Transglutaminase 2 in the enterocytes is coeliac specific and gluten dependent.

BACKGROUND: Tissue transglutaminase, the coeliac autoantigen, was shown to localise in the enterocytes of coeliac patients and controls. It was speculated that surface tissue transglutaminase has a role in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease. AIMS: To study localisation of tissue transglutaminase in different stages of coeliac disease and other enteropathies with and without villous flattening. METHODS: Immunofluorescent and immunoblotting assays were used. Duodenal cryostat sections from 23 coeliac patients (10 untreated, 8 treated, 5 potential) and 18 controls (2 autoimmune enteropathy and 16 normal duodenal mucosa) were incubated with an anti-tissue transglutaminase monoclonal antibody. Slides were blindly examined. RESULTS: The immunofluorescent assay showed that monoclonal antibody localised in the subepithelial layer, in the lamina propria, and in the pericryptal connective tissue of all samples. It also bound to surface enterocytes in 8/10 untreated, 1/8 treated, and 3/5 potential coeliac patients. None of the controls showed an epithelial distribution of tissue transglutaminase. Immunoblotting experiments performed in enterocytes freshly isolated from duodenal biopsy confirmed these findings. CONCLUSION: Epithelial distribution of tissue transglutaminase is specific for coeliac disease rather than due to a non-specific mucosal inflammation. Analysis of different stages of coeliac disease suggests that the epithelial distribution of tissue transglutaminase is gluten dependent.

Lag in endometrial morphology in artificially reproduced cycles (ARC).

To observe if endometrial artificially reproduced cycles were identical to the natural spontaneous ones, we have matched for the endometria of 22 assessed spontaneous ovulating women and 16 postmenopausal ones sequentially treated with exogenous ovarian steroid hormones. The endometrial samples were drawn in the middle luteal phase (20th-22nd of an ideal cycle, 6-8 days from ultrasound assessed ovulation or progesterone exposure), because this is the "implantation window" period. These results can be particularly interesting in the FIV-OD technique that implyes the implantation of the zygote in a fully matured endometrium. Adversely to previous reports there was always an endometrial hystologic lag (2 min.-4 max. days) in all the artificially reproduced cycles observed, while no other endometrial anomalies were found in these last ones. Probably the contrasting results of the previous studies agree with the later timing of endometrial biopsy, because in the late luteal artificially reproduced or spontaneous endometrium there is no hystological difference.

[Results of a dental screening in a group of students in 3 Codogno (Milan) elementary schools in the 1986-87 school year]. / Risultati dello screening odontoiatrico nell'ambito della popolazione scolastica di tre istituti comunali elementari del comune di Codogno (MI) nell'anno scolastico 1986.87.

The results of a dental screening performed on 582 pupils from 6 year old to 10 year old are presented. The data texted were: oral hygiene degree, decayed milk teeth, decayed permanent teeth, dental and facial anomalies in accordance with W.H.O. classification, Geneve 1977. The classes where pupils brush their teeth at least one time a day, show best oral hygiene conditions than the others.