Journal of clinical pathology
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To compare serum lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein concentrations during and six to 12 months after pregnancy in control and diabetic women. ⋯ Development of diabetes during pregnancy induces a state of dyslipidaemia characterised by elevated triglyceride concentrations, as seen in other insulin resistance states. However, GDM seems to blunt the increase in LDL cholesterol during pregnancy and this requires further investigation. Whether the changes in lipoprotein metabolism in GDM are significant for the health status of the mother and the foetus requires further study.
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Case Reports
Hypercalcaemia due to calcium binding IgM paraprotein in Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia.
A case of Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia with asymptomatic hypercalcaemia is reported in which calcium binding to the paraprotein was found. This is the first report of this phenomenon in Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia and the first report of calcium binding to an IgM paraprotein.
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To establish whether abnormalities in the course of the vertebral artery occur and whether they are relevant to arterial injury associated with head and neck movements. ⋯ Vertebral artery loops are deficient in a number of subjects. This finding is important given the recently described biomechanical susceptibility of the vertebral artery to longitudinal extension and may explain the smooth muscle changes, in that this may represent attempts at arterial wall remodelling. Subjects with such loop deficiencies may be more susceptible to a variety of head and neck insults and such abnormalities should be sought at necropsy in subjects who die as a result of fatal vertebral artery injury.
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Case Reports
Histological features of the thyroid gland in a patient with lithium induced thyrotoxicosis.
A 26 year old woman with lithium induced thyrotoxicosis is reported. The thyrotoxicosis was associated with a non-tender diffuse goitre and a low radioiodine uptake by the gland. ⋯ The histopathological alterations of the thyroid glad were characterised by extensive follicular cell disruption with no lymphocytic infiltration. It is postulated that lithium might directly damage thyroid follicular cells and that subsequent release of thyroglobulin into the circulation might be a cause of transient thyrotoxicosis.
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To assess the diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spectrophotometry, cytology, ferritin, and D-dimer measurements in the investigation of suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage in patients with negative or equivocal computed tomography (CT) scans. ⋯ This is a small study, but it shows that, depending on the timing of the lumbar puncture, false negative results can occur with both ferritin and D-dimer measurements. It suggests that neither of these tests adds significantly to the information provided by CT, visualisation of CSF, and spectrophotometry and confirms that, despite the use of spectrophotometry, D-dimer and ferritin assays in selecting patients for angiography, the proportion of patients with negative CT scans and colourless CSF with demonstrable vascular lesions remains low.