Polyarteritis nodosa in jamaicans

This report describes the main features of the 5 cases of polyarteritis nodosa seen at the University Hospital of the West Indies over a 10-year period. The disease manifestations are protean and only 2 of the 5 patients were diagnosed antemortem, indicating the need to increase physician awareness, especially since response to therapy has improved significantly in recent years

The pathogenesis and effect on renal function of nephrocalcinosis induced by different diets in female rats.

The ability of three diets to produce nephrocalcinosis in female rats has been compared after 30, 60 and 90 days of feeding. Severe nephrocalcinosis with associated tubular damage was induced with a standard laboratory maintenance low-protein diet and with a diet containing a single-cell protein (Pruteen) but not with a casein-containing diet. Both the Pruteen and casein diets were high-protein diets. The development of the lesion was equally rapid following feeding of either the laboratory maintenance diet or the Pruteen diet. Nephrocalcinosis was present, with body kidneys similarly affected, at each 30-day interval with either diet. A severe degree of nephrocalcinosis was associated with widespread renal damage although signs of tubular regeneration and repair were evident at 30 days. Nephrocalcinosis induced by the Pruteen diet was accompanied by enlargement of the kidney. Renal function was assessed at each time by the measurement of urine volume, specific gravity and protein content, inulin clearance, and the excretion of the urinary enzymes N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and alkaline phosphatase. Despite extensive calcification and some tubular damage, renal function was unimpaired, reflecting the capacity of the functional reserve of the kidney.

The effects on the rat testis of single inhalation exposures to ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers, in particular ethylene glycol monomethyl ether.

The effects of a single inhalation exposure to the rat of the saturated vapours derived from four ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers have been investigated. No effects on the testis were observed following exposure to ethylene glycol isopropyl ether (EG ISOPE) and ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE), but there were marked reductions in testicular weight 14 days after exposure to ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE). Further studies were designed to establish the effect of a single exposure to EGME. Mature male albino rats were exposed to various levels of EGME vapour for a single 4-h period and killed 14 days later. Following this single exposure a dose-related decrease in testis weight was observed in rats exposed to 5,000, 2,500 or 1,250 ppm EGME. Histopathological examination revealed disordered spermatogenesis and tubular atrophy in these animals. Minimal degenerative changes were seen in the testis of rats exposed to 625 ppm EGME. When rats were examined at various time intervals after exposure to EGME vapour for 4 h, testis weight was reduced in rats examined 2 days after exposure to 2,500 and 1,000 ppm EGME and remained depressed when compared with control values for up to 19 days following exposure. Histopathological examination of the testis revealed disordered spermatogenesis in exposed animals evident at 1 day following exposure to either 2,500 or 1,00 ppm EGME.

Comparative aspects of the reproductive toxicology by inhalation in rats of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether.

This study was designed to provide a rapid assessment of the effect of two glycol ethers on some aspects of reproduction in the rat. Exposure was by inhalation at 100 and 300 ppm (EGME) and 200 and 600 ppm (PGME) for 6 hr/day. The study was in two parts: (a) Pregnant females were exposed on Days 6 to 17 of gestation. Body weight gain was reduced in both EGME groups. No litters were delivered in the 300-ppm EGME group and only 9/20 rats in the 100-ppm EGME group produced litters where the number, weight, and viability of the pups were reduced, but the pups appeared normal externally. Exposure at 200 and 600 ppm PGME had no effect. (b) Male rats were exposed for 10 days. There was a reduction in testicular weight accompanied by semeniferous tubular atrophy in the 300-ppm EGME group. There were no effects at 100 ppm EGME or 200 and 600 ppm PGME. 300 ppm EGME caused significant reductions in white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and mean cell hemoglobin. The study design proved capable of demonstrating the effects of EGME on the testes and on fetal development and highlighted PGMEs lack of activity at the doses tested.

Ganglioneuroma-containing tumours of the adrenal medulla in Alderly-Park rats.

The histopathology of 7 adrenal tumours, consisting partially or entirely of ganglioneuroma, is described and their origin discussed.