Biochemical evaluation of the supporting structure of pelvic organs in selected numbers of premenopausal and postmenopausal Malaysian women.

Context: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is associated with menopause and changes in the proteins of the pelvic supporting system, but there is scant data on the precise alterations in Malaysian women. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the differences in the extracellular matrices (ECM) of uterosacral ligaments in premenopausal and postmenopausal Malaysian women with or without POP. Settings and Design: The observational study was conducted for 9 months in three general hospitals involving 30 women who underwent hysterectomies for various indications except for carcinoma of pelvic organs. Materials and Methods: Three groups were identified: Premenopausal women (Group 1), postmenopausal women without POP (Group 2), and postmenopausal women with POP (Group 3). Age, duration of menopause, body mass index (BMI), parity, and vaginal deliveries were documented. Only 21 samples of the uterosacral ligaments were stained immunohistochemically for collagen I and III, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1 and 2, elastin, and tenascin. Statistical Analysis Used: Image J software analysis was utilized for quantification, while non-parametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis with post-hoc Dunns Multiple Comparison test) was used for result analysis. Results: The profile parameters were not significantly different except for mean age and duration of menopause in Group 3. Samples from Group 2 showed lower expression of almost all proteins except MMP1 and tenascin (higher) as compared to Group 1. The changes appeared to be exaggerated in Group 3, though statistically insignificant. Conclusion: A significant difference in the expression of ECM was apparent in postmenopausal subjects as compared to premenopausal ( P = 0.05), compromising the uterosacral ligament tensile strength. The findings are proven similar as those changes in women from other studies.

Effects of plastic stenting in commom bile duct of rats: a quantitative reaction analysis using collagen and elastin morphometry / Efeitos de prótese plástica em hepatocolédoco de ratos: uma análise quantitativa utilizando morfometria do colágeno e elastina

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of biliary stenting in rats through analysis of collagen and elastin deposition in the bile ducts. Methods: Twenty male rats underwent midline laparotomy, duodenotomy and transampullary stenting of the common bile duct with a 22Fr plastic stent. Animals were randomized in 4 groups, with 5 components in each: (I) control, (II) biliary stenting for 7 days, (III) biliary stenting for 14 days, and (IV) biliary stenting for 30 days. Sections of the common bile duct were stained using Hematoxylin Eosin; Sirius Red to quantitate the amount of collagen present; and Weigert's Resorcin-fuchsin to quantitate the amount of elastin present. Results: The percentage of area stained for collagen was 13.4; 21.5; 29.5 and 32.8, for groups I to IV, respectively. The percentage of area stained for elastin fibers was 7.0; 5.2; 4.0 and 2.9, for groups I to IV, respectively. Collagen/Elastin ratio was 2.4; 5.1; 11.0 and 14.4 for groups I to IV, respectively. Conclusions: The biliary stenting leads to collagen and elastin deposition in the bile ducts; and collagen deposition and collagen/elastin ratio are proportional to the period of stenting.

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da colocação de prótese biliar em ratos, analisando a deposição de colágeno e elastina no hepatocolédoco. Métodos: Vinte ratos machos foram submetidos à laparotomia mediana, duodenotomia e colocação transpapilar de uma prótese plástica 22Fr no hepatocolédoco. Os animais foram randomizados em 4 grupos, com cinco componentes cada: (I) controle, (II) prótese biliar por 7 dias, (III) prótese biliar durante 14 dias e (IV) prótese biliar por 30 dias. Cortes do hepatocolédoco foram corados com Hematoxilina Eosina; Sirius Red para quantificar o colágeno; e Resorcina-fucsina de Weigert para quantificar a elastina. Resultados: A porcentagem de área corada para colágeno foi de 13,4; 21,5; 29,5 e 32,8 para os grupos I a IV, respectivamente. A porcentagem de área corada para fibras de elastina foi de 7,0; 5,2; 4,0 e 2,9, para os grupos I a IV, respectivamente. A razão colágeno / elastina foi de 2,4, 5,1, 11,0 e 14,4 para os grupos I a IV, respectivamente. Conclusões: O implante da prótese biliar leva à deposição de colágeno e elastina nos ductos biliares; e a deposição de colágeno e a relação colágeno / elastina são proporcionais ao tempo de permanência da prótese.

Comparison of morphology and microstructural components of hepatic portal vein between human and pig / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In order to provide morphological data and theoretical basis for pig-to-human hepatic xenotransplantation, the difference in morphological parameters and vessel wall structural factors between human and porcine hepatic portal vein was studied. From human subjects and pigs of varying ages, hepatic portal veins were collected, paraffin-embedded and cut into sections. The histological structures were stained with HE, and elastin, collagen and smooth muscles were stained with Weigert, Aniline blue and orange G, respectively. Morphological parameters and relative contents of structural components were determined under microscopy and by computer image analysis system, respectively. The results showed that histological structures of human and porcine hepatic portal vein wall were similar. Caliber, wall thickness, lumen and wall area in pigs increased with age, all in linear correlation to months. Morphological parameters of 6- month-old pigs were similar to those of human. In pigs, collagen content increased gradually with months, elastin content remained relatively stable, smooth muscle content reached the peak at the 3rd month, and collagen/elastin (C/E) rose gradually. The contents of collagen and elastin in porcine hepatic portal vein wall were lower, while the content of smooth muscle was higher than in human, and C/E at the 5th and 6th month was similar to that in human. It is concluded that morphological parameters and contents of structural components of porcine hepatic portal vein vary with age. At the 6 month, its caliber, wall thickness, lumen and wall area are similar to those of human. There are differences in contents of structural components between human and pigs. However, in terms of C/E, mechanic properties of pigs at the 5th and 6th month mimic those of human, hence inosculation is viable in xenotrans-plantation between pigs and human.

Uso da análise de Fish para diagnóstico em 11 pacientes com síndrome de Williams-Beuren / Use of Fish analysis to diagnosis approach of 11 Brazilian patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome

A síndrome de Williams-Beuren (SWB) é uma rara síndrome de deleçäo de genes contíguos que feta múltiplos sistemas. A doença é causada por uma deleçäo submicroscópica na regiäo 7q11.23, que é detectada pela análise de Fish em 90-95 por cento dos pacientes. Relatamos o estudo clínico e a análise citogenética por Fish realizados em 11 pacientes (6M:5F), todos esporádicos. Fácies típicos de "duende", atraso de desenvolvimento/retardo mental, anomalias dentárias e esqueléticas estavam presentes em todos os pacientes; anomalias oculares em dez (91 por cento); cardiopatias congênitas em oito (73 por cento), sendo metade, estenose supravalvar aórtica; baixa estatura em seis (54 por cento); hipercalcemia transitória em quatro (36 por cento); hérnia inguinal em três (27 por cento) e anomalias renais em dois (18 por cento). Analisanmos a hemizigosidade do gene da elastina por Fish, utilizando a sonda LSI Williams Syndrome Region DNA Fish (Vysis) nas células interfásicas e metafásicas. O paciente sem deleçäo apreentava fácies e comportamento tópico, exceto cardiopatia. A análise pelo Fish do locus da elastina é um teste útil para confirmaçäo diagnóstica da SWB, o que auxilia no seguimento clínico adequado e na prevençäo das complicaçöes

Método para cuantificar actividad proteolítica sobre sustratos insolubles coloreados / Method for quantitative proteolytic activity about stained substrates insoluble

Se cuantificó la actividad proteolítica de Staphylococcus aureus aislados de infecciones del hombre, aplicando una modificación de la técnica efectuada por otros autores con Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Además del polvo de piel coloreado con Azul Brillante de Remazol utilizado con esta bacteria, se prepararon otros sustratos insolubles, tales como elastina-Rojo Congo, colágeno-Rojo Congo y polvo de ubre-Rojo Congo. Fue posible comprobar mayor actividad proteolítica sobre colágeno que sobre elastina, mientras que con los extractos o polvos tisulares se evidenció más proteólisis con polvo de ubre de vaca (PUH) que con polvo de piel (PPA). Cabe destacar que las cepas procedían de infecciones humanas, incluyendo afecciones no epidérmicas y una de colección ATCC. El método desarrollado constituyó una ventaja con respecto a las técnicas clásicas de bacteriología que detectan cualitativamente la actividad proteolítica

Conteúdo de colágeno e elastina e suas relaçöes no colédoco normal e obstruído: estudo experimental no cäo / Collagen and elastin contents and its relations on the normal and obstructed common bile duct: experimental study in dogs

Trabalho experimental em 40 cäes visando estudar o conteúdo de colágeno, elastina e suas relaçöes no colédoco normal e com obstruçäo de 07 dias. Os cäes foram separados em dois grupos de 32 e 08 animais respectivamente normais e obstruídos. As peças obtidas de cada grupo foram submetidas a estudo bioquímico que estabeleceu as quantidades de colágeno e elastina em ambos. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que ocorre um aumento tecidual do estroma do colédoco obstruído, que se dá tanto às custas do colágeno quanto da elastina e que se verifica uma modificaçäo da relaçäo elastina/colágeno no colédoco obstruído. Os autores sugerem, dado a grande semelhança histológica entre o colédoco canino e o colédoco humano, que seja feita uma determinaçäo neste, com a finalidade de se estabelecer as quantidades de colágeno e elastina que o compöem