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Biomedical subjects

H M Haupt

Publications and source records attributed to H M Haupt.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis: fungal folliculitis?

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis is a rare condition with no known cause. However, a fungal cause is suggested by (1) tinea-like annular lesions, (2) initial clinical consideration of fungal folliculitis in many reported cases, (3) an association with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and (4) an association with scaly and vesiculopustular lesions of palms and soles. We report a case histologically identical to eosinophilic pustular folliculitis but in which hyphal fungal organisms were demonstrated in one of the involved hair follicles.

Adult↗

Reexcision perineural invasion. Not a sign of malignancy.

Perineural invasion has been reported to occur in both benign and malignant neoplasms. We describe two cases in which perineural invasion by epithelial cells was present in reexcision skin specimens removed because of melanocytic lesions in the original biopsy material. Because of the absence of a primary epithelial neoplasm, this phenomenon was interpreted as a reactive or reparative process, most probably resulting from regenerating traumatized sweat gland ducts. On the basis of this study alone, it may not be possible to distinguish between reexcision perineural invasion and perineural invasion from a primary epithelial neoplasm. For such cases, the following histologic features serve as provisional guidelines favoring an interpretation of reexcision perineural invasion: absence of perineural spread beyond the immediate previous biopsy site, benign appearance of the perineural epithelial cells different from the appearance of the original tumor, and absence of residual epithelial tumor in the vicinity of the involved perineurium.

Adult↗

Activation and decreased deformability of neutrophils after intermittent claudication.

This study investigated local alterations in neutrophil activation and deformability after intermittent claudication. In 17 patients with one-sided peripheral arterial occlusive disease, neutrophil count, proportion of activated neutrophils (by nitro blue tetrazolium test), and neutrophil filterability as a measure of passive deformability were assessed in the femoral arterial and venous blood of the diseased leg and in the femoral venous blood of the healthy leg (n = 10). The values were obtained at rest, immediately after claudication, and 10 minutes after claudication induced by repetitive toe stands. Immediately after exercise, the arterial and venous blood differences in the diseased leg were 1) neutrophil count, 9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5-14%; relative increase in the venous blood compared with arterial blood); 2) the proportion of activated neutrophils, 26% (CI, 10-42%); and 3) the neutrophil filterability, -10% (CI, -4% to -15%). At rest and 10 minutes after exercise, neutrophil parameters did not differ significantly between the femoral arterial and venous blood. Furthermore, no arterial and venous blood differences in the neutrophil parameters were found in the healthy leg. In addition to local changes, systemic changes occurred immediately after exercise. In the femoral arterial blood, the total neutrophil count had risen by 13% (CI, 8-18%), the proportion of activated neutrophils had risen by 41% (CI, 25-58%), and average neutrophil rigidity had risen 17% (CI, 11-22%) compared with the values obtained before exercise. At 10 minutes after exercise, all neutrophil parameters were still elevated. We conclude that even short periods of ischemia, as in intermittent claudication, cause local alterations in neutrophil function and distribution.

Arteries↗

Haemorrheological abnormalities in unstable angina pectoris: a relation independent of risk factor profile and angiographic severity.

Plasma viscosity, photometric erythrocyte aggregation index, and erythrocyte filterability were measured in 194 patients with coronary artery disease. Patients with unstable angina (n = 64) had a higher plasma viscosity and photometric erythrocyte aggregation index than patients with stable angina (95% confidence intervals for the mean difference: 0.052-0.100 mPa.s for plasma viscosity, and 43%-72% for the photometric erythrocyte aggregation index). Multiple regression with fibrinogen, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, smoking habits, coronary artery score, and left ventricular ejection fraction as independent variables showed a significant partial correlation between fibrinogen and the photometric erythrocyte aggregation index (r2 = 0.20) and plasma viscosity (r2 = 0.09), between triglycerides and plasma viscosity (r2 = 0.05), and between aortic pressure and erythrocyte filterability (r2 = 0.03). Logistic regression for unstable/stable angina with the haemorrheological variables as independent variables correctly identified 72% of the patients with stable angina and 78% of those with unstable angina. Inclusion of all the variables investigated did not substantially improve the discriminative potential of the logistic regression model. Unstable angina is associated with an impairment of blood fluidity that is essentially independent of risk factor profile and angiographic data.

Angina Pectoris↗

Breast carcinoma presenting with axillary lymph node metastases. An analysis of specific histopathologic features.

Forty-three patients with metastatic carcinoma in axillary lymph nodes from an unknown primary site were studied. Thirty-one women (72%) were subsequently identified as having primary carcinoma in the ipsilateral breast. Based on the histologic patterns of the metastasis, patients were divided into three groups. Type I axillary lymph node metastases were composed of sheets of large, apocrine-like pleomorphic cells with pale to granular pink cytoplasm, large nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. This type was found in two-thirds of the cases. Type II metastases were readily recognizable as characteristic of breast carcinoma and included glandular, cribriform, and papillary patterns and comedonecrosis. Type III metastases demonstrated a mixture of the two previous patterns. Patients proven to have breast carcinoma ranged in age from 33 to 83 (average 58). Among the 31 cases with proven breast carcinoma, mammography was abnormal in 11 (35%). In the 12 other cases (18%), no primary in the breast or other site was demonstrated. Patients not proven to have breast carcinoma had a similar age distribution, comparable proportions of histologic patterns of metastases, and similar survival results to those with a demonstrated breast carcinoma, and none of the 12 patients were later shown to have another primary. The findings described here indicate that when mammary carcinoma presents initially with axillary metastases, it often has a distinctive histological pattern. In most cases this consists of relatively large, apocrine-like cells growing diffusely without forming glands or papillary structures. A minority of metastases have patterns (comedonecrosis; trabecular, glandular, or trabecular growth) more characteristic of the usual spectrum of breast carcinoma. Awareness of this morphological diversity should assist the pathologist in suggesting the breast as a primary site when the initial manifestation is an axillary lymph node metastasis.

Adult↗

Metastatic carcinoma involving the testis. Clinical and pathologic distinction from primary testicular neoplasms.

Metastatic carcinoma to the testis is unusual. There are only seven previously reported cases in which a testicular mass was the first clinical manifestation of an underlying malignancy. The authors review 127 cases in which the testis was involved by metastatic carcinoma, and describe an additional two patients in whom a malignant testicular mass was the presenting sign of an underlying nontesticular carcinoma. The tumors most commonly reported to metastasize to the testis are: prostate (45 cases), lung (25 cases), melanoma (12 cases), colon (11 cases), kidney (10 cases), stomach (6 cases), and pancreas (5 cases). Neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, carcinoid tumor, and cancers of the bile duct, ureter, bladder, salivary gland, and thyroid have also involved the testis secondarily. Nineteen patients (15%) had bilateral testicular metastases. Patients with secondary testicular neoplasms were older in general than those with germ cell tumors (mean, 55 years; median, 57 years). Histologically, the presence of extensive lymphatic and vascular invasion and an interstitial pattern, in which the seminiferous tubules are spared, is suggestive of a metastasis. In four of the nine cases (44%) in which testicular enlargement was the first manifestation of an underlying carcinoma the correct pathologic diagnosis was initially missed. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are occasionally elevated in patients with nontesticular primary tumors, but markedly elevated levels in young patients suggest a nonseminomatous germ cell tumor, as does positive immunoperoxidase staining for AFP and HCG.

Adolescent↗

Adenocarcinoma of the hepatic duct junction. A reappraisal of the histologic criteria of malignancy.

The morphologic distinction between benign and malignant sclerotic processes involving the hepatic duct junction may be difficult. To determine reliable histologic criteria of malignancy, the authors reviewed 18 cases of clinically suspected adenocarcinoma of the hepatic duct junction (Klatskin tumor) retrieved from our autopsy and surgical pathology files over the last decade. The lesions were compared histologically to a variety of benign sclerotic biliary duct lesions, including four cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) treated surgically over the same time period. A diagnosis of malignancy was confirmed histologically in 16 suspected Klatskin tumors, based on the presence of severe cytologic atypia (13) and/or perineural invasion (15). The tumor patients averaged 59 years of age with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Patients with segmental tumor resection and postoperative radiotherapy have survived as a group 6 months longer (average, 15.7 months) than those treated with drainage procedures alone (average, 9.5 months) (P less than 0.005), but have had extensive postoperative morbidity. In all the surgical specimens, tumor was present at one or more margins of resection. Primary sclerosing cholangitis patients were younger (average, 31 years of age) with a similar male predominance, but with a strong history of inflammatory bowel disease. All are alive up to 6.5 years since disease onset, with comparatively little postoperative morbidity. Two clinically diagnosed Klatskin tumors were not confirmed on histologic review. Both patients are alive at 1 and 3.5 years following onset of disease, having experienced little postoperative morbidity. Data indicate that Klatskin tumors are relatively aggressive malignancies, distinct from more indolent benign sclerotic disease, but occasionally mimicked by it clinically. Malignancy can be diagnosed histologically with adequate tissue sampling, thereby facilitating clinical decisions regarding radiotherapy or other palliative surgical procedures.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Inflammatory melanoma.

Cutaneous inflammatory metastatic carcinoma is a well-documented entity most frequently associated with carcinoma of the breast. We present two patients with extensive inflammatory involvement of the skin overlying dermal lymphatic invasion by metastatic melanoma. The dermal lymphatic invasion and gross characteristics are similar to those previously described in inflammatory carcinoma, suggesting that melanoma should be added to the list of tumors which may result in this condition. As in other cases of inflammatory carcinoma, the recognition of this entity is important with regard to both prognosis and therapy.

Aged↗

Esophageal Lewy bodies associated with ganglion cell loss in achalasia. Similarity to Parkinson's disease.

Achalasia and Parkinson's disease sometimes have similar clinical and neuropathologic features, including loss of esophageal peristalsis and neuronal loss within brainstem nuclei. We compared the neuropathologic features in autopsies of 8 achalasia patients, 22 Parkinson's disease patients (3 patients with dysphagia), and 50 age- and sex-matched controls. Degenerating ganglion cells in the esophageal myenteric plexus in 2 achalasia patients contained Lewy bodies, intracytoplasmic inclusions characteristically found in the brainstem in Parkinson's disease. Esophageal or colonic Lewy bodies were also found in 2 Parkinson's disease patients with dysphagia. No gastrointestinal tract Lewy bodies were identified in Parkinson's disease patients without dysphagia or in controls. One achalasia patient with esophageal Lewy bodies also had the inclusions and neuronal depigmentation in the vagal dorsal motor nucleus and substantia nigra, as seen in Parkinson's disease. Our findings indicate that a subset of achalasia and Parkinson's disease patients with dysphagia may have similar mechanisms of neuronal degeneration responsible for esophageal dysfunction.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the efficacy of Alka-Seltzer Effervescent in gastric acid neutralization.

A commercially available antacid, a mixture of sodium and potassium bicarbonates and citric acid (Alka-Seltzer Effervescent), was evaluated experimentally and clinically for its efficacy in neutralizing 0.1 N HCl and gastric contents. In an in vitro titration study, Alka-Seltzer Effervescent buffered 5-30 times the volume of HCl with a pH between 1.0 and 2.0 to above a pH of 2.5. In an isolated canine pulmonary lobe model, aspiration of the antacid or acid-antacid mixture caused only a mild increase in lobe weight and did not increase intrapulmonary shunting. In the clinical study, when the antacid was given 5-40 min before administration of general anesthesia in a group of patients for emergency surgery, the pH of the gastric contents in each patient was increased to above 4.0. This contrasts with the control group of patients, which showed 50% (P less than 0.05) of the patients were at risk when no antacid was administered. Preoperative administration of Alka-Seltzer effectively increases the pH of the gastric contents in patients undergoing emergency surgery.

Adolescent↗

Asplenia and polysplenia malformation complexes explained by abnormal embryonic body curvature.

Asplenia and polysplenia malformation complexes characteristically have severe cardiovascular defects and visceral heterotaxy. We examined the hypothesis that the conditions may arise from an altered timing of development of embryonic body curvature: delayed in asplenia, accelerated in polysplenia. The morphologic features of the 25 patients with asplenia and 15 with polysplenia autopsied at The Johns Hopkins Hospital were determined. The time of appearance of various morphologic features and the evolution of body curvature was studied in 351 staged serially sectioned human embryos of The Carnegie Embryological Collection. All asplenia patients had severe atrioventricular canal malformations. Bilateral trilobed lungs were found in 12 patients. The polysplenia patients had severe interatrial septal defects in 10 patients; but ventricular septal defects in only six. Bilateral bilobed lungs were seen in five patients. Comparison of the time of appearance of anatomic structures in normal embryos with the observed malformations suggest that asplenia and polysplenia complexes originate in stages 13 to 15. The observations are consistent with the concept that the malformations in asplenia and polysplenia can be explained by minor alterations in the sequence of development of embryonic body curvature relative to organ maturation.

Adult↗

Colonization and infection with Trichosporon species in the immunosuppressed host.

Trichosporon beigelii and Trichosporon capitatum have recently been recognized as systemic pathogens in the immunosuppressed host. We studied the incidence of colonization and systemic infection with these organisms in 353 highly immunocompromised patients over a 37-month period. Thirteen patients (3.7%) had positive surveillance cultures for Trichosporon species in stool, skin, or urine. Three of the 13 patients developed systemic infections after having positive surveillance cultures. In two of these three patients, urine cultures were positive near the time of systemic infection. The route of entry appeared to have been enteric in two patients and cutaneous in one patient. Both colonizing and infecting organisms showed in vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B and nystatin. This study suggests that positive surveillance cultures for Trichosporon species may correlate with systemic infection in the severely immunocompromised patient and that repeated positive urine cultures may indicate dissemination.

Adolescent↗

Right ventricular infarction: role of the moderator band artery in determining infarct size.

We studied 19 patients with proximal right coronary artery occlusions associated with acute myocardial infarcts less than 30 days old. Right ventricular infarct size, determined as a percentage of right ventricular surface area, ranged from 0% to 29%. Correlation of 24 variables measuring infarct size, chamber size and coronary artery disease failed to demonstrate a significant correlation with the extent of right ventricular infarction. However, estimates of the degree of obstruction to potential collateral flow into the right coronary arterial system from the left anterior descending coronary artery, especially through the moderator band artery, showed a significant positive correlation with infarct size (p less than 0.02). Among the five patients with massive (greater than 25%) right ventricular infarction, four had significant (greater than 75%) obstruction of the left anterior descending system, resulting in potentially impaired collateral blood flow; the other patient had normal coronary arteries and embolic occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery with contraction band necrosis. The study suggests that collateral flow to the right ventricular myocardium, especially through the moderator band artery, protects against massive infarction in the presence of proximal right coronary artery occlusion.

Adult↗

The heart and cardiac conduction system in polymyositis-dermatomyositis: a clinicopathologic study of 16 autopsied patients.

We reviewed the clinical records of 16 patients with polymyositis-dermatomyositis syndromes autopsied at The Johns Hopkins Hospital to determine the nature and extent of cardiac involvement and its correlation with the severity of disease as a whole. The adult patients ranged in age from 32 to 84 years (average 56); the 2 children were aged 2 and 10 years. The duration of disease ranged from 1 to 72 months (average 21). Seven patients had dermatomyositis, 5 had dermatomyositis with malignancy, 2 had childhood dermatomyositis, and 2 had an overlap syndrome. Seven patients had clinical evidence of congestive heart failure, 4 of whom had microscopic evidence of myocarditis. Two patients had bundle branch block; in 1 there was direct involvement of the conduction system by myositis and contraction band necrosis. Evidence of active myocarditis was present in 4 patients (25%); all had congestive failure. Focal myocardial fibrosis was present in 4 patients. Vascular alterations were present in the coronary arteries in 5 patients (31%). Three had active vasculitis, 1 had intimal proliferation, and 1 had medical sclerosis with calcification. All patients with active myocarditis had skeletal muscle involvement. Nine patients had myositis without myocarditis. There was no correlation of overall severity of the disease with the presence or absence of active myocarditis. The present study shows that cardiac involvement may be common in polymyositis; congestive failure or conduction abnormalities arising in this setting may be indicative of myocarditis.

Adult↗

Gonadal morphology in patients receiving chemotherapy for leukemia. Evidence for reproductive potential and against a testicular tumor sanctuary.

To evaluate the possible reproductive potential in patients who receive chemotherapy for leukemia, we reviewed the gonadal histologic findings at autopsy in 183 treated leukemic patients and in 183 age- and sex-matched control subjects. The 103 male leukemic patients had significantly reduced spermatogenic activity and tubular fertility index and increased interstitial fibrosis as compared with control subjects (p less than 0.001). The 80 females had marked reduction of secondary follicles (p less than 0.001). These lesions showed no predilection for grouping by sexual maturity or by leukemia diagnosis. There was no correlation with the type of chemotherapy or time since last dose of any antileukemic agent. Despite these extensive pathologic changes, there was histologic evidence of residual reproductive potential--a tubular fertility index greater than zero in 65 percent of males and intact primary follicles in 81 percent of premenopausal females. Testicular leukemia was present in 25 percent of males; all of the patients with testicular leukemia had additional foci of leukemia in other organs. The study shows histologic evidence of possible reproductive potential in treated leukemic patients of both sexes and does not support the concept of the testis as a tumor sanctuary in leukemia.

Adolescent↗