A case of intrauterine growth restriction in association with placental mesenchymal dysplasia with abnormal placental lymphatic development.

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare human disorder associated with stillbirth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Although the morphology of this condition has been described in 86 cases, the underlying cellular origin is unclear. We investigate the placental cell type involved in a case of PMD associated with a live born female infant with IUGR. In PMD intermediate villi contain cisternae, lined by non-proliferative cells. Immunostaining reveals they are not of trophoblast or vascular endothelial origin. There is positive immunostaining for lymphatic endothelium; this abnormal lymphangiogenesis is in concordance with current hypotheses regarding the aetiology of PMD. Furthermore, such observations suggest that placental villous mesenchyme may differentiate into various cell types, even those not normally found in the human placenta.

Myeloid metaplasia in the gall bladder: a case report.

Idiopathic myelofibrosis is often associated with myeloid metaplasia (extramedullary haemopoiesis) in the spleen and liver. However, the gall bladder is an extremely unusual site for it to occur. A 59 year old man with myelofibrosis, who underwent cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis, showed myeloid metaplasia in his gall bladder. Pathologically, this may lead to diagnostic difficulties.

Primary thyroid lymphoma: a report of two cases.

Primary thyroid lymphomas (PTLs) are rare neoplasms which in the past have been classified by various schemes. Clinicopathological findings of two cases which were diagnosed in the past one year in our institute are presented using the Revised European and American classification (REAL) for lymphomas. Both cases presented as enlarging neck masses in elderly female patients, in association with lymphocytic thyroiditis. One case was diagnosed as a MALT (mucosa associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma while the other was a diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL).

Autopsy study of maternal deaths.

OBJECTIVES: To obtain an insight into the underlying disorder or pathologies in different organs or systems, and to attempt clinicopathologic correlation in maternal deaths. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 95 maternal autopsies done from 1993 to 2000 in Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, India. External examination, in situ examination, gross and microscopic examination was done in each case. The cause of death was arrived at after reviewing clinical details, available investigations, morphological findings, and clinicopathologic correlation. RESULTS: Ninety-five (45.02%) out of 211 maternal deaths were autopsied. Out of 95, there were 47 (49.5%) direct obstetric deaths, and 33 (34.7%) indirect obstetric deaths. Fifteen (15.8%) deaths were unrelated to pregnancy, 14 of which were due to infections. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertensive disorders associated with pregnancy (24.2%) and anemia (14.7%) were most common. In the hypertensive group, important findings were disseminated intravascular coagulation, hemorrhages in different organs and thromboemboli. Two cases were HIV seropositive. The autopsy helped to elucidate factors contributing to death and pathology in different organ systems.

Blood transfusion associated fatalities.

16 post transfusion deaths were studied by reviewing clinical and blood bank records and by postmortem examination whenever possible. 13 of these cases belonged to regional blood bank, 2 were transfused in other hospitals and referred for management of transfusion reactions and one case be longed to other blood bank in the city. 3 deaths could not be attributed to transfusion reaction. Post transfusion endotoxaemia (7 cases) was the most frequent mode of transfusion associated fatality followed by cardiac overload (5 cases) and septicaemia (3 cases). In two cases endotoxaemia coexisted with cardiac overload. The pretransfusion compromised clinical course unfavourably thereby contributing significantly in death. The 3 clinically stable patients succumbed to posttransfusion endotoxaemia. The incidence of transfusion associated fatality in the present institute was 0.028% amongst total transfusions.

Immunological and molecular genetic analysis of the cellulase component from Penicillium funiculosum.

Following immunization of rabbits, the antiserum was initially analyzed for antiendoglucanase activity using dot-blot ELISA methods. When compared with the preimmune serum, the antiserum showed strong response even at 25 ng concentration. The specificity of the polyclonal antibodies, raised against the partially purified endoglucanase component of Penicillium funiculosum, was determined by Oüchterlony double diffusion. Rocket electrophoresis confirmed the presence of only two types of antigens in the serum. The two rockets obtained were attributable to endo I and the merging of immunologically identical (but mobility wise different) endo II and endo III. This antibody preparation was used as a probe. The deduced M1 of the cloned E. coli endo I was found to be 58 Kd by Western blotting.

Cloning of the cellulase gene from Penicillium funiculosum and its expression in Escherichia coli.

A gene of Penicillium funiculosum encoding an endoglucanase was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli using the lacZ promoter of vector pUC 18. The gene product hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose and showed strong cross reactivity with P. funiculosum anticellulases.

Viscometric characterization of pennisetin from pearl millet.

Pennisetin, the alcohol soluble storage protein of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum), was isolated in a homogeneous state. The intrinsic viscosity [n] of this protein was found to be in the range of 16.5-17.7 ml/g in 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol. The [eta] changed marginally when temperature was increased from 20 to 70 degrees C and also in the presence of 10 mM NaCl. The data indicated that pennisetin was a rigid, rod shaped asymmetric hydrodynamic particle with molecular dimensions in the range of 301 x 14.4 A - 317.7 x 14.2 A. During denaturation with guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn.HCl), the intrinsic viscosity of pennisetin increased from 16 to 25ml/g with a mid point at 3.6 M of the denaturant. The native protein structure was unfolded in 6 M Gdn.HCl as shown by the exposure of aromatic amino acid residues buried in the native state and this transition was found to be reversible. The intrinsic viscosity of pennisetin in 5.9 M Gdn.HCl corresponded to Mr 25,000 which was comparable to that determined by SDS-PAGE.

Characterization of the purified multifunctional cellulase component of Penicillium funiculosum.

The endoglucanase component (CMCase I) ofPenicillium funiculosum cellulase was purified to apparent homogeneity by ultrafiltration and gel chromatography. It consists of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 56000 and is a glycoprotein. Viscometric and end-product analysis revealed the randomness of enzyme action. Multifunctional characteristic of CMCase I was studied with various carbohydrate substrates.