The sympatho-adrenal response and erythropoietin production in adaptation to hypoxia.

The research activity upon erythropoiesis regulation carried out by the team in the Physiology Department and in the Institute of Medical Research of the Romanian Academy in Cluj-Napoca developed continuously after 1950. Our studies contributed to the isolation, identification and characterization of erythropoietin (Epo) and also to a better understanding of the nervous adaptation mechanisms to hypoxia. At present, it is well known that hypoxia acts upon erythropoiesis through Epo production. Direct central nervous stimulation through hypoxia induces, via a neuro-humoral mechanism, a sympatho-adrenal response and release of Epo. Adaptive polyglobulia as a response to hypoxia increases the capacity of oxygen binding and transport. In this paper we attempted to identify the role of the sympathetic nervous system in adaptation to hypoxia correlated with Epo secretion. Experiments were carried out in three groups of rats, respectively, with cervical, thoracic, and lumbar (without celiac) sympathectomy. The sympathectomized animals were submitted to hypobaric or to hemorrhagic hypoxia, in parallel with control groups. Erythrocytic parameters (red blood cells, reticulocytes, hematocrit, and haemoglobin) were repeatedly assayed during the following 2-4 weeks. The results showed that animals with cervical sympathectomy adapt in a deficient manner to hypoxia; lacking the adaptive sino-carotid reflexes, adaptation occurs through increased Epo secretion, animals with cervical sympathectomy having higher counts of reticulocytes and of red blood cells at the end of experiment than intact animals. Thoracic sympathectomy has little influence upon the erythrocytic response, as the largest part of the respiratory and circulatory sympathetic reactions occur via the cervical sympathetic nerve. Lumbar sympathectomy without removal of the celiac ganglion does not decrease the erythrocytic response as expected; on the contrary, the erythrocytic response is increased as compared to controls.

Drug delivery systems based on inorganic materials: I. Synthesis and characterization of a zeolite-cyclophosphamide system.

Porous material of the CuX zeolite type has been synthesized and used as support for a classic antitumoral drug--cyclophosphamide (CP). The new material obtained represents a physical mixture of the two components. In vivo tests allowed biochemical and anatomopathological evaluation of antitumoral effects determined by oral administration of the CuX zeolite-CP system. Data obtained show that the intensity of the antitumoral effects of the CuX zeolite-CP system is similar as compared to that achieved by CP. A possible advantage of the CuX zeolite-CP system is the continual maintenance in the blood of a CP concentration ranging between 100 and 1,000 ng ml-1 plasma.

The ileal diverticulum. Morpho-clinical and epidemiological study.

In two autopsy prospective studies, at the Prosectures of the Departmental Hospital and of the Pediatric Hospital in Cluj, we found an incidence of Meckel's diverticulum of 1.16%, 1.46% respectively. Besides, we have retrospectively followed the incidence of the ileal diverticulum during the laparatomies performed at the Pediatric Hospital in Cluj between 1981 and 1990 on an acute abdomen of a supposed appendicular cause. Consulting the pathological bulletins which registered 8,385 laparatomies we found 200 Meckel's diverticula. Of the 200 diverticula, 64 exhibited a pathological process and 136 were trophic, and we suppose that they were found incidentally (incidence of 1.63%, corrected incidence of 1.38%). Up to the age of 16, 4.5% of the diverticula were excised. In the 64 symptomatic cases of ileal diverticulum, 50 presented inflammatory complications, 10 were ulcero-hemorrhagic, two were obstructive, one diverticulum presented an entero-umbilical fistula and one displayed a hemorrhagic infarction. Seventeen of the 200 diverticula presented heterotopic tissues; 12 of the 17 cases were symptomatic; in 64.7% of the cases the heterotopic tissue was the gastric mucous coat. Out of 8,385 laparatomies performed on an acute abdomen of a supposed appendicular cause, in 64 cases the symptomatology was generated by a meckelian pathological process (0.76%). An acute appendicitis was concomitantly present in 22 of the 64 cases.

The canal system in the diaphysial compacta of the femur in some mammals.

The Haversian canal system in the diaphysial compacta of the femur in 4 mammalian species (dog, pig, bovine, horse) was studied on the decalcified bone using a method developed by the authors. In the microscopic studies we found that in all species the network aspects vary with the depth of the compacta layer. In all layers, there is a background of longitudinal canals with more or less regular trajectories describing large curves. The anastomoses linking them are main elements that define the variety of the network aspects both from layer to layer and from species to species. The canal densities vary between broad limits in the dog and horse, but less in the pig and bovine. The mean density decreases in the following order of species: dog, pig, horse and bovine femur. The Haversian canal diameter varies within narrow limits in the dog and pig. The limits are broader in the horse and bovine. The mean diameter diminishes in the following order of species: bovine, dog, horse, pig. We can conclude that the canal network differs from one species to another from all points of view: the canal system is homogeneous in none of these parameters.

One of Brâncusi's youth works--the muscleman.

About Brâncusi, about his work, many lines have been written. Much too few people--especially from abroad--are acquainted with the great artist's muscleman. The present lines are intended to fill in this void, getting the readers of the Anatomischer Anzeiger familiar with the existence of the muscleman.

Some aspects of the system of Haversian canals in the diaphysary compact bone in man.

The general aspect of the network of Haversian canals was studied on tangential and radial sections from the diaphysary compact bone of the human long bones. The network-like aspect was much varied even in the same bone and at the same level from which the samples were obtained. No obvious differences were found between the studied bones or between the two limbs. Certain peculiarities of the canal system were noticed as regards the trajectory of canals, disposition and number of anastomoses, and the network aspect, depending on the region of the diaphysis, but especially on the depth.

The portal vein and its main affluents. An anatomic and morphometric study.

There are reported the results of certain measurements made on 158 human cadavers of both sexes. A series of main parameters are given, such as the distance between the superior mesenteric vein and on the one hand its confluence with other vessels and on the other hand the pancreas and the horizontal part of the duodenum: the distance between the superior mesenteric vein together with the portal vein, and the inferior caval vein; the diameters of the portal trunk and the confluence angle between the roots of the portal vein. The results reflect the possibility to perform a troncular portocaval anastomosis in at least 90 per cent of the cases. The authors' attention was, however, directed towards the anatomy of the superior mesenteric vein, as this vessel is preferred by some surgeons in the achievement of the portocaval anastomosis.

Comparative aspects of the density and diameter of Haversian canals in the diaphyseal compact bone of man and dog.

By using an original method, the authors injected the system of canals and then studied microscopically their network in the femoral diaphysis of man and dog. In the human bone, the density varies between 1.09 and 2.63 canals per mm2, with an average of 1.83; in dogs the limits of variation are 1.98--2.86 canals per mm2. The canal calibre is of 68.8 microns in man as against 48.5 microns in dogs. Both parameters present a wider variability in the femoral compact bone of man than in dog. By calculation it was found that the canal density in dogs is very significantly increased as compared to man; on the contrary, the diameter presents in dogs very significantly decreased values as compared to those of the diaphyseal compact bone of man.

[Comparative morphological studies of the structure of the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint]. / Vergleichend-morphologische Untersuchungen über die Struktur des Discus articularis des Kiefergelenkes.

Articular disks (DA) of mandibular articulations of several types of animals of different ages and both sexes (herbivora, carnivora, rodents and omnivora) were studied. Comparative macroscopy emphasized similarities with the DA of humans and other omnivora, as well as some peculiarities. DA is ellyptical in herbivora; its upper surface is divided into two facets by a transversal crest. DA is pinkish and square in carnivora; its posterior part is lacking. DA is half-moonish and white-nacreous in rodents; its upper surface presents a longitudinal crest. Microscopy evidenced some differences: the collagen fibrils are dominating in herbivora, while in carnivora the elastic ones. The rodents present rare elastic fibers; these animals and the ruminants show capillaries in the central part of the DA, while in other animals these are absent. Cells are mainly located in the upper superficial layers of DA. Relationships between form, histological structure and functions, mainly regarding the mastication types, are discussed.

Some interrelations between the density of the Haversian canals and the area occupied by these in the diaphyseal compact bone in man.

The authors studied the ratio between the density of the Haversian canals and the area occupied by these in the diaphyseal cortex of the main long bones in man. The interrelation was estimated by means of the correlation coefficient, which varies between -0.135 for the fibula and -0.168 for the humerus. It was found that the two parameters were inversely proportional: the greater the number of canals in a given area, the smaller the relative proportion of the area occupied by them.

[Clinical studies of the role of the fluorescent circulating antibody test in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis]. / Cercetari clinice privind rolul testului anticorpilor circulanti fluorescenti în diagnosticul tuberculozei active.

The value was studied, of the test of circulating fluorescent antibodies against M. tuberculosis in establishing the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in 610 patients classified in 4 groups: 1. active tuberculosis bacteriologically confirmed; 2. active tuberculosis with negative bacteriological examination, but confirmed by other methods of criteria; 3. stabilized tuberculosis; 4. non-tuberculous affections. The specificity of the test in active tuberculosis was of 80% in adults and of 91,5% in children. The test was negative in 80,3% of stabilized tuberculosis cases and in 69% of non-tuberculous affections. The sensitivity was lower in active tuberculosis with positive bacilloscopy (67%) against active tuberculosis with negative bacilloscopy (90,6%), a fact explained by a high consumption of anti-bacillary antibodies, demonstrated by positivation of the test when bacilloscopy becomes negative. The use of the test is indicated in establishing a therapeutic test, and in the context of clinical and radiologic explorations, as well as in the expertising of working capacities of previous tuberculosis patients.

[Anatomo-surgical aspects of the liver in situs inversus]. / Particularitati anatomochirurgicale ale ficatului in situs inversus.

The hepatic veins and the intra-parenchymal branches of the portal vein and of the hepatic artery were dissected in two isolated livers form subjects with situs inversus. As a general observation, the intra-hepatic distribution of the portal vein in these cases represented a "looking-glass image" of the normal liver. The intra-hepatic branches differ from the normal by the presence of a large interarterial anastomotic canal in one of the cases. In the other case branches were found, of the left hepatic artery, for the upper sub-segments of the right lobe, that were irrigated from the venous standpoint, by the right branch of the portal vein.