Autofluorescence (safe) bronchoscopy and p21/ki-67 immunostaining related to carcinogenesis.

Archival biopsy materials from 20 randomly selected asymptomatic volunteers from the Czech uranium miners (CZ UM) risk group (n=98) were examined for p21 and ki-67 immunostatning. There were 16 areas with normal respiratory epithelium and 22 areas with bronchial intra-epithelial neoplasia (IEN). Normal and IEN areas were identified by autofluorescence (System Autofluorescence Endoscopy, SAFE-1000) and monitored during 1998-2002. The majority of specimens from areas with normal autofluorescence intensity with ciliated columnar bronchial epithelium showed strong predominantly cytoplasmic p21 positivity. The SAFE monitoring divided areas of decreased autofluorescence intensity with early stage IEN lesions into two groups. Persistent lesions (P)-showing a spectrum of p21 cytoplasmic staining ranging from negative or isolated negativity to weak or moderate positivity combined with higher proliferative capacity proved by ki-67 nuclear staining. Disappearing lesions (D)-showing strong cytoplasmic p21 positivity and negative ki-67 staining. The IEN lesions were classified into three groups based on p21/ki-67 immunostaining: proliferative lesions at risk (R) with low or without p21 plasma immunostaining combined with high ki-67 nuclear reactivity; ambiguous lesions (A) including cases combining strong p21 cytoplasmic positivity with high ki-67 nuclear reactivity or p21 cytoplasmic negativity with ki-67 negativity staining patterns; the quiescent lesion group (Q) was characterized by strong p21 cytoplasmic positivity and negative ki-67 immunostaining.

Sites of lead and nickel accumulation in the placental tissue.

1. There is a variety of quantitative analytical data regarding the total concentrations of heavy metals in human placentae. However, little is known about sites of metal accumulation in the placental tissue structural zones in relation to the environment. In this study, the lead and the nickel particulate deposits in the placental chorionic plate, the chorionic villous tree and the basal plate, using tissue histochemical reactions for lead and nickel, have been estimated. The degree of metal contamination of placentae was assessed according to an arbitrary scale. Both metals have shown a common mode of accumulation in the placental tissue structural zones. Among the observed contaminated structures in the placental tissue, the syncytiotrophoblast was the most frequent site for lead and nickel particulate deposits. 2. The frequency distribution of both metals within the mentioned placental zones, using four metal contamination degrees, was determined. A heavily contaminated zone was found to be the chorionic villous tree, especially in samples from the industrial region. 3. A comparison between two Slovak regions (an industrial and a rural one) using statistical tests was performed. The frequency of samples without any lead occurrence in the chorionic villous tree was found to be 10% in the industrial region, and 16% in the rural region. Regarding the nickel deposits, the frequency of non-contaminated samples in the industrial region was 2%, whereas in the rural region 6%. A relationship between traffic related pollution and human placenta contamination was found in both investigated regions.

[Triple combination antimicrobial therapy of Helicobacter pylori and basal levels of serum gastrin]. / Trojkombinacná antimikróbna liecba Helicobacter pylori a bazálna hladina sérového gastrínu.

BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenic relationship of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection to chronic active antrumgastritis and peptic ulcer disease has been confirmed by a number of studies. The key role in the development of peptic lesions belongs to hypergastrinemia. This is supposed to be related to ammonium synthesis in the antral area influenced (promoted by HP and resulting in interruption) weakening of the negative feedback mechanism maintaining intraluminal acidity. OBJECTIVES: In our present study we focus our attention to the effectiveness of triple antimicrobial therapy in HP positive patients with chronic active antrumgastritis residing in the lowering of the level of serum gastrin. METHODS: There was a group of 15 patients in our current study with HP positivity as well as chronic active antrumgastritis documented by endoscopy, histology, microbiology and serology respectively. Endoscopical and histological findings were classified according to "The Sydney System". The whole group was evaluated on an ambulatory basis, those with active ulcer, endocrinopathy and biliary tract disorders were excluded. The basal level of serum gastrin was evaluated by RIA-test-gastrin before and after successful antimicrobial therapy. RESULTS: In our group of 15 patients with HP infection in coexistence with chronic active antrumgastritis we have found a significant decrease in the basal level of serum gastrin (p = 0,01) after successful therapy. CONCLUSION: The decrease in the basal level of serum gastrin after eradication of HP confirms the importance of HP infection in the pathogenesis of peptic lesions in stomach and duodenum. We consider the antimicrobial therapy in chronic active antrumgastritis in HP positive patients to be a fully indicated therapeutic approach. (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 10.).

[Morphology of tubulointerstitial nephritis]. / Morfológia tubulointersticiálnych nefritíd.

The morphological picture of interstitial (tubulointerstitial) nephritis is not rare when renal biopsies or necropsies are evaluated. According to experience assembled during examinations of renal biopsies (a group of 1484 biopsies) in particular biopsies with morphological changes of the character of interstitial nephritis (144 in the group) and according to findings reported in the available literature, the authors submit an account of changes encountered in a large group of interstitial nephrites. The need of such an account ensues in particular from clinical practice where the morphological picture can be decisive for establishing the correct diagnosis in cases where other, in particular clinical and biochemical examination procedures, do not suffice.