Morphometry in endocrine pathology.

The most important purposes of morphometry in endocrine pathology are described. With the introduction of immunocytochemical techniques by Sternberger in 1969 a new field for detailed morphometric analysis in endocrine pathology was opened. The application of morphometry in combination with the immunocytochemical staining of cells is illustrated by studies of the role of gastrin and gastric secretion in the etiology of duodenal ulcer. For such studies morphologic alterations have to be quantified. Morphometry as an instrument for characterizing diseases has been used in various fields, e.g. to analyse nesidioblastosis, diabetes mellitus or papillary carcinomas of the thyroid gland.

[Weaning of young smokers using a transdermal nicotine patch]. / Entwöhnung junger Raucher mit Hilfe eines transdermalen Nikotinpflasters.

To assess efficacy and tolerance of a transdermal nicotine system (TNS) as adjuvant to tobacco withdrawal, 112 young, nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers were treated for nine weeks with TNS (n = 56) or placebo (n = 56). Initial doses of nicotine (21 or 14 mg/24 h) were based on previous smoking habits and stepwise reduced to 7 mg/24 h if abstinence was achieved during medication. After treatment, 39.3% of the TNS users were abstinent versus 19.6% on placebo (p less than 0.05). The craving for cigarettes diminished steadily, but not more significantly on TNS medication. Tenseness, difficulty in concentration and feelings of hunger were consistently and in part significantly lessened in the TNS group. The other withdrawal symptoms were not influenced by TNS treatment. Nine-month follow-up cotinine-verified abstinence rates were 12.5% in the TNS and 3.6% in the placebo group (n. s.). Transient mild or moderate erythema at the application site appeared in 20% of the TNS and 6.3% of the placebo group, and 7.1% of the TNS users dropped out because of severe localized erythema. Other mild, transient, systemic side effects reported by 33.9% of the TNS and 26.8% of the placebo users (n. s.) did not lead to drop-outs.

Effect of respiratory acidosis on metabolism in exercise.

Five healthy males took part in two separate studies. In one study subjects breathed air (control, C) and in the other 5% CO2 in 21% O2 (respiratory acidosis, RA). Measurements were made at rest, during exercise at 30 and 60% maximal O2 uptake (VO2 max), (20 min each) and in recovery. RA was associated with higher arterial CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) and bicarbonate and lower pH than C. The increase with exercise in plasma lactate (mmol . l-1) was less in RA than C from 1.0 +/- 0.15 (SE) (C = 1.1 +/- 0.17) at rest to 5.3 +/- 1.25 (C = 6.8 +/- 0.98) at 60% VO2 max (P less than 0.10). Plasma pyruvate, alanine, and glycerol concentrations increased with exercise; free fatty acids did not change. There were no significant differences between RA and C in any of these metabolites. Norepinephrine concentrations were similar at rest but increased to a greater extent during exercise in RA than C (P less than 0.02). Epinephrine levels were also higher in RA than C at 60% VO2 max (NS); the two subjects in whom lactate was not lower with RA showed the greatest increase in epinephrine. Exercise in RA was associated with higher heart rates (P less than 0.05), blood pressures (NS), and ventilation (P less than 0.01). In hypercapnia the metabolic effects of acidosis are modified by increased levels of circulating catecholamines.

Morphometry of bone. Are parameters from the iliac crest reliable indicators of renal-insufficiency osteopathy?

Bone samples from 25 autopsy cases with chronic renal insufficiency were analyzed stereologically. The findings in the iliac crest were found to be representative of those of the rib, femur condyle and lumbar vertebra for the following stereologic parameters: volume of osteoid seems related to total bone volume [VV(OID/BONE)], surface of osteoid seams related to total bone volume [SV(OID/BONE)] and surface of osteoid seams in relation to trabecular surface [SS(OID/TRAB)]. In addition, the value of various stereologic parameters for the classification of osteopathies was checked.

Influence of age on pulmonary haemodynamics at rest and during supine exercise.

To determine the effects of age on the pulmonary circulation at rest and on exercise we analysed the results of right heart catheterization studies performed in 125 asymptomatic subjects aged 14-68 years, who were healthy or had indispositions which did not impair cardiac or pulmonary function. Age accounted for less than 10% of total variation in resting values of right atrial, pulmonary artery and wedge pressures, and of cardiac output. The pulmonary artery-wedge pressure gradient and flow resistance at rest significantly increased with age. On exercise there were significant increases with age in right atrial, pulmonary artery and wedge pressures, pulmonary to wedge pressure gradient and flow resistance, but cardiac output was not influenced by age. Pulmonary circulation variables at rest are mainly influenced by sex and size, but during exercise significant effects of age are apparent.