Incarcerated lumbar hernia in the Petit´s triangle as a cause of large bowel obstruction.

Petits hernia is a rare defect in the abdominal wall located in the lower lumbar triangle. The herniation in the Petiti trigonum is complicated by bowel incarceration in about 9% of cases, most often of the large bowel. We present a case report of a 73-year-old patient with clinical manifestations of large bowel obstrution. The patient was admitted and indicated for urgent surgery. Incarcerated left lumbar hernia in the Petits triangle with herniation of sigmoid colon that showed no signs of ischemia was found. Reposition of the sigmoid colon and hernioplasty of the lumbar hernia was performed. There were no postoperative complications and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 9. The presented case report shows that the lumbar hernia (Petit) may result in bowel obstruction and thus may cause a life-threatening condition that requires urgent surgical intervention.

NADPH-d activity in rat thymus after the application of retinoid acid.

The aim of this work was to determine the localization of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity as the marker for synthesis of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the rat thymus after the application of retinoid acid (RA) on 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days of gestation. The given results can build the basis for understanding of the role of NOS in rat thymus. NADPH-d positive cells were represented with dark-blue color and were localized on corticomedullar junction of the thymus. These cells were of different intensity of coloring and were shaped in oval, circle or irregular forms. NADPH-d positive nerve fibers were observed in perivascular topography. They were marked more strongly in the case of control group. The result of application of RA to gravid rats was that the birth weights of newborn rats and their thymuses were smaller, but without statistically significance.

Influence of surgical and chemical orchidectomy on weight and distribution of AChE-nerve fibres in thymuses of adult rats.

The thymus is a crossroad between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. As such, it is innervated by acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive fibres of the vagus, the recurrent laryngeal and the phrenic nerves. It is well know, that the innervations density of the thymus increases with age. In our study, adult rats were orchidectomized (surgically and chemically by the application of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone). The density of AChE-positive nerve fibres in thymuses, as well as the weight of thymuses was examined. The authors found that both surgical and chemical orchidectomy result in macroscopic and microscopic regeneration of the atrophied thymuses. In regenerated rat's thymuses after orchidectomy the density of AChE-positive nerve fibres was markedly higher in comparison with the control animals. The distribution, as well as the density of AChE-positive nerve fibres in regenerated thymuses after orchidectomy evokes the images of its innervations like in young animals before age-related involution. The authors also found a markedly higher weight of thymuses of orchidectomized rats in comparison with the control groups. In recent study the authors proved that after 8 weeks surgical orchidectomy leads to the regeneration of thymic AChE-positive innervation and chemical orchidectomy by administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone after 4 weeks of adult rats.

NADPH-diaphorase expression in the rat jejunum after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate - diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity in the rat jejunum after a mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion injury. Nitric oxide, synthetised from L-arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, is a nonadrenergic noncholinergic relaxant neurotransmitter of the intestinal smooth muscle. It plays an important role in the process of plasticity after the ischemia/reperfusion injury. Experimental animals were divided in two groups: the control group and the ischemic/reperfusion group, with different period of the reperfusion. The NADPH-d histochemical method has been used as a marker for the nitric oxide synthase. NADPH-d activity has been rapidly decreased in the neurons of both enteric nervous systems in plexuses of the jejunum after 1 h mesenteric ischemia and 1 h reperfusion. Differences were predominantly detected in the myenteric plexus; they were seen in change of the neuronal shape, in the arrangement of neurons and in intensity of their staining. The NADPH-d positivity was absent in the intestinal crypts. After 1 h ischemia and 24 h reperfusion, the NADPH-d activity was gradually increased, but it was lower in comparison with the control group. On the 30th day following the ischemia/reperfusion there were no changes in NADPH-d positivity compared with the control animals. These results indicated that the jejunal ischemia/reperfusion has affected the neurons of the enteric nervous system of adult rats and resulted in the early decrease of NADPH-d positivity 1 h of the reperfusion insult. The gradual increasing of NADPH-d activity in 24 h following the reperfusion could be considered as a result of the plasticity process. On the 30(th) day after the ischemia/reperfusion all histochemical changes were returned to the control levels.

Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase and AChE activity in the anterior leaflet of rat mitral valve.

The mitral valve, as an active flap, forms the major part of the left ventricular inflow tract and therefore plays an important function in many aspects of left ventricular performance. The anterior leaflet of this valve is the largest and most ventrally placed of two leaflets that come together during ventricular systole to close the left atrioventricular orifice. Various neurotransmitters are responsible for different functions including controlling valve movement, inhibiting or causing the failure of impulse conduction in the valve and the sensation of pain. Nitric oxide acts as a gaseous free radical neurotransmitter, neuromediator and effective cardiovascular modulator. Acetyl-choline is known to function as a typical neurotransmitter. Histochemical methods for detection of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d), as an indirect nitric oxide-synthase marker, and method for detection of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were used. Both methods were performed on the same valve sample. A widespread distribution of nerve fibres was observed in the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The fine NADPH-d positive (nitrergic) nerve fibres were identified in all zones of valve leaflet. AChE positive (cholinergic) nerve fibres were identified forming dense network and fibres organized in stripes. Endocardial cells and vessels manifested heavy NADPH-d activity. Our observations suggest a different arrangement of nitrergic and cholinergic nerve fibres in the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The presence of nitrergic and cholinergic activity confirms the involvement of both neurotransmitters in nerve plexuses and other structures of mitral valve.

Antagonistic effect of low deprenyl dose on the preimplantation embryo development in rat.

To investigate the role of potent MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl in fertilized females, we have evaluated the effect of chronic treatment with deprenyl at a low dosage on preimplantation embryo development in Wistar rats. We have found that the number of isolated embryos per rat did not differ between experimental and control groups. But morphological analysis of embryos isolated from deprenyl-treated animals had revealed improved rates in the distribution pattern compared with controls. On the other hand, harmful impact of deprenyl administration on the mean cell number in blastocysts and on their cell proliferation has been recorded. To our knowledge this is the first paper describing antagonistic effect of deprenyl administration on the preimplantation embryo development in mammals. Potential mechanisms mediating biphasic deprenyl-induced impact on embryonic development are proposed (Tab. 3, Ref. 17). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Study of high deprenyl dose on the preimplantation embryo development and lymphocyte DNA in rat.

To investigate the role of potent MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl in fertilized females, we have evaluated the effect of chronic treatment with deprenyl at a high dosage on preimplantation embryo development and DNA damage in blood lymphocytes in Wistar rats. We have found that the number of embryos isolated from both uterus and oviduct per rat was significantly lower in the experimental group. Almost 14% of embryos in experimental animals were flushed from oviducts compared to 1.95% of those in the control rats. Morphological analysis of embryos isolated from deprenyl-treated animals had revealed impaired rates in the distribution pattern compared with controls. But deprenyl administration had no significant effect on the mean number of cells in morulae or even blastocysts. On the other hand, analysis of cell number distribution in blastocysts using the chi-square test indicated a significantly decreased cell proliferation in the experimental group. Despite the harmful impact of deprenyl on rat preimplantation embryo development, deprenyl administration significantly decreased the DNA damage in blood lymphocytes as was scored employing Comet Assay. Our description of the adverse effects of deprenyl administration on rat preimplantation embryo development compared to the protective effects on the lymphocyte DNA is very important because deprenyl is still widely used in human medicine as a treatment. Potential mechanisms mediating deprenyl-induced impaired preimplantation embryo development are proposed.