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100 BIOMEDICAL FACTOIDS
This page contains 100 factoids from the field of
biomedicine. There are about 180 additional pages in this
series.
This page has no value as a treatment guide or as a diagnostic
guide. It is merely a collection of interesting pieces of
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© 2007 Jules J. Berman
101
JOHN VERSUS JOHNS HOPKINS.
Johns Hopkins is the name of the institution.
Among the locals, it is often referred to as `The Johns'.
key words: administration, terminology, JB
102
RESIDENT ABUSE.
This letter summarizes a number of cited studies concerning abuse
of residents and medical students.
One study found that 81% of senior medical students reported abuse.
Another study found that 2/3 of students reporting an incident of abuse
felt that the incident harmed them emotionally.
Behavior that is considered abusive includes violence, sexual harassment,
physical threats, public humiliation, intimidation, assigning tasks
for punishment, taking credit for another person's work,
or intentional neglect or discrimination based on personal characteristics,
race, religion, ethnicity, sex, age, sexual orientation.
--------------------
Resident abuse: time to be recognized. JAMA Vol 273, Jan 25, 1995.
key words: administration, training, medicolegal, JB
103
CONN'S SYNDROME VERSUS CUSHING'S SYNDROME.
Conn's (hyperaldosteronism) occurs with:
Adrenal hyperplasia in 23% of cases.
Adrenal adenoma in 75% of cases.
Adrenal cancer in 2% of cases.
Cushing's syndrome (hypercortisolism)
Adrenal hyperplasia in 80% of cases.
Adrenal adenoma in 10% of cases.
Adrenal carcinoma in 10% of cases.
key words: adrenal, endocrine, metabolism, JB
104
CONN'S SYNDROME.
Primary hyperaldosteronism.
Excess of aldosterone leads to hypertension and usually hypokalemia.
Conn's (hyperaldosteronism) occurs with:
Adrenal hyperplasia in 23% of cases.
Adrenal adenoma in 75% of cases.
Adrenal cancer in 2% of cases.
key words: adrenal, endocrine, metabolism, JB
105
WATERHOUSE-FRIDERICHSEN SYNDROME.
Associated with:
Meningococcemia.
Other acute infections.
Anticoagulant therapy.
Pregnancy (eclampsia or post-partum hemorrhage).
key words: adrenal, hemorrhage, JB
106
ADRENOCORTICAL CARCINOMA.
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumor,
afflicting only one to two persons per million population.
It usually occurs in adults, and the median age at diagnosis 44 years.
Only 30% of these malignancies are confined to the adrenal gland,
at the time of diagnosis.
Approximately 60% of patients present with symptoms related
to excessive hormone secretion.
The most common sites of metastasis are:
Intra-abdominal.
Lung.
Liver.
Bone.
key words: adrenal, incidence, JB
107
SPIRONOLACTONE BODIES.
Spironolactone is used to treat Conn's disease (primary hyperaldosteronemia).
Spironolactone is an antagonist to aldactone.
Produces eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions in cells of the zona glomerulosa.
The bodies appear to originate as altered mitochondria.
2 to 20 microns in diameter.
key words: adrenal, JB
108
ANTIOXIDANTS EXTEND THE LIFESPAN OF MICE.
Anti-oxidants seem to prolong the normal life-span of female mice.
2-mercaptoethylamine hydrochloride prolonged the half-survival time
of C3H female mice from 14.5 to 18.3 months.
Antioxidants did not seem to prolong the life of Swiss male mice.
Hydroxylamine hydrochloride produced a marked decrease in the
tumor incidence of C3H female mice.
--------------------
Harman D. Prolongation of the normal lifespan and inhibition
of spontaneous cancer by anti-oxidants. J Gerontol 16:247, 1961.
key words: aging, ageing, gerontology, JB
109
ALZHEIMER EFFECT INHIBITED BY SUBSTANCE P.
Neil Kowall, and Bruce Yanker produced Alzheimer-like lesions
in rat hippocampus with direct injections of beta-amyloid.
Substance P, even when injected intra-abdominally,
seemed to reduce the effect.
Substance P can cross the blood-brain-barrier.
--------------------
Kolata G. Alzheimer-like effect is reported cut in rats. New York Times,
Aug 20, 1991.
key words: aging, alzheimer, substance p, JB
110
PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
Also called paralysis agitans.
There are about half a million cases prevalent in the United States.
First described by James Parkinson in 1817.
Clinically:
Involuntary tremulous motion.
Lessened muscular power.
Muscular rigidity.
Immobile face.
Difficulty with speech.
A strange feature is a gait characterized by being bent forward,
and passing from a walking to a fast shuffling gait.
Many patents become demented.
key words: aging, brain, CNS, virus, neurology, JB
111
PATHOLOGY OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
Loss of pigmented neurons and gliosis in the pars compact
of the substantia nigra.
Lewy bodies are found in the surviving neurons of the substantia nigra
as well as other CNS locations.
Lewy bodies are hyaline (eosinophilic) cytoplasmic inclusions.
key words: aging, brain, CNS, virus, neurology, JB
112
PHYSIOLOGY OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
The loss of neurons in the substantia nigra
results in a relative decrease of dopamine levels.
L-Dopa is used to treat Parkinson's, in an attempt to restore the balance
of dopamine in the brain (particularly the putamen and caudate bodies).
key words: aging, brain, CNS, virus, neurology, JB
113
AGE RELATED GENES IN THE WORM CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS.
Worms with a mutation in the gene daf-2 lived 42 days.
Worms with wild-type gene (normal gene) live 18 days.
--------------------
Kenyon C, Chang J, Gensch E, Rudner A, Tabtiang R. A C elegans mutant
that lives twice as long as wild type. Nature 366:461-463, 1993.
key words: aging, cell death, apoptosis, JB
114
RADIATION REPAIR IN PROGERIC CELLS.
Progeria (Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome) is a disease where patients
seem to age rapidly and have a shortened life span.
Fibroblasts from patients with progeria rejoin DNA strand breaks produced
by gamma rays at a rate significantly less than that of normal controls.
--------------------
Epstein J, Williams JR, Little JB. Rate of DNA repair in progeric
and normal human fibroblasts. Bioch Biophys Res Comm 59:850-857, 1974.
key words: aging, inheritance, JB
115
AGING: DOES THE BONE MARROW AGE?
No difference is found in marrow stem cell proliferative potential
in cells taken from old and young donors.
--------------------
Harrison DE. Proliferative capacity of erythropoietic stem cell lines
and aging: an overview. Mech Ageing Dev 9:409-426, 1979.
key words: aging, JB
116
DNA REPAIR AND LIFESPAN.
The more unscheduled DNA synthesis (non-S-phase DNA synthesis)
after radiation to fibroblasts from a species,
the longer the typical lifespan of members of the species.
Life span increases in this order:
shrew, mouse, rat, hamster, cow, elephant.
DNA excision repair increases in the same order.
--------------------
Hart RW, Setlow RB. Correlation between deoxyribonucleic acid excision-repair
and life span in a number of mammalian species. Proc natl Acad Sci
71:2169-2173, 1974.
key words: aging, JB
117
DO ALL ANIMAL SPECIES AGE?
Some semelparous animals (animals that reproduce just once in their lives)
do not age as we generally think of ageing.
Soon after reproducing, there is a rapid deterioration of the organism,
leading to death.
--------------------
Masoro EJ. Biology of aging: facts, thoughts and experimental approaches.
Lab Inv 65:500-510, 1991.
key words: aging, JB
118
WHAT IS AGING? (AGEING).
Aging is the cumulative effect of degenerative processes
on nonrenewable cell populations.
Aging effects are seen exclusively in cell populations
such as brain, bone, cartilage, muscle.
These are cell types that have no ability to divide,
or have limited ability to divide and renew themselves.
Tissues such as bone marrow, liver, gut mucosa, epidermis, can divide
indefinitely, and have no diseases that we associate with aging.
When skin or GI tract develop diseases associated with aging,
it is always because of a primary degenerative change
in their underlying connective tissue (stroma).
Connective tissue cells have a limited ability to divide.
key words: aging, JB
119
DOES HEMATOPOIETIC TISSUE AGE?
Maybe not.
The authors report that blood stem cells have no loss
of colony stimulating factor in old mice compared to young mice.
Old mice make suitable donors for bone marrow transplantation.
--------------------
Potten CS, Schofield R, Lajtha LG. A comparison of cell replacement
in bone marrow, testis and 3 regions of surface epithelium.
Bioch Bioph Acta 560:281-299, 1979.
key words: aging, JB
120
AGEING: CORRELATION OF LIFESPAN OF A SPECIES AND METABOLISM.
Cells from animals that live a long time seem to convert
aromatic hydrocarbons (cytochrome p450 and related
smooth endoplasmic reticulum pathways) into water-soluble forms
much more slowly than do cells from short-lived animals.
--------------------
Moore CJ, Schwartz AG. Inverse correlation between species lifespan
and capacity of cultured fibroblasts to convert benzo(a)pyrene
to water-soluble metabolites. Exp Cell Res 116:359-364, 1978.
key words: aging, ppp, JB
121
PRION PROTEIN CAN TRANSFORM NORMAL PROTEIN IN A CELL FREE SYSTEM.
The prion protein is thought to be a altered form of a normal protein
present in brain.
The prion protein is protease insensitive and its accumulation
leads to cytopathic effects (spongiform encephalopathy).
The authors show in this study that prion protein can, in a cell free system,
alter the form of normal (protease sensitive) host encoded prion protein
to make more pathologic (protein insensitive) prion protein.
--------------------
Kocisko DA, Come JH, Priola SA, Chesebro B, Raymond GJ, Lansbury PT,
Caughey B. Cell-free formation of protease-resistant prion protein.
Nature 370:471-474, 1994.
key words: aging, slow virus, spongiform encephalopathy, Alzheimer's, JB
122
NEW DEFINITION OF AIDS IMPLEMENTED JAN 1, 1993.
Adds three diseases that, along with HIV infection, provide AIDS diagnosis:
Tuberculosis.
Invasive cervical cancer.
Recurring pneumonia.
Also, patients who are HIV positive and have a CD4 count of under 200,
are now considered to have AIDS.
key words: aids, cdd, JB
123
BACILLARY ANGIOMATOSIS AGENT.
A rickettsia-like organism related to Rochalimaea quintana,
the etiologic agent of trench fever.
key words: aids, dermatology, skin, microbiology, JB
124
HISTOLOGY OF BACILLARY ANGIOMATOSIS.
Granular eosinophilic material.
Karyorrhexis and leukocytoclasis.
Acute inflammation.
Histiocytoid endothelial cells in sheets.
Vascular proliferation and ectatic vessels,
in a lobular configuration.
The vascular proliferation and the acute inflammation
can produce granulation tissue.
key words: aids, dermatology, skin, rickettsia, microbiology, JB
125
KAPOSI'S SARCOMA.
Kaposi's sarcoma was first described in 1872
by the Austro-Hungarian dermatologist, Moritz Kaposi.
key words: aids, history, JB
126
CNS LESIONS RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF HIV VIRUS.
Nodular encephalitis (also called gliomesenchymal cell nodules,
microglial nodules, microglial nodular encephalitis).
Nodular myelitis.
Perivascular macrophages.
Long-tract degeneration (in the spinal cord and brain).
Diffuse leukoencephalopathy.
Necrotizing encephalitis.
Diffuse poliodystrophy or gray matter gliosis.
Noninflammatory infarcts and hemorrhage.
Nonspecific chronic inflammation (leptomeningitis and encephalitis).
Perivasculitis and vasculitis.
Opportunistic infections.
--------------------
Rhodes RH. Histopathologic features in the central nervous system
of 400 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases.
Hum Pathol 24:1189-1198, 1993.
key words: aids, hiv, cns, brain, neurology, autopsy, JB
127
AIDS WASTING SYNDROME.
Defined as the loss of more than 10% of total body weight
in a 6-month period in an HIV infected patient.
key words: aids, JB
128
KAPOSI'S SARCOMA.
Occurs in:
AIDS patients.
Elderly men of Italian or Eastern European Jewish ancestry.
Young black African adult males.
Prepubescent children.
Renal allograft recipients.
Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
Homosexual men apart from the HIV disease.
key words: aids, JB
129
RHODOCOCCUS EQUI INFECTION IN AIDS PATIENTS.
Rhodococcus equi is a rare form of infection in AIDS patients.
The organism is a diphtheroid resembling Corynebacteria, and can be
confused with nonpathogenic diphtheroids when grown in culture.
It can also be misidentified as an atypical mycobacteria
or a Nocardia species.
Most often presents as pulmonary disease.
--------------------
Willsie-Ediger SK, Stanford JF, Salzman GA, Bamberger DM. Spectrum
of disease caused by Rhodococcus equi in human immunodeficiency virus
infection: report of a case and review of the literature.
Can J Infect Dis 1:101-107, 1990.
key words: aids, lung, microbiology, JB
130
ACUTE EXANTHEM OF HIV.
This is probably the earliest clinical manifestation of HIV infection.
Characterized by:
Small, pink macules and papules on trunk and extremities
accompanied by a low-grade fever and pharyngitis.
--------------------
Cockerell CJ. Cutaneous manifestations of HIV infection other than
Kaposi's sarcoma: clinical and histologic aspects.
J Am Acad Dermatol 22:1260-1269, 1990.
key words: aids, skin, JB
131
KAPOSI'S SARCOMA INCIDENCE.
Approximately 95% of all the cases of epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma
in the United States have been diagnosed in homosexual or bisexual men.
About 26% of all homosexual males with HIV disease present
develop Kaposi's sarcoma
By comparison, less than 3% of all heterosexual intravenous drug users
with HIV disease develop Kaposi's sarcoma.
key words: aids, soft tissue, epidemiology, JB
132
EPIDEMIC KAPOSI'S SARCOMA.
The disseminated, fulminant form of Kaposi's sarcoma
associated with HIV disease is referred to as
epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma, distinguishing it from the classic, African,
and transplant-related varieties of the neoplasm.
key words: aids, terminology, JB
133
CLASSIC KAPOSI'S SARCOMA.
Considered a rare disease, classic Kaposi's sarcoma usually occurs
in males, with a ratio of approximately 10 to 15 males to one female.
In North Americans and Europeans, the usual age is between 50 and 70.
Classic Kaposi's sarcoma usually presents with one or more asymptomatic,
red, purple, or brown patch, plaque, or nodular skin lesions,
often involving one or both lower extremities, especially involving
the ankle and soles.
Visceral lesions may occur as a late event,
and are usually discovered incidentally at autopsy.
key words: aids, terminology, JB
134
ACUTE RETROVIRAL SYNDROME
The acute or primary HIV infection often passes unrecognized,
but may be present as a mononucleosis-like syndrome within
three months of the infection. The diagnosis is made by
demonstrating HIV antibody seroconversion.
--------------------
Glossary of HIV/AIDS-related terms. HIV/AIDS Treatment Information
Service, PHS, available from ftp.nlm.nih.gov, June 1995
key words: AIDS, terminology, JB
135
AIDS-RELATED COMPLEX (ARC)
1. A term, not officially defined or recognized by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, that has been used to
describe a variety of symptoms and signs found in some persons
infected with HIV. These may include recurrent fevers,
unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and/or fungus
infection of the mouth and throat. Also commonly described as
symptomatic HIV infection. 2. Symptoms that appear to be
related to infection by the HIV virus. They include an
unexplained, chronic deficiency of white blood cells
(leukopenia) or a poorly functioning lymphatic system with
swelling of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) lasting for more
than three months without the opportunistic infections
required for a diagnosis of AIDS.
--------------------
Glossary of HIV/AIDS-related terms. HIV/AIDS Treatment Information
Service, PHS, available from ftp.nlm.nih.gov, June 1995
key words: AIDS, terminology, JB
136
AIDS WASTING SYNDROME
The HIV wasting syndrome involves involuntary weight loss of
10 percent of baseline body weight plus either chronic
diarrhea (two loose stools per day for more than 30 days) or
chronic weakness and documented fever (for 30 days or more,
intermittent or constant) in the absence of a concurrent
illness or condition other than HIV infection that would
explain the findings.
--------------------
Glossary of HIV/AIDS-related terms. HIV/AIDS Treatment Information
Service, PHS, available from ftp.nlm.nih.gov, June 1995
key words: AIDS, terminology, JB
137
ACYCLOVIR
(Acycloguanosine). A nucleoside analog antiviral drug used to
treat the symptoms of the genital form of herpes simplex virus
infection.
--------------------
Glossary of HIV/AIDS-related terms. HIV/AIDS Treatment Information
Service, PHS, available from ftp.nlm.nih.gov, June 1995
key words: AIDS, treatment, terminology, JB
138
NON-EPIDEMIC GAY-RELATED KAPOSI'S SARCOMA.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 DNA sequences have been identified
in about 25% of Kaposi's sarcoma biopsy specimens from patients
with the classic, epidemic and non-epidemic gay-related forms
of Kaposi's sarcoma.
--------------------
Huang YQ, Li JJ, Rush MG, Poiesz B, Nicolaides A, Jacobson M, Zhang WG,
Coutavas E, Abbott MA, Friedman-Kien AE. HPV-16-related DNA sequences
in Kaposi's sarcoma. Lancet 339: 515-518, 1992.
key words: aids, virus, carcinogenesis, hpv, JB
139
BRAIN DISEASES SEEN IN ALCOHOLICS.
Cerebellar degeneration.
Degeneration of the corpus callosum (Marchiafava-Bignami disease).
Central pontine myelinolysis.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Cerebral atrophy (with primitive reflexes, dementia).
Degeneration and gliosis of mammillary bodies.
Vermis atrophy (cerebellum).
Alzheimer Type II hyperplasia (grey matter, usually most pronounced
in cerebellum, due to alcohol related hepatic encephalopathy).
key words: alcoholism, brain, cns, JB
140
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME.
Rum fits are seizures that occur after drinking has stopped
(usually 10 to 40 hours later).
Delirium tremens (DT's) are hallucinations that occur 2 to 4 days
after the cessation of alcohol ingestion.
A small portion of these patients die, usually
with no discernible anatomic findings
(but with hyperthermia noted clinically before death in some cases).
In withdrawal, look for:
Tremors.
Seizures (rum-fits).
DT's.
key words: alcoholism, brain, cns, JB
141
CLINICAL RESULTS OF BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS (IN NORMAL PERSONS).
Mild euphoria ............. 30 mg%.
Mild incoordination ....... 50 mg%.
Ataxia .................... 75 mg%.
Stupor/coma ............... 300-400 mg%.
Fatality .................. > 500 mg%.
key words: alcoholism, JB
142
PRIMARY AMYLOIDOSIS AND NEOPLASIA.
About one-third of patients with so-called primary amyloidosis
eventually develop multiple myeloma or a B cell neoplasm.
key words: amyloid, JB
143
TYPES OF AMYLOID.
AL amyloid: from light chains.
AA amyloid: amyloidosis of chronic disease, derived from SAA,
an acute phase reactant protein that increases
up to 1000-fold in inflammation.
Amyloid of primary senile cardiac amyloidosis: from prealbumin.
Amyloid of system senile amyloidosis: from prealbumin.
Amyloid of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy:
formed from a variant (mutant?) of prealbumin.
The basis of the mutation is a single amino acid substitution.
Note: prealbumin is also known as transthyretin.
key words: amyloid, JB
144
WHAT IS AMYLOID?
Amyloid is protein configured in a beta pleated sheet.
The amyloid formed from immunoglobulins is just one example of amyloid.
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid is often associated with stromal amyloid.
In this case, amyloid is composed of calcitonin (a hormone produced
by thyroid C cells, the cells of origin of medullary carcinoma of thyroid).
Amyloid is an extracellular (stromal) molecule.
key words: amyloid, JB
145
HAUSTRA COLI.
Sacculation of the colon caused by pulling of the taenia coli,
and by squeeezing of the circular muscles.
key words: anatomy, colon, JB
146
LARYNX.
Area between the pharynx and the first tracheal ring.
Contains 4 cartilaginous structures:
Epiglottic cartilage.
Thyroid cartilage.
Arytenoid cartilage.
Cricoid cartilage.
key words: anatomy, ENT, JB
147
GLOTTIS.
False cords plus
Ventricles plus
True cords.
The ventricles are the bilateral slits
between the false cords and the true cords.
key words: anatomy, ENT, JB
148
WHAT DOES THE UVULA DO?
Humans are apparently the only mammals with a uvula.
One theory held that the uvula facilitates drinking with the head held down.
The authors suggest that the uvual can excrete saliva rapidly,
and may be a specialized lubricating organ.
--------------------
Finkelstein Y, Meshorer A, Talmi YP, Zohar Y, Brenner J, Gal R.
The riddle of the uvula. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 107:444-450, 1992.
key words: anatomy, ENT, JB
149
GEROTA'S FASCIA.
Also known as Gerota's capsule.
It is the fascia surrounding the kidney.
key words: anatomy, kidney, JB
150
KIESSELBACH'S PLEXUS.
Network of veins in the anterior nose (nares).
Rupture (usually mechanical) of these vessels
produce the common nosebleed (epistaxis).
key words: anatomy, nose, JB
151
SPINDLE CELL HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMA.
May occur at any age.
Half occur in persons under 25 years old.
Males/Female ration 2/1.
Usually found as a superficial tumor in a distal extremity.
May be multiple small nodules.
Vesels contained organized thrombi or phleboliths.
key words: angioma, dermatology, JB
152
MALIGNANT ENDOVASCULAR PAPILLARY ANGIOENDOTHELIOMA.
Very rare.
Involves superfical tissues of infants and young children.
Even though one-third metastasize to regional nodes,
these tumors are not known to result in the death of the patient.
key words: angioma, dermatology, JB
153
EPITHELIOID HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMA.
Occurs at all ages, but rare in childhood.
Often arises from a superfical vessel in the extremites.
When it arises from a vessel, it looks grossly like a thrombus.
When it arises outside a vessel, it is usually a grey,
solid, and sometimes calcified lesion.
More than 10% recur after excision.
About 30% metastasize to regional nodes or beyond.
key words: angioma, vascular, dermatology, JB
154
INCIDENCE OF SHARK BITE.
Worldwide, there are 50 to 75 shark attacks annually.
--------------------
Stevens WK. The odds of a shark attack. The New York Times,
Tuesday, December 8, 1992.
key words: animal, cause of death, JB
155
ANCIENT COLLAGEN.
Collagen is produced by the simplest multicellular animals.
key words: animal, comparative pathology, collagen, JB
156
SHARK PLACENTA.
In most species of shark, the fetus is attached to a placenta,
and the young are born fully developed.
Other species of shark are egg layers.
In the sand tiger shark, more than one fertilized egg develop
in each of 2 wombs.
When a fetus develop teeth, it eats the other, slower developing siblings.
Only 2 survivors, one per womb, are born.
--------------------
Stevens WK. Terror of deep faces harsher predator. The New York Times,
Tuesday, December 8, 1992.
key words: animal, comparative pathology, development, JB
157
GRANT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN JOURNAL ARTICLES
When a journal article acknowledges a grant, does the
acknowledgement serve as testimony that the grant actually
supported the research described in the journal article?
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
objected to methods used in certain experiments performed on
cats and ferrets described in research articles wherein
grants from the March of Dimes were acknowledged.
The March of Dimes responded that none of their grants supported
the described experiments. PCRM maintained that because
the researchers listed specific March of Dimes grant support in
the same published papers detailed the experimental
procedures in question, the March of Dimes must have funded
the research.PCRM has asked the attorneys general of several states to
investigate this issue.
--------------------
No author listed. PCRM files complaints against March of Dimes.
Good Medicine 4:12-13 Autumn, 1995
key words: animal, funding, grant, administration, JB
158
HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE USED IN LABORATORIES?
The author writes that there are an estimated 17 to 22 million animals
used in laboratories annually.
--------------------
Gentile JM. Book review: animal alternatives for research.
Env Mol Mutag 12:343-344, 1988.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
159
INSTANCES OF LABORATORY ANIMAL ABUSE ACKNOWLEDGED.
Quoting the author, `Unfortunately, there have been instances of unethical
and inhumane treatment of experimental animals, which have
quite properly aroused public attention.'
--------------------
Lijinsky W. The importance of animal experiments in carcinogenesis research.
Env Molec Mutag 11:307-314, 1988.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
160
THE FIRST ANIMAL MODEL OF CARCINOGENESIS.
About 70 years ago, Yamagiwa and Ichikawa produced skin cancer in rabbits
with coal tar paintings.
In 1933, an isolated component of coal tar was found
to be a carcinogen, benzo(a)pyrene.
--------------------
Lijinsky W. The importance of animal experiments in carcinogenesis research.
Env Molec Mutag 11:307-314, 1988.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
161
SIZE OF THE ANIMAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE USA.
The animal protection community has grown from 2 million
to the current 10 million in the past ten years.
--------------------
Rowan AN. Wrong on animal rights. Nature 354:101 (inclusive), 1991.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
162
AUTOPSIES AS ALTERNATES TO ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION.
Dr. Hutchins suggests that much of animal experimentation is not relevant
to human pathogenesis and that autopsy research may provide
a superior alternative.
--------------------
Hutchins GM. (Comment) CAP Today 6:44-45, 1992.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
163
EXAMINING THE JUSTIFICATION OF ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION.
The authors argue that there are ethical and economic (pragmatic) reasons
to reduce the uses of animal in research.
The author suggests that scientists learn to ask whether
the intended purpose animal experiment justifies the use of animals.
--------------------
Meier J, Stocker K. On the significance of animal experiments in toxicology.
Toxicol 27:91-104, 1989.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
164
DO ANIMALS HAVE RIGHTS?
`80% of the public say that animals have at least some rights.'
--------------------
Rowan AN. Wrong on animal rights. Nature 354:101(inclusive), 1991.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
165
USUHS STUDENT COURT MARTIALED FOR PROTESTING ANIMAL USE.
A medical student at the Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences (Bethesda, MD) refused to participate
in an educational animal experiment.
Subsequently, Pat Schroeder (D, Colorado), a member of the House
Armed Services Committee's research and development subcommittee
and nine colleagues urged USUHS to look into non-animal methods
of instruction.
The student was court martialed and dismissed
with a less than honorable discharge.
--------------------
DoD animal research under fire. U.S. Medicine, May, 1992, p. 41.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
166
A CHALLENGE TO THE VALUE OF PRESENT METHODS OF ANIMAL TESTING.
Joshua Lederberg, a Nobel laureate and former president
of Rockefeller University, says that animal testing
has limited usefulness and that hundreds of millions of dollars
spent on animal tests are almost all worthless.
--------------------
Lederberg J. A challenge for toxicologists. Chem Engin News.
March 2, page 5, 1981.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
167
STATEMENT FROM MEDICAL RESEARCH MODERNIZATION COMMITTEE.
In this letter, the author argues that claims of the importance
of animal research to medical advancement are often exaggerated.
--------------------
Kaufman SR. Letter on the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs Report.
JAMA 262, 3404 (inclusive), 1989.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
168
HOW IMPORTANT IS RESEARCH THAT USES ANIMALS?
Argues that claims for the usefulness of animals in medical research
are exaggerated.
--------------------
Kaufman SR, Todd B. Perspectives on Animal Research, Vol. 1,
The Medical Research Modernization Committee, Box 6036 Grand Central Station,
New York, NY 10163 (1989).
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
169
ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL TESTING.
The authors, who are the director of toxicology at Mobil Oil Corporation,
the assistant vice president of toxicology at Hoffmann-LaRoche,
and the senior scientific advisor of Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc.,
are members of the Committee to Promote Principles of Reduction,
Refinement and Replacement of Animal Testing in Industrial Toxicology
Laboratories.
In this paper, they discuss the use of Animal Care and Use Committees,
Structure Activity Relationship Analysis, Modification
in current acute toxicity testing protocols, alternatives
to skin and eye irritancy tests, in vitro studies, pharmacokinetic studies,
and validation of in vitro methods.
--------------------
Mehlman MA, Pfitzer EA, Scala RA. A report on methods to reduce, refine
and replace animal testing in industrial toxicology laboratories.
Cell Biol Toxicol 5:349-358, 1989.
key words: animal, laboratory animal experimentation, administration, JB
170
MAREK'S DISEASE.
Lymphoproliferative disease of chicken.
Caused by a Herpes virus.
key words: animal, veterinary, lymphocytosis, lymphoma, viral, JB
171
ANIMAL RIGHTS.
Dr. Orlans is a faculty member of Gworgetown University's
Kennedy Institute of Ethics.
Her book provides a balanced account of the issues related to animal rights.
Specific questions addressed include:
Do institutional animal care and use committees (IACUC)
improve animal welfare?
Should high school students be permitted to use animals
in their science fair projects?
What is the benefit of animal experimentation?
--------------------
F. Barbara Orlans. In the name of science: issues in responsible animal
experimentation. New York, Oxford University Press, 1993, 295 pp., $39.95.
key words: animal rights, ethics, administration, JB
172
COMPUTER GENERATED SPEECH
One of the problems with computer generated speech is that a word may
have different pronunciations under different situations.
Consider the word unionized. It is pronounced one when when referring
to labor issues and another way when referring to water from which the
ions have been removed.
key words: artificial intelligence, machine translation, JB
173
ILIAD DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE
Iliad is a software program that simulates the medical diagnostic
process.
Iliad 4.2 for Windows is available from:
Information Marketing Group, Inc.
27 Grand Canyon Drive
Los Alamos NM 87544
800-571-5444
key words: artificial intelligence, medicine, diagnosis, JB
174
ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES.
Three types:
Fatty streak.
Fibrolipid plaque.
Complicated lesion.
key words: atherosclerosis, artery, arteriosclerosis, vascular, JB
175
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AUTOPSY TO RESEARCH
The authors suggest that when the autopsy is important to a research
protocol, the costs of the autopsy should be covered by the protocol
grant.
--------------------
Kleiner DE, Emmert-Buck MR, Liotta L. Necropsy as a research
method in the age of molecular pathology.
The Lancet 346:945-948, 1995
key words: autopsy, administration, reimbursement, JB
176
TISSUE ARCHIVES IN ENGLAND
Currently, the Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967 require
preservation of personal health records for 8 years except
for those relating to pregnancy, which must be kept for 25 years.
Presumably paraffin blocks fall under these requirements.
The author expresses concern that slides are not archived
for multi-generational studies.
--------------------
Steel MC. Necropsy as a research method. The Lancet 346:1368-1369, 1995
key words: database, autopsy, archive, tissue, administration, JB
177
THE POWER OF NO (NITRIC OXIDE).
Nitric oxide is derived from arginine and has numerous important regulatory
functions including:
CNS neurotransmitter.
Cytotoxic mediator in macrophages.
Smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation (via guanylate cyclase).
Nitroglycerine and amyl nitrite are metabolized to release NO.
key words: biology, brain, JB
178
CELLULAR RNA.
A mammalian cell contains about one hundred thousandths
of a microgram of RNA.
80 to 85% of RNA is ribosomal.
10 to 15% of RNA is low molecular weight RNA,
such as tRNA, small nuclear RNA.
mRNA (messenger RNA) makes up only 1 to 5% of RNA.
key words: biology , cell biology, JB
179
WATERY US.
Just as earth is covered mostly by water, people are mostly water:
Plasma water ..................... 4% of total body weight.
Interstitial water ............... 16% of total body weight.
Total extracellular water ........ 20% of total body weight.
Intracellular water .............. 40% of total body weight.
Total body water ................. 60% of total body weight.
key words: biology, chemistry, physiology, JB
180
LESIONS THAT ARE CHARACTERISTICALLY BILATERAL.
Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease.
Neck webbing in Turner's syndrome.
Acoustic neurofibromas in BANF (bilateral acoustic neurofibroma syndrome).
Upper motor neuron signs in pseudobulbar palsy.
Childhood and adult forms of polycystic disease of kidney.
Optic nervie gliomas occurring as part of Von Recklinghausen's disease.
Retrobulbar neuropathy.
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia associated with multiple sclerosis.
Hereditary optic atrophy.
Bulbar palsy.
Enlarged and polycystic ovaries in Stein-Levinthal syndrome.
Corneal dystrophies.
Krukenberg tumors.
key words: biology, disease, list, JB
181
LESIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES BILATERAL.
Carcinoid metastatic to ovary.
Carotid body tumors.
Cerebellar herniation.
Cervical adenopathy in Rosai-Dorfman disease.
Enlarged ovaries involved by American Burkitt lymphoma .
Localized amyloidosis of seminal vesicles.
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid (syndrome form).
Mucionous tumor of ovary.
Orbital lymphoma.
Parotid enlargement in HIV patients.
Pheochromocytoma (10%).
Retinoblastoma (about one third).
Sex cord tumor with annular tubules.
Xanthogranuloma of the choroid plexus.
key words: biology, disease, list, JB
182
LESIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES BILATERAL.
Ductal adenomas in Carney's complex.
Gynecomastia (especially pubertal or hormone induced).
Idiopathic cystic chondromalacia.
Laryngeal dysplasia.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (nearly half of cases).
Papilledema.
Pregnancy luteoma.
Serous cystadenoma of ovary (20%).
Uncal herniation.
Warthin's tumor.
Wegener's granulomatosis.
key words: biology, disease, list, JB
183
DIVERSITY OF TERRAN SPECIES.
There are between 5 million and 50 million different organisms on earth.
There are about 300,000 different kinds of beetles.
There are about 50,000 different kinds of tropical trees.
key words: biology, ecology, animals, biodiversity, JB
184
ROKITANSKY-ASCHOFF SINUS, DUCTS OF LUSCHKA.
ROKITANSKY-ASCHOFF SINUS.
Deep glands of the gallbladder, sometimes extending into the muscular layer,
seen frequently in chronic cholecystitis.
DUCTS OF LUSCHKA.
Ducts found in the connective tissue around the gallbladder,
that do not communicate with the gall bladder lumen,
and which probably represent abortive bile ducts.
key words: biology , gallbladder, histology, JB
185
ABERRANT PANCREAS.
Seen in about 2% of autopsies, most commonly in stomach or duodenum.
key words: biology , gi, anomaly, JB
186
PANCREATIC ISLET CELL TYPES.
A = glucagon.
B = insulin.
D = somatostatin.
PP = pancreatic polypeptide.
G = gastrin secreting (virtually absent in normal islets).
key words: biology , GI, pancreas, JB
187
DISTRIBUTION OF BLOOD GROUP ANTIGENS IN NORMAL TISSUES.
Blood group antigens are prominent on many epithelia,
but there are many exceptions.
--------------------
Szulman AE. The histological distribution of blood group substances A and B
in man. J Exp Med 111:785-800, 1960.
key words: biology , hematology, JB
188
KERATINOSOME.
Also known as Odland body.
A lamellar body, found only in keratinocytes (squamous epithelial cells
of cornified tissue, i.e., skin).
Fuses with outer membrane and discharges its contents
into the intercellular space.
key words: biology , histology, JB
189
HOW MANY CELLS IN A GRAM?
one gram of cells contains about one billion cells.
--------------------
Baak JPA. Malignancy of tumours, host factors and quantitative pathology.
In: JPA Baak, Manual of Quantitative Pathology in Cancer Diagnosis
and Prognosis. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 33-42, 1991.
key words: biology , JB
190
MITOCHONDRIA.
A maternally derived organelle that has its own DNA and divides
(replicates) to produce additional mitochondria.
Their main function is to produce ATP.
key words: biology , JB
191
OCCAM'S RAZOR (AKA PRINCIPLE OF PARSIMONY).
William of Occam, in the 14th century, wrote,
`Non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem.'
Translated, a plurality of reasons should not be proposed without necessity.
Or, the least complex explanation is usually the best.
As applied to clinical medicine, don't make multiple diagnoses
when one diagnosis can explain all the clinical observations.
--------------------
Haber SL. CAP Today, 5:44-45, June 1991
key words: biology , JB
192
NOBEL PRIZE.
Established under the terms of the will of Alfred Bernard Nobel (1833-1896),
a Swedish chemist and engineer.
Awarded in the areas of:
Chemistry.
Physics.
Medicine or physiology.
Literature.
Peace.
Economics.
No Nobel prize is awarded for cytology.
key words: biology , JB
193
LEYDIG CELLS.
The endocrine cells of the testis that appear as cell clusters
in the stroma and that contain the crystals of Reinke.
key words: biology , JB
194
CHIEF CELLS.
1. Pepsin producing cells of the stomach.
2. Cells of the pineal body.
3. Most numerous cell of the parathyroid gland.
4. Most numerous cell of chromaffin tissue of paraganglia.
key words: biology , JB
195
CROOKE'S DEGENERATION.
Hyaline degeneration of pituitary basophils,
seen in Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease.
key words: biology , JB
196
ASCHOFF CELL VERSUS ANITSCHKOW CELL.
Both cells are found in the so-called Aschoff nodules
of rheumatic heart disease.
Aschoff cells are multinucleated cells.
Anitschkow cells are mononucleate cells,
with the heterochromatin arranged as a longitudinal bar,
running in the center (along the long axis) of the nucleus.
key words: biology , JB
197
ARGENTAFFIN VERSUS ARGYROPHIL.
Argentaffin cells reduce silver without pretreatment.
Argyrophilic cells require prior exposure to a reducing agent
before they stain with silver.
key words: biology , JB
198
AMPHOPHILIC CELL.
A cell that can stain with either acid or basic dyes.
key words: biology , JB
199
APUD CELL.
APUD = amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation.
A collection of cells, most of which have a neural crest origin,
that give rise to neuroendocrine tumors.
Examples of APUDomas:
Paraganglioma.
Carcinoid tumor.
Small cell carcinoma.
Chemodectoma.
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid.
key words: biology , JB
200
ALPHA CELLS AND BETA CELLS OF PANCREATIC ISLETS.
Alpha cells produce glucagon.
Beta cells, the most populous islet cell, produce insulin.
key words: biology , JB
Last modified: December 5, 2006