A descriptive study of emergency admissions to Farview State Hospital.

The prison population in the United States has grown steadily in the past 15 years. Farview State Hospital in Waymart, Pennsylvania annually provides service to approximately 350 to 400 inmates. This is less than 10 percent of the potential need for psychiatric treatment for the state. Emergency psychiatric admissions are a burden on the mental health system, as these inmates are given priority. This descriptive study identified profiles of emergency admissions for the period of July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1993. During this time, 86 emergency admissions occurred. Differences between state correctional and local county prison inmate admissions are described. The short stays of emergency admissions indicate that Farview is achieving its goal of stabilization of the mentally disordered inmate for return to the correctional facility. More research needs to be done to compare emergency and regular admissions for both diagnosis and length of stay.

Biochemical and histochemical characterization of cultured rat and hamster pancreatic ducts.

Pancreatic duct fragments were isolated from rat and hamster pancreas and were cultured in an agarose matrix for up to 8 weeks (rat) or 20 weeks (hamster). The fragments consisted predominantly of duct epithelium, lesser numbers of stromal and atrophied acinar cells, and small numbers of islet cells. Hamster ducts averaged 3 micrograms protein per duct while rat ducts averaged 1 microgram, and the protein:DNA ratio of both types of ducts was less than that of whole pancreas. Estimated average duct yields of 6% (hamster) and 1% (rat) were based on the protein content of the ducts. Duct viability was shown by the incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 3H-leucine into bulk DNA and protein and by autoradiography. gamma-Glutamyl transferase and (Na + K)-ATPase specific activities were slightly elevated while amylase was depressed in the ducts when compared with whole pancreas in both species. gamma-Glutamyl transferase was localized histochemically in both duct epithelium and in surviving acinar tissue, as seen in vivo. Amylase was shown by immunohistochemistry to be present within duct lumina and in atrophied acini and their lumina. Alkaline phosphatase and Mg-ATPase specific activities were elevated in the hamster, but reduced in the rat, when compared with whole pancreas. Hamster alkaline phosphatase and Mg-ATPase were localized by histochemistry to the duct stroma, where these enzymes are not detected in vivo. Carbonic anhydrase was found in the duct epithelium of both species, as in vivo, as well as in the duct stroma, unlike in vivo. Acid glycosaminoglycans, as revealed by alcian blue staining, were found at the apical surfaces and in the lumina of both kinds of ducts. Glutathione-S-transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were elevated in rat ducts, but not in hamster ducts. The polypeptide compositions of cultured ducts, freshly isolated pancreatic islets, and whole pancreas were compared by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. No duct-specific polypeptides were observed; the ducts were characterized mainly by the reduction or absence of polypeptides, including some zymogens, seen in whole pancreas.

Invasion of liver parenchymal cells by Mycobacterium leprae in an experimentally infected nude mouse. An electron microscopic study.

Liver tissue from a nude mouse infected with Mycobacterium leprae for 18 months was examined using light and electron microscopes. Numerous microgranulomas composed of macrophages were present throughout the liver. M. leprae in large numbers were present in Kupffer cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, and liver parenchymal cells. The study shows that the lower temperature of about 31 degrees C optimal for the growth of M. leprae is relative rather than absolute, and that M. leprae can invade even liver cells.

Scanning electron microscopic study of long flexors in human fingers.

A scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study of the digital long flexors of the human hand has provided a greater magnification and an increased resolution that facilitated the study of the architecture and the correlation of their structure to their functional activity. The observations are comparable to reports based on gross anatomic and light microscopic studies previously reported by others.

Morphologic and biochemical characteristics of isolated and cultured pancreatic ducts.

Rat and hamster pancreatic ducts were isolated by digestion with collagenase plus chymotrypsin and were cultured for eight weeks in an agarose matrix. Freshly isolated and cultured ducts were characterized morphologically and biochemically. The in vivo morphology of the ducts was maintained in vitro, although certain differences were noted. Both interlobular and intralobular ducts could be identified. gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase and Mg-ATPase were stable enzymatic activities of the ducts of both species; alkaline phosphatase persisted only in the hamster ducts. Carbonic anhydrase and (Na + K)ATPase were minor activities of the rat ducts. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the rat ducts suggested that actin was the major duct peptide and that the major zymogens were greatly diminished. These results demonstrate that pancreatic ducts can be maintained in vitro and can be used for biochemical studies of this minor pancreatic tissue type.

Ducts of the rat pancreas in a agarose matrix culture.

Interlobular and intralobular ducts isolated from the pancreas of the rat by digestion with collagenase and chymotrypsin were cultured in an agarose matrix containing CMRL-1066 supplemented with insulin, dexamethasone, L-glutamine, soybean trypsin inhibitor, antibiotics, and fetal bovine serum. The cut ends of most interlobular ducts sealed to create enclosed lumina. Some ducts retained their original cylindrical organization; others enlarged to varying degrees, resulting in structures that ranged from cylindrical to spherical in shape. The duct walls consisted of viable epithelium and connective tissue, although the amount of connective tissue declined with age. Both epithelial and connective tissue cells became flattened in the enlarged ducts. Intralobular and small interlobular ducts often remained associated with the larger interlobular ducts. These duct fragments have been cultured for as long as 6 weeks.

Characterization of ducts isolated from the pancreas of the rat.

Rat pancreases were minced and treated with collagenase or collagenase supplemented with chymotrypsin to yield a mixture of ducts, islets, acinar cell clusters, blood vessels, and nerves. Histologically and ultrastructurally, the isolated tissues resembled their in situ counterparts in most respects, the major difference being the destruction of the basement membranes (basal laminae). Ducts ranging in size from the common bile/main pancreatic duct to the intercalated ducts were identified in the digest, although interlobular ducts were most frequently observed. Acinar tissue fragments were separated from nonacinar structures either by flotation through discontinuous gradients of Ficoll or by sieving, the latter technique being the more efficient. Common bile/main ducts, interlobular ducts, and blood vessels were selected manually from the nonacinar fractions. Biochemical analyses showed that the entire nonacinar fraction, as well as isolated ducts and blood vessels, contained larger alkaline phosphatase, carbonic anhydrase, and Mg-ATPase specific activities than acinar tissue, whereas acinar tissue contained larger gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and amylase activities. However, greater than 63% of the total recovered activity of each enzyme was associated with the acinar tissue. Both the association of the majority of each of these enzyme activities with the acinar tissue and the similarity in specific activities associated with ducts and blood vessels indicate that none of the enzymes tested is a unique marker for interlobular and larger ducts of the pancreas of the rat.

Ultrastructure of the parotid gland of the nine-banded armadillo.

The parotid gland of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) was examined by electron microscopy. In general, the ultrastructural morphology of this gland appears similar to that described in other species. The most unusual feature of the gland is that the secretory granules of the acinar cells contain a wide variety of substructures. These substructures range from a single dense core within a homogeneous matrix to a more complex cord-like network extending throughout the granule. It is suggested that this diversity of substructures is indicative of a maturation process of the secretory granules. The intercalated ducts are secretory. The myoepithelial cells are numerous, extend throughout the gland, and are associated with the striated ducts.

Ultrastructure of the acinar cells in the submandibular gland of the nine-banded armadillo.

There are two discrete lobes comprising the armadillo submandibular gland. These two lobes can be defined grossly, histochemically and morphologically with the light and electron microscope. The minor lobe stains more intensely with PAS and AB. When viewed in the electron microscope, the secretory granules of the acinar cells within this lobe appear mucous-like. The granules of the demilune cells are slightly different in appearance. The secretory granules of the acinar cells in the major lobe contain many dense foci embedded in a fibrillar matrix, a substructure not described previously. The demilune cells of this lobe contain secretory granules with a mucous-like structure which is consistent throughout the entire lobe. As in the minor lobe, these demilune cells stain very intensely with PAS and AB.

Morphologic analysis of tympanic membrane grafts.

Many materials are presently used for repair of tympanic membrane defects. Since the microscopic organization of these tissues may play a role with respect to the suitability of replacement of one with the other, a comparative electron microscopic study of temporalis fascia, fresh and preserved amniotic membrane was undertaken. An effort was made to determine the similarities and differences of these tissues and our clinical experience with their use is presented.

The effects of prostaglandin F2alpha on the fine structure of the corpus luteum of the pregnant hamster.

Corpora lutea (C.L.) from normal and prostaglandin-treated pregnant hamsters were examined by light and electron microscopy. Luteal cells from pregnant control animals were hypertrophied and contained an abundance of agranular endoplasmic reticulum (AER) suggesting steroidogenic activity. Animals which were injected on day 4 of pregnancy had ovulated by the third day following the injection, hence, two generations of corpora lutea were present in the ovary. Luteal cells from the "old" C.L. of pregnancy underwent a progressive degeneration during the four days following the single prostaglandin injection, whereas, cells from "new" C.L. appeared viable in most respects. The presence of aggregated platelets in both "old" and "new" C.L. was noted. It is suggested that the "new" C.L. are responsible for the rebound of plasma progesterone reported in previous investigations three days following prostaglandin treatment in pregnant hamsters.

Ultrastructure of the salivary bladder of the nine-banded armadillo.

The nine-banded armadillo possesses a salivary bladder which is a dilated portion of the main duct of the submandibular gland at its origin. The wall of the bladder is composed of an epithelium, a submucosa and a thick coat of skeletal muscle. The ultrastructure of the epithelium reveals that it is complex and consists of three cell types: 1) principal cells, 2) light cells, and 3) basal cells. The general organization of the epithelium suggests that it is a transporting type of epithelium such as that found in the amphibian and reptilian and reptilian urinary bladders and the mammalian gall bladder. The submucosa is composed primarily of densely-packed collagen fibers. The skeletal muscle is very vascular and richly innervated.

Hemifacial spasm: ultrastructural changes in the facial nerve induced by neurovascular compression.

In patients with hemifacial spasm, pathological changes were found in the facial nerve resulting from neurovascular compression-distortion. These changes are simular to those noted in trigeminal neuralgia.

The effects of prostaglandin F2alpha on the fine structure of the corpus luteum of the hysterectomized guina pig.

Luteal cell fine structure was studied in hysterectomized control and hysterectomized, prostaglandin-treated (1-5 days) guinea pigs. In hysterectomized control animals, luteal cells were hypertrophied and were characterized by an abundance of agranular endoplasmic reticulum (AER) suggesting steroidogenic activity. With one day of prostaglandin treatment, little change in the cytological appearance had occurred. After two, or three days of treatment, cells showed a decrease in size and an apparent increase in the number of lipid droplets. Following four days of prostaglandin treatment, luteal tissue was characterized by the presence of large amounts of collagen in the intercellular spaces and by the invasion of fibroblasts. Areas of degenerating luteal cells with numerous myelin figures and lipid droplets were observed. After five days of prostaglandin treatment, most of the luteal cells had undergone extensive luteolytic changes. Typically they contained coalescing lipid droplets, myelin figures and crystalloids, and were surrounded by collagen fibers. These observation suggest that prostaglandin F2alpha does effect structural luteolysis in this species in the absence of uterine tissue.