Abnormal form of Aspergillus terreus isolated from mycotic abscesses

A remarkable outer cell-wall thickening (up to 1.5 m) was observed on septate hyphae obtained from pus collected from multiple abscesses of a 25-year-old female patient. Ultrastructural examination of the hyphae showed a thick electron dense layer of microfibrillar material surrounding the electron transparent cell wall. The organism was able to grow only on hypertonic media upon initial isolation but on later subculture it grew on normal isotonic media. The thick microfibrillar material diminished progressively upon subculture but could be demonstrated in 7 day secondary cultures in isotonic liquid medium. There, microfibrillar bridges appeared to bind hyphae together. The observations suggested that this microfibrillar material was a true extracellular component. The immunological status of the patient was not examined, but her 10 year history of multiple mycotic abscesses and dermatophytoses suggested some abnormalities.     

Liver injury due to iron overload in thalassemia: histopathologic and ultrastructural studies

The livers of 30 cases of thalassemia (19/-thal/HbE, seven thal/HbH and four -thal major) were studied histopathologically and electron microscopically, in an effort to define the morphologic alterations due to iron overload. The results of light and electron microscopy were similar in most cases. Iron accumulation and fibrosis were the common features found in these patients, except that thal/HbH exhibited lesser hepatic damage. The degrees of iron deposition and fibrosis were found to be higher in splenectomized and cirrhotic than non-splenectomized and non-cirrhotic patients. The subcellular changes were swollen mitochondria, with the presence of an electron dense matrix and ruptured mitochondrial membrane. Proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and dilated rough ER was observed. Increases in lysosomal hemosiderin in hepatocytes and in Kupffer cells were demonstrated. The possible ways by which the iron compounds or free radicals mediated membrane damage are mentioned. The pattern of liver cell damage is similar to that of viral hepatitis.