Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in Malaysians

Eight cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis occurring in an oriental population are reported. The patients were mostly middle-aged, and there was a female preponderence. Nephrectomy controlled the disease in all cases. Diagnosis on clinical and radiological grounds is difficult, and it is often only made on pathological examination of the kidney after nephrectomy. The nature of the disease remains obscure.

Pseudotumours due to oil palm thorn injury

Three cases are reported in which pseudotumours developed in the hand following injury by oil palm thorns. In one patient there was a periosteal reaction of the proximal phalanx adjoining the site of injury. The lesions were excised, and the embedded oil palm thorn was identified in all three. The clinical and pathological features of the lesions and problems in their diagnosis are described. In every case the local tissue reaction was out of proportion to the size of the foreign body, raising the possibility that a toxic substance might have been released by the thorn.

Reaction of foetal tissues to intra-uterine subcutaneous injection of barium sulphate

Subpannicular injection of sterile barium sulphate in newborn rabbits produces an acute inflammatory response which is clearly seen at 24 hr and is well established at 48 hr. The processes of repair has begun by the 4th day with the appearance of proliferating capillaries and fibroblasts. In rabbit foetuses both vascular and cellular components of the acute inflammatory response are more prominent and appear earlier than in newborn rabbits, being well developed within 24 hr. The process of repair also begins earlier, proliferation of capillaries and fibroblasts being already prominent by 48 hr. By the 4th day the lesion is compact, less cellular and relatively avascular.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in the Malaysian Orang Asli

Necropsies were performed on 285 consecutively unclaimed Orang Asli bodies from Gombak Orang Asli Hospital during an eight-year period from May 1967 to April 1975. Of the 25 malignant neoplasms, hepatocellular carcinoma was by far the commonest (36%). The nine patients with this neoplasm had coexistant macronodular cirrhosis. There were 20 cases of cirrhosis; 45% of these had coexistant hepatocellular carcinoma. The 53,000 Orang Aslis living in West Malaysia comprise three tribes, the Negrito, Senoi, and Melayu Asli (Proto Malays). The Sinoi appear to have a high predilection for liver cancer, all our nine cases occurring in this group. These aboriginal people live in the jungles where they practice shifting cultivation and maintain their own dietary and social customs. Detailed studies of their dietary habits may provide a clue to the etiology of liver cancer in these people.

The effect of intrauterine phrenic nerve division on the development of the lungs and diaphragm in fetal rabbits

Intrauterine division of the left phrenic nerve has been successfully performed in rabbit fetuses as early as the 21st day of gestation, prior to alveolar differentiation. This procedure results in intrauterine atrophy of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm and hypertrophy of the contralateral side. Light and electron microscopic studies have shown no interference with the subsequent maturation of the lung.

Diet-induced aortic atherosclerosis in Malaysian long-tailed monkeys (Macaca irus)

Moderate hypercholesterolaemia has been produced in eight adult male M. irus monkeys by feeding an egg-toast preparation containing butter and 0.14 per cent. total cholesterol. At autopsy, after two to four years of persistent hypercholesterolaemia, there was massive fatty streaking of the aorta involving 21 to 78 per cent. of the intimal surface. The distribution and morphology of the fatty streaks was similar to that in man. In addition, there were fibrous plaques including "soft" lipid-rich atherosclerotic plaques identical to their human counterpart. There was no grossly detectable thromobosis, haemorrhage or ulceration. Atherosclerotic lesions were also present in the coronary, carotid, subclavian, iliac and femoral arteries. In a control group of monkeys fed a low-fat, cholesterol-free diet, arterial lesions were identical in type and extent to those in freshly captured wild monkeys.

THE EFFECT OF INJECTION OF HYDROCORTISONE INTO RABBIT CALCANEAL TENDONS

This experiment demonstrates that infiltration of hydrocortisone into rabbit calcaneal tendons has a direct effect on the tendon, producing necrosis of collagen at the site of injection. The repair of the lesion so produced is incomplete even after eight weeks, and is often complicated by dystrophic calcification. Similar morphological changes may account for spontaneous rupture of tendons in patients receiving steroid infiltration.