Focal mesangiopathic glomerulonephritis: Prevalence and pathogenesis

The capacity of immune complex deposition to cause diffuse injury to the glomerular capillary loop walls has been recognized for some time [1]. Morphologically, the reaction to such injury varies from membranous glomerulopathy to proliferative glomerulonephritis [1, 2]. In the former, thickening of the loop walls by immune complex deposits and membranous transformation is typical. In the latter, proliferation of endothelial cells and, to a lesser degree, of epithelial and mesangial cells is seen. In the most severe lesions there is disruption of the basement membrane, exudation of fibrin into Bowman's space and crescent formation. The lesions are diffuse due to the uniform distribution of immune complexes in the capillary loop walls, as revealed by immunofluorescence [1] and electron microscopy [2]. Because of its prevalence in both human disease and the experimental models initially studied, it was generally accepted that this diffuse pattern of tissue response was characteristic of all immune complex-induced glomerulonephritis. However, recently a second pattern of response has been observed both in animals and in man [4]. This pattern (which we have previously termed mesangiopathic glomerulonephritis [4]) is characterized by the primary deposition of immune complexes in the mesangium, provoking a proliferation of mesangial cells and matrix. To the extent that the deposits are confined to the mesangial area, injury to the loop will be prevented. However, if complexes are laid down so rapidly that their mass exceeds the capacity of the mesangium to accommodate them, some will accumulate in the loop wall and produce local lesions. These may take the form of proliferative or necrotizing glomerulitis [5]. Characteristically, the degree of loop involvement varies from glomerulus to glomerulus as well as within different loops of the same glomerulus, so that the resulting picture is sometimes one of focal glomerulonephritis [5]

Use of the SC ATE Technology Gateway Curriculum for Dropout Prevention

This paper looks at White County High School as an example of how schools may use the SC ATE technology gateway curriculum for dropout prevention. The author illustrates how implementation of ATE curriculum in high schools may help to reduce the dropout rate. The document may be downloaded in PDF format