SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “nodulation”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of palpation-guided versus ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies of thyroid nodules in an outpatient endocrinology practice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of thyroid ultrasonography in our outpatient endocrine practice. METHODS: We compared the efficacy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) of thyroid nodules with that of palpation-guided aspiration (P-FNAB) and determined the malignancy rates of palpable and nonpalpable nodules. All patients referred for assessment of thyroid nodular disease from October 1997 through August 2001 were included in the study. Fine-needle aspirations were performed by palpation guidance until October 1999, after which US-FNAB was exclusively performed. All thyroid examinations, ultrasound imaging, and aspiration biopsies were performed by the same endocrinologist in an office-based setting. Histopathologic and cytologic diagnoses were compared for patients who underwent thyroidectomy. RESULTS: A total of 376 nodules in 276 patients were aspirated during a 47-month period. P-FNAB was used on 157 nodules, and US-FNAB was performed on 219 nodules (both procedures were done on 21 nodules). For palpable thyroid nodules that were resected, the cytologic diagnostic accuracy rate was 60.9% and 80% for P-FNAB and US-FNAB, respectively. With use of ultrasound guidance, the sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value increased significantly. In addition, the inadequate specimen rate decreased from 11.2% in the P-FNAB group to 7.1% in the US-FNAB group. Among the nodules that were not palpable, the malignancy rate was similar to that for the palpable thyroid nodules (5.1% versus 6.8%). CONCLUSION: US-FNAB improved the cytologic diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and positive predictive value and reduced the false-negative rate in comparison with P-FNAB. The malignancy rate for nonpalpable thyroid nodules was similar to that for palpable nodules.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Levothyroxine and potassium iodide are both effective in treating benign solitary solid cold nodules of the thyroid.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of levothyroxine and potassium iodide in treating patients with benign solitary cold thyroid nodules. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic at a university hospital. PATIENTS: 80 patients with solitary solid cold thyroid nodules found to be benign at cytologic examination were randomly assigned to no treatment, suppressive levothyroxine (thyroid-stimulating hormone level, < 0.3 mU/L), or low-dose potassium iodide (2 mg every 2 weeks). Seventy patients completed the 1-year study. After 1 year, patients receiving treatment discontinued drug therapy and were re-evaluated 4 months later; patients receiving no treatment were given levothyroxine and were followed for a second year. MEASUREMENTS: Nodule volume was measured by ultrasonography at 4-month intervals by an observer masked to treatment assignment. RESULTS: Mean nodule volume decreased by 40% of the basal volume in the 23 patients receiving levothyroxine (P < 0.001) and by 23% of the basal volume in the 25 patients receiving potassium iodide (P = 0.053). Volume slightly increased in the 22 untreated patients (P = 0.085). A clinically relevant reduction in nodule volume (> or = 50%) was observed in 9 of 23 patients treated with levothyroxine, in 5 of 25 patients treated with potassium iodide, and in none of 22 untreated patients (P = 0.004). Only nodules with a volume of 10 mL or less were reduced; nodules with volumes of 5 mL or less shrank most frequently. Nodule volume did not relevantly increase in treated patients but did increase in 3 of the 22 untreated patients. Drug withdrawal resulted in an increased mean nodule volume (P = 0.004) after 4 months. CONCLUSIONS: Levothyroxine and, to a lesser extent, potassium iodide are effective in arresting the growth or in reducing the volume of benign solitary solid cold thyroid nodules, especially small ones; discontinuation of therapy may result in resumed nodule growth.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

[A nodule in the thyroid gland. Preoperative examinations and treatment--an analysis of 990 cases].

INTRODUCTION: It is very difficult to know whether a nodule in the thyroid gland is benign or malignant as judged by a clinical examination, scintigraphy, US, or FNA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over a 10-year period a series of 1509 patients were operated on for diseases in the thyroid gland. The indication for surgical intervention in 990 patients was a nodule in the thyroid gland, defined as a solitary nodule or a suspicious nodule in a goitre. RESULTS: The incidence of malignancy in these 990 patients with a nodule was 6.3% with no difference between men and women. Forty-four per cent were follicular adenomas and the rest were colloid nodules. No increased incidence of malignancy in nodules was found with increasing size, whereas the incidence significantly increased with advancing age. Scintigraphy was carried out in almost all the patients (98.9%). Seventy-five per cent had a cold nodule, 9% irregular uptake, and 17% a warm nodule. Only one malignancy, a follicular carcinoma, was a warm nodule. FNA was performed in 955 of the 990 patients (97%). The incidence of follicular neoplasia was 33% in the benign nodule and 70% in the follicular adenoma. DISCUSSION: When malignant cells were found by FNA, it was an almost certain sign of malignancy with very few false positive results, whereas a follicular adenoma or a malignant tumour cannot be excluded by a negative answer. The risk of complications was very low, with an 0.3% incidence of recurrent nerve palsy. If and when the risk can be kept at a reasonably low level, the advantages of thyroid surgery will out-number the disadvantages and early surgery is therefore preferable.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

The value of aspiration needle biopsy in evaluating thyroid nodules.

From 1980 to 1990 4,229 consecutive euthyroid patients with thyroid nodule (73% with single and 27% with multiple nodules) were examined by FNA cytology for preoperative selection. One thousand four hundred and eight of these patients (33%) had nodules also suitable for evaluation by large needle biopsy histology (Aspiration Needle Biopsy, ANB). No significant complications occurred following ANB. The proportion of inadequate specimens was 25% for ANB and 15% for FNA, however a definite diagnosis was obtained with ANB in 62 patients with inadequate FNA finding. Diagnostic sensitivity was higher (93%) for FNA than for ANB whereas specificity was better (82%) for ANB diagnoses. Nonetheless ANB contributed to the increase of overall sensitivity as four of all the malignant nodules diagnosed as benign by FNA were correctly identified by ANB. Analysis of the postoperative results of 102 nodules with FNA and ANB finding of benign nodule or of suspected cancer showed that the addition to the same FNA finding (benign nodule or suspected cancer) of a different ANB diagnosis (suspected cancer or benign nodule) greatly changed the probability of finding a malignant nodule at postoperative histology. ANB was also useful in showing a macrofollicular component in 52% of 150 nodules diagnosed by FNA as pure microfollicular nodules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pediatric thyroid nodules: insights in management.

BACKGROUND: Multiple diagnostic studies are utilized to unveil malignancy in pediatric thyroid nodules and determine whether surgical therapy is needed. PURPOSE: The aim of this report was to determine whether management of pediatric thyroid nodules has changed with the current use of diagnostic modalities such as ultrasonography (US), radionuclear scans (RNS) and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). MATERIAL/METHODS: Twenty-four children with thyroid nodules managed during a ten-year period comprised the study group. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, US and RNS imaging findings, FNAB results, surgical therapy, complications and pathological reports were retrospectively reviewed. US, RNS and FNAB results were categorized as either benign, malignant, suspicious or insufficient. RESULTS: Females outnumbered males by a five to one ratio. Mean age was 14.9 years. Nineteen nodules were benign (79%) and five malignant (21%). All children were euthyroid. Benign nodules were soft, movable, solitary and nontender. Malignant nodules were characterized by localized tenderness, a multiglandular appearance, and fixation to adjacent tissues. US and RNS gave no clue toward management since cystic and hot nodules figured among malignant cases respectively. US achieved 86% accuracy, 80% sensitivity and 88% specificity; RNS showed 26% accuracy, 80% sensitivity and 11% specificity; FNAB achieved 80% accuracy, 60% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Suppressive thyroid hormone therapy was useless in the few cases tried. Physical examination findings, persistence of the nodule, progressive growth and cosmetic appearance where the most common indications for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Present diagnostic modalities played a minor role in the decision to withhold surgery. US was useful for aiming aspiration of cystic nodules. RNS decided the functionality of the nodule, but its accuracy was far from ideal. FNAB is a safe procedure whose greatest help was to resolve in case of suspicious or malignant cytology that a more radical procedure is needed. Clinical judgement as determined by serial physical findings and suspicion continues to be the most determinant factors in the management of thyroid nodules in children.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1994

Similar patterns of hypomethylation in the beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase gene in hepatic nodules induced by different carcinogens.

Our earlier studies demonstrated that the beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase gene is hypomethylated and overexpressed in hepatic nodules initiated by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (1,2-DMH). The study presented here examined whether the pattern of DNA methylation of the HMG CoA reductase gene in hepatic nodules reflected carcinogen-DNA interaction during initiation. Accordingly, hepatic nodules were generated in male Fischer 344 rats with either 1,2-DMH or aristolochic acid (AA), which interact predominantly with the guanine and adenine bases in DNA, respectively. DNA from individual nodules was restricted with HpaII, MspI, and HhaI, and the fragments obtained were hybridized to a cDNA probe for HMG CoA reductase. The results indicated that the hypomethylation pattern in the reductase gene in the nodules initiated with these two carcinogens was similar, although they interacted with different bases in the DNA. The question still remained whether the DNA fragments obtained by digesting the two sets of nodules with the restriction endonucleases were from the same domains in the genome of HMG CoA reductase. To examine this, probes for the different domains of the HMG CoA reductase gene were generated from the cDNA using the restriction enzyme Accl. Three probes were obtained: (i) a 5'-end fragment corresponding to the membrane-spanning region, (ii) a second fragment corresponding to the 3'-end of the protein, and (iii) a third fragment spanning the region between (i) and (ii). Each of these probes was radiolabeled and hybridized to the HpaII- and HhaI-generated fragments from the DNA of hepatic nodules initiated with 1,2-DMH and AA. Irrespective of the carcinogen used for initiation, hypomethylation occurred in all three domains of the gene. More important, the pattern of hypomethylation was similar in the nodules initiated by the two carcinogens. Furthermore, an overall similarity was seen in the hypomethylation patterns in the c-myc and c-Ha-ras genes in the DNA of nodules initiated with either 1,2-DMH or AA. These results raise the possibility that the pattern of hypomethylation established in the hepatic nodules may not directly reflect the interaction between the initiating carcinogen and DNA but may represent a unique phenotype of hepatic nodules.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine↗

PubMed1993

A survey of transcripts expressed specifically in root nodules of broadbean (Vicia faba L.).

More than 600 potentially nodule-specific clones have been detected by differential hybridization of a broadbean cDNA library constructed from root nodule poly(A)+ RNA. These isolated cDNAs belong to at least 28 different clone groups containing cross-hybridizing sequences. The number of clones within a clone group varies from about 200 to only one single clone. Northern hybridization experiments revealed nodule-specific transcripts for 14 clone groups and markedly nodule-enhanced transcripts for another 7 clone groups. Sequence homologies indicate that three transcript sequences code for different leghemoglobins. Two other transcripts encode a nodule-specific sucrose synthase and a nodule-enhanced asparagine synthetase, respectively. Four deduced gene products are proline-rich, two of them being the homologues of PsENOD2 and PsENOD12. The third proline-rich protein (PRP) is composed of similar amino acid repeats as the nodule-specific PsENOD12 but is expressed in nodules and roots in comparable amounts. The fourth PRP is a nodule-enhanced extensin-type protein built up by Ser-Pro4 repeats. Two further nodule-specific transcripts encode gene products showing some similarity to structural glycine-rich proteins. Additionally, transcripts could be identified for broadbean homologues of the nodulins MsNOD25, PsENOD3 and PsENOD5 and transcripts specifying a nodule-enhanced lipoxygenase and a translation elongation factor EF-1 alpha, which is expressed in all broadbean tissues tested.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Nodules elicited by Rhizobium meliloti heme mutants are arrested at an early stage of development.

Heme-deficient mutants of Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium have been found to exhibit diverse phenotypes with respect to symbiotic interactions with plant hosts. We observed that R. meliloti hemA mutants elicit nodules that do not contain intracellular bacteria; the nodules contain either no infection threads ("empty" nodule phenotype) or aberrant infection threads that failed to release bacteria (Bar- phenotype). These mutant nodules expressed nodulin genes associated with nodules arrested at an early stage of development, including ENOD2, Nms-30, and four previously undescribed nodulin genes. These nodules also failed to express any of six late nodulin genes tested by hybridization, including leghemoglobin, and twelve tested by in vitro translation product analysis which are not yet correlated with specific cloned genes. We observed that R. meliloti leucine and adenosine auxotrophs induced invaded Fix- nodules that expressed late nodulin genes, suggesting that it is not auxotrophy per se that causes the hemA mutants to elicit Bar- or empty nodules. Because R. meliloti hemA mutants elicit nodules that do not contain intracellular bacteria, it is not possible to decide whether or not the Fix- phenotype of these nodules is a direct consequence of the failure of R. meliloti to supply the heme moiety of hololeghemoglobin. Our results demonstrate the importance of establishing the stage in development at which a mutant nodule is arrested before conclusions are drawn about the role of small metabolite exchange in the symbiosis.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1979

Recombination nodules and synaptonemal complex in recombination-defective females of Drosophila melanogaster.

The cytological effects of mutant alleles of the mei-9, mei-218, and mei-41 loci during prophase I have been examined by electron microscopy. None of these mutants affect synaptonemal complex structure, continuity, or temporal behavior. Both the precondition-defective mutants mei-218 and mei-41 affect both number and morphology of spherical recombination nodules and apparently affect at least the numbers of ellipsoidal recombination nodules, whereas in the exchange-defective mutant mei-9 the numbers and morphologies of both ellipsoidal and spherical recombination nodules are normal. The parallel effects of mei-218 and mei-41 on meiotic recombination and on recombination nodules indicate that spherical recombination nodules at least mark the site of exchange events; the effects of these mutants on nodule morphology suggest that the nodule performs an active role in the recombination process. The nodule phenotype of mei-9 indicates that spherical nodules are present, and presumably functioning, well before the concluding stages of the recombination event. The parallel effects of all 3 mutants on ellipsoidal and spherical nodules indicate that these are indeed related structures but does not ellucidate the nature of the relationship. It is suggested that all aspects of meiotic recombination are under the aegis of recombination nodules.

Animals↗

PubMed2007

Indocyanine green angiographic findings of Dalen-Fuchs nodules in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze indocyanine green (ICG) angiographic findings of Dalen-Fuchs nodules in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. METHODS: ICG angiograms of 15 patients (30 eyes) with Dalen-Fuchs nodules in VKH disease of between 2 months and 5 years after the initial diagnosis were retrospectively studied. Findings of ICG angiography were compared with features of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). RESULTS: Dalen-Fuchs nodules were easily found in the inferior (30 eyes, 100%) and temporal periphery (22 eyes, 73%) and showed two kinds of fluorescence in ICG angiography. In ten patients (20 eyes), the nodules showed small round hypofluorescent dark dots in the whole process of angiography, and the dark dots were larger in size than the nodules in FFA. Disease course in these patients was relatively long-between 1 year and 5 years. On clinical examination, the nodules were atrophic, and hyperpigmentation was found around them. In another five patients (ten eyes), parts of the nodules showed small hyperfluorescent dots in the early phase, but they were faint in the intermediate phase and became large, hypofluorescent dark dots in the late phase. Disease course in these patients was between 2 and 8 months. The nodules were bright yellow, fresh, and much larger than those in the first kind of ICG fluorescence. CONCLUSIONS: Dalen-Fuchs nodules in VKH are mostly present in the inferior and temporal periphery. The two kinds of fluorescence of Dalen-Fuchs in ICG angiography may reflect obliteration of choriocapillaris under the nodules and different quantities of lipofuscin in the nodules at different time points of the disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Chemical composition and ultrastructure of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) nodule endodermis in comparison to the root endodermis.

Ultrastructure and development of apoplastic barriers within indeterminate root nodules formed by Vicia faba L. were examined by light and electron microscopy. The nodule outer cortex is separated from the inner cortex by a heavily suberized nodule endodermis, which matures in submeristematic regions and possesses suberin lamellae. Unsuberized passage cells are present near vascular strands, which are surrounded by a vascular endodermis attached on the inner side of the nodule endodermal cell walls. The vascular endodermis appears immediately below the meristematic apex in developmental state I (Casparian bands), gradually develops suberin lamellae, and attains developmental state II at the base of the nodule. For chemical analysis apoplastic barrier tissues were dissected after enzymatic digestion of non-impregnated tissues. Root epidermal and endodermal cell walls as well as nodule outer cortex could be isolated as pure fractions; nodule endodermal cell walls could not be separated from vascular endodermal cell walls and enclosed xylem vessels. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were applied for quantitative and qualitative analysis of suberin and lignin in isolated cell walls of these tissues. The suberin content of isolated endodermal cell walls of nodules was approximately twice that of the root endodermal cell walls. The suberin content of the nodule outer cortex and root epidermal cell walls was less than one-tenth of that of the nodule endodermal cell wall. Substantial amounts of lignin could only be found in the nodule endodermal cell wall fraction. Organic solvent extracts of the isolated tissues revealed long-chain aliphatic acids, steroids, and triterpenoid structures of the lupeol type. Surprisingly, extract from the outer cortex consisted of 89% triterpenoids whereas extracts from all other cell wall isolates contained not more than 16% total triterpenoids. The results of ultrastructural and chemical composition are in good correspondence and underline the important role of the examined tissues as apoplastic barriers.

Biopolymers↗

PubMed2003

The Lotus japonicus Sen1 gene controls rhizobial differentiation into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids in nodules.

A Lotus japonicus mutant, Ljsym75, which forms ineffective symbiotic nodules and defines a new locus involved in the process of nitrogen fixation, was characterized in detail in order to identify the stage of developmental arrest of the nodules. No nitrogen-fixing activity was detectable in Ljsym75 nodules at any stage during plant development, and plant growth was markedly retarded. Ljsym75 plants formed twice as many nodules as the wild-type Gifu, and this phenotype was not influenced by the application of low concentrations of nitrate. Although the ineffective nodules formed on Ljsym75 were anatomically similar to effective Gifu nodules, Ljsym75 nodules senesced prematurely. Microscopic examination revealed that bacteria endocytosed into Ljsym75 nodules failed to differentiate into bacteroids. Moreover, the bacteria contained no nitrogenase proteins, whereas leghemoglobin was detected in the cytosol of the nodules. These results indicate that Ljsym75 is required for bacterial differentiation into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids in nodules, and thus the Ljsym75 gene was renamed sen1 (for stationary endosymbiont nodule). Linkage analysis using DNA markers showed that Sen1 is located on chromosome 4.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed2001

Differentiating early malignant lung tumors from inflammatory nodules to minimize the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or open biopsy to establish a diagnosis.

To decrease the frequency of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) biopsy being used to diagnose inflammatory nodules, we studied the clinicopathological findings of lung cancers and inflammatory nodules diagnosed by VATS or open-lung biopsy. We studied 46 lung cancers and 47 inflammatory nodules smaller than 30mm in diameter diagnosed by VATS or open-lung biopsy. While the computed tomography (CT) findings were not significantly different between lung cancers and inflammatory nodules, N1 or N2 lung cancers more frequently showed distinct malignant features on CT than T1N0M0 lung cancers (P < 0.05). A review of previous chest X-ray films revealed that those of inflammatory nodules showed new nodules more frequently and nodular enlargement less frequently than those of lung cancer (P < 0.01). Of 13 lung cancers that showed nodular enlargement during a mean 15-month period, 12 were T1N0M0. Nondiagnosable small lung nodules, which had few malignant features on CT and had newly appeared on a chest X-ray film, were more likely to be inflammatory nodules than lung cancers; and even if they were lung cancers, the tumor stage was usually T1N0M0. Thus, to decrease the incidence of VATS biopsy being performed for inflammatory nodules, intensive follow-up by CT until slight nodular enlargement becomes evident could be a means of revealing nondiagnosable small lung nodules without distinct malignant findings, except for nodules found to be enlarging on a review of retrospective films.

Adult↗

PubMed1981

Regulation of the expression of leghaemoglobin genes in effective and ineffective root nodules of soybean.

The expression of leghaemoglobin genes in effective and ineffective (unable to fix nitrogen) root nodules of soybean developed by Rhizobium japonicum strains 61A76, 61A24 and SM5 was measured by using a cDNA probe or a cloned leghaemoglobin sequence and in vitro translation of Lb-mRNA. Hybridization of the poly(A)-containing nodule polysomal RNA from 3-week-old nodules with a kinetically purified Lb-cDNA or with plasmid (pLbl) containing a leghaemoglobin sequence showed that Lb-mRNA is present in ineffective nodules formed by strains SM5 and 61A24 at reduced levels. Of the two major classes of electrophoretically distinguishable leghaemoglobins in soybean, LbS was not synthesized in 3-week-old strain 61A24-induced nodules while both sorts of leghaemoglobin were synthesized and accumulated in ineffective nodules formed by strain SM5 of Rhizobium. Ineffective nodules formed by strain 61A24 are green inside and do not appear to accumulate leghaemoglobin as measured by the haemochromogen assay, although low levels of apoleghaemoglobin were detected using leghaemoglobin antibodies. SM5-induced nodules were found to have about half as much as leghaemoglobin of the of effective (61A76-induced) nodules. This study demonstrates that while the appearance of leghaemoglobin is independent of nitrogenase activity in bacteroids, its synthesis is influenced to different degrees both by a mutation (SM5) and incompatibility (61A24) of Rhizobium. The primary regulation appears to be at the level of transcription or processing of mRNA since ineffective nodules contain Lb-mRNA approximately in proportion to the amount of apoleghaemoglobin present in these nodules.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

PubMed1994

Pulmonary nodules in spiral volumetric and single slice computed tomography.

Single slice acquisition of conventional CT and volume scanning of spiral volumetric CT are compared in terms of detection and assessment of pulmonary nodules. Spiral CT is supposed to be superior to conventional CT in detecting all lung nodules by scanning the complete lung volume, while conventional CT may miss nodules due to inconsistent levels of inspiration for single slices. Different technical procedures of spiral CT may change the imaging of nodules and other findings. Fifty-two patients with known or suspected lung nodules were examined by conventional CT and spiral CT. Number and size of lung nodules and imaging of other pulmonary findings were registered independently by two radiologists. Spiral CT showed 15 lung nodules not seen on conventional CT, and missed one nodule. Spiral CT imaging of nodules was superior in some cases (characterisation of benign nodules) because complete scanning provided more information than conventional CT. It was worse in some cases (small nodules, fibrosis, small pleural effusion) due to the greater partial volume effect and less mAs. Technically improved spiral CT with longer scanning facilities and a 180-degree algorithm may be able to replace conventional CT for this indication.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pathogenesis of filarial hydrocele: risk associated with intrascrotal nodules caused by death of adult Wuchereria bancrofti.

Although testicular hydrocele is the most common clinical manifestation of bancroftian filariasis, its pathogenesis is poorly understood, as is its relationship to inflammatory scrotal nodules following death of adult Wuchereria bancrofti. Between 1994 and 1998, we prospectively determined the incidence and clinical evolution of nodule-associated acute hydrocele in men attending 2 outpatient clinics in Recife, Brazil who were infected with W. bancrofti, had living adult worms detectable by ultrasound in the intrascrotal lymphatic vessels, and were scheduled for treatment with 6 mg/kg diethylcarbamazine (DEC). A total of 132 men developed 173 scrotal nodules 1-7 (mean 4.2) d after DEC treatment and another 47 developed 58 spontaneous nodules before they received DEC treatment. These 179 men with a single 'nodule event' (simultaneous development of > or =1 scrotal nodules) were followed-up by serial physical and ultrasound examinations for 18 months. Overall, 40 (22.3%) men developed acute hydrocele, 3 of whom underwent biopsy and hydrocele repair. Of the remaining 37 men, 9 (24.3%) developed chronic hydrocele and 28 had acute hydrocele resolution within 14-210 (mean 60.9) d. Rate of chronic hydrocele was similar for men who received DEC and those with spontaneous nodules. Seventeen (42.5%) men with hydrocele had multiple scrotal nodules, compared with 28 (20.1%) men who did not develop hydrocele (P= 0.007). Of 134 men with single nodules, superior paratesticular nodules were found in 56.5% and 29.7% of those with and without hydrocele, respectively (P = 0.02). Acute hydrocele occurs frequently following death of adult W. bancrofti and single episodes of scrotal nodule formation. Chronic hydrocele may develop following 5.1% of these episodes.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

The identification of small nodules in liver adenomatosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver adenomatosis is characterized by the presence of multiple adenomas of various sizes in the liver. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology of small nodules which can be difficult to identify. METHODS: Seven patients included in this study underwent surgery for the removal of one or several nodules. All, but one, were females. Three out of seven presented with acute bleeding. Five had six or more nodules at presentation, and two only one, who developed nodules later on during follow-up. RESULTS: All of the large nodules that were >2 cm, except one, were typical adenomas with or without hemorrhagic areas. Smaller nodules (1-2 cm), some of which discovered on the resected specimen were either typical adenomas or non-typical nodules. These non-typical nodules were characterized by a polylobulated aspect with steatotic zones, and in between, bands of non-steatotic hepatocytes with portal tracts-like structures containing occasional cytokeratin 7 and less often cytokeratin 19 positive biliary cells. Numerous steatotic foci were also seen in four cases. They were isolated or grouped forming microadenomas or non-typical micronodules (<1 cm) containing biliary elements. Our findings lead to the following hypothesis: adenomatosis is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of multiple adenomas; if several adenomatous foci expand at the same time in the same area, they will form one polylobulated nodule containing non-adenomatous tissue with portal tracts in between areas of adenomatous tissue (non-typical micronodule). Such a small micronodule may in turn expand and join another micronodule to form a bigger one by the same process (non-typical nodule). As nodules grow, their non-adenomatous components including hepatocytic plates and portal tracts constituents will progressively disappear to end up with the classical aspect of an adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: This hypothesis supports the concept that non-typical nodules/micronodules are adenomas precursors. However, they can be difficult to classify since they resemble focal nodular hyperplasia precursor.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1998

Direct detection of radicals in intact soybean nodules: presence of nitric oxide-leghemoglobin complexes.

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy has been employed to examine the nature of the metal ions and radicals present in intact root nodules of soybean plants grown in the absence of nitrate. The spectra obtained from nodules of different ages using this non-invasive technique show dramatic differences, suggesting that there are both qualitative and quantitative changes in the metal ion and radical species present. A major component of the spectra obtained from young nodules is assigned to a complex (Lb-NO) of nitric oxide (NO.) with the heme protein leghemoglobin (Lb). This Lb-NO species, which has not been previously detected in intact root nodules of plants grown in the absence of nitrate, is thought to be formed by reaction of nitric oxide with iron(II) leghemoglobin. The nitric oxide may be generated from arginine via a nitric oxide synthase-like activity present in the nodules of the soybean plants, in a manner analogous to that recently described for Lupinus albus. This Lb-NO complex is present at lower concentrations in older nodules, and is almost completely absent from senescent nodules. Exposure of young and mature nodules to oxidant stress, in the form of hydrogen peroxide, results in changes in the EPR spectra, with the loss of the signals from the Lb-NO complex and appearance of absorptions similar to those from untreated senescent nodules. These results suggest that there are characteristic changes in both the metal ion complexes and radicals present in intact root nodules of different ages, and support the theory that nitric oxide and other radicals play a significant role in determining the nitrogen fixing activity of root nodules; the modulatory activity of NO. may involve regulation of gene activity.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗