An evaluation of a micropolar model for blood flow through an idealized stenosis

In this paper, the behavior of a viscous fluid described by Newtonian constitutive theory is compared with that predicted by a model based on micropolar continuum theory. The geometry chosen for this comparative analysis is a stenosis in which gradient effects should be pronounced. A range of boundary conditions for fluid microspin are considered. Although velocities and streamlines are found to be similar for the two continuum models, striking differences in shear stresses are revealed. These differences may be as high as 50% for vanishing microspin boundary conditions. Such significant discrepancies highlight the need for further study of higher order modeling of blood flow.     

Allergic contact dermatitis due to a herbicide (barban).

Canadian farmers are using increasing amounts of herbicides. Often they do not use adequate skin protection. Two cases of severe allergic contact dermatitis due to the herbicide barban are described. Patch testing with various substances, including barban, confirmed the diagnosis. Sensitization studies in guinea pigs and in one of the authors showed that barban is a potent sensitizer. It is recommended that if skin contact with barban occurs the skin be washed immediately with soap and water.     

Localization of the mouse gene for secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp-1) (2ar, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein 1, 44-kDa bone phosphoprotein, tumor-secreted phosphoprotein) to chromosome 5, closely linked to Ric (Rickettsia resistance)

We have used a cDNA probe for mouse secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp-1, also known as 2ar, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein 1, 44-kDa bone phosphotein, tumor-secreted protein) to find a restriction fragment length polymorphism in the gene from C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice. The strain distribution pattern in 25 BXD recombinant inbred lines is identical with that previously determined for the dominant, autosomal gene, Ricr (Rickettsia resistance). This places Spp-1 on mouse chromosome 5 with a 95% confidence limit of being within 4.32 cM of Ric. Evidence supporting the possibility of allelism between Spp-1 and Ric is briefly discussed.     

A triage system for processing fine needle aspiration cytology specimens

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is increasingly used in the operating room, in radiology suites and in physicians' offices. A major cause of nondiagnostic FNA specimens is poor preparation techniques. To avoid this problem, we have developed a triage system for handling and preparing FNA specimens. (1) For aspirations performed without a cytotechnologist present, the aspirate is rinsed into 50% ethanol; Cytospin slides are then prepared and stained by the Papanicolaou method. Clinicians are disposed toward this indirect method since no special slide preparation techniques are necessary. The results are equal to those of direct smear preparations, and material so prepared may also be used for immunocytochemistry. (2) When a cytotechnologist is present, both direct and indirect preparations are made. (3) When an immediate interpretation is desired, to ensure adequacy and/or to make a diagnosis, alcohol-fixed direct smears are stained with a modified toluidine blue-eosin stain and read by the cytopathologist. This offers the advantage of a quick diagnosis, which may be made in less than 90 seconds, but with nuclear detail equal to that of the Papanicolaou stain and with good background staining. In summary, our three-tiered approach offers optimal processing for aspirates collected in various settings in our institution.     

Ascaris suum: localization by immunochemical and fluorescent probes of host proteases and parasite proteinase inhibitors in cross-sections

Cross-sections of muscle, intestine, and genital tract fluoresced in defined locations when live Ascaris suum adults were incubated in medium containing chymotrypsin liganded with fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate. This suggests that the protease, or portions of it, are assimilated by A. suum. A. suum chymotrypsin/elastase isoinhibitors were found in muscle sarcolemma, eggs, sperm, and intestine, and host chymotrypsin was localized in the same regions of these tissues by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques. These experiments demonstrate that host chymotrypsin enters the parasite, that it is present in specific regions of Ascaris, and that it probably exists as an enzyme-inhibitor complex.