[Eosinophilic cellulitis--clinical and histological aspects]. / Eosinophile Zellulitis--klinische und histologische Aspekte.

Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) is a rare skin disease whose aetiology is still unknown. The onset is acute, and different disease stages may exist simultaneously during the course. Histological examination shows flame figures as a characteristic, but not pathognomonic, feature. In later stages the infiltrate adopts granulomatous characteristics. Malignant haematological disorders, which frequently occur with this disease, should be excluded.

[Morphological studies of erythrocytes in congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II]. / Badania morfologiczne erytrocytów we wrodzonej anemii dyserytropoetycznej typ II.

The etiology of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) type II is unknown. The diagnosis is based on morphologic and immunologic criteria. We present three girls with well documented CDA II who were followed for 5-8 years. The anemia was mild, progressive body iron overload was found. In none of the girls splenectomy was indicated. Morphologic features of ++erythrocytes and bone marrow erythroid cells were studied by means of light and electron microscopy. Up to 45% of erythrocytes showed invaginations with endocytic cisterns and shape abnormalities (echinocytes, anisocytosis, microcytosis). Typical abnormalities of the external surface of RBC membrane: invaginations, depressions, pits and plaques were shown in the scanning electron microscopic studies. Our studies indicate that the morphological features of erythrocyte in our patients may be consequence of the biochemical changes in the membranes and may contribute to the shortened life span of erythrocytes in patients with CDA II.

Assessment of nitrosamine transplacental carcinogenesis in the Syrian golden hamster.

The effects of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and vinylethylnitrosamine (VEN) in the F1 generation of Syrian golden hamsters are described after the compounds were administered to the P generation during the second half of pregnancy. Morphologic findings revealed that the upper respiratory tract (i.e., trachea) was most affected. VEN appeared highly effective because the first neoplastic alterations (papillary polyps) were seen in both the P and the F1 animals at the 30th postnatal day. The fetal tracheal epithelium also showed chromosomal aberrations after DEN exposure, and VEN enhanced the cloning efficiency of these cells. Combined in vivo - in vitro studies are discussed with special emphasis on the early detection of transformation and neoplastic growth.

Scanning electron microscopical investigations on the respiratory epithelium of the Syrian golden hamster: transplacental effects of vinylethylnitrosamine.

The transplacental effect of vinylethylnitrosamine (VEN) on the respiratory epithelium of Syrian golden hamsters was tested after administration of 5 and 10 mg VEN/kg b.w. dissolved in olive oil at the 12th or 15th day of gestation. The morphological data, obtained mainly by scanning electron microscopy on tracheae revealed metaplastic and hyperplastic epithelial changes, as well as focal exophytic papillary proliferations at the 30th postnatal day in the group treated at the 15th day of gestation. No comparable lesions were found in the trachea of the F1 generation when mothers were treated with VEN at day 12 of pregnancy or in animals of the control group (olive oil only). The biological effects of VEN after transplacental exposure were compared to those of other nitrosamines.