Early development of the neocortex in human foetuses aged 9 weeks

A study was made of human embryos at the end of 8 weeks and foetuses aged 9 weeks. It was shown that at the beginning of the foetal period the cortical plate, which is the primordium of the neocortex, covers the whole surface of the cerebral hemisphere. The plate consists of 8–12 rows of densely packed cells. Below the cortical plate is the subplate

The origin of cells of the cochlear ganglion in early human embryos

The study was conducted on 6 human embryos at stage 13. It was found that the facial-vestibulocochlear complex is closely related to the otic vesicle, and the particular components of that complex may be distinguished. They show different cellular arrangement and shape. The neural crest cells migrating from the dorsal hindbrain are continuous with cells forming the cochlear ganglion. This gives evidence for neural crest contribution to the cochlear ganglion

The subarachnoid space develops early in the human embryonic period

The anlage of the subarachnoid space is seen in embryos at stage 14 (33 days) in the innermost zone of the primary meninx as irregular spaces on the ventral surface of the spinal cord. At first this space is only on the ventral surface of the spinal cord. From stage 18 (44 days) on, when the dura mater proper is formed, the reticular tissue of the primary meninx and spaces are around the circumference of the spinal cord. These spaces gradually coalesce and contain many blood vessels

Morphometric study of the cornea in human embryos

Morphometric study was conducted on 28, serially sectioned staged human embryos. The cornea is of equal thickness during its early development (stages 15±17). During developmental stages 18 and 19 (7 th week) it is thicker in the central part. In the last embryonic week the peripheral part of the cornea becomes thicker than its central part. The performed study elucidates structural differentiation during development of the cornea

The foetal development of the human osseous labyrinth in a computed tomographic study

A CT study was performed on 8 foetuses aged between 20 and 38 weeks. In foetuses at the 20th week the semicircular canals, the spiral canal of the cochlea and the initial (labyrinthine) part of the facial canal are visible. At week 24 the tympanic part of the facial canal is observed. In the 31st week the cochlea is divided into 2 compartments, and in the 38th week the vestibular aqueduct and osseous labyrinth are seen

Treatment of iatrogenic iliac artery rupture during endovascular surgery

Recently a growing number of endovascular operations are associated with an increased number of iatrogenic vascular injuries. The aim of the study is to analyse the treatment of iliac artery damage during angioplasty. Method. In the period 2002–2009, 328 patients underwent endovascular surgery of iliac artery stenosis, 219 men and 109 women aged from 47 to 85 years. Qualified patients displayed IIB, III, and IV stage of ischaemia by Fontaine. The collected information concerned details of the performed procedures, possible complications and ways of solving problems. Results. In 132 cases, endovascular surgery consisted of extension of the iliac artery using a stent, while in 196 no stent was applied. Iatrogenic injury to the iliac artery during the angioplasty occurred in six patients. In four cases, there was damage to the common iliac artery, and in the next two patients to the external iliac artery. In four cases, there was damage to the artery during endovascular expansion, and in two cases after stent implantation. In four cases, the damage to the artery was treated by an endovascular method, in two patients a stent was implanted, in one patient a stent-graft was introduced, and in one case a spillage was sealed using a balloon. Two patients underwent classic surgery due to symptoms of hypovolaemic shock caused by bleeding into the retroperitoneal space; in one case arterial damage was sutured, and in the second patient an aortal-femoral bypass graft was implanted. Of the patients supplied by an intravascular method, in one case, because of the very large retroperitoneal haematoma and the compression symptoms associated with it, surgical drainage was necessary. In the remaining cases, the postoperative course passed without complications. Among the patients who underwent classic surgery there was one case of deep vein thrombosis. All patients achieved satisfactory haemodynamic and clinical effects. There were no deaths. Conclusions. 1. Each instance of iatrogenic iliac artery injury during endovascular surgery requires an individual approach. 2. An attempt to repair damage by an intravascular method is the treatment of choice in haemodynamically stable patients. 3. In cases of large retroperitoneal bleeding, patients require immediate conversion to classical surgery. Acta Angiol 2011; 17, 2: 150–157Wstęp. Rosnąca ostatnio liczba operacji wewnątrznaczyniowych wiąże się również ze zwiększoną liczbą jatrogennych uszkodzeń naczyń. Celem pracy jest analiza sposobu postępowania przy uszkodzeniach tętnic biodrowych w czasie angioplastyki. Materiał i metoda. W latach 2002–2009 operowano wewnątrznaczyniowo 328 chorych ze zwężeniami tętnic biodrowych, w tym 219 mężczyzn i 109 kobiet w wieku 47–85 lat. Do operacji kwalifikowano chorych w IIB, III i IV stadium niedokrwienia według klasyfikacji Fontaine’a. Zbierano informacje na temat szczegółów przeprowadzonych zabiegów, ewentualnych powikłań i sposobów rozwiązywania problemów. Wyniki. W 132 przypadkach wykonano poszerzenie wewnątrznaczyniowe tętnicy biodrowej ze stentem, zaś w 196 bez stentu. Do jatrogennego urazu tętnic biodrowych w miejscu przeprowadzanej angioplastyki doszło u 6 chorych. W 4 przypadkach stwierdzono uszkodzenie tętnicy biodrowej wspólnej, w kolejnych 2 — tętnicy biodrowej zewnętrznej. U 4 chorych do uszkodzenia tętnicy doszło podczas wewnątrznaczyniowego poszerzenia, zaś w 2 przypadkach po wszczepieniu stentu. U 4 chorych uszkodzenie tętnicy leczono metodą wewnątrznaczyniową, u 2 osób implantowano stent, u 1 pacjenta — stentgraft, zaś w 1 przypadku uszczelniono wyciek za pomocą balonu. Dwóch chorych ze względu na objawy wstrząsu hipowolemicznego spowodowanego krwawieniem do przestrzeni zaotrzewnowej operowano klasycznie, w jednym przypadku zszyto uszkodzenie tętnicy, zaś u drugiego chorego wszczepiono pomost aortalno-udowy. Spośród chorych zaopatrzonych metodą wewnątrznaczyniową w jednym przypadku ze względu na bardzo dużego krwiaka zaotrzewnowego i objawy uciskowe z nim związane konieczne było przeprowadzenie jego chirurgicznego drenażu. U pozostałych przebieg pooperacyjny upłynął bez powikłań. Wśród operowanych klasycznie u 1 chorego stwierdzono zakrzepicę żył głębokich. U wszystkich pacjentów uzyskano zadowalający efekt hemodynamiczny i kliniczny. Nie zanotowano zgonów. Wnioski. 1. Każdy przypadek jatrogennego urazu tętnicy biodrowej podczas operacji wewnątrznaczyniowej wymaga indywidualnego podejścia. 2. Próba wewnątrznaczyniowej naprawy uszkodzenia jest postępowaniem z wyboru u chorych w stanie stabilnym hemodynamicznie. 3. W przypadku dużych krwawień do przestrzeni zaotrzewnowej konieczne jest natychmiastowe przeprowadzenie operacji klasycznej. Acta Angiol 2011; 17, 2: 150–15

Evaluation of urgent multivisceral resections due to complications resulting from an advanced ovarian cancer

Background: Unlike other solid tumors (i.e. pancreas, gallbladder, stomach), an ovarian cancer is responsive to a systemic treatment with platinum derivates in 80% of patients. This apparent chemosensitivity justifies a broader surgical approach. A cytoreductive, ”tumor-debulking” surgery is defined as an attempt to remove in a maximum degree all visible and detect­able lesions. Despite treatment, the advancement of the disease very often leads to complications defined as “surgical” and life-threatening. Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of palliative surgery in advanced ovarian cancer implicating acute surgical diseases of the abdominal cavity. Material and methods: Between years 2005 and 2014 were operated 118 patients with an advanced ovarian cancer (FIGO III-IV) implicating acute and directly life-threatening diseases of the abdominal cavity, involving 132 surgical operations. The causes of these operations were: obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract — 91 patients; perforation of the gastrointestinal tract — 15; gastrointestinal bleeding — 9; intussusceptions — 3. Results: Retrospective data for the 118 patients were analyzed. Safety and the perioperative mortality rate were assessed. Serious postoperative complications were recorded in 31 patients (anastomotic stoma — 9; bleeding requiring repeated surgery —3; recurring gastrointestinal obstruction — 16; liver failure after partial hepatic resection — 3). Systemic compli­cations in the form of respiratory failure and cardiovascular disorders requiring cardiological treatment — 21. All patients required clinical nutrition, both parenteral and enteral. Deaths recorded — 3. 39 patients were rehospitalized within 30 days of surgery. 7 deaths were recorded in this group. Conclusions: Combining lifesaving surgery with cytoreduction allows further adjuvant treatment. Early rehospitalization occurring within less than 30 days is linked to increased mortality

Resting heart rate and its change induced by physical training in patients with ischemic heart disease at various ages treated with beta-blockers

Background: The present study was aimed at possible modifications of resting HR induced by systematic physical training in patients of different age populations with ischemic heart disease (IHD) subjected to chronic therapeutic beta-blockade. Methods: The goal was the assessment of initial resting heart rate (HR) and its change after 6 months of physical training in two groups of patients with IHD at various ages (A: 55.5 &plusmn; &plusmn; 4.6 years; B: 72.5 &plusmn; 4.37 years) treated with beta-blockers, the dosage of which was not modified during the observation. Results: Comparison between the groups A and B concerned the initial rHR (min-1): 79.3 &plusmn; &plusmn; 8.3 vs. 73.6 &plusmn; 8.3 (p < 0.01), the after-training rHR: 70.9 &plusmn; 7.9 vs. 67.7 &plusmn; 8.4 (NS), and the delta of rHR: -8.4 &plusmn; 4.8 vs. -5.9 &plusmn; 2.8 (p < 0.01). Statistically significant correlation coefficients both between the patients&#8217; ages and the initial rHR (r = -0.377) and the delta of rHR (r = 0.347) were noted. Conclusions: The reduction of rHR after 6-months of training was less in the older IHD patients because of their lower initial rHR compared with the younger patients, which was probably determined more by physiological vagotonia than therapeutic beta-blockade. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 493-496

Metal concentrations in hair of patients with various head and neck cancers as a diagnostic aid

Head and neck cancers are one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. This paper attempts to evaluate disturbances of homeostasis of the necessary elements (calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese) and changes in the levels of toxic metals (lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium VI) in hair of patients with head and neck cancers, as well as people without a diagnosed neoplastic disease. In order to quantify the necessary elements and toxic metals, a method using ICP-MS and ICP-OES techniques had been developed and validated. The studies have shown that patients with head and neck cancer used to drink alcohol and smoked much more frequently than healthy individuals, both in the past and presently. Statistically significant differences in concentrations of average metal content in the group of patients with head and neck cancers compared to the control group were confirmed. Significant differences in metal content between the group of patients with head and neck cancers and healthy individuals were found which enabled distinguishing between the study groups. To this end, a more advanced statistical tool, i.e. chemometrics, was used. The conducted research analyses and the use of advanced statistical techniques confirm the benefits of using alternative material to distinguish the patients with head and neck cancers from the healthy individuals