Autosomal dominant cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome: ultrasonographic and clinical findings

We describe two patients, a father and his daughter, with the cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome. New manifestations not previously described include microstomia, long philtrum, posterior cervical skin fold, short internipple distance, and depressed sacral region. The presence of hydrocephaly in the proposita and spina bifida in the father may be other manifestations of neuraxial involvement in this syndrome. The first intrauterine ultrasonographic documentation of this syndrome showed polyhydramnios and, especially, the very unusual shape of the ribs, which were short and defective. Most characteristics of the pedigree point to autosomal dominant inheritance. The great variability of inheritance and expressivity of the very few documented familial cases described in the literature, together with the great frequency of sporadic cases, indicates genetic heterogeneity of this syndrome.

Retrospective confirmation of Mycoplasma infection by the immunoperoxidase technique

Rat tissues embedded in paraffin blocks stored for 8-10 yr were sectioned for immunoperoxidase staining. Sections of lung, trachea and endometrium of 22 of 32 rats that had exhibited clinical symptoms of mycoplasmal pneumonia prior to euthanasia, and whose organs had shown gross lesions suggesting mycoplasmal infection on necropsy, demonstrated the presence of Mycoplasma pulmonis organisms by the immunoperoxidase technique in one or more of these tissues.

Spontaneous endometrial tumours of 'Sabra' rats

In a 2 year study of 171 female (101 virgin; 70 multiparous) 'Sabra' rats, spontaneous endometrial tumours were found in 69% of 2 year old animals. Tumour development appeared to be age related, and only virgin females showed tumours before 18 months of age. Polyps were the most prevalent tumour type, followed by adenocarcinomas. The Sabra rat can be included among those rat strains having a high incidence of spontaneous endometrial neoplasia.

Types of hymen in the newborn infant

The incidence of various types of hymenal shape, its orifice and their interference with spontaneous vaginal discharge were investigated during the routine physical examination of 333 female infants within the first 24 h of life. A smooth hymen with a central orifice was observed in 53.5% of the female neonates, a folded hymen with a central orifice in 27.3%; folded hymen with eccentric orifice in 4.5%; an anterior opening of the hymen in 10.8%; posterior opening in 0.6%; hymenal band in 3%; almost imperforate hymen in 0.3% of the newborns. The presence of anterior opening, posterior opening, hymenal band or almost imperforate hymen may interfere with free vaginal discharge. A ruffled, irregular hymen and a hymenal band require a careful investigation for other genital malformations.

Multiplication of Mycobacterium marinum within phagolysosomes of murine macrophages

Both in vivo and in vitro, Mycobacterium marinum organisms were found to multiply within phagolysosomes of murine macrophages. It thus appears that M. marinum are neither killed nor inhibited from multiplying by lysosomal enzymes.

Importance of the footpad lesion in the mouse response to local inoculation of Mycobacterium marinum

The importance of the footpad lesion was studied in CBA mice inoculated in the hind footpad with viable or heat-killed Mycobacterium marinum Popliteal or popliteal and inguinal lymphadenectomy was followed by modest enhancement of the process only when node excision was carried out 6 days after inoculation of a small number of viable organisms. Following inoculation in the footpad of a large number of heat-killed organisms, only 10% of the inoculum was recovered from the site of inoculation, only 0.1% from the popliteal node and even less from the inguinal node and spleen. Despite the small proportion of inoculated M. marinum remaining in the footpad, amputation of the inoculated foot as early as 4 days after inoculation abrogated the protective effects of the inoculation, whereas amputation performed 7 days after inoculation was without effect.

Resistance to mycobacteria in mice treated with fractionated total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) and in mice reconstituted with allogenic bone marrow cells following radiotherapy

The increased clinical use of total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) as an immunosuppressive adjunct in transplantation suggested the need for determining the effects of TLI on the in vivo susceptibility of animals to infections controlled by cell-mediated immunity. TLI-treated, TLI-treated and splenectomized, and chimeric mice prepared with TLI were inoculated in the hind foot pad with Mycobacterium marinum or Mycobacterium leprae. Although M. marinum organisms multiplied in greater numbers in the TLI mice, ultimately they were destroyed as effectively in TLI mice as in the non-irradiated control mice. M. leprae multiplied at the same rate and to the same maximum in TLI mice as in controls. Mice previously challenged with M. marinum in one hind foot pad, and challenged subsequently with the same organism in the opposite hind foot pad, showed a solid immunity against this reinfection. It appears that upon recovery from the immediate effects of radiotherapy TLI-treated mice are able to mount an effective immune response to experimental infection with M. marinum and M. leprae.

Experimental mycobacterial infections of CBA/N mice

In an effort to assess the contribution of B-lymphocyte-mediated mechanisms to the immune responses to several mycobacteria, responses to these intracellular pathogens were compared in immunologically normal CBA/CaHN mice and in histocompatible CBA/N (Xid) mice, which exhibit abnormalities of B-lymphocyte function. Swelling in response to local inoculation with Mycobacterium marinum was significantly greater in the hind feet of CBA/CaHN mice than in those of CBA/N mice, but the difference was very small. Survival of mice of both strains after i.v. challenge with M. marinum or i.p. challenge with M. leprae-murium did not differ significantly. Finally, multiplication of M. leprae in the footpads of mice of both strains did not differ significantly. Thus, B-lymphocyte-mediated mechanisms do not appear to be important in the immune responses of mice in experimental infections with these mycobacterial species.

The Sabra rat: definition of a laboratory animal

Study objectives were to provide investigators of the biomedical research community with comprehensive and reliable baseline data for the Sabra rat strain. In addition to a physiological, developmental, hematological and biochemical definition of this laboratory rat, widely used at the Hebrew University and other research laboratories in Israel, a historical insight offers some understanding of the origin and development of this strain. Data collected from 331 male and female rats over a 2-year period characterize the Sabra rat as a useful, stable, economical laboratory animal with good viability under conventional conditions.

Response of the popliteal lymph node to reinfection of the hind foot pad of the mouse with Mycobacterium marinum

In C57BL mice inoculated with Mycobacterium marinum in the right hind foot pad 2 weeks earlier ("previously infected mice"), inoculation of M. marinum into the left hind foot pad was followed by accelerated enlargement of the left popliteal node. Popliteal-node lymphocytes harvested from previously infected donors, labeled with 3H-uridine in vitro, and infused intravenously into previously infected recipients at the time of reinfection in the left hind foot pad homed on the left popliteal node. Similarly, there was an accelerated increase of the number of labeled lymphocytes in the left popliteal node of previously infected mice infused intravenously with 3H-thymidine 24 or 48 hr after reinfection in the left hind foot pad. Accelerated enlargement of the lymph node and the early accumulation of labeled lymphocytes in the popliteal lymph node draining the foot pad reinfected with M. marinum appeared more likely to have resulted from influx and accumulation of lymphocytes than from local proliferation, especially as the lesion of the left hind foot pad is a very modest one, and the quantity of antigen in the left hind foot pad and draining node is very small. The accumulation of lymphocytes, which is the cause of the accelerated node enlargement, appears to require the presence of both antigen and antigen-reactive lymphocytes.

Intracellular location of Mycobacterium leprae in macrophages of normal and immune-deficient mice and effect of rifampin

Soon after more than 10(6) Mycobacterium leprae, freshly harvested from armadillo liver or harvested and 60CO irradiated, were inoculated into the hind footpads of either normal or thymectomized and irradiated (T900R) mice, the organisms were found to reside within phagosomes of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells. On the other hand, 7 and 8 months after 10(4) freshly harvested M. leprae were inoculated into the footpads of normal or T900R mice and the organisms had multiplied to their maximum in the normal mice, many organisms, largely intact by electron-microscopic criteria, were found to reside free in the cytoplasm of the footpad macrophages, whereas damaged organisms were contained within phagosomes. After 11 months, many intact organisms were found to lie free in the cytoplasm of the macrophages of T900R mice, whereas only damaged intraphagosomal M. leprae cells were observed in the macrophages of normal mice. Finally, a remarkably large proportion of damaged extraphagosomal M. leprae was found in T900R mice administered rifampin for 2 days in a bactericidal dosage. It appears that M. leprae multiplies free in the cytoplasm of the footpad macrophages of infected mice, whereas the M. leprae cells resident within the phagosomes of the macrophages are dead. As the result of treatment with rifampin, the organisms appeared to have been killed in their extraphagosomal location, only afterwards being incorporated into phagosomes. However, the intracellular site in which M. leprae is killed in the course of an effective immune response remains unclear.

Tags and bands of the female external genitalia in the newborn infant

A high incidence of hymenal tags (5.75%) and hymenal bands (2.7%) was found during the routine physical examination of 974 female infants within the first 24 hours of life. Hymenal tags usually disappear spontaneously as the estrogen effect diminishes. If they do not, biopsy should be considered. A simple test is proposed to demonstrate the superficial position of the hymenal band and its lack of connection with an internal structure.

Alimentary toxic aleukia (septic angina, endemic panmyelotoxicosis, alimentary hemorrhagic aleukia): t-2 toxin-induced intoxication of cats

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Role of the popliteal lymph node in infection with Mycobacterium marinum of the hind footpad of the mouse, and source of the cells that characterize the process

We examined the possibility that the popliteal lymph node serves as the source of the lymphocytes that, together with macrophages, characterize the lesion produced by infection with Mycobacterium marinum in the hind footpad of the mouse. Naïve mice were partially protected against challenge with M. marinum in the hind footpad by intravenous infusion of lymphocytes harvested from the popliteal nodes of donor mice infected with M. marinum 7 days earlier. Lymphocytes harvested from the popliteal nodes of infected donors, labelled in vitro with 3H-uridine, and infused intravenously into naïve mice that were immediately challenged in the hind footpads with M. marinum, localized in the popliteal nodes of the recipient mice but not in the footpad lesions. Lymphocytes harvested from the spleens of naïve donors and labelled in vitro appeared to home to the popliteal node draining the M. marinum-infected footpad. Thus, the primary role of the popliteal lymph node appeared to be passive trapping of the lymphocytes brought to it by the circulation or afferent lymphatics. We then tried to locate the sources of both lymphocytes and macrophages that characterize the lesion. Temporary occlusion of the abdominal aorta prevented labelling by intravenously infused 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) of the mononuclear cells of both footpad lesion and popliteal node. Temporary occlusion of the left common iliac artery during 3H-TdR infusion prevented immediate labelling on the ipsilateral side. After 24 and 48 h, however, small numbers of labelled lymphocytes were found in the left hind footpad lesion. Amputation of the right leg at the hip joint, but not right popliteal lymphadenectomy, performed immediately after re-establishment of patency of the left common iliac artery, prevented the late influx of labelled lymphocytes into the lesion of the left hind footpad. Thus, the chief source of both the lymphocytes and the macrophages of the footpad lesion appeared to be the lesion itself.

Response in the hindfoot pad and popliteal lymph node of C57BL mice to infection with Mycobacterium marinum

C57BL mice inoculated in the hindfoot pads with 5 X 10(3) viable Mycobacterium marinum developed a localized disease process, characterized by swelling of the foot and increases in the number of acid-fast bacilli and colony forming units recovered. These changes became maximal 10 to 14 days after inoculation and then decreased in intensity. An acute inflammatory response appeared in the hindfoot pad during the first 24 h and increased in intensity during the next few days. By seven days after inoculation, the polymorphonuclear leukocytes had been largely replaced by lymphocytes and macrophages which led, during the next two weeks, to the extensive formation of granulomas. Epithelioid granulomas developed after at least 90% of the organisms had been killed. Simultaneously the popliteal lymph node increased greatly in size due to hyperplasia of the paracortical area, which contained a large number of pyroninophilic cells, and packing of sinusoids with small lymphocytes. Well-formed epithelioid granulomas containing acid-fast bacilli developed in the popliteal node. A small number of viable bacilli were found in both the hindfoot pad and the popliteal node 18 months after inoculation; this was accompanied by solid resistance to secondary challenge.

Experimental alimentary toxic aleukia in cats

T-2 toxin was given to cats every other day per os to evaluate the suitability of this species as a model for the human disease, alimentary toxic aleukia. The chronic lethal intoxication resulting was characterized by pancytopenia, hemorrhagic diatheses, bone marrow aplasia, diminished hemostasis, severe lymphatic tissue alterations, and histopathologic changes in proliferative tissue. Clinical signs included vomiting, bloody feces, weakness, lassitude, ataxia, dyspnea, dehydration, loss of weight, and pre-terminal anorexia. The clinical course, hematologic picture, and the gross and microscopic tissue changes seen in the experimentally produced disease in cats were similar to alimentary toxic aleukia, a frequently fatal mycotoxin induced disease of man.

Response in distant lymph nodes of mice to infection in the hind footpad with Mycobacterium marinum

In an attempt to demonstrate the importance of the popliteal lymph node in limiting the progress of infection with Mycobacterium marinum in the hind footpads of C57BL mice, such infections were studied in mice subjected to popliteal or popliteal and inguinal adenectomies. In the absence of the popliteal node, the footpad infection was only slightly enhanced compared with infections of sham-operated control mice; the inguinal node was found to be greatly enlarged and appeared to have substituted for the absent popliteal node. In the absence of both popliteal and inguinal nodes, the disease process in the footpads was again only slightly enhanced, and the axillary node appeared to have enlarged greatly and to have functionally replaced the missing, more proximate nodes. In additional experiments, mice subjected to adenectomy only on one side and injected in that hind footpad with phytohemagglutinin or India ink demonstrated hypertrophy or deposition of carbon particles in the more distant node only on the side of the injection. Thus, there appear to be rather direct functional connections among popliteal, inguinal, and axillary nodes that do not depend on blood circulation.