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General Pathology - NEETMDS- courses
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General Pathology

THROMBOPHLEBITIS AND  PHLEBOTHROMBOSIS 
- The deep leg veins account for more than 90% of cases (DVT) 
- the most important clinical predispositions are: congestive heart failure, neoplasia, pregnancy, obesity, the postoperative state, and prolonged bed rest or immobilization 
- local manifestations: distal edema, cyanosis, superficial vein dilation, heat, tenderness, redness, swelling, and pain 
- migratory thrombophlebitis (Trousseau sign): hypercoagulability occurs as a paraneoplastic syndrome related to tumor elaboration of procoagulant factors 

Group A Streptococcus
 - scarlet fever usually begins as a Streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis and then develops an erythematous rash beginning on the trunk and limbs with eventual desquamation.
 - rash is due to elaboration of erythrogenic toxin by the organism
 - face is usually spared, but, if involved there is a characteristic circumoral pallor and the tongue becomes bright red, thus the term "strawberry tongue".
 - post-streptococcal immune complex glomerulonephritis is a possible sequela of scarlet fever.
 - Dick test is a skin test that evaluates immunity against scarlet fever; no response indicates immunity (anti-toxin antibodies present); erythema indicates no immunity.
 - impetigo due to Streptococcus pyogenes is characterized by honey colored, crusted lesions, while those with a predominantly bullous pattern are primarily due to Staphylococcus aureus.
 - cellulitis with lymphangitis ("red streaks") is characteristic of Streptococcus pyogenes.
 - hyaluronidase is a spreading factor that favors the spread of infection throughout the subcutaneous tissue unlike Staphylococcus aureus which generates coagulase to keep the pus confined.
 - erysipelas refers to a raised, erythematous ("brawny edema"), hot cellulitis, usually on the face that commonly produces septicemia, if left untreated. 

Verruca vulgaris
1. Commonly known as warts.
2. Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
3. Warts can be seen on skin or as an oral lesion (vermilion border, oral mucosa, or tongue).
4. Transmitted by contact or autoinoculation.
5. A benign lesion.

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

Cushing’s syndrome

The symptoms and signs of Cushing’s syndrome are associated with prolonged inappropriate elevation of free corticosteroid levels.

Clinical features

- Central obesity and moon face.
- Plethora and acne.
- Menstrual irregularity.
- Hirsutism and hair thinning.
- Hypertension.
- Diabetes.
- Osteoporosis—may cause collapse of vertebrae, rib fractures.
- Muscle wasting and weakness.
- Atrophy of skin and dermis—paper thin skin with bruising tendency, purple striae.


Aetiopathogenesis — patients with Cushing’s syndrome can be classified into two groups on the basis of whether the aetiology of the condition is ACTH dependent or independent. 

Classification of Cushing's syndrome

ACTH dependent- Iatrogenic (ACTH therapy) Pituitary hypersecretion of ACTH Ectopic ACTH syndrome (benign or malignant non-endocrine tumour)

Non-ACTH dependent - Iatrogenic, e.g. prednisolone Adrenal cortical adenoma , Adrenal cortical carcinoma

ACTH-dependent aetiology:

- Pituitary hypersecretion of ACTH (Cushing’s disease)—bilateral adrenal hyperplasia secondary to excessive secretion of ACTH by a corticotroph adenoma of the pituitary gland.
- Production of ectopic ACTH or corticotrophin- releasing hormone (CRH) by non-endocrine neoplasm, e.g. small cell lung cancer and some carcinoid tumours. In cases of malignant bronchial tumour, the patient rarely survives long enough to develop any physical features of Cushing’s syndrome.

Non-ACTH-dependent aetiology

Iatrogenic steroid therapy—most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome.
Adrenal cortical adenoma—well-circumscribed yellow tumour usually 2–5 cm in diameter.
Extremely common as an incidental finding in up to 30% of all post-mortem examinations. The yellow colour is due to stored lipid (mainly cholesterol) from which the hormones are synthesised. The vast majority have no clinical effects (i.e. they are non-functioning adenomas), with only a small percentage producing Cushing’s syndrome.

Adrenal cortical carcinoma—rare and almost always associated with the overproduction of hormones, usually glucocorticoids and sex steroids. 

Cushing’s syndrome mixed with androgenic effects which are particularly noticeable in women. Tumours are usually large and yellowish white in colour. Local invasion and metastatic spread are common.

Irrespective of the aetiology, the diagnosis is based on clinical features and the demonstration of a raised plasma cortisol level.
The aetiology of the disorder is elucidated through:
- Raised urinary cortisol in the first instance, but further testing is required.
- Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (suppression of cortisol levels in Cushing’s disease due to suppression of pituitary ACTH secretion, but a lack of suppression suggests ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome).
- MRI and CT scan visualisation of pituitary and adrenal glands.
- Analysis of blood ACTH (high = pituitary adenoma or ectopic ACTH source; low = primary adrenal tumour due to feedback suppression).
- Treatment of the underlying cause is essential as untreated Cushing’s syndrome has a 50% 5-year mortality rate.

The therapeutic administration of glucocorticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone) is a common cause of the features of Cushing’s syndrome. 

Respiratory Viral Diseases

Respiratory viral infections cause acute local and systemic illnesses. The common cold, influenza, pharyngitis, laryngitis (including croup), and tracheobronchitis are common.

An acute, usually afebrile, viral infection of the respiratory tract, with inflammation in any or all airways, including the nose, paranasal sinuses, throat, larynx, and sometimes the trachea and bronchi.

Etiology and Epidemiology

Picornaviruses, especially rhinoviruses and certain echoviruses and coxsackieviruses, cause the common cold. About 30 to 50% of all colds are caused by one of the > 100 serotypes of rhinoviruses.

Symptoms and Signs

Clinical symptoms and signs are nonspecific.

After an incubation period of 24 to 72 h, onset is abrupt, with a burning sensation in the nose or throat, followed by sneezing, rhinorrhea, and malaise.

Characteristically, fever is not present, particularly with a rhinovirus or coronavirus. Pharyngitis usually develops early; laryngitis and tracheobronchitis vary by person and causative agent. Nasal secretions are watery and profuse during the first days, but become more mucoid and purulent.

Cough is usually mild but often lasts into the 2nd wk.

STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

Most streptococci are normal flora of oropharynx

Group A streptococci:  Str. pyogenes

Group B streptococci:  Str. agalactiae

Str. pneumoniae

Strep viridans group

Group D: Enterococcus (lately Strep. Fecalis and E. fecium), causes urinary tract infections,

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