Human pathology
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The occurrence and pattern of cytoplasmic muramidase containing histiocytes were studied by the unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase method in biopsy material from patients with Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and reactive hyperplasia. The majority of lymph nodes from patients with Hodgkin's disease, nodular lymphoma, and reactive hyperplasia gave positive staining reactions when tested in this manner. Differences in the staining pattern were observed for the different conditions studied. ⋯ Since the mottling pattern appeared to be produced by virtue of a large amount of extracellular muramidase, the elevation of the serum muramidase level in Hodgkin's disease may be related to enzymatically active secretory histiocytes. Moreover, the mottling staining pattern was observed frequently in the lymphocytic predominance and nodular sclerosis type of Hodgkin's disease, but relatively infrequently in the mixed cellularity or lymphocytic depletion types, suggesting that the variation in histiocytic activity may be related to the course of the disease. The decreased staining reaction observed in the latter two categories could not be accounted for by a decrease in the numbers of histiocytic cells in hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, suggesting that release or synthesis may be defective in those unfavorable types of Hodgkin's disease.
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Case Reports
Fatal spinal cord infarction caused by fibrocartilaginous embolization of the anterior spinal artery.
A fatal case of massive infarction of the cervical cord caused by fibrocartilaginous embolization of the anterior spinal artery in a 22 year old woman is reported. The source of such emboli is believed to be intervertebral disc material, but the pathogenesis of this entity is obscure. ⋯ The cervical cord is the most common site of involvement. The importance of multiple sections from various levels of the spinal cord and the application of special stains in order to determine the cause of spinal cord infarction are emphasized.
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We describe briefly and comment upon the salient strengths and limitations of the major published theories that purport to explain the mechanism of contrecoup cerebrocortical contusions. Through the application of mechanical principles, we then present a modification, clarification, and expansion of selected aspects of several theories. Our final formulation emphasizes the injurious potential of nonuniform compressive stress and the relationship between brain lag and rotationally induced injury. The resulting theory remains faithful to the laws of physics while explaining the location and distribution of cerebrocortical contusions opposite the site of a moving head impact.
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In order to clarify the relationship between stress and sudden death, we reviewed homicidal assaults that occurred in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (metropolitan Cleveland), over the preceding 30 years. Specifically, attention was focused on the autopsy and investigative findings relating to victims who died as a direct result of physical assault without sustaining internal injuries. ⋯ Two victims survived for a time in the hospital, suffered arrhythmias throughout the hospital course, and had the described cardiac lesions at autopsy. We interpret our data as being strongly supportive of the theory of catecholamine mediation of these myocardial changes in man and of the lethal potential of stress through its effect on the heart.