See-Star: a versatile hydrogel-based protocol for clearing large, opaque and calcified marine invertebrates.

Studies of morphology and developmental patterning in adult stages of many invertebrates are hindered by opaque structures, such as shells, skeletal elements, and pigment granules that block or refract light and necessitate sectioning for observation of internal features. An inherent challenge in studies relying on surgical approaches is that cutting tissue is semi-destructive, and delicate structures, such as axonal processes within neural networks, are computationally challenging to reconstruct once disrupted. To address this problem, we developed See-Star, a hydrogel-based tissue clearing protocol to render the bodies of opaque and calcified invertebrates optically transparent while preserving their anatomy in an unperturbed state, facilitating molecular labeling and observation of intact organ systems. The resulting protocol can clear large (> 1 cm3) specimens to enable deep-tissue imaging, and is compatible with molecular techniques, such as immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to visualize protein and mRNA localization. To test the utility of this method, we performed a whole-mount imaging study of intact nervous systems in juvenile echinoderms and molluscs and demonstrate that See-Star allows for comparative studies to be extended far into development, facilitating insights into the anatomy of juveniles and adults that are usually not amenable to whole-mount imaging.

Hepatobiliary imaging using Tc-pyridoxylideneglutamate in the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice.

In 77 of 114 consecutive patients with suspected hepatobiliary disease undergoing cholescintigraphy a firm clinical or operative diagnosis was possible. These patients were classified as normal, or as having extra-hepatic biliary obstruction (partial or complete) or hepatocellular disease. On a double-blind basis cholescintigraphy correctly interpreted 18 of 20 (90%) normal controls, 12 of 14 (86%) of those with partial obstruction, 16 of 16 (100%) of those with complete obstruction and 23 of 27 (85%) of those with hepatocellular disease giving an overall diagnostic accuracy of 69 of 77 (90%). There were no complications or toxic reactions. Ninety-three percent of patients with biliary obstruction (sensitivity) and 87% of those without biliary obstruction (specificity) were correctly diagnosed. Cholescintigraphy is a non-invasive, cheap and reliable investigation which can be used in the presence of icterus to discriminate between patients with and without extra-hepatic biliary obstruction. In contrast to grey scale ultrasonography the production and interpretation of scans are simple. Moreover cholescintigraphy adds a functional element to the investigation of liver disease.

Outcome in colorectal carcinoma: seven-year study of a population.

All 433 patients with colorectal cancer who presented in the north-east of Scotland during 1968 and 1969 were followed up for seven years or until death intervened. The incidence of colorectal cancer in the region was the highest recorded in Great Britain. Half the patients were incurable at the time of diagnosis. Nevertheless, of the 195 survivors of radical resection 146 (75%) did not die of carcinoma during the next seven years. Men with "curable" rectal cancer showed a substantially lower corrected survival rate (42%) than women (70%), but this was due to intercurrent disease not recurrence. Comparable figures for colonic carcinoma showed no difference between men (75%) and women (77%). The overall picture of colorectal cancer has apparently not changed for 20 years. Nevertheless, earlier diagnosis and timely operation--possibly with adjuvant chemotherapy--may produce useful long-term results.

Pancreatitis and duodenal obstruction due to periampullary carcinoma associated with familial polyposis coli.

Duodenal lesions are being reported in cases with familial polyposis of the colon. A case is described presenting with duodenal obstruction and pancreatitis complicating a peri-ampullary carcinoma in a patient with familial polyposis (adenomatosis of the colon and rectum). Upper gastrointestinal lesions notably in the duodenum include duodenal polyps and carcinoma and peri-ampullary malignancy. It is suggested that endoscopy and hypotonic duodenography be considered in patients with adenomatosis of the colon and rectum presenting with non-colonic alimentary symptoms.

Hereditary polyposis coli I: the diagnostic value of colonoscopy, barium enema, and fecal occult blood.

In families with one of the Mendelian hereditary polyposes, one can predict the proportion of patients at risk and thus obtain a denominator against which colonoscopy, barium enema, and fecal occult blood can be validated. Colonoscopy is more sensitive than barium enema. There were 42 positive colonoscopies, 12 positive barium enemas, both being positive in 10 of these. There were 141 negative enemas, 133 negative colonscopies, and 118 negative for both. Occult blood was positive in 30% of patients with polyposis, five to seven times more frequently than in those without evident polyposis. Colonoscopy detected polyposis in 30% of the progeny of affected people. The shortfall, compared with the 50% expected under the Mendelian hypothesis, is readily explained by removal of affected cases from the study by surgery or death from cancer.

A comparison of a new slow release aspirin ("slow aspirin") with plain aspirin in the treatment of rheumatoid disease.

In a single centre double-blind crossover study in eighteen patients with established rheumatoid disease, a new slow release aspirin ("slow aspirin") was compared with plain aspirin with respect to patient tolerability and gastric mucosal damage as observed at gastroscopy. "Slow aspirin" was significantly better than plain aspirin with regard to gastroscopic findings. With "slow aspirin", the gastric mucosal appearances were definitely better in eight patients, worse in two, and eight showed no difference. There was a high incidence of gastric ulceration or erosions in the groups as a whole (39%) but few patients complained of dyspepsia. There was little difference in the ability of both plain and "slow aspirin" in controlling the patients' joint symptoms. Evidence has been provided to suggest that "slow aspirin" is less injurious to the gastric mucosa. In an attempt to reduce gastric mucosal damage due to prolonged aspirin treatment it is therefore concluded that "slow aspirin" merits consideration in the management of chronic rheumatoid disease.