Current animal models: transgenic animal models for the study of measles pathogenesis.

Animal models are highly important to understand the pathologic mechanisms of viral diseases. Therefore, the lack of a suitable animal model has greatly hindered the research into the pathogenesis of measles. Identification of two human receptors for measles virus, CD46 and CD150 (SLAM) has opened new perspectives in this field. During the last decade, numerous transgenic animal models have been developed in order to humanize mice and use them to study measles infection and virus-host interactions. Despite their limitations, these models have provided remarkable insights in different aspects of measles infection, providing a better understanding of virus-induced neuropathology, immunosuppression, mechanisms of virus virulence, and contribution of innate and adaptive immune response in viral clearance. They should certainly continue to help in studies of the host and viral factors that are important in measles infection and in developing of new antiviral agents and measles virus-based vaccines. In addition, as CD46 serves as a receptor for two other human viruses, some of these models may also find an important application in the study of adenovirus and herpesvirus 6 infection. In this review, we describe different CD46 and CD150 transgenic models and detail their utilization in the study of various aspects of measles pathogenesis.

[Anomaly of the vena cava inferior with paracaval venous aneurysm and renal collateralisation]. / Achsenanomalien der Vena cava inferior mit paracavalem venösen Aneurysma und renalem Kollateralkreislauf.

Aneurysms of the great venous vessels represent anatomical rarities. Most malformations of the venous system published so far concern mainly the inferior vena cava and arise in different formations. Reports of malformations of the renal veins are limited to a few case reports and may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. We report on an case of a asymptomatic, aneurysmatic venous malformation of the vena cava inferior With consideration of the entire findings we preferred a conservative treatment of the patient.

[Josef Koncz (1916-1988)--pioneer of cardiac surgery]. / Josef Koncz (1916-1988)--Pionier der Herzchirurgie.

Josef Koncz (1916-1988) was until given emeritus status in 1982 director of the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, which was specifically founded for him in Goettingen, Germany. By the fusion of three different surgical branches the University hospital of Goettingen took over the role of a pacemaker and initiated a standard in the development of this new specialty in Germany. The scientific and clinical work done by the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery was shaped by the personality of the surgeon and scientist Josef Koncz. He was a successful surgeon and innovative pioneer in one person. Already in 1956, he started open-heart surgery and proceeded this technique in an impressing series. In 1965 he was the first in Germany who operated upon the transposition of the great vessels by Mustard's method and developed together with his long-standing assistant, Huschang Rastan, an operation technique to extend the left-ventricular outflow tract combined with tunnel-shaped subvalvular aortic valve stenosis. Another essential element of his work is related to the establishment of the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery as an independent specialty, ending in the foundation of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in 1971.

Ultrastructure of right ventricular myocardium subjected to acute pressure load.

BACKGROUND: Ultrastructural data on acute right ventricular pressure load in pigs are rare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In control (n = 7) and banding groups (n = 6), right ventricular pressure (micromanometry) and function (sonomicrometry) were measured. Right ventricular pressure was increased 2.5-fold in the banding group by pulmonary artery constriction. Right ventricular biopsies were taken at baseline and after 6 h and processed for electron microscopy. Parameters of cellular injury were determined stereologically. Three perfusion -fixed hearts were investigated qualitatively in each group. RESULTS: Stereology revealed an increase in the sarcoplasmic volume fraction and the cellular edema index in the banding group ( p < 0.05). Mitochondrial surface-to-volume ratio and volume fraction did not show significant alterations. Subendocardial edema and small amounts of severely injured myocytes were observed in the perfusion-fixed hearts after banding. Ultrastructure was normal in controls. After an initial increase, the right ventricular work index declined progressively in the banding group but remained unchanged in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrastructural alterations resulting from acute right ventricular pressure load were characterized by edema of subendocardial myocytes and single cell necrosis. Focal adrenergic overstimulation and mechanical stress are probably more relevant in the pathogenesis of these lesions than ischemia.