Embryological, clinical and anatomopathological considerations on a very rare case of a bicephalous fetus (dicephalus dipus dibrachius).

In this paper, we present the very rare case of a 21 weeks pregnant woman, examined clinically and by ultrasound. We could observe the present of two heads and a common trunk and therefore we proceeded to the small caesarian of necessity. We examined the fetus from the clinical and pathological point of view and we could observe a rare case of pregnancy with a bicephalous malformed fetus. During the autopsy, we could reveal the common elements and the devised ones, which are described as it follows. The case is a very rare one and that probably explains the fact that until the 21 weeks examination, even if she was clinically and ultrasound examined there was the appreciation that it was a twin pregnancy with a normal evolution. In this case, it is necessary to underline that the difficulties concerning the diagnosis and the medical behavior are also because the patient was a primipara 34-year-old woman without any pathological or specific family history. This case analysis shows the necessity of a preconception genetic advice together with the extension of the analysis of the genetic risk in all mothers under 35-year-old, mandatory and supported by the medical system. At the same time, an ultrasound examination of great performance proves to be necessary in order not to prolong the development of a pathological pregnancy.

Cerebral microvascular changes induced by rich cholesterol and saturated fatty acid diet in Wistar rats.

UNLABELLED: The impact of an excess of fatty acids in the diet on cardiovascular diseases has been studied and discussed both in human and animal studies. Generally, excessive saturated fats increase the risk, while unsaturated fats are considered less harmful. Our aim was to perform an experimental study in order to analyze how fatty diet quality (unsaturated vs. saturated fatty acids) influences atherogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our experimental study, 18 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into two equal groups. One group was subjected to a rich unsaturated fatty acid diet (untar) and the other group to a rich saturated one (palm oil). Three animals from each group were sacrificed after 12, 18, and 48 weeks. The brain was removed and microscopically examined after Hematoxylin-Eosin, Orcein and Masson's trichrome classical staining, and after immunohistochemical marking using the anti-alpha smooth muscle actin antibody. RESULTS: Rats sacrificed after 12 weeks revealed modicum lesions, as intimal vacuoles or minute intraluminal thrombosis, and cerebral parenchymal edema. After 18 weeks, some of rats subjected to a rich saturated fatty acid diet presented vacuoles found in all arteriolar wall layers, and a tendency towards parietal thrombosis. In rats subjected to a rich unsaturated fatty acid diet, the subintimal arteriolar vacuolization was associated with an intramural and adventitial fibrosis. In rats sacrificed after 48 weeks, lesional polymorphism was pronounced, but in rats subjected to a rich unsaturated fatty acid diet complete luminal thrombosis was followed by a an organized thrombus with multiple capillary channels. Although in Wistar rats atherosclerosis appeared only after intensive changes in diet, different experimental studies showed that, in transgenic rats, rich saturated fatty acid diet induced progressive atherosclerotic lesions, resembling those observed by us, but also some aspects described in human pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Our experimental study reveals differences in atherogenesis under saturated vs. unsaturated fatty diet.

Bilateral struma ovarii: a case mimicking an ovarian neoplasm.

We present a case of bilateral struma ovarii which developed postoperatively and was histopathologically diagnosed after the patient was hospitalized for investigation and treatment of tumoral anexal bilateral formations. There was no evidence of clinical malignancy or metastases. Data from the literature, together with histopathologic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of the disease were checked again taking into account the scarcity of this lesion, especially bilaterally.