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Biomedical subjects

M A Dada

Publications and source records attributed to M A Dada.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cerebral infarction and intracranial arterial dissection in closed head injury.

This report describes the autopsy findings in three cases of closed head injury dying of cerebral infarction, with brain swelling and herniation. In each instance the cause of the infarct was found to be subintimal dissection involving intracranial anterior circulation arteries. The autopsy findings underscore the value of histological examination of vessels that macroscopically appear thrombosed. We discuss factors that impact on the reported incidence and make brief mention of problems surrounding the true pathogenesis of this lesion.

Adolescent↗

Thymidine phosphorylase expression in Kaposi sarcoma.

AIMS: To examine the immunohistochemical distribution of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) in all clinicopathological subtypes of Kaposi sarcoma. METHODS: Thirty two biopsy specimens of Kaposi sarcoma (29 patients) were studied. Six of these patients represented classic, six endemic, eight HIV associated, seven post-immunosuppression/transplant related, and two unclassified variants of Kaposi sarcoma. The average age was 49 years (range 22-83 years) and the male: female ratio 24:5. Four samples of angiosarcoma and one of spindle cell haemangio-endothelioma were stained in parallel. All specimens were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin wax and processed routinely. Immunohistochemistry was carried out using an antibody directed against CD31 (JC70) and the monoclonal antibody P-GF.44C against TP. RESULTS: All biopsy specimens showed immunoexpression for TP. The spindle cell component stained more strongly than newly formed endothelium lined vessels and normal, resident vessels at a distance from the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The strong immunoexpression of TP suggests up-regulation of TP and a role for TP in angiogensis in Kaposi sarcoma. The mechanism for the up-regulation of TP remains unknown, but viral infections may trigger it. The differential staining of the various cell components of Kaposi sarcoma also suggest that TP either plays a role in the differentiation and maturation of Kaposi sarcoma or is a reflection of such changes.

Adult↗

Laryngeal cyst and sudden death.

Laryngeal cysts are relatively uncommon and account for about five per cent of benign laryngeal lesions. The commonest location is the epiglottis. Pathologically these lesions may be divided into epithelial, tonsillar or oncocytic types. The patients may be asymptomatic or present with hoarseness, dysphagia, cough or airway obstruction. Epithelial cysts of the larynx, although histologically benign, may produce sudden and unexpected death from asphyxia. A case is presented of a 32-year-old female who was sexually assaulted and later found dead. Death was most likely due to laryngeal obstruction caused by an epiglottic cyst. Alcohol intoxication (BAC = 0.25g%) is likely to have been a contributory factor. In this case the results of the autopsy helped to exonerate the accused from being charged with murder. Other medico-legal problems that may be encountered with laryngeal cysts are difficulty in intubation and accidental rupture of a cyst during intubation or otolaryngeal examination.

Adult↗

Sudden death caused by testicular germ cell tumour.

Most cases of sudden unexpected 'natural' death are due to primary disorders of the cardiovascular, respiratory and central nervous system. Sudden death due to a previously undiagnosed malignancy is rare in young, apparently healthy subjects. We report an unusual cause of sudden unexpected death due to pulmonary tumour embolism complicating an undiagnosed germ cell tumour of the testis in a 37-year-old white male. Although death due to testicular tumours is not uncommon in young adult males, it rarely follows pulmonary embolism secondary to inferior vena cava (IVC) tumour invasion. A review of the literature revealed four other cases with a similar mechanism of death.

Adult↗

Shotgun pellet embolism to the brain.

This report describes the autopsy findings in a young man who died after having been shot with a shotgun from about 30 m. Although not suspected clinically, a right middle cerebral artery territory infarct was found; its cause was shown to be a shotgun pellet embolus that had lodged just proximal to the trifurcation of the right middle cerebral artery. The case underscores the importance of performing a thorough postmortem examination, including a careful study of cerebral vasculature, in instances of brain infarction.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Medicolegal aspects of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. A case report.

Autopsy examination performed on a 75-year-old woman who had been in a minor road traffic accident revealed an occipital lobar hematoma with subdural extension. Histological examination of brain tissue showed the presence of severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Diagnostic techniques and correlation and interpretation of these findings are discussed.

Accidents, Traffic↗

A retrospective analysis of alcohol in medicolegal postmortems over a period of five years.

Violence and violent death are everyday events in present-day South Africa. Although this phenomenon may be attributed in great part to the sociopolitical environment, the single most important underlying common factor is the presence of alcohol in both the perpetrators of violence and their victims. We retrospectively studied 948 cases of 2,980 medicolegal autopsies done over a 5-year period. We found that 52.5% of cases tested positively for alcohol, with blood alcohol concentration varying from 0.008 to 0.048 g% (mean = 0.18). Male patients were more common and more likely to be positive than female patients. Breakdown of the cases into various modes of death showed that homicides, vehicular accidents, and suicides predominated. The results are in agreement with earlier studies done locally and elsewhere.

Accidents↗

The emergence of penicillinase-producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Durban.

Gonorrhoea was diagnosed in 179 (87%) of 206 Black males who presented with urethritis at a sexually transmitted disease clinic at the King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban. Penicillinase-producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were detected in 7 (5%) of 140 gonococcal isolates, and a further 13 strains were relatively resistant to penicillin. Microscopic examination of Gram-stained smears provided a rapid presumptive diagnosis of gonorrhoea in 162 cases. The modified Thayer-Martin medium proved marginally superior to chocolate agar for the isolation of N. gonorrhoeae from urethral exudates. The causation and laboratory diagnosis of urethritis in males and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the gonococcal isolates are discussed.

Adult↗