bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathological importance of deposits of amyloid in the femoral head.
Authors: Cary N R
Published: June 2007

The pattern of amyloid deposits in the femoral head is described in four cases, two of which had deposits of amyloid related to age and two of which had generalised systemic amyloidosis (one of primary amyloidosis, one of multiple myeloma). The deposition of amyloid in the articular cartilage of the femoral head was similar in all four cases. Heavy deposits of synovial amyloid were identified in the case with primary amyloidosis and in one of the cases with amyloidosis related to age. Both cases of generalised systemic amyloidosis showed abundant deposits of amyloid in the bone marrow. Amyloid was not present in the bone marrow of either case with amyloidosis related to age. The importance of these findings is discussed in relation to the pathogenesis of the arthropathy syndrome of a rheumatoid type described in cases of primary amyloidosis and multiple myeloma.
Aortic valvular tophus: identification by X-ray diffraction of urate and calcium phosphates.
Authors: Gawoski J M , Balogh K , Landis W J
Published: June 2007

A typical gouty tophus with birefringent, dichroic, needle shaped crystals was found in a resected calcified aortic valve on routine histological examination. The patient, an elderly man, had a long history of gout. X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of sodium acid urate monohydrate and identified hydroxyapatite and whitlockite in the accompanying dystrophic calcification of the aortic valves. Previous reports indicate that gouty tophi of the cardiac valves are rare: of the nine cases reported, eight occurred in the mitral valve.
Lymphoid and epithelial markers in small cell anaplastic thyroid tumours.
Authors: Burt A D , Kerr D J , Brown I L , Boyle P
Published: June 2007

The expression of the lymphoid marker, common leucocyte antigen and of the epithelial marker, epithelial membrane antigen by small cell anaplastic thyroid tumours was studied in 53 tumours, using the peroxidase--antiperoxidase and avidin--biotin techniques. Common leucocyte antigen was found in 33 of the 53 tumours; six tumours were positive for epithelial membrane antigen; and the remaining 14 tumours were negative for both markers. These results support the suggestion that most small cell anaplastic thyroid tumours are of lymphoid origin. Survival data for patients with tumours positive for common leucocyte antigen showed a significantly better prognosis than did the data for patients with small cell tumours that did not express this marker (p less than 0.02).
Histological and immunocytochemical study of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) with associated HPV 6 and HPV 16 infections.
Authors: Jenkins D , Tay S K , McCance D J , Campion M J , Clarkson P K , Singer A
Published: June 2007

Histological and immunocytochemical features of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) associated with HPV 6 and HPV 16, either singly or in combination, were studied in 48 cases. Features of HPV infection (koilocytosis, binucleation, multinucleation, giant irregular nuclei and individual cell dyskeratosis) were present in high prevalence in both HPV 6 and HPV 16 associated CIN. Abnormal mitoses seemed to be a good indicator of CIN and were present in about 50% of cases of CIN associated with either HPV 6 or HPV 16 infection. This finding provides no support for the view held by some investigators that associated HPV 16 infection can be predicted by the presence of abnormal mitoses. Expression of HPV antigen was shown in about 40% of cases with a slight, but not significantly, higher prevalence in cases of combined HPV 6 and HPV 16 infection. Conventional histology and immunocytochemistry could not distinguish CIN associated with HPV 6 from CIN associated with HPV 16 infection.
Idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis: aspects of geographical differences.
Authors: Abe S , Amagasaki Y , Konishi K , Kato E , Iyori S , Sakaguchi H
Published: June 2007

Clinicopathological studies of 89 cases of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis was carried out to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of the disease. The results were compared with those of previous published reports to observe whether any difference between Japanese and caucasian patients exists. There were no obvious differences as to main clinical features, although an apparently better prognosis in our data was observed during long term follow up. In renal biopsy findings, especially glomerular capillary wall injuries, the prevalence of advanced electron microscopic stages (stages III and IV) was higher in the Japanese cases. A higher rate of clinical remission was observed in the treated group. It was concluded that Japanese cases had an obviously better prognosis despite having more advanced histological findings than the caucasian patients.
Monoclonal antibody binding to congophilic elements in human Alzheimer brain.
Authors: Macdonald S M , Esiri M M
Published: June 2007

Immunohistochemical studies, using a monoclonal antibody, SMP, raised in a mouse against aged human peripheral blood white cells, are described. This antibody reacts with dendritic reticulum cells in lymph node and tonsil, and, in Alzheimer brain, with argyrophilic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and cerebral vascular amyloid.
Effects of age and smoking on intima of muscular pulmonary arteries.
Authors: Fernie J M , Lamb D
Published: June 2007

The lungs of twenty three subjects, 12 non-smokers and 11 smokers, age range 19-81 years, were studied. All were free from cardiopulmonary disease. The cross sectionally cut muscular pulmonary arteries of each subject were measured in sections obtained from 12 representative tissue blocks using a digitiser. Intimal area was measured and artery size defined as total length of internal elastic lamina (IEL). Intimal abnormality was expressed in the form of an intima index calculated by dividing intimal area by the area enclosed by the IEL in its theoretically unwrinkled state. Mean intima indices were calculated for arteries in four size groups: less than or equal to 600 micron, 601-1200 micron, 1201-1800 micron and greater than 1800 micron length of IEL. For all subjects intimal abnormality was most severe in the smallest muscular pulmonary arteries; values for mean intima indices decreased with increasing size of artery. There were no lobar differences. The amount of intimal abnormality increases with age in all sizes of artery: in the 600 micron size group this could average a 32% reduction in lumen calibre in those aged 60 or more. We were unable to detect any correlation between intimal abnormality and the subject's smoking history.
Acute idiopathic interstitial myocarditis: case report with special reference to morphological characteristics of giant cells.
Authors: Tanaka M , Ichinohasama R , Kawahara Y , Esaki Y , Hirokawa K , Okishige K , Tanaka Y
Published: June 2007

Necropsy findings of an acute fatal case of idiopathic interstitial myocarditis were reported. The patient was a 33 year old housewife who had acute cardiac failure on the sixteenth day after the onset of the disease. Necropsy showed important pathological changes confined to the heart. Both ventricles were affected by confluent granulomas with an ill defined patchy appearance. Histologically these lesions consisted of round cells, histiocytes, eosinophils and myogenic giant cells. The findings were compatible with those of interstitial myocarditis associated with a proliferation of giant cells. Both atriums were also affected to a minor extent, detectable only by histological examination. Electron microscopy and cytochemistry showed that most giant cells noted in the lesion showed myofibrils and primary lysosomes in the cytoplasm. Giant cells were positive for myoglobin. Though the macrophage origin of the giant cell in this disorder has been emphasised in a recent report, these cytological results suggest that giant cells observed in the cardiac granulomatous lesions of this case were mainly myogenic in origin.
Terminal transferase positive cells in testicular biopsy specimens from boys with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Authors: Chessells J M , Pincott J R , Daniels-Lake W
Published: June 2007

Thirty nine testicular biopsy samples from 37 boys with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were examined histologically and analysed for the presence of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) positive cells. Immunological and histological findings correlated in 35 samples. Thirty boys with histologically and immunologically negative biopsy specimens stopped treatment, two subsequently relapsed in the testis, and five relapsed in the marrow. This examination of samples for TdT positive cells did not improve the precision of early diagnosis of testicular relapse.
Importance of anticomplement immunofluorescence antibody titration for diagnosing varicella-zoster virus infection in Bell's palsy.
Authors: Shigeta S , Baba M , Ogata M , Nozaki H , Okuaki A , Nakamura S
Published: June 2007

Anticomplement Immunofluorescence was used for antibody titration against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in 43 patients with peripheral facial palsy. Nine of 31 patients (29%) with Bell's palsy and eight of 12 patients (75%) with Ramsey-Hunt syndrome had anticomplement immunofluorescence antibody titres of greater than or equal to 1/10. On the other hand, none of 14 patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and 51 healthy adults showed anticomplement immunofluorescence antibody titres of greater than or equal to 1/10. The anticomplement immunofluorescence antibody titre in two patients with Ramsey-Hunt syndrome increased later and decreased sooner than the indirect immunofluorescence antibody titre, becoming undetectable at 66 and 104 days, respectively, after onset of the disease. There was no cross reaction between anti-VZV and anti-HSV antibodies in the patients who showed a positive antibody rise for VZV. As the acute stage of VZV infection is obscure in the patients with peripheral facial palsy without herpes the screening of anticomplement immunofluorescence antibody to VZV at titres greater than or equal to 1/10 may be useful for the diagnosis of VZV infection in patients with peripheral facial palsy.
Interactive roles of monovalent and divalent cations in pathogenesis of hypertension caused by alcohol.
Authors: Adeniyi F A
Published: June 2007

Subjects whose daily alcohol intake varied from less than 22 g to over 88 g were studied. They differed in their mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared with those of controls who were teetotallers. The association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure was independent of age. Ex-alcohol users who were much older than current alcohol users had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The association of body mass index with sustained raised blood pressure was apparent. When body mass index was eliminated as a variable there was an appreciable residual effect on mean arterial pressure. Alcohol users and controls did not differ in mean plasma sodium concentration. Red blood cell intracellular sodium concentration, however, was higher in beer drinkers than in controls. On the other hand, red blood cell intracellular concentration of magnesium in beer drinkers was decreased. It is suggested that definite interactions between sodium, magnesium, and calcium ions may have some vital roles in the sustained rise in blood pressure in alcohol users.
Use of Leu M1 and antiepithelial membrane antigen monoclonal antibodies for diagnosing Hodgkin's disease.
Authors: Jack A S , Cunningham D , Soukop M , Liddle C N , Lee F D
Published: June 2007

Biopsies of 82 patients diagnosed as having Hodgkin's disease were reviewed. Seventeen were reclassified histologically as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. A substantial number of cases of Hodgkin's disease were negative when stained with Leu M1. Staining for Leu M1 was not found in the cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. With the exception of the lymphocyte predominant nodular subtype of Hodgkin's disease, epithelial membrane antigen staining was seen in a few cases of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. This was not a useful discriminating feature.
Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfestation syndrome with Escherichia coli meningitis: report of two cases.
Authors: Smallman L A , Young J A , Shortland-Webb W R , Carey M P , Michael J
Published: June 2007

Two cases of Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfestation syndrome accompanied by Gram negative bacteraemia and meningitis were studied. Both occurred in non-immunosuppressed West Indian women.
Coagulase production by strains of Staphylococcus aureus of differing resistance characters: a comparison of two traditional methods with a latex agglutination system detecting both clumping factor and protein A.
Authors: Dickson J I , Marples R R
Published: June 2007

Five groups of strains of Staphylococcus aureus (54 in total) were tested by slide and tube coagulase methods with rabbit and human plasma, and the results were compared with a latex test for both clumping factor and Protein A (Staphaurex, Wellcome Foundation). The five groups comprised: epidemic methicillin resistant S aureus (group 1); other methicillin resistant S aureus (group 2); other resistant S aureus (group 3); other S aureus (group 4); and a group of reference strains, not all true S aureus (group 5). Groups 1, 3, and 4 gave consistently strong positive results with the tube test and the latex test and less strong positive results with the slide test. Group 2 strains sometimes gave weak or negative results in slide and latex tests, but tube tests with both types of plasma were strongly positive. Only within group 5 strains were negative results in the tube test found. Group 1 strains showed no diminution in expression of free coagulase or of clumping factor. The latex test was more sensitive than the slide test but less sensitive than the tube test. Doubtful or negative slide test or latex test results, particularly with strains resistant to methicillin, should be checked by a tube coagulase test.
Sudden infant death and cytomegalovirus inclusion disease.
Authors: Variend S , Pearse R G
Published: June 2007

Four infants, apparently thriving and without clinical evidence of disease, died suddenly at ages ranging from 2 to 6 months. Inclusions bearing cells pathognomonic of cytomegalovirus infection were shown microscopically in a small number of extraneural organs. In view of the lack of associated tissue destruction on microscopy and the apparent well being of the infants before death whether the function of these organs had been impaired to any important degree was questionable: such limited disease, consequently, could not have contributed substantially to the cause of death. The brainstem, on the other hand, consistently showed small numbers of glial nodules. Damage to strategically located neurones associated potentially with the organisation of vital function was a possible basis of sudden death. Alternatively, the small number of glial nodules may have represented a residue of previous more severe brainstem disease, which had possibly started while the baby was in the uterus.
Monoclonal antibody (UCHL1) that recognises normal and neoplastic T cells in routinely fixed tissues.
Authors: Norton A J , Ramsay A D , Smith S H , Beverley P C , Isaacson P G
Published: June 2007

UCHL1 is a murine monoclonal antibody that recognises a 180-185 kD determinant on CD4 (72%) and CD8 (36%) positive T cells. This antibody is effective in formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissues, using the immunoperoxidase method. One hundred and forty three cases of malignant lymphoma were examined. Neoplastic cells in 100% of cases of Mycosis fungoides (n = 10), 83% of cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma (n = 25), and 78% of cases of (T-ALL) T acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (n = 9) were stained by this antibody. In addition, staining was seen in 100% of cases of malignant histiocytosis of the intestine (n = 13), a condition now thought to be a T cell lymphoma. Two cases of true histiocytic lymphoma were also positive. This antibody stained neither the neoplastic cells in a wide range of B cell lymphomas (n = 62) nor Reed-Sternberg cells in 16 cases of Hodgkin's disease. UCHL1 also stained neoplastic cells in four cases of granulocytic sarcoma. A panel of normal tissues was similarly studied. Staining was seen in normal T cells and mucosal intraepithelial lymphocytes, macrophages, mature myeloid cells, and endometrial stromal granulocytes. UCHL1 is a monoclonal antibody that identifies T cells in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues, and should prove useful for diagnosing T cell lymphomas, especially when only formalin fixed tissue is available for diagnosis.
Parvovirus infection associated with aplastic crisis in a patient with HEMPAS.
Authors: West N C , Meigh R E , Mackie M , Anderson M J
Published: June 2007

An aplastic crisis associated with parvovirus infection occurred in a patient suffering from hereditary erythrocytic multinuclearity associated with a positive acidified (Hams) test (HEMPAS). This case emphasises that any patient who has a shortened red cell survival is susceptible to an aplastic crisis induced by parvovirus.
Diagnosing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: report of 15 cases.
Authors: Young J A , Stone J W , McGonigle R J , Adu D , Michael J
Published: June 2007

Sixty episodes of pneumonia occurring in 53 immunosuppressed patients were investigated by bronchoalveolar lavage. Pneumocystis carinii was diagnosed on 15 (25%) occasions. In all cases the Papanicolaou stained lavage fluid presented a distinctive appearance and contained abundant, often biphasic, staining, "honeycomb" debris, and few alveolar macrophages. The Grocott methenamine silver technique confirmed the presence of characteristic cystic organisms in the debris in all 15 instances. Cysts containing internal sporozoites were identified in Gram stained material only with difficulty. Neither May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain nor fluorescence microscopy under ultraviolet light were effective for routine investigation.
Aggregation of white cells and C-reactive protein: relation between these two indices in acute phase reaction.
Authors: Berliner S , Caspi D , Neuman Y , Ostfeld I , Hod M , Yaron M , Pinkhas J , Aronson M
Published: June 2007

The association between aggregates of leucocytes in blood drawn from patients with various inflammatory conditions and the serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) was examined: serum concentration of CRP might contribute to the development of cellular aggregations. A total of 213 patients with various inflammatory or necrotic conditions were examined (including 31 women with normal pregnancy and 59 controls). A significant correlation between the degree of leucocyte aggregation and CRP concentration was noted in patients with bacterial infections and in a group of patients with various inflammatory conditions. In contrast, there was no correlation between the extent of leucocyte aggregation and CRP concentrations in patients with viral infections, malignancies, or pregnancy. The presence or absence of aggregated leucocytes can help in differentiating between the respective bacterial or viral infections. The serum concentrations of CRP were increased in both types of infection, although when a quantitative CRP assay was used, considerably higher concentrations were detected in bacterial diseases.
Immunohistological staining of reactive mesothelium, mesothelioma, and lung carcinoma with a panel of monoclonal antibodies.
Authors: Ghosh A K , Gatter K C , Dunnill M S , Mason D Y
Published: June 2007

A panel of seven monoclonal antiepithelial antibodies of different specificities, including anticytokeratin, human milk fat globule membrane, C, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were used with the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) immunostaining technique to determine their value in the differentiation between benign and malignant mesothelial cells and lung carcinoma in histological preparations. The anticytokeratin antibody reacted strongly with all cases of reactive mesothelium, mesothelioma, and lung carcinoma. Antibodies to human milk fat globule membrane and the Ca antigen stained mesothelioma and carcinoma and 43% of cases of reactive mesothelium. Staining for carcinoembryonic antigen was not detected in reactive mesothelium or mesothelioma, but was present in most of the lung carcinomas. CEA seemed to be the single most useful marker in distinguishing carcinoma from mesothelioma in that a positive reaction for CEA would indicate carcinoma rather than mesothelioma.
Islet cell necrosis in the neonatal pancreas: a report of three cases.
Authors: Roberts P F
Published: June 2007

Three cases of islet cell necrosis in neonates are reported. The association of this rare condition with antepartum haemorrhage, anoxia, shock and intravascular coagulation are discussed. The clinical and morphological appearances were compared with previous descriptions of this condition and an association with neonatal hypoglycaemia was made. There are several patho-physiological mechanisms which may be responsible for this unusual pattern of necrosis.
Light and electron microscopic features of tropical ulcer.
Authors: Adriaans B , Hay R , Lucas S , Robinson D C
Published: June 2007

The histopathological features of 20 tropical ulcers with the electron microscopic findings on seven biopsy specimens are reported. The main findings were loss of epidermis associated with extensive dermal oedema, infiltration by polymorphonuclear leucocytes, and disruption of collagen bundles. The presence of micro-organisms at the site of tissue damage was shown and compared with the morphology of the organisms grown in culture. The most commonly identified bacteria were pleomorphic rods whose electron microscopic appearances accorded most closely with Fusobacteria grown in vitro. Spirochaetes, identified ultrastructurally as Treponema sp, were also present. There was no evidence of vasculitis to explain the rapid onset of ulceration, but necrotic changes seen in the dermis and the inflammatory cell infiltrate suggest that, associated with cell necrosis, bacteria previously shown in vitro have an important role in the pathogenesis of tropical ulcers.
Systemic amyloidosis of beta 2-microglobulin type: a complication of long-term haemodialysis.
Authors: Theaker J M , Raine A E , Rainey A J , Heryet A , Clark A , Oliver D O
Published: June 2007

A patient receiving long-term haemodialysis developed systemic amyloidosis, which was shown immunohistochemically to be of beta 2-microglobulin type, a previously unrecognised form of systemic amyloidosis. Histologically, the amyloid deposits were closely associated with foci of acute and granulomatous inflammation and vasculitis, although it was not clear if the amyloid deposits directly caused the inflammatory process, or if amyloid was deposited preferentially in areas of inflammation of uncertain aetiology.
Abnormal distribution of c-myc oncogene product in familial adenomatous polyposis.
Authors: Sundaresan V , Forgacs I C , Wight D G , Wilson B , Evan G I , Watson J V
Published: June 2007

Monoclonal antibodies raised by synthetic peptide immunisation were used to determine the distribution of the protein product of the c-myc gene by immunocytochemical staining of archival wax embedded material from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Polyps from 18 cases of familial adenomatous polyposis, 10 of whom had developed malignant change, and 30 normal control colonic biopsy specimens were examined. A consistent staining pattern was observed in normal mucosa; nuclear staining in the basal proliferative zone; mixed nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in the maturation zone; and cytoplasmic localisation in the surface mature zone. In contrast, the polyps and carcinomata showed a mixed pattern of cytoplasmic and nuclear localisation in the basal proliferative zone with nuclear persistence throughout the crypts to the surface mature zone. This abnormal distribution of the c-myc oncogene product may have a role in the evolution of polyps and their subsequent malignant transformation into familial adenomatous polyposis.
Value of CD15 immunostaining in diagnosing Hodgkin's disease: a review of published literature.
Authors: Hall P A , D'Ardenne A J
Published: June 2007

The role of antibodies of CD15 as diagnostic markers of Hodgkin's disease was assessed from a review of the literature. A total of 571 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 386 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were included. The sensitivity of CD15 in detecting cases of Hodgkin's disease was 80% or 91% if cases of lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease were excluded. The specificity of CD15 was only 80.6%, or in other words, 19.4% of cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were CD15 positive. In an ideal test both the sensitivity and specificity would be 100% and if the test performance were no better than chance then they would both be 50%. It is concluded that CD15 immunostaining cannot be regarded as a sensitive or specific marker of Hodgkin's disease. Application of this formal method of analysis to other immunohistological reagents and panels of antibodies is discussed.
Varying occurrence of gastroduodenal immunoreactive pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor.
Authors: Bohe M , Lindström C G , Ohlsson K
Published: June 2007

Operative specimens from various parts of gastroduodenal mucosa were analysed for immunoreactive pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Normal gastric mucosa exhibited a varying degree of PSTI immunoreactivity, which was more pronounced in the foveolar cells of gastric mucosa of fundus type than in the non-pepsinogen producing antrum-pyloric mucosa. With the exception of metaplastic Paneth cells and some goblet cells, the intracellular content of PSTI was low in gastric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia. These findings may indicate that a PSTI immunoreactive substance has a role in the normal defence of the gastric mucosa.
Characterisation of Branhamella catarrhalis and differentiation from Neisseria species in a diagnostic laboratory.
Authors: Ahmad F , Young H , McLeod D T , Croughan M J , Calder M A
Published: June 2007

To distinguish Branhamella catarrhalis from Neisseria species a study of 140 strains was made on simple laboratory media, with particular reference to deoxyribonuclease (DNase) production, superoxol reaction, and growth characteristics. All 97 clinical isolates of B catarrhalis (58 of which were beta-lactamase positive) and eight strains of B catarrhalis from the National Collection of Type Cultures were DNase positive and superoxol positive. None grew on modified New York City medium, modified Thayer Martin medium, MacConkey agar, crystal violet blood agar, nor under anaerobic conditions. Of the 16 different non-pathogenic Neisseria species tested, all were DNase negative, eight (50%) were superoxol reaction negative, and 13 (81%) grew on crystal violet blood agar. Using simple laboratory media, DNase, and superoxol tests, it was possible to identify B catarrhalis and to distingish it from pathogenic and non-pathogenic Neisseria species.
HeLa cell and buccal epithelial cell adhesion assays for detecting intestinal Escherichia coli with adhesive properties in ulcerative colitis.
Authors: Burke D A , Axon A T
Published: June 2007

The two methods used to detect intestinal Escherichia coli in patients with ulcerative colitis, HeLa cell and buccal epithelial cell (BEC) adhesion assays, were compared. Both methods showed a significant difference between the adhesive property of colitic and control E coli: p less than 0.0002 and p less than 0.01 for the buccal epithelial cell and HeLa cell methods, respectively. HeLa cells did not detect all BEC positive isolates which were quantitatively more adhesive than any control isolate. All BEC negative isolates were HeLa cell negative. The BEC technique seems to be more sensitive for detecting adhesive E coli in ulcerative colitis because the true incidence of adhesive E coli in ulcerative colitis was higher than that determined by the HeLa cell method.
Distribution of basement membrane antigens in clinical gastric adenocarcinomas: an immunohistochemical study.
Authors: Nakamura K , Mori M , Enjoji M
Published: June 2007

The distribution of laminin and collagen type IV in the basement membranes of 85 gastric adenocarcinomas was studied using immunoperoxidase techniques to check for invasive carcinoma. Lymph nodes with metastases were also studied in 23 cases. Thick and discontinuous staining of the basement membranes was observed in 12 cases of well differentiated adenocarcinoma; thin and discontinuous staining in 26 (12 well and 14 moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas); fragmentary staining in 36 (15 moderately and 21 poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas); and unrecognisable basement membrane staining in the remaining 11 cases of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. These patterns were largely related to the histological grade, the nuclear atypism and loss of polarity of tumour cells, and the degree of inflammatory infiltration.
Comparison of extent of disease and morphometric and DNA flow cytometric prognostic factors in invasive ductal breast cancer.
Authors: Uyterlinde A M , Schipper N W , Baak J P
Published: June 2007

In 65 patients with primary invasive ductal breast carcinoma the relation between classic prognosticators describing the extent of disease (lymph node metastases and tumour size) and newer promising morphometric and DNA flow cytometric prognostic factors was studied. There was no relation between DNA ploidy, lymph node state, and tumour size. Tumours with a mitotic activity index of more than 10 were predominantly DNA aneuploid (61%) compared with those with a mitotic activity index of less than 10 which showed a DNA aneuploid pattern in 27%. The strongest prognosticator, the morphometric prognostic index (a multivariate combination of mitotic activity index, tumour size, and lymph node state) correlated positively with the DNA index in 63% of the cases (p = 0.038). Thus there was a discrepancy between the morphometric and DNA flow cytometric prognostic variables in 37% of the cases. These results indicate that morphometric and flow cytometric analysis may provide additional information on the prognosis in primary breast cancer.
Malignant melanotic schwannoma of the bronchus.
Authors: Rowlands D , Edwards C , Collins F
Published: June 2007

A case of malignant melanotic schwannoma arising in the right upper lobe bronchus of a 27 year old man is presented. Tumours of this type most commonly occur in spinal nerve roots and are generally considered to be benign. The behaviour of those originating elsewhere is less predictable. As far as we are aware this is the first reported case affecting the respiratory tract.
Study of childhood renal tumours using a monoclonal antibody to Tamm-Horsfall protein.
Authors: Kumar S , Marsden H B , Jasani B , Kumar P
Published: June 2007

A monoclonal antibody to Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein was used for the immuno-localization of Tamm-Horsfall protein in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections of childhood renal tumours, normal children's kidneys, and human fetal kidneys. The procedure was a dinitrophenyl hapten sandwich staining method. The antibody, diluted 1/100,000, gave a very strong and specific staining of the loop of Henle and distal tubules of normal and fetal kidneys. No staining was seen in Wilms' tumour, mesoblastic nephroma, and bone metastasizing renal tumour of childhood. In contrast, two of seven renal carcinomas and three of four rhabdoid renal tumours were positive for Tamm-Horsfall protein.
Screening test for rheumatic diseases: a combined enzyme immunoassay of rheumatoid factors and antibodies to DNA and extractable nuclear antigens.
Authors: Kurki P , Gripenberg M , Partanen P , Helve T
Published: June 2007

Three hundred and one sera from patients with rheumatic and other diseases were investigated using a simple enzyme immunoassay for screening of rheumatoid factors and antinuclear antibodies. The assay had a sensitivity of 77% for systemic lupus erythematosus, 90% for the primary sicca syndrome, and 89% for rheumatoid arthritis. Only 13% of sera from patients with chronic non-rheumatic diseases were positive. The test was further evaluated in a group of patients with suspected rheumatic disease who were followed up for six to 12 months. The test was positive in 16 of 17 sera from patients with connective tissue diseases but in only seven of 36 sera (19%) from patients with non-inflammatory joint diseases. None of the four patients with reactive arthritis was positive by this test. The sensitivity of the assay was comparable with that of the agglutination and immunofluorescence tests for rheumatoid factors and antinuclear factors. For the screening of rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies this kind of test panel offers a simple alternative to the conventional tests for small clinical laboratories and for those in which the autoantibody tests could be automated, as the assay can be performed in one working day and only one dilution of serum is needed to obtain a quantitative result.
Distribution of IgA1 and IgA2 subclasses in normal bone marrow trephines and in trephines infiltrated by IgA producing multiple myeloma.
Authors: Lenormand P , Crocker J
Published: June 2007

A series of 20 bone marrow trephines biopsy and necropsy specimens were strained for IgA1 and IgA2 activity, together with total IgA, by means of an indirect immunoperoxidase technique using murine monoclonal antibodies applied to paraffin sections. The specimens showed normal histology and had been taken from patients not known to be suffering from haematological or related systemic disease. The IgA1, IgA2, and total IgA containing cells were counted and expressed as a percentage of all nucleate cells in the marrow cavities. Remarkably constant percentages of and ratios between these cell types were found. The same was true for a further 10 trephines taken from patients undergoing staging procedures for epithelial malignancies, where the marrow histology was normal. The pooled mean percentage of IgA1 containing cells from both groups was 1.18% of all cells, that for IgA2 containing cells 0.18%, and for total IgA positive cells 1.41%. In addition, 12 trephines containing known IgA producing myeloma were examined. Of these, 11 contained IgA1, the remainder contained IgA2 subclass.
Autoimmunity: a decision theory model.
Authors: Morris J A
Published: June 2007

Concepts from statistical decision theory were used to analyse the detection problem faced by the body's immune system in mounting immune responses to bacteria of the normal body flora. Given that these bacteria are potentially harmful, that there can be extensive cross reaction between bacterial antigens and host tissues, and that the decisions are made in uncertainty, there is a finite chance of error in immune response leading to autoimmune disease. A model of ageing in the immune system is proposed that is based on random decay in components of the decision process, leading to a steep age dependent increase in the probability of error. The age incidence of those autoimmune diseases which peak in early and middle life can be explained as the resultant of two processes: an exponentially falling curve of incidence of first contact with common bacteria, and a rapidly rising error function. Epidemiological data on the variation of incidence with social class, sibship order, climate and culture can be used to predict the likely site of carriage and mode of spread of the causative bacteria. Furthermore, those autoimmune diseases precipitated by common viral respiratory tract infections might represent reactions to nasopharyngeal bacterial overgrowth, and this theory can be tested using monoclonal antibodies to search the bacterial isolates for cross reacting antigens. If this model is correct then prevention of autoimmune disease by early exposure to low doses of bacteria might be possible.
Diversity of autoantibodies in patients with antimitochondrial antibody and their diagnostic value.
Authors: McMillan S A , Alderdice J M , McKee C M , Dawson A T , Callender M E , Fulton T T , Haire M
Published: June 2007

A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory features of 102 patients, whose sera contained antibody to mitochondria, showed that primary biliary cirrhosis was diagnosed in 50% of them. Immunofluorescence showed that the sera of the patients with primary biliary cirrhosis all had the M2 antimitochondrial antibody staining pattern. A new staining pattern, designated M2(1), which could be mistaken for the M2 pattern, was not found in any patients with either primary biliary cirrhosis or chronic active hepatitis. Other serological variables such as antibody to mitochondria in IgM class, to multiple nuclear dots, and to the XR antigen, were associated with primary biliary cirrhosis, and taken in association with antimitochondrial antibody of M2 type, contribute to the diagnosis of the disease.
Selective peripheral blood eosinophilia associated with survival advantage in Hodgkin's disease (BNLI Report No 31). British National Lymphoma Investigation.
Authors: Vaughan Hudson B , Linch D C , Macintyre E A , Bennett M H , MacLennan K A , Vaughan Hudson G , Jelliffe A M
Published: June 2007

A peripheral blood eosinophilia was found at presentation in 193 of 1260 (15%) patients with Hodgkin's disease who had been entered into clinical studies by the British National Lymphoma Investigation (BNLI). Eosinophilia as a component of a general leucocytosis conferred no survival advantage. Eosinophilia without a general leucocytosis was present in 95 patients, and this selective eosinophilia was associated with a clear survival advantage. The association of selective eosinophilia and improved survival was limited to patients with mixed cellularity and grade I nodular sclerosis histology. Selective eosinophilia was found to be a good prognostic indicator both in local and generalised disease. Its survival advantage seemed to lie in the response to second line treatment following relapse.
Granular acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of childhood: a morphological phenomenon.
Authors: Darbyshire P J , Lilleyman J S
Published: June 2007

Three hundred and twenty consecutive children with lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), treated on the Medical Research Council UKALL VIII schedule, had their Romanowsky stained diagnostic marrows reviewed for the presence of azurophil granules in blast cell cytoplasm. Twenty patients (7%) had greater than 5% blasts showing this feature; 19 had the cell phenotype of "common ALL." Male children and those with French-American-British (FAB) L2 morphology predominantly showed this feature. There was also a strong correlation between granularity and non-diffuse acid phosphate positivity, but no obvious difference between the 20 patients in their response to treatment emerged during a minimum follow up of 15 months. The "granular" variant occurs in around 7% of children with ALL, but has no clear prognostic importance. Morphologists should be aware of its existence and incidence to avoid confusion with acute myeloid leukaemia.
Immune amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia of the newborn: association with anti-HLA-A2.
Authors: Evans D I
Published: June 2007

Three newborn babies with congenital immune amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia are described. Two were siblings. The mothers' sera showed antibody against both pooled random platelets and lymphocytes of type HLA-A2. Two babies had transient thrombocytopenia and leucopenia and made a full haematological recovery. One baby died aged four hours having had no haematological investigations during life. Histological examination of the bone marrow in all three babies (two by trephine biopsy; one at necropsy) confirmed a deficiency of megakaryocytes. It is suggested that anti-HLA-A2 may cause neonatal thrombocytopenia by depressing megakaryocytes instead of, or in addition to, any direct effect on platelets.
Age related variations of serum concentrations of normally occurring IgG antibodies to Clostridium perfringens.
Authors: Zarén E , Schwan A , Frenckner B
Published: June 2007

In studies using indirect immunofluorescence IgG antibodies to Clostridium perfringens were found in sera from healthy adults. Sera from 236 healthy children were examined. The normally occurring IgG antibodies to C perfringens were found to have an age related variation. Preliminary data suggest that they are not correlated to C perfringens alpha toxin. The antigen(s) against which the antibodies are directed is/are probably part of the cell wall, but its/their exact nature is not known.
Streptococcus milleri and second trimester abortion.
Authors: MacGowan A P , Terry P B
Published: June 2007

Review of 214 fetal necropsies performed in the department of pathology, University of Aberdeen, showed 40 cases of chorioamnionitis or intrauterine pneumonia, five of which were associated with Streptococcus milleri. In two cases there was good evidence to implicate S milleri as the cause of infected abortion while in the other cases its pathogenic role was less clear.
Plasma ultrafiltrable magnesium in insulin dependent diabetics.
Authors: Gunn I R , Burns E
Published: June 2007

Plasma ultrafiltrable (MgUF) and total magnesium concentrations were measured in 60 insulin dependent diabetics and compared with values in an age matched control group. Although the diabetic patients had lower plasma albumin concentrations (p less than 0.05), both ultrafiltrable and total magnesium concentrations were significantly decreased by 6.8% and 7.6%, respectively, compared with those of the controls (p less than 0.001). In the diabetic group MgUF varied inversely with fasting plasma glucose (r = -0.269, p less than 0.05). In 14 patients with significant hypomagnesaemia, fasting plasma glucose concentration was higher (p less than 0.01) and the diabetes was of shorter duration (p less than 0.05) than in 46 patients with an MgUF in the control range. The fasting urinary magnesium creatinine ratio was greater in the diabetic patients (p less than 0.05). Patients with retinopathy did not have lower plasma magnesium values than those without retinopathy.
Evaluation and assessment of new disposable strip for determination of plasma potassium concentration.
Authors: Gibb I
Published: June 2007

Overall laboratory reproducibility for the Ames Seralyzer and plasma potassium test strips was less than 4% within the plasma reference range; and linearity extended from 2.1 to 10.2 mmol/l. Neither bilirubin nor lipaemia interfered in the analysis and selectivity for potassium over sodium was 450:1. Laboratory comparison with automated flame photometry and an indirect ion selective electrode showed a Seralyzer bias of +0.10 (+/- 25D 0.26) and +0.11 (0.27) mmol/l. Against flame photometry, comparison of analyses by six doctors from a coronary care unit and four nurses from a renal dialysis unit showed smaller positive biases (0.06 and 0.02 mmol/l) but substantially larger error ranges (0.43 and 0.55 mmol/l, respectively). Some 49% of the nurses' and 37% of the doctors' results differed from laboratory values by more than 0.2 mmol/l. Potassium test strip results proved acceptably comparable and reproducible when produced by an experienced analyst, but greater variability in clinical hands rendered the system unsuitable for precise monitoring of potassium concentration.
Prospective evaluation of prognostic value of morphometry in patients with primary breast cancer.
Authors: van der Linden J C , Baak J P , Lindeman J , Hermans J , Meyer C J
Published: June 2007

In a prospective study the predictive value of a multivariate morphometric prognostic index was evaluated in 195 patients with primary breast cancer who had not been treated with any form of chemotherapy or hormonal treatment. The presence or absence of distant tumour recurrence combined with the scores of the prognostic index were compared with the survival curves predicted in a previous study. The value of the presence of lymph node metastases, number of positive nodes, tumour size, mitotic activity index, and oestrogen receptor status in prediction of prognosis were also investigated. In agreement with the results of the previous retrospective study, the prospective use of the index had the strongest predictive prognostic value, followed by the mitotic activity index. Statistical analysis showed that the actual prognoses of 43 of the 195 patients (22%) were more accurately determined by the prognostic index rather than by using the presence of the lymph node metastases as the classifying variable. The prognostic index is consistently reproducible by different technicians; it is a reliable method of predicting distant recurrence of tumour and hence the prognosis of patients with primary breast carcinoma. It provides more prognostic information than the presence of lymph node metastases alone, and the index should be incorporated in routine pathology reports.
Expression of c-myc oncogene in coeliac disease.
Authors: Ciclitira P J , Stewart J , Evan G , Wight D G , Sikora K
Published: June 2007

A monoclonal antibody, produced by peptide immunisation was used to detect the distribution of p62c/myc by immunohistology in normal and coeliac small intestinal mucosa. The effect of gluten in four treated coeliac patients was investigated by taking serial jejunal biopsy specimens for six hours after a 10 g oral gluten challenge. There was a progressive increase in p62c/myc staining intensity in the villus enterocytes extending to the crypts, which accompanied the classical morphological changes occurring in the mucosa.
Evaluation of anaerobic culture and effect of culture medium supplementation with factor V on colonial morphology and efficacy of isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from sputum.
Authors: Brogan O , Garnett P A , Fox C C , McCabe K A
Published: June 2007

The use of anaerobic incubation for the culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae from sputum was compared with incubation in carbon dioxide in air. A coagglutination test for pneumococcal antigen was used as an index of the number of specimens containing pneumococci. A total of 334 specimens were examined. There was evidence of pneumococcal colonisation by culture or coagglutination, or both, in 48 (14.37%), of which 41 (12.27%) yielded S pneumoniae on culture. Anaerobic incubation was better than incubation in carbon dioxide in air for the primary culture of S pneumoniae from sputum. Primary isolation of S pneumoniae was achieved in 11 of the 41 strains (26.82%) by anaerobic incubation alone, by incubation only in carbon dioxide in air in one strain (2.43%), and by both anaerobic incubation and incubation in carbon dioxide in air in 29 strains (70.73%). Anaerobic incubation gave large moist or mucoid colonies that were easy to recognise, but it suppressed the typical draughtsman colony of S pneumoniae. The factor V supplement routinely used in our medium also inhibited the formation of draughtsman colonies. It is suggested that draughtsman colonies occur because of a relative lack of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (factor V), which is required as a reducing agent in aspartate and glutamate metabolism. This nutritional deficiency may lead to bacterial cell wall defect and hence to the autolysis which gives the typical draughtsman colony.