Potential Interference of Oil Vehicles on Genital Tubercle Development during the Fetal Period in ICR Mice.

Corn oil, sesame oil, and 10% ethanol in corn oil are commonly used as dosing vehicles in toxicology studies. Since these vegetable oils contain bioactive compounds, it is important for toxicology studies to characterize the toxicities of the dosing vehicles themselves. It has been recently proposed that the width of the genital tubercle (GT), the dorsal-ventral length (D-V length) of the GT, and urethral tube closure in mouse fetuses can be used as novel markers for monitoring sexual development in mice. However, how these parameters are influenced by the dosing vehicles themselves remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of corn oil, sesame oil, and 10% ethanol in corn oil on GT width, D-V length, and GT morphology in ICR mice. Our results showed that all three vehicles influenced GT width and D-V length, but not GT morphology, suggesting that the effects of dosing vehicles themselves might need to be considered when GT width or D-V length is used as a parameter to evaluate the effects of chemicals on GT development.

The long-term management and outcomes of cloacal anomalies.

Cloacal anomalies occur when failure of the urogenital septum to separate the cloacal membrane results in the urethra, vagina, rectum and anus opening into a single common channel. The reported incidence is 1:50,000 live births. Short-term paediatric outcomes of surgery are well reported and survival into adulthood is now usual, but long-term outcome data are less comprehensive. Chronic renal failure is reported to occur in 50 % of patients with cloacal anomalies, and 26-72 % (dependant on the length of the common channel) of patients experience urinary incontinence in adult life. Defaecation is normal in 53 % of patients, with some managed by methods other than surgery, including medication, washouts, stoma and antegrade continent enema. Gynaecological anomalies are common and can necessitate reconstructive surgery at adolescence for menstrual obstruction. No data are currently available on sexual function and little on the quality of life. Pregnancy is extremely rare and highly risky. Patient care should be provided by a multidisciplinary team with experience in managing these and other related complex congenital malformations. However, there is an urgent need for a well-planned, collaborative multicentre prospective study on the urological, gastrointestinal and gynaecological aspects of this rare group of complex conditions.

[The surface anesthesia in outpatient pediatric department].

The combination of even parts lidocaine and prilocaine in crème substance was used for surface anesthesia in 73 children, aged 1,5-16 years. Such surgical interventions as molluscum contagiosum eradication, laser wart resection and prepuce synechia dissection were performed. The described anesthetic was highly effective in all areas, but the nasolabial triangle. Resection of warts larger then 0,5 sm required either additional infiltrative anesthesia or step-wise resection. Local allergic reaction was registered in one case, no systemic reactions were noticed. Generally, the used method of surface anesthesia proved to be highly appropriate in pediatric practice.

Retinoic acid-induced caudal regression syndrome in the mouse fetus.

Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) comprises developmental anomalies of the caudal vertebrae, neural tube, urogenital and digestive organs, and hind limbs, the precursors of all of which are derived from the caudal eminence. Although the syndrome is well recognized, the etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms are poorly understood. Genetic and experimental models may provide some important clues to the early events that precede the dysmorphogenesis in CRS. The objectives of this study were to determine the susceptible stages for induction of CRS and to ascertain the early events that precede the development of this syndrome in a mouse model. Single oral doses of 100, 150, or 200 mg/kg retinoic acid (RA) were administered to TO mice on one of Gestation Days (GD) 8 to 12, and fetuses were observed on GD 18. All doses administered on GD 8 or 9 resulted in CRS in a large number of survivors. Agenesis of the tail, caudal vertebral defects, spina bifida occulta/aperta, imperforate anus, rectovesicle or rectourethral fistula, renal malformations, cryptorchidism, gastroschisis, and limb malformations, including the classical mermaid syndrome (sirenomelia), were characteristic features of this animal model. Several craniofacial malformations accompanied CRS in the GD 8 treatment group. Chronologic examination of treated embryos at early stages revealed pronounced cell death in the caudal median axis, hindgut, and neural tube and consequently, failure of development of the tail bud in the high-dose groups. In the 100 mg/kg RA group, patches of hemorrhage occurred initially that subsequently coalesced into large hematomas and the tail progressively regressed. Histologic examination revealed the onset and progression of hemorrhage, edema, and cell death in these embryos. Transillumination and histologic preparations also revealed dilation of the caudal neural tube in the prospective CRS embryos. Thus, a combination of cell death, vascular disruption, and tissue deficiency appears to be the highlight of caudal regression in this model. Symmelia appeared to be due to failure of fission or due to the merger of limb fields rather than a result of fusion of two limb buds. The data are also indicative of caudal agenesis in the high-dose RA groups and caudal regression due to a combination of vascular disruption, edema, and cell death in the lower dose groups of TO mouse embryos.