Polish medical sciences and history bulletin最新文献

Ultrastructural changes in the supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus of the rat brain in adrenal hypofunction evoked by bilateral adrenalectomy are described. Marked ultrastructural changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the neurons of the paraventricular nucleus, the changes being less pronounced in the suproaoptic one. The changes indicated enhanced synthesis of neurosecretory granules activating the so-called "creation" surface of the Golgi complex. The increased synthesis of neurosecretory granules in adrenal hypofunction might indicate that some of them could be CRF carriers. It is not possible, however, to find by exclusively morphological methods the morphological equivalent of CRF. The higher intensity of the changes found in the paraventricular nucleus suggests that the latter possibly plays a more important role in the regulation of ACTH secretion.

The dynamics of regeneration of small-intestine epithelium was studied in rats irradiated with X-rays in sublethal doses of 550, 600 or 750 R. Sixty-two irradiated and 22 control animals were used in the experiment. They were killed 1,2,4,6,8,14 and 25 days after the irradiation. Specimens of duodenum and jejunum were examined histologically, the sections being stained with H.E. and p.a.S. Already 1 and 2 days after irradiation the intestinal villi became shorter and deformed. The blood vessels were damaged, the enterocytes showed features of degeneration and vocuolization, the epithelium was detached by the exudate which accumulated in the stroma. Irradiation markedly disturbed the regeneration of intestinal epithelium in the period from the 1st to the 6th day. Cytological calculations indicate that on the 1st and 2nd days after irradiation the number of epithelial cells of the villi, and particularly of young cryptal ones, markedly dropped. On the 4th and 6th days increased proliferation of young cryptal cells considerably surpassed the physiological rate. The accompanying disturbances in differentiation consisted in a decreased acidophilic to basophilic cells ratio and in retardation of maturation of goblet cells. The absolute number of goblet cells was increased, as well as their proportion to the number of enterocytes.

The protein content and activity of enzymatic markers of cell organelles: succinate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase, uricase, acid phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase were assayed in the homogenate and the supernatant (after two-hour centrifugation at 140,000 X g) of the liver and intestinal epithelium in rabbits irradiated with a single dose of 550 rads of gamma rays. The determinations were carried out on 1,3,6,9,15 and 30 days after irradiation for experimental and control animals. After gamma irradiation the following alterations were found: 1) increase in protein content (marked between 3-6 days), 2) remarkable rise of alkaline phosphatase activity (during the entire period of study), 3) elevation of 5'-nucleotidase activity (only in the intestinal epithelium), 4) marked reduction of succinate dehydrogenase and uricase activity (on the first day of study), 5) moderate decrease of glucose-6-phosphatase activity (mainly on the third day). Apart from a slight decline in the activity of acid phosphatase in the homogenate of intestinal epithelium, on the third day there practically were no changes in the activity of this enzyme either in the supernatant of intestinal epithelium or in the liver tissue.

After extensive resection of the small intestine in rats, histochemical reactions of selected enzymes were studied during seven weeks to one year in the remaining segment. The rise of activity of the hydrolytic, oxidative and proteolytic enzymes in enterocytes of elongated intestinal villi indicates enhanced active transport and adaptation.

Among 179 patients with various chronic diseases of the liver the authors found in 20 cases histological evidence of intrahepatic cholestasis and in all these cases lipoproteid X (LP-X) was present in the serum. In the group of 159 patients without evidence of cholestasis in microscopic examination of liver tissue LP-X was demonstrated only in two cases (1.3%). The results of investigations confirm the view that detection of LP-X in the serum is a specific and sensitive index of cholestasis and its value in the diagnosis of this condition is greater than that of determinations of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, leucinamino-peptidase activity or cholesterol in the serum.

Cytochemical changes were studied in leukocytes in peripheral blood smears from rabbits chronically exposed to mercury vapor. Experimental animals were exposed in a toxicologic chamber to air containing metallic mercury in concentrations of 2.0-2.5 mg/m3 for 3 hours daily over 12 weeks. In the poisoned rabbits, as compared with controls, alkaline phosphatase activity was depressed in granulocytes, and lactate dehydrogenase activity in granulocytes and lymphocytes. The activities of acid phosphatase, arylsulphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, the color reaction with Sudan black B and the p.a.S. reaction were not affected.

The chloroform--induced renal tubular necrosis is associated with the rise of serum urea, creatinine and potassium. The highest values, observed 24 hours after chloroform administration, are respectively: 75 mg% (norm 32 mg%), 1.75 mg% (norm 0.25 mg%), 6.1 mEq/1 (norm 4.4 mEq/1). They gradually decreased with the progress of renal regeneration. These transient, rather little biochemical deviations justify the good conditions and eventual survival of chloroform-poisoned mice. The contribution of possible glomerular lesions to the disturbed renal function is taken into consideration.

The plasma fibrinogen levels were determined in patients with chronic gastric and duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer comparing the results with those in a control group comprising healthy subjects. No statistically significant rise in the level of fibrinogen in peptic ulcer or its changes during treatment were found. A great rise in the blood level of fibrinogen was observed in 67% of cases of gastric cancer.

The authors report on 134 patients operated upon in the years 1950 through 1973 for recurrent goiter at the Department I of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery, Medical Academy in Poznań. The causes of recurrence, manifestations, indications for operation and the types of operations, postoperative complications and results of follow-up examinations are discussed.

The results of the investigations of immunological reactivity in 120 surgical patients are presented. The direct lymphocytotoxicity test (DLT) was used. Negative results were found in only 20 patients; in the remaining 100, the number of damaged lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, examined in vitro was dependent on: 1) the type of surgical procedure (e.g. open reduction and internal fixation of long-bone fractures), 2) severity of surgical disease, 3) interaction of drugs used, and 4) infection, most probably viral. A high percentage of damaged lymphocytes was found firstly, in patients suffering from severe wound infections; secondly, in those with disorders of the peripheral arteries during the postoperative course and thirdly, in patients with advanced malignancy of the alimentary tract. The results of these investigations--regarded by the authors as a preliminary report--indicate that the DLT could be introduced routinely as part of pre- and postoperative examinations of surgical patients in order to evaluate their immunological reactivity.