Lesion Diminutive

In normal state, the cornea has no vascularity. After lesions, scarring and the modification of the physiological conditions cause a vascularization with diminution of the corneal transparency. 

For the past century, two distinct types of smallpox have been recognized. Variola major, the prototypical disease, was prevalent in Asia and parts of Africa. Variola minor, or alastrim, was distinguished by milder systemic toxicity and more diminutive pox lesions (Figure 27-2). Variola minor was found in Africa, South America, and Europe before the eradication of endemic disease, and caused 1% mortality in unvaccinated victims. 

Polyps with a diameter of 5 mm or less are defined as diminutive lesions. In the majority of cases these lesions are hyperplastic and therefore have no malignant potential. In addition, adenomas 5 mm... 

Historically, otolaryngology was the first medical specialty to use microsurgical techniques. The need in this case also comes from the diminutive size of structures in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and from their high importance to the life and well-being of the patients. Typical examples in this case include the excision of benign and malignant lesions, stapedectomy operations for treatment of otosclerosis, and the implantation of hearing aids. 

Several investigators (Mills and Williams, 1962 Prohaska and Wells, 1974) have observed a marked decrease in the copper content and cytochrome c oxidase activity of neural tissue from copper-deficient animals. Cytochrome c oxidase is a copper-dependent enzyme and the terminal oxidase in the respiratory chain of mitochondria. These facts have led to speculation that the primary lesion in neonatal ataxia is the depression of cytochrome c oxidase, which leads to a diminution of aerobic metabolism and a subsequent decrease in phospholipid and myeline synthesis. Although this hypothesis seems tenable definitive evidence linking the activity of neural cytochrome c oxidase to the production of myelin is lacking. 

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