Ductal adenoma of the breast

Ductal adenoma is a recently described benign tumour of the breast that can be mistaken for carcinoma in both frozen and paraffin sections. Such a case is presented. Fortunately a mastectomy was not performed, but the patient did undergo axillary node dissection. Surgeons and pathologists should familiarize themselves with this lesion so that patients do not have to undergo unnecessary mastectomies and axillary node dissections.     

Hereditary characteristics of enzyme deficiency and dermatoglyphics in congenital color blindness

The hereditary characteristics of enzyme deficiency and dermatoglyphics in congenital color blindness (CCB) were studied. We propose that there is a linkage between the two loci on the X-chromosome determining CCB and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), based on our study of a high incidence of G6PD deficiency in 156 male cases with CCB. The CCB gene is closely linked with that of G6PD deficiency from our pedigree investigations. The rise in the frequency of eight or more whorls, the low value of atd angle and the presenting rate of real palmar patterns of the thenar, hypothenar and I, areas presented the hereditary traits of congenital color blindness.     

The echocardiographic evolution of left ventricular hypertrophy in treated hypertensive patients. A long-term follow-up]

In order to study the possible regressive changes of left ventricular hypertrophy in treated hypertensive patients and to correlate them either with the drugs they received and/or the blood pressure reduction obtained, a long-term (6 years) echocardiographic follow-up study was performed in 61 patients. B and M mode echocardiographic septum and posterior wall thickness and left ventricular mass index were measured yearly and the type of ventricular hypertrophy, asymmetric septal or concentric (symmetric), were compared before and after the follow-up. Sixteen patients received only diuretics; 14, only propranolol, and associated therapy was used in the remaining 31 patients. Average blood pressure was significantly reduced in the whole group of patients, but, individually, 30 of them achieved normal levels for the diastolic (90 mmHg), remaining it over this value in the other, although all of them experienced an average reduction 10 mmHg with therapy. Those patients with concentric hypertrophy at entry showed a significant septal, posterior wall thickness and total ventricular mass reduction during the follow-up, those with initial asymmetric septal hypertrophy, a significant septal thickness and ventricular mass reduction, and those without hypertrophy on admission, showed an average paradoxical increase in septal thickness. We conclude that left ventricular hypertrophy disappeared or decreased in 48% of the patients and that treatment seems to prevent its progression or development in the 43% of all patients. The regressive or favorable changes were significantly more frequent among patients with normal blood pressure after treatment as well as among patients treated only with propranolol in comparison to those treated only with diuretics.     

Endothelial cell antigens recognized by xenoreactive human natural antibodies.

Hyperacute rejection of vascularized, discordant xenografts is generally though to be initiated when natural antibodies of the recipient bind to endothelial cells of the donor organ. While rejection of such xenografts always occurs, the molecular targets of natural antibodies have not been elucidated. The aim of the experiments reported herein was to identify the molecules on porcine endothelial cells that would be recognized by human natural antibodies if a porcine organ were to be transplanted into a human (or rhesus). Toward the end, it was shown that the major components recognized by human serum on porcine endothelial cells are glycoproteins of 115kDa, 125kDa, and 135kDa (gp115/135). Reactivity with these glycoproteins was abrogated by enzymatic cleavage of N-linked oligosaccharides or of subterminal beta-D-gal residues suggesting that the determinants are located on oligosaccharides rather than on the polypeptide cores. The biological relevance of gp115/135 was suggested by experiments in which a similar series of components was shown to be recognized by rhesus natural antibodies and by the absorption of such antibodies by perfusion of porcine kidneys. The gp115/135 antigens were present on porcine platelets but not porcine RBC or lymphocytes. Nevertheless, purified RBC and lymphocytes absorbed human anti-gp115/135, suggesting that human natural antibodies recognize the same or crossreactive carbohydrate determinants expressed on the surface of a variety of cells.