Hepatic peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a spectrum of liver pathology and clinical correlation.

Thirty-two patients with fever of unknown origin, weight loss, anemia, elevated serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and/or lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated. Histopathologic findings of the liver showed T-cell infiltration in the hepatic sinusoids and portal tracts. The cellular morphology varied from mature lymphocyte to malignant lymphoid cells. We divided the cases into four groups on the basis of cellular atypia. Group A and group B showed mature lymphoid cell infiltration, however, only group B had multiple large areas of hepatocellular necrosis. Group C showed atypical lymphoid cell infiltration. In group D, definite malignant lymphoid cell infiltrates were demonstrated. Groups B, C, and D patients had a very poor prognosis. All of them died despite chemotherapy. Group A patients had a better prognosis. Those who had chemotherapy achieved a complete remission. Progression to a higher group occurred in two of six patients with group B lesions and one of seven patients with group C lesions. The EBV-RNA genomes were found increasingly in the higher groups. This study supports the concept that these groups of disease represent a spectrum of peripheral T-cell proliferations.

Pulmonary microthromboembolism by injection of sonicated autologous blood in rabbits with splenic artery ligations.

Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) has been reported to play an important role in cardiac failure in thalassemic patients after splenectomy. However, the mechanism of PTE in these patients remains unclear. In this study, we attempted to establish an animal model of PTE seen in thalassemic patients after splenectomy. We divided New Zealand white rabbits into three groups: Group 1 was injected sonicated blood, II was injected non-sonicated blood after ligation of the splenic artery, and III was injected sonicated blood after ligation of the splenic artery. After injection of the sonicated blood, we counted the platelet number until 1 hour and the rabbits were sacrificed for histological examination. Platelets significantly decreased in number immediately after injection of the sonicated blood in Groups I and III. Many pulmonary thromboemboli composed mainly of platelets were found in Group III but not in other groups. These pathological changes seem to be partly similar to those of thalassemic patients after splenectomy. This animal model is thought to be useful to study the pathogenesis of pulmonary thromboembolism, especially in thalassemic patients after splenectomy.

Hematoxylin-lac-curcuma polychrome stain for mucin.

A polychrome method for detection of mucin substance in paraffin section is produced by sequential stepwise staining of hematoxylin, crude lac extract (Laccifer lacca), and crude curcuma extract (khamin shan-Curcuma longa). The name LacCur stain is proposed. After a tissue section is deparaffinized and rehydrated, it is stained with Weigert's hematoxylin for 7 minutes. After a quick wash, it is stained for at least 3 hours with lac dye mordanted with aluminum chloride. Washed again and premordanted with ferric chloride for 1 minute, in the last step, it is counterstained with curcuma dye for 5 minutes. With this staining method, the nuclei are stained black, mucin deep red, and organelles and ground substances brownish yellow. The method and outcome colors are comparable to the widely used Mayer's mucicarmine staining method. It costs less than the Mayer's mucicarmine staining method and the procedure is not complicated.