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Objective: To describe rare hamartoma of the breast in a 31-year-old female., Design: Case report., Settings: Department of Special Diagnostics SPAU, Charles University Hospital Pilsen., Subject and Method: A 31-year-old female was examined for breast asymmetry. A huge tumor was revealed in right mammary gland using ultrasonography. Encapsulated tumor 10x10x10 cm was removed. Subsequent histological examination revealed breast hamartoma. The patient is alive and well without signs of disease one year after excision., Conclusion: Hamartoma of the breast is a rare benign tumor. Diagnostics is very complicated and it is almost impossible to establish correct diagnosis preoperatively. A simple excision is a sufficient treatment with good curative effect.

Syrian hamster kidney cultures of line 14-1b were synchronized by excess of thymidine. Thereafter in the phase of DNA synthesis cell cultures were exposed to extract and fractions of city smog, derived from a polluted area at the river Rhine and Ruhr. Using impulscytophotometry and estimation of mitotic frequency cell cycle analyses were conducted on synchronized exposed and control cultures. The total extract obtained by methanol treatment of city smog was further fractionated by organic solvents leading to fractions of cyclohexane, polyaromates and propanol. Cell cycle progression of synchronized cultures was inhibited in a dose dependent manner by increasing concentration of city smog extract and its fractions. This inhibition led to a prolongation of DNA synthetic phase and to an accumulation of cells in G2(+ M)-phase. The total cell cycle showed a prolongation of 3-5 h. The strongest effect was induced by the total extract. We have to emphasize that already amounts of city smog which were found in air volumes of 2-5 m3 exerted strong effects. With a declining sequence of toxicity followed the fractions of cyclohexane, propanol and of polyaromates. Our results show, that samples of city smog from polluted areas contain substances which induce heavy alterations in cell cycle progression of mammalian cells in vitro. These highly effective toxic substances are dangerous for human health, especially after a long-time exposition.

Membrane-bound bodies are formed individually and in groups from the plasma membrane surrounding the microvilli in cells of hamster small intestine. These bodies are vesiculate structures, are slightly smaller in diameter than the microvilli from which they are released, and retain at least a portion of glycocalyx. The production of the membrane-bodies occurs regularly, perhaps continuously in vivo, and appears to be related to the feeding cycle. The brush border of jejunal cells from animals which had been feeding ad lib contained more membrane-bodies andhad taller microvilli than comparable cells from those which had been fasted for 48 hours. Since membrane-bodies are also found among the microvilli of cells which have no digestive function, we propose that their formation and release may be of general significance in the normal functioning of active epithelial cells.