Electron microscopy of hyalin bodies in the human intraosseous endolymphatic sac.

Hyalin bodies are amorphous, eosinophilic masses protruding from the subepithelial connective tissue into the lumen of the intraosseous endolymphatic sac (ES). We studied hyalin bodies at the electron microscopic level. Celloidin- embedded temporal bone sections known to have hyalin bodies were re-embedded into plastic and cut into thin sections appropriate for electron microscopy.

Histologic and statistical studies on hyalin bodies in the human endolymphatic sac.

Hyalin bodies are amorphous, eosinophilic masses that protrude from the subepithelial connective tissue into the lumen of the endolymphatic sac. In this study, hyalin bodies were analyzed in two groups of temporal bones: normal bones and bones with cochlear otosclerosis. The results revealed that bones with cochlear otosclerosis had significantly more and larger hyalin bodies that did normal bones.

Impaired oxygenation of gastric mucosa in portal hypertension. The basis for increased susceptibility to injury.

Increased susceptibility to mucosal damage is a prominent feature of portal hypertensive gastropathy. Since the portal hypertensive gastric mucosa has extensive microvascular changes, we postulated that the increased sensitivity to mucosal damage could have an ischemic basis. We measured distribution of gastric serosal and mucosal oxygenation in a group of portal hypertensive and sham-operated rats, and then studied the effects of intragastric aspirin.

Microvascular abnormalities of the portal hypertensive gastric mucosa.

Compared with normotensive mucosa, the portal hypertensive gastric mucosa has increased susceptibility to injury by noxious agents such as alcohol and aspirin, but the mechanism of this phenomenon is unclear. Since the microvasculature of the normal gastric mucosa is an important target of injury by these agents, we studied the histologic and ultrastructural features of gastric vasculature and mucosal microvasculature in rats with portal hypertension (produced by staged portal vein ligation) and in sham-operated rats. In portal hypertensive rats, the gastric mucosa was swollen and hyperemic and the endothelial cells of mucosal microvessels had very prominent enlarged cytoplasm obstructing capillary lumina.

The portal hypertensive gastric mucosa: histologic, ultrastructural, and functional analysis after aspirin-induced damage.

We assessed macroscopic, histologic, ultrastructural, and functional features of aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury in portal hypertensive and sham-operated rats. Portal hypertension was produced by staged portal vein ligation. Four hours after intragastric acidified aspirin administration, intraluminal pH in portal hypertensive rats was 6.

Protective effect of pentoxifylline on gastric mucosa.

Pentoxifylline (PF) has been shown to increase tissue oxygen tension. This study was performed to determine if PF has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa against alcohol (EtOH)-induced injury. Fasted Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with randomized test solution (control, normal saline, or PF, 75 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (ip).

A new complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Two cases of complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy are described that have not been reported previously. Each had misplacement of a gastrostomy tube in the intestine, one in the transverse colon resulting in profuse diarrhea and metabolic acidosis, and the other in the jejunum causing adhesions with subsequent small bowel obstruction. An explanation of these complications and suggestions for prevention are presented.

Histochemistry and ultrastructure of gastric submucosal vasculature in portal hypertensive rats.

We studied histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the gastric submucosal blood vessels in portal hypertensive (PHT) rats. PHT was induced by two-stage ligation of the portal vein. Control rats were sham operated (SO).

Human endolymphatic sac: morphologic evidence of immunologic function.

The ultrastructure of ten normal human endolymphatic sacs (ES), fixed immediately after death and obtained at autopsy, was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The roles of the epithelium, subepithelial space, vasculature, and ES leukocytes were morphologically studied to evaluate possible immunologic functions of the human ES. In addition, five intraosseous ES biopsies from patients undergoing translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma resection were studied using the immunoperoxidase technique to identify specific leukocyte subpopulations.

Acute pancreatitis: a complication of Foley catheter gastrostomy.

Acute pancreatitis can be caused by inadvertent migration into the duodenum of the inflated balloon of a Foley gastrostomy catheter. The clinical picture is that of an acute abdomen. The diagnosis is made with a high index of suspicion and confirmed by marked elevation of serum and urine amylase levels.

Diffuse hepatic fibrosis in congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Liver dysfunction in congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common but usually self-limited. We describe a patient with congenital CMV infection that resulted in diffuse (noncirrhotic) hepatic fibrosis and liver failure. Morphologic patterns of liver disease in congenital CMV are briefly discussed.

Surgical and nonsurgical treatment of penetrating injuries to the cervical esophagus.

We presented two patients with gunshot wounds and one patient with a stab wound of the cervical esophagus, managed conservatively, which resulted in no deaths. Results of eight studies of cervical esophageal injuries are reviewed and presented in Table I. One must consider both the surgical and conservative methods of management in planning treatment for the given patient.

Canine bladder epithelial cells in culture: susceptibility to canine distemper and measles viruses.

A canine bladder epithelial cell strain was established in culture for the study of canine distemper virus. Epithelial cells were scraped off the bladder with a scalpel and were cultured in enriched Eagle's medium. Cells were enzymatically dispersed and passed over 46 population doublings which covered a period of more than 3 years.

[Surgical procedure in complicated mitral stenosis].

The experience with the surgical treatment of complicated forms of mitral stenosis in 110 patients with the III and IV classes of the disease according to the classification of the New York Heart Association was analyzed. Closed mitral commissurotomy was performed in 36 patients, opened commissurotomy--in 33 patients, prosthetics of the mitral valve was made in 41 patients. Closed mitral commissurotomy is believed to be the simplest method of correction of the duct in mild calcinosis and deformity of the mitral valve, and fixed thrombosis of the left auricle.