Intracisternal crystalline arrays of coated parallel tubules in cells of a human osteosarcoma

Summary Crystalline arrays of coated parallel tubules (CPT) were observed by electron microscopy within dilated cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum of pleomorphic mononuclear cells in a human osteosarcoma. The wall of the peculiar intracisternal tubules consisted of an electron-dense thin membrane-like envelope which appeared to be composed of granular subunits. The electron-lucent tubular core together with the limiting envelope was approximately 15 nm in diameter. A coat of fuzzy material, approximately 10 nm thick, tightly surrounded the membrane-like wall of the tubules. Cross sections of accumulations of CPT showed the tubules to be arranged in a hexagonal crystalline array. The nature and significance of the intracisternal CPT are unknown.     

人眼眩光失能测定及其临床意义

目的:观察国产仪器测定眩光失能的性能与规律,并讨论其临床意义。方法:采用MGT—1多功能视觉眩光测试仪(海军医学研究所研制),按规定方法操作。测定正常人30名56眼(矫正视力全部≥1.0,晶体透明,无其他明显眼病),晶体混浊患者15人27眼。测定目标亮度及眩光亮度设置为中—中及弱—中两档分别模拟白天及夜间眩光失能。结果:中—中状态下,眩光失能值正常人均值为9.22%(全距0～31),低于晶体混浊者(24.05%,全距9～67),两者差异显著。正常眼在弱—中状态眩光失能值较中—中状态明显(均值20.12%,全距0～56)。不同频率条件对正常及晶体混浊眼眩光失能的影响不同,低频及中频较高频区的影响明显。结论:作为视功能评论指标,眩光失能检查是一种实用方法。在眼科临床及人体工效学上具有重要的意义。     

制剂中利福平晶型的确定

目的确定制剂中利福平的晶型.方法利用粉末X-射线衍射方法测定不同晶型的利福平原料,结合文献数据,总结出利福平各晶型的主要特征衍射峰;直接测定利福平胶囊内容物或片剂研细的固体粉末的粉末X-射线衍射图谱,根据图谱中存在的利福平主要特征衍射峰,确定制剂中利福平的晶型.结果利福平晶体的主要特征衍射峰(2θ)分别为8.79°和14.48°(Ⅰ型结晶),1 5.84°和20.06°(Ⅱ型结晶),18.36°(SV型结晶);制剂中的辅料不干扰对主要特征衍射峰的判断;国内5个企业的12批利福平片和37个企业的88批利福平胶囊中的利福平均为Ⅰ型结晶.结论本方法可方便地判断制剂中利福平的晶型.     

外伤性晶体脱位继发青光眼的手术疗效研究

[目的]探讨外伤性晶体脱位继发青光眼的临床特点以及手术治疗效果。[方法]对本院收治的32例外伤性晶体脱位继发青光眼患者作为研究对象，并对患者采用手术治疗，对患者的临床预后、眼压以及视力恢复情况进行分析。[结果]患者术后视力有明显的改善，术前、术后1周、1个月以及3个月矫正视力分别为（0．082±0．08）、（0．28±0．14）、（0．24±0．39）、（0．32±0．16），各时间点矫正视力比较具有统计学差异（P＜0．05）；患者术前、术后1周、1个月、3个月以及半年眼压分别为（45．83±12．12）mmHg、（17．31±3．43）mmHg、（28．93±4．34）mmHg、（18．25±3．92）mmHg、（17．23±4．34）mmHg，比较发现术后1个月眼压出现升高，但是随访发现眼压得到明显的控制。[结论]对外伤性晶体脱位继发青光眼保守治疗无效情况下采用联合手术治疗，其具有良好的临床效果以及安全性。     

Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica at Alberta Work Sites

Although crystalline silica has been recognized as a health hazard for many years, it is still encountered in many work environments. Numerous studies have revealed an association between exposure to respirable crystalline silica and the development of silicosis and other lung diseases including lung cancer. Alberta Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour conducted a project to evaluate exposure to crystalline silica at a total of 40 work sites across 13 industries. Total airborne respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica concentrations were quite variable, but there was a potential to exceed the Alberta Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 0.025 mg/m³ for respirable crystalline silica at many of the work sites evaluated. The industries with the highest potentials for overexposure occurred in sand and mineral processing (GM 0.090 mg/m³), followed by new commercial building construction (GM 0.055 mg/m³), aggregate mining and crushing (GM 0.048 mg/m³), abrasive blasting (GM 0.027 mg/m³), and demolition (GM 0.027 mg/m³). For worker occupations, geometric mean exposure ranged from 0.105 mg/m³ (brick layer/mason/concrete cutting) to 0.008 mg/m³ (dispatcher/shipping, administration). Potential for GM exposure exceeding the OEL was identified in a number of occupations where it was not expected, such as electricians, carpenters and painters. These exposures were generally related to the specific task the worker was doing, or arose from incidental exposure from other activities at the work site. The results indicate that where there is a potential for activities producing airborne respirable crystalline silica, it is critical that the employer include all worker occupations at the work site in their hazard assessment. There appears to be a relationship between airborne total respirable dust concentration and total respirable dust concentrations, but further study is require to fully characterize this relationship. If this relationship holds true, it may provide a useful hazard assessment tool for employers by which the potential for exposure to airborne respirable silica at the work site can be more easily estimated.     

Peculiar cytoplasmic inclusions in oncocytic adrenal cortical tumors: an electron microscopic observation

Two cases of an oncocytic adrenal cortical tumor that contained peculiar cytoplasmic crystalline inclusions in the tumor cells are presented. The patients were 49- and 72-year-old females without clinical and biochemical evidence of adrenal cortical or medullary dysfunction. The adrenal tumors weighed 80 and 200 g each. These crystalline inclusions were present in groups of longitudinal profiles or clusters of crossly cut aggregates. They appeared in clusters of membrane-bound columns. On longitudinal sections, they appeared as rigid rods of homogenous density measuring 36 nm in width, but when they were cut transversely their paracrystalline nature became apparent. They were composed of closely packed microtubules in rectangular blocks. The microtubules measured 12.5 nm with a hollow center measuring 4.2 nm. The inclusions were within the membrane-bound cisterna of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. The significance of these inclusions is not clearly understood; however, they have been seen only in adrenal cortical tumors and their presence may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of adrenal oncocytic tumors. One patient presented with a tumor in which gross and microscopic appearance was compatible with a pheochromocytoma. This case exhibited an oncocytic appearance and pronounced cellular pleomorphism. Ultrastructural studies were necessary to recognize the tumor cells as cortical cells. The tumor cells contained abundant mitochondria with tubular cristae, paranuclear parallel stacks of granular endoplasmic reticulum, and relatively prominent smooth endoplasmic reticulum. These features are typical of adrenocortical cells. In addition, frequent tumor cells contained the peculiar cytoplasmic inclusions herein described.     

Schwannian crystalline-like inclusions bodies (Fardeau-Engel bodies) revisited in peripheral neuropathies

In 1969, Fardeau and Engel described polygonal organelles containing crystalline-like structures located in the Schwann cell cytoplasm of unmyelinated fibers. Such inclusions were reported in various conditions, mainly with axonal lesions. They were also reported in a few cases of peripheral neuropathy associated with primary mitochondriopathy. Although they are surrounded by a double membrane, their mitochondrial origin is not definitely proven. Their significance remains obscure but they deserve to be better known as Fardeau-Engel bodies, so as not to be mistaken with mitochondrial crystalline inclusions, which are frequently observed in patients with ragged-red fibers in muscle.