Search

A postmortem study by ductography and histology was carried out in 50 macroscopically normal human pancreata. The alterations of the pancreatic duct system, their relations to the parenchyma, and their changes depending on age were studied. The most frequent changes of the ducts are epithelial hyperplasia (88%) and periductal fibrosis (74%). In the ducts they produce cystic widening (62%) and intraluminal protein precipitates (40%), within the parenchyma an intralobular fibrosis up to total fibrosis of lobules (88%). All these alterations increase with aging both in frequency and intensity. But they are already visible before the age of 50 and sometimes before the age of 30. The pathogenetic connexions between the changes of the duct system and the alterations of parenchyma were studied by serial sections and ceroplasty. This investigation revealed that the small branches of the larger ducts, which drain small periductally situated lobules, play an important role in the development of the parenchymal alterations. No connections were found between the pancreatic alterations and diseases of the bile duct system.

Ureteroscopy is used not only to clarify tumorous processes in the area of the ureter but also for removal or ultrasonic destruction of distal ureteral stones. Instruments have been developed that allow application of an optically controlled ultrasonic or metal loop. With our instrument we removed distal ureteral stones in 12 cases applying ultrasound or a Dormia loop. The different techniques and strategies are presented. In animal experiments we investigated the effect of ultrasound on the urothelium. We found that short time application (less than 30 s) does not leave irreversible damages. Removal of ureteral stones by ureteroscopy is indicated in stones which do not pass spontaneously or after unsuccessful efforts to remove the stones by means of a Zeissloop that is in cases where hitherto the only way of action possible was to carry out an ureterolithotomy.

1. The influence of dyes with special affinity to amyloid on the resorption of experimental amyloidosis was studied in mice (A/J/Bom). 2. The amyloidosis was produced by injections of 5% casein over a period of seven weeks. After an interval of six weeks the animals received 0.5 ml of a 0.01% dye solution intraperitoneally (congo red, diamine green, Evans blue) or 0.9% NaCl (controls) every seventh day over a period of 22 weeks. 10, 17, and 22 weeks after the dye treatment was started 3-4 animals of each group were sacrificed and studied histologically. 3. In contrast to the in vitro findings of Shirahama et al. (1971), in vivo there is no acceleration of amyloid resorption by congo red. In the same way diamine green does not accelerate the resorption of amyloid. Evans blue produces a decrease in the amount of amyloid, but at the same time it causes wasting in the animals. Moreover, congo red and diamine green produce amyloidosis by themselves. 4. From our findings neither congo red nor the other amyloidaffine dyes studied, diamine green and Evans blue, are suitable for a therapy of amyloidosis.

Two groups of mice (A/J/Han) were treated with casein for 3 weeks. They then received chondroitin sulfate for 1 week, the one group subcutaneously and the other intraperitoneally. Intraperitoneally, chondroitin sulfate produces a more pronounced amyloidosis than subcutaneously. It also causes a marked amyloidosis of the draining lymph nodes of the abdomen. These alterations probably result from an unspecific amyloidogenic effect of chondroitin sulfate, which becomes stronger as local concentration increases.