Ectopia of both moieties of ureteral duplication anomalies.

The upper pole ureter of a duplication anomaly can be orthotopic or associated with an ectopic insertion, a ureterocele, or even ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The lower pole ureter may terminate orthotopically or laterally on the trigone, resulting in varying grades of vesicoureteral reflux. It can also be associated with lower pole ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Pathology of corneal endothelium in keratoconus.

Keratoconus is characterized by stromal thinning and conical deformity of the cornea that affects a small but significant portion of the population. Although keratoconus has been well studied, endothelial changes have not been extensively investigated. We studied the endothelium of 14 keratoconus corneal buttons obtained over the past 6 years by penetrating keratoplasty using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Hydrogen peroxide stimulates rat colonic prostaglandin production and alters electrolyte transport.

The changes in short circuit current (electrogenic Cl- secretion) of rat colon brought about by xanthine/xanthine oxidase in the Ussing chamber were inhibited by catalase and diethyldithiocarbamate, but not by superoxide dismutase. These results, the reproduction of the response with glucose/glucose oxidase and with exogenous H2O2, and the lack of effect of preincubation with deferoxamine or thiourea implicate H2O2, and not O2- or OH., as the important reactive oxygen metabolite altering intestinal electrolyte transport.

Immune system control of rat and rabbit colonic electrolyte transport. Role of prostaglandins and enteric nervous system.

The role of the immune system in controlling intestinal electrolyte transport was studied in rat and rabbit colon in Ussing chambers. A phagocyte stimulus, the chemotactic peptide FMLP, and a mast cell stimulus, sheep anti-rat IgE, caused a brief (less than 10 min) increase in short-circuit current (Isc). Products of immune system activation, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), caused a sustained, biphasic increase in the Isc.