Presence of tissue transglutaminase IgA antibody as a celiac disease marker in a sample of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Recent medical literature agrees that celiac disease (CD) is much more prevalent in western civilization than it was thought to be in the past. Given the potential complications and consequences of untreated CD, screening programs have been considered. Symptoms of celiac disease may resemble those of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A group of patients with IBS was screened for CE using the Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody IgA serum test. A total of 18 patients were screened. All of our patients tested negative for TTG IgA. This finding may indicate that the prevalence of CD may be low in our population. Further population studies are needed to confirm our finding.

Endometriosis of the appendix with decidual polyp formation: a rare cause of acute appendicitis during pregnancy

We report a case of a 28-year-old female, Grava 2, Para I, Ab. 0, who presented acute abdominal pain on the 21st week of her gestation. A diagnosis of acute appendicitis was entertained and an appendectomy performed. The pathologic specimen revealed an inflamed appendix with endometriosis and a marked decidual reaction. A decidual polyp, which occluded most of the appendiceal lumen, is proposed as a rare cause of acute appendicitis during pregnancy

Pulmonary dirofilariasis: first reported case in Puerto Rico

The first case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis in our country is reported. The etiopathogenesis and pathological findings of the zoonosis are discussed

Adult paratesticular tumors: report of two cases

Paratesticular tumors are uncommon tumors, most being found incidentally at autopsy. The most common benign paratesticular tumor is the adenomatoid tumor. A somewhat less frequent benign paratesticular tumor, papillary cystadenoma, accounts for approximately 33 percent of all the primary epididymal tumors and is frequently seen in patients with Von Hippel-Lindau disease. Malignant tumors are rare. Of these, rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequent. Seen almost exclusively in the pediatric population, paratesticular rhabdomyosarcomas account for 7 percent of childhood rhabdomyosarcomas. We describe two cases of paratesticular tumors in adults: a papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis in a 72-year old male, and an incidental rhabdomyosarcoma in a 49-year old male

Colorectal carcinoma: a pathologic and immunopathologic study

Lewis-related blood group antigens are carbohydrate determinants carried on surface glycoproteins and glycolipids of erythrocytes and some epithelial cells. Their expressions in colorectal mucosa has been considered either as a marker of differentiation antigens or of tumor associated antigens. We prospectively studied Lewis-related blood group antigens in patients undergoing colectomy for colonic adenocarcinoma. Immunohematological studies were performed on preoperative blood samples and ABO and Lewis blood groups were determined. Tissue samples were obtained from the adenocarcinoma and from the adjacent non-neoplastic mucosa. The degree of tumor differentiation (grade of the tumor) was analyzed on hematoxylin and eosin stained slides. Immunoperoxidase staining was performed using antibodies against A, B, Le(a), Le(b), Le(x), and Le(y) antigens. The staining results of the colonic carcinoma were compared with those of the non-neoplastic mucosa and with the patient's red blood cell Lewis phenotype. A total of 22 patients were studied, 12 males and 10 females, with an average age of 64 +/- 12 years. There were 12 modified Dukes B and 10 modified Dukes C carcinomas. Le(a), a marker of differentiation antigens, was expressed in the non-neoplastic mucosa of 82 per cent of the specimens. Le(y), a marker of tumor associated antigens, was detected in 77 per cent of the carcinomas while expressed only in 18 per cent of the adjacent non-neoplastic mucosa. Le(x), supposedly a marker for tumor aggressiveness, was found in 55 per cent of the carcinomas. However, it was virtually absent in the five carcinomas which did not invade the pericolic tissues

Gastric campylobacter-like organisms and active antral gastritis in Puerto Rico

Nosotros intentamos verificar si la asociación que se ha reportado entre el Campylobacter y la gastritis activa antral es correcta en nuestra población. Todos los pacientes sometidos a endoscopia electiva del tracto gastrointestinal superior que no tuvieran historial de cáncer gástrico o de antrectomía previa eran elegibles para el estudio. Se examinaron en forma ciega especímenes de biopsia de 100 pacientes consecutivos para la presencia de actividad inflamatoria y/o metaplasia intestinal. La presencia de organismos similares a Campylobacter fue determinada por la técnica de fluorescencia por naranja acridina. Un total de 131 biopsias obtenidas fueron clasificadas en los siguientes grupos: normales, gastritis activa, gastritis crónica con actividad y gastritis crónica sin actividad. Los organismos parecidos a Campylobacter fueron detectados en 84% de las biopsias con actividad inflamatoria (gastritis activa). Por lo tanto se conluye que la asociación reportada entre este organismo y la gastritis activa es correcta en nuestra población

Biliary tract disease due to fasciola hepatica: report of a case

We report a case of a 23 year old woman who presented with symptoms of biliary tract disease to our University Hospital in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. A diagnosis of chronic cholelithiasis was made and the patient was taken at surgery. An adult Fasciola hepática was recovered from the common bile duct. We review the pathobiology of this uncommon zoonosis

Cholecystitis due to Schistosoma mansoni fact or fancy

Se informa el caso de una mujer de 56 años de edad con el diagnóstico de Esquistosomiasis de la vesícula biliar. Los hallazgos clínicos y patológicos del caso son presentados en este reporte

Microcystic adenoma of the pancreas: report of a case and review of the literature

Se reporta el caso de una mujer de 79 años de edad con el diagnóstico de adenoma microquístico del páncreas. Los hallazgos clínicos, radiológicos y patológicos son prestados y comparados con los de los casos previamente reportos en la literatura. Se discute el diagnóstico diferencial, pronóstico y las recomendaciones de esta entidad