Fractal and stereological analyses of insulin-induced rat exocrine pancreas remodelling.

BACKGROUND: The effect of insulin on the endocrine pancreas has been the subject of extensive study, but quantitative morphometric investigations of the exocrine pancreas are scarce. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the effect of acute and chronic insulin administration (two doses, 0.4 IU and 4 IU) on the morphology of rat pancreas acini. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semi-fine sections stained with methylene blue and basic fuchsine or haematoxylin and eosin-stained 5-micrometer thick paraffin sections were used for fractal and stereological analysis of exocrine acini. Acute insulin treatment, independent of applied doses increased fractal dimension in line with decreased lacunarity of pancreas acini. Chronic low dose insulin decreased fractal dimension and increased lacunarity of pancreas acini, but a high dose had the opposite effect. The volume densities (Vv) of cytoplasm, granules and nucleus are affected differently: acute low dose and high chronic dose significantly decreased granules Vv, and in line increased cytoplasmic Vv, whereas other examined structures showed slight changes without statistical significance. RESULTS: The results obtained from this investigation indicate that insulin treatment induced structural remodelling of the exocrine pancreas suggesting a substantial role of insulin in its functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Additionally, we showed that fine architectural changes in acini could be detected by fractal analysis, suggesting this method as an alternative or addition to routine stereology.

[Use of leukocyte-depleted blood in patients treated with hemodialysis]. / Primena deleukocitovane krvi kod bolesnika lecenih hemodijalizama.

Red cells depleted of white cells can prevent febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions and may reduce or delay alloimmunization of HLA antigens and the transfusion of various viruses. Twenty-three patients maintained on hemodialysis who had febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions were analysed between 1976 and 1994. This reaction was first noticed in patients diagnosed with chronic glomerulonephritis approximately after receiving 7.5 transfusions. The patients were treated with washed red cells from 1976 to 1988 and from this period to 1994 tewy were treated with filtered red cells via Sepacell R500-A. With the use of these preparations, the febrile nonhemolytic reaction was eliminated. The latest advances in transfusiology include the preparation of all blood components without leukocytes.

[The effect of interferon alfa-2b therapy on titers of isohemagglutinins and anti-Forssman antibodies in patients with malignant melanoma]. / Uticaj lecenja alfa-2b interferonom na titar izohemaglutinina i anti-Forssman antitela u bolesnika sa malignim melanomom.

According to experimental data, administration of interferon in mice before contact with antigen reduced antibody response, while its presence after antigen load enhanced them. The aim of this study was to detect possible immunomodulatory effects of unpurified human alpha-interferon on izohemagglutinin (IZO), and anti-Forssman antibody (AFA) serum levels during a treatment in patients with malignant melanoma. Fifty-two patients treated with the same chemotherapy regimen (ADM-VCR-CPM-DTIC-PCB) entered the study; 30 received INF 1.000.000 U/24 h x 10 during each cycle, intercycle interval 4 weeks. Twenty-two did not receive interferon. Initial IZO titers were 1/4-1/256, median 1/64, and for AFA 0-1/14, median 1/7. Following 4 cycles, values for IZO titers were: in the IFN group 1/32-1/262.144, median 1/128; in the non-IFN group range 1/8-1/512, median 1/32. The values for AFA titers were: in the INF group 0-1/442, median between 1/28 and 1/56; in control group 0-1/112, median 1/14. The difference between both median values for the INF group and initial median values was statistically significant. Initial elevation of titers was reversed during a few cycles with both A and B substances and the Forssman antigen, immunisation of humans is permanent. It would be of interest to ascertain effects of interferons on antibody response to others antigens, especially bacterial and viral, during aggressive chemotherapy. In any case, both experimentally observed phenomena seem to occur in vivo during interferon treatment of metastatic melanoma.

[Immune hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia after peroral therapy with a penicillin derivative (phenoxymethylpenicillin)]. / Imuna hemoliticka anemija i trombocitopenija u toku lecenja penicilinskim derivatom za peroralnu upotrebu (fenoksimetilpenicilin).

A previously apparently healthy male patient developed Coombs-positive haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia during phenoxymethylpenicilline intake. A drug dependent IgG red cell antibody was demonstrated in patient's serum. In vitro tests with patient's serum suggested formation of complexes involving penicilline which by complement mediated mechanisms were able to agglutinate red cells in saline medium. Platelet agglutinins were demonstrated in patient's serum but their drug dependence has not been fully elucidated. The mechanism of drug mediated autoantibody synthesis might have been involved in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia.