Early sequential hepatic changes in fulvine treated rats

The purpose of this experiment was to study the early structural and functional hepatic changes occurring in rats treated with a standardized dose of fulvine by gastric intubation. Histologic observationas and biochemical determinants were done at 1, 3, 6, 9, 18 and 32 hours after treatment. The results indicated that fulvine induced a wide spectrum of hepatic lesions that were detected as early as one hour after its administration. Some of the earliest lesions, such as the deterioration of hepatocytic endoplasmic reticulum and of the nuclei, progressed with time and suggested that the hepatocytes, rather than the vascular structures were the primary site of attack. Although single hepatocytic necrosis was detected at 3 hours and was only observed at the latest period (32 hours). This zonal necrosis was preceded by a prominent and progressive hepatocytic swelling in periportal and centrolobular areas and by increasing accumulation of cell debris and blood elements in the sinusoids. While fulvine or its metabolities appears to exert a direct necrotizing effect on the hepatocytes, the microcirculatory changes observed in our previous studies and suggested by the ultrastructural findings in the present one, may offer an explanation for the preferential location of the lesions that precede the occlusion of the terminal hepatic venules. (AU)

Aspects of lung cancer in Jamaica

The incidence of lung cancer in the approximately one- half million population living in the parish of Kingston and St. Andrew of Jamaica- a tropical developing country- has been investigated for the years 1958-1970 inclusive. When compared- on an age standardized basis- with figures published fr om other areas, Jamaica's figures appear to be substantially above those from Africa, but much lower than those from Britain and the United States (table 12). The incidence appears to be rising both in males and females (fig.1, table 12). Clinical and pathologic data on 105 cases of lung cancer were obtained through the postmortem and surgical pathology services of the University Hospital of the West Indies, a 500-bed general hospital. The three main histologic types were equally represented at postmortem, but the squamous carcinoma type was more frequently seen in the surgical pathology material. The patients had an inadequate follow-up and were small in number, the data, therefore, did not allow an evaluation of the use of the W.H.O. histologic classification as to its prognostic significance. The duration of symptoms from onset to death or operation was gene rally less than 6 months (AU)

Pathology of idiopathic cardiomegaly in Jamaica

Twenty-one cases of idiopathic cardiomegaly which came to necropsy have been reviewed. Investigations included injection and x-ray studies, careful microscopical examination and skip serial sectioning of the conduction systems. The obvious feature was gross cardiomegaly in the absence of atheroma of the large coronary vessels and an associated fibrosis of the right and left bundle-branches. Three hearts showed thickening of the intramural vessels of 80æ to 400æ diameter. We suggest that such changes may be one of the causes of the ischaemic electrocardiographic findings reported in previous epidemiological surveys.(AU)

Prognosis of idiopathic cardiomegaly in Jamaica with reference to the coronary arteries and other factors

Clinical and epidemiological features of idiopathic cardiomegaly in Jamaica are reviewed, and the high community prevalence of the disorder is shown. The frequency occurrence of sudden or unexpected death in patients whose earlier electrocardiograms had shown repeated ventricular ectopic beats has been noted. Common electrocardiographic findings included a high rate of abnormalities usually regarded as indicative of coronary artery disease: cardiac arrhythmias, particularly multiple ventricular extrasystoles; and high voltage complexes characteristic of left ventricular hypertrophy. The differences and similarities between idiopathic cardiomegaly and coronary heart disease are shown. A possible role for intramuscular lignocaine in the control of the chronic ventricular ectopic rhythms is demonstrated. There is a statistically significant association between idiopathic cardiomegaly and positive serological tests for treponemal infection. The hearts are invariably hypertrophied at necropsy. In some hearts the smaller intramuscular coronary arteries show occlusive changes. Their possible nature and significance are discussed.(AU)

The pathology of idiopathic cardiomegaly in Jamaica - abstract

Since 1966 twenty-five cases of idiopathic cardiomegaly (ICM) have been examined at post mortem in the Pathology Department, University of the West Indies. Hearts were injected with micropaque and coloropaque and subsequently X-rayed to study the vasculature, including the microvasculature. Microscopic sections of various parts of the heart together with skip sectioning of the conduction system were done. Microscopically the hearts were heavy and dilated, with no abnormality of the valves or coronary vessels. Half of the hearts had thrombi (mostly small) in one or more of the four chambers, but endocardial thickening was minimal. Microscopically the changes in the myocardium were non-specific but twenty of the twenty-five hearts showed some pathology in the conduction system particularly the left bundle branch. Four of the hearts showed thickening of the intramural vessels of the interventricular septum. The microvascular pattern of ICM is different from that of the normal heart and also different from the atherosclerotic and hypertensive hearts (AU)

The prognosis of idiopathic cardiomegaly in Jamaica with reference to the coronary arteries and other factors: clinical aspects - abstract

The mode of death, and the factors which appear to influence the prognosis of idiopathic cardiomegaly have been examined. In more than half the deaths in patients with idiopathic cardiomegaly, death was sudden or unexpected. Electrocardiograms recorded on patients with idiopathic cardiomegaly showed a high rate of abnormalities commonly regarded as indicative of coronary artery disease (36 percent in men and 50 percent in women), a high prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias, particularly multiple ventricular extrasystoles; and high voltage complexes characteristic of left ventricular hypertrophy. Fifty seven per cent of patients whose death was unexpected or sudden, showed multiple ventricular ectopic beats. The differences and similarities between idiopathic cardimegaly and coronary heart disease have been shown. It is concluded that the background of some cases of idiopathic cardiomegaly may be myocardial ischaemia occurring at a gradual and insidious pace, and probably diffusely involving a smaller category of coronary vessel. A possible role for intramuscular Lignocaine in the control of the chronic ventricular ectopic rhythms has been demonstrated. There was a statistically significant association between idiopatic cardiomegaly and positive serological tests for treponemal infection (AU)

The incidence and pathology of breast cancer in Jamaica - abstract

Figures accumulated in the Jamaica Cancer Registry for the period 1958-1968 show that this cancer ranks second among all malignancies in females. The incidence is higher than that in Africa and in other underprivileged communities. The histological sub-division of these cancers will also be presented. Further work in Jamaica - and possibly other West Indian territories - should be undertaken to study possible explanations for the high incidence observed (AU)

Acute veno-occlusive disease of the liver: fine structure in Jamaican children

Electron microscopic observations in humans veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver are presented for the first time . Marked endothelial damage was seen in the sinusoids and subterminal and terminal hepatic veins, accompanied by extravasation of erthrocytes into Disse's space and naked hepatocytes showing a reduction in microvilli. Endothelial damage was seen in all zones of the liver. At the level of terminal hepatic veins, the closed structure of these vessels, absence of fenestrations, existence of a basement membrane, and the presence of collagen and connective tissue cells in the wall provide resistance to erthrocytes and cellular debris tracking up Disse's space. These factors tend to result in narrowing of the lumen where the sinusoid enters the vein. Parenchymal cell alterations, at the time of the biopsies, included dilation of bile canaliculi, abundant glycogen, and nuclear invaginations.(AU)

The influence of changes in dietary regimen on spontaneous tumours of the pituitary gland in rats

Our findings firmly establish that the nutrition of early life does have long lasting effects and can also influence the incidence of disease later in life. This will be discussed and demonstrated for chromophobe adenoma's of the pituitary gland. These were seen in relatively high frequency in animals on ad libitum feeding. The incidence in animals on restricted food intake dropped sharply. Again changing the dietary regimen at 70 days of age from ad libitum to restricted feeding or vice versa markedly influenced the incidence of these tumours (AU)

Spontaneous tumours and degenerative diseases in rats as influenced by diet

The response to a dietary regimen may differ at different ages: a diet high in protein and carbohydrates which appeared to be satisfactory as regards development and maintenance was unsatisfactory with respect occurence of degenerative diseases and length of life. Restriction in protein and carbohydrate with simultaneous restriction in caloric intake while not conducive to expression of maximum growth potential, and responsible for a number of early deaths, ultimately did enhance life expectancy to greatest degree. These restricted regimens were also most effective in decreasing the prevalence and severity of those diseases usually found in "well fed" aging rats. Under isocaloric conditions, a direct relationship was found between life expectancy and the proportion of protein in the diet. The effects of differences in the protein content were more pronounced when rats were restricted in their intake of food than when the rats were permitted to feed ad libitum. The expectancy at 21 days of age of rats fed a high protein diet under calorically restricted conditions was twice that of rats fed a low protein diet ad libium. For some rats fed on a restricted basis, life spans in excess of 1800 days were obtained (equivalent to 180 years for the human). Certain aspects of the histopathological findings in these experiments will be demonstrated (AU)

Gliomatous teratoma of the tongue: report of a case

A tumor measuring 21/2 x 1 x 1 cm in the tongue of a 6 week-old child and present from birth proved historically to be a teratoma with pre-dominantly glial tissue. The authors have found only one similar case described previously (AU)

The influence of dietary regimens on the incidence of spontaneous neoplasms in the rat - abstract

The levels of caloric and of protein intake were demonstrated to have modifying influence on tumour incidence patterns in the male rat. In a study using five uniform life-long dietary regimens differing only in allotments and in-takes of protein (casein), carbohydrates (sucrose) or of total calories, the total turmour risk was directly and exponentially related to caloric intake. Malignant lymphomas were predominant in rats with high protein in-take, whereas fibromas and fibrosarcomas predominated in rats with low intake. The lowest incidence, the greatest delay in time of occurence, absence of malignant epithelial tumours and greatest life expectancy, were observed when intakes of protein, carbohdrates and total calories were low. Other experiments designed to test the influence of dietary regimens in early life upon tumour incidence later in life will also be discussed briefly (AU)

Report on 151 childhood malignancies observed in Jamaica

During a 10-year period 1958-67, 151 tumors were noted in children under 15 years of age in Jamaica. This comprised 2.9 percent of all malignant tumors observed. Leukemia was the most common form of cancer. The incidence of retinoblastomas was high and surpassed incidences of neuroblastomas and of Wilms' tumors. Kaposi's sarcoma was not observed, and hepatocellular carcinoma was extremely rare. The tumor incidence pattern in Jamaica therefore largely resembles that in the United States and in Western Europe. It contrasts significantly with that in Uganda and in Western Nigeria. This merits attention, since over 90 percent of the Jamaican population is either pure Negro or of predominantly Negro descent as a result of importation from West Africa in former days. (Summary)