Evaluation of the Filum Terminale in Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia

2021 ◽  
pp. 030098582110186
Author(s):  
Abigail McElroy ◽  
Petra M. Klinge ◽  
Dodd Sledge ◽  
John E. Donahue ◽  
Raisa A. Glabman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
Vertebral Column ◽  
Fibrous Tissue ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Longitudinal Section ◽  
Filum Terminale ◽  
And Control ◽  
Fibril Diameter

The objectives of this study were to describe the anatomy, histology, and ultrastructure of the equine filum terminale (FT) and to describe the FT in hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), a model of human Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS). Those humans suffer from tethered cord syndrome (TCS) caused by an abnormally structured FT wherein its attachment at the base of the vertebral column leads to long-term stretch-induced injury to the spinal cord. The pathophysiology of TCS in EDS is poorly understood, and there is a need for an animal model of the condition. Histopathologic and ultrastructural examinations were performed on FT from HERDA ( n = 4) and control horses ( n = 5) and were compared to FT from human TCS patients with and without EDS. Adipose, fibrous tissue, and neuronal elements were assessed. CD3 and CD20 immunohistochemistry was performed to clarify cell types (HERDA n = 2; control n = 5). Collagen fibrils were assessed in cross-section for fibril diameter and shape, and in longitudinal section for fibril disorganization, swelling, and fragmentation. The equine and human FT were similar, with both containing fibrous tissue, ependyma, neuropil, and nerve twigs. Hypervascularity was observed in both HERDA horses and human EDS-TCS patients and was not observed in equine or human controls. Moderate to severe abnormalities in collagen fibril orientation and architecture were observed in all HERDA horses and were similar to those observed in human EDS-TCS patients.

Symptomatic Retethering of the Spinal Cord After Section of a Tight Filum Terminale

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1594-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymund L. Yong ◽  
Tracey Habrock-Bach ◽  
Mariko Vaughan ◽  
John R. Kestle ◽  
Paul Steinbok
Keyword(s):  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Invasive Procedure ◽  
Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽  
Filum Terminale ◽  
Initial Surgery ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Initial Procedure ◽  
Tight Filum Terminale

Abstract BACKGROUND: Section of a tight filum terminale is a minimally invasive procedure compared with cord untethering procedures used for more complex spinal abnormalities. Anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that the risk of symptomatic retethering resulting from scarring might be higher than previously thought. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of symptomatic retethering after section of a tight filum terminale and to explore possible risk factors. METHODS: We reviewed databases at 2 pediatric neurosurgery centers for all patients who had surgery for a suspected tight filum terminale between January 1982 and June 2009. RESULTS: We identified 152 patients. The median length of follow-up was 78 months. Thirteen patients (8.6%) went on to retether symptomatically at a median time of 23.4 months after the initial procedure. Eight had early retethering (within 2 years) and 5 had late retethering (after 7 years). Compared with late retetherers, early retetherers were older at initial surgery (median, 9.4 vs 0.9 years of age), had a higher level of the conus (median, L1/L2 vs L3/L4), had more arachnoiditis after initial surgery, and required more repeat untethering procedures. Late retetherers were younger at initial surgery than those who did not retether (median, 0.9 vs 4.5 years of age). CONCLUSION: Symptomatic retethering is not uncommon after a simple filum snip, and long-term follow-up is warranted. Two distinct patterns of retethering were observed. Arachnoiditis caused by infection or a cerebrospinal fluid fistula may predispose to early retethering, whereas early surgery for prevention of tethered cord symptoms may predispose to late retethering.

Clinical significance of imaging and histological characteristics of filum terminale in tethered cord syndrome

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Thompson ◽  
Michael J. Strong ◽  
Garth Warren ◽  
Randy L. Woltjer ◽  
Nathan R. Selden
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Fibrous Tissue ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Filum Terminale ◽  
Mr Images ◽  
Disc Space ◽  
Histological Features ◽  
Histological Characteristics

Object The pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is uncertain; however, it has been suggested that fibrous and fatty elements within the filum terminale (FT) play a role. The objective of this study was to describe the radiological and histological features of the FT in TCS and determine if there are associations between those features and clinical outcomes, complications, and urodynamics. Methods In this retrospective study, histological, MRI, and clinical data obtained in 293 patients with TCS who underwent FT transection were reviewed and analyzed in a multivariate analysis. Results The median patient age was 4.9 years (range 0.3–64.3 years). On MRI, a fatty filum was present in 65% of patients and a thickened filum (> 2 mm) was seen in 45%. Histologically, the FT contained prominent fibrous tissue in 95%, nerve twigs in 79%, adipose tissue in 59%, and vascular tissue in 36%. Histological features associated with a thickened filum on MR images were adipose tissue (OR 3.5, p < 0.001), nerve twigs (OR 2.2, p = 0.028), and vascular tissue (OR 0.5, p = 0.025). Adipose tissue was associated with a conus level below the L2–3 disc space (OR 2.3, p = 0.031) and with a fatty filum on imaging (OR 9.8, p < 0.001). Nerve twigs were associated with abnormal urodynamics (OR 10.9, p = 0.049). The only variable predictive of clinical improvement was conus level; patients with conus levels caudal to L-2 were less likely to improve postoperatively (OR 0.3, p = 0.042). Conclusions Fibrous tissue was ubiquitous and may be important in the pathophysiology of TCS. Nerve twigs and adipose tissue were associated with abnormal urodynamics and low-lying coni, respectively. Although the majority of patients clinically improved, patients with normal conus levels had significantly better outcomes.

42 EFFECTS OF TRICHOSTATIN A TREATMENT ON GENE EXPRESSION OF CLONED MOUSE 2-CELL AND BLASTOCYST STAGE EMBRYOS

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
S. L. Marjani ◽  
M. G. Carter ◽  
L-Y. Sung ◽  
K. Inoue ◽  
S. Rodriguez-Zas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Histone Deacetylases ◽  
Trichostatin A ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Loess Normalization ◽  
And Control

Trichostatin A (TSA) is a potent inhibitor of histone deacetylases and has been shown to improve cloned embryo pre-implantation and term development. We examined the effects of TSA treatment on cloned mouse embryonic gene expression using microarrays. Cloned mouse embryos were generated using long-term haematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSC) and terminally differentiated granulocytes (Gr-1) as nuclear donors, which have been shown to have significantly different cloning efficiencies (Sung et al. 2006 Nat. Gen. 38, 1323–1328). Late 2-cell and blastocyst stage cloned embryos and control, BDF1 in vivo and IVF embryos (n = 10 from each embryo type and stage, except LT-HSC blastocysts, where n = 5) were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total RNA was isolated from individual embryos and amplified using the TargetAmp 2 round Aminoallyl aRNA amplification kit (Epicentre Biotechnologies, Madison, WI, USA). Amplified RNA from each embryo and a standard reference was labelled with Cy3 or Cy5 and hybridized to the mouse exonic evidence based oligonucleotide (MEEBO) microarray allowing for the interrogation of ~25 000 genes. After Loess normalization, ANOVA with false discovery rate (P < 0.001) was used to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes. A subset of the DE genes was verified by RT-qPCR. These two cell types drastically differed in their potential to give rise to morula/blastocyst stage embryos: LT-HSC: 4.1% v. Gr-1: 38.9%. When treated with 10 nM TSA (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) for 10 h immediately after activation, the morula/blastocyst rate increased to 66.1% for the LT-HSC cloned embryos and to 69.3% for the Gr-1 cloned embryos. At the 2-cell stage, we identified 2172 DE genes between the TSA-treated and untreated LT-HSC embryos. There were 512 DE genes between the Gr-1 and Gr-1 TSA embryos. Interestingly, the cloned embryos were more similar to the in vivo and IVF embryos after TSA treatment at the 2-cell stage, as evidenced by hierarchical clustering and the reduced number of DE genes: LT-HSC v. in vivo = 2622 genes; LT-HSC TSA v. in vivo = 473; Gr-1 v. in vivo = 1448; Gr-1 TSA v. in vivo = 312. By the blastocyst stage, the effect of TSA was considerably less pronounced with 18 and 17 DE genes between the LT-HSC/TSA and Gr-1/TSA embryos, respectively. These data indicate that TSA treatment normalizes 2-cell cloned embryo gene expression, enabling significantly more embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage. Our findings demonstrate that TSA exerted the greatest effect on the LT-HSC embryos, which were the most difficult to reprogram by SCNT.

Influence of long-term experimental orthostatic body position on innervation density in extremity vessels

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (4) ◽  
pp. H1606-H1612 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Monos ◽  
M. Lóránt ◽  
E. Fehér
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Body Position ◽  
Sympathetic Innervation ◽  
Pressure Vessels ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Nerve Terminals ◽  
Functional Remodeling ◽  
And Control

The aim of this study was to quantitate the density of nerve terminals as well as their synaptic vesicle population in the adventitia of saphenous (SV and SA) and brachial veins and arteries (BV and BA) obtained from rats maintained in a horizontal control or a tilted position. Adult animals were kept individually in tubelike cages in a 45° head-up position. After 2 wk, both tilted and control animals were anesthetized, and the whole body was perfused with fixative solution at physiological pressure. Vessels segments were then excised for electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The nerve terminal density (NTD) of SA was 8.20 ± 1.46 nerve terminals/100 μm2 cross section of adventitia and that of SV was 4.53 ± 0.61 nerve terminals/100 μm2 cross section of adventitia in control rats. Tilting caused a significant increase in NTD of both SA (70%) and SV (52%). The synaptic microvesicle density (SyVD) was larger in SA than SV in control rats (30.48 ± 4.41 vs. 13.38 ± 2.61 synaptic vesicles/10 terminal sections), but tilting resulted in more pronounced changes in SyVD of SV (95%) than SA (54%). No significant changes in NTD and SyVD of BA were found after tilt (−3.6% relative to 4.99 ± 0.33 compared with 0.4% relative to 24.89 ± 3.7, respectively). Whereas NTD of BV exhibited a tendency to increase (3.73 ± 0.86 vs. 2.31 ± 0.29 nerve terminals/100 μm2 cross section of adventitia), SyVD did not change significantly (18.96 ± 2.74 vs. 22.85 ± 3.17 synaptic vesicles/10 terminal sections). A large number of nerve terminals of all vessels were tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (containing norepinephrine). These findings support the hypothesis that long-term gravitational load causes adaptive morphological and functional remodeling of sympathetic innervation in blood vessels of the extremities.

Suppressed, but Not Forgotten

2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beat Meier ◽  
Anja König ◽  
Samuel Parak ◽  
Katharina Henke
Keyword(s):  
Memory Trace ◽  
Thought Suppression ◽  
Test Phase ◽  
Indirect Test ◽  
Final Test ◽  
Test Experiment ◽  
And Control ◽  
Cue Words ◽  
The Impact

This study investigates the impact of thought suppression over a 1-week interval. In two experiments with 80 university students each, we used the think/no-think paradigm in which participants initially learn a list of word pairs (cue-target associations). Then they were presented with some of the cue words again and should either respond with the target word or avoid thinking about it. In the final test phase, their memory for the initially learned cue-target pairs was tested. In Experiment 1, type of memory test was manipulated (i.e., direct vs. indirect). In Experiment 2, type of no-think instructions was manipulated (i.e., suppress vs. substitute). Overall, our results showed poorer memory for no-think and control items compared to think items across all experiments and conditions. Critically, however, more no-think than control items were remembered after the 1-week interval in the direct, but not in the indirect test (Experiment 1) and with thought suppression, but not thought substitution instructions (Experiment 2). We suggest that during thought suppression a brief reactivation of the learned association may lead to reconsolidation of the memory trace and hence to better retrieval of suppressed than control items in the long term.

Strengthening of occupational health promotion by the German Prevention Health Care Act

2019 ◽  
pp. 188-190
Author(s):  
Diana Hart
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Occupational Health Promotion ◽  
And Control

All countries are faced with the problem of the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD): implement prevention strategies eff ectively, keep up the momentum with long term benefi ts at the individual and the population level, at the same time tackling hea lth inequalities. Th e aff ordability of therapy and care including innovative therapies is going to be one of the key public health priorities in the years to come. Germany has taken in the prevention and control of NCDs. Germany’s health system has a long history of guaranteeing access to high-quality treatment through universal health care coverage. Th r ough their membership people are entitled to prevention and care services maintaining and restoring their health as well as long term follow-up. Like in many other countries general life expectancy has been increasing steadily in Germany. Currently, the average life expectancy is 83 and 79 years in women and men, respectively. Th e other side of the coin is that population aging is strongly associated with a growing burden of disease from NCDs. Already over 70 percent of all deaths in Germany are caused by four disease entities: cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes. Th ese diseases all share four common risk factors: smoking, alcohol abuse, lack of physical activity and overweight. At the same time, more and more people become long term survivors of disease due to improved therapy and care. Th e German Government and public health decision makers are aware of the need for action and have responded by initiating and implementing a wide spectrum of activities. One instrument by strengthening primary prevention is the Prevention Health Care Act. Its overarching aim is to prevent NCDs before they can manifest themselves by strengthening primary prevention and health promotion in diff erent sett ings. One of the main emphasis of the Prevention Health Care Act is the occupational health promotion at the workplace.

Analysis of crystallite size changes in a hematite and magnetite formed on steel used in the power idustry

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (21) ◽  
pp. 65-73
Author(s):  
Monika Gwoździk
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Oxide Layer ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Diffraction Line Profile ◽  
Crystallite Sizes ◽  
Scherrer Formula ◽  
Pipe Outlet

The paper presents results of studies on the crystallite sizes of oxide layer formed during a long-term operation on 10CrMo9-10 steel at an elevated temperature (T = 545° C, t = 200,000 h). This value was determined by a method based on analysis of the diffraction line profile, according to a Scherrer formula. The oxide layer was studied on a surface and a cross-section at the outer and inner site on the pipe outlet, at the fire and counter-fire wall of the tube. X-ray studies were carried out on the surface of a tube, then the layer’s surface was polished and the diffraction measurements repeated to reveal differences in the originated oxides layer.

RESULTS OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PANCREATITIS AND THE RISK OF CANCER AFTER SURGICAL TREATMENT

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-233
Author(s):  
Vladimir Lubyanskiy ◽  
Vasiliy Seroshtanov ◽  
Ye. Semenova
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Chronic Pancreatitis ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Fibrous Tissue ◽  
Pancreatic Head ◽  
Head Region ◽  
Intestinal Anastomoses ◽  
Resection Of The Pancreas ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

The aim: To analyze results of surgical treatment of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and to assess the causes of pancreatic cancer after surgical treatment. Materials and methods: 137 patients had duodenum-preserving resections of the pancreas. Results: In the histological examination of the pancreas it was established that the growth of fibrous tissue was registered in patients with CP., which in 19 (13.8%) almost completely replaced the acinar tissue. In the long term after the operation from 6 months to 2 years in 8 patients (5.8%) pancreatic cancer was detected. Possible causes of tumor origin were analyzed, the value of preservation of ductal hypertension, which affects the state of the duct’s epithelium, was established. The most commonly used for treatment of chronic pancreatitis the Frey surgery removed pancreatic hypertension but in two patients during the operation an insufficient volume of the pancreatic head was reconstructed. In the case of the abandonment of a large array of fibrous tissue, local hypertension was retained in the region of the ductal structures of the head, which led to the transformation of the duct epithelium. An essential factor in the problem of the preservation of pancreatic hypertension were the stenosis of pancreatic intestinal anastomoses, they arose in the long term in 4 operated patients. With stenosis of anastomosis after duodenum-preserving resection both the hypertension factor and the regeneration factor could be realized, which under certain circumstances might be significant. Conclusion: After resection of the pancreas for CP cancer was diagnosed in 5.8% of patients. The main method of preventing the risk of cancer was performing the Frey surgery for CP eliminating pancreatic hypertension in the head region of the pancreas. Diagnosis of stenosis in the late period after resection of the pancreas was an important element in the prevention of recurrence of cancer since a timely reconstructive operation could improve the drainage of duct structures.

Cognitive Treatment for OCD

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen L. Whittal ◽  
Melisa Robichaud
Keyword(s):  
Term Treatment ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Cognitive Treatment ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Inflated Responsibility ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Control Of Thoughts

The cornerstone of cognitive treatment (CT) for OCD is based upon the knowledge that unwanted intrusions are essentially a universal experience. As such, it is not the presence of the intrusion that is problematic but rather the associated meaning or interpretation. Treatment is flexible, depending upon the nature of the appraisals and beliefs, but can include strategies focused on inflated responsibility and overestimation of threat, importance and control of thoughts, and the need for perfectionism and certainty. The role of concealment and the relationship to personal values are important maintaining and etiological factors. The short-term and long-term treatment outcome is reviewed, along with predictors of treatment response and mechanisms of action, and the chapter concludes with future directions regarding CT for OCD.

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