Choledochal cyst in pregnancy

: Biliary diseases during pregnancy are not uncommon and are frequently due to cholelithiasis. Choledochal cyst during pregnancy is rare. The management of biliary pathologies during pregnancy poses a challenge as the window of opportunity to carry out any interventions with minimal risk is small.

A study of the secretion mechanism of the sebaceous gland using three-dimensional reconstruction to examine the morphological relationship between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle in the follicular unit.

BACKGROUND: New models of the structural relationship between the arrector pili (AP) muscle and the sebaceous gland (SG) have been proposed recently. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to establish the actual morphological relationship between components of the follicular unit (FU) including the hair follicles, AP muscle and SG using 3D reconstruction of serially sectioned specimens so as to expand previous explanations of the secretory mechanism of the SG and to suggest other possible mechanisms based on newly proposed model. METHODS: Scalp skin specimens were processed using routine histological procedures, with serially sectioned tissue slides being stained with Masson's trichrome. 'Reconstruct' software was used to align, assemble and reconstruct the sections, with observations of the 3D-reconstructed FU [including hair follicles (HFs), AP muscle and SG]. RESULTS: Fifty FUs were reconstructed. The AP muscle was curved and concave as it supported the basal portion of the sebaceous lobules in the perifolliculum. Sebaceous lobules were located between the AP muscle and HFs (angular area) and some sebaceous lobules located in the opposite (counter-angular) area. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the concave part of the AP muscle pushes up the basal portion of the sebaceous lobule between the HFs and AP muscle during AP muscle contraction and hair erection. In addition, the sebaceous lobule located at the counter-angular position is squeezed by the HF during AP muscle relaxation and hair repositioning. Combined with the previous mechanism of SG secretion, this newly established mechanism based on the 3D structure of the FU will improve our understanding of AP muscle function and SG secretion.

Pathogenesis of non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) - genetic predisposition and metabolic abnormalities.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), also known as type II diabetes, is characterized by abnormal glucose homeostasis, resulting in hyperglycemia, and is associated with microvascular, macrovascular, and neuropathic complications. NIDDM is a complex disease with many causes. Both genetic and environmental factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. Cumulative evidence on the high prevalence of NIDDM in certain ethnic groups, the high concordance rate for the disease in monozygotic twins, familial aggregation, and familial transmission patterns suggests that the genetic component plays an important etiological role in the development of NIDDM. In genetically predisposed individuals, there is a slow progression from a normal state to hyperglycemia, largely due to a combination of insulin resistance and defects in insulin secretion. Although numerous candidate genes responsible for insulin resistance and for the defects in insulin secretion have been reported, no specific gene(s) accounting for the majority of cases of the common type of NIDDM has been identified. Considerable evidence indicates that environmental and other factors, including diet, stress, physical activity, obesity and aging, also play an important role in the development of the disease. In conclusion, the pathogenic process of NIDDM depends on a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.