESE-ICSI. Men with non- obstructive azoospermia caused by germinal failure had a mean of 0-6 mature spermatids/seminiferous tubule seen on a diagnostic testicle biopsy, compared to 17-35 mature spermatids/tubule in men with normal spermatogenesis and obstructive azoospermia. These findings were the same for all types of testicular failure whether Sertoli cell only, maturation arrest, cryptorchidism, or post-chemotherapy azoospermia. Twenty-two of 26 men with mature spermatids found in the prior testis biopsy had successful retrieval of spermatozoa for ICSI, 12 of their partners became pregnant, and are either ongoing or delivered. The study suggests that 4-6 mature spermatids/tubule must be present in the testis biopsy for any spermatozoa to reach the ejaculate. More than half of azoospermic patients with germinal failure have minute foci of spermatogenesis which are insufficient to produce spermatozoa in the ejaculate. Prior diagnostic testicle biopsy analysed quantitatively (for the presence of mature spermatids) can predict subsequent success or failure with TESE-ICSI. Incomplete testicular failure may involve a sparse multi-focal distribution of spermatogenesis throughout the entire testicle, rather than a regional distribution. Therefore, it is possible that massive testicular sampling from many different regions of the testes may not be necessary for successful TESE-ICSI.      

Adhesion inhibitory activity of β-lactoglobulin isolated from infant formulae

β-Lactoglobulin was isolated from infant formulae that were ultra high temperature (UHT) -treated, sterilized or spray-dried. The effect of the isolated β-lactoglobulin on SfaII-fimbriae-mediated adhesion of Escherichia coli to human ileostomy glycoproteins was studied in vitro. β-Lactoglobulin isolated from sterilized formulae was found to perform significantly less well than preparations from spray-dried formulae (p = 0:05). Great heterogeneity was observed in the adhesion inhibitory capacity of β-lactoglobulin isolated from UHT-treated formulae. Therefore, no significant difference was observed between UHT-treated and sterilized formulae or spray-dried formulae (p < 0:10). It can be hypothesized that β-lactoglobulin from spray-dried and some UHT-treated infant formulae may affect the colonization of mucous membranes by E. coli strains causing neonatal septicaemia and meningitis.     

Mutations in the retinal guanylate cyclase (RETGC-1) gene in dominant cone-rod dystrophy

The dominant cone-rod dystrophy gene CORD6 has previously been mapped to within an 8 cM interval on chromosome 17p12-p13. The retinal- specific guanylate cyclase gene (RETGC-1), which maps to within this genetic interval and previously was implicated in Leber's congenital amaurosis, was screened for mutations within this family and in a panel of small families and individuals with various cone and cone- rod dystrophy phenotypes. A missense mutation (E837D) was identified in affected members of the CORD6 family, as well as a second missense mutation (R838C) in three other families with dominant cone-rod dystrophy. RETGC-1 is only the fourth gene to be implicated in cone-rod dystrophy and this is the first report of dominant mutations in this gene.