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It had been suggested, after facilitating the hatching process, improved pregnancy outcomes could be attained in embryos with thick and hard zona. This study aimed to determine the effect of zona thinning on pregnancy outcomes in poor-quality frozen-thawed blastocysts. This retrospective study included 230 women (≤ 40 years) who underwent frozen embryo transfer of poor-quality blastocysts (scored 3BB). In total, 105 patients were in the assisted hatching group in which the zona was thinned by laser before transfer and 125 patients were in the control group in which the blastocysts were non-manipulated. Patients' demographics, cycle characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between the assisted hatching group and the control group. Further, regression analysis was applied to test the correlation between assisted hatching and live birth. All parameters in the patients' demographic characteristics and the cycle's characteristics were not significantly different between two groups. As for pregnancy outcomes, the second trimester pregnancy loss was significantly higher in the assisted hatching group (P = 0.035). Other pregnancy outcomes, including implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical miscarriage rate, the first trimester pregnancy loss, ongoing pregnancy rate, and live birth rate were comparable between two groups. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated no association between live birth and assisted hatching (univariate, OR = 0.787, P 0.05; multivariate, OR = 0.652, P 0.05), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the regression model was almost 0.7. It suggested that zona thinning may not be supposed to perform on poor-quality, frozen-thawed blastocysts. The indications of assisted hatching were still needed to further investigate.

I reviewed a series of events in the mouse uterus before implantation on Day 4 of pregnancy (the sperm positive day is counted as Day 1). Major events are spacing of embryos along the uterine horns, shedding of the zona pellucida, and closure of the uterine lumen. How subtle they may be, there appear to exist interactions between intrauterine blastocysts and the uterus which is regulated by ovarian steroids. Spacing of embryos along the uterine horn is not random, but they are rather evenly distributed along the entire horn. The mechanism of even distribution of embryos needs clarification, although studies indicate that adrenergic nerve activity, prostaglandins, and other molecules appear to be involved. Shedding of the zona pellucida involves trypsin-like proteinase lysis of the zona. Through the opening created by zona lysis, blastocyst gets out of the zona by repeating expansion-collapse movements. Closure of rat uterine lumen is reported to be the result of absorption of uterine fluid through uterine glands. This needs to be confirmed in other species of rodents. Since these events influence blastocyst implantation, we need more detailed information on their regulatory mechanisms in order to improve the rate of healthy implantation of transferred embryo.

Background: A clinical trial has shown that a live-attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine is effective against herpes zoster (HZ) and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The aim of the study was to estimate the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent HZ-related outcomes. Methods: A cohort model of HZ associated disease, health care resource use and mortality was developed. Canadian population-based data were used to estimate age-specific incidence, hospitalization, quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) lost and mortality. NNV was calculated as the number of individuals needed to be vaccinated to prevent a specific HZ-related outcome during their lifetime. Different ages at vaccination were examined and probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed. Results: For 65 year olds, the NNV (HZ vaccine efficacy=63%, PHN vaccine efficacy=67%, no waning) to prevent a case of HZ, a case of PHN, a HZ death, a life-year lost and a QALY lost is estimated to be 11 (90%CrI: 10-13), 43 (90%CrI: 33-53), 23,319 (90%CrI: 15,312-33,139), 3,762 (90%CrI: 1,650-4,629) and 165 (90%CrI: 105-197), respectively. Results were most sensitive to the duration of vaccine protection and the age at vaccination. Discussion: The predicted NNV to prevent HZ and PHN are low even though vaccine efficacy is between 50-70%, which reflects the high incidence of these diseases among older adults. Results clearly show that the main benefit of HZ vaccination is prevention of morbidity caused by pain (as measured by QALYs lost) rather than mortality. Key words: Herpes zoster (HZ); post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN); vaccines; mathematical model; number needed to vaccinate Resume Contexte : Un essai clinique a montre qu’un vaccin vivant attenue contre le virus varicelle-zona est efficace contre l’herpes zoster (zona) et l’algie post-zosterienne. Nous avons cherche a estimer le nombre de personnes qu’il faudrait vacciner (NPV) pour prevenir divers problemes lies au zona. Methode : Nous avons elabore un modele de cohorte pour la morbidite, l’utilisation des ressources en soins de sante et la mortalite associees au zona. Des donnees bases sur la population canadienne ont servi a estimer l’incidence selon l’âge, les hospitalisations, les annees de vie perdues ponderees par la qualite, ainsi que la mortalite. Le NPV designe le nombre de personnes a vacciner pour prevenir la manifestation d’un probleme lie au zona au cours de la vie. Nous avons etudie des sujets d’âge different lors de la vaccination et effectue une analyse de sensibilite probabiliste. Resultats : Chez les sujets de 65 ans, nous avons estime que le NPV (efficacite du vaccin contre le zona=63 %, efficacite du vaccin contre l’algie post-zosterienne=67 %, sans baisse de l’immunite) s’etablirait a 11 pour prevenir un cas de zona (intervalle de credibilite [ICr] a 90 %, 10-13), a 43 pour prevenir un cas d’algie post-zosterienne (ICr a 90 %, 33-53), a 23 319 pour prevenir un deces attribuable au zona (ICr a 90 %, 15 312-33 139), a 3 762 pour prevenir une annee de vie perdue (ICr a 90 %, 1 650-4 629), et a 165 pour prevenir une annee de vie perdue ponderee par la qualite (ICr a 90 %, 105-197). Ces resultats etaient particulierement sensibles a la duree de la protection vaccinale et a l’âge du sujet lors de la vaccination. Discussion : Meme si le vaccin n’est efficace que dans une proportion de 50 a 70 %, il faudrait vacciner relativement peu de sujets pour prevenir le zona et l’algie post-zosterienne, un resultat qui s’explique par la forte incidence de ces deux maladies chez les personnes âgees. Il est clair que le principal avantage du vaccin contre le zona est de prevenir la morbidite causee par la douleur (mesuree en annees de vie perdues ponderees par la qualite) plutot que la mortalite. Mots cles : herpes zoster (zona); algie post-zosterienne; vaccins; modele mathematique; nombre de personnes qu’il faudrait vacciner

Famciclovir (Famvir) is the oral prodrug of penciclovir, an agent that has demonstrated antiviral activity against herpes simplex viruses, type 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) [which cause orolabial and/or genital herpes simplex], and against varicella zoster virus (VZV) [a reactivation of which leads to herpes zoster]. Famciclovir has efficacy similar to that of aciclovir (in immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients) or valaciclovir (in immunocompetent patients) in the treatment of herpes zoster, and efficacy similar to aciclovir in the treatment of first or recurrent episodes of genital herpes (in immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients). Famciclovir also has efficacy in the suppression of recurrent episodes of genital herpes, and in the treatment of orolabial herpes, in immunocompetent patients. As such, famciclovir is a well tolerated first-line option for the treatment of herpes zoster and the treatment and suppression of genital herpes, and is approved for the treatment of recurrent orolabial herpes. Convenient patient-initiated single-day (for recurrent genital herpes) and single-dose (for orolabial herpes) dosage regimens may contribute to treatment compliance, patient acceptability and subsequent treatment outcomes.

Herpes zoster (HZ), a varicella-zoster virus reactivation, frequently complicates hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Its incidence, complications, and associated risk factors in 310 children undergoing HSCT were reviewed. In all, 61 of 201(32%) patients who had undergone allogeneic and 10 of 109 (9%) patients who had undergone autologous HSCT developed HZ. Of 90 VZV seropositive allogeneic patients, 50 (53%) developed HZ. Seven (17%) of 41 VZV seropositive autologous patients developed HZ. Although a substantial number of patients develop HZ in the early post-HSCT period, risk for HZ persists and HZ can occur up to 5 years post-HSCT. Risk factors for HZ included age10 years (P0.0001), allogeneic HSCT (P0.001), and total body irradiation (TBI) (P0.059) in allogeneic recipients. Of 37, 22 (59%) patients experienced an elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), unassociated with GVHD, in the month preceding HZ. Of the 48/64 patients (75%) hospitalized for treatment (median stay, 6 days; range, 2-39), length of stay was unaffected by donor type but increased by cutaneous dissemination and visceral involvement (P=0.023 and 0.034, respectively) in allogeneic patients. Consideration of HZ infection particularly in patients10 years of age with elevated ALT after TBI-conditioned allogeneic HSCT may permit earlier diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

The case of a 75-year-old Caucasian woman with a trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is presented and discussed. TTS of the ala nasi subsequent to a herpes zoster infection has not been described previously. We provide a review of the literature with insights into the pathogenesis and current therapeutic strategies.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine if the zona thinning (ZT) technique improved the rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy for patients aged ≥38 years submitted to an ICSI program.

Fine structures of the oocyte envelope (zona radiata) in three spined loaches, Iksookimia longicorpus, I. hugowolfeldi, and I. yongdokensis, are examined and compared. The zona radiata surrounding the oocyte is composed of two layers, a zona radiata externa, which comprised the outermost zona radiata (Z1) of a homogeneous less electron dense single layer and the middle zona radiata (Z2) of a homogeneous more electron dense single layer, and a zona radiata interna, which comprised the innermost zona radiata (Z3) of heterogeneous electron-dense multilayers. Especially, the surface of the outermost zona radiata (Z1) showed a morphological difference in its external appearance among the species. In the surface structures of Z1, I. yongdokensis had a round granule appearance, and both I. hugowolfeldi and I. longicorpus were villus in morphology. In the villus appearance of these two species, however, there were clear differences between I. hugowolfeldi and I. longicorpus: the former had a few short thin villi, 1.0–1.7 μm in length, but in the latter species the villi were numerous, long, and thick, 2.0–2.5 μm long. The variety of such structures in these three species of Iksookimia may be a useful aid in taxonomic relationships and closely related to their habitats.

Zoster is a frequent disease of adulthood with a distinct age-dependent increase after 60. In contrast during childhood or adolescence zoster only rarely occurs. Certain risk factors such as hematologic malignancies are associated with early appearance. The typical clinical manifestation is unilateral, equally involving thoracic dermatomes. A 16-year-old patient presented with zoster in bilateral asymmetrical distribution, with trigeminal and thoracic dermatomes simultaneously affected. Despite the clinical findings and the unusual localization, there was no history, clinical nor laboratory signs of an immune suppression or any other underlying disease. Careful follow-up examinations are necessary in order to recognize systemic, especially hematologic, malignancies.

Purpose: In this prospective randomized study the effectsof enzymatic treatment of zona pellucida of blastocysts onimplantation and pregnancy rates were evaluated in a groupof patients who had more than five embryos on day 3. Methods: Forty-six patients with a mean age of 29.8 ± 4.5years and mean duration of infertility of 6.72 ± 0.63 yearshad blastocyst stage transfers, with a mean number of2.9 ± 0.1 embryos replaced per patient. Patients were randomlydivided into two groups. The first group consisted ofpatients (n = 22) who had zona intact blastocyst stagetransfers and the second group consisted of patients (n = 24)who had zona manipulated (enzymatic treatment) blastocyststage transfers. Patient and cycle characteristics were similarin both groups. A commercial cell and serum-free sequentialculture system was used for all embryos. Results: Overall blastocyst formation rate was 50.3%.Transfer could be done in all patients. The positive β-humanchorionic gonadotropin rate in the zona intact group was50% (11/22) and in the zona-manipulated group was 70.8%(17/24). Clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, andimplantation rates in zona intact and manipulated groupswere 45.5%, 27.3%, and 19%, and 62.5%, 45.8%, and 24%respectively. Although implantation and pregnancy rates inthe zona-manipulated group were higher, there were nostatistically significant differences in terms of these variablesbetween two groups. No triplet pregnancy was obtained ineither group, and the twin pregnancy rate was 20% (2/10)in the zona intact group and 13.3% (2/15) in thezonamanipulated group. Conclusions: With further improvements in the embryoculture systems it will become possible in the near future toachieve high implantation rates even with single blastocysttransfers. Enzymatic treatment of the zona pellucida seemsthat it does not alter the pregnancy and implantation rates,but further studies with larger group of patients are neededto clarify the real effect of this zona manipulation onpregnancy outcome.

Purpose: Zona thinning (ZT) is a technique used to improve pregnancy rates among patients ≥38 years old and/or patients presenting previous implantation failure. The objective of the study was to determine whether ZT has a beneficial effect on patients younger than 37 years who are undergoing the first ICSI attempt.

Brachial plexus neuritis in the presence of herpes zoster infection is uncommon. Motor involvement is probably due to the spreading of inflammation from the dorsal root ganglia to the ventral roots and may be more extensive than the affected dermatomes. We present a case of herpes zoster brachial plexopathy with pure motor involvement both clinically and electrophysiologically.

Herpes Zoster is produced by reactivation of latent Varicella Zoster Virus from the dorsal root ganglion of sensory nerves. It is common in older individuals and rarely described in the pediatric age group. We report a case of recurrent herpes zoster in a 3-year-old HIV positive child involving T4 dermatome on the first occasion and subsequently involving T10 dermatome. The child responded well to oral acyclovir.

Purpose:The totally intact zona pellucida is not essential for the development of embryos. It is still unclear how much effect the degree of damages to the zona pellucida will have on the developmental potential of postthaw embryos after cryopreservation. We compared the developmental potential of cryopreserved mouse embryos after induction of two degrees of mechanical damage to the zonae pellucidae by micromanipulation. Methods:In experiment I, the development of 124 cryopreserved ICR mouse embryos to the blastocyst stage after zona pellucida penetration of two-cell embryos as in the procedures of subzonal sperm insertion (SUZI) was compared with the development of zona-intact cryopreserved embryos. In experiment II, the zonae pellucidae of 93 two-cell mouse embryos were dissected as in the procedures of partial zonal dissection (PZD), following which the embryos were frozen. This postthaw development was also compared with that of zona-intact two-cell cryopreserved embryos. All the embryos were thawed and cultured to the blastocyst stage. Additional controls were provided by culturing zonaintact and zona-penetrated or zona-dissected embryos without cryopreservation. Results:The development of unfrozen mouse embryos was not affected by either zona penetration (P=0.433) or zona dissection (P=0.659). The developmental potential of cryopreserved mouse embryos was significantly affected after zona dissection (blastocyst rate, 31% ZD vs 72%, control; P

Purpose: An anonymous survey of IVF centers in the United States was employed to calculate frequencies of multiple gestation, monozygotic multiple gestation, and monoamniotic multiple gestation. Rates for zona-manipulated (ICSI, SUZI, zona drilling, mechanical assisted hatching) and non-manipulated pregnancies were compared. Results: From 42 IVF centers in the United States, a total of 143 pregnancies was ascertained from zona-manipulated cycles. A multiple gestation frequency of 16.1% was reported. Five monoamniotic twin gestations were identified: four from manipulated cycles and one from a nonmanipulated cycle. All monoamniotic twin gestations resulted in live births, although three showed significant intrauterine growth discordance and one newborn was diagnosed with the VATER malformation sequence. Conclusions: Monoamniotic multiple gestations may be increased in zona-manipulated cycles. The potential obstetric risks and complications of zona manipulation should be discussed with patients.

Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of direct insemination (IVF), micromanipulation by partial zona dissection (PZD), and subzonal sperm insemination (SUZI) using sperm-treated with pentoxifylline (PF) +/- 2-deoxyadenosine (2DA).The overall fertilization rate achieved was similar for all three fertilization techniques (33.1, 30.2, and 26.9% for IVF, SUZI, and PZD, respectively). Patients who had reduced fertilization in previous IVF attempts showed improved fertilization with sperm stimulants, either PF alone or PF in combination with 2DA in standard IVF. In certain cases, SUZI or PZD gave significantly improved fertilization rates in comparison to IVF.Selective use of sperm stimulants in IVF can achieve fertilization for the majority of male-factor cases. However, PZD and SUZI techniques are useful, especially when sperm stimulants fail to achieve fertilization or achieve poor fertilization in direct insemination.

We report a case of a 76-year-old patient who developed an atypical form of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reinfection. In addition to histological and serological confirmation of diagnosis, direct demonstration of VZV-DNA was possible by means of the nested polymerase chain reaction. Although VZV infection is usually diagnosed by clinical examination, the nested PCR is a sensitive and specific diagnostic procedure that can be useful especially in atypical cases.

Two hundred eighteen consenting patients entered a randomized study of the application of chemical zona pellucida thinning on their day 3 embryos, prior to uterine transfer. Of those control patients (n = 108), whose embryos remained unmanipulated, 40 (37.0%) have ongoing/delivered pregnancies, while in the experimental group (n = 110), whose embryos had their zonae pellucidae chemically thinned, there are 49 patients (44.6%) who have ongoing/delivered pregnancies. Although this difference is not significant, clearly the application of this micromanipulative intervention has not been detrimental, and this bodes well for routine application of embryonic micromanipulation procedures in general. Certain patient subgroups were studied including older women, those with elevated basal follicle stimulating hormone levels, patients with embryos of differing zona thickness, and patients with embryos of differing uniformity of zona thickness. No significant influence of chemical removal of the outside of the zona on the implantation rate of embryos in any of these subgroups was observed other than a marginally significant (P = 0.095) improvement of implantation of embryos with less than 4.0 microns variation in zona thickness when chemical zona thinning was applied. Failure of chemical zona thinning to enhance human embryo implantation significantly, compared to assisted hatching by complete zona drilling, strongly suggests that the bilayered human zona pellucida needs to be fully breached, unlike that of the mouse.

Loss of neurons from the substantia nigra (SN), which is often encountered in Pick's disease, was quantitatively analyzed in 13 cases of Pick's disease and 19 age-matched controls. On sections from the upper and lower portions of the SN, the pigmented zone (zona compacta) and the non-pigmented zone (zona reticulata) were delineated, and these zones were partitioned into quarters: medial, mid-medial, mid-lateral and lateral. Neuronal loss was fairly severe and more evident in the upper section of the SN (-40%), especially in the mid-medial and lateral quarters. In the lower section (neuronal loss: -28%), the medial quarter was most severely affected. Non-pigmented neurons were preserved. Fibrillary gliosis was denser in the zona reticulata, where neuronal loss was minimal. These findings revealed a selective vulnerability of nigral neurons according to their topography and pigmentation and suggests the primary involvement of some neuronal groups (especially the pigmented neurons) of the SN in Pick's disease.

We examined 62 patients with acute herpes zoster involving the trigeminal nerve; 13 had eruptions only and 49 (51 eyes) had eruptions with ocular complications. Bilateral involvement was found in two patients. The frequency of the disease appeared to increase with age, and the disease was least active in November. Patients with eruptions only demonstrated affected areas along the first, second, and/or third divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Ocular complications occurred in patients who had eruptions along the first and/or second divisions of the nerve, and they were usually noted in patients with eruptions on the tip and one side of the node. The ocular complications and associated systemic conditions varied.

Immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients are at substantially increased risk for the developement of varicella zoster virus infections. They are also more prone than immunocompetent patients to develop atypical zoster and to experience a protracted course, and among them there is a higher frequency of generalized infections with possible fatal outcome. While establishing the diagnosis is essential to provide adequate therapy, conventional laboratory methods frequently fail to confirm the suspected infection. We report on a 47-year-old renal transplant recipient who developed multiple necrotic cutaneous ulcers under immunosuppressive treatment. While electron-microscopic analysis (negative staining) revealed no viral structures, varicella zoster virus specific DNA was detected by polymerase chain re-action in material obtained by a swab from these ulcers. Atypical herpetic infection should also be considered as a cause of disseminated ulcerative or necrotic skin lesions in immunosuppressed patients. Assays based on polymerase chain reaction are useful for the rapid confirmation or rejection of the suspected diagnosis of atypical herpetic infection.

The histology of the adrenals of the mongooseHerpestes edwardsii edwardsii has been studied. Three layers in the cortex, namely zona giomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis and central medulla surrounded by the cortex have been observed.

The effect of intravenous acyclovir (at a dosage of 30 mg/kg per day for five days) on uncomplicated herpes zoster was investigated in 51 patients in a double-blind study. Although existing herpes zoster lesions tended to heal more rapidly and new lesions ceased to appear somewhat earlier in the acyclovir group, these differences were not statistically significant. During treatment, patients on acyclovir had significantly lower pain scores than placebo-treated patients. At follow-up, however, there was no difference between the two groups. Complications of herpes zoster occurred only in the placebo groups (generalization in two and keratitis in two cases). With the possible exception of trigeminal zoster or severe pain, acyclovir seems to offer little benefit for immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster.

Previous studies have shown that intravenous acyclovir does modify rash development, reduce viral shedding and alleviate acute pain in herpes zoster. To assess the clinical efficacy of an oral dosage regimen with 800 mg acyclovir five times daily, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were carried out at three centres within the U.K., using a common protocol. According to inclusion criteria (immune competent patients over 60 years of age with a clinical diagnosis of herpes zoster with rash of no more than 72h duration, no previous systemic antiviral treatment, no history of renal insufficiency) 205 patients were recruited after they had given their informed consent. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either two 400 mg tablets acyclovir (41 men, 59 women) or matching placebo (46 men, 59 women) five times daily for seven days. Treatment was predominantly domiciliary based. According to clinical assessment and pain score acyclovir recipients showed a significant benefit in terms of reduction in rash progression if treatment was started within 48h of the onset of rash, and alleviation of pain during the acute phase of herpes zoster. Overall, the number of patients developing extradermal lesions was significantly lower in the acyclovir group than in the placebo group (p=0.02). However, there were no significant differences in rash progression and pain response in patients with herpes zoster affecting the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve in patients who received acyclovir (n=21) compared to those who received placebo (n=32). 12 acyclovir and 13 placebo recipients reported symptoms, predominantly gastrointestinal in nature, possibly or probably related to therapy. Haematological and biochemical safety monitoring data showed no treatment-related toxicity from acyclovir.

The objective of this study was to correlate the thickness of the zona pellucida (zona) with egg (oocyte) maturity determined through a widely-used method of assessing oocyte maturation namely, the evidence for cumulus and corona cells expansion. Measurements of the zona of cultured oocytes were recorded at 0, 3, 6, 24, and 48 hr after laparoscopic oocyte retrieval from hormonallystimulated squirrel monkeys. The results indicated that at the time of oocyte retrieval, oocytes that were classified as mature had thicker zonae compared with immature oocytes. The zona layer of the mature oocyte expanded to a maximum after 6 hr of incubation while the zona layer of the immature oocyte became compressed. The diameter of the mature oocyte (minus the zona and perivitelline space) became smaller with time while the immature oocyte diameter remained relatively unchanged. The correlation between the maturational state of the oocyte and the thickness of the zona layer suggest the possible application of zona morphometric evaluations as an indicator of oocyte maturation.

The epidemiology of Zoster is analysed by means of data acquired from the Zoster Clinic at Moorfields and the RCGP Research Unit. It complements and extends previous surveys, using much larger and consistent data, showing the effects of age, sex and season. The behaviour in the population as a whole and the pathogenesis are discussed; a model is proposed to explain the characteristics of some of the data, particularly the effects of age and non-specific stresses.

This study evaluated the effect of ovum aging on the in vitro fertilizability of mouse ova. Over 1347 ova were evaluated. Serial trypsin digestion of in vitro and in vivo aged ova revealed an increase in zona digestion time (0.25% trypsin) beginning at 40 hr, which increased over a 40-hr period and resulted in the unfertilized zona becoming as "hard" as the fertilized embryo zona. In vitro fertilizability showed a rapid decrease as zona hardening occurred with loss of cortical granules as assessed by electron microscopy. These data suggest that the window of fertilizability is "closed" by a spontaneous zona reaction occurring at about 55 hr post-human chorionic gonadotropin with loss of cortical granules and zona hardening as manifested by increasing zona digestion time with 0.25% trypsin.

Characteristic residual (12-67 years) neuropathological features of 4 verified or suspected cases of Japanese B encephalitis (JBE) are reported. These features are summarized as: 1. unique distribution pattern of the main lesions, i.e. combination of lesions in the thalamus, substantia nigra and Ammon's horn. Lesions in the thalamus consistently involved, in a linear fashion, lamina medullaris medialis with nucleus intralaminalis and adjacent portions of the nucleus lateralis thalami. Lesions in the substantia nigra usually occupied the middle parts of zona compacta. These lesions were usually symmetrical, though unequal in extent. 2. Unique nature of the lesions, especially those in the thalamus and substantia nigra. Characteristic "light circumscribed foci (LCF)", which consisted of small rarefied areas, with few cellular and fibrous elements, surrounded by dense gliomesenchymal scarring, were observed there and occasionally in cerebral cortices. Lesions were thought to be vestiges of "circumscribed necrotic foci" reported in the CNS of acute stage of JBE. Additional characteristic features in the thalamic lesions were calcified and binucleated nerve cells. Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles were not found. Authors consider that the distribution and nature of the lesions are of diagnostic value.

An exhaustive study of the egg membranes of the oocytes of Trichiurus savala and Triacanthus brevirostris was made with particular reference to the origin and structure of the zona pellucida. The zona pellucida makes its first appearance as a deeply stained narrow zone of fine granular or amorphous homogeneous material around the oocytes, between the follicular epithelium and the vitelline membrane. This homogeneous substance is the product of the follicle cells. Very soon, radial striations in the zona pellucida get formed out of the homogeneous substance of the zona itself. The peripheral cytoplasm of the oocyte, by this time, also gets differentiated into a fibrillar layer. The follicle cells as well as the ooplasmic fibrillar layer send out a number of protoplasmic fibres towards each other into the canalicular passages of the radially striated zona. These fibres meet in the middle of the zona, differentiating it into two concentric zones, an outer—zona radiata externa and an inner-zona radiata interna. The former is purely follicular in origin, whereas the latter is partly follicular and partly ooplasmic in nature.

Bilaterale Adrenalektomie fuhrt bei der Ratte zu einer Vermehrung „Gomori-positiver“ Granula in der Zona externa infundibuli. Die Menge der Granula ist durch Gabe von Hydrocortison zu beeinflussen.

Alloxan diabetes brings about certain changes of structure in the large-celled and small-celled parts of the hypothelamus of the dog. At the same time, by means of special silver staining methods, a “zona granulosa” can be demonstrated in the infundibulum, at the border between the zona externa and the pars infundibularis of the adenohypophysis. The formation of the new zona granulosa is thought to be connected with the discharge of “releasing factors” from the small celled part of the hypothalamus.

Histohemical estimation of β-glucuronidase was performed in the adrenals of normal rats, rats treated with corticosteroids and hypophysectomized rats. In these experiments the method described by Fishman and Baker was used. A difference was found between normal rats and rats treated with hydrocortisone and corticosterone on the one hand and hypophysectomized animals on the other. In the first group a positive reaction was found in the zona intermedia, the zona fasciculata, and the zona reticularis. In the second group a positive reaction was found in the male animals exclusively in the zona intermedia and in the female animals in both the zona intermedia and the zona glomerulosa. Although the distribution of the blue precipitate in the adrenal cortex of untreated rats is similar to the distribution of β-glucuronidase as determined histo-biochemically by Nayyar and Glick we doubt, in spite of the observed difference, that the Fishman-Baker method is specific for β-glucuronidase. Replacement of the specific substance 8-hydroxyquinoline glucuronide by 8-hydroxyquinoline did not affect the results.

Five cases of intraspinal schwannosis in the zona terminalis Lissauer were found in a series of 163 spinal cords and were discussed. They showed no tumors in the posterior roots and no Recklinghausen's symptomes. Whether this lesion is due to “formes frustes” of Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis or a reactive change, is still undetermined.

The formation and morphology of the zona pellucida around the amphibian oocyte was studied by means of electron microscopy. The onset of formation is indicated by undulation of the basal membrane of the follicle cells and the plasmalemma. Gradually a homogeneous ground substance is deposited between the aforementioned layers. The plasmalemma becomes so undulated as to form microvilli which project up into the continually accumulating ground substance. As maturation proceeds, sites on the basal membrane remain in contact with the plasmalemma and eventually extend down as macrovilli. At the time the zona reaches its maximal development and complexity, it consists of two layers, a more peripheral homogeneous layer and an adjacent thicker and more dense zona radiata. The microvilli, which are 0.1 μ in diameter, project up deeply into the zona radiata. The macrovilli, which are 0.2 μ in diameter, by this time extend down through the entire width of the zona pellucida and into (but not in direct contact with) peripheral cytoplasm. As the oocyte reaches maturity, the microvilli will gradually recede and the ground substance of the zona pellucida will serve to form the fertilization membrane. The problem of the site of synthesis and function of the zona is discussed.

A 55-year old woman with a history of herpes zoster in the dermatome supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve developed cutaneous red papules and umbilicated nodules within the same segment. The clinical and histological diagnosis was pseudolymphoma. The lesions showed a polymorphous infiltrate without germinal center formation. Immunologic phenotyping with monoclonal antibodies revealed the predominance of helper T cells and distinct compartmentalization of B and T cells. The lesions healed up within 7 weeks. The development of pseudolymphomas at the site of previous herpes zoster eruptions seems to be extremely rare.

Of 52 serum samples from infertile women tested against isolated porcine oocytes by immunofluorescence, 8 produced intense reactions in zonae pellucidae, while only one of 52 sera from control subjects showed the reaction. Autoantibodies to the zona may be present in these women.

Macrophages of the adrenal cortex were studied in normal male and female, ovariectomized and estradiol-injected rats. In normal male rats few macrophages with numerous granules were observed in the zona fasciculatazona reticularis border, and in the zona reticularis. Granules, identified as lysosomes, were limited by a single membrane with a heterogeneous matrix; they exhibited acid phosphatase- and aminotriazole-resistant peroxidatic activities. A larger number of macrophages had identical distributions in normal female rats. In ovariectomized and estradiol-injected rats the number and distribution of adrenal macrophages were similar to those in normal females; however, in spayed animals the number of these cells in the zona reticularis was higher than in the other experimental groups. Lysosomes in macrophages of treated animals were more numerous and their contents more complex than in normal male animals. These results indicate that the adrenal macrophage system is stimulated in experimental conditions involving high levels of circulating estrogens.

New Zealand white rabbits were immunized with low doses of pig zona pellucida material with the aim of reducing nonspecific antibodies in the antiserum. The antibody levels were assayed by the standard precipitation and immunofluorescence methods. The titers produced were comparable with those obtained using large amounts of zona material.

IN most mammals which have been examined, the first spermatozoon that penetrates into the egg stimulates the egg to undergo a reaction which prevents subsequent spermatozoa from traversing the zona pellucida1. This phenomenon is called the ‘zona reaction’. In the pig, following the zona reaction, spermatozoa can still penetrate into the zona but they normally cannot traverse it2. However, eggs aged for several hours before exposure to the first spermatozoon sometimes fail to elicit the zona reaction and several spermatozoa enter the vitellus (polyspermy) to become male pronuclei (polyandry)3.