Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Aug 1987
Changes in main pulmonary artery of rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.
Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis, yet no morphologic evidence exists to explain it. This study is an attempt to identify lesions in the main pulmonary artery of rats in which pulmonary hypertension was induced by a single dose of monocrotaline. Pulmonary artery pressure was measured directly by catheterization or indirectly by measuring right ventricular thickness. ⋯ As in previous studies in which monocrotaline was given chronically, we found thickening of the main pulmonary artery. We also found widening of subendothelial space, change in smooth-muscle cell polarity, shape, and organelle content (indicating change from contractile to secretory), focal areas of muscle necrosis and elastolysis. Interestingly, cardiac muscle was observed in adventitia of both controls and treated animals.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · May 1987
Case ReportsTraumatic rupture of Ionescu-Shiley aortic valve after the Heimlich maneuver.
A 74-year-old woman who had undergone aortic valve replacement with an Ionescu-Shiley bioprosthesis was evaluated and treated because aortic insufficiency developed after the application of the Heimlich maneuver. Pathologic examination of the explanted valve disclosed a cuspid perforation and an adjacent tear of a second cusp at its insertion into the valve strut. Patients with unexplained acute prosthetic insufficiency should be questioned as to whether the Heimlich maneuver has been previously performed.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Apr 1987
Some characteristics of academic departments of pathology in the United States. Implications for training of academic pathologists.
Data concerning the activities of faculty and various characteristics of academic departments of pathology were obtained from questionnaires returned by 94 chairmen and 1571 faculty members. Data concerning manpower that was the subject of a previous report indicated that the projected supply of MD pathologists for faculty positions was significantly less than the anticipated demand. This article describes the characteristics of academic departments, particularly the activities of faculty that have bearing on the training and expectations of pathologists who are seeking faculty positions.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Jan 1987
Historical ArticleScientific medicine and Système International units.
The Système International, a modern version of the metric system, is being introduced into American medicine. The most compelling reason for this is that a worldwide standardization of weights and measures is taking place, and American medicine should take part in this process. ⋯ It is possible that expressing concentrations in moles per liter rather than as weight per volume will reveal clinically useful chemical relationships, but this remains unproved. Transition to Système International units will require use of different reference ranges, and there will be a potential for serious misinterpretation of laboratory data unless well-planned educational programs are instituted before the change.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Sep 1986
Case ReportsTemporal arteritis with giant cell aortitis, coronary arteritis, and myocardial infarction.
Extracranial giant cell arteritis occurs in 10% to 15% of patients with temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Aorta and its major branches are most often involved and death may result from an unsuspected ruptured aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection. Involvement of coronary arteries by giant cell arteritis resulting in death from myocardial infarction is extremely rare. This article describes one such case: an 84-year-old man who died of acute myocardial infarction with the unexpected autopsy finding of giant cell aortitis and coronary arteritis, and who, three years earlier, had sudden onset of bilateral blindness and biopsy-proven temporal arteritis.