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Fibrosing colonopathy (FC), observed in cystic fibrosis patients taking high-strength pancreatic enzyme preparations, is characterized by progressive obstruction of the ascending colon, with long-segment fusiform stenosis due to the deposition of submucosal fibrous tissue. The pathogenesis is uncertain, although direct toxic damage to the colonic mucosa by a constituent of such preparations has been proposed as an explanation. Mucosal defects and rectal bleeding have been observed by colonoscopy in cystic fibrosis patients at risk for and with evident FC. In a quantitative, observational study, mucosal defects were studied in six ileo-cecal resection specimens with FC confirmed by three independent pathologists' review. Representative areas (2.5-cm-long segments) were taken of terminal ileum, cecal colon, and ascending colon both at the site of most severe stenosis and at the most distal ascending colon site available; after processing with paraffin, the areas were serially sectioned at 500-μm intervals for the preparation of 5-μm sections for microscopical assessment. Marking in each section the area affected by (repairing) ulceration, and using three-dimensional reconstructions of the bowel lining, individual mucosal lesions were reconstructed. Using the reconstructed bowels, point scoring analysis of the area fraction affected by ulceration as well as the area of individual lesions was carried out. Lesions of variable age were found in the terminal [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A 74-year-old woman with longstanding diarrhea and clinical symptoms of malabsorption and a raised peripheral eosinophilic count underwent an explorative laparotomy for small intestinal perforation. The resected specimen was consistent with the diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Despite corticosteroids, a second acute abdominal crisis occurred and the patient died. Small intestinal perforation due to transmural bowel wall involvement in eosinophilic gastroenteritis has to our knowledge not been described previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a combined contraceptive vaginal ring (CCVR) made of Silastic on the cervico-vaginal epithelium during 20 cycles of use. A total of 76 volunteers used the CCVR releasing 0.120 mg etonogestrel and 0.015 mg ethinyloestradiol daily. Cytological samples were taken of the vaginal epithelium, the ectocervix and the endocervix before the start, at 4 and 12 months, and at the end of the study. Cytology, hormonal profiles, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, DNA-flow cytometry, bacterial flora, and morphometry was performed on these samples. Colposcopy and histopathology of biopsy specimens were performed at the end. No cytological changes of the squamous epithelium or the columnar epithelium were found. HPV was detected in three samples of three different women. At least two of them reverted to HPV negative during the rest of the study period. Aneuploidy was diagnosed in 11 women before the study. Seven of them changed to diploid during the study. No changes from diploid to aneuploid were seen. Aneuploidy was not seen in any of the HPV positive samples. Although bacterial flora showed considerable variation during the study, no significant influence of the CCVR could be established. Morphometrical analysis showed an increasing nucleus:cytoplasm ratio of the squamous cells during the study. Mild dysplasia was detected in one woman at the end of the study. It was concluded that no unfavourable cytological or bacteriological changes of the cervico-vaginal epithelium were demonstrated during 20 cycles of CCVR use. The vaginal epithelium became more progestogenic during the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a combined contraceptive vaginal ring (CCVR) made of Silastic® on the cervico-vaginal epithelium during 20 cycles of use. A total of 76 volunteers used the CCVR releasing 0.120 mg etonogestrel and 0.015 mg ethinyloestradiol daily. Cytological samples were taken of the vaginal epithelium, the ectocervix and the endocervix before the start, at 4 and 12 months, and at the end of the study. Cytology, hormonal profiles, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, DNA-flow cytometry, bacterial flora, and morpho-metry was performed on these samples. Colposcopy and histopathology of biopsy specimens were performed at the end. No cytological changes of the squamous epithelium or the columnar epithelium were found. HPV was detected in three samples of three different women. At least two of them reverted to HPV negative during the rest of the study period. Aneuploidy was diagnosed in 11 women before the study. Seven of them changed to diploid during the study. No changes from diploid to aneuploid were seen. Aneuploidy was not seen in any of the HPV positive samples. Although bacterial flora showed considerable variation during the study, no significant influence of the CCVR could be established. Morphometrical analysis showed an increasing nucleus:cytoplasm ratio of the squamous cells during the study. Mild dysplasia was detected in one woman at the end of the study. It was concluded that no unfavourable cytological or bacteriological changes of the cervico-vaginal epithelium were demonstrated during 20 cycles of CCVR use. The vaginal epithelium became more progestogenic during the study. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A multilocular scalp lesion was noticed at birth in a female infant. There was no underlying skull defect. Histological examination revealed neural tissue staining with S-100 and GFAP, but not with a neurofilament stain, which is in keeping with a glial cell origin. Heterotopic brain tissue is a rare developmental abnormality, which usually has no effect on neurological development. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scalp lesions in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A percutaneous lung biopsy sample was used to diagnose interstitial lung disease in nine children aged less than 42 months. Fibrosing alveolitis was diagnosed in eight children and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in one child. Complications associated with the procedure were minimal and the results of the biopsy sample enabled each child to be treated appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the sources of antimony (Sb) in municipal/industrial waste and the consequences of the presence of antimony in the input of waste.The average Sb concentration of the feed stream to waste incinerators is approximately 42 mg/kg. More than 50% ofthe antimony originates from all types of flame retardants and approximately 35% comes from flame retardants used in consumer electrical and electronic equipment. There is a tendency to decrease the application of halogenated products (and thus of antimony) in flame retardants. Also, the other fields of application of antimony show a decreasing trend. There are no indications that a substantial increase of theconcentration of antimony in the feed to municipal waste incinerators will occur in the near future. During the incineration process, theantimony compounds are only found in the bottom ash and fly ash. No volatile Sb compounds are present in the flue gas. This means that efficacious particle removal systems are sufficient for a complete Sb removal during incineration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]