Hematoxylin substitutes. A study of phenocyanin TC and the use of afterchrome mordanting in histology.

A practical, simple synthesis of the obsolete mordant dye, phenocyanin, was devised, proceding from gallocyanin and resorcinol with acid and heat. The dye gave promise of good performance in metachrome iron mixtures, but because of excessive precipitation, the practice of afterchroming was taken from textile dyeing usage, and proved very successful. Of a number of metallic salts tried, Fe II proved to be the best, then Cu II and Fe III. The stain acts as a cationic dye on nucleic acids and other acidic tissue components: acid mucins, cartilage, mast cells, corpora amylacea, etc. The afterchroming process renders the stain much more resistant to various extraction agents and even moderately resistant to acid alcohol. Color values are quite comparable to those obtained with hematoxylin-eosin when an eosin counterstain is used. Nuclei basophilic cytoplasm, Nissl granules, and bacteria color dark blue; cartilage, mast cells, and some acid mucins, deep violet. Staining with the 1% solution was essentially unaltered from neutrality down to 1.2 N HCl, pH 0.68, and dilution of the dye to 0.05% in 1% conc. HCl (pH 1.2) still gave excellent nuclear, RNA, and mast-cell staining. At 0.02% and pH 1.2, nuclear staining was distinctly weakened; mast cell granules were still dark violet.

Mesothelioma of spermatic cord: electron microscopic and histochemical characteristics of its mucopolysaccharides.

A mesothelioma of the spermatic cord occurred at the site of multiple hernial repairs. The aggressive biologic behavior of this tumor is exhibited by its early lymph node invasion and extensive metastases to the pleural cavities, lungs, and spleen. These tumor cells contained a large amount of stable of stable glycogen-like carbohydrate insoluble in formalin and tolerating postmortem changes. Electron microscopy revealed features similar to those mesotheliomas arising from body cavities.

Treatment with an anabolic agent is associated with improvement in respiratory function in persons with tetraplegia: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with cervical spinal cord lesions. Strengthening of the respiratory musculature may reduce these complications. Anabolic steroids have been used to increase muscle mass and improve muscle performance. Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, may have beneficial effects on breathing in persons with tetraplegia. METHODS: The effect of one-month treatment with oxandrolone on weight gain and pulmonary function was studied in ten subjects with complete motor tetraplegia. Spirometry, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, and resting self-rating of dyspnea (Borg Scale) were measured at baseline and repeated again at the end of one month of oxandrolone therapy (20 mg/day). Serum lipid profiles and liver function tests were performed before and after treatment. A paired t-test was used to determine pre- and post-treatment differences on the dependent variables. Percent change from baseline was calculated for each variable and tested using a one-sample t-test. RESULTS: On average, the subjects gained 1.4+/-1.5 kg, a 2+/-2% increase in weight (p=0.01). A significant, 9+/-2% improvement was found in the combined measures of spirometry (p<0.005). Maximal inspiratory pressure improved an average of 10+/-7% (p<0.001). Maximal expiratory pressure improved 9+/-13% (non-significant). Subjective self-rating of dyspnea decreased an average of 37+/-28% (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In healthy subjects with tetraplegia, the use of oxandrolone was associated with significant improvements in weight and pulmonary function, and a subjective reduction in breathlessness. Therefore, oxandrolone may be indicated to strengthen respiratory musculature in individuals who have tetraplegia and ventilatory insufficiency aggravated by superimposition of pneumonia or other such conditions. However, long-term use of oxandrolone may not be indicated, due to the adverse complications associated with this class of agents.

Histochemical factors influencing the sulfation of the mucosubstances of the Brunner's glands of the human duodenum.

The mucopolysaccharides of the human Brunner's glands were sulfated by sulfuric acid diluted with acetic anhydride or nitrobenzene (1:50) in 5 min. They were recognized by toluidine blue at a pH of less than 1 by exhibiting a red-violet or violet-red metachromasia. The sulfated radicals were removed by methanol or butanol with HCl, H2SO4, Na or NaOH, aqueous Ba(OH)2 at 60 degrees C, or by acetic anhydride, acetyl chloride, benzoyl chloride, or bromine water at 25 degrees C. The carbohydrates were altered so that sulfation was prevented by prior treatment with aqueous Ba(OH)2, or by acetic anhydride with pyridine at 60 degrees C and by acetyl chloride and by bromine water at 25 degrees C. Periodic acid Schiff staining was prevented by sulfation with a nitrobenzene: H2SO4 mixture but not by an acetic anhydride: H2SO4 combination in 1 h suggesting an additional sulfate radical at hydroxyl sites 1 or 2. Brunner's glands contain a large amount of a neutral mucopolysaccharide and can be used as a model for testing a large number of chemical and blockage reactions. In nearly all instances, Brunner's glands reacted more like pyloric glands than duodenal goblet cells.