PubMed · 10481575
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M Giralt. 1999. [A new classification for the third millenium. When and until when?].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10481575/
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Eosinophilic pleural effusions (EPFs), defined as the presence of 10% or more eosinophils in the pleural fluid, are relatively rare. Their diagnostic and prognostic significance, however, remains controversial, as most of the studies are based almost entirely on retrospective case studies. This prospective study examines 26 eosinophilic pleural effusions from among 444 consecutive pleural effusions investigated at this tertiary health care center from October 1999 to April 2002. This study was attempted to unravel the diagnostic and prognostic significance of these eosinophilic effusions and assess their clinical implications, if any. Koss and Light's criteria were applied in the analysis, which comprised macroscopic, biochemical, cytological, and microbiological examinations. Of the 26 EPFs studied, five were associated with tuberculosis and three with metastatic disease. Nineteen patients had significant associated lymphocytosis. Twenty-four patients have been followed up and are in good health to date and have had no recurrence of effusion. Thus, EPF could be associated with inflammatory, benign, and malignant conditions. Hence, a closer search for a definite etiological agent is warranted in the setting of such an effusion, especially in populations endemic for tuberculosis, as in a developing country like India and in populations with a high prevalence of malignancy.
BACKGROUND: This study presents the number of germ cells and somatic cells in human fetal testes during week 6 to week 9 post conception, i.e. the first weeks following sex differentiation of the testes. METHODS: One testis with attached mesonephros from each of 10 individual legal abortions was used. After recovery of the fetus, the testes were immediately isolated, fixed and processed for histology. The optical fractionator technique, a stereological method, was utilized to estimate the total number of germ cells in ten testes and somatic cells in six of them. RESULTS: The number of germ cells per testis increased from approximately 3000 in week 6 to approximately 30000 in week 9. The ratio of germ cells to Sertoli cells was approximately 1:11 and the ratio of germ cells to somatic cells was approximately 1:44 throughout this period. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, germ cell and somatic cell number have been determined during early human fetal testis development. Knowledge of the number of germ cells in this period may be very important, because several environmental pollutants are suspected to result in decreased semen quality in men born of mothers exposed to these pollutants during pregnancy.
AIMS: To describe the optics of in vivo confocal microscopy, its advantages over previous methods, and to summarise the literature that arose from its use for the observation of the human cornea. A critical review of the clinical usefulness of this new technology for the corneal examination is undertaken. METHODS: Confocal microscopes obtain increased resolution by limiting the illumination and observation systems to a single point. Rapid scanning is used to reconstruct a full field of view and allows for "real time" viewing. RESULTS: Coronal sections of the in situ epithelium, Bowman's membrane, stroma, and endothelium can be visualised at a resolution of 1-2 micro m. A backscattered light intensity curve allows objective measurements of sublayer thickness and corneal haze to be taken. In vivo confocal microscopy is therefore particularly useful in the areas of infective keratitis, corneal dystrophies, refractive surgery, and contact lens wear, where it aids in differential diagnosis and detection of subtle short and long term changes. Real time endothelial cell assessment can also be performed. CONCLUSION: Because of their ability to visualise living tissue at cellular levels, confocal microscopes have proved useful additions to the current clinical tools.