Polish medical sciences and history bulletin最新文献

The authors report the results of investigations on the protective effect of selenium against teratogenic and cytotoxic action of aflatoxin B1 and the inhibitory action of this element on the growth of fungi producing carcinogenic aflatoxins. Sodium selenate inhibited the growth of cultures of such fungi belonging to the class Fungi imperfecti as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium meleagrinum and Penicillium rougolosum. Added to cell cultures of lymphocytes sodium selenate inhibited the cytotoxic action of aflatoxin B1 evidenced by inhibition of PHA-stimulated blastic transformation of these cells and reduction in the number of mitoses. Sodium selenate added to the medium in the culture of Xenopus laevis larvae poisoned with aflatoxin B1 reduced significantly the early mortality of embryos and counteracted the teratogenic action of aflatoxin B1. This action was observed, however, only in early phase of morulation. The authors discuss the importance of their observations for the studies on the role of bioelements deficiency in the environment for induction of malignant transformation.

Electron-microscopic changes in the neural lobe of the rat hypophysis following adrenalectomy and a single administration of ACTH were studied. Twelve hours after adrenalectomy, a decrease in the amount of neurosecretory substances was observed, manifested by a small number of elementary granules of high electron density and, by the appearance of a great number of optically empty vesicles and masses of membrane-free material of low electron density. The increased secretion of neurosecretory substances after adrenalectomy seems to be related to the increased requirement of the organism for the ACTH-releasing factor. One hour after administration of ACTH, a picture was observed suggestive of the release of neurosecretory substances from the neural lobe fibers, which is probably connected with disturbances in the composition of blood electrolytes accompanying the excess of adrenocortical hormones.

The purpose of this work was to study the excretion of free adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA) and vanilylmandelic acid (VMA) in 24-hour urine in patients with chronic circulatory failure. The investigations were carried out in a group of 152 patients (61 women and 91 men) with rheumatic valvular heart disease (61 cases), chronic cor pulmonale syndrome (23), atherosclerotic myocardial degeneration (68). A and NA urinary excretion was normal in cases with grades 1 and 2 of hemodynamic disturbances. In cases with grades 3 and 4 the excretion of catecholamines was significantly raised, especially that of NA. With regression of circulatory failure the excretion of catecholamines decreased even to normal level. Increased VMA excretion was observed only in cases with grade 4 hemodynamic disturbances. The only factor influencing the function of the adrenergic system and excretion of catecholamines was the degree of circulatory failure. Stimulation of adrenergic system in chronic circulatory failure counteracts the effects of hemodynamic disturbances caused by circulatory failure.

In the light of an analysis of 692 operations on the common bile duct performed at the Department of General Surgery, Bielański Hospital in Warsaw, the author evaluated the postoperative mortality after these operations. Association of sphincterotomy with other procedures on the bile ducts does not increase the postoperative mortality, but the causes of death in cases with incision of the sphincter of the hepatopancreatic ampulla are connected mainly with the operation while in the remaining operations these causes are connected with more general factors. Acute postoperative pancreatitis takes the first place as the cause of death after sphincterotomy.

Thirty-five cases of true microcephaly were found in a group of 3192 children with severe mental retardation in special institutions. In comparison to the general population the individuals with this congenital anomaly have not only much smaller dimensions of the cerebral cranium but also of the splanchnic cranium, although in a less significant degree. Body height and weight were found to be smaller as well. The neurological findings included, most frequently, slight abnormalities, in some cases hemiparesis was present. In the radiological findings an evident disproportion was observed between the cerebral and the facial parts of the cranium. A constant finding was mental retardation which was either profound or severe. True microcephaly is inherited as a recessive autosomal trait. The incidence of this condition in the Polish population is 28526 X 10(-6). The incidence of mutation of this gene is 14262 X 10(-6).

In 50 patients with mitral stenosis in the stage of maximal clinical improvement a correlation between the functional state of liver and the morphological changes was estblished. For this purpose the serum total bilirubin concentration was determined together with the serum total protein, albumin and globulin levels, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, cholinesterase, leucylaminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities. The bromsulphalein test, provoked hypoprothrombinemia test, and histological examination of liver biopsy specimens were made. It was found that with increasing liver morphological lesions there is a gradual but not parallel impairment of function. The most sensitive index of hepatic functional disturbances was the test of provoked hypoprothrombinemia according to Kirchmayer and Bromowiczowa. For full assessment of the degree to which the changes in the congested liver have advanced it is necessary to perform liver function tests in combination with histological examination of the organ.

The authors studied 59 children including 48 with multiple developmental anomalies and 11 with disturbances of sexual development. In 11 cases (18.6%) the following chromosomal abnormalities were found: in 5 cases of Down's syndrome, 3 cases of full trisomy G, 1 case of 46XX/47XYG+ mosaicism, and in 1 case translocation 46XYD--G--t (DqGq)+. In 3 cases Turner's syndrome was present, with 45XG in 2 cases and 45XO/46XX in the 3rd case. Klinefelter's syndrome was disclosed in 1 case (47XXY), true hermaphroditism with mosaicism 45XO/46XX in one case, and Edwards' syndrome in 1 case with 47XYE+. Multiple chromosome breaks were found in 2 children. In the remaining 46 cases cytogenetic investigations of lymphocyte cultures stained (without using the banding technique) failed to demonstrate any differences in the number and structure of the chromosomes. The following groups were isolated in this material: 8 cases (13.6%) of gene mutation determining systemic defects (homocystinuria, chondrodystrophy, and two cases of intestinal polyposis, adrenogenital syndrome and hereditary osteocartilagineous exostoses each), 6 cases of malformations of hereditary origin (10.2%)-- and 32 cases with negative family history (54.2%). In 12 cases of the last group (37.2%) a history of various teratogenic factors acting during pregnancy was elicited (viral and protozoan infections, drugs and other chemicals, quantitative and qualitative malnutrition, hypoxia, mechanical trauma, vibration).

Light and electron microscopic study of a clear-cell carcinoma of the corpus uteri was undertaken. The clear cells of the investigated tumor showed a high degree of cellular differentiation as compared with the typical carcinomatous dark cell. They resemble the endometrial glandular cells of the secretroy type. The ultrastructural examination of the carcinomatous clear areas permits to distinguish these endometrial cells from those of mesonephric or adrenal origin.

Electron and light microscopic examination of the myocardium of rats fed a low-magnesium diet showed swelling of mitochondria with disintegration and degeneration of the mitochondrial cristae, focal fragmentation of the myocardial fibers, their focal fuchsinophilia and necrosis. These abnormalities were associated with deposition of calcium salts in the degenerated muscle fibers, their mitochondria as well as in the ground substance of connective tissue.

Pulmonary morphological lesions are described in 16 children who died of rheumatoid arthritis. In all of them the disease had a stormy course. Generalized amyloidosis was the most frequent cause of death. The majority of cases showed clinical and morphological lung lesions. The lung lesions were only rarely the chief cause of death. There were no formations of the type of rheumatoid nodule nor diffuse lung fibrosis. There was only peribronchial and perivascular fibrosis as well as thickening of interalveolar septa. The most frequent abnormalities, namely lung congestion and edema could result from extrapulmonary causes or agony. Although the observed lung lesions are nonspecific, they can reflect the generalization of the disease.