[Segmental dilatation of the ileum]

Three cases of segmental dilatation of ileum surgically are presented. Authors have reviewed medical literature since the first case reported in 1959, and have been able to collect 33 cases. Although it is considered an identical entity involving either colon or small bowel, clinical picture and age of presentation are different. Cases involving the colon have a clinical picture very similar to that of Hirschsprung's disease, usually appearing in the lactancy or later on. Cases involving ileum or jejunum usually are manifested as a neonatal bowel obstruction. Pathological examination shows a bowel wall with all his layers as well as a normal ganglion cells. Surgical resection of dilated intestinal segment is curative.

Methods for the evaluation of responses to estrogen in individual cell types or regions of the uterus

Nongenomic responses to estrogen and the genomic responses in the different uterine cell types can be dissociated selectively. The present report describes morphometric methods for the evaluation of estrogen-induced uterine edema and of genomic responses in individual cell types. The morphometric measurements of the genomic responses correlated with a classically accepted biochemical method of genomic response evaluation in the uterus (increase in RNA/DNA). Edema correlated with the classically accepted method of evaluation of uterine water imbibition, i.e., estrogen-induced increase in uterine wet weight 6 h after hormone administration.

Correlation of ultrasonic images of fetal intestine with gestational age and fetal maturity

In 276 scans of 81 gravid patients, changes in the ultrasonic images of the fetal intestine, particularly the colon, are described at advancing stages of gestation. These changes appear to be related to an increase of the meconium content of the intestine and to its gradual displacement to the colon by a progressively more efficient peristalsis. A grading system of four stages was devised. In stage 1, the intestine has a uniform gray appearance. In stage 2, the colon can be identified by small echo-free areas close to the kidneys and the bladder. In stage 3, these areas become larger and delineate large segments of the colon. The small bowel can also be seen, represented by clusters of numerous transonic areas that continuously change their shape. The colon becomes redundant in stage 4 and the haustra appear. The echo-free areas of the small bowel are larger and show a very active peristalsis.

In utero immobilization stress and its effects on the development, behavior and sexual maturity of the rat

The effect of prenatal stress from psychophysical immobilization, the applied during gestation, has been studied as well as its consequences on the development, behavior and sexual maturity in the offspring. Modifications in development were slight, even when intensified at four months of age. Whereas male sexual behavior showed only slight variation, female sexual maturity was markedly changed in experimental animals as compared to controls. From the present results, the psychopathological action from immobilization stress in utero on offspring is questionable.

Cell membrane and cell junctions in differentiation of preimplanted mouse embryos

Cell membrane and cell junctions in differentiation of preimplanted mouse embryos, (membrana celular y uniones celulares en la diferenciación del embrión de ratón antes de la implantación). Arch. Biol. Med. Exper. 10: 130-134, 1976. The development of cell junctions that seal the peripheral blastomeres could be a decisive step in the differentiation of morulae into blastocysts. The appearance of these junctions is studied by electron microscopy of late morulae and initial blastocysts. Zonulae occludentes as well as impermeability to lanthanum emulsion precedes the appearance of the blastocel and hence might be considered as one of its necessary causes.