Expression of CYP2E1 by human monocyte-derived macrophages.

The expression of the ethanol-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1) in human monocyte-derived macrophages was studied at the mRNA and protein levels. The presence of mRNA was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and protein by immunocytochemistry. The data show that CYP2E1 is expressed in human monocyte-derived macrophages at a level similar to that demonstrated in other extrahepatic tissues.

Localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide within the genitofemoral nerve in immature rats.

Background/purpose: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been proposed to influence migration and testicular descent by release from the genitofemoral nerve. The site of CGRP within the nerve has been controversial, with conflicting views on whether CGRP is synthesised and released from the motor nerves.

Methods: The genitofemoral nerve (GFN) was retrogradely labelled by fluorescent dye (DAPI) in 25 Sprague-Dawley rats (days 5, 16, and 31, n = 8 in each group; day 35, n = 1).

Apoptosis in tracheoesophageal embryogenesis in rat embryos with or without adriamycin treatment.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether apoptosis participates in separation of the foregut into trachea and esophagus and to evaluate the potential role of apoptosis in the development of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA + TEF) induced by Adriamycin.

Methods: Timed-pregnant rats were injected daily with either saline or Adriamycin (2 mg/kg) intraperitoneally on days 6 to 9 of gestation. Paraffin sections were prepared from 31 experimental and 31 control embryos at days 12 and 13 of gestation.

Slow-transit constipation in childhood.

Background/purpose: Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) as a cause for severe chronic constipation remains controversial. The authors have identified a deficiency of substance P (SP) immunoreactivity in the colonic nerve fibres of some children with severe constipation, and aim to correlate this with clinical features and transit studies.

Methods: Over 100 children with intractable constipation with or without soiling have been assessed by clinical questionnaire, nuclear transit study, and laparoscopic seromuscular biopsy of the colon labelled with antibodies to SP and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) using immunofluorescence.

Visceral anomalies in prenatally adriamycin-exposed rat fetuses: a model for the VATER association.

Adriamycin is teratogenic if given to pregnant rats. A wide range of anomalies involving the gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular systems has been described, similar to the VATER association, yet it is not known if they are identical to the human pattern. The aim of this study was to document the visceral anomalies in rat fetuses exposed to adriamycin and to determine their similarities with the congenital defects in humans with the VATER association.

Intrinsic innervation of the oesophagus in fetal rats with oesophageal atresia.

Although the aetiology of oesophageal dysmotility after repair of oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula (OA-TOF) remains controversial, oesophageal dysmotility also is present in isolated TOF or OA before surgery, suggesting a congenital cause. Our previous work with a model of OA-TOF in fetal rats demonstrated an abnormality in the course and branching pattern of the vagus nerve. However, little is known about the intramural nervous components of the atretic oesophagus.

Ethane dimethane sulfonate and NNN'N'-tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine inhibit steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression in MA-10 Leydig cells and rat Sertoli cells.

Apoptosis inhibits steroid biosynthesis, but it is not clear how the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory (StAR) protein, is affected. To characterize StAR expression during apoptosis, mouse MA-10 Leydig tumor cells were treated with ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS), an inducer of apoptosis, and the metal ion chelator NNN'N'-tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), an inducer of cell death. Both chemicals induced cell death and similarly inhibited dbcAMP-stimulated steroidogenesis and accumulation of the 30 kDa form of StAR.

Distributions of substance P- and VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibres in the colonic circular muscle in children.

In children with severe chronic constipation, abnormal distribution of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which represent excitatory and inhibitory nerves, respectively, has been reported. The normal distribution of these neuropeptides, however, is not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the populations of SP- and VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibres in the circular muscle of the colon in children.

Embryogenesis of tracheal atresia.

A spectrum of tracheo-esophageal anomalies has been described in an adriamycin-treated model with common features to the human pattern. Tracheal agenesis was part of this spectrum. It is a rare congenital anomaly that has not been described in embryos.

Regulation of Leydig cells through a steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-independent pathway by a lipophilic factor from macrophages.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the mechanism of action of a macrophage-derived factor that stimulates steroid production by Leydig cells. This factor increased testosterone production within 30 min, and reached a half-maximal response by 6-8 h. At a maximal dose, it stimulated testosterone production 20-fold at 24 h.

FSH does not directly influence testicular macrophages.

We have previously demonstrated that conditioned medium from testicular macrophages stimulates testosterone production by Leydig cells. It was also reported that conditioned medium from macrophages treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) had an even greater amount of Leydig cell-stimulating activity than medium from untreated macrophages, indicating that this factor is under the regulation of FSH. However, most other laboratories have been unable to reproduce this effect of FSH.

Temperature sensitivity of primary spermatocyte DNA synthesis in immature mice confirmed by bromodeoxyuridine labelling in vitro.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between temperature and DNA synthesis of immature germ cells and to determine whether the early primary spermatocytes proliferate at a 'scrotal' temperature of 32 degrees C in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Day-7 mouse testes (n = 16) were cultured with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) for 3 days at 32 degrees C or 37 degrees C and labelled by bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) for a further hour. The BrDU-labelled cells were detected by immunohistochemical staining using a monoclonal anti-BrDU antibody.

Renal tuberculosis in an Australian-born child.

This report describes a case of renal tuberculosis, complicated by hypertension and ureteric obstruction, in a previously well Australian born child. Despite antituberculous chemotherapy and ureteric stenting, there was a progressive loss of renal function in the right kidney until surgical nephrectomy allowed full recovery. A high level of clinical suspicion is necessary for a diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis.

Anatomical relationship between urethra and clitoris.

Purpose: We investigated the anatomical relationship between the urethra and the surrounding erectile tissue, and reviewed the appropriateness of the current nomenclature used to describe this anatomy.

Materials And Methods: A detailed dissection was performed on 2 fresh and 8 fixed human female adult cadavers (age range 22 to 88 years). The relationship of the urethra to the surrounding erectile tissue was ascertained in each specimen, and the erectile tissue arrangement was determined and compared to standard anatomical descriptions.

Skeletal anomalies in the adriamycin-exposed prenatal rat: a model for VATER association.

Vertebral and radial anomalies are prominent features of VATER (vertebral defects, anorectal anomaly, tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, and radial dysplasia) association. It has been shown that exposure of the rat fetus to adriamycin produces a spectrum of anomalies, including esophageal atresia and other features of VATER association. We aimed to document the skeletal defects found in rats exposed to teratogenic doses of adriamycin in utero.

Intestinal rotational abnormalities in polysplenia and asplenia syndromes.

Objective: To review the anomalies of intestinal rotation occurring in association with asplenia (right isomerism) and polysplenia (left isomerism) syndromes.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was performed of 27 children with asplenia (21) or polysplenia (6) identified from the cardiology and radiology databases from 1988 to 1996 and in whom an upper gastrointestinal barium study had been performed. The intestinal rotation was determined by reviewing the barium meal and could be divided into four groups: (1) normal rotation, (2) incomplete rotation or nonrotation, (3) reversed rotation and (4) reversed incomplete rotation or nonrotation.

Paediatric surgical training: a system that works.

Background: Paediatric surgical trainees going through the system at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), Melbourne, have been impressed with the amount of time dedicated to postgraduate training compared with other institutions. They generally felt well prepared to sit for Fellowship examinations. We decided to look at the programme offered at the RCH and objectively assess the results.

Infections in periarticular fractures of the lower extremity treated with tensioned wire hybrid fixators.

Objectives: To observe the incidence and clinical presentation of infection in periarticular fractures of the tibia and femur treated with tensioned wire external fixators.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Level One Trauma Center in urban community.

Ventriculo-peritoneal shunts in children reveal the natural history of closure of the processus vaginalis.

Purpose: Little information is known about the natural history of closure of the processus vaginalis. The authors studied children who had ventriculoperitoneal shunts to determine the natural history of closure of the processus vaginalis and to better understand the role of intraabdominal pressure in the etiology of congenital inguinal hernia.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of all children undergoing insertion of ventriculoperitoneal shunts between 1985 and 1995 at the Royal Children's Hospital was undertaken.

Does the gubernaculum migrate during inguinoscrotal testicular descent in the rat?

Background: The role of the gubernaculum in descent of the testis is controversial. The mechanism of testicular descent has been studied in the rat, because inguino-scrotal descent occurs postnatally in this species. Several authors have claimed that the cremasteric sac forms by eversion of the gubernacular cone, whereby regression of the extra-abdominal part of the gubernaculum creates a space into which the gubernacular cone everts to form the processus vaginalis within the scrotum.

Efficacy of orchidopexy on spermatogenesis in the immature mutant 'trans-scrotal' rat as a cryptorchid model by quantitative cytological analysis.

Objectives: To determine whether cryptorchidism is a congenital malformation and whether the impaired spermatogenesis in immature testes can be reversed by early orchidopexy, using the mutant trans-scrotal (T-S) rat which is normally masculinized but has cryptorchidism in 85% of males.

Materials And Methods: First, T-S rats (six per group) with ectopic testes destined to be undescended were investigated histologically at 4, 7 and 14 days after birth. Secondly, 12-day-old T-S rats were divided into four groups which underwent different procedures, i.

Congenital undescended testes in neonatal pigs and the effect of exogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Purpose: We investigated the neonatal piglet as a possible animal model for cryptorchidism and to determine whether calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which has been proposed to regulate inguinoscrotal testicular descent, could induce testicular descent in piglets with congenital cryptorchidism.

Materials And Methods: We examined 38 cryptorchid piglets to document the anatomy in 8 and to investigate the role of CGRP in 30. The 2-week-old piglets were allocated randomly to receive a mini-osmotic pump containing CGRP at various concentrations or phosphate buffered saline.