Crystalline inclusions in the nuclear envelope and granular endoplasmic reticulum of the fish spinal cord.

Crystalline inclusions were found in the nuclear envelope and granular endoplasmic reticulum of spinal cord oligodendroglia of the common guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and the lungfish (Polypterus enlicheri). A considerably increased incidence of these inclusions was noted in guppies with congenital and hereditary (sex-linked, recessive) lordosis. Identical crystalline inclusions were observed in protoplasmic and fibrous astrocytes, ependymal cells, and capillary endothelial cells of the spinal cord of the lordotic fish. The oligodendroglia in these fish also revealed a prominent alteration of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, with the accumulation of dense (secretion?) granules and large amounts of electron-opaque material in markedly dilated sacs of the endoplasmic reticulum. The authors postulate that this alteration is caused by a genetic defect in the control mechanism governing the elaboration of this material in the lordotic guppy, with subsequent stasis and crystallization of this material.

Endocardial tumors in rats exposed to durable fibrous materials.

Endocardial tumors in the rat found in association with intrathoracic implantation of durable fibrous materials are reported here for the first time. In Osborne-Mendel female rats, endocardial tumors occurred in 3 of 50 rats associated with the implantation of fiberglass greater than 5 micron in length and 1-3 micron in diameter, in 1 of 15 rats associated with fiberglass of 0.03 X 3 micron, and in 1 of 15 rats associated with pulverized glass fiber. The intrathoracic administrations of pulverized chrysotile, of cigarette smoke condensate and crocidolite, and of coarse cotton lint, and of intravenous injections of air particulate extract were associated with endocardial tumor in 1 of 15 rats each. The dimensions of the durable fibers associated with endocardial tumors were similar to those of carcinogenic asbestos. Endocardial tumors were not observed in concurrently studied control rats.

Pre-elastofibroma and elastofibroma (the continuum of elastic-producing fibrous tumors). A light and ultrastructural study.

A fibroproliferative lesion arising anterior to the lower end of the scapula and containing polymorphic often fiberlike deposits of weakly elastinophilic fibrillary material is described. It is compared on the light and ultrastructural level to a typical elastofibroma. The fibrillary material seen in this tumor strongly resembles that which surrounds the strongly elastinophilic deposits in the typical elastofibroma and from which the elastin is thought to be derived. It is concluded that elastin-producing tumors form a continuum; at one end of which lies the tumor we have designated pre-elastofibroma and at the other, the typical elastofibroma.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the anterior mediastinum with osteoclast-like giant cells. Light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic study.

A case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the anterior mediastinum in a 40-year-old woman is presented. It showed typical features described in such tumors, but in addition there were foci of osteoclast-like giant cells that were not previously reported in this lesion.

Relation of thickness of floor of mouth stage I and II cancers to regional metastasis.

We have reviewed the clinical course and histologic findings in 84 patients with stage I and II squamous carcinoma of the mouth floor. We concluded that lesion thickness may offer a useful method for predicting the probability of cervical metastasis in node negative (N0) patients. Moreover, surface area of the lesion did not correlate with subsequent nodal disease, whereas thickness did. Elective node dissection appears to be strongly indicated in any patient with a N0 lesion measuring more than 1.5 mm in thickness.

Liver in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX)--a histochemical and EM study of four cases.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare inherited lipid storage disease. The primary biochemical defect in CTX is a block in hepatic bile acid synthesis with consequent accumulation of two bile pentols in the liver. Hence specimens of liver from four affecteds were examined by light and electron microscopy. These revealed perisinusoidal fibrosis, bile canalicular alterations and hepatocellular alterations including the appearance of fat droplets, proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, accumulation of lipofuscin-like pigment, foci of cytoplasmic degeneration, proliferation of microbodies and prominent mitochondrial changes. In one untreated patient crystalloid cores were noted in the microbodies. These disappeared on therapy.

Plasma cells with inclusions containing iron.

Iron inclusions in plasma cells of the bone marrow of an individual suffering from megaloblastic anemia due to folate deficiency were examined by electron microscopy. It seems that the iron is introduced into the plasma cell by micropinocytosis. The speculation of possible transfer of iron from the reticulum macrophage to the plasma cell is raised.

Preferences for behavioural, analytic and gestalt psychotherapy.

This study investigated preferences for behavioural, analytic and gestalt psychotherapy among a sample of 40 SES class III and IV adult females and 67 college freshmen who had never been actual therapy patients. A scaled survey assessed general preference, preference given an imagined long-standing depressive disorder, preference given an imagined specific phobia, and preference for the therapist-patient relationship. Three audio tapes were designed, each describing one of the modalities. High inter-rater reliability and agreement were determined by three independent judges. Results showed that young females had a general preference for gestalt therapy. Young and old females, but not young males, significantly preferred behavioural therapy for a specific phobia. Under forced-choice conditions the group as a whole significantly preferred gestalt therapy. No differences were found for the relationship or preference given a depressive disorder. Preference was hypothesized as a cognitive structure with potential use in therapist-client matching.

Ego strength and psychosocial adaptation to cancer.

This study investigated a patient's ego strength (Es) at the time of an initial cancer diagnosis and its relationship, over time, to mood disturbance, vulnerability, self-reported physical symptom totals, current concerns, coping strategies, and effectiveness in the resolution of problems. The subjects were 163 newly diagnosed male and female cancer patients representing five primary tumor sites. All patients were seen for an initial evaluation, at which time they completed Barron's Es scale, the Profile of Mood States, the Inventory of Current Concerns, and a semistructured interview. Ratings on patient vulnerability, coping strategies, and problem resolutions were made at each of the five follow-ups. Results showed that psychosocial adaptation to cancer was related to a patient's ego strength. Es correlated positively with a patient's use of effective coping strategies. The concept of Es and problems with Es assessment were discussed within a cognitive-ego analytic frame of reference.

Coping with cancer through self-instruction: a hypothesis.

Because most cancer patients seem to cope well with the stresses of their illness, including the psychosocial ramifications, it is important to understand what good copers manage to do, as opposed to those patients who simply defend themselves against persistent problems. This requires making a radical distinction between coping and defending, as well as between healthy adaptive resources and latent pathological dispositions. A case report is presented to illustrate how one "supercoper" solved problems by self-instruction. While cognitive self-instruction may not be applicable for every cancer patient and all problems, it is a working hypothesis deserving of further investigation, since self-control and personal responsibility are essential elements in rehabilitation on all levels. One intervention model for "high distress" cancer patients is outlined.

Congo red-negative amyloidosis-like glomerulopathy: report of a case.

An elderly patient who had nephrotic syndrome for many years was found to have mesangial expansion and thickening of the glomerular capillary basement membranes (GBMs) on light microscopy. Electron microscopy (EM) showed tubular structures measuring 24 to 27 nm in the mesangium and the subepithelial areas. Congo red staining for amyloid was negative. This case represents another instance of congo red-negative amyloidosis-like glomerulopathy.

Role of Ca++, CaATPase and alkaline protease in cardiac contraction band formation.

Cardiac cells' total homogenates and subcellular components Ca++, CaATPase and alkaline protease levels were matched with their respective microscopic samples in order to ascertain their role in the formation of contraction bands. It was seen that those samples having contraction bands also had a high incidence of intracellular Ca++, low CaATPase and high alkaline protease levels. This study confirms reports that contraction bands are not limited to pathological hearts (Adomian et al., 1977), but neither are they limited to artifacts related to autopsy procedures. They were seen in varying degrees of severity in hearts of healthy rats sacrificed by decapitation and less frequently with only sarcomeric involvement to absence of in animals sacrificed by diethyl ether overdose. It is postulated that the elevated Ca++ activated alkaline protease (pH 8.5) by inhibiting its inhibitor (Waxman and Krebs, 1978). It may have inhibited total CaATPase activity (Hasselbach, 1974) as well. We believe that the activated alkaline protease produced irreversible contraction bands by lysing the microhinge between light and heavy meromyosin.