Stab wounds to the neck: role of angiography

Angiographic findings in 61 stab wounds to the neck were correlated with specific clinical findings. Eighteen of the stab wounds were associated with one or more major physical findings that included (a) pulse deficit, (b) active bleeding or expanding hematoma, (c) bruit or murmur, (d) neurologic deficit, or (e) hypotension. Of these 18 wounds, only two involved significant vascular injuries. The other 43 stab wounds were associated with minor physical findings, with the only indications for angiography being nonexpanding hematoma or proximity of trauma to major vessels. None of these 43 wounds involved significant vascular injury.     

Association of heterotopic gray matter with seizures: MR imaging. Work in progress

Heterotopic gray matter, which previously had been associated with severe congenital malformations of the brain and developmental delay, was found without these associated conditions. The authors found ten cases of heterotopic gray matter on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The lesions had a signal intensity that was isointense compared with that of gray matter on T1, spin-density, and T2-weighted images. Nine of the ten cases were associated with a seizure disorder. The tenth case, discovered during a workup for metastatic lung disease, was confirmed with pathologic studies. Heterotopic gray matter is the presence of cortical neurons in an abnormal location, which may be periventricular (nodular) or within the white matter (laminar). A knowledge of heterotopic gray matter and its association with seizures may prevent the misinterpretation of findings on MR images.     

Malacoplakia of the prostate.

Malacoplakia is a granulomatous disease of unknown cause often associated with a coliform urinary infection. It is occasionally a self-limiting disease with diverse clinical presentations and roentgenographic appearances. The importance of a differential diagnosis which considers malignancy is emphasized. A rare instance of malacoplakia involving prostatic tissue is reported.     

Cytoplasmic CD3+ surface CD8+ lymphocytes develop as a thymus-independent lineage in chick-quail chimeras

We have analyzed the embryonic development of a population of lymphoid cells that express a CD3 antigenic determinant in the cytoplasm but not on the cell surface. Since these cells lack T cell receptor (TcR) molecules, we have provisionally named them TCRO cells. Their development, expansion and distribution was investigated following transplantation of splenic and bursal fragments from chicken embryos into quail embryos. Since quail cells are not recognized by our panel of monoclonal antibodies against chicken TcR1, TcR2, TcR3, CD3, CD4 and CD8 molecules, these antibodies provided reliable markers for donor chick lymphocytes in the tissues of the quail recipients. Transplanted spleen and bursa both generated CD3+ cells, the number of which increased as a function of age. Notably, approximately half of these CD3+ cells expressed surface CD8, but none acquired TcR1 (gamma/delta), TcR2 (alpha/beta) or TcR3 expression. Since TCRO cells normally appear first in the spleen of 8-day chick embryos (E8), their generation in E6 splenic transplants indicated an extrathymic origin. The TCRO cells of chick splenic origin migrated to the spleen, bursa and thymus of the quail recipients. In six of seven chimeras acquiring CT3+ cells in the recipient thymus, these cells were restricted to the medulla and displayed the typical TCRO phenotype: CD3+CD8+TcR1-TcR2-TcR3-. These intrathymic TCRO cells also lacked the CT1 thymocyte antigen. We conclude that the TCRO cells represent a thymus-independent lineage of lymphoid cells that can migrate into a receptive thymus by rarely, if ever, differentiate into conventional T cells.     

Minimal haemolysis in blood co-infused with amino acid and dextrose solutions in vitro

Objective: To examine the haemolytic effects of amino acid and dextrose solutions on co-infused packed red blood cells.
Methodology: An in vitro study of packed cells co-infused at various rates with dextrose 5%, 10%, 15% and intravenous amino acid solution (Vamin; Kabi-Pharmacia, Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd) in dextrose 5%, 10% and 15%. The degree of haemolysis was measured as free oxyhaemoglobin by spectrophotometer. Co-infused 0.9% saline and water were used as 0% and 100% haemolysis controls.
Results: Only minimal haemolysis was observed with the solutions tested. The greatest observed amount of haemolysis was 0.14%.
Conclusions: Co-infusion of packed red blood cells with dextrose and amino acid solutions at the concentrations and infusion rates commonly used, in neonatal care, does not cause clinically important haemolysis.