Neuro-Behçet's disease showing severe atrophy of the cerebrum

Summary A 38-year-old female died 6 years after the onset of what was, clinically and histopathologically, consistent with Neuro-Behçet's disease. Pathologically the cerebrum showed severe atrophy. The main changes were observed in the grey and white matter, the diencephalon and the basal ganglia by light microscopy. All these changes originated in softenings around blood vessels, especially small vessels or capillaries. These foci fused together to form large regions of softening. Glial or mesenchymal reactions were minimal. In the white matter there was slight perivascular-infiltration, mainly consisting of lymphocytes. In view of these findings, it is suggested that these changes were caused by an allergic vasculitis. The present case of Neuro-Behçet's disease is the first one showing general atrophy of the cerebrum. It is very important in relation to demyelinating encephalitis.     

Experimental organic mercury poisoning. Pathological changes in muscles

Summary Pathological changes were found in a part of M. gastrocnemius in rats experimentally poisoned by an organic mercury compound. The authors assume from this that organic mercury mainly affects the posterior nerve root fibres, but some of the anterior nerve root fibres may also be involved.

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Zusammenfassung In einem Teil des M. gastrocnemius von experimentell mit organischem Quecksilber vergifteten Ratten fanden sich pathologische Veränderungen. Aufgrund dieses Befundes wird vermutet, daß die Vergiftungsläsion zwar die hinteren Nervenwurzelfasern bevorzugt, aber auch Teile der vorderen Nervenwurzelfasern betreffen kann.

     

Clinical statistics on testicular tumors in the Japanese during the 1970's

A statistical analysis was made by computer on 511 cases of testicular tumor experienced at 14 facilities in Japan between 1970 and 1979. The age distribution of the patients had two peaks, one under 3 years (15%) and the other between 25 and 34 years (32%). Forty percent of the patients were office workers and 76% were college graduates. Fifty percent of the patients had 0 to 1 sibs. The blood type distribution was similar to that for the whole Japanese population. Six percent of the patients had a past history of trauma, and no relation with cell type was detected. Sixty nine percent of the patients were married and 31% were not married. Sixty seven percent of the patients over 30 had seminoma, and 78% of the patients under 29 years old had non-seminoma. Seminoma was rare in patients under 9 years old. Histologically, 75% were simple type, and 25% were mixed type. Forty three percent of the cases were seminoma and 57% were non-seminoma. Of the stage I cases, 78% and 57%, and of the stage III cases 7 and 28%, respectively, were seminoma and non-seminoma, many of the non-seminoma being at high stage. The 5-year survival rate for the 75 patients under 9 years old was 96%, and that for the 341 patients over 15 years was 70%, the survival rate for the patients under 9 years being significantly higher. The 5-year survival rate for stage I, II and III seminoma was 100, 65 and 0%, respectively, while that for non-seminoma was 93, 56 and 8%, respectively. The survival rate for stage I was higher for seminoma cases than for non-seminoma cases. No difference was detected between survival rate for stage II or III between seminoma and non-seminoma. The survival rate for seminoma did not differ with the time when the surgery was performed, but for the patients with non-seminomatous tumors, the survival rate was higher for the patients operated within one month than those operated later. The survival rate was not related to the weight of the extracted testicle. The 5-year survival rate for the patients with normal body temperature was 78% whereas that for the patients who had fevers was 32%. The 5-year survival rate for the patients not accompanied by abdominal tumors was about 80%, whereas that for the patients with palpated abdominal tumors was 42%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Morphological Observations of Peripheral Nerves by the Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract: In order to observe a normal peripheral nerve and a changed peripheral nerve by means of a scanning electron microscope, the present study was carried out. In the changed nerve fibers, they were enveloped by many processes of hypertrophied Schwann cells, and the processes of the Schwann cells seemed to make a pseudosyntitium-like structure with each other. From this finding, it was speculated that these Schwann cells seemed to follow the reverse process in the development of normal peripheral nerve fibers.