Benign peritoneal mesothelioma. Histopathology in a case.

A case of peritoneal mesothelioma was histopathologically diagnosed in a 40-year-old woman. Localized solitary firm nodules found in omentum appeared microscopically as trabecular proliferations with a plexiform pattern in a myxoid stroma. The tumors were penetrated by clefts and cystic cavities lined by a cuboidal or endotheliform epithelium. Rare psammoma bodies were present. The stroma was rich in hyaluronic acid and slightly positive for neutral mucopolysaccharides.

Nodular salpingitis and tubal endometriosis. II. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Nodular salpingitis and tubal endometriosis are dystrophic disorders (salpingioses) the clinical importance of which is mainly due to their interference with female fertility. We have studied 42 cases of women operated for tubal sterility, viz. 23 cases of nodular salpingitis (NS), 17 of endometriosis (EM) and two cases in which both lesions were present. Pre-operative x-ray and celioscopic exploration was performed in order to assess the severity of the lesions and the outlook after tubal plastic surgery. X-ray examination reveals the diverticular nature of these lesions. Both diseases may be localized in any of the tubal segments. The postoperative prognosis depends on early surgery, site of the lesion and its nature.

Nodular salpingitis and tubal endometriosis. I. Comparative clinical study.

Nodular salpingitis and tubal endometriosis have been referred to in succession as salpingiosis, diverticulosis, adenomyosis of the oviduct, endometrioid conditions, etc. This varied terminology underscores their etiopathogenetic and morphological substratum which is different from that of non specific tubal inflammation, but at the same time this variety of terms has always created confusion in interpretation and diagnosis. We have considered it necessary to carry out a comparative study of nodular salpingitis and tubal endometriosis in 42 cases of sterility operated during the last two years for tubal obstruction and in which histological examination has yielded evidence for the lesions of nodular salpingitis (NS) or endometriosis (EM) in at least one of the oviducts. As for the etiology of the two diseases, we have discussed the role plaid by inflammatory conditions, uterine trauma (curettage) and dystrophic disorders, as well as the importance of hyperandrogenism in NS. Taking into account the diffuse sclerogenic tendency of the tubal wall in NS and the concomitant inflammatory and dystrophic lesions in the peritubal tissues in EM, the postoperative outlook depends on early surgery, to be performed before tubal anatomy has been completely altered.

Cytochemical demonstration of folic acid in normal and leukemic granulocytes.

By means of an original cytochemical method, folic acid was demonstrated "in situ" in peripheral white blood cells in acute and chronic granulocytic leukemia. In control blood smears folic acid-relevant granules were found predominantly in the nuclei of neutrophils and basophils. Eosinophils were found positive for folic acid reaction both in nuclei and cytoplasm. In leukemic undifferentiated cells, less marked in acute than in chronic granulocytic leukemia, the cytoplasms contained a great quantity of folate. Nuclei were fewer or nonreactive. Therefore the cytochemical localization may be related to the degree of the white cells differentiation.

Histoenzymological study on desquamative cervico-vaginal cells.

Dihydrofolate dehydrogenase activity was histochemically investigated comparatively to the activities of 6-phosphogluconate, glucose-6-phosphate, malate and lactate dehydrogenases, NADH-2-tetrazolium dehydrogenase, esterases, beta-glucuronidase and leucyl aminopeptidase in smears of desquamative cervico-vaginal cells of negative and positive Papanicolaou classes. Dihydrofolate dehydrogenase was found active in a greater percentage of cells and stronger in individual cells of cervical carcinoma than in normal, inflammatory or dysplastic cervix uteri. The other enzymes activities were less specifically increased in dyskaryotic cells.

A possible histochemical mechanism of dihydrofolate reductase reaction.

The authors propose a hypothesis concerning the mechanism of dihydrofolate reductase reaction, suggesting a combined action of transhydrogenases and diaphorase particularly for this enzyme activity, and generally for the reductases.

The in situ localization of folic acid.

A histochemical azo-coupling method for localizing folic acid in situ is described. Cat and rat liver, kidney, bone marrow and brain were found to be rich in folic acid; stomach, intestine, salivary glands, and blood contained less. Folic acid was localized in the cytoplasm of tissues having a very active metabolism, but in the nucleus of highly specialized cells such as neurons.

Cytoenzymologic activities of some oxidroeductases and alkaline phosphatase of leucocytes in Basedow, Cushing and Addison diseases.

Leukocytes, approached by histoenzymological methods for demonstration of dihydrofolate dehydrogenase, NADH2-diaphorase, lactate dehydrogenase and alcaline phosphatase activities, provided information about the impaired metabolic balance of thyrotoxicosis, Cushing and Addison diseases. The most relevant variations were found in thyrotoxicosis, the most sensitive enzyme was dihydrofolate dehydrogenase and the less sensitive was alcaline phosphatase. The neutrophils and lymphocytes had more evident enzymic variations.