The kidney of tapirs: A macroscopical study

The renal cortex of tapirs, water-loving primordial ungulates, was continuous, nonlobed, and about 80% of renal mass in adult and 71% in term-neonate. In the neonates even the peripheral glomeruli were moderately mature. Tapirus bairdi had about 4 million glomeruli per kidney and T. pinchaque about 3 million smaller glomeruli. Number of glomeruli per gm of cortex was 12,444 in T. bairdi and 13,400 in T. pinchaque. Cortical loops were common in the medullary rays. The medulla was the simple crest-type. The terminal collecting ducts (T.C.D.) opened separately at the crest and not into a tubus maximus. The “outer stripe” of the outer medulla apparently was telescoped into the deep cortex. The medullary loops turned at a thick portion and at nearly all levels of the medulla. The medullary crest was lined by urothelium which extended into the ends of the T.C.D. Otherwise the T.C.D. were made of columnar epithelium. The pelvic urothelium was continuous with that of the medullary crest at the dorsal and ventral fornices. The fornices were well within the inner medulla. Hence only inner medulla could be exposed to pelvic urine. The hilar arteries, unlike the other two perissodactyl families (rhinoceri and equids), passed through the cortico-medullary (C-M) border and some large arteries and veins passed through the outer medulla to and from the C-M border without branches or tributaries. Unlike kidneys with a medullary crest in diverse eutherian mammals, tapirs lacked pelvic extensions along the major intrarenal blood vessels and thus lacked pelvic intervascular eminences.     

The cartilage of the third eyelid: a comparative macroscopical and histological study in domestic animals.

The purpose of this comparative study was to evaluate morphological differences between the cartilages of the third eyelid in dogs, cats, pigs, cows, small ruminants and horses. For that reason a total of 83 third eyelids were investigated. By the aid of a modified maceration technique, the three-dimensional form of the cartilage could be demonstrated for the first time. Generally, the cartilage consists of a long narrow appendix which is followed by a variable crossbar. In dogs the appendix is cone shaped in the basal end and extends to form a triangular plate. The former is crescent-like in shape and has a marked bulge. The cartilage of the cat consists of an appendix which is enlarged in the proximal end as compared to the dog. The crossbar resembles a reverse s-form with ends tapering off to a point. In contrast pig and cow cartilage possess a typical anchorform whereas the cartilage of small ruminants starts with a thin rod which extends in a slightly curved form ending in an oval plate. The crossbar is crescent-like in these animals. In the horse the base of the cartilage is surrounded by a massive fatty tissue and the crossbar has a characteristic hook-form. Moreover, there are significant differences in regard to the quality of the cartilage, especially concerning the presence and distribution of elastic fibres. In cats and horses the elastic fibres of the adjacent connective tissue penetrate the perichondrium. Additionally, the centre of the cartilage shows a very dense network consisting of fine elastic fibres. In dogs, pigs, cows and small ruminants the cartilage consists of hyaline quality and only in the neighbouring connective tissue are some elastic fibres detectable.     

A macroscopical study of the subclavius muscle of the rat

The subclavius muscles of Wistar rats were dissected, and the morphological features and innervation of this muscle were macroscopically studied. The subclavius muscles of rats were found to be innervated dually by the dorsal and ventral subclavius nerves. The dorsal subclavius nerve was found to arise, in conjunction with the suprascapular and upper subscapular nerves, from the dorsal division of the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. The ventral subclavius, which was observed for the first time, was discovered to issue, together with the pectoral and the accessory phrenic nerves, from the superior and middle trunks of the brachial plexus. In rats, the appearance of the accessory phrenic nerve seemed to be a almost consistent phenomenon. From the close anatomical relationship of the dorsal and ventral subclavius nerves with the neighbouring nerves, it could be speculated that the subclavius muscle might develop from an anlage of the hypobranchial musculature near and/or in the junctional region between the hypobranchial and the pectoral regions of the body trunk. The region might, phylogenetically and ontogenetically, concomitantly with the development of the heart and lungs, undergo remarkable changes, to which variations of this muscle and its innervation could be attributed.     

Thiamphenicol and lupus nephritis. The effects of long-term therapy on kidney function and pathology: a pilot study.

NZB x OUW F1 hybrid mice were treated with thiamphenicol at 25, 50 and 250 mg/kg/day from the time of their first positive antinuclear antibody test until their death. Untreated mice fed the same diet served as controls with body weight, mortality and renal disease patterns conforming to published reports of the biology of the BW mice. Regular testing of urine and bloodm and detailed postmortem examinations showed (a) that with increasing drug dose levels heavy proteinuria was almost eliminated and blood urea concentrations significantly lowered; (b) that in treated and untreated mice moderate to severe anaemia developed, apparently unrelated to the degree of uraemia; (c) that changes in renal function did not correlate with antinuclear antibody activity, nor did the drop in packed cell volume correlate with fixed or free circulating antierythrocyte autoantibody positivity; (d) that histological analysis of renal changes showed that at the highest dose level glomerular lesions were minimal. Thus the prolonged treatment with thiamphenicol reduced the severity of the spontaneous renal disease and resulted in a significant extension of lifespan.     

肾集合管癌临床病理分析

目的 研究肾集合管癌的临床病理特征。方法 回顾性研究8例肾集合管癌的临床、病理资料并进行随访。结果 肾集合管癌好发于老年男性，主要症状是血尿、腰痛、体检发现肿块；肿瘤主要位于肾中极髓质处，呈灰白或灰黄色，侵袭性生长；以腺管或腺管乳头状结构为主，可见“鞋钉样”结构，周围肾组织集合管可出现异型增生或原位癌；Fuhrman细胞核分级：G2，1例；G3，4例；G4，3例。pTNM分期：Ⅰ期1例，Ⅱ期1例，Ⅲ期4例，Ⅳ期2例。3例术后9～17个月死亡，平均生存时间13个月；2例术后13、60个月仍存活；3例失访。结论 肾集合管癌pTNM分期及Fuhrman细胞核分级高，进展快，预后差，多数病人术后数月死亡。     

肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤31例临床病理分析

目的：探讨肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤（angiomyolipoma，AML）的临床病理特征。方法：对31例肾AML的临床病理特征进行分析，并做免疫组化检测，其中4例做电镜观察。结果：31例肾AML按其组织形态可分为典型型（67.7%）、非典型型(6.5%)、平滑肌瘤样型（9.7%）、脂肪瘤样型（9.7%）、炎症型（6.5%）5型。免疫表型：肿瘤细胞特征性表达HMB45、Melan-A、gp-100、HHF35、SMA、CD68。其中1例电镜下肿细胞内可见黑色素小体。结论：肾AML的组织形态多样，特征性免疫级化标记为诊断提供依据。掌握形态特征及其鉴别诊断要点有助于临床的正确治疗。     

Indian ink vs tissue marking dye: a quantitative comparison of two widely used macroscopical staining tool

The evaluation of the surgical margins is a major concern in surgical pathology, and marking of surgical margins with substances such as alcian blue, Tipp-ex, artist's pigments, colored gelatin, starch, erythrocyte layers, etc. was recommended for this purpose; Indian ink and tissue marking dyes are widely used. As there is no systematic study comparing tissue marking dyes and Indian ink as the most common substances used for the purpose, this study was conducted to compare the two. Penetration into the tissue, brightness under the microscope, the spreading area of one drop of dye on tissue paper, the intensity of colors, and unit price were compared for each of the five colors of Rotring's Indian ink and Thermo–Shandon's tissue marking dyes, applied on reduction mammoplasty specimens. Rotring's Indian ink is proved to be just as effective as Thermo–Shandon's tissue marking dye and bares the majority of the characteristics of a perfect staining substance, which are easily applied, quickly fixed, durable and cheap, contain no potential contaminants, be work safe, would not smudge/stain surrounding tissues, and look bright under the microscope without obscuring the view.     

Hyperparathyroidism after kidney transplantation: a retrospective case controlled study

Summary We studied retrospectively patients with hyperparathyroidism after successful renal allotransplantation. Since 1972, 1119 transplantations have been performed in our department, and 534 patients survive with functioning grafts. Hyperparathyroidism requiring parathyroidectomy developed in 32 (5.9%). The frequency of interventions increased markedly after introduction of cyclosporine A treatment in our unit. The time between transplantation and parathyroidectomy was 22.5 months (SD 16.5, range 1–82 months). The age of the patients was 49.0 years (SD 10.5, range 17–63 years); the group consisted of 16 female and 16 male patients. All patients but two (no measurement performed) repeatedly exhibited high serum parathormone and calcium levels and therefore underwent surgery. In comparison to a control group, matched for time of transplantation, age, sex, and cause of renal failure, the patients with hyperparathyroidism had longer dialysis treatment (54.2 months, range 9–132 vs 26.9 months, range 1–72) and exhibited lower phosphate concentrations in the early posttransplantation period. Before surgery, serum chemistry was different for hyperparathyroid and control subjects: serum calcium 2.80±0.23 mmol/l vs 2.48±0.13 mmol/l and alkaline phosphatase 157.4±92.0 U/l vs 85.2±51.5, respectively. We did not see any influence of oral phosphate binders, calcium supplementation, or vitamin D treatment on the development of parathyroid gland hyperactivity during dialysis treatment. Serum creatinine concentration did not change after parathyroidectomy. In four patients, long-term calcium supplementation after surgery was necessary.Abbreviations PTH parathyroid hormone - PTX parathyroidectomy - TP kidney transplantation     

Polycystic kidney disease in children: a genetic and epidemiological study of 82 Finnish patients.

Information of 82 children in Finland, treated during the years 1974 to 1983 for polycystic kidney disease, was collected retrospectively. The occurrence was of the order of 1:8000 births. Fifty-one of the children had early lethal disease and 31 survived for over 28 days. These children came from 69 families. They were divided by family studies into three groups: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (DPKD) in 11 families, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (RPKD) in 14 families, and sporadic cases in 44 families. In three of the DPKD families there were two or more sibs with DPKD which manifested neonatally. The majority of the grandparents of the children with RPKD and sporadic polycystic kidney disease were born in the same sparsely populated areas in northern, central, and eastern Finland, which suggests that most of the sporadic cases are also actually RPKD. The purpose of this study was to find patients with polycystic kidney disease manifesting in childhood and to categorise them using genetic criteria. The observed series of cases genetically classified as DPKD and RPKD will serve as a basis for the further aim of defining clinical criteria for the differential diagnosis of these two entities.     

The transplanted kidney as a source of cytomegalovirus infection.

To determine the incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in renal-transplant recipients we followed 32 prospectively for six months after operation. As judged by serologic change and virus isolation the infection rate for the entire group was 66 per cent (21 of 32 patients) - 59 per cent (13 of 22) for seronegative patients and 80 per cent (eight of 10) for seropositive patients. Of 10 seronegative patients who received kidneys from seronegative donors, only three became infected. However, of 12 seronegative patients who received kidneys from seropositive donors, 10 became infected. Thus, there was a significant correlation between development of infection and seropositivity of the donor (P = 0.03), particularly when the recipient was seronegative (P = 0.02). Five possible and four definite recognizable clinical illnesses were associated with cytomegalovirus infection; all except two were in initially seronegative subjects who received kidneys from seropositive donors. Primary infection and disease in nonimmune recipients may be caused by cytomegalovirus transmitted by the kidneys of latently infected seropositive donors.     

Histogenesis of the acquired cystic kidney disease: an immunohistochemical study.

The aim of this study was to characterize by immunohistochemistry the histogenesis of cysts in acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD). Thirty renal tissues fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin from 20 cases of ACKD were studied. Vimentin was used to stain the Bowman's capsule epithelium, Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin (LTA) and Leu M1 (CD15) for proximal tubules; Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) for distal tubules; epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), cytokeratin 19 (CK19), Arachis hypogea agglutinin (PNA), and Glycine maximum agglutinin (SBA) for distal tubules and collecting ducts; and Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA-I) and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) for collecting ducts. A histologically normal kidney, free of cystic disease, was used as a control for all the markers. Most of the cysts showed strong reactivity to LTA and CD15, an immunophenotype more characteristic of proximal tubules.