Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C T Mallak.
Artillery weapons are designed to inflict death and destruction by way of fragmentary and blast injuries. As pieces of modern machinery, they are also capable of causing serious injury by their very complex nature. The authors present a case analysis of an artillery piece that caused a projectile death without a shell.
The diagnosis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been an enigma to medical examiners and coroners for decades. The recent drastic decrease in the number of SIDS cases has been associated with infants sleeping supine instead of prone. The apparent relation between sleeping position and SIDS has led to the marketing of several positioning sleep aids. We report a case of the improper use of one such device which resulted in the death of an infant.
BACKGROUND: Cryptococcus neoformans is not generally recognized as producing pseudohyphae. Although atypical morphologic forms have been described in the microbiology literature, we believe this is the first complete cytologic report describing this uncommon and unusual cytologic appearance of cryptococcal infection. CASES: In five cases of cryptococcal infection, C neoformans formed chains of budding yeasts, pseudohyphae and germ tube-like structures. The atypical forms of C neoformans were seen in cerebrospinal fluid, imprints and in histopathologic sections from multiple organs from two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients; in pleural fluid from a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; in crush smears from a stereotactic biopsy of the brain; and in a fine needle aspirate of a lung nodule in two patients with no known risk factors for HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Recognition of atypical cytomorphologic variants of C neoformans is important since there are potential diagnostic pitfalls for confusing these atypical-appearing organisms with a Candida-type species or fungal contaminants. Special stains for capsular material and culture can be helpful in making a correct diagnosis.