Prenatal echographic diagnosis of laryngeal atresia as part of a multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) syndrome

Prenatal echographic diagnosis of laryngeal atresia as part of a multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) syndrome: In this report we present the prenatal second trimester echographic diagnosis of laryngeal atresia in a male fetus with multiple associated congenital anomalies: oesophageal atresia, crossed fused ectopy of the right kidney, mild cutaneous syndactyly of fingers III-V and toes II-III, distinct facial appearance and single umbilical artery. Bilateral voluminous echogenic lungs were the major echographic diagnostic sign. The associated multiple congenital anomalies were not diagnostic for a distinct, recognizable multiple malformation syndrome.     

Tube Culture Method for Viable Counts of Campylobacter fetus (Vibrio fetus)

A method was developed for making viable counts of Campylobacter fetus (Vibrio fetus) in tube cultures using a medium containing alkaline hematin and incubation in a carbon dioxide incubator.     

Morphological anomalies in pollen tubes of Actinidia deliciosa (kiwi) exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field

The role of the pollen grain, with respect to the reproductive process of higher plants, is to deliver the spermatic cells to the embryo sac for egg fertilisation. Delivery occurs through the pollen tube, a self produced organ that is generated when the pollen grain reaches the stigma surface. The effect of magnetic fields on pollen tube growth was reported in a recent publication by Germanà et al. Pollen tube growth is an interesting candidate for the detailed study of the effects of electromagnetic fields on cytoplasmic structures and organelles. In this research Actinidia deliciosa (kiwifruit) pollen grains were germinated in the presence of an alternating magnetic field (50 Hz). Our results, although of preliminary nature, show that pollen tube growth is affected by magnetic fields. The analysis of the observed anomalies in the pollen tube appear to be the result of changes in the ionic charges within the pollen tube cytoplasm.     

粉尘螨生殖系统形态学研究

粉尘螨Dermatophagoides farinae是一种重要的医学螨类。本文用光镜和扫描电镜研究了粉尘螨雌雄生殖系统的形态和结构。结果表明：雄性生殖系统由睾丸、输精管、 附腺、射精管、阳茎及附属交配器官组成。睾丸位于血腔末端,不成对,精原细胞、精母细胞和精子依照精子发育的顺序有规则地分布在其内部。雌性生殖系统包括交配孔、囊导管、储精囊、囊导管、卵巢、输卵管、子宫、产卵管及产卵孔,其中卵巢由一个中央营养细胞和围绕其周围的卵母细胞组成。     

Assimilation of nail keratin by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Morphological study)

Summary In the course of onychomycosis due toTrichophyton mentagrophytes histological studies of nail plate were carried out in order to study growth of the fungus in the nail. The tissue changes caused by assimilation of the nail keratin by the fungus were also studied. Three phases of this process have been described: 1) growth of the fungus in the intercellular spaces, 2) corrosion of nail tissue, 3) gas production. The gas tunnels make an anatomic substratum of the transverse net (Alkiewicz 1948) and of the spriggy net (Sowiski). The fungus has grown in a monomorphic way in the nail and only arthrospores (spore chains) have been observed.

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Zusammenfassung In Onychomykosen (Tr. mentagrophytes) wurden Nagelplatten histologisch untersucht, um das Pilzwachstum und die Folgen der Assimilation des Nagelkeratins zu studieren. Es wurden 3 Stadien festgelegt: 1) das interzelluläre Wachstum des Pilzes, 2) die Korrosion des Nagelgewebes, 3) die Gasbildung. Die langgestreckten gashaltigen Räume (Tunnels) sind das anatomische Substrat des transversalen Netzwerkes (Alkiewicz) und des zweigförmigen Netzes (Sowiski). Der Pilz wächst im Nagel monomorph und erscheint nur in Form von Arthrosporen (Sporenketten).

     

豌豆彩潜蝇幼期各虫态的形态学研究

【目的】豌豆彩潜蝇Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau)是我国蔬菜上常见的一种重要害虫,目前尚未见该虫幼期卵到蛹各虫态形态特征的系统研究。【方法】本研究采用野外取样和室内饲养的方法收集豌豆彩潜蝇的卵、不同龄期的幼虫以及蛹,对该虫从卵期到羽化成成虫的全过程进行了详细的观察,并通过测量幼虫口钩和头咽骨的长度对幼虫龄期进行了划分。【结果】卵期观察到了豌豆彩潜蝇及其他潜蝇科昆虫中从未记述过的卵的呼吸角。利用口钩和头咽骨长度将幼虫划分为3个龄期,并对不同龄期幼虫的形态特征进行了比较和描述,确定了通过骨化结构对幼虫龄期准确鉴定和通过外部形态快速鉴定的方法。根据豌豆彩潜蝇蛹期发育的形态特征变化将蛹期划分为5个明显的发育阶段。【结论】本研究记述了豌豆彩潜蝇卵到蛹期的形态特征并对幼虫龄期进行了划分,为潜蝇幼虫和蛹的形态学及豌豆彩潜蝇生物学、生理学和防治研究提供基础。     

Effects of alcohol (ethanol) on the fetus

Alcohol (ethanol) use during pregnancy can produce a wide spectrum of effects in the developing embryo/fetus that are dependent on the maternal drinking pattern. The effects of chronic ethanol exposure on the developing conceptus are reviewed with primary focus on ethanol teratogenesis, manifesting in the human as the fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects. The effects of acute ethanol exposure on the near-term fetus are described, including suppressed fetal breathing movements, electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity and electrooculographic (EOG) activity. The ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements is a very sensitive index of acute exposure of the near-term fetus to ethanol, and appears to involve a direct mechanism of action rather than an indirect mechanism involving suppression of electrocortical activity. The disposition of ethanol and its pharmacologically active proximate metabolite, acetaldehyde, and the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase in the near-term maternal-fetal unit are described, and a pharmacokinetic model is proposed. The effects of short-term ethanol exposure on the near-term fetus include the development of tolerance to the ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements, low-voltage ECoG activity and EOG activity. The development of tolerance occurs more rapidly to the latter two fetal biophysical activities. The mechanism of tolerance development appears to be pharmacodynamic (functional) in nature, as there is no increase in the rate of ethanol elimination from the maternal-fetal unit. The role of prostaglandins (PGs) in the mechanism of the ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements is described. In the near-term fetus, there is a direct relationship between fetal blood ethanol concentration and fetal plasma PGE2 concentration, and an inverse relationship between the incidence of fetal breathing movements and each of fetal plasma and fetal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PGE2 concentrations. Indomethacin, a PG synthetase inhibitor, selectively blocks and reverses the ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements. These data support the postulates that the ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements is mediated by increased PGE2 concentration in the near-term fetus and that the ability of indomethacin to antagonize the ethanol-induced suppression of fetal breathing movements is due to its biochemical action to decrease fetal PGE2 concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Changes in estrogen levels in maternal venous plasma after intra-amniotic infusion of prostaglandin F2 for therapeutic abortion

Peripheral plasma levels of estrone, estradiol-17beta and estriol were measured by the method of Shutt and Cox in 10 women following intra-amniotic infusion of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2a) for therapeutic abortion. Initial dose was 30 mg, followed if necessary, by doses of 15 mg at 24 hours and 42 hours. Gestational age of pregnancies ranged from 14 to 19 weeks, with a mean of 16 weeks. All 10 women completely aborted. Mean induction-abortion interval was 24 + or - 12 hours. The mean estrone, estradiol 17beta and estriol levels declined to about half of the pre-infusion levels after 80% of the induction-abortion interval had elapsed. The main decline in estrogen levels occurred in individual women either during the 1st quarter or during the last quarter of the induction-abortion interval. There were no significant relationships between changes in estrogen levels and the interval from 1st administration of PGF2a to subsequent abortion.     

Morphological study of the rat pituitary follicle stimulating hormone cells after alternate day treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)

The action of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) on the hypophyseal gonadotrophins has either an activatory or inhibitory effect depending on the doses administered or on the treatment followed. Both factors can induce a different response in the two hormones. In this work, the effect after the administration of 8 doses (40 micrograms/day) of LHRH at intervals of 48 hours, on the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as the numerical density, distribution, intensity of staining and morphometrical parameters of the cells which react against the anti-FSH serum, are assessed. It has been found that with the treatment an increase of FSH serum levels, without modification in the number of immunoreactive cells, but a clear increase in the lightly stained cells, is produced. The distribution of the reactive cells, uniform in normal animals, shows a large numerical density in the dorsal and posterior hypophyseal areas in the treated animals. No change was observed in the nuclear and cellular areas between the different groups.     

Morphological and histochemical study of the submandibular gland in Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis

The submandibular gland in female and male Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis (a South African multimammate rodent) was studied using light microscopy and techniques for the demonstration of carbohydrates. Hematoxylin and eosin stain revealed the presence of a single secreting component that gave a strongly positive PAS reaction. Limiting elements of the granular tubules gave a weakly positive PAS reaction. Acidic glycoproteins were evidenced only in granules of the acinar component.