Histological assessment of myocardium in lethal ethanol intoxication.

BACKGROUND: The pathological mechanism of sudden death in healthy persons following incidental ethanol intoxication has not yet been fully elucidated and might be underlain by cardiogenic causes. AIM: Histological assessment of the myocardium in lethal ethanol intoxication. The analysis was based on a histological assessment of specimens of the myocardium obtained from the hearts of 30 deceased males within the age range 29-45 years. METHODS: The material for the study was taken from the myocardium of the anterior wall of the left ventricle and interventricular septum of the heart. The fixation material was first examined according to the standard histological procedure and subsequently subjected to a morphometric examination, which assessed the number of cardiomyocytes, their area, circumference, and circular deviation. RESULTS: The examination showed an increase in the area and circumference of cardiomyocytes, as well as fragmentation and segmentation of cardiomyocytes with a significant enlargement of cell nuclei. Additionally, it revealed the presence of lymphocytic cells in several cases.Conclusions: The obtained findings indicate a harmful influence of alcohol on the myocardium.

[Morphological, microscopic changes in the thyroid gland in the cases of hanging in vertical position with open and closed noose]. / Morfologiczne, mikroskopowe zmiany w tarczycy w przypadkach powieszen w pozycji stojacej w zamknietej i otwartej petli.

The aim of the morphological study was to search for traumatic changes in the thyroid in the cases of hanging in a vertical position with an open and closed noose. These changes would constitute an additional proof of intravital hanging and they would be useful in postmortem diagnosis of the hangings in which other commonly acknowledged features of intravitality are not discovered. In 33% of all cases, petechiae were observed in the thyroid gland. They appeared in 20% of the hangings with the closed noose, and in 13% of the hangings with the use of the open noose. The study showed that there was no difference between the open or closed, hard noose in terms of changes in the thyroid gland. There was also no correlation between the body position and the injury of the thyroid gland. In all the cases, hyperemia of the thyroid was observed and segmental expansion of blood vessels. The histopathological analysis showed that in one third of all the cases with negative macroscopic examination, it was discovered that microscopic changes indicated hanging alive.

Assessment of S100 protein expression in the epididymis of juvenile and adult European bison.

In our study, we decided to compare S100 protein expression in the material obtained from the epididymes of 5- and 12-month-old calves, and adult European bison, and to detect any differences in S100 expression according to the animal age and size of the organ examined. We used the epididymes obtained from 6 adult European bison aged 6-12 years, from 6 at the age of 12 months and 6 calves aged 5 months. Immunocytochemical reactions were performed using the avidin-biotinylated-peroxidase (ABC) technique according to HSU. Specific polyclonal rabbit antiserum against bovine S100 protein (Bio Genex Laboratories) at a dilution at 1:400 was applied. We found the expression of S100 protein in endothelial cells of arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels in all the study animals. At the same time, we found no differences in the expression of S100 protein in vascular endothelial cells. Our observations seem to indicate that S100 expression in endothelial cells of European bison epididymis is not correlated with age or maturity of the organ tested. We found S100 protein in smooth muscle cells of arteries and veins in all European bison specimens examined. Interestingly in the current study, in young 5-month-old sexually immature European bison specimens we observed weaker expression of S100 protein in smooth muscle cells of small vessels as compared to the same cell type both in large vessels in these animals and in small vessels in adult specimens.

Assessment of expression of selected Bcl-2 family proteins in lymphoid infiltration in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated with nucleoside analogues.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) is characterized by clonal growth and accumulation of mature lymphoid cells due to disturbance in genetically regulated form of cell death called apoptosis. The intrinsic mechanism of apoptosis is controlled by Bcl-2 family proteins. Purine nucleoside analogues induce the apoptosis in cells in a state of quiescence. The aim of the study was to assess expression of selected Bcl-2 family proteins in neoplastic infiltration in bone marrow in patients with B-CLL treated with nucleoside analogues. The study comprised examination of bone marrow obtained routinely by trephine biopsy from 18 patients with B-CLL diagnosed before administration of purine nucleoside analogues treatment and after its completion. Expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x and Bax proteins was examined. Lymphoid cells in bone marrow were present in all patients before administration of treatment. After treatment in two patients bone marrow was infiltrated in diffuse pattern, whereas other patients presented nodular pattern of infiltration. The difference between stage of infiltration before and after treatment was statistically significant (p<0.002). High percentage of infiltration cells with positive anti Bcl-2 reaction from 42.0% in one patient to 85.33+/-3.06% in four patients before treatment was observed. After treatment percentage of infiltration cells with positive anti Bcl-2 antibody reaction was from 33.0+/-18.38% in two patients to 99.0% in one patient. Positive correlation between stage of infiltration and expression of Bcl-2 protein was confirmed before and after treatment. Such correlations were not observed in case of Bax and Bcl-x. Strong staining of immunohistochemical reaction of cells in lymphoid infiltration with Bcl-2 antibody was confirmed. There was a difference between Bcl-/Bax ratio before and after treatment. Immunohistochemical assessment of expression of Bcl-2 family proteins in cells of lymphoid infiltration in bone marrow of patients with CLL is an important method in detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) after treatment.

[The effect of levothyroxine on the proliferative activity of the thyroid follicular cells]. / Wplyw lewotyroksyny na aktywnosc proliferacyjna komórekpecherzykowych tarczycy.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacological treatment of non-toxic nodular goitre with levothyroxine has caused a discussion about its effectiveness and safety. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of levothyroxine on the proliferative activity of the thyroid follicular cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cytological material was obtained from 32 euthyroid females, aged 34-69 years, by USG-guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB), before and after 6 months treatment with levothyroxine. The patients were divided into 2 age groups: up to 45 years (14 patients) and above 45 years (18 females). Proliferative activity of the follicular cells was assessed by the proliferative index (PI), representing the percentage of follicular cells with positive reaction with the antibody Ki-67. Microscopic evaluation was carried out using morphometric computer system MicroImage InCD UDF (Olympus). RESULTS: After 6-months of treatment IP values decreased significantly in both groups studied (8.59 +/- 3.07 vs 6.51 +/- +/- 1.91; p < 0.001 in females aged < 45 years and 7.72 +/- 1.83 vs 5.09 +/- 1.51; p < 0.001 in the older group). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that levothyroxine has an influence on the proliferative activity of the thyroid follicular cells, particularly in post-menopausal women.

[The formation of new blood vessels in coronary artery disease: where we are now]. / Formowanie naczyn krwionosnych w chorobie wiencowej--gdzie jestesmy?

New blood vessel formation is of great importance to clinicians and researchers because of its participation in many diseases. Scientists are trying to exploit the mechanisms of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis in the treatment of coronary artery disease. These mechanisms are employed to improve myocardium vascularization in patients where both pharmacological therapy and available revascularization procedures (PTCA, CABG) are not effective. In such cases, factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), acid fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), as well as stem cells, have been applied so far. This article is a review of the current knowledge about new blood vessel formation, especially in ischemic myocardium. We have also analyzed alternative strategies of treating coronary artery disease using the mechanisms of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis, and vasculogenesis.