Comparative studies of nuclear DNA content in benign and malignant thyroid lesions.

Currently available data suggest that DNA aneuploidy is associated with aggressive behavior of and unfavorable prognosis in several malignant human tumors as compared with diploid malignancies. However, the diagnostic and prognostic importance of flow cytometric DNA measurements in the case of thyroid neoplasms remains controversial. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate utility of DNA index (DI) and proliferative index (PI) in distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid lesions taking into account the possible influence of intra-tumor heterogeneity and tissue preparation mode on DNA flow-cytometry measurements. A retrospective study was performed on 71 paraffin-embedded specimens from 57 patients with benign and malignant thyroid pathologies: 13 colloid goitres, 12 parenchymatous goitres, 19 adenomas and 13 carcinomas. In 14 of 57 cases two separate specimens taken from different areas of the same lesion were analysed and DNA parameters were compared. Additionally, flow cytometry DNA analysis was parallelly performed on 3 adjacent but differently processed tissue sections (fresh, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded) taken from each of 26 surgically excised thyroid lesions. DNA content was also analysed in both fresh and formalin-fixed twin specimens of normal pig thyroid glands (N = 6). We demonstrated that all tumors diagnosed as thyroid carcinomas were associated with abnormal nuclear DNA content although aneuploidy was not found specific to malignant thyroid tumors. Aneuploid samples of benign thyroid lesions exhibited higher proliferative activity, expressed as mean PI values, than diploid ones. In carcinomas the mean PI values were significantly higher than in benign lesions, independently whether they concerned aneuploid or diploid tissues. Considering intra-tumor heterogeneity, the flow cytometric DNA parameters can be assumed as reproducible despite differences in the mode of tissue fixation and preparation for analysis.

Acceleration of the development of benzopyrene-induced skin cancer in mice by microwave radiation.

Development and growth of skin cancer may be affected by various physical and chemical factors present in human environment. Of these factors electromagnetic radiation of radio- and microwave spectra are among the most common. In the present study Balb/c mice were exposed to chemical carcinogen, 3,4-benzopyrene, painted on the skin every 2nd day for a total of 6 months, and simultaneously irradiated with athermal (5 mW/cm2) or subthermal (15 mW/cm2) doses of 2,450 MHz microwaves. The other group of animals was preirradiated with microwaves at 10 mW/cm2 power level for 1, 2, or 3 months and then treated with benzopyrene, as above. Control mice were exposed for 6 months to benzopyrene, resulting in the development of baso- or spinocellular skin carcinoma within approximately 9 months, and sham-irradiated with microwaves. The growth of the tumour was assessed according to a self-designed 7-range macroscopic scale, supported by microscopical examinations of skin sections. All protocols of microwave irradiations resulted in a significant acceleration of the development of benzopyrene-induced skin cancer and in shortening of life span of the tumour-bearing hosts. This effect seemed to be dose-dependent since subthermal doses (15 mV/cm2) and longer (3 months) expositions to microwaves were more efficient as compared to athermal doses (5 mW/cm2) and shorter preirradiations. In addition, low-level, long-lasting exposure to microwaves led to a marked suppression of delayed hypersensitivity of mice treated with benzopyrene, as assessed by their reactivity to dinitrofluorbenzene (DNFB). It is suggested that the observed co-carcinogenic effect of microwave radiation may, at least in part, result from the inhibitory action of microwaves on cellular immune reactions of exposed animals.

The use of bone-marrow-derived fibroblastoid cells and fresh bone marrow in the treatment of bone defects: an experimental study.

Bone-marrow aspirate (containing bone progenitor cells), in vitro expanded autologous bone-marrow-derived stromal fibroblastoid cells, and a combination thereof were tested for the potential to fill bone defects. They were compared to grafts of fresh autologous bone or allogeneic devitalized bone. Mandibular defects in rabbits were chosen for this study. The best results were obtained with a combination of in vitro expanded bone-marrow-derived stromal fibroblastoid cells and fresh autologous bone marrow or fresh autologous marrow alone. The effects of these two grafts were similar to grafts of fresh autologous bone and significantly superior to grafts of devitalized allogeneic bone providing only a bone matrix. The in vitro expanded marrow stromal cells induced very significant bone ingrowth, and their effects were only slightly inferior to fresh autologous bone but were superior to devitalized allogeneic bone. These studies suggest that bone marrow is a good source of osteogenic cells both for immediate transplantation and for in vitro expansion and subsequent transplantation.

Planoepithelial squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis.

Two cases of planoepithelial squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis are reported. Primary neoplasms of the renal pelvis are rare. Most are malignant and in the majority are of the transitional cell variety. Squamous cell carcinoma is an unusually rare occurrence.

Quantitative-comparative histology of prostatic adenomas in medically and surgically treated patients.

Transvesical adenectomy was done in 60 men with prostatic adenomas, including 40 pretreated medically (20 with prazosin, 20 with Tadenan). The resected material was sampled for histologic examination. Glandular, smooth muscle and fibrotic tissues as well as inflammatory foci were assessed quantitatively by planimetry. No adenomas consisting solely of glandular hyperplasia were found. In adenomas from patients pretreated with prazosin smooth muscle tissue was predominant and postinflammatory lesions were the least frequently observed. In Tadenan-pretreated patients quantitative predominance of glandular and fibrotic tissues was found and smooth muscle constituted the smallest part of the adenomas. Patients who had undergone surgery only had adenomas in which focal inflammation predominated.

Seminoma--a unique case of tumor located in the head of epididymis.

We report a very rare case of tumor in the head of left epididymis without localized primary foci of tumor in the testis.

[Further studies of the toxicity of volatile thermal degradation products of conveyor belts]. / Dalsze badania toksycznosci lotnych produktów spalania pasów przenosnikowych.

Toxic effects of the thermal degradation products of polivinyl chloride and rubber conveyor belts, preliminarily filtered through modified mining gas-mask container were studied in guinea pigs. The smoke concentration was approximate to the one found in mines near the fire during minimal ventilation (0.15 m/sec.) Within 60 min. exposure the test products showed slight irritative effects and caused a moderate lung injury and small degenerative lesions in the liver and kidney. All these changes were rather reversible and did not involve any risk to the animals' lives. The modified container reduced the toxicity of the test substances much more than did the hitherto used mining gas-mask container.

[Cellular analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) in patients with acute and chronic bronchitis (preliminary study)]. / Próba analizy cytologicznej materialu z plukania oskrzelowo-pecherzykowego (BAL) u chorych na zapalenie oskrzeli (badania Wstepne).

Cell morphology of BAL- fluid and index bronchitis (by Thompson) were evaluated in 52 patients with acute and chronic bronchitis. A significant increase of index bronchitis and percentage of neutrophils in BAL were observed in acute and chronic bronchitis. There was no correlation between index bronchitis and cell in BAL- fluid.

[Macroscopic evaluation of bronchial mucosa and histological diagnosis in relation to localization of neoplastic changes in the bronchial tree]. / Makroskopowy obraz blony sluzowej oskrzeli oraz rozpoznanie histopatologiczne w zaleznosci od umiejscowienia zmian nowotworowych w drogach oddechowych.

In 140 lung cancer patients fiberoptic bronchoscopy with biopsy and BAL procedure were performed in diagnostic process. Obtained results of macroscopic changes were analyzed in relation to histological diagnosis and localization in the bronchial tree (central and peripheral). Squamous cell lung cancer was the most often diagnosed in central localized tumors and adenocarcinoma in peripheral ones. Macroscopic changes were more evident and more characteristic for cancer process in central localized tumors. In peripheral changes non-characteristic, inflammatory-like symptoms were determined.

[Usefulness of fine needle biopsy in diagnosis of peripheral lung tumors]. / Przydatnosc biopsji cienkoiglowej w diagnostyce obwodowych guzów pluca.

In 30 patients aged 41-68 with peripheral tumors of lung bronchofiberoscopy, BAL, sputum cytology and thin needle biopsy (TNB) were evaluated. It was found very high sensitivity and specificity of TNB in recognition of peripheral tumors of lung.

[Clinical analysis of ofloxacin in treatment of postinfectious exacerbations of endogenous bronchial asthma]. / Ocena kliniczna ofloksacyny w leczeniu pozakaznych zaostrzen endogennej astmy oskrzelowej.

The aim of the study was to analyse the clinical effectiveness of ofloxacin in treatment of post-infectious exacerbations of endogenous bronchial asthma. Twenty eight patients (20 males, 8 females) were assessed. The following parameters were evaluated: bacteriological examination of the sputum (before and after treatment), morphological analysis of peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (performed in 11 patients). Additionally in 7 patients lymphocyte subpopulations of the peripheral blood were determined (OKT4/OKT8). Diurnal variations of serum levels of theophylline were assessed in 12 patients. The authors observed a clinical improvement in 26 patients. Following treatment the white cell blood count (WBC) and the CD4/CD8 ratio decreased. The same observations were made analysing the BAL differential count, in which a marked decrease of neutrophils was seen. The authors conclude that ofloxacin is a safe and efficient antimicrobial agent.