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The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of aquaporin water channels in human skin and to assess their functional role. On western blots of human epidermis obtained from plastic surgery, a strong signal was obtained with polyclonal anti-aquaporin-3 antibodies. By indirect immunofluorescence on 5 microm cryosections, anti-aquaporin-3 antibodies strongly stained keratinocyte plasma membranes in human epidermis, whereas no staining was observed in the dermis or the stratum corneum or when anti-aquaporin-3 antibodies were preabsorbed with the peptide used for immunization. Similarly, a strong signal with anti-aquaporin-3 antibodies was observed in keratinocyte plasma membranes of reconstructed human epidermis in culture at the air-liquid interface for up to 3 wk. The keratinocyte plasma membrane localization of aquaporin-3 was confirmed at the electron microscope level in prickle cells. In addition an intracellular localization of aquaporin-3 was also detected in epidermis basal cells. Osmotically induced transepidermal water permeability was measured on stripped human skin and on reconstructed epidermis. Water transport across both stripped human skin and 2-3 wk reconstructed epidermis was comparable, inhibited by > 50% by 1 mM HgCl2 and fully inhibited by acid pH. By stopped-flow light scattering, keratinocyte plasma membranes, where aquaporin-3 is localized, exhibited a high, pH-sensitive, water permeability. Although human skin is highly impermeable to water, this is primarily accounted for by the stratum corneum, where a steep water content gradient was demonstrated. In contrast, the water content of viable strata of the epidermis is remarkably constant. Our results suggest that the human epidermis, below the stratum corneum, exhibits a high, aquaporin-3-mediated, water permeability. We propose that the role of aquaporin-3 is to water-clamp viable layers of the epidermis in order to improve the hydration of the epidermis below the stratum corneum.

In practice, protection of fish against disease by immunization is of limited effectiveness. Therefore, research is concentrated on how to improve the potency and efficacy of vaccines and how to optimally activate the cell-mediated immunity and the specific antibody response. In the present study, the influence of HMB (beta-Hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) on the antibody secreting cells (ASC) after both in vitro and in vivo immunization of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with the anti-yersiniosis vaccine was studied. For in vitro immunization, the spleens from 160 fish were sampled and placed each in 35 mm sterile wells with medium containing HMB at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 microg/mL of medium. The spleens from 80 fish were injected with the vaccine and incubated at 14 degrees C for 10 days. For the in vivo study, fish were fed pellets containing HMB at doses of 0, 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg bw per day. After 2 weeks of HMB supplementation, the fish were immunized by intraperitoneal injection of the vaccine. At 7, 14, 18, 21, 28 and 35 days after immunization, pronephros were taken from 10 fish in each group for testing. When analyzed by the ELISPOT assay, HMB increased the number of splenic ASC after in vitro immunization at concentrations between 10 and 100 microg/mL (P < 0.05). Dietary HMB also increased the number of total and specific ASC when the fish were vaccinated in vivo. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that HMB increases the levels of specific ASC after both in vitro and in vivo immunization of rainbow trout with the anti-Yersinia ruckeri vaccine.

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), previously named persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy, is characterized by profound hypoglycemia because of excessive insulin secretion. CHI presents as two different morphological forms: a diffuse form with functional abnormality of islets throughout the pancreas and a focal form with focal islet cell adenomatous hyperplasia, which can be cured by partial pancreatectomy. Recently, we have shown that focal adenomatous hyperplasia involves the specific loss of the maternal 11p15 region and a constitutional mutation of a paternally inherited allele of the gene encoding the regulating subunit of the K(+)(ATP) channel, the sulfonylurea receptor (ABCC8 or SUR1). In the present study on a large series of 31 patients, describing both morphological features and molecular data, we report that 61% of cases (19 out of 31) carried a paternally inherited mutation not only in the ABCC8 gene as previously described but also in the second gene encoding the K(+)(ATP) channel, the inward rectifying potassium channel (KCNJ11 or KIR6.2), in 15 cases and 4 cases, respectively. Moreover our results are consistent with the presence of a duplicated paternal 11p15 allele probably because of mitotic recombination or reduplication of the paternal chromosome after somatic loss of the maternal chromosome. In agreement with the loss of the maternal chromosome, the level of expression of a maternally expressed tumor suppressor gene, H19, was greatly reduced compared to the level of expression of the paternally expressed growth promoter gene, IGF2. The expression of IGF2 was on average only moderately increased. Thus, focal forms of CHI can be considered to be a recessive somatic disease, associating an imbalance in the expression of imprinted genes in the 11p15.5 region to a somatic reduction to homozygosity of an ABCC8- or KCNJ11-recessive mutation. The former is responsible for the abnormal growth rate, as in embryonic tumors, whereas the latter leads to unregulated secretion of insulin.

Part I of this article (J Can Dent Assoc 65:394-8) looked at the application of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in endodontics, the mechanisms of action of GTR and its various presentations. Part II examines the technique for surgically inserting a membrane for GTR, based on a review of the current literature.

This study examined the effects of the dimerized lysozyme (KLP-602) on the immunocompetence cell activity in sheatfish (Silurus glanis) and its influence in vivo on the non-specific defence mechanisms and protection against motile aeromonad septicaemia (MAS). The in vitro study showed that the lysozyme dimer (KLP-602), at concentrations between 5 and 50 micrograms/mL of medium significantly (P < 0.05) increased the respiratory burst activity and potential killing activity of pronephric macrophages, as well as the proliferative ability of pronephric lymphocytes stimulated by ConA and LPS. The in vivo study showed that injecting lysozyme dimer (Lydium-KLP) intraperitoneally at doses of 50 micrograms/kg bw stimulated cell-mediated and humoral-mediated imunity. On day 5, after application of Lydium-KLP in vivo, a statistically higher (P < 0.05) respiratory burst activity and potential killing activity of blood and pronephros phagocytes were observed. A higher proliferative ability of blood and pronephros lymphocytes stimulated by Concanavaline A (ConA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was also observed. At the same time, the myeloperoxidase activity in the PMN cells and the lysozyme activity and total Ig levels in serum were significantly higher (P < 0.05), compared to the control group. A challenge test with Aeromonas hydrophila showed that dimerized lysozyme increased the protection against MAS. Dimerized lysozyme stimulates non-specific cellular and humoral mechanisms and protection against MAS in sheatfish.

Over the past twenty years, Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) has become an accepted technique for the treatment of tissue loss consequent to periodontal disease. The principles of GTR have recently begun to be employed in endodontics since pulpal necrosis often leads to periodontal tissue loss as a result of the leakage of noxious irritants through apical foramina and accessory canals. This treatment modality is still in its early days for the management of endo-perio lesions and is most appropriately used in specific types of cases. This article, the first of a two-part series, presents a review of the literature about the mechanisms of action of GTR and discusses some of the products used to bring about GTR.

A cDNA e encoding the human Id4 protein has been isolated from an astrocytoma library. The predicted protein product shares 98% identity with the mouse Id4 protein and is markedly different from that already reported. By FISH analysis, the human ID4 gene was more precisely mapped to chromosome 6p22.3-p23. Northern blot analysis showed that ID4 is mainly expressed in thyroid, brain and fetal tissue and in some nervous system tumor cell lines.

Restrictions on smoking in the Victorian workplace have been measured since 1988. This paper investigates whether the trend of increasing prevalence of total bans found between 1988 and 1992 has continued. Estimates are based on workers' reports of the restrictions on smoking that apply at their workplaces. For indoor workers a total ban on smoking restrictions in the workplace has increased from 58% in 1992 to 66% in 1995. White collar workers continue to enjoy a higher rate of protection than blue collar workers. Factories, warehouses, hotels and restaurants are the worksites least likely to have restrictions. Bans result in considerable exiled smoking: half the smokers reported going out to smoke during working hours on their last work day.

Germline mutations in the RB1 gene confer hereditary predisposition to retinoblastoma. We have performed a mutation survey of the RB1 gene in 232 patients with hereditary or non hereditary retinoblastoma. We systematically explored all 27 exons and flanking sequences as well as the promotor. All types of point mutations are represented and are found unequally distributed along the RB1 gene sequence. In the population we studied, exons 3, 8, 18 and 19 are preferentially altered. The range of frequency of detection of germline mutations is about 20%, indicating that other mechanisms of inactivation of RB1 should be involved. The spectrum of mutations presented here should help to improve the clinical management of retinoblastoma and to understand the molecular mechanisms leading to tumorigenesis.

Professor Robert Maigne, a French Orthopedic Medicine and Functional Rehabilitation specialist, has put forward new concepts leading to a better understanding of common pain of spinal origin. Maigne explains that pain in the spine is due to an intervertebral dysfunction of the mobile segment which consists of the intervertebral disc, ligaments and the facet joints. Any benign mechanical dysfunction of the mobile segment can induce a pain radiating in the dermatome at the same level as the vertebral problem. Maigne also described signs found in the skin (cellulalgia), in the muscles (myalgic bands) and in the bony insertions of tendons (tenalgia). These signs are to be found in the same dermatome, myotome and sclerotome as the spinal dysfunction. For headache of cervical origin due to painful intervertebral dysfunction, the most frequent dysfunctional mobile segment is located at the C2-C3 level. This induces pain mostly in the posterior parts of the head and cellulalgia in the C2 and C3 dermatomes. Painful tumefaction is also found over the posterior aspects of the facet joints on palpation at this level. These findings are key elements for the diagnosis of painful intervertebral dysfunction. The recognition of these signs is changing our understanding of the role of the cervical spine in headaches. Painful intervertebral dysfunction is very frequently found in chronic daily headaches.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to the identification of eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis in faeces from foxes. The test was positive in three of six faeces samples from foxes which were harbouring adult worms, and in one of four samples from foxes in which no adult E. multilocularis was found in the intestines. These initial results show that it is possible to use PCR to identify E. multilocularis eggs in faeces. PCR can be used to complement examination of intestinal contents, showing that the distribution of eggs in faeces is uneven. The sensitivity of the test was estimated to be 50 eggs in 5 g of faeces. Further work is needed to confirm these initial results before the test can be used more widely.

Abstract- Bovine nodular thelitis in dairy cows is a chronic and enzootic infection. Four stages were distinguished: early stage, evolutive stage, ulcerative stage and final stage. Lesions were located mainly in the lower part of the udder or on the teat and recognized as solid papules and nodules. The histopathological study revealed a tuberculoid granulomatous pattern characterized by a subacute focal dermatitis with lymphoid cells, macrophages, epitheloid cells and a variable number of multinucleate giant cells (Langhans type) but no necrosis. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated in two of 14 cases. Three strains of acid fast bacilli were isolated but the only one identified was Mycobacterium terrae. M. terrae is a non-pathogenic slowly growing, non-photochromogenic mycobacterium. Its role in tuberculosis-like skin lesion is the bovine udder is uncertain. Résumé- La thélite nodulaire est une infection chronique et enzootique chez les vaches laitières. On distingue 4 phases: une phase précoce, une phase évolutive, une phase ulcérative et une phase finale. Vingt échantillons histologiques, mammelles et trayons, ont été examinés. Les lésions étaient localisées essentiellement à la partie basse de la mammelle ou sur le trayon et se présentaient sous l'aspect de papules solides ou de nodules. Les échantillons étaient divisés en deux parties: l'une destinée à l'isolement de mycobactéries, l'autre à l'examen histologique. Les lésions histologiques des trayons étaient des granulomes tuberculoïdes, caractérisés par une dermatite subaigue focale avec présence de lymphocytes, macrophages, cellules épithélioïdes et une nombre variable de cellules multinucléées géantes (type Langhans). Les infiltrats inflammatoires étaient principalement périvasculaires. Parfois, ils infiltraient toute la paroi du trayon. Aucune nécrose n'a été observée. Des bacilles acidoalcoolorésistants furent mis en évidence de manière inconstante (2 cas sur 14). Trois types de bacilles acidoalcoolorésistants ont été isolés raais, un seul a été identifié comme étant Mycobacterium terrae. M. terrae est une mycobactérie non pathogène, de croissance lente et non photochromogène. L'implication de cet organisme dans les lésions de type tuberculeux dans la mammelle de la vache est discutée. Zusammenfassung- Bei Milchkühen stellt die bovine noduläre Thelitis eine chronische und enzootische Infektion dar. Vier Stadien lassen sich unterscheiden: Früstadium evolutorisches Stadium, ulzeratives Stadium und Endstadium. 20 pathologische Proben von Euter und Zitzen wurden untersucht. Die Veränderungen waren hauptsächlich am unteren Teil des Euters oder an den Zitzen lokalisiert und ließen sich als solide Papeln oder Knoten ansprechen. Das Untersuchungsgul wurde für die Isolierung von Mykobakterien und für eine histopathologische Untersuchung geteilt. Die histopathologischen Veränderungen der Zitzen zeigten ein tuberkuloides granulomatöses Bild, das durch subakute fokale Dermatitis mit lymphyoiden Zellen, Makrophagen, Epitheloidzellen und einer variablen Anzahl von vielkernigen Riesenzellen (Langhans-Typ) gekennzeichnet war. Die entzündlichen Infiltrate befanden sich hauptsächlich perivaskulär. Manchmal ließen sie sich aber auch in der gesamten Zitzenwand nachweisen. Nekrosen bestaznden nicht. Säurefeste Bazillus-Keime waren inkonstant vorhanden (2 von 14 Fällen). Drei Arten von säurefesten Bazillus-Keimen wurden isoliert, aber nur eine wurde speziell identifiziert (Mycobacterium terrae). M. terrae ist ein nicht pathogenes, langsam wachsendes und nich photochromogenes Mykobakterium. Die Beteiligung dieses Organismus bei den tuberkulose-ähnlichen Hautveränderungen am bovinen Euter wird diskutiert. Resumen  La Telitis Nodular Bovina es una infección enzoótica crónica de las vacas lecheras. Se distinguen cuatro etapas: etapa inicial, etapa evolutiva, etapa ulcerativa y etapa final. En el presente trabajo se examinaron 20 muestras de mama y de pezón. Las lesiones se localizaban principalmente en la parte inferior de la glándula mamaria o en el pezón y consistían en pápulas sólidas y en nódulos. Las muestras se dividían en dos partes, una para el aislamiento de micobacterias y la otra para los estudios histopatológicos. Las lesiones histopatológicas consistían en una reacción granulomatosa de tipo tuberculoide, caracterizada por una dermatitis focal subaguda con células linfoides, macrófagos, células epitelioides y un número variable de células gigantes multinucleadas (tipo Langhans). Los infiltrados inflamatorios estaban localizados predominantemente en la zone perivascular. En ocasiones, aparecían a lo largo de toda la pared de la glándula mamaria. No se observó necrosis. Se han aislado tres cepas de bacilos acido-alcohol resistentes, pero sólo una fue identificada específicamente como Mycobacterium terrae. M. Terrae es una micobacteria no fotocromogénica de crecimiento lento y no patógena. Se discute la posible participación de este microorganismo en la génesis de las lesiones pseudotuberculosas observadas en estos animales.

In this article, a statistical analysis describes 198 cases of post-endodontic failures referred from private practitioners for surgical retreatments. Biopsies of these lesions showed that 68.18 per cent of them were identified as apical granulomas, 3.5 per cent as cysts, 16.16 per cent as epitheliated granulomas and 12.12 per cent as "other" cases. The two main groups of causes associated with these failures are: technical errors (55.05 per cent of the cases) and procedural mistakes (17.68 per cent).

In this article, a statistical analysis describes 198 cases of post-endodontic failures referred from private practitioners for surgical retreatments. Biopsies of these lesions showed that 68.18 per cent of them were identified as apical granulomas, 3.5 per cent as cysts, 16.16 per cent as epitheliated granulomas and 12.12 per cent as "other" cases. The two main groups of causes associated with these failures are: technical errors (55.05 per cent of the cases) and procedural mistakes (17.68 per cent).