Urine cytology in patients with urinary tract calculosis.

Urinary cytological examination was performed on 375 patients suffering from urolithiasis at the Department of Urology. University School of Medical Sciences, Bydgoszcz between 01.01.1991 and 31.12.1992. 189 were female (mean age: 47.5 years), 186 were male (mean age: 53.5 years). We found dysplastic cells in urinary sediments in 25.3% of patients before therapy and in 5.3% of patients after conservative or traditional operation and interventional therapy (ESWL. PCNL). Degenerated cells were found in 72% of patients before therapy and in 30.4% after therapy only. In our group neoplasmatical cells were not found. Inflammatory background was found in 44.5% before and in 21.9% after therapy, pyuria in 19.7% and 0.8% respectively. In urinary sediments we found concrements in 24% of patients before and 7.7% after therapy. However, 20 (51.3%) of 39 patients after interventional therapy (ESWL, PCNL) had concrements in urinary sediments. In conclusion, no abnormality was seen in 85.1% before therapy and in 31.2% after therapy. The significance of cytological examination in management of calculous diseases was discussed.

Selenium levels in kidney, liver and heart of newborns and infants.

BACKGROUND: Among the tissues of humans the highest level of selenium (Se) is found in the kidney and the lowest in the muscle. The Se level in tissues is age-dependent. AIM: To measure the Se level in kidney, liver and heart of newborns and infants who were born in different periods of pregnancy and died of various diseases. SUBJECTS: Tissues obtained from 49 infants deceased at 1 day to 2.5 months of age. Forty-five of them were premature infants born between 23 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, four were born at term. RESULTS: Se levels in kidney and heart (but not liver) increased gradually with the duration of pregnancy. Positive and significant correlations were found between the weeks of pregnancy and Se levels in kidney (r=0.433, P=0.023) and heart (r=0.313, P=0.030). In the total group, the mean Se levels in the kidney (185+/-64.7 ng/g wet weight) and liver (177+/-59.8 ng/g) were two times higher than those in the heart (90.5+/-33.7 ng/g). In this study, the Se levels in kidney and liver were from 2.5 to 1.2 times lower than the values found in our previous study for healthy adult victims. In the heart, the Se levels were similar in infants and adults. No significant differences were found in the mean Se levels in the various tissues in infants who died due to respiratory distress syndrome, congenital heart disease, other diseases and the group as a whole. The low levels of Se in the tissues studied by us, as compared with data from other countries, are probably due to lower Se intake by pregnant women in Poland. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that Se level in kidney and heart, but not in liver, increases with the progress of pregnancy. The Se level in kidney and liver is two times higher compared with heart and significantly higher than in adult subjects.

Tissue level, distribution, and total body selenium content in healthy and diseased humans in Poland.

The authors obtained tissue samples taken at autopsy from 46 healthy individuals killed in accidents and from 75 corpses of victims of various diseases to analyze selenium levels. The per-weight-unit basis of selenium levels (all expressed as ng/gm wet tissue) in tissues decreased in the following order: kidney (469) > liver > spleen > pancreas > heart > brain > lung > bone > skeletal muscle (51). The highest proportion of body selenium was found in skeletal muscles (27.5%); much less selenium was found in bones (16%) and blood (10%). In the tissues of cancer corpses, the selenium levels were much lower than levels in controls. The lowest selenium levels were found in the livers of alcoholics. Tissue selenium levels found in the study were significantly lower than levels reported in Japan, United States, Canada, and other countries. The low selenium levels in the tissues of Polish residents result from inadequate selenium levels in the soil. The authors used selenium levels in tissues to calculate the amount of selenium in humans in Poland (i.e., approximately 5.2 mg). This level was similar to levels found in New Zealand (i.e., 3.0-6.1 mg), but it was lower than the mean level found in Germany (i.e., 6.6 mg) and in the United States (i.e., 13.0-20.3 mg).

The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in leukemia cell lines HL-60 and K-562 at the light and electron microscope level.

PCNA antigen was localized at the light and electron microscopes level in two human leukemia cell lines HL-60 and K-562. PCNA expression was used to discriminate cycling from non-cycling cells. PCNA protein at the level of the light microscope was present in 70% of the cell in HL-60 cell line and in 65% of the cells in K-562 line. Streptavidin immunogold method was used for localization of PCNA expression at the ultrastructural level. Positive staining for this protein was seen as granular pattern in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. In the nucleus the gold particles were seen to be associated with heterochromatin and euchromatin of the leukemia cells. In cytoplasm it was found on the endoplasmic reticulum and associated with ribosomes. Controls of the leukemia cells incubation with normal mouse serum showed no labelling at the light and electron microscope level.

Immunoelectron microscopical identification of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method was used for localization of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein at the electron microscopical level in 15 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. It was found that c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was present in 7 of 15 samples. Electron microscopical examination revealed expression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein both on the membrane of individual cells and in the cytoplasm. In 5 of the 7 cases of positive labeling, it was observed only on the plasma membrane of cells whereas in 2 cases, there was also cytoplasmic staining. Reaction product was associated with endoplasmic reticulum, and the nuclear envelope and was scattered throughout the cytoplasm on ribosomes. Control incubations using normal rabbit serum instead of the primary antibody showed no labeling. A significant correlation between c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and pathological characteristics such as nodal status and histological grade was not found.

Endometriosis of the urinary bladder.

Although every seventh or eighth case of endometriosis is found to have urinary involvement, this type of endometriosis is still rarely recognized. The symptoms are not specific and are frequently suggestive of a neoplastic process. On the basis of our two cases of histopathologically two types of endometriosis as well as literature review the practical significance of endometriosis in urology is described. In each patient who previously underwent a gynaecological or surgical procedure in the abdominal cavity, endometriosis of the bladder is likely to occur. This possibility should not be ruled out, otherwise it could lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.

[Pulmonary hypertension during the course of liver cirrhosis--presentation of two cases]. / Nadcisnienie plucne w przebiegu marskosci watroby--prezentacja dwóch przypadków.

Two patients with liver cirrhosis and clinical and autopsy features of pulmonary hypertension are presented. Others than liver's pathology secondary causes of hypertension in pulmonary circulation were not found. In both patients pulmonary hypertension had an influence on clinical course of basic disease. Taking this complication into consideration in the explanation of pathomechanisms of symptoms allowed us better to understand the clinical manifestation of liver disease in observed in our clinic cirrhotic patients.

Diagnostic value of urine cytology and urine carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level in the distinction between bladder cancer and urinary tract infection.

In the retrospective investigation we estimated the CEA levels in urine and urine cytology in 293 patients with urinary bladder cancer (group I) and in 129 patients with urinary tract infection (group II). An increased CEA level was found in 212 cases of bladder cancer and in 109 cases of urinary infection. Neoplastic cells in urine sediment were identified in 254 cases in the first group, while in the second, multiple inflammatory cells and pyuria were diagnosed in 55 and 56 cases, respectively. The combined examination (increased CEA level and/or positive cytology of the urine sediment) allowed for the diagnosis of neoplastic disease in 270 patients in the first group and infection diseases in 123 patients in the second group. After surgical therapy an increased urine CEA level and neoplastic cells in the urine cytology were found in 1 case which was then confirmed histopathologically. In the group with urinary infection an increased CEA level in urine, after antiphlogistic therapy, was found in 5 cases, inflammatory cells in 12 cases, pyuria in 8 cases and suspect cells were found in 6 cases in the group with urinary infection. In specimens from these cases, after electroresection, bladder cancer was diagnosed in 2, and cystitis cystica type changes in 2 cases.

[Levels of carcinoembryonic antigen in blood serum and in urine in employees who smoke at the "Pasamon" Industrial Works in Bygdoszcz]. / Poziomy antygenu karcinoembrionalnego w surowicy krwi i w moczu u palacych pracowników Bydgoskich Zakladów Tasm Technicznych "Pasamon".

CEA levels in serum and urine determined in healthy persons who were heavy smokers. We examined 215 workers of the "PASAMON" Industrial Works (186 women and 29 men). The level of CEA in serum was elevated in 19% of healthy workers smoking 10 or more cigarettes daily. In 10% of female smokers the CEA level in urine was increased. In the age-matched group of non-smokers neither in serum nor in urine any increase in levels of CEA was observed. In diagnosis, prognosis and follow up of patients with neoplasms an increased level of CEA in serum of heavy smokers should be taken into consideration.

[Evaluation of renal function based on cytologic examination of urine sediments in industrial workers employed in a Bydgosz conveyer belt plant "Pasamon" ]. / Ocena stanu ukladu moczowego w badaniach cytologicznych osadu moczu u pracowników bydgoskich Zakladów Tasm Technicznych "Pasamon".

215 healthy workers, aged 19-61, of Bydgoszcz industrial plant were examined. In some patients urine sediments contained pathological ingredients, which could be an early symptom of a urinary tract disease. No traits of neoplastic processes were found.

[Levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha fetoproteins in urine of of workers at the Bydgoszcz industrial works "Pasamon"]. / Poziomy antygenu karcinoembrionalnego i alfafetoproteiny w moczu u pracowników Bydgoskich Zakladów Tasm Technicznych "Pasamon".

A group of 215 healthy workers of the Bydgoszcz Industrial Works "Pasamon", aged 19-61 years, was examined. Normal values of CEA and AFP in urine were determined using the RIA method. They were 0-42 ng/ml and 0-9 UI/ml, respectively. The increase of CEA was often observed in patients with the urinary tract infections. The cytological examination of urine sediment and determination of CEA level may, in some cases, indicate the difference between the urinary tract infections and urothelial carcinomas.