Induction of apoptosis by nitric oxide in macrophages is independent of apoptotic volume decrease.

Apoptosis occurs through a sequence of specific biochemical and morphological alterations that define the progress of cell death. The changes of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol, the apoptotic volume decrease (AVD) and the activation of caspases have been measured in RAW 264.7, HeLa and Jurkat T cells incubated with molecules that induce apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Our data show that NO, staurosporine, etoposide and camptothecin increased DeltaPsi(m) in macrophages but not in HeLa and Jurkat cells, that exhibited a DeltaPsi(m) decrease. Moreover, the apoptosis induced by NO in macrophages, but not that promoted by staurosporine, might occur in the absence of AVD. Analysis of the sequence of apoptotic manifestations shows that DeltaPsi(m) precedes AVD and caspase activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Inhibition of AVD abrogates apoptosis in HeLa and Jurkat T cells regardless of the stimuli used. These data suggest that the changes of DeltaPsi(m) are cell-type dependent and that AVD is dispensable for apoptosis in macrophages.

Automatic chart reader--an example of computer systems for patients' data interpretation.

A new approach to the processing of circular medical charts based on "odd symmetry digital subtraction" is presented. The technique allows automatic digitisation of these charts using an image processing system based on a flat bed scanner. This approach is simple, fast, and reliable; and provides a system in which the digitised image is processed by a microcomputer to extract and quantify the plotted information. The main features and the potential applications of this approach in medical and nonmedical fields are discussed.

Central visual function in patients with resolved central serous retinopathy. A long term follow-up study.

The visual acuity, central retinal sensitivity, macular thresholds, contrast sensitivity and temporal visual acuity were employed to assess the long term visual outcome in 23 patients with a history of central serous retinopathy (CSR). Twenty patients had unilateral CSR, and 3 had had bilateral disease. The unaffected eyes had significantly better visual acuities (P less than 0.014), better retinal sensitivities (P less than 0.006) and lower macular thresholds (P less than 0.008) when compared with affected eyes. The eyes with CSR whose visual acuities were mildly affected (6/9) showed lower sensitivity for the high spatial frequency (P less than 0.0072). There was no significant difference in the temporal visual acuity between eyes with CSR and the non-affected eyes.