Apoptotic proteins and markers of differentiation in childhood pineal parenchymal tumors: relationships and prognostic value.

Pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) in children and adolescents are uncommon and more data on their biological activity and behavior are still needed. The aim of our study was to estimate the expression and prognostic value of some proteins regulating apoptosis and cell cycle as well as being markers of cellular differentiation in PPTs. Tumor specimens obtained from 27 patients who underwent surgical treatment for PPTs were evaluated in immuno-histochemical analysis. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, NSE (neuron specific enolase), GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), beta-III tubulin and nestin were studied. Co-localization of two chosen antibodies (e.g. Bcl-2/Bax, BCl-2/NSE, p53/NSE, etc.) was also made with a scanning confocal microscope. Histopathological examination revealed: 15 pineocytomas, 1 intermediately differentiated PPT and 11 pineoblastomas. For further analysis two groups were created: Group I: patients with pineocytoma or intermediately differentiated PPTs (16 cases) Group II: patients with pineoblastoma (11 cases). A statistically significant positive correlation between patients' survival time and tubulin and NSE expression was found. Bcl-2, p53 and nestin correlated negatively with survival time.

Polymer hollow fiber-encapsulated peripheral nerve extracts change their activity towards injured hippocampal neurites in rats.

The regeneration of the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) requires changes of the nonpromising environment. Applying peripheral nerve grafts and their extracts are both the useful method to induce regeneration of injured CNS neurites. Our previous reports showed that degeneration of peripheral nerves enhanced their neurotrophic activity in a time-dependent manner. Electrophoretical analysis of proteins obtained from degenerating sciatic nerves revealed significant changes in fractions of low molecular mass. The aim of the present work was to examine the influence of fractionated extracts from 7-day-predegenerated and non-predegenerated peripheral nerves upon injured hippocampal neurites in adult rats. The extracts were closed in fibrin-filled connective tissue chambers (CTC) or within CTC-wrapped polymer hollow fibers (PHF) of 30 kDa cut-off. The cell bodies of regrowing fibers were labeled with FITC-HRP. The CTCs appeared to be useful tool for implantation of artificial grafts into mammalian CNS. Full-spectrum nerve extracts induced strong regeneration of injured hippocampal neurites. The number of labeled cells within hippocampus was significantly lower in PHF groups than in CTC ones, indicating that low-mass proteins present in peripheral nerve extracts are not sufficient to induce successful regeneration.

The role of melatonin in the neurodegenerative diseases.

Melatonin is a product of the pineal gland. Synthesis and release of this hormone is inhibited by light. The biological activity of melatonin is associated with its receptors--ML1 and ML2. Melatonin plays a role in the biologic regulation of circadian rhythms, sleep, mood, reproduction, tumor growth and aging. It may also modulate the activity of various receptors in cancer cells. The hormone is a free radical scavenger, an antioxidant and immunomodulatory agent. Antioxidant properties of melatonin are connected with its neuroprotective activity in several degenerative disorders. The etiology of the neurodegenerative diseases which are characterized by the progressive and irreversible destruction of specific neuronal populations is complex and multifactorial. One of causes of neurodegenerative damage in the nervous system is oxidative injury, which results from an inbalance between free radical formation and antioxidative mechanisms. The efficacy of melatonin in the inhibition of the oxidative stress was estimated in various neurodegenerative disorders whose pathogenesis is associated with cytotoxic activity of free oxygen radicals, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Melatonin may have a clinical potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders in the central as well as peripheral nervous system. (Ref. 38.)

Dead-ended autologous connective tissue chambers in peripheral nerve repair--early observations.

The effects of the repair of nerve gap injuries are still unsatisfactory, despite the great progress in microsurgery. Until now, there is no effective method to induce the regeneration of the transected peripheral nerve when its distal stump is missing. The aim of this work was to examine whether the implantation of dead-ended connective tissue chambers can promote the outgrowth of injured peripheral neurites. This method differs from all previous nerve guides because it totally eliminates the distal part of the nerve and restricts the influence of surrounding tissues. We have also tried to establish whether some neurotrophic factors can be applied by means of these chambers. The results of this work show that dead-ended autologous connective tissue chambers can be a useful tool in peripheral nerve injuries treatment, even when the distal part of the nerve is missing.

[Symptoms and pathomechanism of changes in the digestive system during the course of systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Objawy i patomechanizm zmian w ukladzie pokarmowym w przebiegu tocznia rumieniowatego ukladowego.

In this work, authors make an attempt to review and systematize digestive system symptoms and pathomechanism of changes in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They also point out the increasing role of visual methods in the diagnostics of connective tissue diseases. It should be noted that though Osler described first visceral symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus in 1895, this topic has gained little interest in literature.

[A case of large size adrenal pseudocyst coexisting with cyst like changes in other organs clinical implications and diagnostic problems]. / Przypadek znacznych rozmiarów torbieli rzekomej nadnercza, wspólistniejacej ze zmianami o charakterze torbieli w innych narzadach--implikacje kliniczne oraz trudnosci diagnostyczne.

The work presents a case of large size adrenal pseudocyst coexisting with cyst like changes in other organs (transparent septum of the brain, liver, right kidney). Diagnostic problems and often atypical course have been highlighted.

[Congenital adrenal hyperplasia conditioned by 21beta-hydroxylase deficiency - clinical considerations]. / Wrodzony przerost kory nadnerczy uwarunkowany niedoborem 21beta-hydroksylazy - rozwazania kliniczne.

The authors of the paper present three cases of nonclassical forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia conditioned by 21 beta-hydroxylase deficiency occuring within the same family. They point out significant difficulties related to the detection of such anomalies, and they analyse in detail clinical symptoms occuring in this disease entity.