Castleman's disease--difficult diagnosis

A case of Mb. Castleman of the localized plasma cell type is reported. This disease expresses several symptoms from different organ systems and therefore an extensive investigation program is often performed. Diagnosis is possible through consideration of all clinical components at the same time: Refractory anaemia, high and refractory SR, weight loss, B-symptoms, but at the same time a relatively good health. CT-scan-demonstration of a localized tumour is an important clue. Histopathologically, the tumour shows vascular hyperproliferation and plasmacytosis of varying maturation. Immunophenotyping of the plasma cells and immunoblasts usually reveals a polyclonal population. Needle biopsies from several regions may be necessary to detect the polyclonality, because monoclonality is often widespread locally in the tumour. HHV8 is correlated to the multicentric PC-type of Mb. Castleman. However, no HHV8 was found in this case.     

Status spongiosus of rat central nervous system induced by actinomycin D

The effect on central myelin of Actinomycin D, an RNA--and, secondarily, a protein-synthesis inhibitor, has been studied by light and electron microscopy. The intracranial injection of this drug produced an extensive status spongiosus of the white matter in the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem and optic nerve within 48 h. The status spongiosus was due to vacuole formation within the myelin sheath and to enlargement of the extracellular space. Three types of vacuoles were observed: (a) the most common varieties formed between the inner tongue and the remainder of the myelin sheath; (b) a second variety formed by enlargement of the periaxonal space with separation of the axon from its myelin sheath, and (c) a less common type of vacuolization was due to splitting of the myelin lamellae at the interperiod line to form large intramyelinic vacuoles. Myelinic vacuoles were preceded by nuclear and cytoplasmic changes in oligodendrocytes, which included nucleolar segregation, disaggregation, and diminution in number of ribosomes. These changes were similar to those previously reported in a variety of cells exposed to Actinomycin D. It is suggested that myelin vacuoles result secondarily from the Actinomycin D inhibitory effect on oligodendroglial RNA--and protein-synthesis, rather than from a direct effect of this drug on the myelin sheath.     

Detection and quantitation of multiple volatile compounds in tissues by GC and GC/MS

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of tissues and body fluids for multiple volatile organic compounds were performed by a combination of packed and open tubular capillary GC and GC/MS. This paper describes methods for such analyses in a case involving the exposure of two persons to methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene and the three isomeric xylenes. Tissue and body fluid concentrations of these substances in the two decedents are presented and discussed briefly.