Bladder pseudotumor in childhood

The application of frozen and radiation sterilized allogenic bone grafts for reconstructions in orthopaedic operations is described. Analysis of results of treatment of 1125 patients was performed. It was found that use of preserved bone allows to reduce the extend and duration of surgery. Nearly total substitution of grafts may be seen in 3 to 8 months after surgery.     

Characterization of the detergent insolubility of the T cell receptor for antigen

Aggregation of cell surface receptors plays an important role in signal transduction in many receptor systems. In the T cell receptor (TCR), as in many other cell surface receptors, this aggregation results in insolubility in certain nonionic detergents. We have characterized this insolubility for TCR, and we show it is not preexisting in HPB-ALL cells but increases with increasing TCR aggregation. It is not likely to be due to a direct interaction with cellular cytoskeletal elements, as it is not affected by inhibitors of actin or tubulin polymerization. It may be due to interaction with detergent-resistant membrane domains that have been found in various cell types and contain tyrosine kinases, the earliest known participants in TCR signal transduction. This aggregation-dependent insolubility occurs as rapidly as the anti-TCR antibody binds, so the kinetics are consistent with an involvement in signal transduction. It is not, however, dependent on signal transduction, as inhibitors of tyrosine kinases do not inhibit the insolubility. Insolubility is also enhanced by preaggregation of CD4, an important T cell surface molecule which also associates with the tyrosine kinase p56lck.     

Laboratory studies in cross-species lung transplantation

The lack of sufficient suitable human donor lungs for the many patients requiring pulmonary transplantation as life-saving therapy for end-stage lung diseases has generated extensive interest in cross-species lung transplantation. Ethical concerns and those of animal rights advocates have prompted studies of nonprimate species as potential solid organ donors for humans. This paper provides an overview of some of the laboratory studies of cross-species pulmonary transplantation performed over the past 20 years and focuses, in particular, on more recent work (from our laboratory and others) in the area of porcine-to-primate pulmonary xenotransplantation.     

Cerebellar deficient folia (cdf): a new mutation on mouse chromosome 6

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the case of an 8-yr-old boy with an aneurysmal bone cyst of the right proximal humerus, including the features imaged on plain film radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including spin echo and fast field echo imaging. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient suffered for 1 yr from intermittent but progressive pain in his right upper arm and shoulder area. There was no history of trauma or known systemic disease. There was decreased range of motion in abduction of the glenohumeral joint and pain on focal pressure along the deltoid muscle. A complete imaging evaluation consisting of plain film radiography, CT and MRI was performed, which revealed the classical imaging features of an aneurysmal bone cyst. An additional cystic lesion was detected by the MRI that was not appreciated on the plain films or CT. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient was referred for biopsy to confirm the preliminary diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst. No treatment was instituted. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of aneurysmal bone cyst may be completed with CT scanning and more specifically with MRI MRI coronal T2, weighted images are advantageous for visualization of the main cystic lesion and any additional cysts. Fast field echo images show a better contrast between the cyst and bone marrow with extension of the cyst into the epiphysis as evident in this case. Follow-up studies revealed complete healing of the cyst with only residual densities in the humeral metaphyseal area.     

Compositional constraints in the extremely GC-poor genome of Plasmodium falciparum

We have analyzed the compositional properties of coding (protein encoding) and non-coding sequences of Plasmodium falciparum, a unicellular parasite characterized by an extremely AT-rich genome. GC% levels, base and dinucleotide frequencies were studied. We found that among the various factors that contribute to the properties of the sequences analyzed, the most relevant are the compositional constraints which operate on the whole genome.     

Photoluminescence of cadmium telluride recrystallized by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation

The influence of nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation on the morphology and low-temperature photoluminescence of n-type CdTe at energy densities sufficient to melt the material (0.2–0.5 J/cm²) is investigated. After recrystallization the material has an “orange-peel” appearance. The low-temperature photoluminescence spectrum corresponds to low-grade single-crystalline p-type CdTe containing a large number of dislocations and clusters of point defects. The laser treatment has a long-range effect, significantly altering the impurity-defect system in a way characteristic of n→p conductivity conversion at distances greater than 50 μm from the site where laser radiation is absorbed. Fiz. Tekh. Poluprovodn. 32, 32–35 (January 1998)     

Transthyretin amyloidosis: a new mutation associated with dementia

NaCl-tolerant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains LC-10 (Lactobacillus casei) and LP-15 (Lact. plantarum) and NaCl were used as additives to sorghun (Sorghum bicolor). Numbers of LAB were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in all the additive-treated silages than in the control silage at an early stage of ensiling. During the fermentation process, addition of NaCl or LAB effectively inhibited the growth of aerobic bacteria and clostridia, but not yeasts. All the additive-treated silages had significantly (P < 0.05) lower pH, ammonia nitrogen content, dry matter loss and gas production but significantly (P < 0.05) higher lactic acid content and residual water soluble carbohydrates compared with the control silage. The improvement in silage quality was in the order: LAB > NaCl > control. Yeast counts were high in all additive-based silages and they increased during the exposure of the silages to air. As a result, these silages suffered aerobic deterioration, whereas the control silage was stable. The results confirmed that the NaCl or LAB improved fermentation quality but did not prevent aerobic deterioration of the silage.