[A morphometric model of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the aging rat]. / Un modelo morfométrico de neumonitis por hipersensibilidad en la rata vieja.

Our objective was to develop an experimental model of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the aging rat. The following hypothesis was proposed: hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the aging rat will be evident in alterations in cells harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and in an increase in alveolar interstitial tissue. Sixty animals with a mean age of 18 months were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 contained healthy, untreated animals and group 2 contained unhealthy animals that had been exposed to bovine seralbumin (BS). BAL and morphometric analysis of the lung was performed. The percentage of lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear, leukocytes and alveolar macrophages were determined in BAL. The morphometric variables studied were mean linear intersection (Lm), length of alveolar cord, wall thickness, tissue density and number of measurements of alveolar cord. The results show that the unhealthy animals had higher (p < 0.001) percentages of lymphocytes in BAL, lower Lm, diminished alveolar cord and thinner walls, as well as greater tissue density and a higher number of measurements. All differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). These results lead to the conclusion that exposure of the aging rat to BS produces an increase in lymphocytes in BAL and an increase in interstitial alveolar content, findings that are related to alveolar-interstitial inflammation.

Pulmonary response to bovine albumin. A morphometric study in rats.

The following hypothesis is proposed: that hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), experimentally induced in rats, is the cause of a thickening in the alveolar wall, a decrease in the size of the alveole, hyperplasia in the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) and hypertrophy in the goblet cells. Wistar rats were classified into two different groups, namely, non-treated animals and animals exposed to bovine albumin (BA). A morphometric study was carried out and the following variables were quantified: a) percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophils and alveolar macrophages of the bronchio-alveolar lavage (BAL); b) the interstice of the alveole, the alveolar chord length, the alveolar wall thickness and the number of alveolar macrophages with hemosiderin within its cytoplasm; c) the size of lymphatic area (LA) in BALT, the length of the lymphatic epithelium (LEp) in BALT and the percentage of goblet cells in the bronchial epithelium. The following results were obtained from the animals exposed to BA: 1) a significant increase in both lymphocytes and neutrophils of BAL, and of alveolar macrophages with hemosiderin in its cytoplasm; 2) a significant thickening of the alveolar walls and the BALT elements, which confirms the above mentioned hypothesis; 3) a significant increase in the alveolar chord and a significant decrease in the number of goblet cells of the bronchus, which contradicts the above mentioned hypothesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Congenital bladder diverticulum as a cause of acute urinary retention]. / Divertículo vesical congénito como causa de retención urinaria aguda.

A case of acute urinary retention secondary to a giant bladder diverticulum in a 23-year-old patient is described. Its etiopathogenesis is briefly discussed, highlighting its congenital origin which, in our view, must be based on the histological examination of the specimen.

[Bladder bilharziasis. Presentation of a clinical case]. / Bilharziosis vesical. Aportación de un caso clínico.

We present a case of vesical Bilharziosis in a young black man. We briefly discuss the pathogeny, the diagnosis, based fundamentally on the microscopic study of urine and cystoscopy, as well as the treatment with Praziquantel as the preferential medication in Schistosomiasis due to S. haematobium.

The neurofibroma of the oesophagus. Case report.

A case of oesophageal neurofibroma is reported; its low incidence among the benign tumours of the oesophagus is pointed out. The clinical, radiologic and histologic features of this very rare tumour are described.