Talk to us?

General Pathology - NEETMDS- courses
NEET MDS Lessons
General Pathology

Cor pulmonale
a failure of the right side of the heart. It is caused by prolonged high blood pressure in the right ventricle of the heart, which in turn is most often caused by pulmonary hypertension - prolonged high blood pressure in the arteries or veins of the lungs. People with heart disease, or lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, are at greater risk.

Pathophysiology

There are several mechanisms leading to pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale:
Pulmonary vasoconstriction
Anatomic changes in vascularisation
Increased blood viscosity
Primary pulmonary hypertension

Causes

Acute: 
•    Massive pulmonary embolization
•    Exacerbation of chronic cor pulmonale
Chronic: 
•    COPD
•    Loss of lung tissue following trauma or surgery
 

Clinical genetics (cytogenetics),

This is a method in which inherited chromosomal abnormalities in the germ cells or acquired chromosomal abnormalities in somatic cells are investigated using the techniques of molecular biology.

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. 

Viral meningitis
1. Can be caused by many different viruses, including cytomegalovirus, herpes virus, rabies, and HIV.
2. CSF fluid from a spinal tap differs from that seen in a bacterial infection. It shows mononuclear cells, higher levels of protein, and normal levels of glucose.

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever; San Joaquin Fever)

A disease caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis, usually occurring in a primary form as an acute benign asymptomatic or self-limited respiratory infection, occasionally disseminating to cause focal lesions in skin, subcutaneous tissues, lymph nodes, bones, liver, kidneys, meninges, brain, or other tissues.

Primary coccidioidomycosis is usually asymptomatic, but nonspecific respiratory symptoms resembling influenza or acute bronchitis sometimes occur or, less often, acute pneumonia or pleural effusion. Symptoms, in decreasing order of frequency, include fever, cough, chest pain, chills, sputum production, sore throat, and hemoptysis.

Progressive disseminated coccidioidomycosis may develop a few weeks, months, or occasionally years after primary infections,, is more common in men than women and is more likely to occur in association with HIV infection, immunosuppressive therapy

Symptoms often are nonspecific, including low-grade fever, anorexia, weight loss, and weakness. Extensive pulmonary involvement may cause progressive cyanosis, dyspnea, and discharge of mucopurulent or bloody sputum. Extrapulmonary lesions are usually focal, involving one or more tissue sites in bones, joints, skin, subcutaneous tissues, viscera, brain, or meninges. Draining sinus tracts sometimes connect deeper lesions to the skin. Localized extrapulmonary lesions often become chronic and recur frequently, sometimes long after completion of seemingly successful antifungal therapy.

FUNGAL INFECTION

Mucormycosis (Zygomycosis; Phycomycosis)

Infection with tissue invasion by broad, nonseptate, irregularly shaped hyphae of diverse fungal species, including Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, Absidia, and Basidiobolus.

Infection is most common in immunosuppressed persons, in patients with poorly controlled diabetes, and in patients receiving the iron-chelating drug desferrioxamine.

Symptoms and Signs

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is the most common form, but primary cutaneous, pulmonary, or GI lesions sometimes develop, and hematogenous dissemination to other sites can occur. Rhinocerebral infections are usually fulminant and frequently fatal. Necrotic lesions usually appear on the nasal mucosa or sometimes the palate.

Fulminant hepatitis

Fulminant hepatitis leads to submassive and massive hepatic necrosis. 
a. Etiology. HAV, HBV, HCV, delta virus (HDV) superinfection, HEV, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, isoniazid, halothane, and other drugs (acetaminophen overdose) all may cause fulminant hepatitis.
b. Clinical features include progressive hepatic dysfunction with a mortality of 25%-90%.
c. Pathology

(1) Grossly, one sees progressive shrinkage of the liver as the parenchyma is destroyed. 

Explore by Exams