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Biomedical subjects

S Variend

Publications and source records attributed to S Variend.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Small intestinal mucosal abnormalities in post-perinatal deaths.

Examination of small intestinal mucosa from cases of post-perinatal death in Sheffield between September 1980 and September 1981 showed mucosal changes before death in 18 of 78 cases (20%). There was no significant difference in prevalence between explained and unexplained deaths, nor was there any positive association with viral isolation from the small intestine. The lesion was much more common in males than females and showed a strong association with bottle feeding--no infant wholly breast fed showed an enteropathy. There was a low incidence of symptoms referrable to the gastrointestinal tract among affected infants, and no appreciable evidence of failure to thrive, as reflected by the postmortem body weight, was present. Mucosal changes of the small intestine in cases of sudden infant death syndrome have previously been reported and attributed to heatstroke. Although the finding of similar lesions in infants who died explicably does not appear to support this view, overheating is difficult to exclude as most of the explained deaths with a mucosal lesion occurred at home.

Body Weight↗

Histochemical demonstration of acetylcholinesterase in neuroblastoma.

The presence of acetylcholinesterase in the tumour cells of neuroblastoma has been shown by enzyme histochemistry. For comparison, some other tumours likely to be found in children and commonly presenting histologically as small cell tumours have also been studied. Acetylcholinesterase activity was seen in rhabdomyosarcoma, but, compared with neuroblastoma, the activity was focal and sparse. One Ewing's tumour and a lymphoblastic lymphoma were negative for the enzyme reaction. Some of the ultrastructural features of neuroblastoma are correlated with the presence of this enzyme. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme histochemistry may provide a useful adjunct in the distinction of neuroblastoma from other small cell tumours.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Small intestinal mucosal fat in childhood enteropathies.

A sequential series of 100 small bowel mucosal biopsies from children was studied to assess the frequency and pattern of mucosal fat staining, and to compare patterns of fat distribution with mucosal structure and clinical diagnosis. Deep mucosal fat was commonly associated with those clinical groups showing normal mucosal structure. While fine granular surface epithelial fat was common in normal and abnormal biopsies, the presence of large fat globules in the surface epithelium was almost entirely limited to biopsies showing villous shortening. Large fat globules in the surface epithelium in coeliac disease and cow's milk sensitive enteropathy were probably related to the more severe degrees of villous abnormality encountered in these clinical groups. However, large fat globules in surface epithelium were also found in a few cases of cow's milk sensitive enteropathy with normal or minimal villous blunting. Fat staining may be a useful additional histological marker to aid in the interpretation of small intestinal mucosal biopsies.

Adolescent↗

Necrosis of the pancreas in the haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

A case of haemolytic uraemic syndrome in a three year old boy is described. The clinical course was complicated by hyperglycaemia, and biochemical assay of plasma showed an almost total lack of pancreatic insulin. Extensive necrosis of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas was found at necropsy. The possible pathological physiology of this complication and its prognostic importance are discussed.

Child, Preschool↗

An investigation of beta enolase as a histological marker of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Sections from 21 tumours diagnosed as primary or metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma were stained for alpha and beta enolase. The cases were subdivided into embryonal and alveolar subtypes (38% and 62%, respectively). Positive cytoplasmic staining for alpha enolase was seen in all but one case, and cytoplasmic staining for beta enolase was seen in some cells in 18 of the 21 cases (86% of the total, 88% of the alveolar subgroup, and 85% of the embryonal subgroup). No cells stained positively for beta enolase in the control series of neuroblastomas, fibrosarcomas, Wilms' sarcomas, and an osteosarcoma. The results show that beta enolase is a sensitive marker of muscular differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma.

Clinical Enzyme Tests↗

Colonic neuronal dysplasia.

A child with colonic neuronal dysplasia is reported in whom the whole length of the colon was involved. Multiple colonoscopic mucosal biopsies with acetylcholinesterase staining provided a useful means of assessing the extent of the lesion. Colectomy has, so far, been resisted in view of the relatively mild symptoms in a child who is otherwise thriving. The neonatal necrotising enterocolitis in this case is probably related pathogenetically to that sometimes seen in Hirschsprung's disease. Greater awareness of this condition and the more frequent use of acetylcholinesterase staining of rectal biopsy tissue will probably uncover more cases.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Biochemical and histological assessment of hepatic lipid in sudden infant death syndrome.

A biochemical and histological study of hepatic lipid in children dying from the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and children of a similar age dying explicably are reported. Contrary to a previous report based on histological assessment of hepatic lipid, no significant increase of total lipid content in livers of children dying from SIDS was found. Analysis of hepatic phospholipid fatty acid esters, however, revealed a significant difference between SIDS and children of similar age dying acutely and explicably. The phospholipid abnormality found in SIDS was similar to that found in children dying subacutely with hypoxia and would be consistent with increased cell membrane fluidity. The implications of these findings in the pathogenesis of SIDS are discussed.

Cholesterol Esters↗

Myelination of the corpus callosum. II. The effect of relief of hydrocephalus upon the processes of myelination.

A clinico-pathological study has been carried out on 32 brains of children with hydrocephalus in whom the hydrocephalus had been completely controlled by shunting. The cell and myelination activity of the corpus callosum in these children is within the normal range for children of the same age, which contrasts markedly with the findings in children in whom the hydrocephalus is in a progressive state.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗

The superior surface lesion of the cerebellum in children with myelomeningocele.

The lobular pattern of the superior surface of the cerebellum has been described in 100 children with myelomeningocele. There is a wide range of abnormality. The inferior displaced cerebellar segment shortens with age, but the superior surface deformity probably remains unchanged and is, therefore, useful in indicating the original extent of the caudal part of the defect in the older child. The most severe change showed the cerebellar h emispheres to be separated by a deep midline identation (split cerebellum); this was associated with hypoplasia of the superior vermis which supports an inception during the organogenetic period of development. Other cerebellums showed less severe deformities and their inception was comparatively later in development. Thus the degree of deformity of the cerebellum is probably related to its time of onset. Furthermore, the findings suggest that we are dealing with a secondary disturbance. It is evident that the cerebellar defect is not limited to its caudal aspect; this should increase the specificity of the hindbrain malformation is children with myelomeningocele.

Cerebellum↗

An unusual nodular lesion of the liver: probable partial nodular transformation.

An unusual nodular lesion of the liver is reported. The appearances closely resembled those described in cases referred to as partial nodular transformation, but there were several unusual features; these included areas with the appearances of cirrhosis, and significantly raised alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase. Differentiation of this condition from other nodular lesions described in the literature is discussed. In the case reported here the Rose Waaler and Latex tests were also positive and this may be significant in view of certain types of nodular conditions described in some rheumatoid conditions. Although it is quite possible that these various lesions are related histogenetically, until more information becomes available, it is proposed that the lesion described here represents a variant of partial nodular transformation in which the changes in some areas have progressed to a stage of fibrosis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome with parental consanguinity.

A case of cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome with some unusual features is reported. The neuropathological findings are described in detail. Electronmicroscopy showed astrocytes in the demyelinated areas of the brain to contain granules composed of laminated osmiophilic material. These structures could be abnormal mitochondria. The parental consanguinity in this case would further support an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.

Astrocytes↗