We have previously reported that the thymus of patients affected by myasthenia gravis (MG) is characterized by an elevated level of nerve growth factor (NGF), an endogenous polypeptide which plays a marked role in the cell biology of nervous and immune system. A consistent number of studies has shown altered expression of NGF in diseases associated with inflammatory and/or autoimmune responses. To evaluate the biochemical and molecular mechanisms implicated in NGF action in human myasthenic thymus, it is important to identify the cellular and structural organization of NGF receptors. To address this question, we investigated, both at light and electron microscopic levels, the cellular distribution of immunoreactivity for NGF and its low-affinity receptors, (p75) and its high-affinity receptor (TrkA) in the thymus of patients with MG. The present investigation shows that NGF and NGF receptors are overexpressed in the thymic cells of patients with MG compared to control subjects.

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Objectives: The radial artery is used as a second arterial conduit in coronary artery bypass surgery. However, concerns exist about the thermal injury incurred to the radial artery during endoscopic harvest. We sought to assess this effect both histologically and radiologically. Methods: From February 2015 to March 2016, 50 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery utilizing endoscopically harvested radial artery were prospectively studied. Computerized tomography coronary angiography scan was performed randomly in 8 patients who also had their respective radial artery analyzed histologically at the time of harvest. Standard coronary angiography was also performed in 4 additional patients driven by symptoms recurrence. Results: All patients were available for follow up at 1 year following the surgery. There was no mortality during follow-up. Three patients (6%) developed transient complications in the harvest arm which resolved. All radial arteries were patent on follow-up imaging. Histological examination showed integrity of the arterial wall, intact endothelial lining, patent lumens and no significant pathological abnormalities. Conclusion: The use of endoscopic radial artery harvest was associated with few self-limiting morbidities and excellent patency rates. In addition, there was no evidence of any thermal or traumatic injuries sustained to the radial arteries when examined histologically. The use of endoscopically harvested radial arteries appears safe with excellent results.

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