[Post-mortem microbiology analysis]. / Análisis microbiológico post mórtem.

Post-mortem microbiology is useful in both clinical and forensic autopsies, and allows a suspected infection to be confirmed. Indeed, it is routinely applied to donor studies in the clinical setting, as well as in sudden and unexpected death in the forensic field. Implementation of specific sampling techniques in autopsy can minimize the possibility of contamination, making interpretation of the results easier. Specific interpretation criteria for post-mortem cultures, the use of molecular diagnosis, and its fusion with molecular biology and histopathology have led to post-mortem microbiology playing a major role in autopsy. Multidisciplinary work involving microbiologists, pathologists, and forensic physicians will help to improve the achievements of post-mortem microbiology, prevent infectious diseases, and contribute to a healthier population.

Sudden unexpected early neonatal death due to undiagnosed Hirschsprung disease enterocolitis: a report of two cases and literature review.

Hirschsprung enterocolitis (HEC) is an uncommon, albeit well known, complication of Hirschsprung disease (HD). It is multifactorial and can appear in different age groups, but is particularly important in the neonatal period where it is characteristically seen in full-term neonates. Two cases of HEC are reported that were diagnosed at post-mortem examination, which presented as early sudden neonatal death, with a review the literature on fatal Hirschsprung enterocolitis. Case 1 was a 4-day old male neonate who was found unwell, struggling to breath, and with green vomitus. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead a short time later. According to the parents meconium was passed on the first day. Post-mortem examination demonstrated necrotizing enterocolitis with isolated bowel perforation. Histology disclosed unsuspected HD. Case 2 was a 2-day old male neonate who was found wheezing with green vomitus. He arrived floppy, cyanosed, and in shock at the hospital and died a few hours later. Meconium was not passed, according to the parents. Post-mortem examination revealed necrotizing enterocolitis. There was also recto-sigmoidal aganglionosis and acetylcholinesterase staining confirmed HD. HEC is a multifactorial and sometimes recurrent complication of HD which characteristically develops in full-term neonates. Presentation with early sudden neonatal death is rare but should be considered in the diagnostic work-up of sudden deaths in this age group.

Drug- and alcohol-related deaths at a pediatric institution in the United kingdom.

AIM: The study aimed to identify the incidence, clinical presentation, and demographic features of drug- and alcohol-related deaths diagnosed at a pediatric pathology department between 2004 and 2010. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Databases of the histopathology and toxicology departments were searched. Three groups were defined as follows: (1) cause of death is toxicologically related; (2) drugs present are consistent with therapeutic range use; and (3) a drug was detected, but the contribution of this drug to the mechanism of death was not clear. RESULTS: Fifty-five cases (36 males, 19 females; mean, 4.8 years; range, 2 hours to 17 years) were identified. This corresponded to 3.3% (55/1669) of all postmortems. Ten cases were group 1, 42 cases were group 2, and 3 cases were group 3. The results in group 1 were methadone (n = 2); methadone, alcohol, and dothiepin (n = 1); diazepam (n = 1); dothiepin (n = 1); carbon monoxide (n = 2); tramadol (n = 1); codeine and paracetamol (n = 1); and dihydrocodeine, citalopram, amitriptyline, and paracetamol (n = 1). The types of death were considered accidental (n = 2), suicide (n = 2), and undetermined (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a toxin in lethal concentration was found in 10 (0.6%) of 1669 of any kind of postmortem examinations. This increased to 2.2% when the analysis was restricted to "sudden deaths." These results demonstrate the need to conduct toxicological screening in all postmortems of this sort.

Flowcytometric immunophenotyping in the diagnosis of pediatric lymphoma: how reliable is it and how can we optimize its use?

SUMMARY: We aimed to evaluate the role of flowcytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) as an adjunct to histologic examination in pediatric lymphoma. We conducted a retrospective review of 39 fresh tissue samples and 2 pleural fluids submitted to the histopathology department with a clinical suspicion of lymphoma during a 4-year period, where FCI was performed. The FCI results were correlated with the final histologic diagnosis. The study comprised 38 lymphoid lesions and 3 nonlymphoid tumors. The concordance of FCI for all lesions was 71% and that for non-Hodgkin lymphoma was 75%. When Hodgkin lymphoma was excluded, the correlation was 93.1%. In 3 cases of nonhematologic tumors, FCI was useful in excluding a lymphoma. In one of them, FCI supported the diagnosis of neuroblastoma when CD81, CD9, GD2, and CD56 were added to the FCI panel. FCI produced rapid same-day results with a high sensitivity for benign lymphoid lesions and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was not helpful for Hodgkin lymphoma. Although the main application of FCI was to assess lymphoid lesions, it was also useful in the identification of nonlymphoid tumors, especially neuroblastoma. As the prevalence of lymphomas in children differ from that in adults, we believe that the algorithm proposed by us to triage specimens using imprint cytology can optimize the use of FCI in routine pediatric pathology practice.

Necrotic epithelial cells in proximal renal tubules of 2nd trimester fetuses: is this "acute tubular necrosis"?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe the occurrence of necrotic tubular cells in kidneys of non-macerated fetuses. METHODS: Description of histology and immunostaining results using C9 immunostain of proximal tubular epithelium of kidneys from 30 consecutive non-macerated fetuses' autopsies. RESULTS: the gestational age ranged from 13 to 22 weeks. The mean gestational age was 18.6 weeks; the cause of death was acute chorioamnionitis in 13 cases (43.3%), termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies in 13 (43.3%) and other causes in 4 (13.3%). Histology of the kidneys revealed vacuolation of proximal tubule epithelial cells (100%), dilatation of tubules (93.4%) and tubular cell necrosis (53.4%). C9 immunostaining was positive in 24 cases (80%) and was seen in all gestational ages. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that tubular cell necrosis is not an uncommon finding in the kidneys of 2(nd) trimester fetuses and may represent acute tubular necrosis (ATN). C9 is a helpful marker in confirming this diagnosis. Future studies may further explore this preliminary observation.

Atrofia focal con cicatrices estrelladas en niños con gastritis crónica asociada con Helicobacter pylori. Gastritis atrófica inicial? / Focal atrophy with stellate scars in children with chronic gastritis associated to Helicobacter pylori. Is this early atrophic gastritis?

Background: Atrophic gastritis has not been described in children in the setting of Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: Gastric biopsies of six children (7 to 11 years old) with history of HpCG and recent therapeutic eradication of H. pylori, were reviewed. In the 6 H. pylori was documented with histology, culture, direct visualization and/or serology before treatment. Cases were compared with five biopsies of age-matched patients showing none of the above-mentioned clinical data. All the biopsies were formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded and stained with hematoxilin-eosin, Masson trichrome and reticulin stain. Results: The biopsies of the six treated patients showed variable-in-size stellate-shaped spots of glandular loss replaced by dense connective tissue with few inflammatory cells. The fibrous tissue showed a central area of scaring and radially oriented spikes extending to adjacent interglandular tissue, more evident with the Masson trichrome stain. Density of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria was variable. H. pylori organisms were consistently absent. On the reticulin stain the atrophic areas showed coarser and compacted reticulin. Stellate scars were not present in the five controls. Conclusions: Small foci with fibrous scars may be found in children with long standing HpCG, perhaps as an early sequel of it. We hypothesize that if the chronic gastritis-gastric atrophy process is a continuum, these stellate scars may be representing the very beginning of the multifocal atrophic gastritis usually seen in adult patients.

Atrofia focal con cicatrices estrelladas en niños con gastritis crónica asociada con Helicobacter pylori. Gastritis atrófica inicial? / Focal atrophy with stellate scars in children with chronic gastritis associated to Helicobacter pylori. Is this early atrophic gastritis?

Background: Atrophic gastritis has not been described in children in the setting of Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: Gastric biopsies of six children (7 to 11 years old) with history of HpCG and recent therapeutic eradication of H. pylori, were reviewed. In the 6 H. pylori was documented with histology, culture, direct visualization and/or serology before treatment. Cases were compared with five biopsies of age-matched patients showing none of the above-mentioned clinical data. All the biopsies were formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded and stained with hematoxilin-eosin, Masson trichrome and reticulin stain. Results: The biopsies of the six treated patients showed variable-in-size stellate-shaped spots of glandular loss replaced by dense connective tissue with few inflammatory cells. The fibrous tissue showed a central area of scaring and radially oriented spikes extending to adjacent interglandular tissue, more evident with the Masson trichrome stain. Density of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria was variable. H. pylori organisms were consistently absent. On the reticulin stain the atrophic areas showed coarser and compacted reticulin. Stellate scars were not present in the five controls. Conclusions: Small foci with fibrous scars may be found in children with long standing HpCG, perhaps as an early sequel of it. We hypothesize that if the chronic gastritis-gastric atrophy process is a continuum, these stellate scars may be representing the very beginning of the multifocal atrophic gastritis usually seen in adult patients. (Au)