This study was carried out to investigate the morphologic characteristics and localization of antigenic molecules of Pneumocystis carinii in experimentally induced P. carinii pneumonia in rats. After six weeks of administration of low protein diet and dexamethasone, Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed to submit lungs or bronchoalveolar lavage for the study. Monoclonal (092, 900, 902, and 904) and polyclonal (SP-D) antibodies were used for immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy (ITEM and ISEM). Immunohistochemically P. carinii organisms were well identified as clusters or separated forms in the alveolar spaces being frequently attached to the alveolar walls. Immunoelectron microscopically the adherences of gold particles were observed on the surface of all stages of the P. carinii. Occasionally positive immunogold labeling was observed in the cytoplasm of the trophozoites and on the pellicle of the intracystic bodies within the cysts. The monoclonal antibodies 092, 900, 902, and 904 reacted mainly with pellicles of P. carinii, whereas SP-D labeled on the pellicles, intracystic bodies, cytoplasms of the alveolar macrophages, and free floated surfactant material in the alveolar spaces. The immunogold particles were observed more diffusely and intensely in the cysts than in the trophozoites. These results indicate that antigen is mainly localized on the pellicles, and accumulated during development from the trophozoite to the cyst stages.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cytoplasm ; Dexamethasone ; Diet, Protein-Restricted ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Pneumocystis carinii* ; Pneumocystis* ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trophozoites

No abstract available.
Methemoglobinemia*

The pulmonary microvasculatures of rats were studied by injection replicas prepared from Mercox. This medium enabled us to easily obtain consistent, stable, and complete injected replicas of the pulmonary vasculature. In order to investigate the three dimensional structures of the tributaries of the bronchial artery, such as the capillary plexus and vasa vasorum, we performed a scanning electron microscopic(SEM) study of the vascular casts, using Mercox CL-2B as a media. The alveolar capillaries revealed hexagonal or pentagonal rings of vascular networks. In some areas, the vascular rings composed a square network, The bronchial tree was supplied by the bronchial arteries which form a coarse capillary extending as far as the terminal bronchioles. Occasionally the capillary plexus was connected with adjacent capillary networks in and around the alveolar walls. The walls of the pulmonary artery revealed only a single layer of the vasa vasorum, but those of the pulmonary vein were surrounded by more complicated and well developed vasa vasorum than the pulmonary arterial side. The mean diameters of the venous vasa vasorum are greater than the arterial vasa vasorum.
Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Endoderm* ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor* ; Mediastinum*

Osteoblast or bone marrow stromal cell-derived RANKL is the major effector molecule essential for osteoclastogenesis. Previous studies have shown that tetracyclines have beneficial therapeutic effects in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bone disease including periodontal disease. Periodontal ligament cells are thought not only to play an important role in the progression of periodontal disease, but to play an important role in alveolar bone remodeling. Previous studies indicated that receptor activation of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are expressed in periodontal ligament cells by pro-inflammatory cytokine, such as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha . This study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of doxycycline on RANKL and OPG mRNA in rat periodontal ligament cells induced by IL-1beta(1 ng/ml). The results are as follows; 1. MTT assay showed that doxycycline at the concentration of 1-50 microgram/ml didn't result in statistically significant cell death at day 1 and 3 . 2. RANKL mRNA expression was increased to 2.6 folds by IL-1beta. When cells were treated with doxycycline (50 microgram/ml), IL-1beta-induced mRANKL expression was reduced by 33%. In contrast to RANKL, OPG mRNA expression was not inhibited by pre-treatment with doxycycline. These results suggest that doxycycline decrease the expression of mRANKL resulting in regulation of osteoclastogenesis in rat periodontal ligament cells.
Rats ; Animals ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

This is an autopsy-verifed case of the generalized cytomegalic inclusion disease occuring in a male fetus of a weeks gestation. The fetus revealed hydrocephalus and focal necrosis of brain, focal subcapsular necrosis of liver, and the typical cytomegalic inclusion cells having large acidophilic intranuclear inclusions in the liver, brain, kidney, lung, adrenal gland, pancreas and chorionic villi. Prominent extramedullary hematopoiesis was noted in the liver and kidney. Immuohistochemical staining using anti-cytomegalovirus antibody revealed intranuclear or occasionally intracytoplasmic immunoreactivity in brain, liver, pancreas, lung, kidney, and intestine.
Male ; Humans

This is an autopsy-verifed case of the generalized cytomegalic inclusion disease occuring in a male fetus of a weeks gestation. The fetus revealed hydrocephalus and focal necrosis of brain, focal subcapsular necrosis of liver, and the typical cytomegalic inclusion cells having large acidophilic intranuclear inclusions in the liver, brain, kidney, lung, adrenal gland, pancreas and chorionic villi. Prominent extramedullary hematopoiesis was noted in the liver and kidney. Immuohistochemical staining using anti-cytomegalovirus antibody revealed intranuclear or occasionally intracytoplasmic immunoreactivity in brain, liver, pancreas, lung, kidney, and intestine.
Male ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal morphometric landmarks of the uniting and dividing points of the brachial plexus (BP) in the periclavicular region to provide useful guidance in surgery of BP injuries. METHODS: A total of 20 brachial plexuses were obtained from 10 adult, formalin-fixed cadavers. Distances were measured on the basis of the Chassaignac tubercle (CT), and the most lateral margin of the BP (LMBP) crossing the superior and inferior edge of the clavicle. RESULTS: LMBP was located within 25 mm medially from the midpoint in all subjects. In the supraclavicular region, the upper trunk uniting at 21 +/- 7 mm from the CT, separating into divisions at 42 +/- 5 mm from the CT, and dividing at 19 +/- 4 mm from the LMBP crossing the superior edge of the clavicle. In the infraclavicular region, the distance from the inferior edge of the clavicle to the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) origin was 49 +/- 1 mm, to the median nerve origin 57 +/- 7 mm, and the ulnar nerve origin 48 +/- 6 mm. From the lateral margin of the pectoralis minor to the MCN origin the distance averaged 3.3 +/- 10 mm. Mean diameter of the MCN was 4.3 +/- 1.1 mm (range, 2.5-6.0) in males (n = 6), and 3.1 +/- 1.5 mm (range, 1.6-4.0) in females (n = 4). CONCLUSION: We hope these data will aid in understanding the anatomy of the BP and in planning surgical treatment in BP injuries.
Adult ; Brachial Plexus ; Cadaver ; Clavicle ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Musculocutaneous Nerve ; Pectoralis Muscles ; Ulnar Nerve

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to verify the validity and effectiveness of indirect bypass surgery as a treatment for Moyamoya disease. The development of post-surgical collateral circulation was investigated, and the clinical effectiveness of the surgery was confirmed. METHODS: Of 45 patients (66 hemispheres) with Moyamoya disease, 28 (42 hemispheres) were followed by cerebral angiography for at least 6 months after surgery, between May 2002 and May 2009. There were eight men (13 hemispheres) and 20 women (29 hemispheres) with an average age of 24 +/- 17.1 years (range, 2-62 years) at the time of diagnosis. The average follow-up period was 23 +/- 18.6 months (range, 6-67 months). Indirect revascularization surgery was performed as encephaloduroarteriomyosynangiosis (EDAMS) in 39 cases, encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) in three cases, and bifrontal encephalogaleoperiosteal synangiosis (BEGPS) in 21 cases. The development of collateral circulation was assessed by cerebral angiography at least 6 months after surgery to evaluate the results of the indirect revascularization surgery. For the classification, good indicated collateral circulation of more than two-thirds of the middle cerebral artery distribution; fair between one- and two-thirds; and poor very weak or no collateral circulation. The development of collateral circulation was compared according to age, gender, clinical feature, surgical method, and Suzuki stage. RESULTS: Cerebral infarction was the most frequent clinical feature at the time of incidence (27 cases; 64.4%), and Suzuki stage 3 was most common (15 cases; 35.7%). Based on cerebral angiography, 85.7% of patients showed good or fair development of collateral circulation, which was better among pediatric patients (< or =15-years-of-age) than adult patients (>15-years-of-age; p = 0.0344). Compared with EDAS, EDAMS tended to show better surgical results, but the difference was not statistically significant. Gender, clinical feature, or Suzuki stage did not influence the results. Among 21 patients in whom BEGPS was performed, 15 (71.4%) showed good or fair development of collateral circulation. CONCLUSION: Among the Moyamoya disease patients who received indirect bypass surgery, about 85% showed good or fair results, with collateral circulation involving more than one-third of the middle cerebral artery area. In addition to its effect in pediatric patients younger than 15-years-of-age, indirect bypass surgery also resulted in the development of collateral circulation in adults. EDAMS showed better effectiveness than EDAS as a surgical method. It is speculated that multiple, open arachnoid membranes stimulate the development of collateral circulation. One shortcoming of indirect bypass surgery for Moyamoya disease is that several months are required for the development of collateral circulation. One advantage is that it enables sufficient collateral circulation to develop in those who cannot endure direct bypass surgery. More effective results are expected with BEGPS.
Adult ; Arachnoid ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebral Revascularization ; Collateral Circulation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Incidence ; Male ; Membranes ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Moyamoya Disease ; Nitro Compounds

A total of 30 cases of cerebral gliomas, including 6 cases of low grade astrocytomas, 6 anaplasticastrocytoomas and l8 glioblastomas multiforme, was examined immunohistochemically to demonstrate the overexpression of mutant forms of p53 protein and to evaluate their relationships with histological subtypes. A p53 monoclonal antibody was applied to the routine formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues for this study using microwave-assisted avidin-biotin method. Overexpression of p53 protein was identified in 4 out of 6 anaplastic astrocytomas (66.7%) and in l3 out of l8 glioblastomas multiforme (72.2%). No immunohistochemical positivity of p53 was found in adjacent normal brain tissue, gliosis and 6 cases of astrocytoma. These results suggest that overexpression of mutant p53 may be an important step in the development and progression of malignant astrocytoma, especially of the aggressive subtypes of glioma, including glioblastoma multiforme.
Humans