[Chronic cor pulmonale--a disease of the right or both ventricle(s) of the heart?]. / Przewlekle serce plucne--choroba prawej czy obu komór serca?

Some aspects of the development of chronic cor pulmonale have been presented. Special attention has been paid to the possibility of simultaneous formation of changes in the muscle of both ventricles of the heart and to an increase in the number of capillaries in the myocardium in the early stage of this disease. Angiogenesis, the role of hypoxia and endothelins in the pathogenesis of these changes have been discussed.

Cor pulmonale in experimental lung emphysema. I. The morphometric evaluation of pulmonary and myocardium changes.

Selected morphometric parameters of the lungs and heart of rats with experimental emphysema caused by a proteolytic enzyme--papain have been presented. The morphometric evaluation was carried out after the 1st, 3rd and 6th months following an intratracheal infusion of papain solution. It was found that administration of the papain caused emphysematous changes in the lungs, which intensity measured morphometricly increased until the third month, and then became stable. The first evidence of the right ventricle hypertrophy appeared already in the third month of the experiment. The evident hypertrophy of the muscle of both ventricles and of the interventricular septum was observed after six months of the experiment. Morphologic changes developing in both ventricles suggest an existence of a common pathogenetic factor affecting simultaneously the myocardium of right and left heart ventricles.

Cor pulmonale in experimental lung emphysema. II. An ultrastructure of myocardium.

Development of ultrastructural changes in the hearts of rats with experimental lung emphysema, induced by proteolytic enzyme--papain, has been analysed. Simultaneous development of changes in the right ventricle muscle and in the subendocardial layer of the heart left ventricle myocardium was observed. After 1 month from papain administration in the muscle cells of the right ventricle a significant increase of mitochondria number and their polymorphism were observed. After 3 and 6 months similar changes were observed in both ventricles, however they were more pronounced in the cells of the right ventricle. Mitochondria showed significant damage in the form of clearning up of matrix and destruction of cristas and breaking of their membranes. An enlarged number of irregular intercalated discs was observed too. 6 months after papain administration in some of the right ventricle muscle cells a significant damage of myofibrils and increase in the number of sarcomeres as well as decrease of mitochondria number in these cells were noticed. Focally proliferation of connective tissue was observed too. The role of hypoxia as an essential factor, responsible for the observed morphologic changes has been discussed.

[Biological properties of cytokines and their role in lung pathology]. / Wlasciwosci biologiczne i rola cytokin w patologii pluc.

In the past decade, cytokines came into focus as important multifunctional mediators regulating cellular functioning and intercellular connections. Particular cytokines may both inhibit and stimulate cells playing an important role in maintaining homeostasis of the normal tissue. In the majority of pathologies not individual cytokines but their complexes are involved. Numerous studies on cytokines are mainly aimed at evaluating the role of the following cytokines in pulmonary diseases: tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and recently interleukin-6 (IL-6). The possible physiologic significance and role of cytokines in lung diseases are surveyed.

[Role of pentoxifylline in prevention and treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome]. / Rola pentoksyfiliny w zapobieganiu i leczeniu ciezkiej niedomogi oddechowej doroslych.

Pentoxifylline (3,7-dimethyl-1-/5-oxohexyl)-xanthine (PTXF) is a drug that has been demonstrated to improve peripheral vascular circulation. The mechanism of this effect is believed to involve the prevention of platelet aggregation, reduction of blood viscosity and increase red blood cell flexibility. PTXF has been successfully used as a therapeutic agent for intermittent claudication secondary to chronic occlusive arterial disease. In the present paper, the special attention was paid to the possibility of using PTXF in the treatment of ARDS and PTXF mechanisms of action preventing the development of that syndrome were reviewed.