Enteric plexus and interstitial cells of Cajal: lnterrelationship in the stomach of Podarcis hispanica (Reptilia). An ultrastructural study

The ultrastructure organization of the stomach enteric plexus was examined in the lizard Podarcis hispanica. The ganglions of the myenteric plexus present a low number of nerve cell bodies with a peculiar nucleus, which occasionally establish direct contacts with cells of the circular muscle layer. Glial cells are smaller than the neurones, and their nucleus is very electron-dense. They surround the axons that constitute the fibres of the myenteric plexus. Four main types of axon profile are described in a morphological consideration of the vesicle population. In the interstice of the circular muscle layer we describe two types of interstitial cells that, due to their ultrastructural characteristics, may be equivalent to the interstitial cells of Cajal which have been described in mammalians. These cells shows parallel distribution to the stomach nerve plexuses, establishing close contacts with them through their long cytoplasmic prolongations. By means of small gap-like unions, they contact both each other and the smooth muscle cells near them. We describe a submucous plexus, where neuronal bodies are scattered among bundles of nervous fibres, some of which are myelinated. A mucous plexus with isolated neurones is located in the lamina propria. Axonal varicosities containing vesicles contact with the cells of the mucous. Interconnected interstitial cells may also be found in this plexus

Acetylcholinesterase-positive and paraformaldehyde-induced-fluorescence-positive innervation in the upper eyelid of the sheep (Ovis aries)

This is the first study which describes the innervation of some eyelid structures, such as the glands of Moll and the glands of Zeiss. It is also the first to investigate the innervation pattern of the eyelid as a whole. We have studied the acetylcholinesterase-positive and paraformaldehyde-induced-fluorescence-positive (FIF+) innervation pattern of the different structures that constitute the upper eyelid of the sheep. There is widespread acetylcholinesterase-positive innervation in the epithelium, but not such an abundant FIF+ innervation. Both types of innervation are represented in the connective tissue by trunks or fibers that are distributed towards the different structures immersed within them. In the glands of Zeiss, cholinesterasepositive innervation is much more widespread than FIF innervation. On the contrary, the glands of Moll present denser FIF+ innervation than acetylcholinesterasepositive innervation. The Meibomian glands and the lachrymal glands show a rich acetylcholinesterasepositive and FIF+ innervation. Eyelid muscle innervation is mainly acetylcholinesterase-positive. In the conjunctive membrane there is no acetylcholinesterase-positive innervation, and only scarce FIF+ fibers can be demonstrated

65Zn uptake in the rat cerebellum and brainstem

We have studied the autoradiographic uptake of 65Zn in the cerebellum and brainstem of the rat, contrasting these results with Timm’s positivity in these structures. Both, autoradiographic uptake and histochemical positivity, have demonstrated Zinc in a location that could be accepted as in climbing fibres and glomeruli of the cerebellum cortex, and also in brainstem neurons that project their axons to the cerebellum cortex, suggesting a circuit where zinc may act as a neuromodulator

Location of Zinc and 65Zn in spinal ganglia of the rat

Following the works of Velazquez et al. (1999), Jo-Seung et al. (2000), Wang et al. (2001), Danscher et al. (2001) and the criteria of Zinc-containing neurons established by Frederickson et al.(2000), we have found the presence and localisation of Zinc in the neurons of the dorsal root ganglia of Wistar rat, by using Timm’s thecnique and by studying the autoradiographic uptake of 65Zn. The agreement between the results of both techniques allows us to classify these spinal ganglion neurons as Zinc-containing neurons and also, to confirm some of the results of Velazquez et al. (1999

Acetylcholinesterase-positive and paraformaldehyde-induced-fluorescence-positive innervation in the upper eyelid of the sheep (Ovis aries)

This is the first study which describes the innervation of some eyelid structures, such as the glands of Moll and the glands of Zeiss. It is also the first to investigate the innervation pattern of the eyelid as a whole. We have studied the acetylcholinesterase-positive and paraformaldehyde-induced-fluorescence-positive (FIF+) innervation pattern of the different structures that constitute the upper eyelid of the sheep. There is widespread acetylcholinesterase-positive innervation in the epithelium, but not such an abundant FIF+ innervation. Both types of innervation are represented in the connective tissue by trunks or fibers that are distributed towards the different structures immersed within them. In the glands of Zeiss, cholinesterasepositive innervation is much more widespread than FIF innervation. On the contrary, the glands of Moll present denser FIF+ innervation than acetylcholinesterasepositive innervation. The Meibomian glands and the lachrymal glands show a rich acetylcholinesterasepositive and FIF+ innervation. Eyelid muscle innervation is mainly acetylcholinesterase-positive. In the conjunctive membrane there is no acetylcholinesterase-positive innervation, and only scarce FIF+ fibers can be demonstrated

Comparison of the efficacy of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin in reducing apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Results of the CENTAURUS study

Background. The mechanism underlying statin-induced event reduction in patients with acute coronary syndrome remains unclear. Aims. To assess the efficacy of rosuvastatin 20 mg versus atorvastatin 80 mg in reducing the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-1 (apoB/apoA-1) ratio at 3 months. Non-inferiority of rosuvastatin 20 mg versus atorvastatin 80 mg in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 1 and 3 months was also assessed. Methods. Patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome were enrolled into this randomized, double blind, parallel-group trial. Results. In total, 753 patients (369, rosuvastatin 20 mg; 384, atorvastatin 80 mg) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis; 478 patients (226, rosuvastatin 20 mg; 252, atorvastatin 80 mg) were included in the per-protocol analysis. Rosuvastatin 20 mg was more effective than atorvastatin 80 mg in decreasing apoB/apoA-1 ratio at 1 month (-44.4% vs -42.9%, p = 0.02) but not at 3 months (both -44.4%, p = 0.87). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by similar to 50% after 1 and 3 months in both groups. Non-inferiority of rosuvastatin 20 mg versus atorvastatin 80 mg was demonstrated at 1 month (difference, -0.3% [95% confidence interval, -2.7; +2.1]), but not at 3 months (+1.0% [-1.6; 3.5]) (intention-to-treat analysis). In the per-protocol analysis, non-inferiority of rosuvastatin 20 mg was demonstrated at both 1 (-0.7% [-3.5; 2.0]) and 3 (-0.5% [-3.5; 2.5]) months. Conclusion. In patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, rosuvastatin 20 mg decreased apoB/apoA-1 ratio at 1 month more than atorvastatin 80 mg. No difference could be shown at 3 months; thus, the primary endpoint was not met. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS

Characteristics and outcomes of an international cohort of 600 000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Background: We describe demographic features, treatments and clinical outcomes in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 cohort, one of the world’s largest international, standardized data sets concerning hospitalized patients. Methods: The data set analysed includes COVID-19 patients hospitalized between January 2020 and January 2022 in 52 countries. We investigated how symptoms on admission, co-morbidities, risk factors and treatments varied by age, sex and other characteristics. We used Cox regression models to investigate associations between demographics, symptoms, co-morbidities and other factors with risk of death, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Results: Data were available for 689 572 patients with laboratory-confirmed (91.1%) or clinically diagnosed (8.9%) SARS-CoV-2 infection from 52 countries. Age [adjusted hazard ratio per 10 years 1.49 (95% CI 1.48, 1.49)] and male sex [1.23 (1.21, 1.24)] were associated with a higher risk of death. Rates of admission to an ICU and use of IMV increased with age up to age 60 years then dropped. Symptoms, co-morbidities and treatments varied by age and had varied associations with clinical outcomes. The case-fatality ratio varied by country partly due to differences in the clinical characteristics of recruited patients and was on average 21.5%. Conclusions: Age was the strongest determinant of risk of death, with a ~30-fold difference between the oldest and youngest groups; each of the co-morbidities included was associated with up to an almost 2-fold increase in risk. Smoking and obesity were also associated with a higher risk of death. The size of our international database and the standardized data collection method make this study a comprehensive international description of COVID-19 clinical features. Our findings may inform strategies that involve prioritization of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have a higher risk of death