Influence of the length of the small bowel graft on the severity of graft versus host disease

The influence of the length and origin of a small bowel graft on graft versus host disease (GVHD) was studied in 33 (Lewis x brown Norway) F1 hybrids transplanted with different types of Lewis small bowel grafts. Recipients of an entire small bowel graft (N = 9), a jejunal graft (N = 6), or an ileal graft (N = 6) displayed a similar acute lethal GVHD, with 100% mortality rate and equivalent survival time (15 +/- 0.7, 16.8 +/- 0.9, and 16 +/- 0.6 days, respectively) (P greater than 0.01). On the other hand, 80% of the recipients of a segmental jejunal graft (N = 10) recovered from a transitory form of GVHD and regained weight similarly to the isografted rats (N = 4). It was concluded that the entire small bowel, jejunum, and ileum can provoke an equivalent GVHD after transplantation, whereas a segment of jejunum decreases the intensity of GVHD, probably by reducing the amount of transplanted lymphoid tissue.     

A leg ulcer as manifestation of metastatic squamous cell vaginal carcinoma

Cutaneous metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is extremely rare. So far, the total number of reported skin metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is only one. We present another case with an unusual manifestation of vagina carcinoma metastasis: skin metastasis presenting as a leg ulcer on the lower leg.     

Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for preoperative parathyroid imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed in seven consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism to preoperatively locate parathyroid adenomas. Foci of FDG accumulation corresponding to abnormal parathyroid tissue were observed in two out of nine surgically excised parathyroid adenomas. It was concluded that FDG PET imaging demonstrated a too low sensitivity for systematic preoperative detection and localization of parathyroid glands causing primary hyperparathyroidism.     

Localization of a gene for otosclerosis to chromosome 15q25-q26

Among white adults otosclerosis is the single most common cause of hearing impairment. Although the genetics of this disease are controversial, the majority of studies indicate autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance. We studied a large multi- generational family in which otosclerosis has been inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Five of16 affected persons have surgically confirmed otosclerosis; the remaining nine have a conductive hearing loss but have not undergone corrective surgery. To locate the disease- causing gene we completed genetic linkage analysis using short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRPs) distributed over the entire genome. Multipoint linkage analysis showed that only one genomic region, on chromosome 15q, generated a lod score >2.0. Additional STRPs were typed in this area, resulting in a lod score of 3.4. STRPs FES (centromeric) and D15S657 (telomeric) flank the 14. 5 cM region that contains an otosclerosis gene.