Patologia polska最新文献

The nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) is the single major source of cholinergic innervation of the entire cerebral cortex. Data from human and animal studies suggest that brain cholinergic activity diminishes as a consequence of aging. The aim of this study was the description of the morphological changes in the nbM in normal aging. Our cases, who died of non neurological diseases and without dementia, were divided into three comparison groups on the basis of age at death; the young group (A)--10 brains of patients (mean age mean = 34.7), the mature group (B)--15 (mean = 55.2), the old group (C)--18 (mean = 75.0). Lipid affinity was characteristic of neurons of the nbM. It occurred in young cases and reached maximum in the mature age. Astrocytic gliosis (increase in GFAP-positive astrocytes) dominated in the group B and decreased in the group C. Fibrillary gliosis showed significant positive linear correlation with age (p < 0.001). The markable feature of the aging is significant cell loss in the nbM in association with advancing age (p < 0.05). The cellular loss in the nbM which projects to entire cortical mantle may be responsible for the cortical atrophy and disorders of higher cortical function that appear during normal aging.

Rats drinking and libitum tap water or hypertonic (i.e., 2%) sodium chloride solution were given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), during three days, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in a daily dose of 200 ng dissolved in 10 microliters of 0.9% sodium chloride. Treatment with TRH resulted in significantly increased hypothalamic oxytocin content in both euhydrated (i.e., given tap water ad libitum) and salt-loaded rats and vasopressin content only in euhydrated rats. Similarly, neurohypophysial vasopressin and oxytocin content significantly increased in animals drinking tap water or 2% sodium chloride during treatment with TRH. The present data suggest that TRH may be involved in some regulatory processes to vasopressin and oxytocin biosynthesis and release from the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system.

Ultrastructural examinations of biopsy specimens of the gastric mucosa were performed in 20 patients with chronic gastritis proven by endoscopy and microscopy. The presence of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria was found in close contact with epithelial cells of the antrum and corpus of the stomach. The bacteria were not present in the areas of frequently observed intestinal metaplasia. There were ultrastructural changes on the surface and within the cytoplasm of the epithelial mucous cells, which indicated their disturbed metabolism.

Experimental evidence coming from Andre Robert studies indicates that prostaglandins (PG) administered exogenously or released endogenously by mild irritants prevent the formation of gross mucosal lesions induced by various ulcerogens such as absolute ethanol, bile salts, hypertonic solution and acidified aspirin. This action appears to be independent of their gastric inhibitory effects. Mild irritants such as 5 mM NaCl, 20% ethanol and 20 mM taurocholate prevent gastric necrosis through adaptive cytoprotection involving an increase in the generation of endogenous PG. In addition, PG have been shown to increase gastric mucosal blood flow and to stimulate mucosal bicarbonate as well as mucus secretion and these effect may contribute to their gastro-protective action. As demonstrated recently, PG prevented the damage of isolated gastric glands in vitro condition, where systemic, neural and hormonal factors are excluded. Gastro-protection is not the unique property of PG, however the mucosal generation of protective PG is essential for gastro-protective effects of solcoseryl. This paper reviews not only protective factors but also the mechanism and possible pathogenic implications of three related compounds thromboxanes, leukotrienes and platelet activating factor (PAF) in acute mucosal injury by topical irritants. The release of these mediators have been thought to be involved in the mechanism of mucosal injury, especially damage to the microvascular endothelium. Whether gastro-protection plays crucial role in the mechanism of ulcer healing remain unknown, however in chronic studies, PG failed to affect the speed of ulcer healing. On the other hand, epidermal growth factor (EGF) exhibits both gastro-protective and ulcer healing properties due to the potent trophic action and to the stimulation of polyamine biosynthesis. The accumulation of EGF in a large quantities in the ulcer area by the antiulcer drugs such as sucralfate and De-Nol may explain their well-known enhancing effects on ulcer healing.

Taking into account a correlation between the metabolism of porphyrins and hormones, and especially the metabolic interactions between the kidneys and adrenals, preliminary pilot studies were carried out on porphyrins in the kidneys and adrenals, separately in the cortex and in the medulla of these organs. The material was taken from 11 men and 8 women dying from circulatory insufficiency with vasculogenic renal fibrosis, and without changes in the adrenals. In all cases the concentration of porphyrins was much higher in the adrenals than that in the kidneys, while the content of uro-, copro-, and protoporphyrin was always higher in the adrenal medulla then that in the cortex. Discussing the results obtained the author suggest a correlation between disturbances of the reno-adrenal feedback, and an extremely increased concentration of porphyrins in the adrenal medulla which could be caused mainly by connections between the metabolism of catecholamines and porphyrins.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is biologically active peptide commonly seen in many human tissues and organs. Its high concentration has been found in the salivary glands. The purpose of the present study was to determine EGF immunolocalization in normal human major salivary glands using a new monoclonal antibody anti-EGF. The results were compared with EGF location determined by using two human antibodies (Oncogene, USA and ICI from dr Gregory, UK). Immunohistochemical studies were performed by the PAP method. All antibodies demonstrated EGF expression in the efferent pathways of the salivary glands, especially in their proximal segments.

The case of Alexander's fibrinoidal leucodystrophy that was presented below is an exemplar of extremely rare degenerative disease of the CNS. On the grounds of the clinical course of the disease it seems that our case can be reckoned as an early childhood form of Alexander's disease. An interesting difference that pays attention is the marked hydrocephalus. In the most cases of Alexander's disease the volume of ventricular system is normal however most of authors expresses that it sometimes can be slightly and insignificantly enlarged.

Each year more than 6000 patients in Poland die from cancer of the colon. Morbidity due to colonic cancer increases rapidly in our country. From 1973 to 1982 there was a three-fold increase in the morbidity due to colonic cancer as compared to the years 1952-1955. Five-year relative survival in the same periods did not improve, either being 28% in men and 27% in women. To compare, in the USA with high morbidity rates due to colonic cancer where each year there are 145,000 new cases of cancer, 5-year relative survival is 42% for men and 54% for women. This raises a question whether our strategy of treatment of colonic cancer is correct. This question is even more justified now when secondary prevention of colonic cancer is of practical value. Total mortality due to colonic cancer is 60%. However, diagnosis and treatment of early forms of colonic cancer reduces mortality to 20% and below. Therefore, effective management colonic cancer should include not only the so-called primary prevention (interfering with etiological factors for instance through high fibers diet) but also secondary prevention through monitoring of precancerous changes in the colon, removal of potentially malignant lesions and early forms of colonic cancer [19]. Secondary prevention interfering with the pathogenesis of colonic cancer is the subject of the present paper. We would like to emphasize the need for a better management program for colonic cancer, especially that the data concerning colonic cancer in Poland may be underestimated due to diagnostic neglect and faulty cancer register.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)