A further family with congenital renal proximal tubular dysgenesis.

A new syndrome of oligohydramnios, Potter's syndrome, and anuric renal failure leading to stillbirth or neonatal death from respiratory failure has recently been described. Histologically, there is renal tubular dysgenesis, especially of the proximal tubules, and apparent glomerular crowding. To date, five families have been reported, in four of which there have been affected sibs and in two parental consanguinity. The disorder is, therefore, thought to be inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Intravascular delivery of laser energy with metal-capped optical fibers: the potential hazard of distal embolism.

To assess the risk of embolism resulting from plaque fragmentation during laser angioplasty with metal-capped optical fibers, laser energy of 4, 8, and 12 W for 10 or 20 seconds was delivered through these fibers to 60 coronary endarterectomy segments fitted in a silicone tube filled with saline solution. Twenty specimens manipulated in the same way but without delivering laser energy were used as controls. The effluent was filtered through in-line filters of 225, 70, and 25 microns. Treatment with laser energy resulted in weight loss and shortening of the specimens compared to control specimens (23 +/- 4 mg versus 5.4 +/- 0.8 mg; p less than 0.001 and 0.2 +/- 0.02 mm versus 2.5 +/- 0.5 mm; p less than 0.001). However, this also produced significant debris formation for all combinations of power and time (up to 275 +/- 38 micrograms versus 155 +/- 21 micrograms in controls). Results of scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of fragments up to 300 microns in diameter. Another potential hazard of laser angioplasty with metal-capped optical fibers in thromboembolism. This was studied by delivering laser energy through metal-capped fibers during perfusion with aliquots of blood at 5 or 40 ml/min. At each flow rate nine aliquots were treated with either 4, 8, or 12 W for 3, 6, or 9 seconds and a tenth was used as a control aliquot. The effluent was filtered with five filters between 225 microns and 25 microns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Oestrogen receptors, lactate dehydrogenase and cellularity in human breast cancer.

Oestrogen receptor (ER) concentrations in breast tissues are almost universally expressed in relation to total soluble protein, though the latter does not fully correct for gross variations in receptor concentration due to variations in tissue cellularity. It was considered possible that the concentration of a specific glycolytic enzyme might be a better index and reflection of tumour cellularity. Measurements of the concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), oestrogen receptor and total soluble protein and estimates of tumour cellularity were therefore performed on 98 breast tissues (80 breast cancers, 18 benign tissues). Cellularity and the concentrations of oestrogen receptor, lactate dehydrogenase and total soluble protein were significantly higher in breast cancers than in the benign tissues. The concentration of oestrogen receptors (positives only) was, as expected, related to tissue cellularity (correlation coefficient, r = 0.35). The concentrations of both LDH and total soluble protein were also both strongly related to tissue cellularity (correlation coefficients r = 0.67 and 0.75, respectively), and to each other (r = 0.78). These results suggest that (1) total soluble protein concentration is a good index of cellularity and (2) there is unlikely to be any additional value in expressing receptor concentrations relative to LDH since the latter appears to be a 'typical' soluble protein.

Histological appearances of intracranial biopsies obtained using the Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator.

The Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator causes localised ultrasonic tissue fragmentation and has recently been used to remove intracranial tumours. We have examined tissue fragments from 17 operations in which the apparatus was used: in all cases a definitive diagnosis could be made from the material aspirated. This finding has not been previously described.

The effect of breast biopsy on reactive changes in the axillary lymph nodes.

The reactive changes in the axillary lymph nodes of 50 breast cancer patients treated by mastectomy immediately following frozen section diagnosis have been compared with the changes in the nodes of 50 patients whose biopsy preceded mastectomy by between 2 and 5 days. The frequency of sinus histiocytosis was significantly greater in those patients who had been subjected to previous biopsy. This finding suggests that prior breast biopsy may negate the prognostic significance of sinus histiocytosis in breast cancer.