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General Pathology - NEETMDS- courses
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General Pathology

FUNGAL INFECTION

Histoplasmosis

A disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, causing primary pulmonary lesions and hematogenous dissemination.

Symptoms and Signs

The disease has three main forms. Acute primary histoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis follows hematogenous spread from the lungs that is not controlled by normal cell-mediated host defense mechanisms. Characteristically, generalized involvement of the reticuloendothelial system, with hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, bone marrow involvement, and sometimes oral or GI ulcerations occurs, particularly in chronic cases

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is one of the defining opportunistic infections for AIDS.

Chronic cavitary histoplasmosis is characterized by pulmonary lesions that are often apical and resemble cavitary TB. The manifestations are worsening cough and dyspnea, progressing eventually to disabling respiratory dysfunction. Dissemination does not occur

Diagnosis

Culture of H. capsulatum from sputum, lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver biopsy, blood, urine, or oral ulcerations confirms the diagnosis

HYPERTROPHY
Increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to increase in the size of its Constituent cells.

1. Skeletal muscle due to -exercise.

2. Cardiac muscle of:
- Left ventricle in:
    o    Hypertension.
    o    Aortic valvular lesion.
    o    Severe anaemia.
- Right ventricle in :
    o    Mitral stenosis
    o    Cor pulmonale
    
3. Smooth muscle of:

- GIT proximal to strictures.
- Uterus in pregnancy.
 

1. Human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 → condyloma acuminta (venereal warts).
2. Molluscum contagiosum is characterized by a bowl shaped lesion filled with keratin, the latter containing the viral inclusions (molluscum bodies) in the squamous cells. 

METAPLASIA

A reversible replacement of one type of adult tissue by another type of tissue. It is usually an adaptive substitution to a. cell type more suited to an environment, often at the cost of specialised function.

(1) Epithelial metaplasia:

  • Squamous metaplasia. This is the commoner type of metaplasia and is seen in:
    • Tracheobronchial lining in chronic smokers and in bronchiectasis.
    • In Vitamin A deficiency.
  • Columnar metaplasia:
    • Intestinalisation of gastric mucosa in chronic gastritis.

(2) Connective tissue metaplasia:

  • Osseous-Metaplasia in :
    • Scars.
    • Myositis ossificans
  • Myeloid metaplasia in liver and spleen.

Leukaemias
Uncontrolled proliferation of leukocyte precursors (may be with associated red cell and platelet series proliferation).

Factors which may playa causal role are.
- Viral
- Radiation.
- Genetic.

Classification

1. Acule leukaemia:

a. Lymphocytic (lymphoblastic).
b. Myelocytic and promyelocytic (myeloblastic).
c. Monocytic.
d. Myelomonocytic.
e. Undifferentiated (Stem cell).

2. Chronic leukaemia:

a. Lymphocytic
b. Myelocytic

3. Miscellaneous:
a. Erythroleukaemia (De Guglielmo's disease).
b. Eosinophilic leukaemia.
c. Megakaryocytic leukaemia.

TOXOPLASMOSIS

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii, causing a spectrum of manifestations ranging from asymptomatic benign lymphadenopathy to life-threatening CNS disease, chorioretinitis, and mental retardation.

Symptomatic infections may present in several ways

Acute toxoplasmosis may mimic infectious mononucleosis with lymphadenopathy, fever, malaise, myalgia, hepatosplenomegaly, and pharyngitis. Atypical lymphocytosis, mild anemia, leukopenia, and slightly abnormal liver function tests are common. The syndrome may persist for weeks or months but is almost always self-limited.

A severe disseminated form characterized by pneumonitis, myocarditis, meningoencephalitis, polymyositis, diffuse maculopapular rash, high fevers, chills, and prostration. Acute fulminating disease is uncommon.

Congenital toxoplasmosis usually results from a primary (and often asymptomatic) acute infection acquired by the mother during pregnancy. The risk of transplacental infection increases from 15% to 30 to 60% for maternal infections acquired in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd trimester of gestation, respectively

Cholecystitis 
 
It is inflammation of the gall bladder. It may be acute or chronic.
In 80-90% of cases, it is associated with gall stones (Calcular cholecystis). 

Causes and pathogenesis:-
Obstruction of cystic or common bile duct- By stones, strictures, pressure from the outside, tumors etc.
Obstruction , chemical irritation of the gall bladder, Secondary bacterial infection, stone formation, trauma to the wall of gall
bladder 

Secondary bacterial infection

Usually by intestinal commensals E.coli, streptococcus fecalis. They reach the gall bladder by lymphatics. 
S.typhi reaches the gall bladder after systemic infection

Acute cholecystitis

Gall bladder is enlarged edematous and fiery red in color. 
- Wall is edematous, hyperemic, may show abscesses or gangrenous dark brown or green or black foci which may perforate.
Serous covering show fibrinosuppurative inflammation and exudation. Mucosa is edematous, hyperemic and ulcerated.
- If associated with stones, obstruction results in accumulation of pus leading to Empyaema of the gall bladder.

Fate:-  Healing by fibrosis and adhesions.

Complications:-  
- Pericholecystic abscess.
- Rupture leading to acute peritonitis.
- Ascending suppurative cholangitis and liver abscess 

Chronic cholecystitis
May follow Acute cholecystitis or starts chronic. Gall stones are usually present. 

Pathology

1. If associated with obstruction: Gall bladder is dilated. Wall may be thickened or thinned out. Contents may be clear, turbid or purulent. 
2. If not associated with obstruction: - Gall bladder is contracted, wall is markedly thickened.
3. Serosa is smooth with fibrous adhesions. Draining lymph nodes are enlarged.  
4. Wall is thickened, opaque and gray-white with red tinge.
5. Mucosa is gray- red with ulcerations and pouches.
6. Stones are usually present

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