Normal and healing ligament vascularity: a quantitative histological assessment in the adult rabbit medial collateral ligament.

Normal and healing adult rabbit medial collateral ligaments (MCL) have been assessed for microvascular anatomy using a quantitative image analysis methodology. MCL preparation by ink-gelatin perfusion enabled acceptable visualisation of microvascular channels within the tissue. Fifteen adult rabbits were studied; 3 normal rabbits formed an external time-zero control group; 12 animals received a standardised gap injury to the right MCL.

Morphine consumption and respiratory depression in children receiving postoperative analgesia from continuous morphine infusion or patient controlled analgesia.

Thirty children, aged between five and 15 years, were randomly allocated to receive postoperative analgesia from continuous morphine infusion (CMI) or patient controlled analgesia (PCA), also using morphine. The children's morphine consumption, respiratory rates, oxygen saturations and observation points during which they were sleeping were recorded during two periods, one on the day of operation and one the following day. The median dose of morphine consumed by the children using PCA was significantly larger than that consumed by the children having continuous infusions.

A double-blind comparison of morphine infusion and patient controlled analgesia in children.

The analgesia provided after major abdominal surgery in 30 children by continuous morphine infusion and patient controlled analgesia, also using morphine, was compared using a double-blind, double-dummy design. The groups of children were comparable in age, weight, duration of operation and sex ratio. Pain assessment was carried out by a single observer using a visual analogue scale and the Poker Chip Tool.

DNA index and ploidy distinguish normal human parathyroids from parathyroid adenomas and primary hyperplastic parathyroids.

Background: The goal of this study was to identify factors that might aid in diagnosis and intraoperative management of hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: We analyzed biopsy specimens of 242 parathyroids from 159 patients by use of flow cytometry and image cytometry (ICM) for DNA index (DI), defined as the content of nuclear DNA compared with that expected for a DNA diploid standard, for proliferative index (PI), and for ploidy (diploid versus aneuploid or tetraploid).

Results: True normal and normal parathyroids from patients with solitary adenomas were uniformly diploid.

Patellar tendinitis: MR imaging features, with suggested pathogenesis and proposed classification.

Purpose: To characterize the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of patellar tendinitis.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen patients with a clinical diagnosis of patellar tendinitis underwent gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of the knee.

Results: Grades of patellar abnormality, based on findings in the enthesial region at MR imaging, correlated with signs of increasing fibrovascular repair: grade 1 (n = 4), enhancing area adjacent to patellar apex, with marginal zone of intermediate signal intensity, and a patellar apical chondral-bone avulsion; grade 2 (n = 5), same signs as grade 1 damage but without avulsion; grade 3 (n = 6), homogeneous, nonenhancing area of intermediate signal intensity adjacent to the patellar apex seen on all images.

Low incidence of red cell and HLA antibody formation by bone marrow transplant patients.

Background: Bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients, although immunosuppressed, are at risk for the development of red cell (RBC) and HLA antibodies, and they often are given filtered blood in an effort to prevent the latter complication. This study attempts to determine the rate of formation and the specificity of both RBC and HLA alloantibodies in this patient population.

Study Design And Methods: BMT patients (148 received autologous marrow; 45 received allogeneic marrow) from an 18-month period, including patients with leukemia (57 patients), lymphoma (54), breast cancer (68), myeloma (8), myelodysplastic syndrome (5), and aplastic anemia (1), were studied to determine the rate of alloantibody formation to RBC and HLA antigens.

Properties of rabbit liver aldehyde oxidase and the relationship of the enzyme to xanthine oxidase and dehydrogenase.

The properties of the molybdenum iron-sulfur flavoprotein, aldehyde oxidase from rabbit livers, have been further investigated in comparison with bovine milk xanthine oxidase. In agreement with earlier work, the ultraviolet/visible spectra indicate that the flavin and iron-sulfur centres of the enzymes are quite similar to one another. The molybdenum centres have been compared by EPR spectroscopy of molybdenum(V) and regarding re-insertion of the sulfido ligand of molybdenum into the desulfo enzyme forms.

Transfusion-associated chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease.

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TAGVHD) occurs in immunocompromised persons who receive nonirradiated blood products containing immunologically competent donor lymphocytes. TAGVHD occurs almost exclusively as an acute illness and has a very high mortality rate. We describe a patient with a long history of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in whom acute TAGVHD developed after transfusion of packed red blood cells from two unrelated donors.

Exercise loading of tendons and the development of overuse injuries. A review of current literature.

This review examines recent studies on the effects of exercise on tendons in animal models. Although tendon adaptation to exercise has been described using histology, morphometry, ultrasonography and molecular biology, precise measurements of excess tendon loading during exercise protocols have not been reported. Only a few studies have attempted to evaluate the mechanical strength of exercised tendons.

Characterization of Thy-1 (CDw90) expression in CD34+ acute leukemia.

Thy-1 (CDw90) is a phosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface molecule which, when coexpressed with CD34 in normal human bone marrow, identifies a population of immature cells that includes putative hematopoietic stem cells. To date, the characterization of Thy-1 expression has been confined largely to normal tissues and cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the frequency and intensity of Thy-1 expression as defined by reactivity with the anti-Thy-1 antibody 5E10 in 38 cases of CD34+ acute leukemia (21 acute myelogenous leukemia [AML], 8 chronic myelogenous leukemia [CML] in blast crisis, and 9 acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]).

The evolutionary expansion and host-parasite relationships of the Digenea.

Relevant data on the Digenea extracted from a host-parasite data-base are analysed in relation to host-groups, host-specificity, speciation, radiation and geographical distribution. The classification, evolution, co-evolution, and co-speciation of the group are discussed. Principal components analyses indicated that 119 families formed 11 groups in relation to their vertebrate hosts and the 55 families with molluscan records formed 6 groups in relation to their molluscan hosts.

Multiple states of the molybdenum centre of dimethylsulphoxide reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus revealed by EPR spectroscopy.

The dimethylsulphoxide reductase of Rhodobacter capsulatus contains a pterin molybdenum cofactor molecule as its only prosthetic group. Kinetic studies were consistent with re-oxidation of the enzyme being rate limiting in the turnover of dimethylsulphoxide in the presence of the benzyl viologen radical. EPR spectra of molybdenum(V) were generated by reducing the highly purified enzyme under a variety of conditions, and with careful control it was possible to generate at least five clearly distinct EPR signals.

pH-dependent properties of a mutant horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C in which Arg38 has been replaced with lysine.

Arg38 in the active site of horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C (HRP-C) has been replaced with lysine by site-directed mutagenesis. As a preclude to a detailed kinetic analysis of this variant, the present study characterizes a pH-dependent cycle of reactions for recombinant horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C with Arg38 replaced by lysine ([R38K]HRP-C*), which involves time-dependent changes in both specific activity and the electronic absorption spectrum of the enzyme. This pH-dependent cycle resembles that previously suggested for a cytochrome-c peroxidase variant in which Asp235 was replaced with asparagine.

Ecology and diversity of digenean trematodes of reef and inshore fishes of Queensland.

coral reefs harbour an extraordinary, concentrated diversity of life. What are the implications of this for parasites? After the corals themselves, the most striking component of coral reefs is the fishes. Individual coral reefs may harbour as many as a thousand species of fishes.

Host-parasite associations on a coral reef: pomacentrid fishes and digenean trematodes.

A comprehensive survey of 39 sympatric species from the Pomacentridae from the southern Great Barrier Reef revealed 18 species of digenean trematodes. Individual species of trematodes infected between one and 24 species of pomacentrids. Overall, host specificity was low, indicating host switching during the evolution of associations among these hosts and their parasites.

Cigarette smoking in the U.S. military: findings from the 1992 Worldwide Survey.

Background: Using data from the military's Worldwide Survey series, this article presents findings on the prevalence of smoking among active-duty military personnel in 1992 and trends since 1980.

Methods: A stratified probability sampling design was used in the 1992 Worldwide Survey. Military installations worldwide were sampled, and then active-duty personnel within these installations were selected.

The status and composition of the genus Steringophorus Odhner, 1905 (Digenea: Fellodistomidae), based on partial small subunit rRNA sequences.

Analysis of partial small subunit (18S) rRNA sequences shows the paraphyly of the genus Steringophorus as currently recognised. In consequence it is necessary to change the conception of the genus by the transfer of the species Steringophorus agnotus and S. sebastodis back to their original genus, Fellodistomum.

Epitope specificity of HLA class I alloantibodies. I. Frequency analysis of antibodies to private versus public specificities in potential transplant recipients.

Sera obtained sequentially from 419 patients awaiting solid organ transplantation were screened and analyzed for HLA class I epitope specificity. Antibodies detected in each serum were defined as "private" if reactivity could only be demonstrated against a single specificity within one of the eight major CREGs, or as "public" if reactivity in a serum could be demonstrated against two or more specificities within a single CREG. A total of 139 sera contained % PRA > 0, in which 147 specific antibodies were identified.