Detection of neoplastic lymph node involvement in the retroperitoneal space. Diagnostic value of CT, echography and lymphography

The diagnostic value of echography, computerized tomography and lymphography in the detection of infiltrating retroperitoneal lymph nodes was assessed in a prospective study. Ninety-six patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, seminomatous and and non-seminomatous tumours of the testis were examined with all three methods. Sixty-two (30 non-seminomas, 32 Hodgkin's diseases) had an exploratory laparotomy at least one week after the diagnostic examinations. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed on the basis of the pathohistological findings. The sensitivity was 92% for CT, 79% for echography and 83% for lymphography. The specificity was 89% for CT, 95% for echography and 84% for lymphography. The presented findings suggest that a re-evaluation of the diagnostic strategy in assessment of lesions involving retroperitoneal lymph node is required.

Threshold measurements using stimulating electrodes of different materials in the skeletal muscles of cats

In the skeletal muscle of cats, semispherical stimulating electrodes having a radius of 1.2 mm deliver a mean threshold current of 0.15 mA, corresponding to 1.7 mA/cm2. These values are doubled within a period of four weeks after chronic implantation. In the case of non-polarizable electrodes the mean threshold voltage increases from 108 mV to 171 mV. The lowest individual values range between 50 mV and 60 mV at the time of implantation. The highest value is around 500 mV after four weeks. The high values have been observed with strongly polarizing ELGILOY electrodes. The chronic threshold energies vary between 3 x 10(-8) Ws for activated vitreous carbon electrodes and 17.5 x 10(-8) Ws for ELGILOY electrodes. There are two reasons for the low threshold energy of activated vitreous carbon electrodes. One reason is their low polarization, and the other is their better compatibility. Connective tissue layers with a thickness between 25 micron and 50 micron are found around well healed carbon electrodes.

Clustering of mitoses in human cervical carcinoma

Mitotic nests have been noted both in tissue culture (Cone, 1968) and in human skin (Rowe and Dixon, 1975). The present paper is concerned with the disposition of mitoses in human tumor tissue. Mitotic indices, cell counts, and mitotic clusters were recorded in 20 carcinomas of the cervix uteri. The significance of the results was verified statistically. In 18 of 20 biopsies, the clustering of mitoses was in excess of chance at the 95% confidence level. Assuming a chance distribution, one would expect only one case (5% of 20 cases) to show significant clustering of mitoses. The incidence of cases which show mitotic clustering is higher in cervical carcinoma than in normal skin and uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients. The clustering phenomenon might be due to an initiating factor derived from a mitotic cell which propagates to other cells and activates them, or to a local deficiency in inhibitor factors which reversibly inhibit mitoses under normal conditions.

[Recurrent familial thromboembolic disease due to congenital deficiency in anti-thrombin III. Preliminary study of 3 cases (author's transl)]

The three cases reported, two mesenteric venous infarctions and one asymptomatic carrier, prove the responsibility of the anti-thrombin III deficiency in the development of apparently primary entero-mesenteric venous infarctions. Thus such a deficiency should be sought routibs. Furthermore, these 3 cases confirm the usual characteristics of the 10 familial cases collected since the princeps description of Egeberg: recurrent thromboembolic disease in the young subject involving essentially the lower limbs, relative resistance to heparin, family history of thromboembolic disease confirming the hereditary nature of the disease with dominant transmission, laboratory confirmation of the quantitative deficiency in antithrombin III, the levels and activity of which are reduced by half, and decrease in laboratory sensitivity to heparin contrasting with normal clotting studies. The family history reveals associated conditions within the syndrome: asthma and Biermer's anemia as well as similarities in leucocyte HLA groups.

Reconstruction of the canine Achilles and patellar tendons using dacron mesh silicone prosthesis. I. Clinical and biocompatibility evaluation

Surgical replacement of the Achilles and patellar tendons using Dacron mesh silicone prostheses was performed in 15 mature beagle dogs. This part of the study includes clinical evaluation, gross inspection at autopsy of regrown tendons, and histological determination of biocompatibility of prosthetic implants. Functional continuity and integrity of prosthetic patellar tendons have been established by evaluating the biologic-prosthetic interface and the mechanical properties of regrown tendon tissue around and through the Dacron silicone replacements. Results of prosthetic Achilles tendons were less satisfactory because of difficulties in suturing to a muscle and its fascia. Although the prosthetic tendon did not regrow through the tube, it provided a structure for regrowth around it. The regrown tendons became nearly ten times the normal cross-sectional area after three to four months and decreased to two to three times after 13 months. Histological studies indicate that in the absence of infection, the Dacron mesh silicone tendon was well tolerated for periods up to 13 months. Overall results are encouraging and warrant further investigation although the regenerative capacity of human patellar and Achilles tendons is unknown.