Comparison of ultrasonographic and intraoperative findings in Achilles tendon rupture

The purpose of the study was to assess the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of Achilles tendon rupture, by comparing initial ultrasonographic scans and direct intraoperative findings, as well as to follow up the healing process in operatively and conservatively treated patients. Ultrasound examination was performed in 100 patients (91 males and 9 females, with mean age of 46 years) with clinically suspicious Achilles tendon ruptures. Ultrasonographic findings were compared with intraoperative findings. Eighty-eight patients underwent surgery and twelve patients were treated conservatively. Complete ruptures were diagnosed by ultrasound in 88 patients, and partial ruptures in 12 patients. The length of the tendon (Pearson r = 0.973, p < 0.001, Spearman p = 0.972, p < 0.001) and the size of the rupture (Pearson r = 0.940, p < 0.001, Spearman p = 0.905, p < 0.001) measured before surgery by ultrasound and directly during surgery showed a high correlation. Out of 88 operatively treated patients, 86 had a complete rupture and two had a partial rupture. All patients were examined 3, 5, 8, and 12 weeks after injury or after surgery. In the first five weeks, there were statistically significant differences noted between these two groups. Operatively treated tendons healed more quickly, but after eight and twelve weeks this difference had disappeared. Our study showed that ultrasound is an excellent imaging method for confirming the clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendon rupture as well as for following up the process of tendon healing.     

Intrabiliary rupture of a hydatid liver cyst: a case report

Intrabiliary rupture of a hydatid liver cyst is a rare occurrence which may result in the development of obstructive jaundice and cholangitis. In this report we discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic management of a patient in whom the parasitic nature of cholangitis was underestimated due to the small size and site of the cyst, and to the misleading concomitant presence of cholelithiasis.     

Desquamin is an epidermal ribonuclease

Desquamin is a glycoprotein that we have isolated from the upper granular layer and the stratum corneum of human epidermis; it is not ordinarily expressed in submerged cultures, whose terminal differentiation stops short of formation of these layers. The exogenous addition of desquamin to human cultured keratinocytes extended their maturation, and hematoxylin staining indicated a loss of cell nuclei. For confirmation, cultured cells were lysed in situ, and the nuclei were incubated with desquamin for several days, then stained with hematoxylin. Damage to the nuclei was evident: the nuclear inclusions remained intact, while the surrounding basophilic nuclear matrix was degraded. Desquamin was then tested directly for nuclease activity. Ribonuclease activity was determined by incubating desquamin with human epidermal total RNA and monitoring the dose-dependent disappearance of the 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA bands in an agarose/formaldehyde gel. On RNA-containing zymogels, we confirmed the RNase activity to be specific to desquamin. Using synthetic RNA homopolymers, we found the active RNase domains to be limited to cytosine residues. On the contrary, DNA was not degraded by an analogous procedure, even after strand-separation by denaturation. J. Cell. Biochem. 68:74–82, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

An epidermal cyst of the penis after distal hypospadias surgery: a case report

Background

Epidermoid cyst is a benign tumor that can occur anywhere in the body but is rarely seen in the penis. Congenital and previous penile surgeries have been reported to be involved in the etiology of the disease, which is usually asymptomatic. Here we describe a case of a patient with a penile epidermoid cyst, which occurred in the circumcision line on the left side of his penis, and urethral dehiscence following hypospadias surgery.

Case summary

A 3-year-old white boy who underwent primary distal hypospadias surgery 1.5?years ago presented with a slowly growing mass in the left ventrolateral portion of the penile circumcision line and urethral dehiscence. The histology of the excised mass revealed an epidermal inclusion cyst. Since then, he has remained healthy.

Conclusions

Epidermal inclusion cyst as a complication of hypospadias surgery is a very rare situation. The diagnosis is made histologically and surgical excision is sufficient for treatment.

     

Sequence of an epidermal growth factor-binding protein

A cDNA clone has been isolated that corresponds to the entire translated region of the mRNA coding for the epidermal growth factor-binding protein type B. The complete nucleotide sequence and the predicted amino acid sequence of the protein were elucidated. The protein sequence was compared to some related serine proteases. This comparison supports the notion that several serine proteases suggested to be involved in the processing of precursors to polypeptide hormones and growth factors are closely related to each other. It appears that these proteases are descendants of a common ancestral gene and thus form a distinct subfamily among the serine proteases.     

Identification of an epidermal cell-adhesion glycoprotein.

Glycoproteins which mediate intercellular adhesion were studied by comparing the effects of trypsin and the neutral proteinase, Dispase, on human keratinocytes metabolically labelled with D-[1-14C]glucosamine or L-[1-3H]fucose. Whereas digestion of keratinocytes with trypsin/EDTA resulted in loss of both cell-substratum and intercellular adhesion, only cell-substratum adhesion was disrupted by incubation with Dispase. Analysis of the radiolabelled glycoproteins by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed that a glycoprotein of Mr 126 000 was cleaved by trypsin/EDTA, but not by Dispase. Surface labelling of keratinocytes with galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 confirmed that this glycoprotein was exposed on the cell surface. Addition of lmM-Ca2+ prevented dispersion of keratinocytes by trypsin and concomitantly protected the glycoprotein of Mr 126 000 from digestion. These results indicate that this glycoprotein has an important role in mediating intercellular adhesion of keratinocytes.     

Defining an epidermal stem cell epigenetic network

Dynamic changes in the chromatin of adult stem cells are required to establish the gene expression profiles associated with stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. A complex genetic network of chromatin remodellers and epigenetic factors orchestrate these genome-wide changes in human epidermal stem cells.     

The epidermal stem cell: an overview

The epidermis, the intestinal epithelium and the bone marrow are constantly renewed. Once a terminally differentiated cell has fulfilled its function, it is eliminated. Thus, new differentiated cells need to be constantly produced by the proliferative compartment to ensure the function of the tissue. As this process continues throughout a lifetime, cells must exist with a large capacity for proliferation within each of these tissues. These cells must also be the depository of all the information necessary for suitable differentiation to occur. This cell population which is qualified as the stem population, has attracted, in recent years, considerable attention not only because of its role during development, but also because of its potential sensitivity to radiations and carcinogenesis and to antineoplastic drugs. The epidermis, which is a stratified and squamous epithelium, has appendages which developed from the primitive epidermis during embryonic life. These appendages are also renewed during the adult lifetime, as illustrated by hair growth. The epidermis proves to be a unique model with which the development and the renewal of a stratified epithelium can be studied.     

Ultrastructure of the epidermal eyespots of an acoel platyhelminth

The epidermal eyespots of the acoel Otocelis rubropunctata would appear to consist of a single cell type provided with pigment granules and cilia. Very numerous dictyosomes characterize the cytoplasm of the cells. The cilia possess the 9X2 + 2 pattern of microtubules and the typical rootlets of acoels. Microvilli are interspersed among the cilia. The basal surface of the cells seems to present synatpic input and to generate an axonal process, which would confirm their photosensitive role. The structural similarities with other photoreceptors are outlined.     

Isolation and structure of an epidermal mitosis inhibiting pentapeptide

A mitosis inhibiting peptide pyroGlu-Glu-Asp-Ser-GlyOH has been isolated from mouse skin extracts. Both the biological and a synthetic peptide with the same structure reversibly inhibit epidermal mitoses in a curvilinear fashion after intraperitoneal injection. The two compounds are chromatographically identical.     

The nucleolus during epidermal development in an insect

The fifth stadium of Calpodes has two phases of epidermal cell development corresponding to preparation for intermoult and for moult syntheses. Both phases begin with a period of elevated RNA synthesis and the elaboration of a multilobed nucleolus. The apparent number of nucleoli changes from about two to eight and back to two again within the few hours of elevated RNA syntheses. The nucleolar changes are preceded by elevated litres of haemolymph ecdysteroid. During the two periods of activity, alveoli in the matrix of the nucleoli contain particles believed to be ribosomal precursors. The staining properties of these granules differ according to size in a way that suggests a developmental sequence. Mature granules are about 20 nm in diameter and do not stain with bismuth. They are found at the periphery of the nucleolus, in the nucleoplasm, at the approaches to and within the nucleopores. Perichromatin granules, believed to be m-RNA precursor packages, are up to 60 nm in diameter, do stain with bismuth and are found at the periphery of chromatin, in nucleoplasm and distorted at the approaches to the nuclear pores to fit within the central channel. During these periods of heightened activity the nuclear envelope contains microvesicles that may be free or attached to either nuclear or cytoplasmic surfaces. The structure is appropriate for the microvesicular transnuclear envelope movement of molecules such as the ecdysteroid believed to initiate the nuclear changes.