[Tooth grafts in the dog: effect at mid-term of preservation of the periodontal ligament on root and alveolar remnants]

This work was undertaken to study at middle term (5 months) the behaviour of radicular grafts implanted in newly formed sockets. In some of the grafts, the remnants of the periodontal membrane were carefully preserved in a wet medium while in the others the root surface was curetted and dried. Preservation of the periodontal tissues allowed the organization of a periodontal space. This new periodontal ligament was occasionally functional with fibres in continuity from cementum to bone. Generally it was not functional with the fibres laying parallel to cementum and bone surfaces. Early "surface resorption" of the root was prevented as well as ankylosis leading to replacement of root with bone. The extent of ankylosis was reduced. It was localized to the buccal and lingual aspects of the roots where the periodontal ligament was disorganized during the extraction procedure. In the non preserved roots, ankylosis was almost total. Roots were in part replaced with bone. At 5 months, this process was still in progress.

Maternal serum levels of estradiol, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin in ectopic pregnancy and their correlation with endometrial histologic findings

Plasma levels of estradiol 17-beta (E2), progesterone (P) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) were measured in 59 patients with ectopic pregnancy and in control patients made up of ten women with normal intrauterine pregnancies and five patients with threatened abortion. The gestational ages of the three groups were not statistically different, the means being 6.6, 6.5 and 6.7 weeks, respectively. The endometria in the patients with an ectopic pregnancy were examined histologically and the correlation with the hormonal levels was studied. Mean levels of b-HCG, E2 and P in patients with ectopic pregnancies (4,893 +/- 5,435 S.E.M. milli-international units per milliliter, 311 +/- 191 S.E.M. picograms per milliliter and 8.3 +/- 5.5 S.E.M. nanograms per milliliters, respectively) were significantly lower than those measured in normal pregnant control patients (b-HCG = 22,173 +/- 2,696 S.E.M. microunits per milliliter, p less than 0.00001; E2 = 769 +/- 81 S.E.M. picograms per milliliter, p less than 0.0001 and p = 37.8 +/- 6.1 S.E.M. nanograms per milliliter, p less than 0.0001), and in patients with threatened abortion (b-HCG = 20,310 +/- 1,688 S.E.M. milli-international units per milliliter, p less than 0.0001; E2 = 803 +/- 91 S.E.M. picograms per milliliter, p less than 0.001 and P = 29.7 +/- 2.9 S.E.M. nanograms per milliliter, p less than 0.001). Mean levels of P in ectopic pregnancies with secretory type endometria (10.4 +/- 6.0 S.E.M. nanograms per milliliter), were significantly higher than those with proliferative endometria (5.0 +/- 3.2 S.E.M. nanograms per milliliter, p less than 0.001). Data is provided not previously known, on the levels of E2 and P in ectopic pregnancy and correlation with endometrial histologic factors.

False-positive early indium-111 leukocyte scan

An In-111 leukocyte scan was performed in a cirrhotic patient with ascitic fluid infection to rule out an abdominal abscess. Scintigraphy showed localized uptake in the area between the liver and right lung 30 minutes after reinjection of the labeled cells. The 24-hour study was negative. No purulent collection was demonstrated in any location.

Improving Falope-Ring application in laparoscopy training

Laparoscopic Falope-Ring sterilization was performed by residents on 71 women. Immediately following application of the ring, methylene blue was injected through the cervix to assess tubal patency. Unilateral spillage of the dye was demonstrated in four patients (5.6%). In these instances a new ring was applied, or the tube was tied surgically. The high rate of tubal patency was attributed to the surgeons' inexperience. The findings suggest that the use of a patency test as an adjunct to sterilization with the Falope-Ring in training programs is likely to decrease the rate of surgical failures.

A human villin cDNA clone to investigate the differentiation of intestinal and kidney cells in vivo and in culture

Villin, a Ca2+-regulated actin-binding protein is a major component of microvilli of intestinal epithelial cells and kidney proximal tubule cells. Villin expression during assembly of the brush border can be investigated using a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29-18. This cell line is able to differentiate under nutritional control and develops an enterocyte-like phenotype. A cDNA library from a subclone HT29-18-C1 was constructed in an expression vector and a cDNA specific for human villin was isolated. This cDNA codes for the 110 carboxy-terminal residues of villin. Within that region, the 76 carboxy-terminal residues present 65% homology with the chicken villin 'head piece'. We show that two mRNA species 4.0 kb and 3.2 kb long hybridize with this cDNA probe in humans, whereas in rat and chicken only one mRNA species can be detected. The two villin mRNA species are co-expressed in normal human small and large intestinal mucosa and tumoral HT29-18 cells as well as in normal kidney. No villin mRNAs were detected in other normal or malignant epithelial cell types. Finally, we observed an accumulation of the two mRNA species coding for villin when HT29-18 cells become differentiated, suggesting that control of villin expression during terminal differentiation can occur at the transcription level or by RNA stabilization.

Unusual metastatic chondrosarcoma detected with bone scintigraphy

A case is presented of a scapular chondrosarcoma which showed intense uptake of Tc99m MDP in the primary tumour and in pleural and osseous metastases. Additionally, there was intense visualization of the malignant pleural effusion. The bone scintigraphy correctly diagnosed the extent of the involvement. This finding is unusual because chondrosarcomas in such a disseminated state are relatively rare.

Phase I clinical trial of an MAF-containing lymphoblastoid cell line supernatant

A preliminary Phase I evaluation of macrophage activating factor (MAF) derived from the partially purified supernatant of human RPMI-1788 lymphoblastoid cell line was performed in 4 parts in 39 patients with advanced cancer. The first two parts used subcutaneous routes of administration and the second two parts used a 4-h intravenous infusion method. Individual doses ranged from 0.1 ml (1.7 mg protein) to 100 ml (1,700 mg protein). Subcutaneous dose was limited by the volume of administered material, and an attempt to use a concentrate of the supernatant resulted in severe local skin reactions. Larger doses given intravenously were well tolerated. Resultant toxicity was mild and consisted of transient fever and chills. One patient with malignant melanoma had a complete response of a 3-cm skin metastasis; one patient with breast cancer had disappearance of a skin nodule while visceral disease progressed; and one patient with histiocytic lymphoma had resolution of a conjunctival lesion. Treatment in many patients was associated with an increase in absolute peripheral lymphocytes. In the high-dose intravenous group, a statistically significant increase in the phagocytic index of peripheral blood leukocytes was noted. Lymphoblastoid MAF appears to be relatively safe to administer and has promise both as an antitumor agent and in the treatment of other altered immune conditions.

Dexamethasone suppresses pituitary-adrenal but not behavioral effects of centrally administered CRF

Intracerebral ventricular (icv) administration of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) significantly enhances the expression of stress-related behaviors in the rat and also activates the pituitary-adrenal system. The pituitary-adrenal response can be blocked by pretreatment of animals with dexamethasone. The behavioral effects (motor activation, increased grooming and decreased eating) on the other hand are resistant to suppression by dexamethasone. The independence of the behavioral effects from activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis suggests that stress-induced release of CRF could contribute to behavioral alterations even in the presence of high concentrations of endogenous steroids.

Studies on multiple thyroid cell membrane-directed antibodies in Graves' disease

Immunoglobulin G was obtained from the serum of a woman who had given birth to three children with a delayed onset of hyperthyroidism; the clinical events were due to the coexistence of thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb) and an inhibitor of TSAb in the maternal serum. The current studies explore the possible existence of additional thyroid membrane-directed antibodies. Human thyroid slices, cells in monolayer culture, and functioning rat thyroid cells (FRTL5), with measurement of cyclic AMP concentration, were used for TSAb assays. Assays of the inhibition of binding of 125I-thyrotropin (TSH) to its receptor used human thyroid and FRTL5 cells, and human thyroid and guinea pig fat cell membranes as receptors. All activities were associated with IgG kappa. Fractions of IgG kappa obtained by adsorption to and the desorption from human thyroid and guinea pig fat cell preparations and F(ab')2 and Fab fragments of the parent IgG were tested. Results indicated that there were three activities in the IgG, namely, TSAb; an inhibitor of TSH-binding that was active in all species and preparations tested, and was effective as Fab and F(ab')2 on both particulate and solubilized thyroid membranes; and an enhancer of TSH-binding (e.g., approximately equal to 220% increase in binding) that was relatively specific for human thyroid membranes only in particulate form, was not adsorbed by fat, and was active as F(ab')2, but minimally as Fab. The concept is developed that dilution of the total IgG, experimentally in vitro or by metabolic clearance in vivo in neonates, determines the effect on either thyroid stimulation or TSH-binding. The incidence of such multiple antibodies and their interaction remains to be determined.

Characterization of muscarinic receptors in human submandibular salivary glands

We studied the binding of the muscarinic antagonist [3H]N-methyl-scopolamine [( 3H]NMS) in order to characterize muscarinic receptors located in human submandibular salivary glands obtained from intrasurgical biopsy. [3H]NMS bound with a Kd value of 1.56 nM to a single class of muscarinic receptors (Bmax 37.3 fmol/mg protein) since pirenzepine exhibited a homogeneous binding profile.

Hyperprolactinemia inhibits gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation of the number of pituitary GnRH receptors

Gonadotropin secretion is diminished in the presence of hyperprolactinemia, and previous studies have shown that PRL can reduce GnRH secretion and impair LH responses to GnRH. To investigate the mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of PRL on the pituitary, we administered intraarterial pulse injections of GnRH (25 ng/pulse every 30 min) to castrate testosterone-implanted male rats placed in restraint cages. Serum PRL, GnRH receptor (GnRH-R), and LH responses to GnRH were measured at intervals over 72 h. In control animals which received saline pulses, serum PRL was transiently elevated to the range of 100-150 ng/ml during the first 24 h, GnRH-R remained stable (approximately 300 fmol/mg protein) and serum LH was low (less than 10 ng/ml) throughout the 72 h. GnRH pulses in castrate testosterone-implanted animals increased GnRH-R to values (approximately 600 fmol/mg) similar to those in castrate controls (no testosterone implant, saline pulses) through 48 h, but GnRH-R declined to baseline values by 72 h in both groups. Serum LH responses to GnRH pulses were only present at 24 h. Administration of bromocriptine throughout the 72 h to immobilized castrate rats or to castrate testosterone-replaced animals treated with GnRH pulses suppressed serum PRL, and GnRH-R concentrations remained elevated through 72 h. Serum LH responses to GnRH pulses were 5- to 20-fold higher in bromocriptine-treated rats, and responses were present throughout the 72 h of the experiment. Delaying the start of bromocriptine treatment until 36 h (after the spontaneous PRL peak) resulted in reduced GnRH-R and LH responses at 72 h. Similarly, administration of ovine PRL (during the first 48 h) to bromocriptine-treated rats produced low GnRH-R concentrations at 72 h. Thus, the transient elevation of PRL seen in immobilized rats can inhibit the GnRH-stimulated increase in GnRH-R and is associated with reduced LH responses to GnRH. These results indicate that PRL has a direct inhibitory effect on the gonadotrope and suggest that impaired GnRH-R responses to GnRH are one of the mechanisms involved in the diminished gonadotropin secretion seen in hyperprolactinemia.

Enterogastric reflux detection with technetium-99m IDA

A Tc-99m IDA scan was performed in a patient with severe alkaline esophagitis subsequent to a Billroth I gastroenterostomy. The scan showed enterogastric reflux simultaneously with gastroesophageal reflux of bile. The study was recorded in a computer and the reflux quantitated.

Successful treatment of a giant cystic craniopharyngioma. Case report

The Authors present a case of giant cystic craniopharyngioma in a child; the tumor, diagnosed by CT scan, was completely removed. The Authors consider this cyst as the biggest one reported in the literature of the last ten years.