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Biomedical subjects

C E Connolly

Publications and source records attributed to C E Connolly.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Sudden unexpected death in young adults including four cases of SADS: a 10-year review from the west of Ireland (1985-1994).

Sudden unexpected death in young adults of 18-35 years account for an important subset of deaths in our autopsy population. The case notes and autopsy reports in 44 subjects were analysed during the period 1985-94 at the Department of Histopathology, University College Hospital, Galway to establish the underlying cause of death. Subjects who were involved in road traffic accidents, cases of drowning, and patients with known congenital heart disease, chronic renal failure and malignancy were excluded. We found that a large proportion of sudden deaths in young adults were secondary to epilepsy and chemical/drug poisoning, accounting for 34 per cent and 31.8 per cent respectively. Sudden adult death syndrome (SADS) accounted for 9 per cent of the study population. Detailed case history, meticulous post-mortem examination and complete toxicological screening are recommended to arrive at the underlying cause of death.

Adult↗

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma in the West of Ireland: low-frequency of Epstein-Barr virus in these tumors.

The Epstein-Barr virus has been implicated in the etiology of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoma, large-cell anaplastic CD30 (Ki-1)-positive lymphoma, and in many T-cell lymphomas. A recent report has found Epstein-Barr virus genome in association with 4 of 11 cases (36%) of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. In a retrospective study, we have characterized 22 consecutive cases of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma from the West of Ireland where celiac disease is endemic. All cases were immunophenotyped with T- and B-cell markers including the anaplastic large-cell lymphoma marker CD30 or Ki-1. Nineteen cases were studied for latent membrane protein expression and 16 for Epstein-Barr virus small RNAs by in situ hybridization using EBER oligonucleotides on routinely processed sections. Only 1 of 16 cases (6%) showed Epstein-Barr virus in tumor cells and no cases stained with latent membrane protein. Eight of 22 cases (36%) including the EBER-positive case were positive for CD30. These results suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus does not commonly play a role in the pathogenesis of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma from this area.

Antigens, CD↗

Celiac-associated lymphoma. A single institution experience of 30 cases in the combination chemotherapy era.

Celiac sprue (CS) is frequently complicated by malignancy, most commonly small intestinal lymphoma. Our study was performed in an area with a high prevalence of CS to define the clinical features, response to treatment, and outcome of this tumor. Of a total of 31 lymphomas complicating CS identified, 30 case records and 24 tumor specimens were reviewed. Overall 1-year survival was 9 of 29 (31%) and 5-year survival 3 of 27 (11%). Seven previously diagnosed celiac patients developed lymphoma; length on gluten-free diet ranged from 12 to 252 months (median 44 months). In this group, presentation was nonspecific, diagnosis difficult, and survival poor (lymphoma diagnosed in life in four of seven, mean survival 2.25 months). Twenty-three patients had CS and lymphoma diagnosed during the same illness. In this group, 14 of 23 presented with a surgical emergency and were treated with tumor resection and chemotherapy. Nine are disease-free and alive or died of another cause after 10-196 months (mean 74 follow-up). Celiac-associated lymphoma is a frequent, difficult to diagnose, and commonly fatal complication of CS. An aggressive diagnostic approach, including laparoscopy, is recommended. Long-term survival can be expected in a significant number of these patients and in our series was almost exclusively confined to those treated with chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Clear cell carcinoma arising in a pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland.

Clear cell carcinoma of salivary gland is a rare neoplasm. We report a third case of clear cell carcinoma arising in a pleomorphic adenoma and also in an extraparotid location. We document the immunohistochemical profile of the tumour including reactivity with a marker for the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and suggest a myoepithelial origin for these lesions. The presence of a tetraploid stemline may account for the rapid tumour progression in this case.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

Brown bowel syndrome occurring in coeliac disease in the west of Ireland.

Brown bowel syndrome is the name applied to a brown discoloration of the intestine. This is due to lipofuscin deposition in intestinal smooth muscle and occurs in association with malabsorption. Three cases occurring in a coeliac registry of 559 patients are described. One patient presented with acute massive bleeding per rectum, and two were diagnosed at autopsy. The syndrome may be accompanied by vitamin E deficiency and neurologic dysfunction. Two patients had evidence of peripheral neuropathy, and one had low vitamin E levels. Concomitant vitamin D deficiency was present. Fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption, especially if there is a poor response to a gluten-free diet or neuropathy, might alert the clinician to the possibility of brown-bowel syndrome and suggests careful search for lipofuscin in biopsy material, using special histologic techniques.

Aged↗

Lung cavities in patients with coeliac disease.

The clinical, radiological and pathological features of 7 patients with coeliac disease (CD) who developed lung abscesses or cavities are described. These patients were seen during a 20-year period during which time approximately 600 coeliacs were seen and 50 died. Six of the coeliac patients with lung abscess died. The patients were middle aged. Staphylococcal infection, Klebsiella pneumoniae, bronchial carcinoma and previous pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for the cavities in 4 patients. In the 3 other patients a definite cause could not be identified. Hyposplenism and malnutrition were common. Next to malignancy pulmonary abscess was the commonest cause of death in the coeliac population. The development of respiratory symptoms should be regarded as a potentially serious and a life-threatening event in the middle-aged coeliac patients. Lung abscess should be added to the list of respiratory diseases associated with coeliac disease.

Adult↗

Ulcerative enteritis--atypical features.

A 40 year old man with two month history of vomiting and weight loss, was found to have multiple strictures in his small bowel. Investigations outruled known causes of small bowel ulceration, and the flat bowel mucosa did not respond to a gluten free diet. Treatment with steroids conferred a temporary benefit, however, small bowel ulceration persisted.

Adult↗