title: Retrospective histopathology of endocrine pancreas in bronchial asthma.
abstract: A retrospective histopathological, immunocytochemical and morphometric study was done on samples of pancreas of 16 asthmatic dead humans in comparison with 6 dead control subjects, by other causes not related with allergic or endocrine diseases. A ribbon-like type of islet was the only histological feature found with the exception of one case of chronic pancreatitis. A significative increase of insulin islets (p < 0.05) was observed in the asthmatics patients while no differences in calculated area, perimeter and diameter of pancreatic islets were recorded. A probable hyperplasia of beta-cells could be related to the onset of the asthmatic crisis based on the pro-inflammatory stimulation of insulin or the action of anti-asthmatic treatments in the acute attack.
authors.affiliation: National Center of Scientific Research (CENIC), Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casacó
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon