[Alternatives against environmental pollution. The focus of the internist]. / Alternativas contra la contaminación ambiental. El enfoque del internista.

Potential pathogenesis from pollution depends on the kind of contaminant, its concentration, its duration in environment and on host's characteristics. Faced to the threat of medical consequences of pollution, it is necessary to be alert to recognize them, with an anticipated description. Two syndromes can be distinguished, one acute and the other chronic, that may be useful as reference for an eventual epidemiologic surveillance.

[Increase in neuroendocrine secretion granules in submaxillary and parotid glands in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus]. / Aumento de los gránulos de secreción neuroendócrina en glándulas submaxilares y parótidas en pacientes con diabetes mellitus no dependiente de insulina.

The amount of neuroendocrine granules in microgranular cells of salivary glands were investigated in necropsies of 20 non-insulin dependent diabetics (NIDDM) and in 20 non-diabetic subjects with Grimelius and Fontana-Masson stainings. Granules in serous acini, and intercalated ducts were observed in both groups; however, a significant higher number of granules and microgranular cells were observed in NIDDM subjects as compared with non-diabetics. Both parotid and submaxillary glands were significantly heavier in NIDDM than in the non-diabetic group. These granules may be related to immunoreactive glucagon which has been found in submaxillary glands of rodents and might play a role in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. Further investigations should be performed to clarify whether these cells are the site of glucagon synthesis and also clarify the pathogenesis of NIDDM.