Immunohistochemical expression of growth factors in the exocrine pancreas of patients with chronic liver diseases.

Acute viral hepatitis has been reported to cause acute pancreatitis. It was also reported that exocrine pancreatic function is damaged in chronic liver disease (CLD). Growth factors stored in the extracellular matrix and released in the course of pancreatic degradation are major mediators of inductive processes. The immunostaining technique was used to evidence the changes of the expression of the growth factors in different pancreatic cells. VEGF and FGF-beta are involved in the angiogenesis processes and in the evolution of the pancreatic interstitial tissue in case of chronic pancreatitis. Theses markers can also be used for the diagnosis of pancreatitis, but their value is variable. They stimulate the pancreatic star cells, the myofibroblasts and play an important role in the genesis of the extracellular matrix and in the repairing of the tissue after the aggression. TGF beta is important for its role in cellular differentiation and growth and in the development of the fibrosis in liver and other organs. The present paper studies the immunohistochemical expression of these growth factors in pancreatic cells.

Risk factors related to omphalocele and gastroschisis.

Omphalocele and gastroschisis are recognized as congenital malformations with a high mortality. Only 60% of children with such malformations survive until the end of the first year of age. It has been suggested that omphalocele and gastroschisis are associated with other congenital malformations, concerning the bones, the heart and the kidney. The aim of the present study is to determine the risk factors in 12 omphalocele and four gastroschisis cases diagnosed and surveyed in the last four years (November 2003-November 2007) at the Emergency County Hospital of Constanta. In 10 of the 16 cases of the studied group, the subjects resulted from spontaneous premature births. None of the cases in the studied group received the maximum APGAR score, values varying between 6 and 9. The average birth weight in the studied group is 2100 g, with values between 950 g and 2900 g. Maternal age is between 15-21-year-old. Average maternal age in cases of second-degree gastroschisis is 6.5 years younger than the witness population and in case of first degree is 5.8 years younger. 87.5% of children's mothers in studied group are first time pregnant, first time gestant. The mother's socio-economic status may be a risk factor on the occurrence of omphalocele and gastroschisis. 81.25% of children's mother in the studied group have no own income and half are single (mono-parental families). None of the studied cases had a history of congenitally malformed siblings, but half of the cases in the studied group associate congenital malformations of gastro-intestinal tract, locomotor system, kidneys and/or heart. The abdominal wall defect existing in gastroschisis is accompanied by the delay of the intestinal loops differentiation. In all cases of gastroschisis in the studied group, the thin intestine caliber is higher or equal to the one of the thick intestine, the intestinal loops remained outside the abdominal cavity have an aspect characteristic to the fifth month of fetal life.

Mast cells and dendritic cells in basal cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a very frequent skin malignancy, with slow evolution and rare metastases. Host tissues react to tumor invasion through complex inflammatory response, comprising varied inflammatory cells. We assessed the expression of mast cells and dendritic cells in 37 archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of BCC from the oral and maxillofacial region by means of immunohistochemical (IHC) method, using the SABC (Streptavidin-Biotin Complex) indirect tristadial technique for CD117 and S100 markers. Undetermined cases were eliminated. Mast cells were found in great number at the periphery and in between the tumor islands, the positivity to CD117 being high in three cases, moderate in 11 cases and low in 16 cases. Dendritic cells were also found within the tumor stroma, but they penetrated deep inside the tumor nests. The positivity to S100 was high in one of the 20 conclusive BCC cases, moderate in seven cases and low in nine cases. Three cases were negative to S100. The characteristic location of dendritic cells prove their role as antigen-receptor cells while mast cells might play dual roles in tumor biology.

Correlated histological and morphometric study of kidney and adrenal gland from Guinea pig exposed to hyperbaric-hyperoxic environment.

Our study revealed morphological changes in the two organs of Guinea pig kidney and suprarenal gland exposed to hyperbaric-hyperoxic environment. Proceeding from these data and knowing that in hyperbaric-hyperoxic environment the production of free oxygen radicals is increased, while the afferent arterioles undergo vasoconstriction, with direct implications on the cellular metabolism, our study puts forth the survey of the influence of hyperoxic environment on kidneys and adrenal gland - complex organs which are exposed to stress.