Volumetric growth of the lungs in human fetuses: an anatomical,hydrostatic and statistical study

Purpose

The prenatal assessment of lung volume is becoming increasingly important in determining survival in both preterm infants and newborns affected by pulmonary hypoplasia. This study aimed to examine the lung volumes in the human fetus at varying gestational ages.

Materials and methods

Using anatomical, hydrostatic (water displacement according to Archimedes’ patent) and statistical methods (one-way ANOVA test for paired data and post-hoc Bonferroni test, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Levene’s test, Student’s t test, regression analysis), volumes of the right and left lungs were measured in 67 human fetuses of both sexes (35 males, 32 females) aged 16–25 weeks, derived from spontaneous abortions and stillbirths.

Results

No male–female differences concerning the right and left pulmonary volumes were found. The mean volume of the right lung increased from 1.43 ± 0.25 to 8.45 ± 2.66 cm³, according to the cubic function y = –1.592 + 0.0007 × age³ ± 0.851 (R ² = 0.84). The volumetric growth of the left lung, from 1.24 ± 0.22 to 6.78 ± 3.03 cm³, followed the cubic model y = –1.110 + 0.0005 × age³ ± 0.794 (R ² = 0.78). The total pulmonary volume increased from 2.67 ± 0.47 to 15.22 ± 5.58 cm³, in accordance with the cubic model y = –2.729 + 0.0012 × age³ ± 1.598 (R ² = 0.83). The mean volumes of the right and left lungs accounted for 54.9 ± 2.0 and 45.1 ± 2.0 %, respectively, of the total lung volume.

Conclusions

No sex differences are found between the lung volumes in the fetus. The growth of fetal lung volume follows a three-degree polynomial function. Throughout the analyzed period the two lungs grow proportionately to each other, with the volumetric predominance of the right lung. The lung volumes in the fetus are of great relevance in the evaluation of the normal pulmonary growth and the diagnosis of pulmonary hypoplasia.     

The influence of staphylococcin T (StT) on the mouse fibroblasts (3T3) viability, an in vitro experiment

Staphylococcin T (StT) is a bacteriocin, which can serve as an antibiotic. The influence of StT on the mammalian cells viability should be examined before its possible applications. The aim of this work was to study the influence of StT on mouse fibroblasts viability in vitro. StT was delivered as a deposit in agar. 3T3 fibroblasts were used in viability tests. Cells were incubated with StT for 24 and 48 h. In the first controls, cells grew without the agar block, in the second controls, the agar block contained no StT. Trypan blue exclusion test was performed. Growth inhibition of sensitive strain SAU-209P was observed after 24 h incubation with cell culture medium containing StT. Antimicrobial activity of StT in culture medium was confirmed even after 2 months. The viability of 3T3 cells in the second control group was 50% lower than in the first and 25% higher than in StT treated group during the first day. It was noticed mechanical damage of growing cells caused by agar blocks. The number of cells cultured with StT was similar to that of second control group after 2 days. There were no changes in morphology of cells in all groups. It follows that StT had unimportant influence on the fibroblasts (3T3) viability in culture. StT may be considered for future animal trails.     

Comparison of 3T3 fibroblasts growth on alginate and polyasparagine (PAA) scaffolds in mouse model

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate polyasparagine (PAA), a new, promising scaffold. PAA was compared with alginate, which is used in cell transplantations and may be regarded as a standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro cell viability on both scaffolds was assessed. C57B1 mice were injected s. c. alginate or PAA with or without 3T3 cells. After two months specimens from sites of injection were examined and blood samples were taken for enzymatic activity estimation. Cathepsin D activity and alpha1-antitrypsin levels were measured. RESULTS: In vitro cell viability was lowest on PAA and highest in control group. Increase in levels of enzymes measured was observed in response to PAA and alginate and was lower in case of polymer seeded with cells. Increase in alpha1-antitrypsin levels was lower in case of PAA in comparison to alginate. Scaffold degradation in histopathological specimens was visible. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that PAA implants undergo biodegradation and nonspecific inflammatory response is comparable to alginate.     

Cross-sectional study of C1–S5 vertebral bodies in human fetuses

Introduction

Knowledge on the normative spinal growth is relevant in the prenatal detection of its abnormalities. The present study determines the height, transverse and sagittal diameters, cross sectional area, and volume of individual C1–S5 vertebral bodies.

Material and methods

Using the methods of computed tomography (CT), digital image analysis, and statistics, the size of C1–S5 vertebral bodies in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17–30 weeks was examined.

Results

All the 5 examined parameters changed significantly with gestational age (p < 0.01). The mean height of vertebral bodies revealed an increase from the atlas (2.39 ±0.54 mm) to L2 (4.62 ±0.97 mm), stabilized through L3–L4 (4.58 ±0.92 mm, 4.61 ±0.84 mm), and then was decreasing to S5 (0.43 ±1.06 mm). The mean transverse diameter of vertebral bodies was increasing from the atlas (1.20 ±1.96 mm) to L1 (6.24 ±1.46 mm), so as to stabilize through L2–L3 (6.12 ±1.65, 6.12 ±1.61 mm), and finally was decreasing to S5 (0.26 ±0.96 mm). There was an increase in sagittal diameter of vertebral bodies from the atlas (0.82 ±1.34 mm) to T7 (4.76 ±0.85 mm), its stabilization for T8–L4 (4.73 ±0.86 mm, 4.71 ±1.02 mm), and then a decrease in values to S5 (0.21 ±0.75 mm) was observed. The values for cross-sectional area of vertebral bodies were increasing from the atlas (2.95 ±5.25 mm²) to L3 (24.92 ±11.07 mm²), and then started decreasing to S5 (0.48 ±2.09 mm²). The volumetric growth of vertebral bodies was increasing from the atlas (8.60 ±16.40 mm³) to L3 (122.16 ±74.73 mm³), and then was decreasing to S5 (1.60 ±7.00 mm³).

Conclusions

There is a sharp increase in size of fetal vertebral bodies between the atlas and the axis, and a sharp decrease in size within the sacral spine. In human fetuses the vertebral body growth is characterized by maximum values in sagittal diameter for T7, in transverse diameter for L1, in height for L2, and in both cross-sectional area and volume for L3.     

Lipid Peroxidation and Activity of Some Antioxidant Enzymes in Patients with Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of malondialdehyde—MDA (one of the lipid peroxidation products)—in blood plasma and erythrocytes and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in red blood cells of patients with a primary brain tumour. The study was performed on 24 patients with a brain tumour (9 with glioblastoma and 15 with asrocytoma) treated in the Department and Clinic of Neurosurgery and Neurotraumatology at Ludwik Rydygier Medical University in Bydgoszcz. The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers. A statistically significant higher MDA concentration in erythrocytes and blood plasma and a higher activity of SOD or CAT in erythrocytes was shown in patients with a brain tumour as compared to the control group. Neither the histological type of tumour nor surgery has an effect on the tested biochemical parameters.     

Influence of the management of cervical carcinoma on the activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different types of management on the activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in women with cervical carcinoma. METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups according to the mode of treatment. Patients from the first group were treated brachytherapy prior to surgery. The second group received teletherapy before brachytherapy and additionally chemotherapy. The third group was treated with teletherapy after brachytherapy sessions. RESULTS: CAT activity was higher while GPx activity was lower before and during therapy in all groups as compared to controls. Six months after the end of therapy, the activity of studied enzymes reached the values characteristic of healthy women. No significant differences in enzyme activity among the three groups were revealed. CONCLUSION: Normalization of CAT and GPx activity may prove the efficacy of applied therapy in cervical cancer patients, however enzyme activity recovery was not dependent on treatment mode.