Anomalies of cerebral structures in acranial neonates.

Eleven cases of newborns with acrania and macroscopically diagnosed anencephaly were neuropathologically examined. They presented changes in which 1 group corresponded to the diagnosis of aprosencephaly. In the second group, the development of prosencephalic structures was more advanced. The pathomechanism of the observed anomalies was analyzed in relation to data provided by molecular-genetic classification of nervous system malformations, but that did not exclude the influence of eventual extrinsic factors.

Constitutive expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in developing brain. A. Choroid plexus in human fetuses.

It is believed that prostanoids produced by COX-1 activity are essential for the physiological functions of tissues while those produced by COX-2 lead to various pathological changes in these tissues. Brain is an exceptional organ where in some neurons COX-2 mRNA and its protein are constitutively expressed. Since some prostaglandins may play an important role in the control of blood-brain barrier and cerebral blood flow the purpose of the present study was to examine the COX-2 expression in choroid plexus, which participate in the nutrition of brain parenchyma of human fetuses. Study was performed on 25 brains of human fetuses from 12 to 38 weeks of gestation. In light and electron microscopy characteristic developmental transformation of choroid morphology was observed. In young fetuses from 12 to 20 week of gestation epithelial cells of choroid plexus are cuboidal, contain large amount of glycogen storage and their nuclei are COX-2 immunopositive. From 25 week of gestation until term the amount of glycogen in the choroid plexus diminishes, some apical nuclei are shifted toward central parts of the cells and number of cytoplasm organelles increases. In these cells expression of COX-2 protein is located in cytoplasm but epithelial nuclei are immunonegative. Our results provided evidence that COX-2 is constitutively expressed in the developing human choroid plexus. Different localization of COX-2 in choroid epithelial cells suggests that this enzyme may play a different role in various periods of the choroid plexus development.

[Endocardial fibroelastosis in children to one year of age]. / Sprezyste zwlóknienie wsierdzia u dzieci do 1. roku zycia.

Out of 2398 autopsies of newborns and infants performed between 1976 and 1985, thirty two cases of endocardial fibroelastosis were found, i.e. 10.6% of the congenital heart diseases in this age group. Endocardial fibroelastosis was most frequent (44%) in infants aged between 3 and 6 months. Seventeen cases of the disease were seen in male infants and 15 cases in female infants. Twenty cases of the endocardial fibroelastosis (62.5%) were of isolated character (primary) whereas 12 cases (37.5%) were of the secondary character associated with other heart abnormalities. Nine cases (about 28%) coexisted with congenital abnormalities of joint and bone system and respiratory tract. A morphologic analysis of the endocardial fibroelastosis with particular reference to its etiopathogenesis suggest its congenital origin or (and) an effect of infection on myocardium. It was also suggested that endocardial fibroelastosis may be a symptom of collagenic disease. About 70% of autopsied infants were hospitalized over 3 days what meant that the course of the disease was severe. Endocardial fibroelastosis was diagnosed clinically only in 6 cases (18.75%).

[Distribution and elimination of C-14-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 D) in rat tissues in acute poisoning]. / Rozmieszczenie kwasu 2,4-dichlorofenoksyoctowego-14C (2,4-D) w tkankach szczura w ostrym zatruciu.

The authors carried out investigations for elucidating the distribution in the internal organs and tissues and the rate of the absorption from the digestive tract and elimination from the organism of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid widely used in herbicides, to which man and animals are exposed. Radiometric investigations were carried out of the internal organs and tissues of male Wistar rats which were given one dose of the acid labelled with 14C one-third of LD-50/kg through an intragastric tube. The rats were killed at various time intervals for observing the rate of absorption and elimination of this compound. The measurements of radioactivity demonstrated high levels of the herbicide in the lungs, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys, and low levels in the adipose tissue and brain, with intermediate values in the adrenals and testicles. The compound is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract reaching its highest level in the tissues after 6-20 hours, and is eliminated nearly completely already on the second day. Small residues of the acid and its metabolites containing 14C were present in the tissues up to the 20th day of the experiment.

[Coexistence of polycystic kidney and other developmental defects. Analysis of autopsy specimens 1953-1985]. / Wspólistnienie wielotorbielowatego zwyrodnienia nerek (wzn) z innymi wadami rozwojowymi. Analiza materialu sekcyjnego w latach 1953-1985.

The cases of polycystic disease of kidney selected from 33 years postmortem data were presented. They were classified into 4 types (according to Osathanond, Potter and Heptinstall) and the results correlated with accompanying malformations. It has been established that type I of polycystic disease of kidney was mostly correlated with CNS, skull and spine abnormalities. Type II and III were coexisting with genitourinary and ++gastrointestinal system malformations. No type IV of the disease has been found.

[Analysis of neoplasm metastases to the bone marrow in patients with lung cancer]. / Analiza przerzutów nowotworowych do szpiku kostnego u chorych na raka pluca.

The authors analysed bone marrow metastases in lung cancer in 104 deceased patients. Trepano-biopsy was taken from the sternum, hip bone and spine. Bone marrow metastases were found in 33 cases (31.73%). Most often they were seen in small cell lung cancer (16 cases--35.56%). In 12 cases the bone marrow was the only site of lung cancer metastases.

[Neoplastic metastases in the bone marrow from cancers of the digestive system (stomach, pancreas, liver and gallbladder]. / Przerzuty nowotworowe do szpiku kostnego w niektorych rakach przewodu pokarmowego (zoladka, trzustki, watroby i pecherzyka zólciowego).

The authors analyse the incidence of metastases into the bone marrow in carcinomas of the stomach, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. Specimens from the bone marrow taken were by trephine biopsy from the sternum, ala ossis ilii and spine. Metastases into the bone marrow were found in carcinomas of the stomach, pancreas and gallbladder but not in hepatic carcinoma. Neoplastic metastases were most frequent in adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

[Radioisotope studies of the brain, adrenal glands and adipose tissue in acute lindane poisoning]. / Badania radioizotopowe mózgu, nadnerczy i tkanki tluszczowej w ostrym zatruciu lindanem.

Results of the examinations on radioactivity of the adipose tissue, supraprenal glands and the brain after intragastric administration of lindan--14 C in the dose evoking acute poisoning show that it accumulates in the examined tissues. Its highest concentration was observed in the adipose tissue, slightly lower in the supraprenal glands and the lowest one was noted in the brain. It was found that a considerable amount of lindan absorbed was expelled from the tissue during the first 4 days of exposure, but the remaining part was expelled from the adipose tissue and the brain during 36 days, and from the supraprenal glands after 36 days of the experiment.

[Comparative studies of radioactivity of the blood and urine of rats after intravenous, intraperitoneal and intragastric administration of C-14-labeled lindane]. / Badania porównawcze radioaktywnosci krwi i moczu szczurów po dizylnym, dootrzewnowym i dozoladkowym podaniu lindanu-14C.

The results of blood and urine radioactivity investigations carried out on male Wistar rats after intravenous, intraperitoneal and intragastric administration of gamma-Benzene Hexachloride-14C indicate that this pesticide is absorbed from blood within 15 hrs after intravenous, 25 hrs after intraperitoneal and 35 hrs after intragastric administration and is excreted in urine within 35 days. A very high level of excretion was observed during the first 4 days after intravenous, 7 days after intraperitoneal, and 8 days after intragastric administration.

[Studies of radioactivity of the blood and urine of rats after intravenous administration of the C-14-labeled gamma isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane]. / Badania radioaktywnosci krwi i moczu szczurów po dozylnym podaniu gamma izomeru szesciochlorocykloheksanu--14C]

The results of blood and urine radioactivity investigations carried out on female Wistar rats after intravenous administration of gamma-benzene hexachloride--14C indicate, that the pesticide is absorbed of blood circulation during 6 hr and excreted in urine during 35 days. Very high level of excretion was observed during first four days after injection, middle, expressly decreasing level during 5-th to 14-th day and low level during the remaining days of experiment.