Two-wavelength scanning DNA cytophotometry was used for DNA and protein estimation in human ventricular myocytes. In many hypertrophic hearts weighing more than 500 g the DNA content assessed by ploidy of myocytes, was within the range of normal adult variation (4-10c, where c is the haploid DNA content). A correlation was found between the protein content of myocytes and the weight of the hypertrophic ventricle. In congenital heart disease, the excessive polyploidy (up to 15-20c) developed through the normal route of myocyte polyploidization in childhood. Excessive polyploidization was revealed only in overloaded hypertrophied ventricles. A correlation was identified between the ploidy level, the ventricular weight and age of the child. Excessive polyploidy was also detected in adults with congenital or acquired in childhood diseases. There was no correlation between the myocyte ploidy and age. We propose that childhood polyploidy excess persists in these adults. The ranges of polyploidy are compared with the recent data on genome: protein ratio in cardiac myocytes and the interrelationships allow us to discuss the significance of childhood heart polyploidy as a reserve utilised under pathological conditions in adults.

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A novel and unique method for treating skin burns by grafting cultured cells to the wound surface is described. The major graft elements are allogeneic human fibroblasts rather than keratinocytes. Experience with its use in 222 severely burned patients, including those after early surgical necrectomy, showed this method to be an effective means of treating "borderline" third-degree burns. Epithelialization times were shortened from 31+2 days to 8.4+0.9 days. When the method was combined with dermatoautoplasty using a 1:6 perforated netted skin flap, the epithelialization period decreased from 20+2.3 to 12+1.3 days. The method proved to be highly effective in the treatment of slowly healing wounds in donor areas. It is concluded that the advantages of the proposed method -high efficacy, the much lower costs (in comparison with other methods) because no expensive nutrient media or growth biostimulators have to be used, and the very short time required to obtain a graft from allogeneic fibroblasts -argue for its wide use in clinical practice.

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