Karl Pintar

Atherosclerosis in aortocoronary vein grafts.

Abstract Atherosclerotic changes were found in vein grafts of six out of eight patients who survived an aortocoronary vein-bypass operation for 6-61 months. No such lesions were found at necropsy on twenty-five patients who survived the operation for less than 6 months. All six patients with atherosclerotic changes had moderately increased plasma-lipid levels.

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

Sixty‐one cases of adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder presenting between 1966 and 1981 were reviewed. Among the only seven cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder, three were classified as primary signet‐ring cell carcinoma. These 3 cases were reviewed with the 11 previously reported cases in the literature. Primary signet‐ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder occurs predominately in men (12 men, 2 women) with age ranging from 38 to 83 years. It usually runs a rapidly fatal course despite therapy. The characteristic clinical, gross, and histomorphologic findings and pathogenesis of this rare bladder malignancy are discussed.

Pathological changes in surgically removed aortocoronary vein grafts.

Pathological changes in aortocoronary vein grafts were investigated in 17 patients who had a second revascularization procedure 1 to 53 1/2 months after their initial operation. Subendothelial proliferation was present in all grafts and had resulted in total occlusion of 7. With increasing duration of implantation the proliferative lesions tended to show hyalinization and to affect the media. Advanced atherosclerosis had developed in 2 grafts.

Measure of tissue resistivity in experimental electrical burns

Studies were conducted in 14 mongrel dogs to compare resistivities in normal muscle with those from muscle subjected to electrical burns. One-ampere, 60-Hz currents were passed between the hind limbs of the dogs producing injury in three measurement regions of the gracilis muscle. Histology, heart rate, body temperature, arterial and pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, hematocrit, leukocyte counts, fibrinogen levels, and platelet levels were determined. Muscle resistivity associated with severe tissue necrosis was 70% lower than control values. Resistivity in tissue showing edema and minimal necrosis decreased 20 to 40% from control values. Muscle showing only edema had a 10 to 30% decrease in resistivity.

Squamous metaplasia in colorectal polyps

Two cases of rectal polyps that showed foci of squamous metaplasia are reported. in one, the squamous metaplasia was observed in an area of intramucosal adenocarcinoma. This finding tends to reinforce the contention previously made by some authors that squamous metaplasia in colorectal polyps may represent the precursor of primary colorectal squamous cell carcinoma or colorectal adenocarcinoma with squamous components (adenoacanthoma or adenosquamous carcinoma).

Current Pathways in High-Voltage Injuries

Studies were done in the hog with limb-to-limb contacts at potentials up to 2000 V. The current density in nerve, vessels, muscle, bone, fat, lungs, heart, kidney, liver, intestines, and spinal cord were determined. The current densities in the leg are largest in nerve and artery, followed by muscle, fat, and bone. The temperature was greatest in fat and nerve. With forelimb-to-hindlimb current application, the current densities were largest in the back region. The spinal cord current density was approximately twice the average cross-sectional value.

Identification of Foreign Material in Lung by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis: A New Approach to Silicosis

Conventional methods for the detection of foreign material in the lungs are not only difficult but make it impossible to study any relationship between the material and the surrounding tissue. The present study employs energy dispersive x-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy as the basis of a rapid and accurate method for determining the amount of silicon in the lungs of normal subjects and subjects with silicosis. A statistical evaluation of the data suggests that a silicon/sulfur ratio below 0.2 may be considered normal, whereas, a ratio above 0.3 may be considered to indicate silicosis.

Identification of metals in lung from a patient with interstitial pneumonia.

Cobalt has been implicated as one of the possible causes of interstitial pneumonitis-fibrosis in industrial workers. This investigation is a light and electron microscopical study of a patient with interstitial pneumonitis-fibrosis. Energy dispersion x-ray analysis of electron-dense particles in the macrophages from the lung of this patient identify the particles as containing cobalt, iron, chromium, and nickel. This technique may be useful for the discrete localization and accurate identification of certain toxic elements in tissue.

Histologic Study of Gastric Lesions in Food-Restricted Rats

Summary Rats limited to food intake of 1 hr a day and allowed to run in an activity wheel developed gastric lesions which, on histologic examination, resembled human stress ulcers. The lesions in the animals started as small mucosal hemorrhages and developed progressively to form ulcers in the gastric mucosa. Some of the lesions penetrated to the submucosal layers. No thrombi were observed in the mucosal vessels.