Gfi1 Loss Protects against Two Models of Induced Diabetes.

Although several approaches have revealed much about individual factors that regulate pancreatic development, we have yet to fully understand their complicated interplay during pancreas morphogenesis. Gfi1 is transcription factor specifically expressed in pancreatic acinar cells, whose role in pancreas cells fate identity and specification is still elusive. In order to gain further insight into the function of this factor in the pancreas, we generated animals deficient for specifically in the pancreas.

Neurog3 misexpression unravels mouse pancreatic ductal cell plasticity.

In the context of type 1 diabetes research and the development of insulin-producing β-cell replacement strategies, whether pancreatic ductal cells retain their developmental capability to adopt an endocrine cell identity remains debated, most likely due to the diversity of models employed to induce pancreatic regeneration. In this work, rather than injuring the pancreas, we developed a mouse model allowing the inducible misexpression of the proendocrine gene Neurog3 in ductal cells in vivo. These animals developed a progressive islet hypertrophy attributed to a proportional increase in all endocrine cell populations.

Ectopic expression of in pancreatic δ cells results in β-like cell neogenesis.

The recent demonstration that pancreatic α cells can be continuously regenerated and converted into β-like cells upon ectopic expression of opened new avenues of research in the endocrine cell differentiation and diabetes fields. To determine whether such plasticity was also shared by δ cells, we generated and characterized transgenic animals that express specifically in somatostatin-expressing cells. We demonstrate that the ectopic expression of in δ cells is sufficient to induce their conversion into functional β-like cells.

GABA signaling stimulates α-cell-mediated β-like cell neogenesis.

Diabetes is a chronic and progressing disease, the number of patients increasing exponentially, especially in industrialized countries. Regenerating lost insulin-producing cells would represent a promising therapeutic alternative for most diabetic patients. To this end, using the mouse as a model, we reported that GABA, a food supplement, could induce insulin-producing beta-like cell neogenesis offering an attractive and innovative approach for diabetes therapeutics.

Long-Term GABA Administration Induces Alpha Cell-Mediated Beta-like Cell Neogenesis.

The recent discovery that genetically modified α cells can regenerate and convert into β-like cells in vivo holds great promise for diabetes research. However, to eventually translate these findings to human, it is crucial to discover compounds with similar activities. Herein, we report the identification of GABA as an inducer of α-to-β-like cell conversion in vivo.

β-Cell replacement as a treatment for type 1 diabetes: an overview of possible cell sources and current axes of research.

To efficiently treat type 1 diabetes, exogenous insulin injections currently represent the main approach to counter chronic hyperglycaemia. Unfortunately, such a therapeutic approach does not allow for perfectly maintained glucose homeostasis and, in time, cardiovascular complications may arise. Therefore, seeking alternative/improved treatments has become a major health concern as an increasing proportion of type 2 diabetes patients also require insulin supplementation.

Pax4 acts as a key player in pancreas development and plasticity.

The embryonic development of the pancreas is orchestrated by a complex and coordinated transcription factor network. Neurogenin3 (Neurog3) initiates the endocrine program by activating the expression of additional transcription factors driving survival, proliferation, maturation and lineage allocation of endocrine precursors. Among the direct targets of Neurog3, Pax4 appears as one of the key regulators of β-cell specification.

[The lunar cycle and seizures in children].

Aim: To analyze the annual trend of hospitalization and potential influence of the lunar cycle of children treated for seizures

Methods: The data of the patients treated for seizures (convulsions, epileptic seizures, disturbance of consciousness and epileptic seizures in children with neurodevelopmental disability) in the Pediatrics Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Tuzla were retrospectively analyzed during 2008 in relation to seasonal distribution, admission time (month, week, admission moment, day in a week, time of the day) and the lunar cycle.

Results: Out f the total of 234 treated children, 55 (23,5%) were infants, 101 (43,1%) were under six years of age and 78 (33,3%) were of school age. The most common type of seizures were convulsions, 123 (42,6%).

[Radical vulvectomy with inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy in the surgical treatment of vulvar carcinoma].

Introduction: Vulvar carcinomas comprise almost 5% of all malignant tumors of the female genital tract. The final diagnosis is made after histologic examination of biopsy specimens obtained from different sites in the vulva. Primary therapeutic approach in all cases is surgery, whereas the operative procedure depends on the size and location of the lesion, stage of the disease, general condition and age of the patient, as well as on the condition of the surrounding tissue and possible continuance of sexual life.

Invasive condylomatous vulvar carcinoma associated with multifocal low genital tract neoplasia. A case report.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a morphologically heterogenous neoplasm of specific histologic entities involved in human papillomavirus infection. The condylomatous types of squamous cell vulvar carcinoma, caused by HPV-16, most often manifest as exophytic papillary tumors mimicking condylomas.

[Malignant transformation of thyroid tissue in an ovarian dermoid cyst: case report].

Introduction: Mature cystic teratoma is the most common type of ovarian teratomas and also the most frequent tumor originating from germ cells. Usually unilateral, it is, by definition, composed of well-differentiated derivates which originate from all three layers. It is most frequently diagnosed in the female reproductive period; in its pure form, it is generally benign, but occasionally it may undergo malignant transformation in one of its elements.

[Histologic classification and terminology of precancerous lesions of the cervix].

Introduction: Precancerous changes of the cervix frequently occur in women in their reproductive age and are associated with sexually transmitted diseases. The evolution of these lesions qualifies them as precursors of malignancy, and their origination is associate with various risk factors, human papillomavirus (HPV) being the most important one. A proper clinical approach to and treatment of these changes depend on histologic diagnosis, which must be both terminologically adequate and apprehensive.

Malignant potential of gigantic condylomatous lesions of the vulva.

A diagnostic and therapeutic approach in the identification of malignant lesions and the types of HPV in 11 patients with gigantic condylomatous vulvar protuberances is presented. Different histological types of squamous cell vulvar carcinoma have been found in 8 (72.7%) cases: condylomatous (4), verrucous (3) and basaloid type of the carcinoma (1).

[Morphologic manifestations of human papillomavirus infection in the vulvar and anogenital region].

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the female genital tract is a sexually transmissible disease most frequently manifested by warts on the vulva, anogenital region, vagina and cervix. Precancerous lesions of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) as well as the development of invasive malignant neoplasms are also related to the infections caused by some HPV types. Infections with HPV-6 and HPV-11, the disease is often polycentric, sometimes reaching gigantic dimensions, elicit venereal warts.

[The hypophyseal-adrenal axis in chronic alcoholism].

In order to reveal the morphologic basis of clinically recognized pseudo Cushing syndrome in chronic alcoholism, we performed an analysis of histologic characteristics of hypothalamo-hypophyseal adrenal axis components. The experiment included Wistar rats which were given 15% ethanol solution in water for three months. By methods of classical histology, histochemistry and immunofluorescence adrenal and hypophyseal sections of experimental animals exposed to continual effects of alcohol and those from the control group were examined.

[Correlation of histomorphologic changes in the blood vessels of diabetic patients in the aging processes].

The increase of morbidity concerning diseases of heart, CNS, kidneys and of other organs is primarily connected with atherosclerotic changes of blood vessels. The population of cardiovascular patients includes a great number of diabetics and in that case manifestations of illness are directly conditioned and connected with changes of blood vessels.

[The effect of chronic alcohol administration on specific features of the adenohypophysis in young animals in relation to the adult adenohypophysis].

We investigated chronic effects of ethyl alcohol on adenohypophysis in adult Wistar rats and adenohypophysis in development including the postnatal period up to 30 days. Morphological findings in gonadotropic, prolactin and follicular cells were compared. After three months of constant alcohol consumption in the form of a 15% liquid solution, vacuolization of gonadotropic cells which acquire the shape of a seal ring, as well as nodular hyperplasia of chromophobe cells combined with sparse somatotropic cells, occur in the adenohypophysis of adult male rats.

[Standard histopathologic criteria in intraoperative diagnosis of thyroid gland diseases].

The objective of intraoperative histological diagnostics of thyroid gland diseases using the tissue freezing method is planning the appropriate surgical scope at the time of operation. This necessitates maximal diagnostic accuracy having in mind the fact that freezing changes the tissue structure resulting in numerous technical defects in the histological preparation. These defects can be eliminated by multiplying histomorphological criteria, accurate explanation of their significance and interdependency and by making a conclusion in the form of ex tempore diagnosis.

[The present approach to the morphologic analysis of lymph nodes draining a tumor area].

The paper reviews the results of an extensive morphological analysis of 49 lymph nodes draining the area of histologically evidenced tumor on the basis of immunomorphological changes by the quantitative and semiquantitative methods. Reactive changes in different topographic zones being a morphological manifestation of the immune response to the presence of tumor depend on the type and localization of the tumor. Sinus histiocytosis is the most significant morphological reaction in the analyzed draining nodes.

[Evolution of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in primary malignant lymphoma in an extranodal location].

Primary malignant lymphoma of extranodal localization is a rare disease which mainly occurs in organs with greater or less quantity of lymphocytic tissue or in the organs with the previous history of lymphocytic infiltrate. Extranodal localization of malignant lymphoma in the thyroid gland is rare and numerous authors associate it with the previous existence of chronic lymphocatic thyroiditis (Hashimoto struma). This paper dealt with the histologically analysed material obtained by subtotal or total thyreoidectomy over one-year period.