Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “PATHOLOGY”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,405 records · Page 78Linked to original sources

Evaluation of the pathologic characteristics of excitotoxic spinal cord injury with MR imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although high-resolution MR imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool, in vivo MR imaging has not yet been compared with in vitro MR imaging and histologic techniques following experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). The goal of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using in vivo MR imaging, in vitro MR imaging, and histologic techniques to study pathologic changes associated with excitotoxic SCI at a single time point. These results are important for future research using in vivo MR imaging to study the temporal profile of pathologic changes following SCI. METHODS: Rats received intraspinal injections of quisqualic acid at the T12-L2 spinal level. In vivo T1- and T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR images were collected 17-24 days postinjury. Once completed, spinal cords were removed and in vitro MR microscopy and histologic assessment were performed. MR images were collected using 4.7-T (in vivo) and 14.1-T magnets (in vitro). RESULTS: Pathologic changes--including hemorrhage, neuronal loss, cavities, and central canal expansion--were visible in T2-weighted in vivo MR images. Evaluation of the blood-spinal cord barrier after injury with contrast agent enhancement showed no disruption at the time points evaluated. In vitro MR images and histologic evaluation confirmed pathologic details observed in vivo. CONCLUSION: Results show that high-resolution in vivo MR imaging has the potential to be used in studying the progression of pathologic changes at multiple time points following SCI. This strategy may provide a way of studying structure-function relationships between therapeutic interventions and different pathologic characteristics of the injured spinal cord.

Animals↗

Classification of breast microcalcifications: radiological-pathological correlation.

BACKGROUND: Microcalcifications play a very important role in detection of breast cancer, especially early stage breast cancer. However, ambiguity still exists in understanding the relationship between radiological and pathological characteristics of microcalcifications. The definitive indication of a biopsy has not been established. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of classification of breast microcalcifications using full-field digital mammography to the pathological characteristics. METHODS: For all the women an open biopsy had been conducted. One hundred and three mammographs showing clustered microcalcifications from 98 consecutive patients were reviewed along with their pathological records. To investigate the value of each criterion for the detection of cancer, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the entire sample and then on morphological subgroups. RESULTS: Pathological examination showed 67 malignant lesions (65.05%) and 36 benign lesions (34.95%). In the univariate analysis, four radiological variables were significant: morphological type (P = 0.001), complicated by a mass (P = 0.002), number of microcalcifications per cluster (P = 0.02) and linear or triangular distribution of clusters (P = 0.009). In the multivariate analysis, two criteria remained significant: morphological type (P < 0.001) and complicated by a mass (P = 0.001). The percentage of malignancy was 37.0%, 60.0%, 78.8%, and 88.9%, respectively, for type 2 (regularly punctiform), type 3 (dusty), type 4 (irregularly punctiform) and type 5 (vermicular) microcalcifications (Le Gal's classification). The malignancy was 78.6% for microcalcifications complicated by a mass and 48.9% without a mass. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). The relationship between morphological types of microcalcifications and the pathological characteristics was also studied. In subgroups, type 3 (dusty) microcalcifications complicated by a mass (P = 0.001) or with the number of microcalcifications more than 10 (P = 0.024); and type 2 (regularly punctiform) with a diameter of the area over 20 mm (P = 0.024) or complicated by a mass (P = 0.025) were statistically significant as criteria for malignant tumour. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of microcalcifications of type 4 or 5; type 3 complicated by a mass or with the number of microcalcifications more than 10; type 2 complicated by a mass or with a diameter of the area over 20 mm; are indicative of cancer. Open biopsy is recommended to acquire definitive pathological diagnosis for these cases. For the remainder of the morphological types, stereotaxic biopsy or followup should be considered.

Adult↗

Amniotic fluid cardiac troponin T in pathological pregnancies with evidence of chronic fetal hypoxia.

AIM: To determine if prenatally measured cardiac troponin T in the amniotic fluid (Am-TnT) could be used as a marker of fetal myocardial hypoxia and necrosis in pathological pregnancy characterized by increased concentration of amniotic fluid erythropoietin (Am-EPO) as a sign of chronic fetal hypoxia. METHOD: We measured Am-TnT and Am-EPO in 29 pathological and 5 uncomplicated pregnancies. Samples of amniotic fluid were collected prospectively during elective amniocentesis (n=15), cesarean sections (n=17), and before elective induction of labor in two pregnancies with stillbirth. Am-TnT and Am-EPO were determined by chemiluminescent immunological method. RESULTS: Am-TnT was undetectable in normal pregnancies, but it was detectable in 9 of 29 amniotic fluid samples from pathological pregnancies, with a median value of 0.030 microg/L (range, 0.010-111.6 microg/L). Am-EPO values were above normal values (>11 U/L) in all pathological pregnancies. Am-EPO concentration showed positive correlation with the Am-TnT concentration (r=0.526, P=0.003). Median concentration of Am-EPO in 9 pregnancies with detectable Am-TnT was 198 U/L (range, 16-3,378 U/L). In 20 pathologic pregnancies with undetectable Am-TnT, the median concentration of Am-EPO was 39 U/L (range, 12-293 U/L). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups (P=0.051). CONCLUSION: Am-TnT is measurable in some pathological pregnancies with signs of fetal chronic hypoxia and myocardial involvement and could be potentially used as a biochemical marker of fetal myocardial injury.

Amniocentesis↗

[A comparative study of MRI manifestations and pathological changes in hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with lipiodol].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the MRI manifestations and pathological changes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with lipiodol. METHODS: 23 patients with 31 HCC lesions treated by TACE underwent MRI examination within 1 week before their surgical resections. MRI was performed with SE sequence (T1WI and FSE T2WI) and FMPSPGR sequence dynamic multi-phase contrast scans. All resected specimens were cut into 5-10mm thick slices, corresponding to the same plane as that of MRI scans. The specimens were wholly embedded in paraffin, serial sections made and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The MRI findings were thus compared with the pathology of the specimen sections. RESULTS: (1) MRI findings: In all 31 lesions, the signal intensity of lesions varied and was mostly heterogeneous on SE T1WI and T2WI images. Three lesions were inhomogeneous hyper-intensity and the other 28 lesions were iso- or hypo-intensity on FMPSPGR plain scannings. Twenty-two lesions were enhanced on early-phase dynamic scanning, and no enhancement was found in the other 9 lesions. Partial enhancement was also seen in 6 lesions on delay-phase dynamic scanning. (2) Pathologically, no coagulation necrosis was found in 2 specimens, but 6 lesions showed complete coagulation necrosis and 23 showed various degrees of it. The other pathological changes found included intra-tumoral hemorrhage (n=10), intra-lesional fibrotic septa formation (n=5), capsule-like fibrotic tissue proliferation around the lesions (n=12), inflammatory infiltration (n=28), focal mucoid degeneration (n=2), focal hyaline degeneration (n=2), and lipiodol retention (n=6). (3) Radiological-pathological correlation study: hyper-intense areas on T1WI corresponded to areas of coagulation necrosis with or without hemorrhage and of residual viable tumor; iso- and hypo-intense corresponded to areas of coagulation necrosis or residual viable tumor. Hyper-intense areas on T2WI corresponded to those of residual viable tumor or coagulation necrosis with hemorrhage, and iso-intense areas corresponded to those of coagulation necrosis, small residual viable tumor or intra-lesional fibrotic septa formation, and hypo-intense areas corresponded to those of coagulation necrosis or intra-lesional fibrotic septa formation. Areas of enhancement within the lesions on the early-phase dynamic-contrast images corresponded to areas of residual viable tumors, while areas of no enhancement were those of coagulation necrosis, hemorrhage, intra-lesional fibrotic septa formation or small residual viable tumors. Areas of enhancement on the delay-phase dynamic scanning were those of residual viable tumors or intra-lesional fibrotic septa formation, while no enhancement corresponded to the areas of residual viable tumors, coagulation necrosis, and hemorrhage. Areas of enhancement on the delay-phase dynamic scanning corresponded to those areas of fibrosis tissue or residual viable tumors. Inflammatory infiltration was found in areas of different signal intensity on MRI images. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Different pathological changes in HCCs after TACE are represented by various signal intensities on SE sequence images. The only area of hypo-intensity on T2WI has a specificity in representing coagulation necrosis. (2) FMPSPGR sequence dynamic MRI is superior to SE sequence in demonstrating and determining the necrosis and residual viable tumor. Enhanced areas within the lesions on the early-phase dynamic-contrast images represent residual viable tumors and the enhancement of capsule on early-phase dynamic-contrast images also represent subcapsular residual viable tumors. (3) MRI can demonstrate accurately the areas of necrosis and residual viable HCC tissues after TACE and evaluate the effect of TACE.

Adult↗

Relationship between pathological gambling, alcoholism and drug addiction.

The aim of this survey was to evaluate the distribution of pathological gamblers treated in an alcohol or drug addiction treatment program run by the Italian National Health Service providing assistance to alcohol and drug abusers in Venice (North east Italy) from September 1 to December 31, 2001. Each drug- or alcohol-dependent patient retained for treatment for at least one month was administrated an anonymous precoded questionnaire to collect personal and socio-demographic features. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) was used to measure pathological gambling and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to measure psychological distress levels and psychiatric symptoms. Among the 113 enrolled subjects we found a greater prevalence of pathological gamblers among drug users than among alcoholics and drug abusers were younger than alcoholics; moreover, there was a prevalence of single status, low schooling, and a low-medium income despite full-time occupation. Only pathological gamblers revealed a significant positive correlation with a family history of gambling and reached positive scores (>1.5) for some likely psychiatric symptoms. Abuse disorders and pathological gambling are frequently associated with multidependence personality traits. Preventing substance abuse may reduce the pathological gambling rates and better results can be obtained with educational campaigns beginning earlier in life.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of placental pathology in low birthweight infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of placental pathology among low birthweight infants delivered at Srinagarind Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive study of 114 placentas from infants weighing between 500 and 2,499 grams delivered between June 2002 and June 2004 in the labour room, Srinagarind Hospital. Placentas from low birthweight infants were examined by a perinatal pathologist in the surgical pathology room, department of pathology, faculty of medicine, Khon Kaen University. The demographic data of the mothers, the gestational age of the infants by obstetric information and according to the Ballard score and placental examinations were collected and analyzed. The placental examinations included both macroscopic and microscopic studies. RESULTS: The prevalence of placental pathology in low birthweight infants was 80.7%. The four types of placental pathology were an increased placental to fetal weight ratio, infarction, vascular abnormalities of the decidua, and inflammation in 64.1, 30.4, 20.6 and 18.5 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: All placentas of low birthweight infants should be studied for potential pathologies.

Adult↗

[Carcinoma of the colon in Iceland 1955-1989. An investigation of survival according to various pathological parameters.].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate various pathological parameters of colon carcinoma over a 35 year time period and evaluate their effect on survival of the patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All pathological specimens from patients diagnosed with colon carcinoma in Iceland in the period 1955 to 1989 were re-evaluated in order to determine the following pathological parameters: Tumour size, gross appearance, tissue type, grade, Dukes stage, lymphatic and/or blood vessel invasion, lateral margin involvement, Jass-group of tumour, peritumoural lymphocytic infiltrate, limitation of tumour growth to bowel wall, lymph node metastases, invasive tumour margin and colloid component in adenocarcinoma. Also the following parameters were determined in every case: Age at diagnosis, sex, year of diagnosis and tumour location within the bowel. All these parameters were evaluated with respect to survival of the patients. RESULTS: According to the Icelandic Cancer Registry 1265 patients were diagnosed with colon cancer in Iceland in the period under investigation. After re-evaluation 1205 patients fulfilled the criteria of a primary colon cancer and of those we were able to re-evaluate specimens from 1109 patients to determine histopathological parameters. In a univariable analysis most of the parameters investigated proved significant with respect to survival, except sex, anatomical location of tumour within the bowel, and the proportion of colloid component of tumour. In a multivariable analysis the age at diagnosis proved important as well as the year/period of diagnosis. The following pathological parameters evaluated had a significant prognostic input with regard to survival: Tumour grade, Dukes stage, number of lymph nodes with metastases, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrate, lateral margin involvement in the surgical specimen and invasive growth pattern of tumour margin. CONCLUSIONS: Many pathological parameters are important in regard with prognostic evaluation of patients diagnosed with colon cancer. We suggest that pathologists should include in their surgical pathology specimen reports of colon cancer, in addition to traditional parameters, an evaluation of peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrate, lateral margin involvement with tumour and the growth pattern of tumour at the invasive margin.

English Abstract↗

[Carcinoma of the colon in Iceland 1955-1989. A study on pathology.].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate various pathological parameters of colon carcinoma in Iceland in the 35 year time period from 1955-1989, and changes in these parameters during the study period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information on all patients diagnosed with colon carcinoma in the study period was obtained from the Icelandic Cancer Registry. All pathology reports and autopsy reports were checked. All pathology samples were reviewed and the tumours reevaluated, reclassified, tumour location determined, the tumours graded and Dukes staged and age standardized incidence was calculated according to revised diagnosis. Cancers in polyps are included in the study. The study period was separated into seven five year periods and changes in pathological parameters investigated according to time periods. RESULTS: After reevaluation of the tumours 1205 fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of colon carcinoma, 572 in men and 633 in women. The incidence increased in the study period for men from 8.2 to 21.5/105 and for women from 7.9 to 15.8/105. The pathological parameters were determined for 1109 tumours. Adenocarcinoma NOS was the most common diagnosis or 90.1% of the tumours and mucinous carcinomas came second. Most of the tumours were located in the sigmoid colon (38.6%), 19.1% in the coecum and 14.5% in the ascending colon. No significant observed changes occurred in tumour location in the study period. The mucinous histological type and signet ring tumour type were more common in the right colon. In Dukes staging of the tumours 9.1% were in stage A, 32.1% in stage B, 24.6% in stage C and 22.7% in stage D, whereas 11.5% proved indeterminate. A minimal trend to increase in Dukes A tumours was observed in the latter half of the study period, overall no significant changes in Dukes classification could be pinpointed in the time period. Most of the tumours were of intermediate tumour grade or 70.1%, but 16.5% were well differentiated and 13.4% were poorly differentiated. A much higher percentage of poorly differentiated tumours were present in the right colon in comparison to the left colon. A poorer differentiation of the tumours went hand in hand with worse Dukes stage of tumours. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that: 1. the incidence of colon carcinoma has much increased during the study period for both sexes, 2. observed changes in studied pathological parameters over the study period were minimal. Of interest is the minimal change in Dukes stages of colon cancer in the study period.

English Abstract↗

Clinical and pathological restaging in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Residual tumor masses are sometimes found in non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients after chemo-radiotherapy treatment. Radiologic findings do not differentiate lymphoma from fibrosis necrotic tissue. Surgical and histology reevaluation is the most reliable method of evaluation the viability of tumor residual masses. Sixty-three consecutive high-grade NHL were treated with F-MACHOP regimen. After 3 courses of F-MACHOP the response was evaluated clinically: twenty two (36%) achieved a clinical complete remission, 32 a clinical partial remission, 7 were non responders and two were not evaluable. An early pathological response evaluation was performed in 23 clinical partial responders. Fifteen (65%) patients had no evidence of NHL after pathological restaging and were considered as pathologic complete response and completed treatment with 3 additional courses F-MACHOP. Eight (35%), histologically positive, were defined as pathologic partial response and were crossed to salvage regimens. The 1 year actuarial event-free survival differed significantly according to clinical response after 3 courses of F-MACHOP and the outcome of clinical partial responders was highly dependent on the result of pathological restaging (87% for negative and 23% for positive). Our experience suggests that a significant proportion of clinical partial responses are histologically confirmed at pathological restaging when this procedure is performed early during treatment.

Adult↗

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical, ultrasonic, and pathological patterns and correlations.

Twenty-seven patients with tissue diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively in an attempt to do a correlative study between clinical echographic patterns and the pathologic grading. The mean of the anterior hepatic linear projection (AHLP) was 33 cm; the surface was smooth in 26% and irregular in 30% and a single mass was detected in 44% of cases. Ultrasonically, three patterns were detected: 1) solitary mass in 66.6% of cases: hyperechogenicity in 22.2%, hypoechogenicity in 27.8%, and compound echogenicity in 50% of cases; 2) multiple masses in 25.9% of cases: hyperechogenicity in 71.4% and compound echogenicity in 28.6%; and 3) diffuse distortion of hepatic architecture with areas of heterogenous echopattern in 7.4% of cases. Pathological grading was carried out according to the generally accepted criteria, grades I in 29.6%, II in 33.3%, and III in 37.1% of cases. No correlation could be detected between the AHLP, patient age, sex, duration of complaint, or incidence of distant metastases and the pathologic grading. Also, there was no correlation between the duration of complaint and the AHLP. However, a significant relation was detected between the character of the hepatic surface and the pathologic grading; a smooth liver was associated with lower pathologic grading compared to either the surface with a single mass or to the irregular surface. On the other hand, no significant relation could be detected between lobar affection, ultrasonic pattern, or echogenicity and the pathologic grading.

Adult↗

[Pathologic antepartal CTG as a prognostic factor for further development of the child].

A comparison was made between 123 infants with pathologic antepartal cardiotocograms (CTG) during late pregnancy and a corresponding control group of matched individuals with regard to obstetric and neonatal data as well as the subsequent neuromotor development of the infants. The group with pathologic antepartal CTGs contained 14 children with subsequent neuromotor abnormalities (one irreversible spastic diplegia, 13 reversible neuromotor disturbances) as compared to six cases of reversible neuromotor disturbances in the control group with normal antepartal CTGs. When compared to the control group, the group with pathologic antepartal CTGs manifested a significantly higher rate of pathologic intrapartum CTGs, as well as a higher number of clearly depressed neonates and of serious and slight cases of acidosis in the umbilical artery. In cases of neuromotor disturbances and pathologic antepartal CTG, complicated course of pregnancy (toxemia of pregnancy), premature births before the 37th week of pregnancy, and children with a low (less than 2,500 g) and very low (less than 1,500 g) initial weight are all to be found more frequently. There is, moreover, a clear connection between the degree of seriousness of antepartal CTG pathology and the subsequent occurrence of neuromotor abnormalities. The clinical consequences of the results described here include the early use of the antepartal cardiotocogram in cases of complications during pregnancy involving hypoxia (such as toxemia of pregnancy, premature labor, suspected intrauterine retardation of growth), as well as an increase in the frequency of CTG examinations, even to the point of continuous external cardiotocographic observation and, if other gestational complications involving hypoxia, especially the threat of premature birth, arise, the generous use of primary cesarean section.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗

[Continuing eco-pathological survey: the objectives and their accomplishment, the choice and the typology of the herd].

The Continuous Eco-Pathological Survey (EEPC) is a prospective and longitudinal epidemiological inquiry, designed to provide data on the global and special pathology in ovine and bovine species, particularly in the dairy cow. The chief purposes of this survey are: to get a better knowledge of the clinical pathology, observed both by the farmer and the veterinarian if he is consulted and the subclinical pathology, detected by various blood tests on 25% of the adult females in each herd; to look on the possible relationships between the herd frequencies of the major disease, i.e. "pathological associations"; to confirm classical or find out new risk factors linked with the environment of the farms; to propose a global approach for the prevention of the main diseases. In this article, methods of choice for herds and animals, and characteristics of the farms studied are described, and the state of realization of the chief objectives of the work is analysed. Conclusion concerns the future of our global approach of the pathology in ruminants.

Animals↗

Detection of occult gallbladder disease by duodenal drainage collected endoscopically. A clinical and pathologic correlation.

The bile of 100 patients with abdominal pain (suspected of having gallbladder disease) was collected from the duodenum at the time of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and examined for cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate crystals. Sixty of these patients had both negative oral cholecystograms and negative gallbladder sonograms, as well as no other objective evidence of gallbladder pathology. These patients are the subject of this report. Thirty-eight per cent of the 60 patients demonstrated crystals in bile collected at the time of endoscopy. None of the patients treated medically showed any improvement. Eight of the patients (35%) underwent cholecystectomy with 75 per cent of the gallbladders showing histologic pathology, and the remainder showing no pathology. However, all patients undergoing surgery who responded to a questionnaire improved whether or not pathology was found in the gallbladder. In contradistinction, of the patients undergoing surgery in whom no crystals were seen in the bile collected from the duodenum, pathology was found in only one third of the gallbladders and these patients' symptoms improved with surgery. Two thirds of the remaining patients had no pathologic changes in their gallbladder and only 50 per cent of these patients showed any improvement following surgery. However, patients who did not have crystals in their bile and were treated without surgery had a 58 per cent improvement rate with medical treatment alone. Duodenal drainage collected at the time of endoscopy and examination of the bile for cholesterol and bilirubinate crystals is a valuable adjunct in predicting which patients will respond favorably to cholecystectomy when there is no radiographic evidence of gallbladder disease.

Bile↗

[Pathological fracture of the proximal femur and its therapy].

"Pathologic fracture" is understood as a discontinuity of pathologic bone caused by normal mechanical stress without adequate trauma. The pathologic condition of bone causing mechanical instability may be a general osteopathia (osteoporosis, osteomalacia, fibrous dysplasia, Paget's disease) or as well a localized one (primary or secondary bone tumors, tumor-like lesions, osteomyelitis). Following "pathologic fracture" pain and functional deficiency are severe, so besides diagnosis and treatment of basic disease conservative and often operative treatment of the pathologic fracture are necessary. The different procedures are discussed in relation localisation of pathologic fracture, basic disease and age of patient.

Adult↗

Murine model of paracoccidioidomycosis. Production of fatal acute pulmonary or chronic pulmonary and disseminated disease: immunological and pathological observations.

A model of fatal acute pulmonary or chronic pulmonary and disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis was developed by intranasal challenge of young (3-4-week-old) mice with high doses (2.5-10 X 10(7) units) or low doses (0.1-1 X 10(7)) of yeast-phase Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Fatal acute paracoccidioidomycosis was dose dependent; 10, 5, and 2.5 X 10(7) viable units of P. brasiliensis produced 100%, 66%, and 17% mortality, respectively, within 11 days. The pathologic picture was that of consolidation with a neutrophil infiltrate. Infection of adult (7-8-week-old) mice with even 10 X 10(7) units did not produce acute fatal paracoccidioidomycosis. The model of fatal acute paracoccidioidomycosis lends itself well to studies of therapeutic intervention. Increasing degrees of chronic pulmonary-disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis were produced by pulmonary infection of young mice with 0.1-1 X 10(7) viable units of P. brasiliensis. Although mice in all groups appeared healthy, pathology in lungs, liver, and spleen was evident at 7 and 10 weeks postinfection. Histopathologic observation revealed acinonodular granulomatous inflammation. At 12 weeks postinfection, there was evidence of less pathology, and of clearing of abscesses. In contrast to the pathology produced by 0.1 X 10(7) P. brasiliensis in young mice, no pathology evident on gross examination was produced by a similar dose in adult mice. Immunological evaluations of mice with chronic pulmonary-disseminated disease showed that spleen cells, but not lymph node cells, had significantly depressed blastogenic responses to concanavalin A (ConA) early after infection. However, at 12 weeks postinfection, when pathological examination indicated beginning resolution of infection, spleen cell responses to ConA were normal. The model of chronic disease is of interest for further immunological studies as well.

Acute Disease↗

[The clinical significance of phospholipids in lung pathology].

The phospholipid composition of 35 human lungs with pathological lesions was analysed by means of thin-layer chromatography and densitometric scanning. The pathological conditions studied were: bronchopneumonia, myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive airway disease and tuberculosis. The phospholipid composition was compared with that of a control group consisting of sudden death cases (due to unnatural causes), i.e. relatively normal lungs. The phospholipid composition of the lungs in a specific pathological group showed the same pattern. However, significant differences were observed between corresponding phospholipid fractions from lungs in the various pathological groups. Compared with the lipid fractions from relatively normal lungs, these differences were even more marked. From the results it would appear that the abnormal composition of the phospholipid fractions might possibly be a cause of lung pathology. The increase and/or decrease in individual fractions and abnormal ratios between fractions might indicate abnormalities in the biosynthesis and catabolism of the lung phospholipids. Further is necessary to elucidate the association of phospholipids with lung pathology. Phospholipid analysis of lung lavages and lung biopsies could be helpful in the diagnosis of lung diseases. Phospholipids in aerosol form could perhaps be used in treating certain lung disorders.

Bronchopneumonia↗

[Neuroimaging and pathology of the spinal cord in compressive cervical myelopathy].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has enabled us to see the spinal intramedullary pathology as differences in signal intensity. Intramedullary high intensity lesions were observed on T2-weighted MRI in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (20.0%) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine (25.7%). The frequency of this findings was proportional to the clinical severity of myelopathy and degree of spinal cord compression. The pathophysiological basis of such signal abnormality was presumed to vary from acute edema to chronic myelomalacia. The intramedullary lesion on MRI is considered to be the main site of lesion responsible for the neurological symptom because of a good correlation between the neurological level and high intensity level. We found from nine autopsy cases of OPLL that there are distinct differences in severity and extent of pathological changes between the spinal cord with a boomerang-shaped cross-section and that with a triangular-shaped cross-section. In the boomerang-shaped cases, major pathological changes were restricted to the gray matter and the white matter was relatively well preserved. Secondary wallerian degeneration was restricted to the fasciclus cuneatus the fibers of which were derived from the affected segments. In the cases of a triangular shape, pathological changes were more severe, both white and gray matter were involved. There were severe pathological changes over more than one segment, and both descending degeneration of the lateral pyramidal tracts and ascending degeneration of the posterior column, including the fasciclus gracilis, were observed. In conclusion, it is clinically very important to understand the pathological basis of the compressed spinal cord on neuroimages.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

Ambulatory oesophageal pressure, pH and ECG recording in patients with normal and pathological coronary angiography and intermittent chest pain.

The present study was performed to compare pain-related oesophageal motility, gastro-oesophageal reflux and ST-segment deviations in patients with intermittent chest pain and normal or pathological coronary angiography. Thirty patients (11 males, 19 females; mean age 54.8 years) with normal and 15 patients (12 males, 3 females; mean age 66.7 years) with pathological coronary angiography were investigated by 24-h oesophageal pressure, pH and ECG recording. Chest pain correlated with motility abnormalities or gastro-oesophageal reflux occurred in 33% (10/30) of patients with normal coronary arteries and in 26% of patients with pathological coronary angiography. Symptomatic and asymptomatic ST-segment changes were less frequently observed in patients with normal angiography (4/30) than in patients with pathological coronary angiography (7/14; P = 0.02). Oesophageal dysfunction coincided with ST-segment deviation in 6.7% (2/30) of patients with normal and 40% (6/15) of patients with pathological coronary angiography (P = 0.02). The conclusions reached were: (1) pain-correlated abnormal motility or gastro-oesophageal reflux occurred in patients with normal and pathological coronary angiography at the same frequency; (2) ambulatory motility and pH recording alone does not appear to differentiate between cardiac and non-cardiac chest pain; (3) simultaneous ECG recording reveals a significant correlation of ST-segment deviation and gastro-oesophageal reflux or abnormal motility in patients with coronary artery stenosis.

Adult↗