Cosmetic perfumes vs. human pheromones (natural chemical scents) of the human female and male in signalling and performing context of their sexual behaviour.

Scent communication in man is undoubtedly of importance, although it is unconscious, rather than active, as compared to subhuman primates. Besides human sexual life it also affects a number of further characteristics of human life and its infrastructure including the mother-child relationship, creation of the odour basis of the family with the possibility to identify the family members solely by their odour as well as other parameters investigated thus far. Pheromones have effect upon the selection of a suitable partner of the opposite sex (or of the same sex in homosexual partners). The formation of specifically significant responses during communication between the two sexes, first of all in sexual life and its manifestations, may also be influenced by pheromone-based perfumes or classical cosmetic perfumes, as far as they are selected and used appropriately. The situation is much easier if the partners are of the olfactory type where for both partners the mutual olfactory parameters are the most attractive for their sexual life and its parameters, which significantly contributes to the quality of their overall coexistence (Ref. 29).

[The use of cell cultures for in vitro decompression sickness simulation]. / Vyuzitie tkanivových kultúr pri simulovaní dekompresnej choroby.

Recreational and technical diving in the past twenty years have become extraordinary popular. Until then diving was a priority of police, army and scientists. Today more and more enthusiasts are exposed to abnormally high surrounding pressure. To the severest of all risks associated with diving, decompression sickness is the greatest threat. Even the most advanced scientific approaches yet did not reveal the complex mechanisms of decompression sickness formation. The majority of experiments use a live model for decompression sickness studies. This is associated with high fatality rate. The new approach of this scientific study is in the use of an in vitro working media as a means of visualization of gas bubbles due to decompression. The aim of this study is to bring above new approaches in in vitro gas bubble formation during decompression. Main goals are: development of in vitro inert gas bubble visualization and evaluation techniques after a real decompression dive with air a as the diving gas and EANx50 as a decompression gas. We selected cell cultures derived from human fibroblasts B-HEF-2 and cell cultures of mice N2A neuroblasts. We used two decompression profiles. "Explosive" decompression profile with a linear compression to overpressure of 50 bar with an rapid decompression to atmospheric pressure (1 bar). In simulation of a realistic decompression profile we used compressed air as a mean for compression and isocompression breathing gas and an EANx50 blend as a decompression breathing gas. This dive was planned with the use of a VPM-B decompression profile by V-Planner software v.3.62. Our latest experiments show that DNA fragmentation and apoptosis is activated during decompression shock. Use of culture cells can be of great value in further studies of decompression changes in the cellular and subcellular level.

[The female prostate. Update 1999]. / Zenská prostata. Update 1999.

The author presents new original results from the research of the female prostate. He describes physiologic and pathologic morphology and functions of the female prostate. The mapping of female prostate diseases incidence and acceptance of the non-vestigial conception of the female prostate as a functional genito-urinary organ open new possibilities in the clinical research of the female prostate and therapy of its diseases.

The female prostate and prostate-specific antigen. Immunohistochemical localization, implications of this prostate marker in women and reasons for using the term "prostate" in the human female.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is currently the most frequently used marker for the identification of normal and pathologically altered prostatic tissue in the male and female. Immunohistochemically PSA is expressed in the highly specialized apically-superficial layer of female and male secretory cells of the prostate gland, and as well as in uroepithelial cells at other sites of the urogenital tract of both sexes. Unique active moieties of cells of the female and the male prostate gland and in other parts of the urogenital tract are indicative of secretory and protective function of specialized prostatic and uroepithelial cells with strong immunological properties given by the presence of PSA. In clinical practice, PSA is a valuable marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases of the male and the female prostate, especially carcinoma. In the female, similarly as in the male, the prostate (Skene's gland) is the principal source of PSA. The value of PSA in women increases in the pathological female prostate, e.g., carcinoma. Nevertheless, the total amount of PSA in the female is the sum of normal or pathological female prostate and non-prostatic female tissues production, e.g., of diseased female breast tissue. The expression of an antigen specific for the male prostate, i.e., PSA in female Skene's glands and ducts, and structural and functional parameters and diseases similar to that of the male prostate, have provided convincing evidence of the existence of a prostate in women and definitive preference of the term "prostate" over that of Skene's glands and ducts. The use of the term Skene's glands incorrectly implies that some other structure rather than prostate is involved, promoting the vestigial position of this female organ.

Ultrastructure of the normal adult human female prostate gland (Skene's gland).

The predominant cells of female prostatic glands lining their lumen were found to be tall cylindrical secretory cells with short stubby microvilli, protuberances of the apical cytoplasm, and with bleb formation. Abundant secretory vacuoles and granules, rough endoplasmic reticulum, developed Golgi complexes and numerous mitochondria are characteristic of their active secretory configuration with apocrine (apical blebs) and merocrine (secretory vacuoles and granules) type of secretion. Basal (reserve) cells were seen to be located between the secretory (luminal) cells and the basement membrane. Their ground cytoplasm is dense with rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Their nuclei, unlike those of secretory cells, possess more peripheral condensed chromatin, denser dispersed chromatin and sporadic nucleoli. Besides the two basic types of mature prostatic cells intermediary cells were also seen, located between the basal and secretory cells or in their close vicinity. Their cytoplasm exhibits numerous profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes. Secretory vacuoles and granules were mostly practically absent (type 1 intermediary cells) so that they resembled basal (reserve) cells. In some of them, however, as in secretory cells, such secretory elements do gradually appear (type 2 intermediary cells). The finding of intermediary cells in the lining of prostatic glands supports the role of basal (reserve) cells in the renewal of cells in glands of the female prostate. The first ultrastructural analysis of the normal female prostate performed by transmission electron microscopy showed that, as in the postpubertal male, the prostatic glands in the adult female display mature secretory and basal cells. The results of the presented study further corroborate the contemporary concept of the female prostate as a functional genitourinary organ.

[Morphologic and clinical sequelae of focal ischemic lesions]. / Morfologické a klinické následky fokálnych ischemických lézií.

The diseases of vessels, mainly of those in brain are one of the most serious problems of the medical practice. The encephalomalacia or cerebral infarctions are usually caused by transient or permanent obstruction of the brain arteries lumen. Beside local dysfunction of vessels the obstructions could be based on embolic events originating in the heart. Such an obstructions are resulting in global and focal cerebral ischaemias. Arterial occlusion results in cerebral ischaemia and the lack of oxygen (anoxia) which leads to reversible or irreversible injury of the nervous cells in the ischaemic region. The local cell injury or cell death causes attraction of macrophages invading into the devitalized tissue within 72-96 hours after the beginning of the ischaemia. The aim of this study was to find out the correlation between asymptomatic or symptomatic course regarding localisation of the ischaemic lesions in the cerebral tissue. Our anatomical findings were collected from 318 autopsies, and reports on postmortem examinations during the period between September-December 1998. The grossing of the brain was carried out by using of Virchow's method. Atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were found to be the main risk factors for the production of focal cerebral ischaemia. Of those patients with focal cerebral ischaemia atherosclerosis had 87.5%, 44.3% were suffering from hypertension, and 25% from diabetes mellitus. The focal ischaemia analysed in this study originated from arterial stenosis or thromboembolic obstructions. We divided the lesions into 3 groups according to their size. The most frequently apparent lesions (72%) were the small cysts (0-10 mm in diameter)-lacunae. The majority of them (90%) was found in the basal ganglia. The second group consisted of postmalatic pseudocysts (10-30 mm in diameter), and the third group was represented by encephalomalatic lesions which were larger than 30 mm. Cerebral ischaemic lesions were present in 27.8% of the studied cases. Nevertheless, more than the half (56.8%) of the affected brains (postmalatic pseudocysts, lacunae and malaciae) belongs to the group of patients who were clinically asymptomatic. The asymptomatic lesions, having negative results in the patient's history, and the clinical course were localised mainly in the basal ganglia of both sides and in the frontal part of the right (nondominant) hemisphere.

Mola invasiva--special form of GTD.

Invasive hydatidiform mole is a relative rare form of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Most of hydatidiform moles remit after evacuation but some of them have the tendency to invade the myometrium. In some rare cases the trophoblastic tissue can be found in other tissues like lungs, vulva, vagina or broad ligament. The aim of the study was to demonstrate some of clinical, immunohistochemical and DNA analysis findings of a patient with a previous diagnosis of a complete hydatidiform mole.

The normal female and the male breast epithelium does not express prostate-specific antigen. Preliminary immunohistochemical observations of autopsy breast tissues.

In the normal female and male breast epithelial structures any prostate-specific antigen (PSA) immunohistochemical positivity was observed. Variable PSA expression, which often borders the positivity, was observed in membranes of adipocytes of fat tissue and in the endothelium of small vessels in a female and a male breast. Based on these initial observations, tissue of the normal breast, male or female, can not be considered to be the principal source of PSA.

Metastasizing adenocarcinoma of the female prostate (Skene's paraurethral glands). Histological and immunohistochemical prostate markers studies and first ultrastructural observation.

The case of a 46-year-old women with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the female prostate (Skene's paraurethral glands and ducts) with inguinal metastases is reported. Besides adenocarcinomatous structures, also more solid parts of the tumor and anaplastic regions with dark cells were found on histological examination. Clear cancerous cells were typical for glandular and solid tumor parts. The cancerous cells showed distinct immunohistochemical positivity of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate (specific) acid phosphatase [P(S)AcP]. These are the first published results of electron microscopic examination of formalin fixed tissue showing the ultrastructure of female prostate carcinoma, comparable to that of the male prostate carcinoma. In the female, similar to the male, the prostate carcinoma probably originates from the secretory (luminal) cells of the female prostatic glands.

Immunohistochemical distribution of rabbit polyclonal antiurinary protein 1 antibody in the female (Skene's gland) and male prostate: new marker for neuroendocrine cells?

Using rabbit polyclonal antiurinary protein 1 antibody to study the female prostate (Skene's gland) and the male prostate, characteristic localizations patterns appeared in single cells and groups of cells. The majority correspond to cells positive for neuroendocrine markers. In the cytoplasm, cells positive for protein 1 were most frequently found in the epithelial lining of the female urethra, in the pars prostatica of the male urethra, and in the ducts of the female and male prostate where the lining consisted of pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Their occurrence rate was far lower among secretory and basal cells of the male and female prostate glands. The cells with protein 1 corresponded to those displaying positivity for chromogranin A, silver staining by the Grimelius and less by the Sevier-Munger method, and by neuron specific enolase. Using the Masson-Hamperl argentaffin method, positive cells were only exceptionally found. The cells positive for protein 1, and particularly chromogranin A, and characterized by Grimelius positivity, contained different amounts of neuroendocrine granules and varied in size and shape. The majority of these cells had contact with the lumen of male and female prostatic ducts (open type of neuroendocrine cells). In some cases of the male and female urethra and of the great paraurethral ducts, a remarkably high number of cells containing protein 1 corresponded to cells only containing neuron-specific enolase but not chromogranin A and other neuroendocrine markers. These cells can be considered stem cells responsible for the renewal of the uroepithelium of the urethra and prostatic ducts. Protein 1 may thus be a further, though presumably not specific marker for the identification of cells of the neuroendocrine system in the prostate of the male and female. This marker could well be used to study uroepithelium maturation. The corresponding immunohistochemical distribution of human protein 1 in neuroendocrine and other cells of the male and the female prostate provides another analogous functional and morphological parameter of prostatic tissue in both sexes and further evidence supporting the non-vestigial concept of the prostate in the female.

Immunohistochemical localization of human protein 1 in the female prostate (Skene's gland) and the male prostate.

Mouse monoclonal anti-urine protein 1 antibody and the biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase technique were used for the immunohistochemical demonstration of human protein 1 in prostatic tissue of both sexes. In the female prostate (Skene's gland), like the male prostate, high expression of human protein 1 was observed on the luminal surface and in the apical cytoplasm of secretory cells of prostatic glands, as well as on the luminal surface of the epithelium of the large ducts of the female prostate and urethra. Expression was also found in the membranes of secretory and basal cells of the glands, in membranes of the urethral uroepithelium and of the female prostate ducts, in the content of glands and ducts, as well as in vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. Human protein 1 (urine protein 1) expression in the secretory cells of the male and female prostate and its incorporation into the surface of cells lining the lumina of the female urethroprostatic complex is indicative not only of the secretory role of protein 1 but also of its potential protective properties operative in shielding the uroepithelium from the aggressive urinary environment. All genito-urinary tissue, and especially the female prostate, were found to be a potential source of urine protein 1 (human protein 1), refuting the notion held so far that it is exclusively the genito-urinary prostatic tissue of the male that participates in its production. The corresponding immunohistochemical distribution of human protein 1 in the same structures of the male and female prostate provides yet another analogous functional-morphological parameter of prostatic tissue in both sexes and further evidence supporting the non-vestigial concept of the prostate in the female.

Prostate-specific antigen and history of its discovery.

In contradistinction to prostatic acid phosphatase (PAcP), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is currently the most reliable and most frequently used marker for identification of normal and pathologically altered prostatic tissues both in the male and female. In clinical practice, it has become an appreciated serum marker in the assessment and management of prostate carcinoma in the male, although it is far from being a perfect "tumor" marker. Our knowledge on female PSA is expected to be broadened by the introduction of novel highly sensitive serological methods (IMMULITE--immunochemiluminiscent third-generation PSA assay and others), which in some females have already demonstrated surprisingly high values. Biochemically, PSA in seminal fluid in its free form has a molecular weight of about 30,000 daltons, while in serum, where it occurs in the complex form with alpha1-chymotrypsin, its molecular weight is approximately 100,000 daltons being comparable to that of PAcP. On immunohistochemical examination, PSA is expressed in the highly specialized apically-superficial layer of male and female secretory (luminal) cells of the prostatic glands, as well as at other sites of the urogenital tract, frequently coinciding with glucosamine glucans, glycoproteins and numerous enzyme proteins. With regard to the increasing interest in PSA evidenced in urology, gynecological urology, in the orthology and pathology of male and female prostates, the interest in the history of discovery of this exceptional prostatic marker appears to be justified. PSA was discovered by Richard Ablin and co-workers in the USA, who published their pioneer work in the Journal of Reproduction and Fertility and in the Journal of Immunology as early as in 1970. Thus their results had been available nine years before the publication of Wang et al. appeared in Investigative Urology (1979), on the basis of which the latter are frequently incorrectly considered and cited as the authors of PSA discovery. (Ref. 46.)

Brown adipose tissue. III. Effect of ethanol, nicotine and caffeine exposure.

Brown adipose tissue is known to be the most important organ for generating heat in non-shivering thermogenesis. Process of thermogenesis and thermoregulation may be affected by many drugs. The paper deals with actual literary data of effect of ethanol, nicotine and caffeine on brown adipose tissue, heat production and its regulation in experimental animals and in human.

[Dermoid cyst of the spleen]. / Dermoidná cysta sleziny.

The case report of a 14-year old girl is given. In her spleen of the weight of 1580 g an irregular cyst of glossy inner surface and with striking trabeculation developed. It was filled with clear greenish liquid. The wall was formed by hyalinised collagen tissue which was covered by epidermoid and cuboidal epithelium on the inner surface. Vessel conglomerates were frequent, some bleeding or mononuclear infiltrates, foci of giant cell granulation tissue, lymphoid or fatty tissue were present.

Brown adipose tissue. I. Morphology. (Review).

Brown adipose tissue appeared in mammals with the development of homeothermy. In consequence of this, their organism became able to maintain constant body temperature independent on the thermal conditions of the surroundings. This tissue-contrary to the white adipose tissue-is distributed only in certain restricted portions of the body. The paper deals with actual literary data of morphology and function of brown adipose tissue.

Brown adipose tissue. II. Effect of pathologic and environmental conditions (Review).

Brown adipose tissue is an important source of non-shivering thermogenesis. Its metabolic activity and development are regulated by adrenalin secretion. The greatest amount of brown adipose tissue in humans was observed during the first decade of life. Later it disappears from many sites, but is preserved in the neck and around the kidneys and the adrenal glands. Increased amounts of brown adipose tissue have been reported to occur in association with certain situations and diseases. A review of these literary data is presented.