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Biomedical subjects

I Brody

Publications and source records attributed to I Brody.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

A light and electron microscopy study of normal human stratum corneum with particular reference to the intercellular space.

Intercellular and skin-surface substances, and exfoliating corneocytes, were clearly visualized by both light and electron microscopy. The intercellular space constituted an essential part of the normal human stratum corneum, in the basal and middle zones of which this space was filled with substances producing a compact appearance. The intercellular constituents were a nonhomogeneous substance, intact, single and "compound" lamellar granules and an intensely stained, membrane-like material that in some parts, but not in others, had a lamellar pattern. The artifacts produced by ultrathin sectioning for electron microscopy were too small to provide sufficient explanation for the porous appearance of the superficial zone. More important factors seemed to be enlargement of the intercellular space with decrease in the number of desmosomes and alterations of the intercellular substances, with decrease in the amount of nonhomogeneous substance and transformation of the single and "compound" lamellar granules into single and "compound" vesicular bodies. The hypothesis is advanced that the single and "compound" vesicular bodies together with the decreased amount of nonhomogeneous substance may contribute to maintain the patency of the intercellular space in the superficial zone (stratum disjunctum), thereby facilitating absorption of surface-applied agents into the stratum corneum by some shunt mechanism, while the content of the intercellular space in the basal and middle zones (stratum compactum) forms the principal barrier to free diffusion.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Mast cell alterations in chronic psoriasis vulgaris: response to low-strength anthralin treatment. A transmission electron microscopic study.

Mast cell degranulation (MCD) was studied in lesions of chronic psoriasis vulgaris before and during topical treatment with low-strength anthralin. Before the treatment, two forms (A and B) of mast cells with Type I MCD were distinguished in the lesions, in addition to mast cells showing Type II MCD. In Type I MCD, electron-dense mast cell granules in form A mast cells, and electron-dense mast cell granules and vacuoles containing granule matrix in form B mast cells, were released as intact structures by the mechanism of diacytosis. Distinct gaps of the mast cell plasma membranes were observed. Around blood vessels, beneath the epidermal-dermal junction and in the intercellular space of strata basale and spinosum, the mast cell granules appeared partly as intact structures and partly in more or less disintegrated form. In Type II MCD the granule matrix was released into the extracellular compartment by the mechanism of exocytosis. During treatment with low-strength anthralin, the mast cell changes underwent regression. In macular psoriasis only form A mast cells of Type I MCD were demonstrated, and the released intact mast cell granules were restricted to the immediate neighbourhood of the mast cells. There were no mast cell granules in the epidermis. At the sites with clinically complete clearance of psoriatic lesions, the mast cells displayed no degranulation but distinct gaps were still found in the mast cell plasma membranes. Low-strength anthralin's mode of action in psoriasis is suggested to involve regression of a series of systems, including prevention of mast cell degranulation, thereby inhibiting release of histamine, proteinase and other mast cell mediators sustaining the psoriatic process.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1985

The prostasome: its secretion and function in man.

An intact organelle, the prostasome, is secreted by the acinar epithelial cell of the human prostate gland. The ultrastructural location of the prostasome is within membrane-bound storage vesicles in the epithelial cells. Prostasomes are delivered into the glandular lumen by an exocytotic event, which is preceded by fusion of adjacent membranes belonging to the storage vesicle and the epithelial cell. Alternatively, the storage vesicle can be translocated in toto from the cell interior into the acinar lumen through the plasma membrane. This latter event has been designated diacytosis. Both phenomena seem to occur with approximately equal frequency in the human prostate gland. An ATPase system that is Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent is firmly linked to the membranes encasing the prostasomes. The ATPase system may be the molecular basis for vectorial transport of calcium into these organelles. Also a protein kinase activity is located in the membranes. An increase in membrane thickness was observed on phosphorylation. The physiologic function of the prostasomes is not known. They may be important for promoting forward motility of spermatozoa.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1984

Mast cell degranulation in the evolution of acute eruptive guttate psoriasis vulgaris.

Clinically normal psoriatic skin (CNPS) and psoriatic lesions (PLs) were studied for mast cell degranulation (MCD) in patients with acute eruptive guttate psoriasis vulgaris (AEGP) following penicillin-treated acute streptococcal throat infection. The clinically manifest duration of psoriasis at the time of the biopsies was 2, 5, 10, 14, or 21 days. Two types of MCD were distinguished. Type I was characteristic for those portions of the CNPS in which vascular and epidermal changes were detected, while the PLs showed both Type I and Type II MCD. In Type I MCD the extruded granules (MCGs) in the immediate vicinity of the mast cells appeared as intact bodies encased in a distinctly trilaminar membrane. Around subepidermal and subpapillary blood vessels, in stratum papillare without proximity of blood vessels, beneath the epidermal-dermal junction, in lamina lucida, and in intercellular space of strata basale and spinosum the MCGs appeared partly as intact structures and partly in more or less disintegrated form. In Type II MCD the MCGs were extruded without perigranular membranes. The data here presented showed that MCD is an early and constant feature in the evolution of AEGP.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Dermal and epidermal involvement in the evolution of acute eruptive guttate psoriasis vulgaris.

A light and electron microscopic study of the evolution of acute eruptive guttate psoriasis vulgaris (AEGP) following penicillin-treated streptococcal throat infection is presented. The earliest recognizable changes, distinguished in clinically normal psoriatic skin (CNPS) from patients with psoriasis of 2 days' duration, comprised mast cell degranulation (Type I MCD), a vascular pattern showing endothelial cell gaps in postcapillary venules and postcapillary venules with endothelial cell hypertrophy and compressed lumen as well as epidermal involvement with punctiform spongiotic areas (PSAs). These early dermal and epidermal changes suggest that Type I MCD represents a primary morphologic event. Inflammatory infiltrate of mononuclear cells and exocytosis of mononuclear cells into the PSAs appeared when the concomitant overt psoriasis was 5-21 days old, and these changes were persistent in psoriatic lesions (PLs) of 2 days' duration. They are suggested to be precursors of overt psoriasis. In 2-day-old PLs, MCD (Types I and II) was a prominent feature. It was associated with (1) more extensive vascular changes, (2) inflammatory infiltrate of mononuclear cells and scanty polymorphonuclear leukocytes, (3) epidermal hyperplasia, and (4) migration of a few polymorphonuclear leukocytes through the epidermis with formation of Munro microabscesses in parakeratotic areas of stratum corneum. From the morphologic viewpoint, the progression from 2-day-old to fully evolved PLs seemed basically to be quantitative. The demonstration of MCD as a salient feature in the evolution of AEGP may have future therapeutic and preventive implications for psoriasis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Ultrastructural localization of the prostasome - an organelle in human seminal plasma.

Secretory granules and vesicles were demonstrated within human prostatic cells and in the acinar lumen. In size and ultrastructure the granules and vesicles were the same as those previously isolated from human prostatic fluid and seminal plasma. "Prostasomes" is suggested as the designation for these secretory granules and vesicles. As a rule they were found in storage vesicles within the secretory cells. Two mechanisms for translocation of the prostasomes from the cell interior to the acinar lumen are described. One mechanism involves exocytosis with binding of storage vesicles to, and fusion with the plasma membrane, resulting in release of prostasomes directly into the acinar lumen. The other mechanism implies displacement of storage vesicles in toto from the cell interior to the acinar lumen. This process differs from exocytosis and is here designated "diacytosis". Both phenomena appear to be of roughly equal frequency.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1981

Topical treatment of recurrent herpes simplex and post-herpetic erythema multiforme with low concentrations of zinc sulphate solution.

The preventive effect of low concentrations of zinc sulphate solution in recurrent herpes simplex of the skin and oral mucous membrane is reported. Treatment with zinc sulphate solution of the skin at the site of the herpetic infection also prevents relapse of post-herpetic erythema multiforme. For the skin, 0.025-0.05%, and for the oral mucous membrane, 0.01-0.025% zinc sulphate solution was used.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Abnormal deficiency of both Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase and secretory granules and vesicles in human seminal plasma.

A pronounced deficiency of Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase and of secretory granules and vesicles was demonstrated in the seminal plasma of a patient with infertility problems (person A) and with a lowered serum testosterone level. Both total ejaculates and different fractions of split-ejaculates were examined on repeated occasions. Divalent cations, fructose and protein were also determined in most of the samples. The low activity of the Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase and the ultrastructure of the split-ejaculates of the seminal plasma of person A contrasted sharply against the high activity of the Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase and the ultrastructure of the split-ejaculates of the seminal plasma of another individual (person B). The latter displayed a normal Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity as well as an ordinary representation of the secretory granules and vesicles. The findings on the ATPase system in the seminal plasma of person A together with the lowered levels of divalent cations in the order Ca2+ less than Mg2+ less than Zn2+ are proposed to reflect a defective functioning of the prostate gland in person A.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1980

Reduced activity of Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in seminal fluid of patients with oligozoospermia.

Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity, fructose and divalent cation concentrations were determined in seminal plasmas from men with oligozoospermic ejaculates and from those with normal sperm count. The mean activity of the Mg2+- and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase from the former was 59 nmol . 0.1 ml-1 . This is significantly (p less than 0.005) lower than for men with a normal sperm count (corresponding figure is 87 nmol . 0.1m1-1 . min-1). As regards the concentrations of Mg2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ in the seminal plasmas from these two groups there was no significant difference. The same was also valid for the fructose concentrations. The Mg2+- and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity as well as fructose and divalent cation concentrations were also determined in seminal plasmas from men before and after vasectomy. After vasectomy, only the ejaculates devoid of spermatozoa were included in the comparative studies. No significant difference was observed between the seminal plasmas from men before and after vasectomy. These findings support the view that the Mg2+- and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase system does not derive from the spermatozoa. Possible explanations for the significantly lowered Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity from patients with oligozoospermia are given.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1979

Ultrastructure of the fibrous substance in the keratinocytes of the epidermis in healthy individuals.

The present findings in the epidermis of healthy individuals suggest that the fibrous substance in the keratinocytes is subjected to an individual differentiation as the cells move from stratum basale through strata spinosum and intermedium to stratum coreum. In the basal cells the fibrous substance consists of opaque tonofilaments, mostly aggregated in dense tonofibrils, but also occurring randomly scattered and in loose tonofibrils (fibrous substance of basal-cell type). In most cells the fibrous substance undergoes differentiation: a) in stratum spinosum into compact tonofibrils with no individual tonofilaments visible (fibrous substance of spinous-cell type), b) in stratum inter-medium into compact tonofibrils with intensely stained regions or keratohyalin (fibrous substance of intermediate-cell type), and c) in stratum corneum into tonofibrils with a keratin pattern (fibrous substance of horny-cell type). There are also keratinocytes in which the fibrous substance undergoes only an incomplete differentiation, with the appearance of horny cells with a fibrous substance of spinous-cell type, intermediate-cell type or horny-cell type with keratohyalin. Finally, there are keratinocytes in which the fibrous substance does not undergo any differentiation at all, but which display a fibrous substance of basal-cell type throughout the entire epidermis.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Low strength anthralin in psoriasis.

Anthralin in low concentrations (0.01%--0.03%) was applied in an ointment form once per day in the hospital to 130 psoriasis patients. The treatment program included also the use of UVB light, emollients and bath oil and an antihistamine. Clearing of psoriasis was achieved in all patients in an average time of 4 weeks. The involution of the lesions was carefully studied by correlated clinical observations, light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Striking healing of the holes in the stratum corneum and of the gaps in the basement membrane occurred. Low strength anthralin, in addition to its effectiveness, did not produce irritation, staining or side-effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Alterations of clinically normal skin in early eruptive guttate psoriasis. A light- and electron-microscopic study.

In clinically normal skin of early eruptive guttate psoriasis, in patients with psoriasis for the first time, the epidermal changes were restricted to small tissue areas showing a slight hyperplasia and a condensed stratum corneum but no parakeratosis. The center (zone 1) of the small tissue areas was characterized by (1) exoserosis with spongiotic dilatation of the intercellular space in the non-cornified epidermis, (2) derangement of keratinocytes with respect to shape, orientation, and number of desmosomes and fibrils, (3) dyskeratotic keratinocytes of two types, A and B, (4) agranulosis restricted to the dyskeratotic deratinocytes of type A, (5) exocytosis of mononuclear cells and Langerhans' cells into the entire non-cornified epidermis, (6) large gaps in the basement membrane between the dermis and epidermis. No polymorphonuclear leukocytes were seen. The periphery (zones 2) of the small tissue areas showed slight changes. The alterations of the upper dermis were slight: besides a very mild general inflammatory reaction with capillary dilatation and perivascular cell infiltrate there was also a focal accumulation of inflammatory cells immediately beneath the epidermis, with cells seemingly infiltrating the stratum basale. It is postulated that the epidermal and dermal changes as shown here represent primary posoriatic changes.

Adult↗