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Planar gated blood pool (GBP-P) radionuclide imaging is a valuable non-invasive technique for assessing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Serial cardiac imaging can be performed to monitor the potential decline in LVEF among patients undergoing cardiotoxic chemotherapy. Consequently, accurate LVEF determination becomes paramount. While commercial software programs have enhanced the LVEF values' reproducibility, concerns remain regarding their accuracy. This study aimed to generate a database of GBP-P studies with known LVEF values using Monte Carlo simulations and to assess LVEF values' accuracy using four commercial software programs. We utilised anthropomorphic 4D-XCAT models to generate 64 clinically realistic GBP-P studies with Monte Carlo simulations. Four commercial software programs (Alfanuclear, Siemens, General Electric Xeleris, and Mediso Tera-Tomo) were used to process these simulated studies. The accuracy and reproducibility of the LVEF values determined with these software programs and the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of the LVEF values were assessed. Our study revealed a strong correlation between LVEF values calculated by the software programs and the true LVEF values derived from the 4D-XCAT models. However, all the software programs slightly underestimated LVEF at lower LVEF values. Intra- and inter-observer reliability for LVEF measurements was excellent. Accurate LVEF assessment is crucial for determining the patient's cardiac function before initiating and during chemotherapy treatment. The observed underestimation, particularly at lower LVEF values, emphasises the need for the accurate and reproducible determination of these values to avoid excluding suitable candidates for chemotherapy. The software programs' excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability highlights their potential to reduce subjectivity when using the semi-automatic processing option. This study confirms the accuracy and reliability of these commercial software programs in determining LVEF values from simulated GBP-P studies. Future research should investigate strategies to mitigate the underestimation biases and extend findings to diverse patient populations. Gated blood pool studies, left ventricular ejection fraction, Monte Carlo simulations, 4D-XCAT models., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: Our objectives were to investigate the utility of 99m Tc-ethylenedicysteine-deoxyglucose (ECDG) in identifying active disease in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as to evaluate the biodistribution of this radiopharmaceutical., Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the University of the Free State/Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Twenty-two participants from the rheumatology department diagnosed with RA according to the ACR/EULAR classification criteria were enrolled. Participants were injected with 20-25 mCi of 99m Tc-ECDG. Flow, blood pool, whole body, delayed static, and SPECT/CT images were acquired. Known sites of disease were qualitatively assessed for intensity of uptake, and disease severity was graded (Grade 0-3)., Results: Twenty-two participants were studied. The median (interquartile range) age was 59 (49-68) years, and the majority ( n  = 21; 95.5%) were females. There was abnormal increased uptake of 99m Tc-ECDG noted in majority of the sites of known disease, including unknown sites. SPECT/CT imaging localized radiotracer uptake specifically to the synovial space. Similar biodistribution of radiotracer was noted in all patients, irrespective of disease severity or fasting status., Conclusion: 99m Tc-ECDG can efficiently assess disease activity in the joints of patients with RA. It accumulates in sites of both clinical and subclinical disease and might be a very useful tool for the rheumatologist in the management of patients with RA., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestEvbuomwan Osayande, Barend Jansen Van Rensburg, Engelbrecht Gerrit, Cathryn Driver, Mathys Labuschagne, Sempa Joseph, and Je'nine Horn-Lodewyk declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Prostate cancer typically follows a characteristic pattern of metastatic spread to the pelvic lymph nodes and bone. Atypical patterns of metastasis are rare but have been documented. In African men, this disease tends to follow a more aggressive course, with the possibility of an atypical site of metastatic spread. We present a case of a 58-year- old African male with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer who presented with both typical and atypical patterns of metastatic disease detected by a fluorine 18 prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan. This patient also had a good response to radioligand therapy., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No conflicts of interest were declared by the authors., (Copyright© 2024 The Author. Published by Galenos Publishing House on behalf of the Turkish Society of Nuclear Medicine.)

Objectives: Poor prognostic factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with a more severe form of the disease. Nuclear medicine functional imaging has shown remarkable merit at identifying active disease in patients with RA and is increasingly being used in this regard. However, its prognostic value has not been evaluated thoroughly. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of technetium-99m ( 99m Tc-) glucosamine imaging in patients with RA., Methods: Twenty-two participants diagnosed by an experienced rheumatologist with RA were recruited for inclusion in the study. Blood samples were obtained from each participant for baseline C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody titer. On the same day, each participant was injected with 20-25 millicurie (mCi) of 99m Tc-glucosamine. Planar and single-photon emission computed tomography images of known disease sites were acquired up to 2 hours after radiopharmaceutical administration. Affected joints were qualitatively assessed and graded for 99m Tc-glucosamine uptake and compared with blood results., Results: All participants affected joints had an increased uptake of the radiopharmaceutical, with 14 (63.6%) having elevated RF and anti-CCP antibody titers. Eight of the 14 patients with increased RF and anti-CCP antibodies had grade 3 uptake of 99m Tc-glucosamine. The remaining 6 had grade 2 uptake. A significant correlation between higher grade uptake and increased levels of RF and anti-CCP antibodies ( P  = 0.031) was observed., Conclusion: We found a strong correlation between high-grade disease on imaging and the presence of RF and anti-CCP antibodies in patients with RA., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Available clinical data have revealed that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a risk of pulmonary microthrombosis and small airway disease. These patients present with varying degrees of perfusion abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (VQ SPECT/CT) in the detection and follow-up of persistent lung perfusion abnormalities that were suspected to be due to pulmonary microthrombosis, small airway disease, or both., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the department of nuclear medicine of Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. We reviewed the studies of 78 non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection referred to our department from July 2020 to June 2021 for a perfusion only SPECT/CT study or a VQ SPECT/CT study. Pulmonary embolism was suspected in all 78 cases., Results: Seventy-eight patients were studied. The median (interquartile range) age was 45 (41-58) years, and the majority ( n  = 69; 88.5%) were females. Twenty-two (28.2%) of these patients had matching VQ defects with mosaic attenuation on CT. All nine of the patients who had follow-up studies had these abnormalities persistently, even after 1 year., Conclusion: We confirm that the VQ scan is a safe and effective tool to identify and follow-up recovered COVID-19 patients with persistent ventilation and perfusion abnormalities suspicious of small airway disease and pulmonary microthrombosis., Competing Interests: Competing InterestsEvbuomwan Osayande, Endres Walter, Tebeila Tebatso, and Engelbrecht Gerrit declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine 2022, Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Plant-parasitic nematodes are one of the main biotic factors limiting agricultural production worldwide, with root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) being the most damaging group. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of soil microbiomes, associated with various subtropical fruit trees, on the management of a Meloidogyne enterolobii population. Of 14 soil microbiomes tested for nematode suppression, 9 samples in the first experiment and 10 samples in the repeat experiment had significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) lower numbers of eggs and J2 compared to the untreated control. The highest nematode suppression was recorded for SA12 extracted from a papaya orchard with a 38% reduction in the nematode population density. In addition, the presence of some bacteria ( Bacillus aryabhattai , B. funiculus and B. simplex ) and fungi ( Metarhizium marquandii , Acremonium sp. and Mortierella sp.) was correlated to a higher suppression potential in some samples. Substantial variations were observed for the diversity of bacterial and fungal isolates among the samples collected from various crop hosts and regions. This suggests that the nematode suppression potential of different soil microbiomes highly depends on the abundance and diversity of fungal and bacterial strains present in the soil. The study confirmed that among all variables, soil dryness, pH, Fe, Zn, organic matter, altitude, and crop cultivar strongly influenced the soil microbial composition.

Soybean is among South Africa's top crops in terms of production figures. Over the past few years there has been increasingly more damage caused to local soybean by plant-parasitic nematode infections. The presence of Meloidogyne (root-knot nematodes) and Pratylenchus spp. (root lesion nematodes) in soybean fields can cripple the country's production, however, little is known about the soil microbial communities associated with soybean in relation to different levels of Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus infestations, as well as the interaction(s) between them. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the nematode population assemblages and endemic rhizosphere bacteria associated with soybean using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). The abundance of bacterial genera that were then identified as being significant using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) was compared to the abundance of the most prevalent plant-parasitic nematode genera found across all sampled sites, viz . Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus . While several bacterial genera were identified as significant using LEfSe, only two with increased abundance were associated with decreased abundance of Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus . However, six bacterial genera were associated with decreased Pratylenchus abundance. It is therefore possible that endemic bacterial strains can serve as an alternative method for reducing densities of plant-parasitic nematode genera and in this way reduce the damages caused to this economically important crop.

Hazelnut ( Corylus avellana L.) is one of the most appreciated nut crops, which is motivating the cultivation outside its historical production areas. Despite that, there is still limited knowledge about the floral biology of the species and its developmental fruiting stages under different environments. Adverse climatic conditions can threaten the pollination process and fruit development. In South Africa, the deciduous fruit industry identified the net shading as a tool to mitigate the effects of unfavorable abiotic events. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of photo-selective nets on the pollination process and nut development of C. avellana . Mature hazelnut trees were maintained under netting and compared with the ones in open field. Microscopic examination of female flower and developing nuts were conducted in order to observe the pollen tube growth and the pattern of disodium fluorescein transport into the funiculus and ovule. The results showed differences in pollen tubes growth and timing between the treatments. Generally, trees under nets showed higher rate in pollen tubes developing and reaching the base of the style. On the contrary, the tests carried out in open field showed a higher ratio of pollen tubes arrested in the style. The results also indicated differences in ovules abortion. Developing fruits that showed an interruption point at the funicle level or at junction point of the ovule were classified as aborting fruits (blank nuts at harvest time). A higher rate of abortion was detected in open field compared to the plants under netting. In conclusion, the shade nets influenced the pollen tube growth and the nut development, principally due to micro-climate modification. Therefore, further investigations are needed to analyze the influence of light spectra and to determine the sustainability of photo-selective nets over several years., Competing Interests: DG is employed by Ferrero Hazelnuts Company, Division of Ferrero Trading Luxembourg and Agrisudafrica Ltd. ES and JA are employed by Ferrero Hazelnuts Company, Division of Ferrero Trading Luxembourg. MS, OS, and GE are employed by Agrisudafrica Ltd., (Copyright © 2020 Guastella, Sigwebela, Suarez, Stubbs, Acevedo and Engelbrecht.)

Introduction: A limiting factor in the use of perforators as recipient vessels is the small-to-large diameter mismatch often encountered. Mismatches less than 1:1.5 may be managed by dilatation of the smaller vessel and by differentially-spaced suture bites. Beyond this ratio, little evidence exists to direct the choice of end-to-end anastomotic technique. Following in silico work and the characterisation of a rodent superficial caudal epigastric/femoral artery model, we conducted an experimental series examining two techniques - an oblique section of the smaller vessel and invaginating the smaller vessel inside the larger., Materials and Methods: A paired design was used. To test for a difference in patency of >5% required a total of 156 animals (312 anastomoses). Side and technique were randomised. Two investigators performed the anastomoses. A single revision was permitted. Anastomoses were timed and patency was tested at one hour, one week and at six weeks., Results: There was no significant difference in patency at each of the three time points (p = 0.8026, 0.2963 and 0.8137). The invagination technique was significantly faster to perform (p < 0.0001). There was a significant association between the investigator and both patency and the time taken to complete an anastomosis. Independent of the investigator, a revision was more likely to be necessary with the oblique end-to-end technique, and a revision having been performed showed a highly significant association with an anastomosis having failed at 1 h (p < 0.0001, OR 33.333)., Conclusions: In the management of microarterial size discrepancy between 1:1.5 and 1:2.5, an invaginating anastomosis is faster to perform and produces comparable patency in a rat model., (Copyright © 2011 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. All rights reserved.)

The increasing volume of data describing human disease processes and the growing complexity of understanding, managing, and sharing such data presents a huge challenge for clinicians and medical researchers. This paper presents the @neurIST system, which provides an infrastructure for biomedical research while aiding clinical care, by bringing together heterogeneous data and complex processing and computing services. Although @neurIST targets the investigation and treatment of cerebral aneurysms, the system's architecture is generic enough that it could be adapted to the treatment of other diseases. Innovations in @neurIST include confining the patient data pertaining to aneurysms inside a single environment that offers clinicians the tools to analyze and interpret patient data and make use of knowledge-based guidance in planning their treatment. Medical researchers gain access to a critical mass of aneurysm related data due to the system's ability to federate distributed information sources. A semantically mediated grid infrastructure ensures that both clinicians and researchers are able to seamlessly access and work on data that is distributed across multiple sites in a secure way in addition to providing computing resources on demand for performing computationally intensive simulations for treatment planning and research.

Renal transplantation is often confronted with ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury that accounts for a delayed recovery of the graft. This surgically and biologically induced injury often results in activation of the complement system. The vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP) down-regulates both the classical and alternative complement pathways by preventing the formation of C3b, a component where both pathways converge. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of VCP on renal I/R injury. Long Evans rats were subjected to laparotomy, mobilization of the right kidney in unilateral ischemia, and both kidneys in bilateral ischemia. The renal arteries were clamped for 60 min followed by 24 h reperfusion time. The animals were randomly allocated to receive recombinant VCP (rVCP), natural VCP, and humanized recombinant VCP (hrVCP) combination, vehicle (PBS), or sham group. Blood samples were collected for biochemical studies, and the kidneys were removed for histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies. The biochemical studies in the bilateral ischemia showed that the PBS group displayed 1.5-fold and 5-fold increases in the urea and creatinine concentrations, respectively, compared with the VCP/hrVCP groups. In both models, the histopathologic study revealed focal necrosis of the tubular epithelial cells in the rVCP or VCP/hrVCP treated animals compared with the diffuse and markedly elevated field scores in the PBS controls. The immunohistochemical study showed significant C3 deposition in the renal tubules of the PBS controls compared with the rVCP or VCP/hrVCP groups, suggesting that rVCP, VCP/hrVCP reduced I/R injury by inhibiting the biosynthesis of C3.

This paper presents an overview of computerised decision support for clinical practice. The concept of computer-interpretable guidelines is introduced in the context of the @neurIST project, which aims at supporting the research and treatment of asymptomatic unruptured cerebral aneurysms by bringing together heterogeneous data, computing and complex processing services. The architecture is generic enough to adapt it to the treatment of other diseases beyond cerebral aneurysms. The paper reviews the generic requirements of the @neurIST system and presents the innovative work in distributing executable clinical guidelines.

Aim: To study if T-cell activation related to portasystemic shunting causes osteoclast-mediated bone loss through RANKL-dependent pathways. We also investigated if T-cell inhibition using rapamycin would protect against bone loss in rats., Methods: Portasystemic shunting was performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats and rapamycin 0.1 mg/kg was administered for 15 wk by gavage. Rats received powderized chow and supplemental feeds to prevent the effects of malnutrition on bone composition. Weight gain and growth was restored after surgery in shunted animals. At termination, biochemical parameters of bone turnover and quantitative bone histology were assessed. Markers of T-cell activation, inflammatory cytokine production, and RANKL-dependent pathways were measured. In addition, the roles of IGF-1 and hypogonadism were investigated., Results: Portasystemic shunting caused low turnover osteoporosis that was RANKL independent. Bone resorbing cytokine levels, including IL-1, IL-6 and TNFalpha, were not increased in serum and TNFalpha and RANKL expression were not upregulated in PBMC. Portasystemic shunting increased the circulating CD8+ T-cell population. Rapamycin decreased the circulating CD8+ T-cell population, increased CD8+ CD25+ T-regulatory cell population and improved all parameters of bone turnover., Conclusion: Osteoporosis caused by portasystemic shunting may be partially ameliorated by rapamycin in the rat model of hepatic osteodystrophy.

Background: The portal venous system plays a major role in a variety of disease processes. Although the anatomy, histology and physiology of the portal vein have been extensively studied over the last century, very little attention has been given to its unique helical structure. Previous documentation of the helical structure has been based on microscopic, macroscopic and radiological appearances., Materials and Methods: A more refined method than the above was used to image the portal vein helix. Resin casts of the portal venous system were performed in 6 rats, 1 baboon and 1 human., Results: All species had a clearly demonstrated helical structure of the portal vein situated above the splenic vein., Conclusion: The unique structure of the portal vein and its subsequent helical flow has been neglected in medical research. The significance of the activated portal helix and its effect on the blood flow into the liver needs further investigation.

Free-flap failure is in the order of 4 to 10 percent. Heparin is more effective at preventing venous thrombosis than arterial thrombosis. This study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of delivering heparin at a high dose locally but low dose systemically (heparin infusion via a catheter placed proximal to the venous anastomosis) to prevent venous thrombosis in microsurgery. A model of venous thrombosis was first established by a venous inversion graft in the rat femoral vein (this was performed in seven animals and resulted in 100 percent thrombosis). Saline and heparin were delivered proximal to the inverted vein graft to assess the effect of each in preventing venous thrombosis. Flow/patency distal to the inverted vein graft was assessed by observation under the microscope, the milk test, and rate of flow (flowmeter). Saline infused via a catheter proximal to the venous inversion graft resulted in 100 percent thrombosis in 10 animals. Heparin (100 U/ml at 2 to 3 ml/hour) infused through a catheter for 2 hours proximal to the anastomosis resulted in flow in all 10 animals during the infusion. Blood was also taken before beginning the procedure (control) and after the heparin infusion distal to the anastomosis (local partial thromboplastin time) as well as in the contralateral femoral vein (systemic). The control for all animals that received heparin was <3 minutes. The systemic partial thromboplastin time after heparin infusion was <3 minutes in seven animals, 3.3 minutes in two animals, and >7 minutes in one animal. The local partial thromboplastin time distal to the inverted vein graft was >10 minutes in nine animals and 3.7 minutes in one animal. The study also had a clinical component, in which a catheter was placed in a vein of the free flap, and heparin was infused over 5 days. This technique has been used in 83 consecutive free flaps. In three recent free flaps performed on the limbs, the local partial thromboplastin time (close to the anastomosis) was raised but the systemic time was normal. This technique offers a method in preventing venous thrombosis in microsurgery. It is simple to implement and is not associated with the systemic complications of heparin.

A method is described for one-stage total hepatectomy in the rat using microvascular techniques. The operation consists of creation of a side-to-side mesocaval shunt performed just distal to the renal veins, total removal of the liver with ligation of the portal vein, hepatic arteries, and the bile duct. The vena cava is reconstructed with a segment of vena cava taken from a donor animal. The procedure takes 32 +/- 5 min to complete. Blood glucose concentration was maintained by infusions of balanced salt solution containing from 0.625% to 2.5% dextrose. Mean survival time was 10.5 hr (range, 5.5 to 21.5 hr).

Patterns of genetic variation in Schilbe intermedius were investigated due to morphological differences and taxonomic uncertainties regarding the Southern African schilbeids. A total of three populations, two Southern populations representing the former Eutropius depressirostris and a Northern population representing S. mystus, were electrophoretically analysed to determine the extent of genetic differentiation among these populations. The Northern and Southern populations were fixed for different alleles at the G3PDH-2 protein coding locus and allozyme differentiation between populations, using the 0.95 criterion, were also encountered at the PGDH-2 locus. Genetic distance values indicate greater genetic differentiation between the Northern and Southern populations compared to the two Southern populations. DNA sequence analysis of 900-1000 nucleotides of the cytochrome b gene revealed distances of 3.2-3.5% between the Schilbe/Eutropius complex. This finding, together with ingroup and outgroup analysis of evolutionary relationships, is congruent with the results from the electrophoretic analysis of the taxa. Sufficient differentiation exist between the Northern and Southern populations to regard them as distinct species.

The continuous suture technique for end-to-end vascular anastomosis is cautioned against because of the risk of vessel constriction. A modified method of continuous suture for end-to-end venous microanastomosis is presented in which vessel constriction does not occur. This technique was compared with the conventional interrupted suture technique in the rat femoral vein, with each rat serving as its own control. Forty-eight Long-Evans rats were used. The mean time taken to complete the anastomosis was 9.8 minutes (range, 8-14 minutes) for the modified continuous technique and 17.7 minutes (range, 14-24 minutes) for the conventional interrupted technique (p < 0.05, independent t-test). In addition, the veins were examined under the microscope for patency and the milk test was performed on each anastomosis 30 minutes postanastomosis, and 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. Two groups of rats were sacrificed, one at 1 week and one at 1 month, and the two different anastomoses were compared using vessel morphometry in 40 rats and corrosion casts in 8 rats. All veins were patent postoperatively, as well as at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. Vessel morphometry confirmed a similar luminal surface area in all veins examined at 1 week and 1 month. A two-way analysis of variance of vessel morphometry indicated no significant interaction between the methods used and the postoperative time (p = 0.60). The modified continuous technique is twice as quick as the conventional interrupted technique for end-to-end microvenous anastomosis and does not lead to vessel constriction.

The effect of various components of the transplant procedure upon the regenerative process in reduced liver grafts is not known. In this study, partially hepatectomised rat liver remnants were flushed with 5 ml of either Ringer's lactate, Euro Collins solution or University of Wisconsin solution at 4 degrees C and then 5 ml Ringer's lactate at 4 degrees C. After partial hepatectomy alone, the peak increase in thymidine kinase was measured at 24 hours (36,021 +/- 8,060 disintegrations per minute per milligram protein; the mitotic index was 25 +/- 7). In all the groups in which the remnant was flushed, peak thymidine kinase and mitotic index were measured at 48 hours. The pattern of ornithine decarboxylase activity was disorganised in all groups. Flushing of the liver remnant therefore delays the regenerative response by 24 hours. In large animals, including humans, regeneration appears to commence within the first 5 days after resection. A comparable delay doubling this time might coincide with the onset of rejection and further compromise liver function.

Current knowledge of liver regeneration after reduced liver transplantation is limited. Warm ischemia is one component of the reduced liver transplantation procedure that could have an impact on the regenerative response. To study this effect, we performed partial hepatectomy on male Long-Evans rats, with animals divided into four groups: group 1 underwent partial hepatectomy only; group 2 underwent partial hepatectomy and 40 min of ischemia; group 3 underwent partial hepatectomy, 40 min of ischemia and portocaval shunt surgery; and group 4 underwent partial hepatectomy and orthotopic autograft surgery. Group 5 consisted of sham-operated animals. Animals were killed 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr after surgery. Thymidine kinase activity, mitotic index, a liver mass index and ornithine decarboxylase levels were used as parameters of liver regeneration. Aspartate transaminase was recorded. Maximal thymidine kinase and mitotic index were observed in group 1 animals at 24 hr. In groups 2, 3 and 4 maximal thymidine kinase activity and mitotic activity were observed 24 hr later at 48 hr. The magnitude of the peak response in these groups appeared to correlate with the duration of portal venous occlusion, with greatest increases occurring in those groups where portal stasis was most prolonged. The increase in liver mass for these groups was also delayed with respect to group 1 animals. The anticipated peak in ornithine decarboxylase levels was seen at 4 hr in group 1. The ornithine decarboxylase response in the other groups was disorganized, with delay of the recorded peaks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of the intake of 3-14 eggs/wk on biochemical risk markers of coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined in 70 young men who followed a high-fat diet. The study consisted of a run-in phase during which all subjects ate 3 eggs/wk for 2 mo and an experimental phase during which a reference group continued eating 3 eggs/wk and two experimental groups ate either 7 or 14 eggs/wk for 5 mo. The mean coefficients of variation in total plasma cholesterol (5.4-7.4%) were similar in all three groups and were larger than the mean changes of 0.2-5.6% in plasma cholesterol from baseline to end in the experimental groups. Except for increased lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activities and total serum protein concentrations, no significant differences in lipoproteins or coagulation factors occurred between groups. It seems that egg intake in this range did not influence CHD risk markers in these subjects. Recommendations to lower risk should probably concentrate on a reduction in fat and not cholesterol intake.

Present techniques for renal transplantation in the rat include a period of 20-25 minutes warm ischemia. Our method combines a recently described sleeve anastomotic technique for the renal artery, conventional end-to-end anastomosis of the renal vein, and implantation of the ureter into the bladder. This has resulted in a reproducible ischemic interval of 12-14 minutes. Plasma creatinine and histological features in animals sacrificed from 10 to 30 days after transplantation were within normal limits with no evidence of ischemic damage. A further advantage of the technique is that kidneys can be exchanged between the donor and recipient. It is recommended that this procedure, which reduces the ischemic interval by up to 50%, should be learned and employed in studies of renal transplantation in the rat, especially if such studies include the prior administration of cyclosporine, which may aggravate the effects of ischemia.

Portacaval transposition (PCT) in rats results in a smaller loss of body mass and liver mass than end-to-side portacaval shunt (PCS). Detailed studies of liver function, mass and histology were not previously available and have been undertaken in two different strains of growing rat in order to define the value of this model. PCT rats gained weight normally, while only 50% of PCS rats regained their preoperative weight by the tenth week. Wet and dry weights of liver fell relative to control values after both operations, but the fall was significantly greater after PCS than after PCT: there were parallel changes in hepatocyte size. There was a marked rise in liver-associated enzymes in the first 2 days after PCS only, and minimal enzyme elevations persisted in this group. The extent of cellular damage seen histologically closely parallelled the rise in SGOT in individual rats. At 72 hr, PCS rats showed focal necrotic changes, and by 10 weeks there was marked fatty infiltration: PCT rats had normal histology or showed minimal changes. PCT therefore provides a model in which there is total portal diversion without the more severe effects of the conventional PCS on hepatic structure and function. This has particular value in studies of experimental hepatic encephalopathy, of hormonal and amino acid changes after portal diversion, and of factors initiating or controlling liver regeneration.

In previous studies of rats with portacaval shunts, elevated gamma-globulin levels 2 weeks after shunt were attributed to antibodies to bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which were normally filtered by the liver. This study was designed to determine the tempo of this rise and the magnitude of hepatocellular damage within the first 4 days of the operation. Acute reversible hepatocellular damage was shown by elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase which returned to normal within 48 hours. This was confirmed on histology. There was no rise in gamma-globulin during this study but levels of albumin were better maintained in shunted rats than in sham-operated rats. Levels of alpha2 and beta-globulin in the former fell in comparison with the latter animals.

Human blood lymphocytes can be separated into two populations according to the presence of surface complement receptors. Lymphocytes containing complement receptors (CR+) were found to have a high rate of RNA synthesis or turnover accompanied by increased protein synthesis. Lymphocytes not containing complement receptors (CR-) while maintaining a low profile in RNA synthesis, had a 10-12-fold greater activity in adenosine deaminase enzyme which is believed to be related to lymphocyte-immune responses and cell-mediated immunity. These two biochemical characteristics can be useful tools for future studies in lymphocyte functions. By using these two biochemical markers, we found that CLL lymphocytes were predominantly of the CR+ type, had high active RNA synthesis, and very low adenosine deaminase level. Lymphocytes from two patients with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia showed a picture opposite to that of CLL.

A previous publication suggested that for 9 weeks after portal diversion in dogs, there were no changes in reticuloendothelial function assessed by measurement of t1/2 or phagocytic index of reticuloendothelial test lipid emulsion. The present study was conducted in rats over 18 weeks. It was observed that the phagocytic index decreased and the t1/2 lengthened at 18 weeks after either portacaval shunt or portacaval transposition and that plasma levels of fibronectin were elevated four- or five-fold after either form of diversion, whilst only being elevated two-fold after sham operation. There was an increase in portacaval shunt rats in liver tissue distribution of administered lipid emulsion when tested between 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively which then returned towards normal. The activity in portacaval transposition and sham-operated rats was unaltered. These studies suggest that the delay in clearance of administered particles in portacaval shunt and portacaval transposition rats is related to the portal diversion rather than to altered blood flow and thus the finding is of relevance in patients with cirrhosis who also have significant portacaval shunting.

The author describes a modification of the use of Sanal-Silcoflex for the double-impression method. Thus, it is possible to use the total work-time allocation in stomatological practice more rationally without reducing the quality of work. Six months of experience permit to recommend this method for stomatological practice.

This study was designed to investigate further the hyperglobulinaemia which followed portal or splenic venous diversion but not mesenteric venous diversion. It was observed that levels of IgG and IgM were elevated from 3-6 weeks after portacaval shunt, portacaval transposition or splenacaval shunt. IgA levels were increased after all forms of portal venous diversions including after mesentericocaval shunt. The failure of levels of IgG and IgM to rise after mesocaval shunting suggests that some component of splenic venous blood may regulate the ability of the reticulo-endothelial system of the liver to respond to antigenic influences.

One hundred and thirty-four bilateral cataract extractions are discussed. Intra-operative and short-term postoperative complications are compared with those of unilateral cataract extraction. Bilateral cataracts may be extracted in one session for socio-economic reasons, since the incidence of bilateral postoperative endophthalmitis is low.

End-to-end portacaval transposition has previously been shown to produce less hepatocellular dysfunction than end-to-side portacaval shunt in the rat. Liver weight is also significantly reduced after portacaval shunt compared to portacaval transposition and these differences are not abolished by pair-feeding. Histological evidence of CNS damage is also reduced in transposed rats compared to shunted animals. This study examines the amino acid and hormone changes in these models. The characteristic amino acid changes of chronic liver disease (decreased branched-chain and elevated aromatic amino acids) are reproduced in portacaval shunt rats, but not in portacaval transposition. The differences between these groups in the branched-chain amino acids, but not those in the aromatic amino acids, are reduced by pair-feeding. Insulin and glucagon are elevated to a similar extent in both groups. These findings add further support to a role for peripheral amino acid imbalance in the pathogenesis of portal-systemic encephalopathy. Normal liver function, maintained by replacement of portal inflow with systemic blood, appears to minimize both CNS damage and amino acid changes.