Bilateral Sertoli cell adenoma in gonads, associated with serous cystadenoma.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome is an extremely infrequent disease. The patients exhibit female phenotype because of insensitivity to the androgen receptor and may develop tumors, especially in their undescended gonads. We report a case of bilateral Sertoli cell adenoma in gonads with unilateral serous cystadenoma, in an elderly phenotypic woman with primary amenorrhea. We also provide radiological and pathological studies.

Mujer de 37 años con molestias abdominales y lesión focal esplénica / 37 year old woman with abdominal discomfort and splenic focal lesion

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Bilateral fronto-occipital polymicrogyria and epilepsy.

We present a clinico-pathological case report in which both cortical dysplasia and epilepsy coexisted: a 30 year old male who was dead on arrival at hospital. One and a half hours earlier he had developed complex partial status with peri-oral cyanosis. At post mortem examination his brain showed bilateral occipital frontal polymicrogyria with unlayered neuronal migration disorder; in other parts there were fourth layer migration disorders. The white matter exhibited multicystic encephalopathy. In the heart there was chronic interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, although he died of a cardiac arrest. Bilateral frontal-occipital polymicrogyria is highly epileptogenic. This was a sporadic case and we cannot define a clear aetiology. There was a pathological cardiac condition without previous vascular risk factors which might be related to repetition of seizures and possibly to his sudden death during status epilepticus.

Bilateral fronto-occipital polymicrogyria and epilepsy.

We present a clinico-pathological case report in which both cortical dysplasia and epilepsy coexisted: a 30 year old male who was dead on arrival at hospital. One and a half hours earlier he had developed complex partial status with peri-oral cyanosis. At post mortem examination his brain showed bilateral occipital frontal polymicrogyria with unlayered neuronal migration disorder; in other parts there were fourth layer migration disorders. The white matter exhibited multicystic encephalopathy. In the heart there was chronic interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, although he died of a cardiac arrest. Bilateral frontal-occipital polymicrogyria is highly epileptogenic. This was a sporadic case and we cannot define a clear aetiology. There was a pathological cardiac condition without previous vascular risk factors which might be related to repetition of seizures and possibly to his sudden death during status epilepticus.

[Effect of catalase on acute experimental pancreatitis in rats]. / Efecto de la catalasa en la pancreatitis aguda experimental de la rata.

Oxygen free radicals are highly toxic end products of the cellular oxidative metabolism that are scavenged by antioxidative systems such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. Previous studies have suggested that oxygen free radicals may play a role in the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. The present study was designed to determine the effect of catalase on experimental acute pancreatitis in the rat. Rats were given either saline or enterokinase by the intraductal pancreatic route. Catalase was given intraperitoneally at doses of 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg. Administration of saline resulted in mild acute pancreatitis. In contrast, administration of enterokinase resulted in oedema, haemorrhage and necrosis of the pancreas. Catalase had no effect when given at 80 mg/kg; at 160 mg/kg, an improvement at the ultrastructural level was noted, whereas at 320 mg/kg, a change in serum calcium level was found. Our studies suggest that intraperitoneal administration of catalase slightly improves the outcome of experimental acute pancreatitis in the rat.

Chondrosarcoma of the bones of the hand. Report of two cases.

Implantation of chondrosarcoma in the bones of the hands is an infrequent occurrence. We present two cases in which the fifth metacarpal and the proximal phalanx of the index finger, respectively, were affected in two patients aged 47 and 67 years, who, without previous known lesions, came to consultation on the appearance of pain and progressive local growth of tumour. After histological diagnosis we proceeded to disarticulation at the level of the affected bone. We review the literature on the appearance of this type of tumour in the hand.

Normalization of the altered liver function tests after islet transplantation in diabetic rats.

The purpose of our study was to determine if streptozotocin induced diabetes (SID) in rats produces alterations in hepatic function, as described in poorly controlled diabetic patients, and if islet transplantation (islet-Tx) would subsequently ameliorate this status. Hepatocellular dysfunction was evaluated by the aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) and the alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) activities in plasma. For the evaluation of cholestasis the plasma alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity was used. These determinations were performed in normal, SID, SID with Islet-Tx, and SID Wistar rats with sham-Tx. Also, glucose was measured in plasma samples, as well as histological studies of the liver were performed. More than 1,000 isogeneic islets (islet-Tx group) or non viable insular tissue (sham-Tx group) were transplanted via mesenteric ileal vein three weeks after SID. The results showed that SID in rats produces alterations in the hepatic function as well as in the structure of the hepatocytes, and the normalization of carbohydrate metabolism by islet transplantation restores normal hepatic function and morphology.

Islet transplantation restores normal serum amylase levels in diabetic rats.

Diabetes is associated with a diminution in exocrine pancreatic function. The goal of our study was to investigate whether the altered exocrine pancreatic function of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats could be ameliorated by islet transplantation. Diabetic rats received either more than 1,000 syngeneic islets intraportally (islet transplantation group) or pancreatic, nonviable insular tissue (sham transplantation group). Plasma amylase and insulin levels in diabetic rats were significantly lower than in normal rats. The exocrine pancreas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats showed alterations (decrease of zymogen granules, diminution of endoplasmic reticulum, clusters of ribosomes without organization) in the structure of acinar cells at the electron microscopic level. After islet transplantation, plasma glucose levels were restored to normal values, and those of amylase and insulin gradually increased to normal values. A positive correlation between plasma levels of amylase and insulin was found. Three months after islet transplantation, the islet-transplanted rats did not show morphologic alterations of the acinar cells which were still found in the sham-transplanted rats. It is concluded that alterations of exocrine pancreas in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats are ameliorated by islet transplantation.