Radiological method for investigation of the motor activity of the reticulum in sheep

The main morphogenetic and pathogenetic elements of pulmonary chronic suppurations were experimentally investigated in rabbits. The animals were sensitized by blood way with complete Freund adjuvant containing serum proteins, which determined a nodular and diffuse granulomatous reaction in the pulmonary tissue. The perturbing agent of the model system was a maintained immediate type hypersensitivity reaction produced by an excess of intrapulmonary antigen accumulation after an intratracheal injection of the same agent with antigens in excess. The animals sacrificed 15, 30 and 45 days after the intratracheal challenge presented a wide and progressive cellulofibrous restructuring of the lung tissue with exclusion of lung areas, persistence of granulocytic foci, release of lactic-dehydrogenase, chronic vascular lesions and diffuse fibrosclerosis. The importance of the persisting antigens which maintain the Arthus type hypersensitivity reaction, of vascular chronic lesions determined by the blood transport of deleterious products and by immunopathologic phenomena, as well as of the cellulo-fibrous proliferation, are emphasized as elements of autoaggressive processes with common and immune components, all contributing to the chronic evolution of pulmonary suppurations.     

Ultrastructural study of the early development of the sheep embryo

An ultrastructural study of the different stages of pre-implantation in sheep was carried out, analysing the changes brought about mainly in the morula and blastocyst stages. The analysis of the embryos obtained showed a series of common characteristics in all stages, most noticeable being the presence of a high number of vesicles distributed in a uniform way in the cytoplasm, and also the presence of numerous electron-dense mitochondria in many varied forms. The most important ultrastructural modifications took place at the 16-cell stage and affected, principally, the nucleus, which presented numerous condensations of chromatin distributed along the nucleoplasm. The nucleoli adopted a reticular morphology, abandoning the compact aspects presented in the previous stage. These changes might be involved in the synthesis of embryonic RNA, and, accordingly, in the activation of the genome of this species. These data indicate that this stage is critical to the embryonic development and might be related to the blockage produced in the development of cultivated sheep embryos at the point of transition from 8 to 16 cells. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that the first signs of modifications in the aspect of the nucleus are observed at the four-cell stage, being characterized by the appearance of vacuolated areas in the nucleolus, indicating the first signs of embryonic nucleic activity, which would anticipate the main change in the control of the protein synthesis.     

Stress fracture of the sternum: an unusual injury?

Stress fracture of the sternum is a rare condition which presents as acute anterior chest pain after repetitive upper-body exercise. Two case reports are presented and it is postulated that this is an often underdiagnosed condition which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute chest pain in the athlete. Awareness of the injury together with meticulous clinical examination supported by good quality radiographs or isotope bone scan may lead to an increase in the diagnosis of this injury.     

Mycobacterium fortuitum infection of the sternum. Review of the literature and case illustration

Sternal wound infection with atypical mycobacteria following open heart surgery is a rare occurrence. Previous reports have described infection by Mycobacterium fortuitum, an acid-fast bacillus and member of a larger family of rapidly growing mycobacteria. The source and mode of transmission have not been identified. Surgical debridement and the combination of aminoglycosides and quinolones have been shown to be effective methods of treatment. More recently, clarithromycin has been shown to be the drug of choice against rapidly growing mycobacteria. We describe a 49-year-old woman who underwent infundibular stenosis repair and in whom M fortuitum sternal osteomyelitis developed. Total sternectomy, muscle flap reconstruction, and antibiotic treatment successfully eradicated the infection.     

Radiological anatomy of the vein of Labbé

The development and radiology of the vein of Labbé (VL) were investigated using the brains of 19 aborted human fetuses and 6 normal adults injected at autopsy with radiopaque material through the venous system. Carotid angiograms taken in stereoscopic pairs (110 cases, 167 hemispheres) were also analyzed in detail. Developmental alterations of the cerebral structures, particularly those of the opercula and cerebral sulci, are reflected in our classification of the pial veins of the lateral cerebral convexity into the superior, middle and inferior groups. The anastomotic veins of Trolard and Labbé were already recognizable at the fetal age of 6 to 7 months, as development of the opercula and resultant depression of the insula became advanced. In our series, superficial draining veins opening into the VL were 14 to 20 mm (average 16.8 mm) in length. Anastomoses among the superior, middle and inferior groups were analyzed angiographically: single anastomosis was found in 23 percent of cases, while double and triple anastomoses were found in 32 and 45 percent, respectively. A majority of the veins at the sites of anastomosis were found to have calibers of less than 1 mm. The VL, therefore, should be considered in most cases as an independent major superficial draining venous channel of the cerebral convexity with insignificant connections with the superior and middle groups.     

Mediastinal abscesses and empyema of the pleural cavity after iatrogenic fracture of the sternum

A case report presents fracture of sternum during the resuscitation and in continuity iatrogenic hematoma and afterwards abscessus of mediastinum, and empyema the both of pleura cavities. Fracture of thorax wall is rather often event, but in the most, it has not adverse effects. This case refers to 68 years old patient, who had one of the most serious complications: abscessus of mediastinum, empyema of left and right pleura cavities with perforation outside the anterior wall of thorax. He was treated in General Hospital Bia?a Podlaska, Department of Surgery with good results and was extracted home as well-being patient after 35 days spent in hospital the second hospitalisation.