Cutaneous plasmacytosis associated with lung and anal carcinomas

Cutaneous plasmacytosis is a rare disorder characterized by a benign proliferation of mature plasma cells that appears as multiple dark-brown to purplish skin lesions, often associated with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia. We present the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who suffered from a cutaneous plasmacytosis associated with two different carcinomas. Cutaneous plasmacytosis seems to be a reactive process because most cases reported are not associated with any apparent underlying disease. Nevertheless, because few reported cases were associated with malignancies, screening of additional neoplasms would be justified.     

Arachidonic acid metabolites in CSF in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy of newborn infants

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cerebral synthesis of eicosanoids in the asphyctic newborn and to investigate the relation between the prostanoid profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the appearance and severity of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Levels of 6-keto-PGF _1-α, TXB₂, PGE₂ and PGF_2-α in CSF were measured in 40 full term newborns during the first day of life. Thirty of these newborns had birth asphyxia and were divided into three groups: 10 without HIE, 12 with mild HIE and 8 with moderate-severe HIE. They were compared to a control group of 10 non-hypoxic newborns. Determinations of the metabolites in CSF were performed by RIA and expressed as pg/ml (mean ± SD). The CSF TXB₂ (thromboxane A₂ metabolite) in asphyxiated newborns was always higher than in the control group (28.12 ± 10.6), and related to the severity of HIE ( p = 0:005): without HIE (50.84 ± 16.4; p = 0:02), mild HIE (80.65 ± 12.64; p ± 0:01) and moderate-severe HIE (178.14 ± 20.5; p < 0:01). The CSF 6-keto-PGF _1-α (prostacyclin metabolite) in asphyxiated newborns was always higher than in the control group (80.55 ± 12.56), but indirectly related to the severity of HIE: without HIE (240.95 ± 28.12; p < 0:01), mild HIE (183.65 ± 30.1; p < 0:01) and moderate-severe HIE (140.55 ± 25.12; p < 0:01). In the moderate-severe HIE group, the increase in TXB₂ was higher than the rise in 6-keto-PGF _1-α.     

The effects of preservation on microvascular vein grafts in rats

Segments 15 mm in length were excised from the femoral veins of rats and preserved by refrigeration at 4 C in lactated Ringer's solution for periods up to 21 days. The findings show that veins can be preserved for up to seven days and successfully grafted to recipients. Although there was some success in preserving vein segments for more than seven days, a high rate of thrombosis occurred after implantation in the recipients. It is generally accepted that damaged endothelium causes thrombosis. The light and electron microscopic observations in this study, however, suggest that the condition of the endothelium may not be the only important factor in the patency of small vessels. A thickened and prominent elastic lamina may also play a role in keeping the lumen open.     

Effect of bite tray impression technique on relocation accuracy in frameless stereotactic radiotherapy.

A previously developed method for achieving patient relocation in fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (attachment of an infrared fiducial system to a bite tray) relies on the integrity of a bite tray system that incorporates moulding to the patient's upper dentition. Reproducible and accurate patient positioning requires stability of the bite tray and mould during the full treatment process, both during the time the bite tray is inserted in the patient's mouth, and between separate bite tray insertions. The optimum construction method for a stable reproducible tray has not been sufficiently investigated. We undertook a study to identify factors which might influence the integrity of the hard palate bite tray system. Reprosil Fast Set Putty was used to construct 3 impression conditions; teeth only; teeth and alveolar sulcus; and teeth, alveolar sulcus, and the hard palate. Reproducibility was assessed by volunteers inserting the impressions multiple times and recording the locations of 8 standard reference points. Our results showed the optimal impression technique (i.e., the one that led to the smallest ranges in positional and rotational errors) was that which incorporated the teeth, alveolar sulcus, and hard palate.