An enzymatic assay for DNA in epoxy-tissue-sections by light microscope-autoradiography

Thick and thin sections of glutaraldehyde- and osmium-fixed and epoxy-embedded tissues were incubated with calf-thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, and the resulting incorporation of ³H-dAMP was located by light microscope-autoradiography. This cyto-enzymatic method is rapid and permits detection of nuclear DNA in a large variety of cell types from the rat trachea, rabbit lens epithelium, and newt ovaries.     

Blunt abdominal trauma in pregnancy.

Two cases are presented in which the effects of blunt trauma to a pregnant woman''s abdomen were apparently minor but resulted in fetal death. Blunt trauma may result in serious injury to the fetus or the placenta. Three-point restraint systems should be worn by pregnant women travelling in automobiles to minimize the risks to mother and fetus. Awareness of the potential for injury in these circumstances is essential to reduce the risks to the fetus.     

The contribution of prostaglandins versus prostacyclin in ventricular remodeling during heart failure

Although the role of Cox-2 in the heart's response to physiologic stress remains controversial (i.e. expression in myocytes versus other resident myocardial cells) the ever expanding role of prostanoids in multiple models of heart failure cannot be denied. Due to the fact that prostanoids are metabolized rather quickly (half life of seconds to minutes) it is believed these signaling mediators act in a paracrine fashion at the site of production. Evidence to date is quite convincing that these bioactive lipid derivatives are involved in physiologic homeostatic regulation as well as beneficial and maladaptive ventricular remodeling in heart failure. Thus, this review will assess the direct contribution of each PG on remodeling in the left ventricle (e.g. hypertrophy, functional effects, and fibrosis).