HIV enteropathy and 'Slim disease': Historical and current perspectives.

Objectives: Chronic diarrhoea and severe wasting associated with HIV infection were first described in East African patients as slim disease (SD) in 1985. The main histological features are flattening of the villi (villous atrophy) and crypt hyperplasia (elongated crypts), i.e.

HIV enteropathy: HAART reduces HIV-induced stem cell hyperproliferation and crypt hypertrophy to normal in jejunal mucosa.

Objective: To analyse the structural and kinetic response of small intestinal crypt epithelial cells including stem cells to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Design: Crypt size and proliferative activity of transit and stem cells in jejunal mucosa were quantified using morphometric techniques.

Methods: Crypt length was measured by counting the number of enterocytes along one side of a number of crypts in each biopsy specimen and the mean crypt length was calculated.

Spectrum of MKS1 and MKS3 mutations in Meckel syndrome: a genotype-phenotype correlation. Mutation in brief #960. Online.

Meckel syndrome (MKS) is a rare autosomal recessive lethal condition characterized by central nervous system malformations (typically occipital meningoencephalocele), postaxial polydactyly, multicystic kidney dysplasia, and ductal proliferation in the portal area of the liver. MKS is genetically heterogeneous and three loci have been mapped respectively on 17q23 (MKS1), 11q13 (MKS2), and 8q24 (MKS3). Very recently, two genes have been identified: MKS1/FLJ20345 on 17q in Finnish kindreds, carrying the same intronic deletion, c.

HIV enteropathy: crypt stem and transit cell hyperproliferation induces villous atrophy in HIV/Microsporidia-infected jejunal mucosa.

Objectives: The study aim was to analyse the kinetics of stem and transit cells in the crypts of jejunal mucosa infected with HIV and Microsporidia.

Design: The size of villi, depth of crypts and proliferative activity of transit and stem cells in jejunal mucosa were measured using morphometric techniques.

Methods: The surface area/volume ratio (S/V) of jejunal biopsies was estimated under light microscopy using a Weibel graticule.

The transmembrane protein meckelin (MKS3) is mutated in Meckel-Gruber syndrome and the wpk rat.

Meckel-Gruber syndrome is a severe autosomal, recessively inherited disorder characterized by bilateral renal cystic dysplasia, developmental defects of the central nervous system (most commonly occipital encephalocele), hepatic ductal dysplasia and cysts and polydactyly. MKS is genetically heterogeneous, with three loci mapped: MKS1, 17q21-24 (ref. 4); MKS2, 11q13 (ref.

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) is overexpressed in human colon adenocarcinomas relative to normal colon: implications for drug development.

The cytochrome P450 family of enzymes is involved in the Phase I metabolism of a wide variety of compounds. Although generally involved with detoxification, overexpression of one family member, cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1), has been associated with human epithelial tumors. As such, CYP1B1 was hypothesized to be a novel target for the development of anticancer therapies.

How complete has skin cancer registration been in the UK? A study from Yorkshire.

The completeness of skin cancer registration in the Yorkshire region was evaluated for the year 1994 by the independent case ascertainment method. Patients diagnosed with skin cancer were identified from regional pathology laboratories, inpatient and outpatient hospital departments and general practices, and were matched against records held by the Northern and Yorkshire Cancer Registry and Information Services (NYCRIS). Out of 5987 skin cancer cases identified from 14 pathology laboratories, 123 general practices, 16 NHS Trusts inpatient databases and 7 dermatology outpatient departments, 83.

Granulocytic sarcoma of the rectum: a rare complication of myelodysplasia.

A 67 year old man with myelodysplasia was admitted as an emergency with a six week history of rectal bleeding and diarrhoea. Barium enema showed an irregular polypoid filling defect in the lateral wall of the proximal rectum near the rectosigmoid junction. Histology showed this to be a granulocytic sarcoma (extramedullary granulocytic leukaemia; chloroma) infiltrating the bowel.

Death due to air embolism during sexual intercourse in the puerperium.

We describe the cases of two young women who died due to air embolism during sexual intercourse early in the puerperium.

HIV enteropathy: comparative morphometry of the jejunal mucosa of HIV infected patients resident in the United Kingdom and Uganda.

Aims: To compare jejunal mucosal morphometry in HIV infected patients resident in London and Uganda.

Patients: Twenty HIV positive patients from London and 16 from Uganda were studied, and compared with HIV negative control subjects from both sites.

Methods: Stools and biopsy specimens were examined for enteropathogens.

Congenital acinar dysplasia: a rare cause of pulmonary hypoplasia.

Aims: To describe a third case of congenital pulmonary acinar dysplasia, comparing its clinicopathological features with those of the two previous cases and with cystic adenomatoid malformations.

Methods And Results: An externally normal female infant was born to a 25-year-old after a normal pregnancy. Ventilation was not established.

Atypical progression of multiple myeloma with extensive extramedullary disease.

Multiple myeloma is a neoplastic disorder caused by the proliferation of a transformed B lymphoid progenitor cell that gives rise to a clone of immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Other plasma cell tumours include solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) and extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMP). Despite an apparent common origin there exist pathological and clinical differences between these neoplasms and the association between them is not completely understood.

Oxygen consumption, heart rate and oxygen pulse associated with selected exercise-to-muscle class elements.

The purpose of the investigation was to determine the relative oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate and oxygen pulse associated with the constituent elements of an exercise-to-music class. Six women exercise-to-music leaders with a mean(s.d.

HIV infection of human fetal intestinal explant cultures induces epithelial cell proliferation.

Objective: The concept that HIV infection per se alters small intestinal mucosal structure and function (HIV enteropathy) remains controversial and in this study we report in vitro experiments designed to elucidate the matter.

Methods: Twenty pairs of human fetal intestinal tissue explants were maintained in vitro for up to 14 days; one explant of each pair was incubated and infected with HIV, and the other served as a matched uninfected control. At various times after infection, explant culture fluid and tissue were removed, p24 concentration was measured and tissue formalin fixed.

Oncocytic papillary cystadenomatosis of the larynx.

Symptomatic oncocytic disease of the larynx is rare. Review of the world literature reveals that isolated, symptomatic cases of oncocytoma of the larynx have been previously reported to involve discrete sites usually the laryngeal ventricles and vestibular folds. A unique case of multifocal cystic oncocytic hyperplasia necessitating laryngectomy is reported.

Depletion of neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsy specimens from HIV positive patients.

Aims: To compare the density of neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsy specimens from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals with that of a control group.

Methods: Neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsies were identified using an immunohistochemical stain for chromogranin and subsequently quantified using a method of linear intercept.

Results: Neuroendocrine cells were found to be significantly decreased in the HIV positive group.

Autonomic denervation in jejunal mucosa of homosexual men infected with HIV.

Autonomic nerves in jejunal mucosa of HIV-infected patients show severe structural damage on electron microscopic examination. The aim of this study was to quantify loss of autonomic axons from the lamina propria of HIV-infected patients in different clinical stages of disease. Jejunal biopsies were taken from 19 HIV-antibody-positive homosexual men and from 10 control patients.

Ileal and jejunal absorptive function in patients with AIDS and enterococcidial infection.

Small intestinal absorptive function was investigated in six patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had diarrhoea and weight loss. Proximal function was assessed by [14C]Triolein test of fat absorption. Distal function was determined by a test of bile acid absorption in which the loss of radio-labelled synthetic bile acid, 75seleno-23-homocholic acid-taurine ([75Se]HCAT), from the enterohepatic circulation was quantified by abdominal gamma-scanning and by a vitamin B12-intrinsic factor absorption test.