Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma arising from a multicentric mixed variant of Castleman's disease

This case report describes a patient with multicentric mixed type Castleman\u2032s disease and concomitant non-Hodgkin\u2032s lymphoma of diffuse large B cell type in the neck. Multicentric CD is a systemic illness with disseminated lymphadenopathy; its aggressive and usually fatal course is associated with infectious complications and risk for malignant tumors, such as lymphoma or Kaposi sarcoma

A stromal myoid cell line provokes thymic erythropoiesis between 16th to 20th weeks of intrauterine life

Background: The thymus provides an optimal cellular and humoral microenvironment for cell line committed differentiation of haematopoietic stem cells. The immigration process requires the secretion of at least one peptide called thymotaxine by cells of the reticulo-epithelial (RE) network of the thymic stromal cellular microenvironment. The thymic RE cells are functionally specialised based on their intrathymic location and this differentiation is modulated by various interaction signals of differentiating thymocytes and other non lymphatic haematopoietic stem cells. Objectives: To study the role of another cell line in fetal thymic haematopoietic proliferation and differentiation in different stages of development: the stromal myoid cells. Design: Fifteen cases of fetal thymic specimens (4th to 8th weeks: five cases 16th to 20th weeks: five cases and 28th to 32nd weeks: five cases respectively) were studied. Tissue paraffin samples were stained immunohistochemically using (i) a monoclonal antibody recognising alpha-smooth muscle actin, a contractile microfilament expressed exclusively by smooth muscle cells, myofibroblasts and related cells, (ii) a monoclonal antibody glycophorin C recognising the erythropoietic cells. Setting: Histology - Embryology Department of Democritus University of Thrace (Alexandroupolis) over ten year period (1991-2001). Results: The number of alpha-smooth muscle actin - positive cells significantly increased during the late second and third trimester of gestation. In the above period a relevant increase in the number of glycophorin C positive cells were observed. Conclusion: Our data suggest that a myoid cell line is involved in the formation of an appropriate microenvironment for homing and proliferation of erythropoietic cells. East African Medical Journal Vol. 81 No. 2 February 2004: 78-8

UNREMITTING EARLY STAGE HODGKIN’S DISEASE: REPORT OF 7 CASES AND BONE MARROW TISSUE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL MARKER STUDY

Bone marrow is infrequently implicated in early stages of Hodgkin’s disease. We studied the immunohistochemical bone marrow tissue of 7 out of 20 cases with early stage Hodgkin’s disease of the mixed cellularity variant, diagnosed by lymph node biopsy at initial presentation, not responding to radiotherapy alone, in order to examine possible marrow attack. A statistically significant prevalence of CD45, CD45RO, and CD4 positive infiltrates, to the advantage of unremitting hosts, was found. The predominance of CD4-positive cells in the bone marrow space might be suggestive of involvement in the process and could explain the abnormal cytokine production leading to reduced T-cell immunity and inefficient antitumor response despite the existence of a vast majority of reactive infiltrating immune cells

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma arising from a multicentric mixed variant of Castleman's disease

This case report describes a patient with multicentric mixed type Castleman's disease and concomitant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse large B cell type in the neck. Multicentric CD is a systemic illness with disseminated lymphadenopathy; its aggressive and usually fatal course is associated with infectious complications and risk for malignant tumors, such as lymphoma or Kaposi sarcoma. Multicentric CD is a systemic illness with disseminated lymphadenopathy; its aggressive and usually fatal course is associated with infectious complications[1],[2],[3] and risk for malignant tumors, such as lymphoma or Kaposi sarcoma.[4],[5],[6],[7

Fat embolism due to bilateral femoral fracture: a case report

Konstantinos Porpodis1, Michael Karanikas2, Paul Zarogoulidis1, Maria Konoglou3, Kalliopi Domvri1, Alexandros Mitrakas2, Panagiotis Boglou4, Stamatia Bakali5, Alkis Iordanidis6, Vasilis Zervas1, Nikolaos Courcoutsakis6, Nikolaos Katsikogiannis7, Konstantinos Zarogoulidis11Pulmonary Department, “G Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 21st Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, 31st Pulmonary Department, “G Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 4Pulmonary Department, 5Microbiology Department, 6Radiology Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece; 7Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, GreeceAbstract: Fat embolism syndrome is usually associated with surgery for large bone fractures. Symptoms usually occur within 36 hours of hospitalization after traumatic injury. We present a case with fat embolism syndrome due to femur fracture. Prompt supportive treatment of the patient’s respiratory system and additional pharmaceutical treatment provided the positive clinical outcome. There is no specific therapy for fat embolism syndrome; prevention, early diagnosis, and adequate symptomatic treatment are very important. Most of the studies in the last 20 years have shown that the incidence of fat embolism syndrome is reduced by early stabilization of the fractures and the risk is even further decreased with surgical correction rather than conservative management.Keywords: fat embolism syndrome, trauma, femur fracture, ARD

Williams–Campbell syndrome: a case report

Maria Konoglou1, Konstantinos Porpodis2, Paul Zarogoulidis2, Nikolaos Loridas1, Nikolaos Katsikogiannis3, Alexandros Mitrakas2, Vasilis Zervas2, Theodoros Kontakiotis2, Despoina Papakosta2, Panagiotis Boglou4, Stamatia Bakali5, Nikolaos Courcoutsakis6, Konstantinos Zarogoulidis21First Pulmonary Clinic, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; 3Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece; 4Pulmonary Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece; 5Microbiology Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece; 6Radiology Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, GreeceIntroduction: Williams–Campbell syndrome, also known as bronchomalacia, is a rare disorder characterized by a deficiency of cartilage in subsegmental bronchi, leading to distal airway collapse and bronchiectasis. There have been few reports about patients affected by saccular bronchiectasis, paracicatricial emphysema, and diminished cartilage. These are all characteristic of Williams–Campbell syndrome.Case presentation: This report presents a 57-year-old woman with progressive dyspnea, cough, sputum production, and fever. The clinical and laboratory examination revealed that the patient had a respiratory infection due to bronchiectasis caused by Williams–Campbell syndrome, which was undiagnosed in the patient until then.Conclusion: Although a rare syndrome, when patients' signs and symptoms include recurrent respiratory infections, bronchiectasis, productive cough, and dyspnea, Williams–Campbell syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis.Keywords: bronchietasis, Williams–Campbell syndrome, bronchomalaci