Irradiation as a hazard for mucociliary clearance.

OBJECTIVES: In this paper we study effects of irradiation to pulmonary tissue on a micro and ultrastructural level to get insights into the dynamics of morphological changes and associated post-radiative physiological conditions. METHODS: Animal and human pulmonary tissue with and without radiation damage was subject to light, transmission, scanning and polarization microscopy and morphometric evaluation. RESULTS: The present investigations on the influence of irradiation on experimental and human lung tissue demonstrate that complex changes are induced in the cells which are essential for mucociliary clearance. These changes are a shortage of alveolar macrophages, cell apoptosis, proliferation of collagen ligament in the barrier of gaseous exchange, retraction of endothelial lining of capillaries and significant broadening of the gaseous exchange barrier, resulting in serious damage for the O2 and CO2 exchange. CONCLUSIONS: These changes at microscopic, cellular, and ciliary level trigger conditions for various diseases of the respiratory system, which is further assessed by a simultaneous computer aided estimation of ciliary function. With the concurrent world-wide increase of respiratory diseases, these findings are important knowledge for the clinical practice.

Rare peripheral femoral nerve neuropathy in children.

Peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve is extremely rare. In the literature, we found descriptions of only 50 similar patients, mainly as a complication of coagulopathies, and none of intrapelvic tumors. Three children with a rare peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve as a complication of extraperitoneal pelvic masses are described in this report. In all three, the neuropathy was caused by stretching of the femoral nerve over a huge intrapelvic mass. None was related to coagulopathy. After removal of the masses, full recovery from the neurological symptoms was observed in two children and the recovery of the patient with Ewing's sarcoma is satisfying, at the 2-year follow-up and at the time of writing. As early surgical debulking of the mass was a good influence on the recovery of the nerve paresis, we believe that is imperative in the treatment process. Medical staff should be aware that a serious illness can lie behind peripheral femoral nerve neuropathy.

Is the trachea a marker of the type of environmental pollution?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The differentiated character of changes in the mucous relief of the trachea as induced by air containing pollutants from the wastes of nickel-, mercury-, and cement-producing plants and by Candida albicans occurring in the waste disposal site of a large town are identified. The trachea was chosen because it is the entrance gate for the penetration of polluted air into the lungs. Changes on the trachea influence the character and extent of changes in lungs. STUDY DESIGN: Histological study with Viennese grey strain laboratory rabbits and rats caught directly on an investigated site. METHODS: We present new results of the functional morphology of the respiratory system as the results of scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies that can reveal character and range of damage of mucosal relief of trachea relevant to the functional dynamics of mucociliary clearance. Under physiological conditions this mechanism allows that only respirable dust particles enter the deep respiratory tract. RESULTS: In case of a damaged tracheal relief because of exposure to various aerosols, the functional morphology is changed, which aids in understanding the mechanisms damaging to mucociliary clearance induced by living in heavily polluted areas. CONCLUSION: Understanding of these morphological changes on base of detailed electron microscopic findings sheds new light on elaborating novel diagnostic methods for clinical practice.