An unusual stress-induced gastric lesion

An unusual type of gastric lesions, clearly different from erosions, was produced in rats by prolonged immobilization and application of adrenaline at the first and the third hour of stress. The lesions are large, round, highly hyperaemic elevations of the glandular part of the rat stomach. Necrosis of the superficial 2/3 of the mucosa with haemorrhages and leucocytic infiltration as well as marked oedema, focal haemorrhages, necrotic vasculitis and darkly stained phagocytes in the submucosa are the most prominent histological features of it. Some special conditions seem to be necessary for the development of this "superficial gastric necrosis".     

An unusual pediatric lymphoma.

The diagnosis of true histiocytic lymphoma is complex. Since clinical findings are nonspecific and histopathology is only suggestive, misdiagnosis is likely. Using appropriate cytochemical and immunologic markers incorporated into a panel of studies, the diagnosis of true histiocytic lymphoma may be secured. Only with accurate diagnosis and further study can long-term, disease-free survival and curability be determined.     

An unusual two-tailed mouse.

A malformation that resulted in the formation of 2 complete tails is described in a mouse that was heterozygous for the sex-linked gene Bent-tail (Bn). One of the tails appeared normal and contained 29 vertebrae, whereas the other tail consisted of 27 vertebrae and had several bends or kinks in it and also had malformed vertebrae similar to those described for the Bn gene. A comparison of the malformation with previously described bifurcated tail conditions in the mouse is presented. It is possible that this 2-tailed mouse represents a special case of X-chromosome inactivation.     

An unusual beta-cell adenoma.

An unusual case of insulinoma in a 51-year-old man demonstrates the difficulties in diagnosing and treating hypoglycemia. From the many laboratory tests and procedures performed, the only findings typical of insulinoma were inappropriate values of plasma immunoreactive insulin in relation to the corresponding values of blood glucose, and these were sporadic. A small beta-cell adenoma in the pancreatic head was the cause of the hypoglycemia.     

Phase resetting of the respiratory cycle before and after unilateral pontine lesion in cat.

The pontine respiratory group (PRG) facilitates the mechanism for terminating the inspiratory phase but may influence other phases in the respiratory cycle as well. We determined the effects of PRG lesions on the response of the respiratory cycle to superior laryngeal nerve stimulation delivered in each phase of the cycle in decerebrate, vagotomized, paralyzed, and ventilated cats (n = 6). We measured the duration of inspiration (TI) and expiration (TE) for three breaths before and in the perturbed breath and TI for three breaths after the perturbation. The delay to next inspiration was plotted against the phase at which the stimulus was delivered. Before lesioning, premature inspiratory termination was followed by phase-dependent shortening of TE. After lesioning, premature inspiratory termination did not systematically change the following TE. Breath-by-breath variability (measured 50 breaths) increased and stimulus after-effects (prolonged TI in the subsequent cycle) were augmented following lesions. These data indicate that the PRG plays an important role in the control of TE after perturbation and in the stability of the respiratory central pattern generator.     

Oncocytic nodule. An unusual case of a submaxillary gland mass in an elderly patient

A submaxillary gland mass in an elderly woman was diagnosed as an oncocytic nodule by cutting needle biopsy and was followed with serial fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy for seven years. All specimens showed pure populations of oncocytes. Oncocytic nodules of the salivary gland are unusual lesions that may represent hyperplastic proliferations or true neoplasms. Although oncocytic metaplasia is commonly identified in the salivary glands of elderly patients, oncocytes rarely form masses that are targets for needle biopsy. This case suggests that FNA biopsy may be a useful method of evaluating salivary gland lesions in elderly patients who are not candidates for surgery.     

An unusual type of cilium.

The connective tissue cells of the dentinal pulp of unerupted dog teeth possess occasional cilia. Internally there are 4 to 8 peripheral doublets and one central doublet. Nine peripheral doublets are observed only close to or near the basal body.     

Widespread N18 in median nerve SEP is preserved in a pontine lesion

Widespread N18 potential to median nerve stimulation was preserved in a patient who had profound unilateral disturbance of deep sensation and a lesion of the pontine medial lemniscus confirmed by MRI. It was concluded from this result that at least a significant part of the N18 potential was generated caudal to the pontine level or at higher levels via extralemniscal pathways. Careful review of studies in man with intraoperative recordings seemed to support that the N18 potential already exists at the medullary level. We suggested that the potential generated at the cuneate nucleus which was described in cats may correspond to part of the N18 potential.     

An unusual glucomannan from Tornabenia intricata.

Mannose-containing polysaccharides of 18 lichen species were prepared via successive alkaline extraction, precipitation with Fehling solution and fractional precipitation with Cetavlon. Products from Fehling and Cetavlon precipitation, the latter at pH 8.5 in the presence of borax, were structurally similar, except with those of Usnea sp., U. meridionalis, Parmotrema araucaria and Evernia prunastri, which were mixtures and initially provided precipitates at pH 7 due to the presence of carboxyl groups. With one exception, glucosyl units were detected in all preparations, but possibly arose from glucan contaminants of the galactomannans. Tornabenia intricata, however, did not contain galactose, and a glucomannan was isolated. It consisted of two components with M(r)s of ca 0.85 x 10(5) and ca 1.1 x 10(5) and whose 13C NMR spectra were identical. The overall preparation contained a (1-->6)-linked alpha-D-Manp main-chain substituted at 0-2 mainly with side chains of alpha-D-Manp with smaller amounts of alpha-D-Glcp, alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->2)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1-->4)]-alpha-D-Manp, and possibly alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1-->4)]-alpha-D-Manp+ ++.