Fine structure of pituitary tumors and transplants in mice: effects on the prostate

Twenty-seven primary pituitary tumors (PPT) arose in 109 mice bearing transplanted pituitary glands (TPG). Several PPT were transplanted serially into isologous hosts. Transplanted pituitary tumors (TPT) from 79 different male or female hosts were obtained between 42 and 708 days after transplantation. Histological and electron microscopic preparations of the TPG, PPT and TPT were prepared. The TPG showed much cellular necrosis and diminished secretory activity during the first month. Cellular replacement and secretory granules reappeared after revascularization of the grafts and coincident with the reappearance of somatotrophic and mammotrophic activity in the female hosts. The TPG showed no significant growth for about 1 year and about 25% of the transplants became tumorous after 400 days. EM examination of the PPT revealed heterogeneous secretory granules resembling those of the alpha and beta type in the same cell. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was abundant and the mitochondria were large and many were structurally abnormal. The TPT usually grew slowly but differed from tumor line to tumor line. By six months after transplantation the TPT were polynodular, with red nodules and white nodules. In both red and white tumoral nodules, the cells were PAS, reticulin, amyloid, elastin and Masson-negative, and showed some autoradiographic activity after proline-H³ administration. Also, the EM shows no significant difference between the nodules. Fibrils about 70 Å in diameter were in the ER, and 100–300 Å in diameter in plasma fundamentalis, and fibers larger than 300 Å in extracellular areas. The fibrillar synthesis in the TPT cells was in inverse ratio to the granular secretory activity of the cells. Sixteen of the TPT in CB 815 and 87 hybrid mice contained C-type virus-like particles (VP). Viral particles were noted in the periphery of the nucleus, and in the endoplasmic reticulum. Cells with the most viral particles showed the least granular secretory activity. The TPT in females were mammotrophic, and in males prostatotrophic. The prostatic epithelial cells contain cytoplasmic organelles with delicate lamellae in fingerprint, whorl, or tubular arrangement and amorphous granular aggregates. Mice with TPT for several months had enlarged prostates, some having intraluminal hyperplastic trabeculae, and cells showing less secretory activity. In mice with two lines of TPT, C-type viral particles appeared in the prostatic cells.     

Issues related to the use of nurse extenders

The nursing shortage has prompted a recurring discussion about the appropriate mix of bedside care givers in nursing that can be constructed to ensure quality patient care. As nursing's role has become more professional, there has arisen a need to differentiate work tasks and develop nurse extenders. The author discusses nursing and non-nursing duties as they relate to a model of nurse extenders and related practice issues.     

Molecular comparison of retroviruses associated with human and simian AIDS

Infectious retrovirus(es) associated with the human (LAV, HTLV-III, ARV) and simian (SAIDS-1) acquired immune deficiency syndrome were compared by electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting techniques and by restriction endonuclease mapping of the viral genomes. The extracellular virus particles had similar type D morphology, but intracytoplasmic type A nucleoids were found only in SAIDS virus infected cells. Although the antigens of the three prototype AIDS viruses were similar, no cross-reactivity with the SAIDS virus was detected. Molecular hybridization and restriction enzyme analysis also revealed that the SAIDS and AIDS viruses were genetically unrelated. However, only minor differences, consistent with strain polymorphism, were found between the three AIDS virus isolates. Thus, the retroviruses associated with AIDS in macaques and humans are unique to each species.     

Nephrotic syndrome and rapid renal failure in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

A 44-year-old man, with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and hypertension under satisfactory control, developed nephrotic syndrome with negative serology. Open renal biopsy revealed focal glomerular sclerosis. Prior to the appearance of heavy proteinuria, serum creatinine was 1.7 mg/dl. After the nephrotic syndrome had been established, renal function deteriorated rapidly and hemodialysis was started within 2.6 years. In patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, the appearance of nephrotic range proteinuria along with a rapid decline in renal function indicates the presence of a glomerular lesion, which needs to be investigated by renal biopsy.     

Cell-free and cell-bound antibody in nasal secretions from infants with respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Twenty-two infants under 9 months of age hospitalized with bronchiolitis or pneumonia due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were serially sampled to determine the pattern of secretory antibody response. Using double labeling techniques, we found several types of immunoglobulin in secretions: cell-free antibody to RSV of the immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) classes; and immunoglobulins of all three classes bound to RSV-infected cells shed from the nasal epithelium (presumably cell-bound antibody to RSV). IgA attached to RSV-infected epithelial cells was almost always detected in the first available nasal sample (day 1 or 2 of hospitalization). In contrast, cell-free anti-RSV IgA first appeared an average of 3.5 days later at a time when virus antigen was disappearing from the secretion. IgG and IgM attached to RSV-infected cells appeared more irregularly. The titer of cell-free anti-RSV IgM was often higher than that of IgA early in the illness and declined as the infection resolved. Cell-free anti-RSV IgG was usually present earlier than IgA and rose during convalescence.     

Inflammatory (pseudosarcomatous) myofibroblastic tumor of the urinary bladder causing acute abdominal pain.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a reactive proliferation of myofibroblasts that rarely involves the urinary bladder. The cause of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is unknown but may represent an initial reactive process to an infectious agent or trauma that transforms into neoplastic growth. Cases reported in children, however, often lack any preexisting bladder pathology. The authors present a case in a young child that presented as acute abdominal pain. In general, these tumors follow a benign clinical course after resection, although close monitoring is essential given the rarity of this bladder lesion.