An unusual enhanced Doppler vascular profile of a rare uterine tumor: PEComa.

PEComas represent a rare class of mesenchymal tumors, with different primary locations. There are less than 100 cases of uterine PEComas published in English literature until now and information considering imaging features of these PEComas is very limited, focusing on CT and MRI and not as much on ultrasounds (US). The authors present here a case of rapidly growing uterine PEComa, with local invasive potential and recurrence, and the review of literature on US characteristics of PEComas. Harboring a hyperechogeneous heterogeneous aspect with no clear separation from the adjacent uterus on the whole boundary, with an extremely rich central vascular network, with low impedance and a rapidly growing profile, this tumor does not show the classic US appearance of malignant PEComas, which are generally easily confused with leiomyomas. However, even if this pattern did not allow the authors to anticipate the histopathological result, it offered clear clues about its invasiveness potential.

Hepatitis virus infection in haemodialysis patients from Moldavia.

BACKGROUND: Although the epidemiology of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) now seems well established for Western European countries, in Central and Eastern Europe < 50% of all dialysis centres routinely test for hepatitis C antibodies since testing is not available or is not applied to all patients. This study describes the prevalence, risk factors and clinical significance of HBV and HCV infection for the haemodialysis population of the North Eastern region of Romania, Moldavia. METHODS: The presence of HBV antigens was determined with an ELISA kit (Wellcome, Abbot) and HCV antibodies with the ELISA-3 Ortho-HCV, third generation test. The following individual data were collected: gender, age, duration of dialysis, rural/urban domicile, actual and previous HBV status, actual HCV status, known acute, clinically evident hepatitis episodes in the last 3 years, monthly alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) levels, complete biochemical hepatic assessment at the time of the study, transfusions for the past 3 years and family history. RESULTS: HBV and HCV prevalences were 17% (stable over the last 3 years) and 75%, respectively; co-infection was seen in 10% of the subjects. Hospitalization (nosocomial infection) for HBV, blood transfusions and duration on dialysis for HCV, emerged as the main risk factors for hepatitis infection. Socio-economic conditions appear to be equally important for HCV infection, since the prevalence was significantly higher among patients from rural, underdeveloped areas than urban areas (80.8 vs 60.3%), and infection was already present in a large proportion of patients (47%) before starting dialysis, without being related to previous disease duration or blood transfusions. HBV and/or HCV was not associated with a worse clinical or biochemical profile at the time of the study. However, infected patients had significantly more previous cytolytic episodes, with higher, transient increases in ALAT and ASAT levels. CONCLUSIONS: HCV infection is endemic among dialysis centres in Moldavia. Apart from previously well-known risk factors for hepatitis infection, our study demonstrates the negative impact of socio-economic underdevelopment. Simple measures such as enforced general asepsia rules, careful disinfection and equipment sterilization, routine testing of patients from economically disadvantaged areas and monthly, serial determination of hepatic enzymes should be the common practice in dialysis centres in Romania.

Histological study of Hodgkin disease (HD), an immunohistochemical identification of the cells surrounding Sternberg-Reed cells.

In this study, we analyze histological types of 77 cases H.D. and examine immunohistochemically the reactive cells surrounding Reed-Sternberg cells (40 cases). On the current techniques sections of lymph nodes were def ned H.D. types after the new criteria (Bennett & col., 1985, Buttler, 1992). Immunologic marker studies were performed on paraffin sections of H.D. tissue utilizing the avidin--biotin peroxidase complex technique with limited panel of monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKB1, OKM1. On histopathologic grounds we established the diagnosis of lymphocytic predominance type in 6 cases--8%, nodular sclerosis type in 36 cases--47%, from which first degree--24 cases and second degree--12 cases, mixed cellularity type in 28 cases--36% and lymphocytic depletion type in 7 cases--9%. Immunohistochemically, in our 40 H.D. cases, the number of T. lymphocytes in all H.D. types, was highly variable, ranging from a minority to a vast majority of cells directly surrounding the Reed-Sternberg cells. These lymphocytes were positive for OKT3, which were more in tissue involved by nodular sclerosis or mixed cellularity types than in the lymphocytic predominance type. Thus, in our few cases of lymphocytic predominance type, the reactive proliferation was consisted of B. cells along side with a few T cells. Also the OKM1 positive mononuclear cells were few. In conclusion, our data support the necessity to extend of several immunohistochemical investigations used for distinguishing H.D. disease from benign hyperplasia and from non-lymphoid malignancies, and for concerning the functional lymphocytic composition and the role of monocyte-macrophage system in the immunological alteration in H.D.

[Seroepidemiological considerations of the incidence of viral hepatitis C in some population groups]. / Consideratii sero-epidemiologice privind incidenta hepatitei virale C în unele grupuri populationale.

In the interval 1985-1994, in the Iasi district, the reported cases of viral hepatitis (VH) have recorded annual morbidity rates ranging between 67/100,000 inhabitants in 1993 and 373/100,000 in 1990. VH attributed to HAV and HBV has represented, with yearly differences, 62% to 94% of all cases. Posttransfusion viral hepatitis (PTVH) has determined a morbidity of 0.51/100,000 inhabitants in 1986 and 8.34/100,000 in 1994. PTVH without AgHBs ranged from 16.3% in 1993 to 94.0% in 1987, as compared to 6.0% in 1987 and 1988 and 75.0% in 1985 for PTVH with AgHBs. In the interval under study 70.9% of the PTVH cases were most likely determined by HCV and 28.9% by HBV (AgHBs+). From all PTVH cases, 64.0% were from urban areas, 59.3% were females, 92.5% belonged to over 20 years age groups, and 31.3% were industrial workers, the remainder belonging to other 5 occupational groups. In 241 patients (18.2%) admitted for liver disorders, posttransfusion hepatitis included, AcHCV was present in 39.4%, of which 45.2% belonged to the age groups 20-60 years. The results of some investigations carried out on 4471 blood donors (72.4% males, 85.4% aged between 21 ad 50 years, 86.4% from urban areas, 62.1% workers in industry and building) are presented. Out of these, 217 (4.9%) presented to hepatitis C virus (AcHCV). Occupational distribution of AcHCV possessors shows that 44.2% are workers in the heavy industry, 14.8% in the light industry and 12.9% unemployed. Sera were tested by Monolisa New Antigens, and those with AcHCV were reassessed with Monolisa, Murex anti HCV, ORTO-HCV 3.0 and confirmed by Immunoblot DECISCAN, with 5 antigens.