Compared with indices including weight, the simpler height-based ratio (excluding weight and BSA calculations) yields satisfactory results for evaluating the risk of natural complications in patients with TAAA.

Exposure of isolated rat hepatocytes to hypotonic (190 mosmol/I) incubation media lowered the cellular (3-actin level without afire:ring the total actin content: here the (3-/total actin ratio decreased by 15.5 _ 1.4% (n=7}. Similar effects were obser~.ed following isotonic cell swelling by either addition of glutamine (10 m M) or insulin (100 nM), resulting in a decrease of the (3-/total actin ratios by 13.5 :I: 2. ! % (n = 5) and 14. I _+ i.1% (n = 1 I), respectively. The effects of hypotonic exposure, glutamin¢ and insulin on the (3-/total actin ratio largely occurred within 1 rain and persisted for at least 2 l-t in presence of the respective effectors. After a 120 min exposure to lwpotonic media, glutamine or insulin the actin mRNA levels were increased 2.4-, 2.0-and 3.6-fold, respectively. Hypertonic exposure lowered the G-/total actin ratio by only 4.9 -+ 2.5% (n = 4) and incr'(:asod aetin mRNA levels only 1.2-fold. There was a close relationship between glutamine., and hypotonicity.indueed cell swelling and the de¢~ of G-/total actin ratios. The data suggest that cell swelling exerts rapid and marked effects on the state of actin polymerization and increases actin mRNA levels. Thus, cytoskeletal alterations in response to cell swelling may be involved in the regulation of hepatic metabolism by cell volume.

CRH is produced by several intrauterine sites, including placenta and desidua, during pregnancy. However, no data are available regarding the presence of CRH in the nonpregnant uterus. We now report that CRH is produced in the epithelial cells of normally cycling human uterus and in an endometrial epithelial cell-derived tumor. Specifically, we have found that: 1) Northern blot hybridization analysis of normal glandular endometrium as well as of Ishikawa human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells showed the presence of the CRH messenger RNA; the size of the transcript seemed to be identical to that present in human placenta and rat hypothalamus; 2) immunoreactive CRH (ir-CRH) was detectable in normal dispersed glandular endometrial cells as well as in the Ishikawa adenocarcinoma cells; 3) gel filtration chromatography of normal glandular endometrial and Ishikawa cell extracts and their culture media showed that most ir-CRH present had the mol wt of the authentic CRH peptide; in addition, a larger form of ir-CRH was also present in both normal and tumoral endometrial epithelial cell extracts; the latter most probably correspondents to CRH precursor molecules; and 4) immunofluorescence staining of CRH in normal glandular endometrial and Ishikawa cells revealed a cytoplasm rich in granules positive for ir-CRH. Our findings suggest that CRH may play an important role in the physiological events taking place within the uterine cavity, since CRH seems to be present in nonpregnant as well as pregnant uteri. Since CRH is expressed in normal endometrial epithelial cells and in an epithelial tumoral cell line, we propose the use of the Ishikawa cell line as a convenient model for the in vitro study of endometrial CRH.

Aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries (PAs) and trunk are a rare entity. They have been associated with structural cardiac anomalies (especially congenital heart disease), structural vascular anomalies, vasculitis, pulmonary hypertension, and infection, but idiopathic pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) have also been identified. Recently, reports and identification of these clinical entities have increased owing to advances in diagnostic imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and echocardiography. However, their natural history has not been extensively studied and remains largely unknown. Here, we present four cases of PAAs (three surgical and one medical) and review the existing literature on the subject. Case Presentations Case 1A 41-year-old woman with a history of diabetes since childhood, hypertension and obesity was noted to have an abnormal electrocardiogram, which led to a cardiac evaluation. She was also noted to have episodes of dyspnea, which were getting more severe. She ultimately had a chest CT, which revealed a dilation of the main PA.The PA measured approximately 5.6 to 6.5 cm in diameter and the aneurismal zone extended from 1 cm distal to the pulmonary valve to the bifurcation of the main PA. The right and left main PAs appeared normal in caliber. Echocardiography revealed a severely dilated main PA and valve, with mild pulmonary insufficiency and which showed an estimated PA systolic pressure of 43 mm Hg. It was decided that the aneurysm should be removed and repaired surgically. MRI confirmed the findings of the echo and the CT scan.A standard median sternotomy was performed and the patient was placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. Cross-clamp time was 41 minutes and the lowest core temperature was 28°C. The PAA (►Fig. 1) was resected, and the right and left PAs were mobilized. The repair was performed primarily to reconstruct the PA. Keywords► pulmonary artery ► aneurysm AbstractAneurysms of the pulmonary artery are proven to be a very rare entity. Association with structural cardiac anomalies, structural vascular anomalies, pulmonary hypertension, vasculitis, and infection has been noted. Surgical intervention of symptomatic aneurysms is recommended. A more detailed study of the natural history of these aneurysms is needed. Here, we report four cases of pulmonary artery aneurysms as well as a brief review of the literature existing on this subject. The first case is of a 41-year-old woman with the aneurysm located 1 cm distal to the pulmonary valve extending to the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery. The second case is of a 76-year-old woman with a large aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery and the left pulmonary artery. The third case is of a 61-year-old woman with an aneurysm of the common pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery. The fourth case is of a 28-year-old woman with a 5-cm symptomatic aneurysm extending from the valve up to the pulmonary bifurcation. Surgical excision and reconstruction was ordered for cases 1, 2, and 4.