Deployed Airbag Causes Bullous Reaction Following a Motor Vehicle Accident.

Airbags can be lifesaving during a motor vehicle accident (MVA), but airbag deployment has been the cause of dermatologic injuries including irritant dermatitis, as well as thermal, friction, and chemical burns. A highly corrosive alkaline aerosol composed of sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and metallic oxides is released during airbag deployment. We present the case of a 35-year-old man who developed a bullous reaction to released by-products from airbag deployment during an MVA.

Utility of reflexive gomori methenamine silver and Acid-fast bacillus staining on bronchoalveolar lavage specimens.

Objective: Reflexive testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens with Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) and acid-fast bacillus (AFB) stains is not routinely performed by most institutions. Instead, these stains are usually ordered to evaluate for the presence of fungal elements and/or acid-fast organisms if initial histopathologic assessment suggests the presence of these pathogens. Our institution, however, performs these stains on all BAL specimens.

Primary renal lymphoma mimicking a subcapsular hematoma: a case report.

Primary renal lymphoma (PRL) is a rare entity with a history of controversy regarding its existence. Lymphomatous involvement of the kidney is more commonly seen secondarily to spread from an adjacent lymphomatous mass, rather than arising primarily from the kidney. PRL can mimic other renal lesions such as renal cell carcinoma, renal abscess, and metastasis; therefore, an early diagnosis is crucial to guide treatment and properly assess prognosis.

Chondrosarcoma in childhood: the radiologic and clinical conundrum.

Less than 10% of chondrosarcomas occur in children. In addition, as little as 0.5% of low-grade chondrosarcomas arise secondarily from benign chondroid lesions.

Effect of cigarette smoking on human oviductal ciliation and ciliogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on ciliation and ciliogenesis in human oviductal epithelium.

Design: Molecular analysis using human tubal segments.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Original report of bilateral carotid body tumors with 2 rare concomitant anatomic findings, an ectopic parathyroid gland and cervical thymus, with literature review.

Background: Carotid body tumors are uncommon neoplasms with unique epidemiology and management demands. Cervical embryology is complex. Developmental abnormalities can result in ectopic displacement of native tissues.

A novel type of macrothrombocytopenia associated with a defect in α2,3-sialylation.

We describe a novel type of human thrombocytopenia characterized by the appearance of giant platelets and variable neutropenia. Searching for the molecular defect, we found that neutrophils had strongly reduced sialyl-Lewis X and increased Lewis X surface expression, pointing to a deficiency in sialylation. We show that the glycosylation defect is restricted to α2,3-sialylation and can be detected in platelets, neutrophils, and monocytes.

Expression of hepatoma-derived growth factor family members in the adult central nervous system.

Background: Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) belongs to a polypeptide family containing five additional members called HDGF related proteins 1-4 (HRP-1 to -4) and Lens epithelial derived growth factor. Whereas some family members such as HDGF and HRP-2 are expressed in a wide range of tissues, the expression of others is very restricted. HRP-1 and -4 are only expressed in testis, HRP-3 only in the nervous system.