Objective This study investigates mitral annular disjunctions (MAD) in the atrial wall-mitral annulus-ventricular wall junction along the mural mitral leaflet and commissures. Methods We examined 224 adult human hearts (21.9% females, 47.9±17.6 years) devoid of cardiovascular diseases (especially mitral valve disease). These hearts were obtained during forensic medical autopsies conducted between January 2018 and June 2021. MAD was defined as a spatial displacement (≥2 mm) of the leaflet hinge line towards the left atrium. We provided a detailed morphometric analysis (disjunction height) and histological examination of MADs. Results MADs were observed in 19.6% of all studied hearts. They appeared in 12.1% of mural leaflets. The P1 scallop was the primary site for disjunctions (8.9%), followed by the P2 scallop (5.4%) and P3 scallop (4.5%). MADs were found in 9.8% of all superolateral and 5.8% of all inferoseptal commissures. The average height for leaflet MADs was 3.0±0.6 mm, whereas that for commissural MADs was 2.1±0.5 mm (p<0.0001). The microscopical arrangement of MADs in both the mural leaflet and commissures revealed a disjunction shifted towards left atrial aspect, filled with connective tissue and covered by elongated valve annulus. The size of the MAD remained remarkably uniform and showed no correlation with other anthropometric factors (all p>0.05). Conclusions In the cohort of the patients with healthy hearts, MAD is present in about 20% of all studied hearts. The MADs identified tend to be localised, confined to a single scallop. Moreover, MADs in the commissures are notably smaller than those in the mural leaflet.
Background . Endotoxin (LPS), the component of Gram-negative bacteria, is responsible for sepsis and neonatal mortality, but low concentrations of LPS produced tissue protection in experimental studies. The effects of LPS applied to the suckling rats on the pancreas of adult animals have not been previously explored. We present the impact of neonatal endotoxemia on the pancreatic exocrine function and on the acute pancreatitis which has been investigated in the adult animals. Endotoxemia was induced in suckling rats by intraperitoneal application of LPS from Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhi . In the adult rats, pretreated in the early period of life with LPS, histological manifestations of acute pancreatitis have been reduced. Pancreatic weight and plasma lipase activity were decreased, and SOD concentration was reversed and accompanied by a significant reduction of lipid peroxidation products (MDA + 4 HNE) in the pancreatic tissue. In the pancreatic acini, the significant increases in protein signals for toll-like receptor 4 and for heat shock protein 60 were found. Signal for the CCK1 receptor was reduced and pancreatic secretory responses to caerulein were diminished, whereas basal enzyme secretion was unaffected. These pioneer studies have shown that exposition of suckling rats to endotoxin has an impact on the pancreas in the adult organism.
e20553 Background: Endometrial cancer patients remain at risk for other obesity related cancers and illnesses. Patients should be counseled to increase their physical activity, however, their belief concerning potential outcomes of exercise will affect how they are counseled. Methods: Patients treated for Stage I endometrial cancer with no other cancer diagnoses were asked if they had been exercising regularly for more than 6 months using the CDC definition of exercise (exercisers), how likely they thought regular exercise would result in health related outcomes (see Table ) and how important these outcomes are to them using Likert-like scales ranging from 1 to 5. A weighed calculation of how likely regular exercise would result in an outcome of importance to them was obtained by multiplying the two scores. Chi-square and t-tests were used to analyze data with SPSS V15. Results: 76 of 90 women approached completed the questionnaire (84%), mean age was 59.5 ± 1.1 (SEM). 45% were exercisers, their mean BMI was lower (31.2 ± 1.2 vs. 38.0 ± 1.4, p=0.001) and a non significantly lower proportion reported having diabetes (15% vs 26%) or hypertension (26% vs 43%). The majority of all women believed regular exercise would result in positive outcomes; a lower proportion of exercisers reported it very to extremely likely that regular exercise would reduce the risk of developing cancer (27% vs 54%, p=0.023) or osteoporosis (46% vs 73%, p=0.019). The majority reported these outcomes were very to extremely important to them; a lower proportion of exercisers reported reducing the risk of developing a new cancer or diabetes were (cancer 79% vs 98%, p=0.013; diabetes 78% vs 100%, p=0.003). Both groups believed feeling better physically and emotionally were important and likely consequences of exercise; exercisers were less likely to believe several other outcomes were important and likely consequences ( Table ). Conclusions: Women who exercise regularly and develop cancer may become disillusioned with the potential health benefits of exercise despite having improved health. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Anorexia nervosa is a widely prevalent eating disorder that o en leads to life-threatening complications. Since it mostly concerns females, many authors have focused on studying the reproductive system in anorexic women. Recently discovered telocytes may give a new insight into the pathophysiology of gynecological complications in these patients.We adopted an animal model of anorexia nervosa induced by voluntary physical activity. Sixteen female Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control and activity-based anorexia. When the weight loss of activity-based anorexia (ABA) rats reached 25% animals were euthanized. Size and weight measurements as well as histopathological analysis of the reproductive organs were performed. Additionally, we used immunohistochemical staining for detection of telocytes.Telocytes were identified in uteri of anorectic rats but no differences were observed when compared to the control group. Nevertheless, in the ABA group the weight of the uteri and the number of follicles in the ovaries decreased significantly.Our rat model of anorexia nervosa mimics the effects of this eating disorder that occur in the female reproductive system since we reported ovarian dysfunction and uterine involution in the experimental animals. It supports its potential role in the further studies of anorexia pathophysiology and treatment possibilities.
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) play an important role in the regulation of gut motility as they are responsible for the slow wave activity of smooth muscle. There is strong evidence that several subpopulations of ICC are present in the wall of the urinary tract. This review presents the currently available literature on the localization and proposed functions of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the urinary tract.
