Kuniji Kojima

ALCOHOLIC HYALIN‐LIKE BODIES FOUND IN THE PANCREATIC ACINAR CELLS AND NERVE CELLS OF THE BRAIN

The presence of hyalinoid body as an eosinophilic, dendriform to irregularly shaped mass was noted in the cytoplasm of pancreatic acinar cells of 13 among a series of approximately 150 autopsy cases of alcoholism examined. Similar subcellular structures were also demonstrable in nerve cells of the brain in 2 of these cases. The hyalinoid body stained scarlet in phloxine methylene blue preparations and orange‐brown in preparations with the Masson staining method (modified procedure of Gomori), and was revealed to be a fibrillar filamentous mass by electron microscopy. These characteristics suggest its marked resemblance to alcoholic hyalin in liver cells.

ELASTIC FIBERS OF PANCREATIC DUCTAL SYSTEMS IN PANCREATITIS

In an attempt to clarify the etiology of idiopathic pancreatitis, 14 cases of chronic idiopathic pancreatitis were histologically examined. A nest of small cysts consisting of cystic, distended pancreatic ductules with a complete lack of elastic fibers in the wall was observed in 3 out of 14 cases. Studies were then focused on the behavior of elastic fibers in pancreatic ductal system in 100 cases of normal pancreas, 55 cases of chronic pancreatitis and 10 cases of pancreatolithiasis. Partial hypoplasia and/or aplasia of elastic fibers in the walls of pancreatic ductules were demonstrated with a frequency of 30% in normal pancreas, 36.3% in pancreatitis and 50% in pancreatolithiasis cases. Formation of a nest of small cysts was detected in 4 cases of normal pancreas, 3 cases of pancreatitis and 1 case of pancreatolithiasis. It was presumed that these abnormalities of elastic fibers and formation of small cysts containing inspissated secretions might act as potential etiologic or aggravating factors in pancreatitis by a mechanism of either disturbing normal pancreatic outlow or changing pressure in the duct.

Histological studies of radiation pneumonitis.

Many clinical and experimental observations have been made on pulmonary lesions after roentgen irradiation of the thorax in foreign countries. In our country, however, the first autopsy case of radiation pneumonitis was reported in 1942(4’7), and until recently only a small number of the cases has been mentioned, probably owing to the low voltage of the X-ray irradiated. With the use of high voltage X-ray, radium and Co60, radiation pneumonitis has considerably increasedc6> 7 9 19), about which, however, pathological studies with human materials arc comparatively rarec2’ 33 5 9 11> 203 22), and there have many opinions on the mechanism in the development of pulmonary fibrosis resulting from irradiation. In this paper pathogenesis of radiation pneumonitis will be discussed from a morphological point of view.

AN AUTOPSY CASE OF RENAL DISEASE SIMILAR TO LIPOID NEPHROSIS MODIFIED BY STEROID TREATMENTZ

An autopsy case of a 20 year‐old female with lesion similar to those of lipoid nephrosis and given a large amount of steroid hormones was reported. The kidneys showed peculiar findings which were similar to those of diabetes mellitus and possibly modified by long‐standing use of steroids. In the present case, however, exudative lesions were prominent and nodular lesions were scanty in contrast with those of Kimmelsteil‐Wilson syndrome.

Pathology of Leukemoid Reaction of the Myeloid Type, with Special Reference to Differentiation from Myeloid Leukemia

The materials used were 20 cases of leukemoid reaction with myeloblasts in their circulating blood and 39 cases of myeloid leukemia.