La salud mundial contra la industria tabacalera: convenio marco para el control del tabaco / World health against tobacco industry: framework agreement for tobacco control

Este artículo editorial describe el impacto del tabaquismo sobre la mortalidad en el mundo subdesarrollado y los principales puntos del Convenio Marco para el Control del Tabaco acordados por 160 países en marzo de 2003 (legislación comercial e impositiva, medidas contra el tabaquismo pasivo, advertencias sanitarias, prohibición de la publicidad, fomento de las estrategias para el abandono del tabaco). Describe además las formas de presión implementadas por la industria tabacalera así como las claudicaciones de los gobiernos, particularmente en el tercer mundo y en Argentina

comparison between the effects of hypophysectomy and cyproterone acetate on the adrenal medulla chromaffin cells of the mouse

The effects of reduction in the glucocorticoid secretion on the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells of the mouse were studied through hypophysectomy and cyproterone acetate [CA] administration. The latter drug is reported to have a pronounced ACTH suppressive effect and to interfere with steroid biosynthesis. There was no evidence of a change in the proportion of epinephrine - storing [E] and nonepinephrine storing [NE] cells in the adrenal medulla of hypophysectomized mice or CA-treated animals. In hypophysectomized animals, the norepinephrine [NE] showed a significant Increase in content and proportion. This was attributed - to a significant decrease in the epinephrine [E] content of these animals. The adrenal glands of CA-treated animals did not show any significant change in NE content, although a significant increase in the NE proportion of the total catecholamine was observed. This was again attributed to the significant decrease in the E content of CA animals. The ultrastructural changes showed the presence of both E and NE granules in the same cell. In addition, many cells showed marked reduction in their secretory granules and appear similar to sympathetic neurons. The reversibility of these changes following cessation of CA - treatment suggests that they represented temporary metabolic changes rather than a process of dedifferentiation of these cells

Ultrastructural identification of the basal-granulated cells in the duodenum of golden hamsters

The fine structure of the crypt epithelium of the duodenal mucosa in hamsters was studied to represent the types and distribution of the basal-granulated or endocrine cells. Fifteen male animals were used. Perfusion-fixation was made and samples of duodenal mucosa were taken and processed to prepare epon-embedded specimens for examination by a transmission electron microscope. Cells containing membrane-bound granules were seen in the crypt epithelium. They were identified to be basal-granulated cells. Six different types of such cells were demonstrated. All of the cells were of the closed type. The possible functional significance of these closed cell types was discussed. Correlation between the distributions of such cells in the intestine of hamsters might enable the physiologists, internists and other researchers to study several biologically active peptides with well established functions other than those which have long been investigated

Paragangliomatosis multiple: el problema de su localización; informe del primer caso estudiado con (131I) meta-iodobenzilguanidina en nuestro medio y revisión de la literatura / Multiple chromaffin tumors: report of a case studied with (131i) meta iodo-benzyl-guanidine and review of the literature

Los tumores de tejido cromafín, hormonalmente activos y capaces de producir daño a varios órganos e incluso la muerte, con frecuencia permanecen insospechados ejerciendo por períodos prolongados su efecto deletéreo. Con frecuencia son múltiples y al problema de su diagnóstico se agrega el de su localización. Describimos el caso de una mujer joven, con historia de episodios paroxísticos de palpitaciones, disnea, opresión precordial e hipertensión arterial de ocho años de evolución. El diagnóstico de tumor cromafín fue realizado a través de determinación de catecolaminas séricas y urinarias. Fué intervenida quirúrgicamente en tres ocasiones después de efectuar ultrasonografía de abdomen y pelvis, tomografía axial computada de torax, abdomen y pelvis, muestreo hormonal a través de cavografía; arteriografía selectiva y empleo de metaiodo-benzyl-guanidina 131. Enfatizamos la incapacidad de los métodos empleados, cruentos e incruentos y la ausencia del procedimiento ideal cuando se emplean aisladamente. Recomendamos también el estudio de la respuesta presora al ejercicio en banda sinfín para evaluar el comportamiento de las resistencias periféricas en sí, una vez conseguida la curación quirúrgica

Alteraçöes quantitativas das células neuroendócrinas no megacólon chagásico / Quantitative changes in the neuroendocrine cells of chagasic megacolon

Utilizando-se técnicas histoquímicas pela prata (Masson-Fontana e Sevier-Munger) estudaram-se a distribuiçäo e o número de células enterocromafins (EC) e do conjunto EC mais células argirófilas (ARG) em peças cirúrgicas de megassigmóide chagásico. Observou-se que tanto nos "megas" (n = 16) como nos controles (n = 8), a posiçäo das células EC e ARG na mucosa foi predominantemente basal, com distribuiçäo irregular, principalmente das EC. A análise histológica revelou aparente aumento numérico das EC e do conjunto EC mais ARG. Todavia, contagens sistematizadas mostraram que somente o conjunto dessas células apresentou aumento estatisticamente significativo (P<0,01). Realizou-se tambéjm o estudo morfométrico da mucosa e das musculares que revelou espessamento significativo (P<0,01) dessas camadas em relaçäo aos casos controles