Prenatal and neonatal MR imaging findings in oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI

We report prenatal and neonatal neuroimaging findings in a case of oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI (OFDS VI). Prenatal MR imaging at 29 weeks' gestation showed hypoplastic cerebellar vermis and hemispheres, the molar tooth sign, and a hypothalamic hamartoma. Neonatal MR imaging confirmed these findings. The neonate developed breathing abnormalities and exhibited frontal bossing, multiple bucco-alveolar frenula, and postaxial hexadactyly of both hands. If the molar tooth sign and a hypothalamic hamartoma are present, prenatal diagnosis of OFDS VI is possible.

Emphysematous cystitis in a patient presenting with paradoxical arterial embolism and intestinal mycobacteriosis without evidence of diabetes

We describe the case of a 72-year-old woman who displayed massive multiple intramural gas collections of the bladder wall as an incidental finding on CT. The patient presented with critical ischemia of the left leg caused by paradoxical arterial embolism, raised corpuscular sedimentation rate, anemia by gastrointestinal blood loss, hypoproteinemia, diarrhea, malabsorption, and exudative enteropathia caused by mycobacterial ileocolitis. The patient had no dysuria and there was no evidence of diabetes. The intramural gas collections of the bladder wall, as shown by CT, were compatible with emphysematous cystitis. Urine samples proved infection by a multi-resistant strain of E. coli. Emphysematous cystitis is a rare form of bladder infection that can be diagnosed by plain-film radiograms or CT.

[Acoustic emission analysis of human bones within the scope of clinical diagnosis]

Fractures occurring in human bones produce an acoustic signal, analysis of which permits an evaluation of its source. In the industrial setting acoustic emission analysis (AEA) is used to non-invasively monitor the function of stressed technical systems or parts of systems. During servicing and monitoring of technical systems, acoustic signals emitted by cracks or material deformation are located with the aid of a few acoustic sensors and evaluated for risk-identification purposes. With appropriate technology, therefore, both cortical and trabecular bone can be monitored by acoustic emission analysis. A search is currently ongoing for suitable acoustic technology capable of assessing the extent and location of bone defects and predicting associated risks of fractures occurring. In the present study a system for the measurement and analysis of acoustic emission is described which permits the measurement and analysis of acoustic signals obtained from processed and fresh human and porcine femora. In slightly modified form this system was then used to assess the type and extent of acoustic emission obtained from explanted human femora exposed to cyclical torsional loading until fracture occurred.

[Surfactant therapy in severe neonatal respiratory failure--multicenter study--III. Surfactant therapy in 41 premature infants < 34 weeks with suspected congenital infection (case-control analysis)]

As a part of a multicenter study (424 patients, 16 hospitals) 41 ventilated very low birth weight infants (24-33 gestational weeks, 640-1560 g), who were suspected to have connatal pneumonia, were treated with a bovine surfactant (Alveofact, 50-200 mg/kgBW). Using a case control design they were compared with 41 patients having IRDS. There were no differences between the collectives with regard to the acute response to surfactant, the clinical course, and the outcome at the 28. d of life. Accidental treatment with natural surfactant in very immature neonates suffering from severe respiratory distress due to connatal pneumonia resp. connatal pneumonia accompanying IRDS seems not to harm these patients.

Nonparenchymal cells cultivated from explants of fibrotic liver resemble endothelial and smooth muscle cells from blood vessel walls

Tissue specimens from human fibrotic liver obtained by needle biopsy were cultured. Two cell types emerged from the tissue explants. From their morphology and biosynthetic products they resembled smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells from blood vessel walls. In the "endothelial" cells, factor VIII-associated protein was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. Synthesis of collagen types I and III, basement membrane collagen types IV and V, and fibronectin by both cell types was observed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Homogeneous cultures of "smooth muscle cells" were observed in subcultures. After incubation with [14C]glycine, collagen was isolated and characterized by CM cellulose chromatography, and consisted mainly of types I and III. These data suggest involvement of mesenchymal cells in hepatic fibrosis; they presumably originate from blood vessel or sinusoidal walls.

Characterization of the collagen synthesized by cultured human smooth muscle cells from fetal and adult aorta

Smooth muscle cells were grown from explants of the tunica media of fetal and adult human aorta. Collagen was isolated after incubation with [14C]glycine and was characterized by ion-exchange chromatography. All cells investigated synthesized two types of collagen: Type I (chain composition [alpha1(I)]2alpha2) and type III (chain composition [alpha1(III)]3). The collagen made by cells from adult donors contained approximately 70% type I and 30% type III collagen. This corresponds to the collagen composition in teh original tissue. No age-relate change in the type I/type III ratio was found with cells from donors between 9 and 67 years of age. On the other hand, the type III portion of the collagen made by fetal cells was markedly less (about 15-20% of total collagen).