Comparative morphology of the alimentary tract and its glandular derivatives of captive bustards.

This study describes the gross anatomy of the alimentary tract of Houbara Bustards (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori), Rufous-crested Bustards (Eupodotis ruficrista) and White-bellied Bustards (Eupodotis senegalensis) maintained in captivity by the National Avian Research Center in the United Arab Emirates. The morphology of the alimentary tract and the proportions of each region were similar in all 4 species. The length of the oesophagus, combined proventriculus and ventriculus, small intestine, and large intestine formed 24.

Relationship between gastric mucus synthesis, secretion and surface gel erosion measured in amphibian stomach in vitro.

1. The layer of adherent mucus that protects the surface of the stomach reflects a dynamic balance between biosynthesis of glycoprotein, secretion of preformed mucus and erosion of the adherent gel layer. The present study is the first in which all these processes have been measured concomitantly and was undertaken to define interrelationships between the three parameters.

Pantoprazole: a new and more specific proton pump inhibitor.

Pantoprazole is the third proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to be launched for the treatment of acid-peptic diseases. Like other drugs in this class, pantoprazole causes long-lasting inhibition of acid secretion by inactivating the parietal cell H+/K+-ATPase. Compared with H2 antagonists, pantoprazole results in faster pain relief, more rapid ulcer healing, healing of resistant ulcers and far greater efficacy in oesophageal reflux disease.

Orbital venous anomalies.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to establish the natural history, probable nature, and optimal treatment of lesions within the orbit described previously as lymphangiomas or orbital varices.

Methods: The clinical and radiologic records of 158 patients with these lesions were reviewed. Of these, 91 had surgery, and histologic specimens from 57 were re-examined.

Ostensible oncocytoma of accessory lacrimal glands.

Benign oncocytomas of the accessory lacrimal glands can be found in the lacrimal caruncle, plica semilunaris or conjunctival fornices, but are extremely rare. A series of 15 supposed oncocytomas of the ocular adnexa was reviewed retrospectively, and histological differences were noted with respect to the parotid gland counterpart. Lesions could be divided into three histological groups: (1) tumours composed of tubules lined by tall columnar epithelium with finely granular cytoplasm; the tubules often had dilated lumens containing mucinous secretion; (2) cystic tumours with prominent epithelial tufts projecting from much of the cyst wall; (3) tumours with solid areas composed of variably cuboidal or polygonal cells, largely in trabecular arrangement, and co-existing with the previously described tubular and cystic elements.

The wreck of Amtrak's Sunset Limited: news coverage of a mass transport disaster.

Using the 1993 crash of Amtrak's Sunset Limited in Mobile, Alabama, this study examines the safety education provided by seven newspapers. A total of 117 news stories were analysed for five primary themes: overall story category, passenger safety theme, train personnel safety theme, train safety theme and rescue safety. Sixty-three per cent were found to contain at least one safety theme paragraph within the larger story.

Primary localised amyloidosis of the orbit.

Aims/background: Primary localised amyloidosis is rarely encountered in the orbit. The typical clinical and radiological appearances have not been clearly established, in particular the single site deposition of amyloid has never been proved.

Methods: Six cases were reviewed in detail and their clinical and radiological characteristics are described here.

Protein components of a rat brain synaptic junctional protein preparation.

Antisera against a rat brain synaptic protein preparation, the postsynaptic density (PSD) fraction, were used to isolate cDNA clones by expression screening of a rat brain cDNA library. About one fifth of more than 200 analyzed cDNAs encoding potential synapse-associated proteins were previously unknown. Identifiable proteins include, among others, components of the pre- and postsynaptic cytoskeleton, synaptic vesicle proteins and several protein kinases and kinase substrates.

Using organizational culture as an agent of change.

Many health care organizations are considering or undergoing work redesign or other workplace change. The result is profound changes in the organizational culture. In addition, change is also required in the work unit cultures.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and ocular calcification.

We report the presence of peculiar nonbanded calcification of the cornea in three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, discovered on postmortem histological examination of the globes. In one patient, multiple calcium salt precipitates also affected other ocular and orbital structures. Calcium deposits were present in the corneal stroma but spared Bowman's layer, as is usually seen in primary and secondary corneal calcification.

The pathology of cornea in Tangier disease (familial high density lipoprotein deficiency).

Aims: To clarify the underlying causes of corneal opacification in Tangier disease.

Methods: Both corneas were removed at death from a 62 year old man with Tangier disease, and were examined by direct and transmission electron microscopy, histochemistry, biochemical analysis by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography after extraction, and by differential scanning calorimetry.

Results: Membranous inclusions in the stroma were seen on transmission electron microscopy.

The effects of Escherichia coli S-fimbriae and outer membrane protein A on rat pial arterioles.

Cerebral vascular injury is common in bacterial meningitis, but the role of microbial factors associated with this phenomenon is unclear. Escherichia coli S-fimbriae and outer membrane protein A (OmpA) have been shown to promote binding and invasion of E. coli to brain microvascular endothelial cells, respectively.

Piccolo, a novel 420 kDa protein associated with the presynaptic cytomatrix.

In this study, we describe a novel 420 kDa protein, called Piccolo, found at a wide variety of adult rat brain synapses. High protein levels in the cerebellum, the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus were frequently observed to be associated with asymmetric type 1 synapses. Piccolo is selectively enriched in presynaptic terminals, but is not a component of synaptic vesicles (SVs).

Expression of TrkB receptor isoforms in the developing avian visual system.

The expression of novel TrkB receptor transcripts has been characterized to understand the potentially diverse roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the developing avian visual system. In situ localization with an extracellular domain probe common to all TrkB transcripts labeled a sub-population of large retinal ganglion cells as well as many associated visual nuclei, including the neuronal layers within the tectum that receive retinal innervation. Because of the potential for structurally and functionally distinct receptors derived from the TrkB gene locus, cDNA cloning and reverse transcription-PCR analysis were used to further analyze receptor isoform expression in the retina and tectum.

The expression of trkB and p75 and the role of BDNF in the developing neuromuscular system of the chick embryo.

The neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, prevents motoneuron cell death during the normal development of the chick embryo. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a ligand for the low-affinity NGF receptor, p75, and for the high-affinity neurotrophin receptor, trkB. If motoneurons respond directly to brain-derived neurotrophic factor then they must possess at least one, and possibly both, of these receptors during the period of naturally occurring cell death.

Effects of anaesthetic agents on basal and histamine-stimulated acid secretion in the fistula rat.

Objectives: Anaesthetized rats or surgically modified preparations such as the Shay rat are widely used to study upper gastrointestinal function in the laboratory. Despite the existence of reports demonstrating that agents such as barbiturates can influence acid output, a systematic study of the effects of anaesthetics on gastric secretion has not been undertaken.

Methods: Basal and histamine-stimulated acid output were measured in chronic fistula rats after administration of injectable and volatile anaesthetics frequently used in studies of gastric secretion in anaesthetized animals.

trkC-mediated NT-3 signaling is required for the early development of a subpopulation of neurogenic neural crest cells.

Soon after they segregate from the neural tube, trunk neural crest cells disperse on two spatially and temporally distinct pathways. Only crest cells that migrate early and ventromedially give rise to neurons of the peripheral nervous system. It is also known that neural crest cell-derived populations require appropriate environmental cues early in development in order to generate neurons, and for the subsequent survival of differentiated neurons.

Topical heparin in the treatment of ligneous conjunctivitis.

Background: Ligneous conjunctivitis is a rare acute or subacute membranous conjunctivitis of unknown etiology for which no generally accepted form of treatment is available.

Methods: Between 1972 and 1993, 17 patients with ligneous conjunctivitis were treated with excision biopsy, meticulous hemostasis, and immediate, intensive topical treatment with heparin, steroids, and, in 12 patients, alpha-chymotrypsin until all signs of conjunctival inflammation had subsided.

Results: On histologic examination, the lesions consisted of subepithelial deposits of fibrin in all patients.

Histological study of oxalosis in the eye and adnexa of AIDS patients.

Review of a series of 98 eyes removed at autopsy from 86 AIDS patients identified 12 cases (14%) showing varying degrees of microscopic calcium oxalate deposition. The oxalate crystals were birefringent using polarisation microscopy and were stained histochemically by the silver nitrate-rubeanic acid method (Yasue), a stain considered to be specific for calcium oxalate. In two cases, the deposition was extensive and involved the surface of the ciliary processes, ciliary body and pars plana of the retina, the retinal and optic nerve blood vessel wall, a few retinal pigment cells, and the anterior inner sclera.