Aging does not lead to myocyte cell loss and myocyte cellular reactive hypertrophy in women, indicating that gender differences may play a significant role in the detrimental effects of the aging process on the heart.

BACKGROUND Although progenitor cells have been described in distinct anatomical regions of the lung, description of resident stem cells has remained elusive. METHODS Surgical lung-tissue specimens were studied in situ to identify and characterize human lung stem cells. We defined their phenotype and functional properties in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Human lungs contain undifferentiated human lung stem cells nested in niches in the distal airways. These cells are self-renewing, clonogenic, and multipotent in vitro. After injection into damaged mouse lung in vivo, human lung stem cells form human bronchioles, alveoli, and pulmonary vessels integrated structurally and functionally with the damaged organ. The formation of a chimeric lung was confirmed by detection of human transcripts for epithelial and vascular genes. In addition, the self-renewal and long-term proliferation of human lung stem cells was shown in serial-transplantation assays. CONCLUSIONS Human lungs contain identifiable stem cells. In animal models, these cells participate in tissue homeostasis and regeneration. They have the undemonstrated potential to promote tissue restoration in patients with lung disease. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.)

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

proVGF-related peptides are present in endocrine cells early during development and adulthood and increase in hyperplasia and tumors, and proVGF fragments could be novel diagnostic tools for endocrine cells and related lesions, including tumors.

We report a family affected to the fourth generation by uncombable hair syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by unruly, dry, blond hair with a tangled appearance. The family pedigree strongly supports the hypothesis of autosomal dominant inheritance; some members of the family had, apart from uncombable hair, minor signs of atopy and ectodermal dysplasia, such as abnormalities of the nails. The diagnosis was confirmed by means of extensive scanning electron microscopy. A trial with oral biotin 5 mg/day was started on two young patients with excellent results as regards the hair appearance, although scanning electron microscopy did not show structural changes in the hair. After a 2-year-period of follow-up, hair normality was maintained without biotin, while nail fragility still required biotin supplementation for control.

994) Cytopathology 5,22&233Hodgkin's disease: diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration; a report based on 62 consecutive casesWe report on our series of 62 cases occurring between January 1977 and December 1990, which were diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease by fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples. The overall accuracy of the cytological diagnosis was high, with only four incorrect diagnoses and a positive predictive value of 93.5%. The value of FNA as a first level diagnostic technique in the screening of lymphadenopathies is discussed, as well as the limitations and pitfalls of the cytological diagnosis. Maladie de Hodgkin: prbcision diagnostique de la cytoponction A l'aiguille fine; a propos d'une 6tude basee sur 62 cas consecutifs Nous rapportons une serie de 62 cas de maladie de Hodgkin observes entre janvier 1977 et decembre 1990, pour lesquels le diagnostic a ete port6 sur un materiel de cytoponction a l'aiguille fine. La precision globale du diagnostic cytologique etait Clevee, avec seulement 4 diagnostics incorrects et une valeur predictive positive de 93,5%. La valeur de la cytoponction a l'aiguille fine en tant que technique de diagnostic de premier niveau dans le bilan des lymphadknopathies est discutee, ainsi que les limitations et les sources d'erreurs possibles du diagnostic cytologique. Mots cles: cytoponction a I'aiguille fine, maladie de Hodgkin, precision diagnostique Morbus Hodgkin: Diagnostische Zuverlassigkeit von Feinnadelpunktaten; ein Bericht uber 62 Falle Berichtet wird iiber 62 zwischen Januar 1977 und Dezember 1990 diagnostizierte Falle von Lymphogranulomatose. Die Zuverlassigkeit der zytologischen Diagnose ist groD, bei nur 4 unrichtigen Diagnosen und einem positiven pradiktiven Wert von 93.5%. Der Wert der Feinnadelpunktion als primarer diagnostischer Methode bei der Abklarung von Lymphadenopathien wird diskutiert, ebenso wie die Grenzen und Schwierigkeiten.