Circulating erythropoietic precursors assessed in culture: characterization in normal men and patients with hemoglobinopathies

Circulating erythropoietic precursors in normal men and patients with hemoglobinopathies were characterized in culture. Blood mononuclear cells harvested with a modification of the Ficoll-Isopaque technique were cultured in methylcellulose for 14 days. The majority of erythropoietic colonies consisted of several subcolonies assuming the morphology of erythropoietic "bursts" described in murine marrow cultures. Time course studied of colony formation from marrow and blood nucleated cells confirmed that the circulating erythropoietic precursors represented only early stages of development. Peak sedimentation velocity of the circulating precursors analyzed using a Staput apparatus averaged 5.31 mm/hr and corresponded with that of the early erythropoietic precursors in human marrow. One ml of blood yielded an average of 153 colonies in normal men and 785 colonies in patients with hemoglobinopathies. No correlation was observed between colony formation and reticulocyte indices of individual patients. Examination of the proliferative state of the erythropoietic precursors using high specific activity tritium-labeled thymidine revealed that almost none of the cells in normal men or patients with hemoglobinopathies were in the DNA synthetic phase.     

免疫功能正常患者鼻眶部毛霉菌病的研究

目的：报告1例免疫功能正常患者鼻眶部毛霉菌病非典型病例,并对该病例进行相关文献回顾。患者,男,17岁,免疫功能正常,左眼2mo缓慢进行性疼痛肿胀。行组织活检,病理学诊断为毛霉菌病。采用综合疗法,包括筛窦及上颌窦侵入性内窥镜切除和清创、左眼眶内容物刮除术、静脉注射两性霉素B和眶内两性霉素B冲洗,成功根除真菌感染。该病例说明,鼻眶部毛霉菌病可发生在年轻健康的个体身上。早期诊断,积极的药物和手术治疗对成功地治疗这种罕见的具有潜在致命性的疾病是至关重要的。     

Site of local anaesthesia in transrectal ultrasonography‐guided 12‐core prostate biopsy: does it make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively compare the efficacy of bi-basal vs bi-apical periprostatic nerve block (PPNB) during 12-core prostate biopsy guided by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and to evaluate the pain experienced on inserting the probe compared to the biopsy procedure, as PPNB with lignocaine local anaesthesia has been used for over a decade for minimizing pain during prostatic biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 143 men who were to have a TRUS-guided prostate biopsy were systematically randomized to two groups, to receive PPNB at the apex or base. A 10-cm visual analogue score was used to record the pain experienced during probe insertion, the biopsy and just before to leaving the department . RESULTS: The mean pain score on biopsy in the apical group was similar to that of the basal group (apex 1.9, base 1.6, P = 0.36). Probe introduction produced a significantly higher pain score (probe 2.2, biopsy 1.7, P < 0.001) than at the biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who experienced greater pain with the introduction of the probe also reported more pain with the biopsy procedure. The site of local anaesthetic before prostatic biopsy showed no significant difference in pain scores. Older men tolerated the procedure better. Analgesia after PPNB at near either the apex or base appears equal, regardless of the site of injection. We suggest that topical perianal anaesthetic agents could significantly reduce not only pain perception, but also improve tolerance.     

Congenital nasal encephalocele--a review of surgical techniques

We report a case of a 6 month old baby boy who had congenital nasal encephalocele, repaired via the traditional staging procedure. The surgical techniques and procedures are described and discussed.     

Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma of minor salivary gland: case report

Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma is a low-grade neoplasm of the minor salivary gland composed exclusively of epithelial cells and not myoepithelial cells. It predominantly affects the oral cavity of adult females. It is microscopically characterized by hyalinizing stroma and clear cells, which are typically positive for cytokeratin markers and negative for S 100 and smooth muscle actin (SMA). Cystic degeneration can also be present. Pathologists should be aware of this new entity so as not to misdiagnose otherwise. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of its kind from Malaysia.