Anatomopathological research in nineteenth-century Gdansk - an outline of the problem.

Between 1793 and 1914, there were many internationally recognised physicians active in Gdansk. Their scientific activities included, among other things, anatomopathological research, constituting a determinant of progress in medical sciences during this period. One of the most important people was Martin Heinrich Rathke (1793-1860). He is recognised as one of the founders of modern embryology. In Gdansk Rathke's successor was Wilhelm Baum (1799-1883). Baum introduced compulsory post-mortem examinations in the city hospital even after the outbreak, and he was mentor to Theodor Billroth (1829-1894). The successor of Baum as the head of the city hospital was Emil Friedrich Götz (1806-1858). He took up an important topic, which was the consent of the family of the deceased to perform an autopsy. Furthermore, it described the gradual broadening of the scope of anatomopathological activities, consistent with the postulates of the first and second Viennese school, performed in Gdansk in the nineteenth century. However, a detailed analysis of the relationship between the discoveries of nineteenth-century medicine, especially in the field of pathological anatomy, and research carried out in Gdansk, remains in the sphere of research to be done.

Limb body wall complex - the history of the entity and presentation of our series of cases.

We present an analysis of two first historically documented limb body wall complex (LBWC) cases and our own contemporary perinatal autopsy series of this rare complex. So far it was supposed that the first case of this complex was reported in 1685 by Paul Portal. Studying the Joachim Oelhaf's autopsy report from 1613 with attached engraving showing the neonate with multiple birth defects led our research team to a conclusion that it was genuinely the first description of LBWC in the medical literature so far. We compared the Oelhaf's case from 1613 and the Portal's autopsy report from 1685 with our series of LBWC cases dissected in the Medical University of Gdansk between 1999 and 2011. Reviewing 1100 autopsy reports performed we encountered 9 cases of this unique complex. The analysis was supported by the literature review.

An insight into the history of anatomopathological museums. Part 2.

The second part of the comprehensive work concerning pathology museums and collections presents their history since the 19th century. The evolution and specialisation of museums, depending on the attitude of their creators and geographic localization, have been analysed. The changing aspects of obtaining the exhibits and how they were preserved, presented, and stored are also a part of this work. The methods of human organ fixation reached excellence in the 19th century, but the rarity of some pathologies urged the scientists to recreate them artificially in models for didactic purposes. In the 19th and 20th centuries one could observe the flourishing development with a plateau and then decline from the second part of the 20th century to the reorientation of the museums that took place in Europe and North America. The history of anatomopathological museums is connected with ethical problems related to acquisition of exhibits in previous centuries and especially during World War II. The changing purpose of the collections, as well as their unclear future and the impact on the visitors, are evident. For the last 50 years, many museums have been closing completely, but some collections have been digitalised and are still in permanent use. The uniqueness of old specimens with certain diseases, often long gone and not observed anymore, makes them important in many aspects nowadays. Pathology museums are themselves relics of the past, being at the same time tangible proof of ways of development in medicine, but also a way of preservation of human knowledge in a special type of relation with the human body.

Insight into the history of anatomopathological museums - Part 1. From casual assemblages to scientific collections.

We present a short history of anatomopathological museums in Europe. In the first part we provide an insight into the beginnings from the Renaissance until the middle of the 19th century. We assess forms of acquisition and exhibition of the specimens concerning the steps of medicine and pathology development. The prototypes were "curiosities of nature" collections starting in the 15th century. The next milestone collections focusing on the human body were those of Frederik Ruysch in the Netherlands (17th century). In the 18th century teachers in surgical and anatomical schools realized the educational power of such collections. Anatomopathology as a separate medical discipline was developing in parallel. At that time museums such as the one established by Honoré Fragonard in Paris, the Hunterian in Glasgow and Narrenturm in Vienna were created. At Polish universities in Cracow and Vilnius, such museums were beginning to emerge at the beginning of the 19th century. Anatomopathological collections became more popular, gathering specimens: osteological, dry and mummified, as well as wet - embedded in alcohol, formalin, and mysterious mixtures. They provide a wealth of important data for scientific, medical, historical and even ethical areas, as well as methods and concepts of conservation and even recreation of human body parts.

Nathanael Mathaeus von Wolf and Johanna Henrietta Trosiener (Schopenhauer). Variolation in the 18th century on the Polish lands according to the guidelines of a doctor and the memoirs of his patient.

Variolation became a popular method in Europe in the eighteenth century. Sources from Gdansk not only illustrate the guidelines that were used for these procedures, but also make it possible to compare that with the memories of the person on whom it was performed. In this case, the primary sources are: a 1772 work by physician Nathanael Mathaeus von Wolf, and the diaries of Johanna Henrietta Trosiener, mother of Arthur Schopenhauer. As the comparative analysis shows, the theoretical assumptions were sometimes changed during the practical implementation of variolation.

"Neuropatologia Polska". The journal and its topics in the first decade of existence (1963-1972).

In this article authors would like to present the history of the "Neuropatologia Polska" journal (since 1994: "Folia Neuropathologica") in its first decade of existence. It outlines the circumstances surrounding the creation of the journal and shows how it evolved in the first years. The vast material analysed from the consecutive issues of the journal in the years from 1963 to 1972 was subjected to statistical and content analysis. From its first year, the journal has included works of a very high substantive level and a wide range of topics. The authors presented the results of contemporary research in many areas. The "Neuropatologia Polska" journal (later "Folia Neuropathologica") set paths for the development of neuropathology in clinical and experimental aspects. What is very important, it created a platform for international cooperation in many fields, included researchers and scientists from Western countries and foreign academic centres in difficult times. This article was created on the 60th anniversary of creation of "Neuropatologia Polska".

CD24 expression is specific for tamoxifen-resistant ductal breast cancer cases.

BACKGROUND: In breast cancer, the expression of CD24 represents a poorly recognised unfavourable prognostic factor. CD24 has been described to be potentially down-regulated by estrogen receptor alpha (ER). The present study was aimed at examining the predictive value of CD24 expression in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with primary invasive ductal breast cancers with post-operative tamoxifen treatment were enrolled in the study. Immmunohistochemical reactions were performed using monoclonal antibodies directed against CD24 and ER. RESULTS: Cases demonstrating cytoplasmic-membranous expression of CD24 (CD24c-m) proved to be characterised by a significantly lower expression of ER as compared to CD24c-m-negative cases. A multivariate progression analysis based on the Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that CD24c-m expression is an independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival. CONCLUSION: The data from the present study suggested that CD24c-m expression is specific for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cases. CD24 should be subjected to comprehensive studies as a marker of resistance to tamoxifen treatment.

Differences in oestrogen and progesterone receptors, HER-2, p53 expression and proliferation in ductal breast cancers in relation to histopathological grade.

In case of breast cancer the grade of differentiation and expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors falls within the first category of prognostic factors according to the College of American Pathologists. HER-2, p53 and Ki67 belong to the second category and their significance still awaits confirmation. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the intensity of expression of oestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PgR), HER-2, p53 and Ki67 in cells of ductal breast cancer of G1, G2 or G3 differentiation grade. In paraffin sections of 60 ductal breast cancers (20 cases in G1, 20 in G2 and 20 in G3), immunocytochemical reactions were performed to detect the expression of ER, PgR, HER-2, p53 and Ki67. Following a semi-quantitative appraisal of the preparations under examination, appropriate statistical tests were used to document significant relationships. We noted significant positive correlations between ER and PgR (the entire group studied, G1-3, and the G1 group), HER-2 and p53 (G2) and between p53 and Ki67 expression (G2). Significant negative correlations were found between ER and p53 (G1-3), PgR and p53 (G1-3, G1, G3) and between PgR and Ki67 (G1-3, G2). The studies performed demonstrated distinct relationships between the expression intensity of various proteins in tumour cells in relation to the grade of differentiation of the tumour. We also showed that a parallel determination of ER, PgR and p53 expression may carry high predictive value as to response to tamoxifen treatment.

Steroid receptor status, proliferation and metallothionein expression in primary invasive ductal breast cancers.

The most important immunocytochemical prognostic and predictive factors in cases of breast cancer include estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR). The present study aimed at examining the relationship between the manifestation intensity of proliferation markers (Ki-67 and nucleolar organizer regions--AgNORs) on one hand, and expression of ER and PgR on the other in a uniform group of invasive ductal breast cancers of G2 grade. Moreover, the study aimed at examining the relationship between the above mentioned markers and expression of metallothionein (MT). The studies were performed on samples of invasive ductal breast cancers of G2 grade, originating from 60 females. In paraffin sections originating from the studied cases immunocytochemical reactions were performed using monoclonal antibodies to ER, PgR, Ki-67 and MT, and silver staining was conducted to localize AgNORs. The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistica software. Results indicate that manifestation of AgNORs does not correlate with any of the studied antigens (ER, PgR, Ki-67, MT) (p>0.05). Moreover, no relationship could be demonstrated between the intensity of MT expression and proliferation markers or steroid receptor status (p>0.05). A negative correlation was shown between the expression of ER and Ki-67 (p=0.0009). The most intense proliferative activity was demonstrated in cases of breast cancer showing PgR expression but no ER expression (p=0.015), while the lowest proliferative activity was detected in breast cancers with expression of both ER and PgR (p<0.05).

Lack of relationship between metallothionein (MT) expression and proliferation exponents in cells of primary ductal breast cancer of G2 grade of differentiation.

BACKGROUND: The metallothioneins (MTs) are a group of proteins which, due to their unique structure, fulfil numerous functions in the cell. They participate in growth, differentiation, and reparative processes, protect cells against free radicals, and are responsible for heavy metal homeostasis. Their involvement has been reported in the multidrug resistance to cytostatic drugs. Numerous reports document MT presence in cells of various tumors, including breast cancer. Augmented expression of MTs has been reported in less differentiated tumors. MT expression used to be linked to higher proliferative activity of tumor cells, shorter survival of the patients, and tamoxifen-resistance. The present study aimed at examining the relation between MT expression and the manifestation of proliferation exponents (Ki67, nucleolar organizers--AgNORs) in cells of ductal breast cancer of G2 grade of malignancy. MATERIAL/METHODS: Reactions were performed to detect MTs (clone E9), Ki67 (clone MIB-1) (immunocytochemistry), and AgNORs (silver impregnation) in paraffin sections of breast cancers in G2 grade originating from 60 females. Results of the reactions were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistica 98 PL software. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (Spearman's rank correlation) demonstrated no relationships between the studied markers (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between metallothionein expression and proliferation and between Ki67 and AgNORs in ductal breast cancers of G2 grade of differentiation.