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H F Nowak

Publications and source records attributed to H F Nowak.

77 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Hypertrophy of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle with spontaneous electrical activity].

A patient with chronic S-1 radiculopathy is discussed, in whom, after previous slight weakening of calf muscles, the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle was enlarged. Histopathological examination revealed in this muscle a true hypertrophy, mainly second type of muscle fibres. However electromyographic examination showed a continuous spontaneous electrical activity at rest (pseudomyotonic discharges) which, according to the authors, explain the found signs.

Adult↗

Epithelial anomalies in chronic pancreatitis as a risk factor of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between chronic pancreatitis and the development of pancreatic cancer is still a matter of dispute. Our aim was to determine the frequency of hyperplastic, metaplastic and dysplastic epithelial anomalies in the course of chronic pancreatitis and the potential steps in their development to malignancy. METHODOLOGY: The study was based on biopsy material of 70 patients with clinically diagnosed advanced chronic pancreatitis, who underwent partial or total pancreatectomy, as well as other operations. The patients were assigned to 2 groups: Group I (n = 41) with calcifying chronic pancreatitis; Group II (n = 29) with other forms of the disease. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Mallory-azan, Gomori's silver method, and glycosaminoglycans (PAS and Alcian blue staining). Special interest was focused on the type and incidence of epithelial ductal and acinar cell anomalies, and on the degree of parenchymal scarring. RESULTS: Hyperplasia of the ductal epithelium was present in 31.4%, focal squamous metaplasia in 21.4%, mucous metaplasia in 11.1%, cellular dysplasia in 8.6%, dysplastic acinar cell nodules in 21.4%, and "tubular complexes" in 30.0% of all cases. The differences in the frequency of these changes, except for ductal epithelial hyperplasia, were not statistically significant in two comparable groups. Advanced pancreatic fibrosis was associated with epithelial anomalies in 65.7% of all cases. CONCLUSIONS: From the morphological point of view, the adequate prerequisites for the consideration of advanced forms of chronic pancreatitis, independent of type, as a risk factor of pancreatic cancer exist, necessitating the surgical removal of pathological lesions.

Adult↗

AgNORs in duct epithelial lesions in chronic pancreatitis and in pancreas cancer cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) reflect the proliferative activity of cells. Since the majority of pancreatic cancers are ductal carcinomas, the aim of the study was to determine the AgNORs expression of potential pre-neoplastic ductal epithelial lesions in advanced chronic pancreatitis compared with pancreatic cancer cells. METHODOLOGY: Histological preparations obtained from 24 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 16 patients with pancreatic cancer were used to estimate the number of AgNORs per nucleus. Four types of AgNORs were distinguished and histograms with cell percentage of each type were performed for all forms of epithelial anomalies. RESULTS: In simple hyperplasia, squamous and mucous metaplasia the number of AgNORs ranged from 1.92 to 2.23; type I was predominant. In papillary hyperplasia, dysplasia and in situ carcinoma the number ranged from 2.98 to 3.34, with a predominance of type II-IV. In invasive carcinoma the number was 4.29 and 74% of cells were of type II-IV. CONCLUSIONS: Both counts of AgNORs and the percentage of type II-IV cells showed a gradual increase from simple hyperplasia through papillary hyperplasia and dysplasia to invasive carcinoma which in this respect differs significantly from all forms of the epithelial anomalies examined.

Carcinoma in Situ↗