Limited genetic susceptibility to severe Graves' ophthalmopathy: no role for CTLA-4 but evidence for an environmental etiology.

Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) characterized by hyperthyroidism and by the occurrence of a distinctive ophthalmopathy (orbitopathy), which presents with varying degrees of severity. Graves' disease clusters in families but the importance of heredity in the pathogenesis of the associated ophthalmopathy is unclear. We have studied the family history of 114 consecutive, ethnically mixed patients with severe Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO).

Cytopathology of malignant mesothelioma of the pleura in fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

The cytologic findings in fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of 9 histologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally confirmed malignant mesotheliomas of the pleura were reviewed. There were 4 epithelial malignant mesotheliomas (EMM), 3 sarcomatous mesotheliomas (SM), 1 mixed malignant mesothelioma (MMM), and 1 poorly differentiated malignant mesothelioma (PDMM). In FNAB, three EMMs yielded polygonal malignant cells with oval nuclei and prominent nucleoli, singly, in small sheets, and in tridimensional clusters with smooth or lobulated contours.

Effect of peripheral perfusion on accuracy of pulse oximetry in children.

Study Objective: To examine the effect of perfusion on accuracy of two pulse oximeters in children and to determine thresholds of perfusion below which these pulse oximeters become inaccurate or cease to function.

Design: Prospective, observational clinical study.

Setting: Operating room of a large university hospital.

Components of the vectorial capacity of Aedes poicilius for Wuchereria bancrofti in Sorsogon province, Philippines.

Components of vectorial capacity (biting density, survival, and host preferences) of a population of Aedes (Finlaya) poicilius, the principal vector of Wuchereria bancrofti in the Philippines, were studied in 1994-1995 in Sorsogon province. Aedes poicilius comprised 20.7% of 3243 mosquitoes of 24 species taken in 42 nights of human-biting collections, and 1.

[Petrous bone approach for the surgery of petroclival meningiomas].

Four patients, 3 woman and 1 man, with giant petroclival meningiomata are presented. In all cases the tumor size exceed 44 mm in its greater diametre. Main clinical symptoms were endocranial hypertension and cranial nerves deficit.

Needle aspiration cytology of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Forty-two histologically confirmed cases of pancreatic cystic lesions with cytologic evaluation by needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) were reviewed. There were 21 inflammatory pseudocysts (IPC), nine mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN), six microcystic serous adenomas (MSA), one macrocystic serous adenoma, and five papillary solid and cystic neoplasms (PSCN). Correct cytodiagnosis was made in all cases of IPC and MCN.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis: cytodiagnostic accuracy and pitfalls.

To determine the cytodiagnostic accuracy rate and pitfalls of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), the files and smears prepared from the thyroid needle aspirates of 146 patients with suspected HT and/or clinically and serologically confirmed HT were reviewed. Of those patients, 105 presented with a diffuse and rubbery thyroid enlargement, and 41 with one or two prominent nodules. For the first group (105 patients), the needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) was performed on one or two thyroid lobes during their initial endocrinologic consultation, and for the second group (41 patients), the NAB was performed on and around the predominant nodules that were found either at initial physical examination or during the patients' routine follow-ups.

Adherence of mouse peritoneal macrophages following exposure to lead.

Lead is a toxin widely used in industry. Recently, medical investigation into lead exposure has turned to testing organ systems, such as the immune system, that historically were not associated with lead poisoning. We evaluated the effects of doses of 13, 130 or 1,300 ppm of lead on the adherence of mouse peritoneal cells, and particularly on macrophages.

Hepatic and cardiac oxidative stress and other metabolic changes in broilers with the ascites syndrome.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the gluconeogenic response of in vitro stimulated hepatocytes from control broilers and broilers with clinical manifestations of the ascites syndrome. The basal rate of glucose synthesis from lactate was found to be threefold greater in sick birds than in the control group and stimulation obtained with epinephrine was found to be quantitatively similar in both groups. Under basal conditions, the hepatocytes from the sick broilers exhibited 60% more ammonium than the control birds.

Intestinal and extraintestinal cryptosporidiosis in AIDS patients.

In a prospective study in AIDS patients with chronic diarrhea, the overall prevalence of intestinal cryptosporidiosis was 15.6% (43/275). The prevalence was higher in homosexual patients (33.

Leiomyosarcoma of the kidney. Report of a case diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology and electron microscopy.

A 41-year-old man presented with a large abdominal tumor that yielded, in the fine needle aspiration biopsy, dyshesive, pleomorphic malignant cells. Electron microscopy of the aspirated material revealed nonepithelial cells showing intracytoplasmic bundles of microfilaments with vague focal densities and micropinocytotic vesicles along the cell membrane, suggesting a malignant leiomyosarcoma, which was confirmed by microscopic examination of the resected right kidney. The patient died four months after surgery from widespread metastases.

[Perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus in the second trimester of pregnancy].

Background: A prospective study was carried out in pregnant women seropositive for HIV-1 who wished to interrupt the pregnancy with the aim of detecting the specific sequences of DNA in fetal blood obtained by cordocentesis during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Methods: The samples of fetal blood were obtained by cordocentesis with the Kleihauer's test being performed to discard contamination of maternal blood. In both maternal and fetal blood the HIV-1 antibodies, Western blot, p-24 antigen and hematologic parameters were determined.

Small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the prostate: report of a case with positive urine cytology.

A case of small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the prostate, occurring in an 82-year-old man with prior prostatic adenocarcinoma, is reported. The exfoliated tumor cells in the urine were seen singly or in loose aggregates with molding. They showed scant cytoplasm and slightly pleomorphic, hyperchromatic nuclei with inconspicuous nucleoli.

Needle aspiration cytology of acinar-cell carcinoma of the pancreas: report of a case with diagnostic pitfalls and unusual ultrastructural findings.

A case of histologically and ultrastructurally confirmed acinar-cell carcinoma of the pancreas examined by needle aspiration cytology is reported. The aspirate showed isolated and loosely clustered cells with variable granular cytoplasm, and central or eccentrically located oval hyperchromatic nuclei displaying prominent nucleoli, suggesting a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Numerous intracytoplasmic zymogen granules and several microtubules within cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (MCRER) were found by electron microscopic study of metastatic tumor tissue.

Prevention of nosocomial infection in critically ill patients by selective decontamination of the digestive tract. A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a method of Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract (SDD) on colonization, nosocomial infection (NI), bacterial resistance, mortality and economic costs.

Design: Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study.

Setting: Polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital with 27 beds.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli associated with infant diarrhoea in Galicia, north-western Spain.

To assess the role of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in infantile diarrhoea, 482 children with diarrhoea and 103 healthy controls, from three localities of Galicia, north-western Spain, were investigated between 1985 and 1988. Rotavirus (37.3%) and Salmonella spp.

[Hemophilic arthropathy. The therapeutic approaches in the clinical picture of hemophilia].

The ambulatory treatment of hemophilic arthropathy decreased the amount of replacement therapy with factor VIII from 3,220,000 U in 1984 to 2,217,700 U (32%) in 1988. Radioactive synovectomy diminished the number of hemarthroses in 97 per cent. Intraarticular dexamethasone reduced bleeding episodes and improved joint function in 48 per cent.

Immunochemiluminometric and immunoradiometric determinations of intact and total immunoreactive parathyrin: performance in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia and hypoparathyroidism.

Parathyrin (parathyroid hormone; PTH) was measured with three immunoassays: a two-site immunochemiluminometric (ICMA) and a two-site immunoradiometric (IRMA) method for intact PTH, and a sensitive radioimmunoassay for mid-region or "total" PTH, measuring both intact hormone and inactive fragments. Single specimens from normal subjects and from individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcemia associated with malignancy, and hypoparathyroidism were analyzed with all three methods. All individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism showed absolutely above-normal concentrations with the mid-region RIA, 28 of 29 did with the ICMA, and 21 of 29 did with the IRMA.

Analysis of proteolysis and protein insolubility during the manufacture of some varieties of dry sausage.

Proteolysis and protein insolubility were studied during the curing of dry sausages such as chorizo, saucisson and salami. Sausages prepared using a meat cutter showed more proteolysis and less protein insolubility in comparison to those prepared using a mincer. Insolubilisation caused a loss in both sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar solubility distinctive for each type of sausage.

[Miliary tuberculosis in adults. Study of 67 patients].

67 patients with miliary TB diagnosed over a 15 year period (1973-1987) have been retrospectively studied. The clinical and analysis data were evaluated, highlighting different factors associated to higher mortality. 53 patients diagnoses were made premortem and 14 had the diagnosis made post-mortem.