Document jmxevENe3RrMKmBR0woRBzXbZ

Industrial Hygiene Digest March, 1963 228 Pulmonary Alveolar Mural Sclerosis. P. Gross. Arch. Environmental Health o, 114-117 (Jan. 1Q63). Reprints available t'rom the Industrial Hygiene Foundation upon request. Microscopic examination of lung tissue from 77 non-selected autopsied adult hospital patients showed variable degrees of alveolar mural thickening in all but a few sections. This was exclusive of the thickening secondary to the presence of dust or the result of chronic inter stitial pneumonitis. The mural thickening was characterized by slight to severe thickening of the alveolar reticulin by argentophilic material. In some cases, the axial fibers were involved, in a few instances the short side branches of the axial fibers were affected, and in other cases the alveolar capillaries were encased in a shell of argentophilic material. Combinations of these were also observed. In some cases, this mural thickening was associated with an increased vascularity, and in other cases the capillary bed was reduced. It is suggested that the observed thickening of the alveolar reticulin could result in alveolo-capillary block and diminished pul monary compliance if the changes are sufficiently extensive and severe. In part because of limitations of this study, no relation of mural thickening to age or sex was noted. -- Author's summary 229 Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Emphysema. R. V. Ebert and J. A. Pierce. Arch. Internal Med. Ill, 34-43 (Jan. 1963). Pulmonary emphysema is a disease characterized by distortion and destruction of normal lung architecture. The disease represents structural failure of the connective tissue network of the lungs. It can be recognized during life only when severe or accompanied by chronic bronchitis. Studies on the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema must be based on the anatomical diagnosis. The Laennec hypothesis of the pathogenesis of emphysema stresses the importance of the trapping of air. Doubt is cast on this hypothesis, since patients with bron chial asthma do not commonly develop emphysema and since bronchial obstruction does not regularly produce the disease in animals. It is proposed that the occurrence of pulmonary em physema depends on primary alterations of the connective tissue framework of the lungs. Chronic bronchitis is considered a result rather than a cause of emphysema. There are 35 re ferences to the subject. -- Authors' summary 230 Staphylococci in Rural Patients Discharged from Hospital. I. M. Smith, et al. Am. J. Med. Sci. 245, 12 (Jan. 1963). A study was made of the persistence and economic importance of staphylococcic in fections in rural patients discharged from hospital and in their families. Among 295 patients, 54 died in hospital and 22 at home within 6 months of discharge. Seventeen of these patients died of staphylococcic infection. Eight of 18 patients with hospital acquired infections died. Patients came from all services of the hospital and had all varieties of staphylococcic infection. In 14% of the patients, lesions had not healed in 6 months after diagnosis and in 9% the lesions were active for at least 14 months. Many patients transferred their infections to their families and 14.6% transferred their staphylococci to their milk cows. Some phage types were more easily transferred than others. Staphylococcic infections are of great economic importance. -- J. Am. Med. Assn. References tt Reviews SKIN DISEASES AND BURNS 231 Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): An Appraisal. A. L. Hudson. Can. Med. Assn. J. J37, 957-960 (Nov. 3, 1962), The commonly used term "allergy" connotes an induced state of altered tissue re activity. The, term "atopic" presupposes an allergic diathesis, but is used to indicate the pre sence of non-induced 6r spontaneous alterations of tissue reactivity. The major controlling 03121183 10.