Al, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe levels in brain in Alzheimer's disease.

The aim of our experiments was to investigate the possible element concentration changes in Alzheimer's disease. Our project incorporated the determination of the regional distribution of elements in normal human brain, too. Five elements (Al, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) have been measured in 10 different regions of 20 normal brains (mean age 70 years) and in brain parts of patients with Alzheimer's disease (9 individuals).

Concentration of elements in human brain: glioblastoma multiforme.

In this paper the results of two coordinated biomedical research projects are presented. The first project involves the determination of the average values of elements in normal human brain (20 individuals, age-group 65-75). 21 brain parts were selected from both hemispheres.

Changes in muscle structure following tenotomy. A scanning electron microscopical study in the rat.

The alterations caused by Achilles tenotomy in the calf muscles of the rat were studied one, two and three weeks postoperatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). One week after tenotomy connective tissue had accumulated in endomyseal and perimyseal structures, which continued to increase even more after two and three weeks. The normal muscle architecture was markedly disturbed and in individual muscle cells hypercontracted segments, longitudinal splitting as well as destruction of myofilaments were found.

Three-dimensional ultrastructure of human tendons.

The three-dimensional ultrastructure of human tendons has been studied. Epitenon and peritenon consist of a dense network of longitudinal, oblique and transversal collagen fibrils crossing the tendon fibres. The internal structure of tendon fibres is also complex.

[Recurrent infantile digital fibromatosis].

In connection with a boy's case, receiving treatment in their institute several times, authors sum up our knowledge on infantile relapsing digital fibromatosis, first time in Hungary. Results of histological and electronmicroscopic examination are reported compared to results of foreign authors' studies of similar subject.

The effect of tenotomy and immobilisation on intramuscular connective tissue. A morphometric and microscopic study in rat calf muscles.

The effect of tenotomy and of immobilisation in lengthened and shortened positions on the intramuscular connective tissue of the calf muscles of the rat was studied morphometrically and with a scanning electron microscope. Both tenotomy and immobilisation produced a marked increase in both the endomysial and the perimysial collagen networks, with a simultaneous decrease in intramuscular capillary density. The increase in connective tissue volume was more pronounced and occurred more rapidly in the soleus, which consists mainly of type I, slow-twitch fibres than in the gastrocnemius, which is mainly of type II, fast-twitch fibres.

Pathological alterations in human tendons.

The present authors analyzed the pathological alterations of 1966 tendons examined in the National Institute of Traumatology, Budapest, during the past 18 years. The majority of cases proved to be tendinopathies (hypoxic-degenerative tendinopathy or calcific tendinitis, tendolipomatosis and mucoid degeneration) leading to tendon rupture. The incidence of tendon tumors, foreign bodies, infectious tendon diseases, and other pathological conditions was clearly lower.

Fibronectin in the ruptured human Achilles tendon and its paratenon. An immunoperoxidase study.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role and distribution of fibronectin--a major connective tissue protein--in normal and ruptured Achilles tendon and its paratenon using peroxidase antiperoxidase (PAP) method and conventional histology. Samples were taken intraoperatively 6 to 48 hours after rupture from 30 patients, and 4 male cadavers served as controls. In controls fibronectin could not be detected in the tendinous connective tissue or in the areolar tissue of the paratenon.

Fibronectin and laminin in Achilles tendon.

Ten intact and 22 ruptured Achilles tendons were studied by immunohistochemical techniques. In intact tendons, both fibronectin and laminin were found in vascular walls, myotendineal junction, and endomysium, but not in the connective tissue of the tendons. In ruptured tendons the distribution of laminin was not changed.

The role of recreational sport activity in Achilles tendon rupture. A clinical, pathoanatomical, and sociological study of 292 cases.

During the last few decades, the incidence of tendon ruptures has increased in civilized countries. Our material comprises 749 patients who had 832 tendon ruptures treated surgically between 1972 and 1985. There were no competitive athletes among the patients studied.

Alterations in dry mass content of collagen fibers in degenerative tendinopathy and tendon-rupture.

The dry mass concentration and collagen fiber morphology of intact, as well as of degenerated and ruptured human Achilles, biceps brachii, extensor pollicis longus and quadriceps tendons, were determined by using the interference microscopical technique. The variation in the collagen fiber thickness was demonstrated in different intact tendons, the fibers being largest in the Achilles and smallest in the extensor pollicis longus tendons. However, the intact tendons exhibited only thick collagen fibers.

Distribution of blood groups in patients with tendon rupture. An analysis of 832 cases.

We aimed to determine the distribution of the ABO and Rh blood groups in 832 patients with a tendon rupture. Among these, the frequency of blood group O (52.8%) was significantly higher than in the general population of Hungary (31.

Foreign bodies in tendons.

At the National Institute of Traumatology in Budapest, a search has been made for foreign bodies in tendons over the last 15 years. 53 foreign bodies have been found in 931 tendons removed at operation and 45 foreign bodies in 950 tendon samples at autopsy. The foreign material was found to be organic in 29 cases, metal in 20 cases and plastic in six cases.

Histochemical and histophysical detection and specification of foreign bodies in human tissues.

The authors summarize their experience from histochemical and histophysical detection of foreign bodies in 1,000 cases. Methods are described for the detection of metal particles, vegetable material, of mineral substances, plastics, and mineral greases.

Glycogen-enzymes containing bodies in type 2 fibres of tenotomized muscles in the rat.

Inclusion bodies containing glycogen-enzymes were found in 30 to 60% of type 2 fibres of tenotomized calf muscles (m. gastrocnemius, m. soleus, m.

Quantitative alterations of intramuscular connective tissue in calf muscles of the rat during combined hypoxia and hypokinesia.

The investigations were designed to study the long-term effect of hypoxia, hypokinesia and of combined hypokinesia and hypoxia on the skeletal muscle in the rat. In the muscles of the hypoxic and hypokinetic animals serious degenerative changes were found and the fibre-type ratio was altered. In the hypoxic animals moderate fibrosis was revealed.

[Immunohistochemical and immunologic changes in aponeurosis in Dupuytren's disease].

Authors examined the aponeurosis of 23 patients with Dupuytren's contracture and of 5, formerly healthy persons, who died in consequence of accidents. It was found that the IgA and IgM content of the palmar aponeurosis is significantly elevated in Dupuytren's disease. The distribution of the immunglobulin containing cells and the fibronection localisation of the aponeurosis was also examined.

Fine structural alterations of the palmar aponeurosis in Dupuytren's contracture. A combined scanning and transmission electronmicroscopic examination.

The authors examined the fine structural alterations of palmar aponeurosis in Dupuytren's contracture. Two types of the fibroblasts can be identified: classic fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. In the Dupuytren's tissue one fourth of all non-inflammatory cells were regarded as myofibroblasts.

Immunopathological study on palmar aponeurosis in Dupuytren's disease.

The authors examined the immunological and immunohistochemical alterations of palmar aponeurosis in Dupuytren's contracture. In the IgG-content no difference were found between the intact and diseased aponeurosis. The mean of IgA content was 2 fold, the IgM content 3 fold higher in Dupuytren's aponeurosis than in normal ones.

Cortical and trabecular osteopenia after immobilization. A quantitative histological study of the rat knee.

The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of short-term immobilization on subchondral cortical and trabecular bone tissue in the rat tibia and to determine whether there was any difference when the knee was immobilized in extension or flexion. Thirty-six male rats were used in this study, and in 18 the knee was fixed in extension and in 18 in flexion. The time of immobilization was for 1, 2 and 3 weeks, with 12 animals in each group and 6 knees in extension and 6 in flexion.