Immunohistochemical localization of netrin-1 in the embryonic chick nervous system.

Netrin-1 has profound in vitro effects on the growth properties of vertebrate embryonic axons. In addition, netrin-1 mRNA is found in the floor plate of the embryonic nervous system, an intermediate target of many axons, including commissural axons that are affected by netrin-1 in vitro. Moreover, genetic studies of netrin-1 homologs in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila implicate these proteins in commissure formation. We raised polyclonal antisera that recognize chick netrin-1 in fixed tissue sections. The antisera were used to immunohistochemically map netrin-1 in the embryonic spinal cord, brain, and retina. The relationship between netrin-1 localization and the growth of pioneering axons suggests roles for netrin-1 in the regulation of circumferential, commissural, and longitudinal axon growth in the spinal cord and brain. The data also suggest that the primary or sole effect of netrin-1 on pioneering spinal cord commissural axons is haptotactic. Furthermore, the pattern of netrin-1 localization raises the possibility that this protein helps mediate neuronal migration in the spinal cord, brain, and retina.

[Prognostic value of early CT examination for evaluating duration and complications in acute pancreatitis]. / Wartosc prognostyczna wczesnego badania CT w ocenie przebiegu i rozwoju powiklan w ostrym zapaleniu trzustki.

In 47 patients with acute pancreatitis abdominal CT scans at admission (< 72 hrs) and control CT scans (2-4 week) were performed. We evaluated degree of pancreatic swelling on the ground of pancreatic size index (anterio-posterior size of head x anterio-posterior size of body), extent of peripancreatic inflammatory changes and presence of local complications. We demonstrated a high frequency of pancreatic abscess in patients with peripancreatic inflammatory changes in initiàl CT scans and in patients with high degree of pancreatic swelling (wt > 10 cm2). Early CT had a sensitivity of 80 percent and specificity of 100 percent for abscess development when these two prognostic factors were considered. It show that early CT has a significant value in establishing prognosis in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Floating Harbor syndrome. Case report and further syndrome delineation.

Floating Harbor syndrome was diagnosed in a 9 years old girl on the basis of short stature, delayed bone age, mild mental retardation, speech problems and specific craniofacial features. A detailed phenotype description is given and evaluated together with 18 other published case reports according to the concept of the Munich Dysmorphology Database (Stengel-Rutkowski et al., 1996) with the aim to delineate the spectrum of clinical and anthropological features.

Ultrasound vascular imaging with subtraction in evaluation of lung tumor vascularity--a case report.

Ultrasound vascular imaging with subtraction is considered as very useful method to evaluation vascularity of tumor and its relationships to great vessels. Lung tumor was evaluated with power color Doppler ultrasound with and without B-mode scanning. Power color Doppler imaging without B-mode scanning is better depicted tumor internal vascular architecture and its relationships to great vessels then with B-mode. This method makes differentiation of tumor character possibly and interventional procedures more safely.

Evaluation of colour Doppler sonography in lung tumor biopsy.

Between 1986 and 1995, 1800 ultrasound examinations of the chest were done. Addition of colour Doppler imaging improves safety of procedures and allowed to perform ultrasound guided biopsy in 47 patients. On the basis of our experience we state that colour Doppler sonography guided needle aspiration biopsy is useful, sufficient and safety diagnostic method of malignant lung masses, especially peripheral and wall-chest located.

[Use of color Doppler ultrasonography for evaluation of blood flow in orbital vessels]. / Zastosowanie kolorowej ultrasonografii dopplerowskiej do oceny przeplywów w naczyniach oczodolu.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish the normal values of blood flow velocities in ophthalmic and central retinal vessels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 29 healthy subjects: 18 men and 11 women, mean age 55 +/- 20 years, were examined in Color Doppler technique with spectral analysis with the 7.5 MHz linear transducer. The peak systolic, end diastolic and mean flow velocities were measured. The resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were also estimated. RESULTS: The values of velocities are comparable with results of other authors, especially when the similar frequency of the transducers was used. No significant differences of flow parameters were found between genders and right and left eyes when comparing the means. Ophthalmic artery velocities significantly declined as a function of age, but the RI and PI indices were similar. There were age-related differences between flow parameters in central retinal vessels. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound system characteristics, methodology of the examination and age factor should be considered in clinical evaluation of orbital vessels with color Doppler imaging.

[Usefulness of computed tomography and scintigraphy in diagnosis of emphysematous bullae in the lung]. / Przydatnosc tomografii komputerowej i scyntygrafii w rozpoznaniu pecherzy rozedmowych pluc.

UNLABELLED: The x-ray examinations usually do not reveal morbid changes after lung expansion in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. In our observation computed tomography (CT) and scintigraphy enable not only the exact determination of the extent of changes but also they disclose bullae invisible in conventional chest radiographs. 15 patients with cured spontaneous pneumothorax and 10 patients with radiographic evidence of a bulla or bullae were examined. CT scans showed bullae from 3 to 18 cm in diameter involving predominantly the upper lobes. 4 patients had additionally subpleural or intraparenchymal bullae of various degrees. In all patients with cured spontaneous pneumothorax, CT scans revealed intraparenchymal bullae, and in 6 cases bilateral intraparenchymal bullae were revealed. Only in sites of large bullae, no isotopic marker or its low elimination was shown in perfusion and inhalation scintigraphy. 10 patients with giant bullous emphysema were operated; in 6 patients enucleation of bullae, in 3 lobectomy and in one patient bullectomy were performed. CONCLUSION: CT is a method of choice in the diagnosis of lung emphysematous bullae and it enables the detection of the changes undetectable in chest radiographs. Perfusion and inhalation scintigraphy is helpful in the diagnosis of large emphysematous bullae and postoperative follow-up examination.

[Hypertrophy of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle with spontaneous electrical activity]. / Przerost gøowy bocznej miesnia brzuchatego øydki z samoistna czynnoscia elektryczna--niezwykøy przypadek radikulopatii.

A patient with chronic S-1 radiculopathy is discussed, in whom, after previous slight weakening of calf muscles, the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle was enlarged. Histopathological examination revealed in this muscle a true hypertrophy, mainly second type of muscle fibres. However electromyographic examination showed a continuous spontaneous electrical activity at rest (pseudomyotonic discharges) which, according to the authors, explain the found signs.