Female pelvic floor. Descriptive anatomy and clinical exploration by transvaginal ultrasound

In order to assess the state and pathology of the woman's pelvis minor, a number of methods are commonly used among practitioners, encompassing clinical exploration, radiology, MRN, urodynamics, endoscopy and echography.

Echography has been poorly used in clinical pelvic exploration and its reliability is actually a matter of controversy 1. However, echographic surveys can provide us with valuable gynecological data on the state and pathologies of the soft pelvis, within the genital regions or even going beyond them, i.e. the rectal channel, bladder, urethra, anus, vascular plexuses, and all of their supporting tissues.

At our research unit, we have been employing Transvaginal Ultrasound echography (TVU) for a long time in conjunction with other pelvis-focused methods in order to study different kinds of pelvic alterations. TVU has proven to be friendly to use, fast, harmless and inexpensive, allowing serial explorations and producing high-quality dynamic images (loop-cinema, video-tape). Furthermore, this method is fairly aseptic in that the occurrence of faeces in the rectal ampolla is not a nuisance but a bonus in tracking the contours of the rectum walls and other topographical features which would be otherwise difficult to survey.

A complete pelvic floor TVU may add no longer than 5-8 minutes to a routine gynecological examination, can be implemented by the general gynecologist and generates data that can be further studied by the appropriate specialist for a more insightful evaluation 2.     

Comparative effects of plateletderived growth factor-BB and insulin-like growth factor-I, individually and in combination, on periodontal regeneration in Macaca fascicularis

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in combination have previously been shown to enhance periodontal regeneration. The objective of this study was to further characterize the biological effects of this combination of growth factors in non-human primates and compare the effects to those of each growth factor individually. Ligature-induced periodontitis was initiated in 10 cynomolgus monkeys. After periodontal lesions were established, surgery was performed, and either a methylcellulose gel vehicle or vehicle containing 10 μg each of either PDGF-BB, IGF-I or both PDGF-BB and IGF-I was applied to exposed root surfaces. Biopsies were taken 4 and 12 wk after treatment and the extent of periodontal regeneration was assessed by histomorphometry. At both 4 and 12 wk vehicle-treated lesions generally revealed minimal osseous defect fill (ODF) (8.5±2.1% and 14.5±5.7%, respectively) and new attachment (NA) (34.1±5.2% and 26.6±10.5%, respectively). IGF-I treatment did not significantly alter healing compared to vehicle in any parameter at both 4 and 12 wk. PDGFBB-treated sites exhibited significant (p<0.05) regeneration of NA (69.6±12.0%) at 12 wk; trends for PDGF-BB treatment effect were also observed in other parameters at 4 and 12 wk. although these increases were not statistically significant. Treatment with PDGF-BB/IGF-I resulted in 21.6±5.1 % and 42.5±8.3% ODF at 4 and 12 wk, respectively, and 64.1±7.7% and 74.6±7.4% NA at 4 and 12 wk, respectively (all significantly greater than vehicle, p<0.05). The results from this study demonstrated that: 1) IGF-1 alone at the dose tested did not significantly alter periodontal wound healing; 2) PDGF-BB alone significantly stimulated NA, with trends of effect on other parameters; and 3) the PDGF-BB/IGF-I combination resulted in significant increases in NA and ODF above vehicle at both 4 and 12 wk.     

Case-control study of the alpha-synuclein interacting protein gene and Parkinson's disease.

We conducted a case-control study of the alpha-synuclein-interacting protein gene (SNCAIP, also known as synphilin-1) and Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 319 PD cases and 195 controls were genotyped for four SNCAIP variants, including a microsatellite repeat in intron 4 and three restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) proximal to the 5' terminal of exons 1, 4, and 6. None of the variants were found associated with PD overall. Global score statistics were not significant for four, three, and two loci haplotypes. All four loci were in linkage disequilibrium for cases, controls, or both groups combined (P < 0.0001). Recursive partitioning showed no interactions between variants of the SNCAIP gene and variants of the alpha-synuclein gene (SNCA) or the parkin (PARK2) gene.     

Classification of hepatitis C viruses based on phylogenetic analysis of the envelope 1 and nonstructural 5B regions and identification of five additional subtypes.

Genotyping of hepatitis C virus-positive sera by means of a line probe assay indicated that < 3% of European samples, but up to 30% of Gabonese sera, could not be classified as either 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4c, 5a, or 6a. Such samples were analyzed in the 5' untranslated region and in the nonstructural 5 (NS5) region. Classification based on phylogenetic analysis of the commonly used 222-bp-long NS5B region was possible for most but not all of the selected sera. Therefore, the core/envelope 1 region (579 bp) and a larger NS5B (340 bp) region were also analyzed. Only the phylogenetic analysis of the 340-bp NS5B region of these newly identified and published isolates provided unambiguous classification into types and subtypes. Furthermore, unequivocal evidence for four subtypes in type 2 and eight subtypes in type 4 was provided. A specific recognition sequence in the 5' untranslated region was observed for every newly identified subtype. Based on 1830 pair-wise comparisons in NS5B, isolates belonging to the same subtype showed evolutionary distances of < 0.127 and isolates of the same type exhibited evolutionary distances of < 0.328. These phylogenetic border distances can be conveniently used for classification of hepatitis C virus isolates into types and subtypes.     

Dopaminergic and serotonergic function following isolation rearing in rats: study of behavioural responses and postmortem and in vivo neurochemistry.

This series of experiments compared isolation-reared and socially reared rats for their locomotor activity, behavioural stereotypy, and monoamine function both postmortem and in vivo using intracerebral dialysis. In Experiment 1, isolates showed an altered time course of locomotor activity following d-amphetamine sulphate (AMPH) administration (0.5, 2.0, 3.0, or 5.0 mg/kg, SC). Isolation-reared rats also showed increased sensitivity to the sedative effects of a low dose of apomorphine hydrochloride (0.1 mg/kg) but did not differ from social controls following higher doses of the drug (0.5, 1.5, or 3.0 mg/kg, SC). Isolates showed a decrease in the intensity of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviours but no change in stereotypy induced by AMPH. In Experiment 2, isolates had higher postmortem dopamine (DA) concentrations and an altered asymmetry in DA function in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) but not in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) or caudate putamen (CPu). Isolated rats also had a lower 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)/5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) ratio in the NAC (but not in the PFC or CPu) compared to controls. Experiment 3 used intracerebral dialysis to examine monoamine function in vivo following isolation rearing. Isolates showed greater increases in extracellular DA and greater decreases in DOPAC in response to 2 mg/kg AMPH SC in both the NAC and CPu. There were no apparent differences in the perfusate concentrations of either dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), or homovanillic acid (HVA) prior to drug administration. However, consistent with the results of Experiment 2, isolates had a reduced basal perfusate concentration of 5-HIAA from the NAC but not from the CPu. Experiment 4 measured postsynaptic DA function in CPu tissue slices following isolation. Isolation rearing did not affect cAMP accumulation in response to stimulation of D1 DA receptors by DA (0, 2.7, 9, or 30 microM). In addition, isolation rearing did not affect the coupling between D1 and D2 receptors, as measured by the increase in cAMP accumulation with 1 microM 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1 H-3-benzazepin (SK&F 38393) and its reduction by 10 microM quinperole hydrochloride (LY 171555). These results are discussed in terms of the possible relationship between these neurochemical findings and the behavioural disturbances following isolation rearing of rats.     

Gene expression of LDL receptor, HMG-CoA reductase, and cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase in chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with an atherogenic lipid profile and an increased risk of ischaemic cardiovascular disease. The associated hyperlipidaemia is reportedly ameliorated by erythropoietin (Epo) therapy. According to a recent report, rats studied 3 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy and fed a high- protein diet exhibited increased activities of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase (HMG-CoAR) and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (Ch-7 alpha- H), despite normal corresponding mRNA values. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was designed to examine the effects of naturally progressing CRF of longer duration as well as those of Epo therapy on gene expressions of the key factors involved in hepatic cholesterol metabolism, i.e., LDL receptor (LDLR), HMG-CoAR, and Ch-7 alpha-H. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the CRF group (5/6 nephrectomy), Epo-treated CRF group (given Epo 150 U/kg/twice weekly) and sham-operated, placebo- treated normal controls. They were allowed free access to regular rat chow and studied 6 weeks after surgery. Liver mRNAs and protein mass or activities of the above factors were studied. RESULTS: Plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly increased in the CRF group (P < 0.001) and was modestly lowered (P < 0.05) by Epo therapy. However, microsomal cholesterol concentration and LDLR, HMG-CoAR, and Ch-7 alpha-H mRNA as well as HMG-CoAR activity, and Ch-7 alpha-H and LDLR protein mass measurements were virtually identical in the three groups. Thus, hepatic LDLR, HMG-CoAR, and Ch-7 alpha-H mRNA and protein measurements in rats with CRF were similar to those of the normal control group representing an inappropriate response to the associated hypercholesterolemia. Epo therapy led to partial amelioration of CRF- associated hypercholesterolaemia with no discernible effect on hepatic tissue expression of the above factors.