A simple and cheap system to speed up and to control the tumescent technique procedure: the Tedde's system.

We have devised a low cost system to quickly infiltrate tumescent solution: we call it the "Tedde's system". This low-cost system offers an improvement in quality and quantity of the infiltration because all the procedure depends on the operators, reducing also the time of the infiltration and consequently of the whole surgical procedure. Moreover, this system can be applied to other surgical procedure that requires large infiltration volumes.

Nuragic bone collagen retains its molecular structure.

The molecular structure of bone collagen was found to be preserved in Nuragic bone samples several centuries after burial. Enhanced birefringence of bone and dentin collagen fibres observed in polarized light after Sirus red staining was used to demonstrate this fact.

Lichen planus in children: a case report.

Lichen planus (LP) is rare in children. A review of the literature reveals that it has some peculiarities with respect to sex, localization, clinical aspect, race, and family history. We present an Indian child with the documented peculiarities of infantile LP. A comparison of LP and graft-versus-host disease points to the importance of thymic involution in the pathogenesis of the former, which could explain the rarity of this disorder in infants.

Structural pattern of the mitoses and hollow formations in the human embryo.

Hollow formations in very early stages of the human embryo development have been studied, regarding the behaviour of the mitoses. Semithin sections of the neural tube, of the fissure of the optic cup, and of somites yet furnished with the myocoelic cavity have been observed at the light microscope, after staining with toluidine blue. In all the observed buds a particular and very interesting result has been obtained: all the mitoses are placed in the lining cellular layer looking at the cavity. Dividing cells in the thickness of the wall of the buds are always lacking. In all the cases the dividing cells and the most of the others during the interphase appear to be closely linked to the inner surface of the wall, in the adluminal layer, at level of which cell evaginations form characteristic palings. A hypothesis has been advanced concerning the influence that active substances in the fluid filling the cavities may have in the control of the mitotic processes of the cellular wall.

The human gonocytes in the early phases of gonadal differentiation. Observations of one embryo at Carnegie stage 11.

With the aim of emphasize the characteristics of the migration of human primordial gonocytes through the mesenchyme of the dorsal mesentery towards the genital ridge, a very early human embryo, corresponding to Carnegie stage 11 (23-24 days of development) was studied together with other embryos from the 4th to the 10th week of pregnancy. The early embryo was embedded in resin, serially cut and the observations were made on semithin coronal sections, de-plasticized and stained with toluidine blue. Migrating primordial germ cells were identified in the thickness of the splanchnopleure, where they appeared as pale and round elements with a nucleolated nucleus and granular cytoplasm. The clusters of primordial gonocytes were constantly surrounded and in close relationship with smaller, polyhedral and intensely stained elements. These features suggest the hypothesis that gonocytes and dark cells join together during the process of migration and that the last can participate in the formation of the gonadal bud. The hypothesis is confirmed by the observation of dark cells, surrounding the gonocytes, in the primitive ovaries or testes, in later stages of development. Perhaps they do not participate directly in the formation of the sexual cords, but reach their periphery where they assume an elongate shape.

The sertolian epithelium in the testis of men affected by 'Sertoli-cell-only syndrome'.

Because of the architectural complexity of the seminiferous epithelium, the Sertoli cell is extremely difficult to study. The individual cellular constituents of the tubular wall are intimately associated with one another; especially Sertoli cells and germinal cells are tightly connected. As implied by the name, Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (SCOS) is characterized by the presence of only Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule. The absence of germinal cells makes this condition ideal for the morphological study of Sertoli cell. Testicular biopsy specimens of subjects affected by SCOS were studied under light and electron microscopy. The Sertoli cells appeared to be morphologically normal, except for their shape, that appears to be columnar as result of the complete absence of the germinal cells. The cellular outlines were irregular, particularly at the base, but the cytoplasm contained normal organelles and inclusions. The presence of both pale and dark elements was evident. These differences in staining reflect the variability in concentration of glycogen particles and intermediate microfilaments in the cytoplasm. In spite of these differences between Sertoli cells in SCOS and those in normal subjects, SCOS represents a satisfactory model for the morphological and functional analysis of the Sertoli cells.

Primary osteoma cutis. Clinical, morphological, and ultrastructural study.

Primary osteoma cutis arises in the deeper dermis for no apparent reason and presents as mature, lamellar, and osteonic bone; secondary cutaneous osteomas are correlated with inflammatory processes, scars, or dysembryoplasia and are always composed of osteoid. Ultrastructural findings of primary cutaneous osteomas have not been reported to date. Light and electron microscopic findings of a case of primary osteoma cutis are described: mineralized areas may be divided into macrocalcification and microcalcification. Macrocalcification consists of lamellar bone. Osteocytes populate the lamellae, whereas collagen fibril distribution is bone-like. Hydroxyapatite deposition presents as globular or needle-like electron-dense material progressively masking the connective tissue matrix. Microcalcifications, which are found in macroscopically normal dermis around the calcified plaque, consist of osteoid tissue inhabited by osteoblast-like cells. Microcalcifications may be interpreted as metastatic calcifications related to the primary osteoma calcified plaque. Primary osteoma cutis may be considered as true bone amartothic formation rather than dermal mineralization.

Morphological changes in human chorionic villi cultivated in conditioned atmospheres of gases.

With the aim to verify the changes that a reduction of the oxygen rate may elicit in the morphological pattern of the human chorionic villi, a new experimental procedure has been suggested. Chorionic villi from human early placentas were incubated in Dulbecco's modified medium of Eagle in the presence of oxygen, air or CO2 at a gas pressure equal to 0.7 atm. The specimens were fixed, dehydrated and embedded in resin, and semithin sections were obtained. Using an image analyser, the thickness of the trophoblastic layer and the mean radius of the villi were evaluated and the results submitted to a statistical analysis. The results show a decrease in the ratio thickness of the trophoblast/mean radius of the villus, directly proportional to the reduction of the oxygen percentage in the employed gases. The interesting conclusions demonstrate that the changes which affect the chorionic villi occur very early and are easily evaluable with quantitative methods; a clinical interest in the use of the proposed quantitative procedure can be emphasized.

On a particular method of isolation of the human placenta trophoblastic cells.

With the purpose of demonstrating the presence of different types of cells in the syncytial and cytotrophoblast of the human placenta, a new technique of cell isolation was performed by utilizing a light enzymatic digestion and a separation on density gradients. Normal human placentas of the first trimester of pregnancy have been studied. After an accurate and light washing in saline and anticoagulant substances, whole villi have been incubated in a trypsin solution for various periods of time at 40 degrees C in a thermostatic stirrer. Detached cells have been collected, rinsed and separated by means of different density gradients of Percoll (d = 1.038 and 1.080). Three cellular layers have been collected and processed for the studies at light and electron microscopy. The first layer was mostly composed by multinucleated elements with a morphological pattern closely related to the histological characteristics of the syncytiotrophoblast; the second fraction was composed by mononucleated elements with the structural findings of the Langhans' cells; the third layer was represented almost exclusively by blood cells. The obtained results demonstrated the high utility and accuracy of the suggested method of cell isolation.

[Proposal for a dynamic study of the temporo-mandibular joint, using a computerized image analyzer]. / Proposta di uno studio dinamico dell'articolazione temporo-mandibolare, mediante l'uso di un analizzatore computerizzato di immagini.

With the aim to go deep into the knowledge of the morpho-functional anatomical characteristics of the temporo-mandibular joint in humans, a dynamic method of study by means of a computerized analyzer of images is suggested. The acquired advantages are the following: a) the accuracy of evaluation of the chosen morphometric parameters; b) the working speed, from which results: c) the possibility to increase adequately the number of cases and d) the possibility to easily investigate many parameters with a very high accuracy of the quantitative results. Both right and left temporo-mandibular joints of adult individuals aged from 18 to 53 have been studied utilizing lateral tomographies focused at 3.3 mm to the lateral surface of the condylar head. The evaluations were done both in the position of completely closed mouth and in extreme opening. From the barycentre of the condyle several straight lines were drawn according to the figure 2. The length of the segment a-b (distance of profiles of the condyle and mandibular fossa) were evaluated in all the lines counter-clockwise and the results submitted to a statistical analysis. The results furnish very good information on the normal or pathological anatomical characteristics, of the joint.

Mechanisms of regulation of the capillary bed in the human chorionic villi.

The purpose of the present researches was to confirm the hypothesis that in the human placenta the microcirculation is subjected to humoral control, because of the absence of innervation in the chorionic villi and the ability of the capillaries to contract themselves. Chorionic villi were incubated in presence of vasoactive substances, Histamine, Serotonin, Bradykinin, Dopamine, Enkephalin Prostaglandins. After incubation, the specimens were fixed and embedded in resin. Semithin sections were submitted to a computerized analysis for the evaluation of the ratio between surface of capillaries and surface of the villus. The results confirmed that in the control of capillaries in the human placenta most of the tested substances show a specific action, dose- or time-dependent.

Action of anticytoskeletal compounds on in vitro cytopathic effect, phagocytosis, and adhesiveness of Trichomonas vaginalis.

The cytopathic effects of Trichomonas vaginalis treated with inhibitory concentrations of anticytoskeletal compounds (mebendazole, griseofulvin, colchicine, taxol, and cytochalasin B) were studied in mouse CLID fibroblast cultures. The evaluation, at different times, of cell numbers and morphological alterations showed that cytopathic effect was considerably reduced when protozoa were pretreated with mebendazole and griseofulvin, whereas colchicine, taxol, and cytochalasin B had less effect. Furthermore, treatment with mebendazole, griseofulvin, and colchicine decreased adhesiveness of the protozoan, whereas treatment with cytochalasin B and colchicine completely inhibited its phagocytic activity. From these results it may be concluded that alterations induced in the trichomonal cytoskeleton may affect its adhesiveness and its in vitro cytopathic effect, but there is no direct correlation between protozoan phagocytosis and its in vitro pathogenic effect.

[Development of human fetal skin from the beginning of pregnancy to the 6th month. Light microscopy study]. / L'évolution de la peau humaine foetale dès le début de la grossesse jusqu'au 6e mois. Etude au microscope photonique.

The human foetal skin has been studied in 15 foetuses from the 8th to the 24th week of pregnancy, to analyse the most significative stages of its evolution. The skin of the ventral and dorsal regions of the hand and fingers has been studied. Just after excision, the hand buds have been fixed with neutral formaline, dehydrated, clarified and embedded in paraffin. The microtomic sections have been stained using different histological techniques. Different characteristics between the skin that will differentiate into thin and thick aspects have been observed already from the earliest stages of evolution. The differences occur especially at the level of the subepithelial mesenchyme, that conditions the development and the evolution of the two kinds of skin.

[Innervation of the human testes studied with electron microscopy]. / L'innervation du testicule humain étudiée par microscopie électronique.

The testes of 35 men from 2 to 61 years old have been studied by electron microscopy with the aim of stressing the presence and the topographic localization of the efferent nervous fibres. The researches have confirmed that the innervation of the male gonad shows three components: a) vasomotor, b) peritubular, c) interstitial. The results obtained point out the very important role that the vegetative nervous system plays in the regulation of the gonadal functions.

An experimental study of the effect of ischemia on testicular structure in the rat. Efficacy of intravenous inosine.

The damages caused by experimental testicular ischemia lasting 60 minutes have been examined in the rat. The histologic alterations of the germinal epithelium and of the tunica propria are studied, using semi-thin sections stained with 1% toluidine blue. The results show that a testicular ischemia of 60 minutes causes damages to the testicular structures. These damages cannot be prevented or avoided by either surface cooling or cold perfusion; however, intravenous inosine prior to ischemia has a protective effect.