Experimental investigation of a diffraction tomography technique in fluid ultrasonics.

Qualitative ultrasonic imaging of cylindrical fluid targets is investigated by a diffraction tomography technique applied to experimental data. The principles of the image formulation are stated and an experimental setup is described. Experimental difficulties related to the short wavelength used and respective advantages in collecting the data, either with a mechanically scanned single transducer or with an electronically scanned array of transducers, are emphasized. Representative images of simply structured phantoms and of real biological bodies are obtained in spite of the small number of views available.

[Familial paroxysmal polyserositis. Previously unpublished peritoneal complications. A case]. / Polysérite paroxystique familiale. Complications péritonéales inédites. Une observation.

A young unmarried Lebanese woman presenting with periodic disease (familial paroxysmal polyserositis) since she was 3 months old developed recurrent abundant ascites at the age of 21 years. Several hundred millilitres of strongly eosinophilic fluid were evacuated. Exploratory laparotomy unexpectedly disclosed an encapsulating peritonitis with adhesions involving the small bowel and the ascending colon; there were masses of lipid-laden cells, clusters of cholesterol/crystals and marked mesoepithelial reaction. In view of the patient's dramatic response to colchicine 2 mg/day, these findings were regarded as being related to the periodic disease.

Spontaneous corneal scarring in xeroderma pigmentosum.

The main purpose of this report is to describe nine cases of xeroderma pigmentosum with primary spontaneous corneal scarring in the absence of history of corneal ulcers or infectious keratitis. The authors studied nine patients with xeroderma pigmentosum. Each patient underwent complete ophthalmologic and dermatologic examinations. Three patients underwent excision of squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva. There were five male and four female patients, with a mean age of 14 years and a range of 5 to 21 years. Seven had conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. All patients had spontaneous diffuse corneal stromal scars without clinical evidence of keratitis and no previous history of corneal ulcer. The corneal sensation was intact. None of the patient had ulceration of the cornea. One patient had dry eye syndrome. The clinical and histopathologic changes of the cornea and conjunctiva in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum appear to be similar to the changes occurring in sun-exposed skin. This suggests that direct exposure of corneal and conjunctival tissue to ultraviolet light in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum is the primary cause of scarring in the cornea and conjunctiva, which leads to loss of vision.