Granulation tissue polyposis associated with carcinoid tumours of the small intestine

We report two patients with ileal carcinoid tumours which were associated with polyps due to mucosal granulation tissue proliferation. In both cases the tumours had extensively infiltrated the small bowel wall and mesentery, and one had hepatic metastases. The mucosal surface of each specimen showed numerous, pale brown, sessile polyps which were restricted to the intestinal segment involved by carcinoid tumour, although not always closely related to neoplastic cells. The polyps were formed by the proliferation of capillaries, smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and electronmicroscopy.     

Lightning and the long spark

The attractive power of an earthed pointed conductor, rising a short distance out of an earthed plane, for a descending leader stroke to a lightning flash or to a high-voltage impulse discharge has been well established; the laboratory discharge is strongly attracted to such a pointed conductor when the high-voltage electrode is of negative polarity, but not so strongly for a positive-polarity electrode for the same gap spacing. Previous work was done with a fast-front impulse wave. The same results have now been obtained using impulses having wavefronts of 12 and of 160 ?s duration, wavefronts more closely resembling lightning-current wavefronts.     

Intradural neurotropic spread of malignant mesothelioma. Case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether cervical cerclage reduces the maternal and neonatal morbidity in women with placenta previa. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-nine pregnant women with an initial diagnosis of placenta previa at 24 to 30 weeks' gestation were randomly assigned to cervical cerclage (n = 19) or conservative management (n = 20). Subjects were followed up until delivery. Primary outcome measure was gestational age at delivery. Secondary outcome measures were prolongation of pregnancy, number of patients bleeding after being randomly assigned, units of blood transfused, birth weight, hospital stay and costs, and admission to neonatal intensive care unit. Statistical significance was calculated by the Student t test, Fisher's exact probability test, and the chi2 with Yates' correction factor. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups studied. CONCLUSION: Cervical cerclage does not appear to be an adequate alternative for the management of placenta previa.