Major Digestive and Endocrine Glands
George W. Casarett in Radiation Histopathology: Volume II, 2019
This chapter discusses the major digestive glands and endocrine glands, which contain parenchymal tissues composed of reverting postmitotic radioresistant cells. The large salivary glands have excretory ducts opening into the oral cavity. The sublingual salivary gland, a composite of glands, is a mixed gland more variable in composition than the other salivary glands. Contrary to expectations on the basis of the classification of the parenchymal cells of the salivary glands as reverting postmitotic cells, the salivary glands appear to be moderately radiosensitive functionally, and in parts histo-pathologically. The liver is one of the organs which stores heparin. It also synthesizes protein, such as fibrinogen, which is secreted to the blood, and it forms an antianemic substance which stimulates the regeneration of red blood cells. The liver is essentially a compound tubular, serous, merocrine gland which is highly modified by replacement of tubules by branching and anastomosing cords or plates of epithelial cells and reorganization of the parenchyma into lobular units.
The Endocrine System: Solid and Diffuse
Jeremy R. Jass in Understanding Pathology, 2020
Endocrine disorders are a large topic that will be considered here genetically and mainly in relation to the structural changes within endocrine glands. The concept of chemical messengers has expanded considerably since the early view of the endocrine gland as an organ that manufactures and secretes hormones into the bloodstream in order to regulate metabolic activities in distant sites. The endocrine disorders that are of most relevance to the anatomical pathologist are the neoplasms. As noted above, these may be derived from cells of both the solid and the diffuse endocrine systems. Endocrine neoplasms of the gut and pancreas may secrete hormones that produce specific syndromes. The neoplasms are often named after the hormone, for example insulinoma and glucagonoma of the pancreas. Discovering an underlying cause for vague and generalised symptoms is always a difficult diagnostic challenge.
Moral Culture
Henry Dwight Chapin in Heredity and Child Culture, 2018
The mental and moral natures in their development are closly allied. The conduct of the child is largely influenced by the tone and temper of those about him. If a proper poise and self-control exists, it is sure to be reflected in the children. The character of many a child is injured by querulous rebukes, constantly administered, until he becomes to be considered as a sort of outlaw, all perhaps for small offences that involve no essential moral question. Much of our physical, mental, and even moral health depends on the proper functioning of the endocrine glands, —sometimes known as the glands of internal secretion. With reference to actual delinquency, childhood traits must be early watched, and corrective measures at once applied to all moral lapses. Some children have to be taught to play, as they seem lacking in initiative in this direction; organized play may have a favourable mental and moral effect.
Advances in neurosteroids: role in clinical practice
Published in Climacteric, 2013
N. Pluchino, A. Santoro, E. Casarosa, J.-M. Wenger, A. D. Genazzani, P. Petignat, A. R. Genazzani
The steroidogenic endocrine glands and local synthesis both contribute to the pool of steroids present in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Although the synthesis of neurosteroids in the nervous system is now well established, the spectrum of respective functions in regulating neuronal and glial functions remains to be fully elucidated. From the concept of neurosteroids derives another treatment strategy: the use of pharmaceutical agents that increase the synthesis of endogenous neurosteroids within the nervous system. This approach has so far been hampered by lack of knowledge concerning the regulation of the biosynthetic pathways of neurosteroids and their relationship with sex steroids produced by the peripheral gland or with exogenous steroids. The present review summarizes some of the available clinical and experimental findings supporting the critical role of neurosteroids during fertile life and reproductive aging and their relationship with endogenous and exogenous sex steroids. The brain metabolism of synthetic progestins and the implications of DHEA treatment in postmenopausal women will also be discussed.
Risk of Solid Tumors after Irradiation in Infancy
Published in Acta Oncologica, 1995
Cancer incidence was studied in 14 351 subjects exposed to ionizing radiation for skin hemangioma at the Radiumhemmet, 1920–1959. Record-linkage was done with the Swedish Cancer Registry for the period 1958–1986. After a mean follow-up of 39 years, 300 cancers were observed and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 1.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99–1.24). The absorbed dose to different organs varied from 40 Gy. The thyroid cancer incidence was significantly increased (SIR = 2.28; 95% CI 1.33–3.65) and for cancer of the breast SIR was 1.24 (95% CI 0.98–1.54). Regarding pancreatic cancer and tumors of the endocrine glands the statistically significantly increased SIRs were based on a small number of cases and might therefore only be a coincidence. No confirmed increased incidence could be established for other cancer sites.
Amyloid goiter and hypopituitarism in a patient with systemic amyloidosis
Published in Amyloid, 2011
Didem Ozdemir, Selcuk Dagdelen, Tomris Erbas, Cenk Sokmensuer, Belkis Erbas, Aysenur Cila
Systemic amyloidosis may infiltrate the thyroid or other endocrine glands but rarely causes endocrine dysfunction. We describe a 45 years old female patient with diffusely enlarged goiter and hypopituitarism secondary to amyloid infiltration of the thyroid gland and possibly pituitary gland, respectively. She was on chronic haemodialysis for 3 years due to systemic amyloidosis. While she was being prepared for thyroidectomy, adrenal failure developed. Her anterior pituitary hormone levels were low and magnetic resonance imaging of the hypophysis showed low signal intensity in right part of the adenohypophysis. She improved with corticosteroid replacement therapy and underwent subtotal thyroidectomy without any complication. Histopathologically, amyloid deposition was demonstrated in the thyroid gland. To our knowledge, this is the first case with amyloid goiter and hypopituitarism secondary to systemic amyloidosis. Amyloid infiltration should be considered in a systemic amyloidosis patient presenting with rapidly enlarged thyroid gland and signs of hypopituitarism.