[Production and preliminary characteristics of polyclonal antibodies specific to SSTR2A and SSTR5 receptors in the pituitary gland]. / Otrzymywanie oraz wstepna charakterystyka poliklonalnych przeciwcial swoistych dla receptorów SSTR2A i SSTR5 przysadki.

The increasing interest in somatostatin receptors (SSTR) is mainly due to their involvement in the regulation of hormone secretion and the role in somatostatin analogue treatment of patients with pituitary adenomas. The efficiency of this treatment is highly dependent on receptor expression in tissue which on the protein level requires specific anti-receptor antibodies for testing. In this paper we introduced the principles for the production of several polyclonal antibodies specific for C-terminal intracellular part or N-terminal extracellular part of SSTR2A and SSTR5 receptors. The antibodies were highly specific for peptides used for immunization of animals, had low cross-reaction activities for other SSTR2A and SSTR5 peptides and reacted with receptors on immunoblots and in immunohistochemistry. The final verification of the antibodies' specificity would allow us to perform the research concerning the structure and posttranslational modifications of SSTR and avoid dependency of commercial sources.

[Late onset of medullary thyroid carcinoma with bilateral adrenal pheochromocytomas in the case of patient with MEN 2]. / Pózne ujawnienie sie raka rdzeniastego tarczycy u chorej z obustronnymi guzami chromochlonnymi nadnerczy w przebiegu zespolu wielonarzadowej gruczolakowatosci wewnatrzwydzielniczej.

A 22-year-old woman complained of paroxysmal face flushing, palpitation and hypertension. CT scan revealed 55 mm mass in the right adrenal gland. Hormonal examination showed highly elevated urinary catecholamines and their metabolites excretion. Histological examination of the removed right adrenal gland confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. 4 years later we observed the recurrence of similar symptoms. After the hormonal examination and CT imaging left adrenalectomy was performed, because of the presence of 33 mm diameter tumor in the left adrenal gland. Young age of our patient and occurence of bilateral pheochromocytomas suggested multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. DNA sequence analysis of peripheral white blood cells revealed that codon 609 in exon 10 of the RET gene was mutated from TGC to CGC. During the further follow up of this patient we found 5 mm mass in the left lobe of the thyroid. Result of cytological examination of this focal mass and elevated calcitonin level in the pentagastrin test suggested the diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer which was later confirmed after total thyeoidectomy based on results of histopathology of tumor. No metastatic changes was found. DNA analysis of the somatic mutation of the RET protooncogene was useful for the early detection of medullary thyroid cancer in the case of the 30-year-old patient with MEN 2A.

[Dramatic symptoms of pheochromocytoma in old woman during antiarrhythmic therapy with sotalol: case report]. / Dramatyczne ujawnienie sie guza chromochlonnego u chorej w wieku podeszlym po zastosowaniu sotalolu--opis przypadku.

We present the case of 81-years old woman with diabetes mellitus and moderate hypertension who reported multiple syncope's. Cerebral and metabolic causes of syncope's were excluded and the patient was diagnosed to have sick sinus syndrome. After implantation of the cardiac pacemaker the treatment with sotalol was started. After introducing the antiarrhythmic drug the frequency of syncopes increased dramatically and blood pressure rose unusually (up to 250/140 mm Hg). Subsequently phaeochromocytoma was suspected. Laboratory data as well as computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of left adrenal tumour. After successful surgery the blood pressure normalized and the patient recovered uneventfully. The reported cases describes the difficulties in diagnosing phaeochromocytoma in elderly people with multiple different accompanying diseases.