[The morphogenesis and spatial organization of human pineal gland concretions in Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and alcoholism].

X-ray microtomography using a wavelength of 0.7 A was used to detect elevated calcium concentration areas that integrate all types of human epiphyseal concretions. They consisted of both concretions and extracellular calcium, which could not be attributed to any particular tissue. There were no concretions outside of these zones. The center of concretion formation was found to be a single source that may be an individual pinealocyte. Comparison of postmortem human epiphyses in normalcy (natural aging), in chronic alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia revealed that there were differences in both the number of concretions and their formation topology. In normalcy, the field of elevated calcium concentration was continuous whereas in patients with the study mental diseases, it was divided into separate areas. There is evidence that in mental diseases, the amount of acervulus and its density decrease, which may a marker of the development of these diseases.

[Human epiphyseal concrements in schizophrenia]. / Konkrementy épifiza cheloveka pri shizofrenii.

The epiphysis is a gland containing firm extracellular bodies (brain sand) the number of which increases with age. Microscopy and roentgen microtomography showed that in some cases of schizophrenia the amount of brain sand decreases. In parallel, cytoplasm of pinealocytes appears to contain concrements of a new type--irregular hollow spheres of 0.1-1.5 microm in size. They may contain fluoride. Typical hydroxyapatite retaining organic stroma may dissolve starting from the center both in health and schizophrenia.

Increased incidence of placental chorioangioma in high-altitude pregnancies: hypobaric hypoxia as a possible etiologic factor.

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to determine the effects of pregnancy at high altitude on the human placental structure. STUDY DESIGN: Histologic material from 22 term placentas delivered at altitudes above 3600 m was examined and compared with control material from 760 m. RESULTS: Intraplacental chorioangiomas were identified in 5 of the 22 high-altitude placentas but in none of the 59 controls. The lesions were not visible on the external surface of the placentas and were not encapsulated. The state of differentiation varied; some contained numerous capillaries that showed sinusoidal dilations, whereas in others at the opposite extreme mesenchymal cells predominated. The presence of chorioangiomas was frequently associated with threatened premature delivery, a circumvallate placenta, and multiple infarction. The lesions represented only a small percentage of the overall placental volume (<10%). CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of placental chorioangioma observed at high altitude (above 3600 m) may be due to the prevailing hypobaric hypoxia. Overexpression of angiogenic cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor, which is known to be up-regulated by this factor in vitro, may mediate this effect.

[Basic pathogenetic mechanisms of chronic placental insufficiency]. / Osnovnye patogeneticheskie mekhanizmy khronicheskoi platsentarnoi nedostatochnosti.

Six basic mechanisms facilitating development of chronic placental deficiency, hypotrophy and fetal death are distinguished: 1) insufficiency of invasion of the extra-villous cytotrophoblast into the placental bed resulting in incomplete gestational restructuring of spiral arteries and reduction of uteroplacental circulation; 2) rheological disturbances in the intervillous space due to ultrastructural pathology of the glycocalyx and microvilli of the cytiotrophoblast; 3) pathological immaturity of microvilli and retraction of the diffusion surface; 4) disturbances of the villi perfusion resulting from prevailing development of the connective tissue components, reduction of stroma capillary bed and obliteration angiopathy at the level of supporting villi and umbilical cord; 5) placental barrier pathology; 6) endocrine deficiency resulting from the deficiency in the synthesis of human chronic gonadotropin during the first and, in part, second trimesters and the shortage of placental lactogen at the end of pregnancy.

[Structural adaptation of the placenta in natural hypoxia at moderate and high altitude]. / Strukturnaia adaptatsiia platsenty v usloviiakh prirodnoi gipoksii srednegor'ia i vysokogor'ia.

26 placentas of Kirghiz women from the town of Narin situated at the altitude of 2020 m above the sea level (moderate altitude), 22 placentas of women from Murgab (3600-3800 m above the sea level, high altitude) and 22 placentas of Frunze city (760 m, control) women were studied by means of organo--and stereometry using a standardized schema. A body weight decrease of newborns and placentas was established in the rating: control--moderate--high altitude. "Miniaturization" of foetuses is a response to the natural deficiency of oxygen in the atmospheric air. Moderate hypoxia has a training effect on the placenta while hypoxia associated with high altitude is followed by its dysadaptation. The role of placenta in the mechanisms of the foetus development inhibition under the conditions of natural hypoxia is suggested.

[Immunofluorescence study of the extracellular matrix of the human placenta]. / Immunofluorestsentnoe izuchenie éktratselliuliarnogo matriksa platsenty cheloveka.

Distribution of collagen types I, III, IV, V and fibronectin in human placental villi has been studied by indirect immunofluorescence. During 9-12 weeks of pregnancy the extracellular matrix of villi represents a network of filaments organized in bundles and aggregates that contain collagen types I and III and finer filaments of collagen types IV and V. Collagen type IV is regularly detected in basal membrane of capillaries and particularly in villous epithelium, collagen type V and fibronectin are occasionally detected there. Marked immunofluorescent reaction on collagen types IV and V and fibronectin, and weak reaction on collagen type III is observed in cellular islets around cytotrophoblasts. In the fetus born in term placental villi have uniform immunofluorescence in thick basal membranes of fetal capillaries and of chorionic epithelium. The immunofluorescent reaction specific for all collagen types is uniform in villous stroma. Distribution of different collagen types and fibronectin, including the unusual localization of membrane collagen type IV, in villous stroma and cellular islets of early and mature placenta is discussed.

[Distribution of collagen types III and IV in human placental villi]. / Raspredelenie kollagena III i IV tipov v vorsinakh platsenty cheloveka.

Immunofluorescent examination showed more significant accumulation of interstitial collagen type III in the stroma of mature placenta compared with immature one. Localization of membrane collagen type IV was found neither in basal membranes of epithelium and villous vessels of mature term placenta, nor in their stroma. The described patterns of distribution of collagen types III and IV in human placenta villi were proved by immunoelectronmicroscopic method.

[Characteristics of the extracellular matrix in the formation of sclerosis of the chorionic villi (immunofluorescence studies)]. / Osobennosti ékstratselliuliarnogo matriksa v formirovanii skleroza vorsin platsenty (immunofliuorestsentnoe issledovanie).

Distribution of the eight components of extracellular matrix in small villi of human placenta was studied with indirect immunofluorescence. Normal full-term pregnancy was found to present rough fibers and type I collagen conglomerates accumulated in the stromal center, while type III and V collagens occurred all over the villous surface. Stromal localization of type IV collagen was recorded as well as its presence in basal membranes of the epithelium and vessels. Fibronectin showed diffuse distribution concentrating along the vessels. Laminin, entactin and in lesser degree heparan sulphate proteoglycan were registered in epithelial and vascular basal membranes. Isolated sclerosis of the villi in pathological pregnancy involved stromal accumulation of type I, III collagens, small fragments of collagens type IV, V and fibronectin. Multiple sclerosis of adherent villi demonstrated hyalin-like conglomerates of various collagens and fibronectin filling up the stroma. Laminin, heparan sulphate proteoglycan and entactin were not observed at these sites.