Effects of pre-surgical nasoalveolar moulding on maxillary arch and nasal form in unilateral cleft lip and palate before lip surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of pre-surgical nasoalveolar moulding (PNAM) on the maxillary arch and nasal form in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: This is a retrospective case series study. The subjects were infants with complete UCLP who were treated with PNAM (n = 18) at Kagoshima University Medical and Dental Hospital (Japan) between 2006 and 2013. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Maxillary dental casts and facial photographs were taken at the time of the first visit and immediately prior to lip surgery to evaluate the maxillary arch and nasal form changes. The dental casts were scanned with a laser scanner, and changes in the 3-Dimensional coordinates of anatomical landmarks and alveolar cleft width were analysed. Moreover, we investigated the correlation between the changes in the maxillary alveolar arch and nasal form. RESULTS: Regarding the maxillary alveolar arch form, the anterior points of the major segment had moved significantly to the cleft side just prior to the time of lip repair, and the alveolar cleft width was significantly decreased. For nasal form, the inclination and displacement of the columella were significantly improved. The improvement of columella inclination was moderately correlated with the posterior movement of the anterior points of the major segment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that PNAM for infants with UCLP enhanced symmetry in the maxillary alveolar arch and nasolabial form. In addition, the posterior movement of the anterior points of the maxillary alveolar arch was correlated with the improvement of columella deformation.

New micro-glass-tube leukocyte adherence inhibition assay assessing cell adherence of mononuclear cell subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies.

A new micro-glass-tube leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay which is appropriate for detecting delayed type hypersensitivity in vitro has been developed for human leukocytes. Enumeration of adherent cells is replaced by a cellular radioimmunoassay determining antibody binding of the monoclonal reagents, OKT4, OKT8 and OKM1, to glass-adherent cells, fixed by glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde. An LAI reactivity to purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) was detectable in donors giving a positive PPD skin test with OKT4 reagent, but not with the other two reagents.

Confocal scanning laser microscopy of morphometric human sperm parameters: correlation with acrosin profiles and fertilizing capacity.

OBJECTIVES: To develop quantitative criteria for assessing sperm morphology and to determine the correlation between the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa and the outcome of the sperm hypo-osmotic swelling test, sperm acrosin profile, and sperm capacity for fertilization. DESIGN: The maximal length and width of the sperm head, the length of the midpiece and principal piece of the sperm tail, and the ratio of the surface of the acrosomal region to the total surface of the head were determined in specimens obtained from a group of infertile men and a group of fertile men using a confocal scanning laser microscope. Group A consisted of 53 infertile men who were participating in an IVF program, and group B consisted of 98 fertile men. The mean +/- 2 SD of the morphometric parameters in group B was established as representing the lowest and highest normal values in both groups. A normal spermatozoon was defined as one with morphometric parameters within normal levels. The lowest percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, hypo-osmotic swelling test result, and acrosin activity in group B were also taken as the lowest normal values in group A. SETTING: In vitro fertilization program at the Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sperm morphometric parameters, percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and acrosin activity. RESULTS: The length of the midpiece, ratio (x 100) of the surface of the acrosomal region to the total surface of the sperm head, percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, outcome of hypo-osmotic swelling test, and acrosin activity were significantly higher in group B than in group A. The maximal width of the head was significantly lower in group B than in group A. Strongly positive correlations were observed between percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa or length of midpiece and the proportion of fertilized oocytes in group A and between ratio (x 100) of the surface of the acrosomal region to the total surface of the head and acrosin activity in groups A and B. Sperm morphology showed high positive and negative predictive values for acrosin activity (normal/abnormal) and fertility potential (present/absent). CONCLUSIONS: Using quantitative strict criteria, we found that sperm morphology was an important predictor of sperm fertilizing capacity. The confocal scanning laser microscope provided useful information about the sperm cytoskeleton and its importance in fertilization.

The application of phenoxybenzamine in open heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass.

The effects of vasodilator therapy upon organ blood flow, beta-glucuronidase activity in plasma and pulmonary surfactant were evaluated before and during cardiopulmonary bypass. Alpha adrenergic blockade with phenoxybenzamine increased the organ blood flow in the heart, brain, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and liver, whereas it decreased the organ blood flow in the kidney, spleen, and lung. These changes were extremely similar to those observed at hemorrhagic shock. With 2 mg/kg of POB the organ blood flow tended to approach to control levels. The increase of beta-glucuronidase activity at hemorrhagic shock was considerably inhibited after intravenous drip of 2 mg/kg of phenoxybenzamine. We examined the changes of pulmonary surfactant biochemically. Pulmonary surfactant was decreased in endotoxin shock and similar changes were observed in cardiopulmonary bypass when perfusion time was extended to 3 hours. The decrease of pulmonary surfactant after bypass was inhibited by application of POB. From these results, we supposed that the circulatory dynamics during cardiopulmonary bypass might be similar to that of shock and the application of POB in cardiopulmonary bypass might be useful. We applied POB clinically and had good results.

Scanning electron microscopic and cytochemical analyses of alveolar and peritoneal macrophages of mice, dogs and cats.

Alveolar and peritoneal macrophages (MPs) of mouse, dog and cat were compared in relation to their scanning electron microscopic features and the lysosomal activities of nonspecific esterase, acid phosphatase, and beta-glucuronidase. The long spindle shape of peritoneal MPs differed from the spherical form of alveolar MPs in all species. There was no difference in the morphological findings among the three animals. Murine alveolar and peritoneal MPs were strongly positive for all three enzymes. Canine and feline alveolar and peritoneal MPs were strongly positive for acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase, but weakly positive for nonspecific esterase. These results strongly suggest that acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase can be used as markers of the MPs in healthy dogs and cats.

Suppression of glucose absorption by some fractions extracted from Gymnema sylvestre leaves.

Extracts containing gymnemic acids, which were extracted from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) as nine fractions, were evaluated for their effects on a high K(+)-induced contraction of guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscles, on glucose transport mediated by the difference of glucose-evoked transmural potential difference (delta PD) in the inverted intestine of guinea-pig and rat, and on blood glucose in rat. Among nine fractions obtained by high performance liquid chromatography from the extract, f-2 and f-4 strongly suppressed the high K(+)-induced contraction of the ileal muscle, f-3 and f-5 did so moderately, and f-8 and f-9 did so weakly, whereas the other fractions did not affect it. The degree of suppression of high K(+)-induced contraction by f-2 at 74% was almost the same as that of f-4 at 67%, at concentrations of 0.1 mg/ml. The suppressed contraction by f-2 or f-4 was recovered by adding 5.5 mM pyruvate. The delta PD increased by 5.5 mM glucose in the inverted intestines of guinea-pig and rat were equally suppressed by 0.1 mg/ml of f-2 or f-4 to 40%. In a rat sucrose tolerance test, f-2 and f-4 suppressed the elevation of blood glucose level. Both f-2 and f-4 suppressed the contraction of guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle, interfered with the increase in delta PD induced by glucose in the inverted intestines of guinea-pig and rat, and inhibited the elevation of blood glucose level. In conclusion, it is suggested that some of the extracts containing gymnemic acids from GS leaves suppress the elevation of blood glucose level by inhibiting glucose uptake in the intestine.

Structural changes of iliac cancellous bone in postmenopausal women: a scanning electron microscopic study.

The functional state of iliac cancellous bones in healthy postmenopausal women was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using a modified organic preparation method. SEM analysis of the location, number, size and phase of the remodeling sites showed that normal iliac cancellous bone of postmenopausal women has high resorbing activity in the early stage of postmenopause in both the region near the cortico-endosteum and the midway region, while in the late stage of postmenopause there is a great difference in resorbing activity between the two regions; namely, the resorbing activity progressively decreases with age, but high resorbing activity is continuously present in the region near the cortico-endosteum. Our results suggest the possibility that at the region near the cortico-endosteum the bone volume loss occurs continuously throughout all the stages of post-menopause, while at the midway region it occurs only in the early stage and not in the late stage of postmenopause.

Scanning electron microscopic observation on intracellular structures of ion-etched materials.

Ion-etching technique on the cracked surface of biological material may give a plastic visualization of intracellular structures under the scanning electron microscope, because membraneous structures in the cell are generally etch-resistant and the cytoplasmic matrix is easily ion-etched. Mild ion-etching using low voltage was applied to the cells of the pancreas. Nuclear pores were clearly disclosed but were enlarged slightly in the process of etching. Endoplasmic reticulum with ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, some filamentous structures and crystalline inclusions (B cell granules) were also effectively disclosed by ion-etching technique. It is necessary, however, to compare the etched specimens carefully with non-etched ones to determine whether given structures observed are intrinsic ones or artifacts caused by etching.

Immunocytochemical localization of actin in the nucleolus of rat oocytes.

In order to determine the localization of actin, growing and fully grown rat oocytes were immunocytochemically examined using a post-embedding ultrastructural protein-A gold technique. In quiescent oocytes, the nucleoplasm showed slightly lower levels of actin signal when compared to the surrounding cytoplasm. The highest levels of labeling were found on nucleoli showing a reticular type morphology. In oocytes at the diakinesis stage in which nucleolar compaction had occurred, the levels of labeling increased by 5-6 times those found in quiescent oocytes. Except for conspicuous accumulation of actin under the plasma membrane, compact nucleoli had significantly higher levels of labeling when compared with those found on the general cytoplasm, while the nucleoplasm with homogeneously dispersed chromatin showed significantly lower levels of associated actin signal than the general cytoplasm. In oocytes at metaphase I, the cytoplasmic region had comparable or lower levels of labeling than the cytoplasm of oocytes at diakinesis. The meiotic spindle embedded in material with medium electron density showed a similar level of labeling as the surrounding cytoplasm. On the other hand, significantly higher levels of associated actin were observed on the chromosomes of metaphase I. The actin signals were dispersed over the chromosomes and not concentrated on a specific region. These results suggest that nuclear actin may be involved in the process of chromosome construction and also the formation of the compacted structure of the nucleolus.

A new concept of the pattern of structural changes with bone loss by histomorphometric analysis using bone slabs.

We examined naked bone slabs (1.2 mm thick) from iliac bone biopsied cores obtained from 33 women aged 33-89 years. The number, size, and shape of the pores in the bone slabs were analyzed. The results revealed that the % bone area (the percentage area occupied by bone in the slab) was linearly correlated with age and other parameters, such as the size of pores, irregularity of pores, and pore distance, but was not correlated to the number of pores. We found a second-degree polynomial relationship between the % bone area and the number of pores. Based on three parameters--% bone area, number of pores, and size of pores--cluster analysis was performed and the specimens divided into three groups. The group with sufficient bone mass showed few small round pores, and the group with severe bone loss revealed a few large pores that were caved in. The characteristics of these groups represented the relationship between bone mass and structural change. The remaining group with moderate bone loss was divided into two subgroups, one with an increased number of pores without expansion and one with expanded pores without an increase in number. We presumed that the variations between the groups were caused by differences between fine and rough structures in the trabeculae caused during the process of bone loss. We concluded that this analysis of bone slabs allowed the pattern of trabecular structural change that occurred with bone loss to be determined easily and visually.