Spontaneous Rupture of the Uterine Artery in an Otherwise Normal Pregnancy.

Spontaneous rupture of a uterine artery in pregnancy is associated with a high rate of mortality. Although uterine artery rupture has been associated with postpartum hemorrhage, it is rarely found during pregnancy. Unfortunately, clinical signs and symptoms are usually vague and nonspecific.

Aspergillus thyroiditis: a complication of respiratory tract infection in an immunocompromised patient.

A 59-year-old male with past medical history significant for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma status after chemotherapy presented with acute onset of neck pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia associated with subjective fever, chills, and dyspnea. Physical findings included a temperature of 38.4°C, hypertension, and tachycardia.

Reduced immune response to Borrelia burgdorferi in the absence of γδ T cells.

Little is known regarding the function of γδ T cells, although they accumulate at sites of inflammation in infections and autoimmune disorders. We previously observed that γδ T cells in vitro are activated by Borrelia burgdorferi in a TLR2-dependent manner. We now observe that the activated γδ T cells can in turn stimulate dendritic cells in vitro to produce cytokines and chemokines that are important for the adaptive immune response.

A novel model of blunt thoracic aortic injury: a mechanism confirmed?

Background: There is no consensus on the mechanism of traumatic injury to the thoracic aorta and no reproducible animal model. Advances in injury scene analysis suggest that lateral and oblique force vectors cause aortic injury. We hypothesized that the spectrum of aortic injury could be reproduced in an animal model by application of an obliquely directed load to the pressurized aorta.

Eyelid mucous membrane grafts: a histologic study of hard palate, nasal turbinate, and buccal mucosal grafts.

Purpose: To histologically evaluate the outcome of mucous membrane grafts to the eyelid.

Methods: Case series of 31 eyes from 24 patients who underwent transplantation of hard palate (25 eyes), buccal (1 eye), or nasal turbinate (5 eyes) mucosa to the posterior eyelid surface. These grafts were biopsied at 0.

Pulmonary vein encircling ablation alters the atrial electrophysiologic response to autonomic stimulation.

Objective: Pulmonary vein encircling ablation is often effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The success of the procedure does not depend upon creation of continuous lines of block. Thus mechanisms by which pulmonary vein encircling can cure AF remain unclear.

Can Ki-67 predict recurrence of NO squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?

Objectives: Ki-67 is a molecular marker of cellular proliferation that predicts prognosis of some head and neck tumors. Studies of Ki-67 in oropharyngeal cancer have yielded conflicting findings. This study was designed to test Ki-67 as a marker for poor prognosis in N0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Fas ligand deficiency impairs host inflammatory response against infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.

Lyme disease represents a complex response to Borrelia burgdorferi that involves both bacterial factors as well as host responses. This results in an inflammatory reaction at several sites, including the synovial lining of joints. Synovial tissues of inflamed joints contain cells expressing high levels of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL).

Death certification errors at an academic institution.

Context: The correctly completed death certificate provides invaluable personal, epidemiologic, and legal information and should be thorough and accurate. Death certification errors are common and range from minor to severe.

Objective: To determine the frequency and type of errors by nonpathologist physicians at a university-affiliated medical center.

Safety and efficacy of epicardial cryoablation in a canine model.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in a closed chest canine epicardial ablation model.

Background: Limitations of radiofrequency energy in the epicardial space warrants investigation of alternative energy sources.

Methods: A linear-tip catheter with a 3-cm freezing element and a 6-mm-tip catheter were used to create epicardial atrial and ventricular cryolesions.

Beta-2 microglobulin amyloidosis presenting as bilateral ovarian masses: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of systemic beta-2 microglobulin amyloidosis (B2M) in which the initial clinical presentation was that of bilateral ovarian masses. A 56-year-old woman who had been on renal dialysis for 12 years because of familial glomerulonephritis underwent a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for suspected ovarian malignancy. Pathologic findings included extensive amyloid infiltration of both ovaries, fallopian tubes, and focal perivascular deposition in the myometrium.