[The role of elastolytic enzymes and smoking in the pathogenesis of emphysema]. / Az elasztolitikus enzimek és a dohányzás szerepe az emphysema patogenezisében.

Author provides a survey on the incidence rate of emphysema and of its social and economic consequences as well as available experimental data. Discussing her own results the significance of endogenous enzymes, smoking and of factors maintaining protease/antiprotease equilibrium are mentioned. The prophylactive and therapeutic potentials of currently experimental agents are evaluated.

[Recent results in emphysema research]. / Neue Ergebnisse der Emphysemforschung.

The incidence as well as the medical, social and economic importance of lung emphysema are evaluated. Results of experimental emphysema research, including the author's own investigations on rats are discussed. Inhalation of tobacco smoke is one of the most important etiologic factors. The pathogenetic role of endogenous enzymes, in particular protease-antiprotease imbalance, is elaborated. The survey is completed with the reference of prophylactic investigations and with an outlook on the main points of future research.

[Ultrastructural changes in the lung in acute adult respiratory distress syndrome]. / A tüdö ultrastrukturális elváltozásai akut felnöttkori respirációs distressz szindrómában.

Morphological alterations of the lung in respiratory distress syndrome of adults (ARDS) were analyzed in 10 cases with traumatic-and septic shock, laryngitis subglottica descendens and bronchopneumonia. For the better understanding of the pathomechanism of the disease in addition to the standard methods, first of all ultrastructural alterations were studied. Two phases of the morphologic alterations could be distinguished, the phase of the destruction and the phase of the repair. These two processes are not sharply distinguishable. Genesis of the characteristic histological alterations (damage to the epithelial and endothelial cells, formation of hyaline membranes, microcoagulation, proliferation of the type II pneumocytes and fibroblasts, fibrosis) is discussed, with regard to the data of the literature.

Morphological examination of aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells grown in vitro on collagen membranes.

Collagen membranes were prepared from acid soluble collagen gels reconstituted by ammonia vapour. The membranes were seeded with pig aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells. After few days confluent monolayers were obtained. By subsequent seeding it was possible to produce gel-sheets covered on one side by endothelium and on the other by smooth muscle cells. The transmission electron-microscopic picture of the cells grown on collagen membranes were not very different from those growing on glass. By scanning electron-microscopy however considerable difference was found between the morphology of cells growing on collagen or on glass.