Endosalpingiosis in pregnancy

Summary. At caesarean section, an unusual cystic lesion was found on the anterior uterine surface and on both ovaries. Biopsy established a diagnosis of endosalpingiosis. The pathogenesis and possible significance of the lesion are discussed, this being the first time this condition has been described in pregnancy.     

Pituitary hormones and the small bowel: effect of hypophysectomy on intestinal adaptation to small bowel resection in the rat*

Abstract. The influence of pituitary hormones on intestinal adaptation to small bowel resection was studied by examining jejunal and ileal structure and function in control and in sham-operated rats, and in animals with 50% proximal or distal resection which were divided into three main groups: normally-fed, hypophysectomized, and pair-fed. The pituitary was removed 2 weeks before intestinal surgery and gut structure and function were studied 4 weeks later. The effectiveness of hypophysectomy was confirmed by histological examination of the aspirated pituitary, and by showing a significant subsequent reduction in weight of the testes and adrenals. Food intake and body weight fell significantly after removing the pituitary; intestinal surgery caused a transient further decrease in food intake. Measurements of intestinal villus height and crypt depth, indices of mucosal mass (mucosal wet weight, protein and DNA content/cm intestine), measurements of mucosal a-glucosidase activity, and in vivo galactose absorption/unit length of intestine all showed comparable results. In rats with an intact intestine, resection resulted in mucosal hyperplasia and increased segmental absorption. Following hypophysectomy, there was marked mucosal hypoplasia and hypofunction which seemed to be due largely to associated hypophagia since comparable changes were found in the pair-fed, sham-operated rats. However following pituitary removal, both distal jejunum and proximal ileum retained their capacity to regenerate though the magnitude of this adaptive change was much greater in the resected, pair-fed rats suggesting that hypophagia alone cannot explain the diminished adaptation to resection after hypophysectomy. By inference, pituitary hormones do influence the adaptive response to resection.     

Tissue Properties of the Fossa Ovalis as They Relate to Transseptal Punctures: A Translational Approach

Objectives

This study focused on how catheter size affects transseptal puncture, what transseptal indication means, and whether the swine model is predictive for humans.

Background

Transseptal puncture is a common procedure that gains access to the left atrium, allowing percutaneous mitral valve repair, left atrial appendage closure, and left‐sided ablations. The basic approach has not changed in many years; however, the frequency of transseptal punctures and the size of devices are increasing with emerging treatments.

Methods

A broad range of devices (4 F to 18 F) were advanced through atrial septa of swine hearts; some devices were inserted in both swine and human hearts using 10 F catheters.

Results

Greater forces were required to puncture through the septa of human hearts compared to those of swine. Larger catheters used in swine hearts required greater force to advance them through the septa, causing greater dilation of tissue and sometimes tearing the floor of the fossa ovalis; analyses indicated an exponential increase in the size of the iatrogenic atrial septal defect. Specific tissue property testing of the septum primum showed that this tissue sheared at a lower exerted force in a superior to inferior direction.

Conclusions

Results may provide physicians with important knowledge about what to expect when treating a possible iatrogenic atrial septal defect or help them understand the consequences of transseptal punctures. Comparative data between swine and human atrial septal tissue properties provide critical insights between the species and offer clinicians and device designers important information relative to differences in tissue behaviors. (J Interven Cardiol 2015;28:98–108)

     

Effect of Chronic Exposure of PCB (Aroclor 1254) on Specific and Nonspecific Immune Parameters in the Rhesus (Macaca mulatta) Monkey

Effects of Chronic Exposure of PCB (Aroclor 1254) on Specificand Nonspecific Immune Parameters in the Rhesus (Macaca mulatta)Monkey. Tryphonas, H., Luster, M. I., Schiffman, G., Dawson,L.-L., Hodgen, M., Germolec, D., Hayward, S., Bryce, F., Loo,J. C. K., Mandy, F., and Arnold, D. L. (1991). Fundam. Appl.Toxicol. 16, 773–786. The immunomodulatory effects oflow-level, chronic polychlorinated biphenyl PCB; (Aroclor 1254)exposure were investigated in female rhesus (Macaca mulatta)monkeys. Five groups of monkeys (initially 16 monkeyS/group)were orally administered PCB at levels of 0, 5, 20, 40, or 80µg/kg body wt/day. Tests for immunomodulation were initiatedafter 55 months of exposure to PCBs. Statistically significantobserved immune changes included a dose-related decrease inthe anamnestic (IgM and IgG) response to sheep red blood cells.Conversely, the antibody response to pneumococcus antigen didnot differ significantly across the test groups. A statisticallysignificant dose-related decrease in lymphoproliferation wasnoted with increasing doses of PCBs when phytohemagglutininand Concanavalin A, but not when pokeweed mitogen, were usedas mitogens. A trend toward reduced peak chemiluminescence (mV/min)was observed in zymosan-activated peripheral blood monocytes.The time to peak chemiluminescence of phorbol myristate acetateactivation was statistically increased in a dose-response fashion.Flow cytometric analysis results of peripheral blood lymphocytesusing the markers CD4, CD8, and CD20 were similar across thetest groups. The mean percentage levels for the CD2 marker inthe treated groups were statistically lower than the mean inthe control, while absolute numbers for CD2 were similar acrossthe test groups. Serum hydrocortisone levels did not differamong the test groups. Taken together these results indicatethat low-level, chronic PCB exposure alters a number of rhesusmonkey immune system components and that these effects may bedue to altered T-cell and/or macrophage function. These datamay be of use in extrapolating potential human health effectsfollowing chronic PCB exposure.