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Biomedical subjects

W Famulski

Publications and source records attributed to W Famulski.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Cyclophosphamide-induced changes of serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and pulmonary microvessels ultrastructure.

The effect of cyclophosphamide (CP) on the ultrastructure of the lung tissue and the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in serum was evaluated in rats. The animals were given cyclophosphamide (CP) in a single intraperitoneal dose of 150 mg/kg b.w. ACE activity was evaluated in the blood serum collected from the left ventricle of the heart using the spectrophometric method. In all time subgroups, the CP-receiving animals showed a decrease in ACE activity. Ultrastructural examinations of CP-treated animals revealed increased adhesion of neutrophiles and monocytes to the damage endothelium of the alveolar septa vessels and focally accumulation of the platelets.

Animals↗

Ultrastructure of bone marrow megakaryocytes in experimental haemorrhagic shock in rats. I. Correlation between ultrastructure of MK nuclei and DNA ploidy.

The correlation was described between the ultrastructural picture and DNA mass content of MK nuclei in experimental haemorrhagic shock in rats. Significant disproportions were revealed between the morphological pictures and the ploidy of MK nuclei in the successive phases of the shock. Abnormalities of the maturation of marrow MK nuclei were found in the first hours of the shock, being most pronounced in the 24th hour.

Animals↗

Ultrastructure of bone marrow megakaryocytes in experimental haemorrhagic shock in rats. II. Correlation between ultrastructure of MK cytoplasm and thrombopoiesis.

Ultrastructural evaluation was performed of the MK cytoplasm in the successive phases of experimental haemorrhagic shock in rats. Qualitative abnormalities were revealed in the intracytoplasmic structures of MK. Platelets in the circulating blood were evaluated. A correlation was found between the changes in the intracytoplasmic organelles and the number and biological activity of blood cells. The results obtained indicate significant disturbances in the functioning of the thrombopoietic system in experimental haemorrhagic shock, which are caused by alterations within the intracytoplasmic structures of MK and lead to platelet production from morphologically differentiated but functionally immature MK.

Animals↗

Comparison of morphological and biochemical changes of BAL-isolated cells in experimental lung emphysema.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the protease and antiprotease activity in the fluid obtained from the culture of cells isolated from the lungs of animals with experimental emphysema. An attempt was made to correlate the results of biochemical examinations with adherence degree and ultrastructural changes of the surface of BAL-isolated cells. The experiment was carried out on male Wistar rats, of 180-220 g b.w. Two i.p. injections of BCG-vaccine (4 x 10(8) microorganisms) on the 1st and 14th day were applied as macrophage mobilizing and activating agent. Papain (2 mg/l ml/100 g b.w.) was given once i.t. on the 21st day. The animals were sacrificed on the 28th day of the experiment. We found a correlation between the increase in the cell adherence and ultrastructural changes (in SEM), suggesting an increased activity of the cells isolated from BCG-treated rats. In the culture medium of cells isolated from the rats which were given BCG or papain and BCG+papain we observed an increased base protease activity and decreased Cathepsin D activity comparing with the control group. Increased antitrypsin activity in the BCG and BCG+papain-treated rats and decreased antitrypsin activity in papain-treated rats only was observed, too. There was no obvious difference in the levels of the antiplasmin and antichymotrypsin activities between the groups. The present results indicate that activated pulmonary macrophages are one of the sources of the protease-antiprotease intraalveolar imbalance. However, an increased production of proteolytic enzymes may not be the only factor responsible for the progression of lung emphysema in BCG-treated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effect of activated alveolar macrophages on experimental lung emphysema development. I. Protease and antiprotease activities in the culture medium of alveolar macrophages.

Aim of the present study was to evaluate cathepsin D, base protease, antiplasmin, antitrypsin and antichymotrypsin activities and protein content in the 24h culture medium of the alveolar macrophages (AM) deriving from the rats treated BCG-vaccine and from rats with papain-induced emphysema. In the culture medium of cells isolated from the rats which were given BCG or papain and BCG+papain we observed an increase of base protease activity and a decrease of cathepsin D activity comparing with control group. Increased antitrypsin activity in BCG and BCG+papain-treated rats and decreased antitrypsin activity in papain-treated rats were observed. There were not significant differences in antiplasmin and antichymotrypsin activities between examined groups. The obtained results indicate that activated pulmonary macrophages are one of the sources of the protease-antiprotease intraalveolar imbalance. However, increased production of proteolytic enzymes may not be the only factor responsible for the progression of lung emphysema in BCG-treated rats.

Animals↗

The effect of activated alveolar macrophages on experimental lung emphysema development. III. Morphological analysis of the lung tissue and alveolar macrophages in situ.

Morphological (in light and transmission electron microscope) as well as morphometrical analysis of the lungs was performed on experimental, papain-induced lung emphysema. Development of emphysematous changes was studied seven days after a single intratracheal instillation of papain solution. The effect of alveolar macrophages (AM) activation by BCG-vaccine on changes in pulmonary tissue was analyzed. In the rats given BCG the number of AM increased and demonstrated enhanced activity. Increase in reticulin fibre density in places of AM cumulation, particularly in BCG+papain-treated rats was observed. The lungs of animals treated with BCG+papain showed enhancing of emphysema comparing with the papain-treated rats. Development of emphysematous changes, especially in BCG+papain-treated rats coexisted with cumulation of activated alveolar macrophages and collagen fibres as well as type II alveolar epithelial cells proliferation. Our data support the inflammatory-repair hypothesis of emphysema pathogenesis and indicate that AM regulate collagen production in the lung. Type II alveolar epithelial cells seem be important in lung injury and repair.

Animals↗

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.

Animals↗

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.

Animals↗

[Biliary atresia in children].

Congenital biliary tract atresia was found in 0.58% of children dying in the first year of life. Most frequently atresia included the extrahepatic bile ducts, among them the common bile duct. Five cases (35.7%) had atresia associated with other developmental anomalies, which may suggest a genetic determination of the atresia. The most frequent cause of death of the newborns and infants with congenital biliary tract atresia was bronchopneumonia with associated biliary cirrhosis of the liver.

Bile Ducts↗

[Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system in autopsy specimens].

On the basis of an analysis of 2398 autopsies of infants aged up to 1 year in 194 cases congenital anomalies of the central nervous system were found (8.1%). Most cases of these anomalies were noted in the group of newborns (85%) and the most frequent anomalies were: myelomeningocele (35.6%), multiple anomalies (20.1%), congenital hydrocephalus (17%), anencephaly (14.4%) and corpus callosum malformations (3.6%). Myelomeningocele, congenital hydrocephalus, anencephaly and true microcephaly were more frequent in girls, while multiple anomalies and corpus callosum malformations were more frequent in boys.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Bcl-2 expression in primary uveal melanoma.

AIMS: Uveal malignant melanoma is the most common intraocular tumor. The aim of this study was the analysis of bcl-2 oncoprotein expression in this tumor type. The melanomas were evaluated according to tumor location and patient age and sex. The relationship between bcl-2 expression and histological type, clinicopathologic stage and the presence of a set of predetermined morphological parameters was analyzed. METHODS: The study involved 39 patients with ocular melanomas treated with surgery alone between 1983 and 1997. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were treated with anti-bcl-2 antibody (Dako No M0887). Immunolocalization of the bcl-2 oncoprotein was performed using the labeled streptavidin biotin (LSAB) method. bcl-2 expression in neoplastic cells was evaluated in a semiquantitative manner: lack of reactivity was defined as bcl-2 negative, reactivity present in less than 30% of cells as low bcl-2, and reactivity in more than 30% of cells as high bcl-2. The percentage of cells with a positive reaction was assessed independently by two pathologists, and the results were subjected to statistical analysis using Fischer's exact test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No statistically significant correlation was found between the expression of bcl-2 oncoprotein and the clinicopathologic features analyzed. However, the high percentage of tumors with positive expression of this oncoprotein suggests that it plays a significant role in the biology of uveal melanoma.

Female↗