bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactions between polymorphonuclear leucocytes, Bacteroides sp, and Escherichia coli: their role in the pathogenesis of mixed infection.
Authors: Vel W A , Namavar F , Verweij-van Vught A M , Pubben A N , MacLaren D M
Published: June 2007

Five Bacteroides fragilis strains and five Bacteroides vulgatus strains were compared with regard to their ability to consume complement and to fix C3, their killing by polymorphonuclear leucocytes, and their ability to inhibit the bactericidal effect of serum and polymorphs on Escherichia coli strains. Complement consumption was positively related to C3 fixation, but no relation was observed between these variables and the killing of the anaerobes. Greatest inhibition of the killing of E coli by serum and polymorphs was achieved with the bacteroides strains that fixed most complement. The greater virulence of B fragilis in mixed infections with E coli was not reflected either by a greater ability to inhibit the killing of E coli or a greater resistance of the anaerobes themselves to the bactericidal effect of serum and polymorphs.
Morphometric study of histological changes in sublabial salivary glands due to aging process.
Authors: De Wilde P C , Baak J P , van Houwelingen J C , Kater L , Slootweg P J
Published: June 2007

The sublabial salivary glands were studied by morphometric methods in 68 healthy volunteers to establish possible changes related to age in those tissue components that are affected in Sjögren's syndrome and connective tissue diseases (and which might stimulate Sjögren's syndrome). There was an increase in the amount of connective tissue and intralobular ducts with age and a corresponding decrease in acinar tissue. During the aging process changes in the intralobular ducts occurred: the outer and inner diameters of these ducts and the thickness of the epithelium decreased, but the ratio of the outer and inner diameters of the ducts remained constant. The amount of diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and the vascularity of the tissue remains constant with age. In 15 of the subjects, however, discrete lymphocytic foci were seen and in six of these more than one focus/4 mm2 of salivary tissue was found, which has been described as suggestive of Sjögren's syndrome. The volume percentage of lymphocytic foci is constant during the aging process. The histological features commonly used to diagnose Sjögren's syndrome may occur in normal people, and false positive diagnoses will occur if these criteria are rigidly adhered to. Morphometry may provide more reliable criteria for distinguishing changes induced by inflammation and related to age which occur in salivary tissue.
Pancreatic endoproteases and pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor immunoreactivity in human Paneth cells.
Authors: Bohe M , Borgström A , Lindström C , Ohlsson K
Published: June 2007

Normal and metaplastic gastrointestinal mucosa obtained at surgical resection were studied by light microscopy, using the unlabelled antibody enzyme method for immunohistochemical staining of lysozyme, pancreatic endoproteases, and pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI). Paneth cells in the mucosa of normal small intestine, gastric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia, and colonic metaplastic mucosa were found to contain anionic trypsin, cationic trypsin, lysozyme, and PSTI immunoreactivity, but not chymotrypsin and elastase immunoreactivity. Normal gastric and colonic mucosa and some goblet cells in the small intestine showed positive PSTI immunoreactivity but no endoprotease immunoreactivity. The presence of immunoreactive trypsin and immunoreactive PSTI in the Paneth cells, which are of secretory type, probably indicates an important extrapancreatic source of these proteins rather than a storage of endocytosed material.
Serum amyloid A (SAA) variations in patients with cancer: correlation with disease activity, stage, primary site, and prognosis.
Authors: Biran H , Friedman N , Neumann L , Pras M , Shainkin-Kestenbaum R
Published: June 2007

Serum amyloid A (SAA) was determined in 160 patients with cancer. Active disease was associated with high titre compared with the titre in non-active condition (31.8 v 5.8 micrograms/ml, respectively; p = 0.0002). SAA value showed a direct correlation with the stage of the disease: it was lowest at stages 1 and 2 and highest at the metastatic stage 4 (stage 1 v 4, p = 0.001; stage 2 v 3, p = 0.05). Cancers of the lung and unknown primary site were characterised by highly increased SAA concentration. Initial SAA value had prognostic significance: a value below 10 micrograms/ml correlated with survival advantage, whereas a higher initial value indicated a greater likelihood of a poor outcome (actuarial survival analysis p less than 0.001). When stage was accounted for, initial SAA value had significant prognostic bearing on survival of patients with advanced disease (stages 3 and 4) but not on that of patients with limited disease (stages 1 and 2). Serial testing showed good concordance between changes in SAA titre and clinical course.
Constructing a database for low cost identification of gram negative rods in clinical laboratories.
Authors: Clayton P , Feltham R K , Mitchell C J , Sneath P H
Published: June 2007

A database was constructed for the routine identification of Enterobacteriaceae and Gram negative rods growing aerobically on MacConkey agar. The test methods were based primarily on multipoint inoculation technology. The final database was constructed from the laboratory results of 4989 clinical isolates and 66 reference strains and was extensively analysed and evaluated. The proposed scheme is rapid, reliable, and cheap.
Costing clinical biochemistry services as part of an operational management budgeting system.
Authors: Tarbit I F
Published: June 2007

The process of costing clinical biochemistry tests as a component of the commissioning of a unit management budgeting system based on an International Computers Limited (ICL) minicomputer system was examined. Methods of apportioning consumable and labour costs under direct and indirect cost headings and as test and request charges were investigated, and in this currently operational system it was found that 38% of consumable costs and 57% of labour costs were not a direct component of the routine analysis function. Means of assigning test costs to a given request source and the incorporation of such charges into clinical budget statements were looked at. A reduction in laboratory workload did not produce a comparable reduction in laboratory costs. For a theoretical reduction in workload of 20% only a 3.8% laboratory saving in recoverable costs could be expected.
Quantitative method for determining serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activity I. Guanidine hydrochloride: new reagent for selectively inhibiting major serum isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase.
Authors: Shephard M D , Peake M J
Published: June 2007

The potential use of the protein denaturant guanidine hydrochloride to inhibit selectively the enzyme activity of serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes from liver, bone, intestine, and placenta was investigated. Inhibition of each isoenzyme was shown to be dependent on time and concentration of inhibitor. In the presence of 0.3 mol/l (28.7 g/l) guanidine hydrochloride for 170 seconds 14%, 47%, and 90% of the total alkaline phosphatase activity remained in samples of bone, liver, and intestinal origins, respectively. In contrast, the activity of the placental isoenzyme increased by 24%. The degree of inhibition was shown to be independent of total alkaline phosphatase activity. Investigations were performed at 37 degrees C using the Cobas Bio centrifugal analyser. We conclude that this reagent has several practical advantages over urea as a selective inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes, including a faster and more reproducible inhibition at a much lower reagent concentration.
Terminology in gynaecological cytopathology: report of the Working Party of The British Society for Clinical Cytology
Authors: Evans D M D , Hudson E A , Brown C L , Boddington M M , Hughes H E , Mackenzie E F D , Marshall T
Published: June 2007

The report defines and recommends terms for use in cervical cytology.
Human lung tumours may coexpress different classes of intermediate filaments.
Authors: Gatter K C , Dunnill M S , Van Muijen G N , Mason D Y
Published: June 2007

Ninety four pulmonary neoplasms were examined immunocytochemically with two or three different monoclonal antibodies against the intermediate filament proteins cytokeratin, neurofilament, vimentin, and desmin. In normal tissues these have a different and non-overlapping distribution, and it is generally believed that tumours maintain the same pattern of expression as the tissues from which they arise. In this report, however, the coexpression of at least two (and less commonly three or four) different intermediate filaments was seen in 40% (37 of 94) of the cases of lung cancer. These results, especially if confirmed in other common types of human malignancy, have considerable implications for the use of anti-intermediate filament antibodies in diagnostic pathology.
Growth fractions in breast cancers determined in situ with monoclonal antibody Ki-67.
Authors: Gerdes J , Lelle R J , Pickartz H , Heidenreich W , Schwarting R , Kurtsiefer L , Stauch G , Stein H
Published: June 2007

The growth fractions of 160 mammary carcinomas and 30 benign mammary lesions were determined in situ by immunostaining with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67. Benign lesions had a mean value of 3% Ki-67 positive cells, whereas the mean value of mammary carcinomas was 16.6%. A comparison of the mean values of Ki-67 positive cells with the histological grade of the tumours showed a correlation between these two variables--that is, histological grade 1 showed 9%, grade 2 16%, and grade 3 26% proliferating cells. Considering the individual Ki-67 values in the different histological grades, it was evident that there was considerable scatter in the number of proliferating cells, so that the proliferation rates of grades 1, 2, and 3 overlapped each other. This indicates a dissociation between histological grade of malignancy and size of the growth fraction in most breast cancers. Follow up studies are needed to establish which of the two variables--that is, morphological degree of malignancy, or the proportion of Ki-67 positive cells--correlates better with response to treatment and survival in individual cases.
Adenomatosis of small intestine: case report.
Authors: Nakamura T , Kimura H , Nakano G
Published: June 2007

A patient complained of severe diarrhoea for about four years. About 2.5 m of the jejunum was resected and duodenal polyps were also removed at laparotomy. Histologically, they were tubular or tubulovillus adenomas, which closely resembled colonic adenomas. No malignant change was detected in these adenomas. Severe inflammatory changes were seen in the jejunal mucosa and various gut hormones were seen in the same area. As far as we know no similar case with adenomatosis of the small intestine has been reported. We were unable to establish any association between adenomas and severe watery diarrhoea.
High proliferative activity of Reed Sternberg associated antigen Ki-1 positive cells in normal lymphoid tissue.
Authors: Gerdes J , Schwarting R , Stein H
Published: June 2007

An improved immunoenzymatic double labelling method was developed, which simultaneously shows the Ki-1 membrane antigen and the nuclear proliferation associated antigen, defined by monoclonal antibody Ki-67. This new approach permits in situ discrimination of cells that are proliferating or not with a particular membrane antigen. Most Ki-1 positive cells in normal lymphoid tissue also express the Ki-67 nuclear antigen and thus appear to be proliferating. As proliferating cells are more susceptible to malignant transformation than quiescent cells, it is possible that the small number of normal Ki-1 positive cells might, none the less, cause a large proportion of all lymphomas in man.
French American British (FAB) morphological classification of childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia and its clinical importance.
Authors: Lilleyman J S , Hann I M , Stevens R F , Eden O B , Richards S M
Published: June 2007

As part of the Medical Research Council Leukaemia Trial UKALL VIII, 738 unselected children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) had the morphology of their marrow blast cells reviewed by a panel of three haematologists. Ninety four (13%) showed appearances classifiable as type L2 by the French American and British (FAB) cooperative group's criteria, five (0.7%) were typed L3, and the remaining 639 (86%) as L1. Disregarding the patients classified as L3, those with the L2 variant showed an inferior disease free survival to that of the remainder (p less than 0.01), and more of them failed to remit after receiving "standard" remission induction treatment (p less than 0.01). They included an excess of older children (p less than 0.01) with less profound marrow failure at diagnosis, and fewer of them expressed the common ALL antigen (p = 0.05). There was no association between L2 morphology and the diagnostic white cell count, sex, or the presence of a mediastinal mass. These findings confirm earlier reports that FAB L2 ALL is associated with a poor prognosis and that it occurs more commonly in older children. The high remission failure rate is a recent observation and indicates that alternative early treatment may be appropriate for such patients.
Histopathogenesis of intestinal metaplasia: minute lesions of intestinal metaplasia in ulcerated stomachs.
Authors: Mukawa K , Nakamura T , Nakano G , Nagamachi Y
Published: June 2007

Minute lesions of intestinal metaplasia composed of a few metaplastic tubules were observed in the gastric mucosa during routine histological examination of gastrectomy specimens. The histological findings indicated that these lesions might be an initial stage of more advanced intestinal metaplasia. Accordingly, more than 18,000 serial sections in 10 stomachs with chronic ulcers were examined to clarify the histopathogenesis of the intestinal metaplasia. It was concluded from the three dimensional reconstruction of minute intestinal metaplasia lesions that these lesions originated during the regenerative process of healing of gastric erosions. The lesions were roughly globoid with a depression on the surface. It is thought that with continuous formation and healing of gastric erosions, more extensive intestinal metaplasia lesions would be formed by an increase in size and confluence of these focal minute intestinal metaplasia lesions.
Production of reactive oxygen metabolites induced by asbestos fibres in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.
Authors: Hedenborg M , Klockars M
Published: June 2007

The ability of quartz and various asbestos fibres to induce the production of reactive oxygen metabolites in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes was assessed. A chemiluminescence assay showed that the activation of polymorphonuclear leucocytes was induced in the following order of effect: quartz; chrysotile A; crocidolite; chrysotile B; amosite; and anthophyllite. Only slight chemiluminescence was produced by cells exposed to wollastonites and titanium dioxide. A positive correlation was seen between production of chemiluminescence and red cell haemolysis. Our results suggest that the potential of various environmental particles and mineral fibres to induce inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer of the lung could be related to their ability to induce inflammatory cells to produce reactive oxygen metabolites.
Nuclear DNA content of non-endemic Burkitt's lymphoma.
Authors: Lehtinen T , Lehtinen M , Aine R , Kallioniemi O P , Leino T , Hakala T , Leinikki P , Alavaikko M
Published: June 2007

The nuclear DNA content of 26 non-endemic Burkitt's lymphomas was studied by flow cytometry. Eighteen of the tumours showed a pattern characteristic for diploid chromosome distribution, while eight of the tumours were aneuploid. Six of the aneuploid tumours showed an almost diploid, aneuploid DNA index, while two were tetraploid tumours. Patients with aneuploid tumours had a significantly worse prognosis (p less than 0.005) than those with diploid tumours. One of the aneuploid tumours was positive for Epstein-Barr virus DNA.
Cells containing IgA subclasses in bronchi of subjects with and without chronic obstructive lung disease.
Authors: Burnett D , Crocker J , Stockley R A
Published: June 2007

Necropsy specimens were obtained from the lungs of 10 subjects who had no history of lung disease, 10 who had died with chronic bronchitis, and 10 with bronchiectasis. Tissue sections were stained for IgA1 or IgA2 using the immunoperoxidase technique, and the number of cells in the bronchi stained for these proteins was counted. The total number of IgA positive cells was increased in bronchitic and bronchiectatic lungs compared with those from control subjects. The number of IgA2 positive cells was similar in those with bronchitis and bronchiectasis and significantly higher than in controls. Similarly, cells containing IgA1 were increased in the lungs of subjects with chest disease but were higher in those with bronchitis than in those with bronchiectasis. The proportion of IgA2:total IgA containing cells was similar in sections from controls (mean (SD) 25 (5.0)%) and those with bronchiectasis (mean (SD) 24 (4)%), but lower in those with bronchitis (mean (SD) 19 (5.0)%). The results show that cells containing IgA1 predominate in the major bronchi but that the proportion of cells containing IgA2 is higher than in non-mucosal lymphoid tissues. Bronchitis and bronchiectasis are associated with greater numbers of cells producing IgA in the bronchi, and this is consistent with increased local production of IgA in the lung secretions of bronchitic subjects.
Mefenamic acid enteropathy.
Authors: Isaacs P E , Sladen G E , Filipe I
Published: June 2007

The clinical, radiological, and histological features of two patients with severe intestinal damage induced by mefenamic acid and mimicking coeliac disease are described. Symptoms rapidly reverted on withdrawal of the drug, and in one case, did not relapse during treatment with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Can histopathologists reliably assess dysplasia in chronic inflammatory bowel disease?
Authors: Dundas S A , Kay R , Beck S , Cotton D W , Coup A J , Slater D N , Underwood J C
Published: June 2007

A copy of the standardised classification (SC) proposed for assessing dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease was circulated to six histopathologists who were asked to apply it to 40 slides from 34 patients with ulcerative colitis to test its reproducibility. The slides were relabelled and recirculated to the pathologists at least one month later. Each was asked to state whether or not key diagnostic features were present before giving a final dysplasia score for the second assessment. Only minor interobserver and intraobserver disagreements were recorded. Pathologists were most consistent at recognising back to back glands, villous mucosal architecture, hyperchromatic nuclei, stratification of nuclei, regenerative nuclei and loss of nuclear polarity. There was poor interobserver agreement in assessing dystrophic goblet cells and columnar mucous cells. Back to back glands, hyperchromatic nuclei, loss of nuclear polarity, stratification of nuclei and columnar mucous cells were considered to be the most important features for determining the severity of dysplasia. As there was poor interobserver agreement in assessing columnar mucous cells and dystrophic goblet cells these features need to be more clearly defined or should be removed from the SC.
Limited value of type III intestinal metaplasia in predicting risk of gastric carcinoma.
Authors: Ramesar K C , Sanders D S , Hopwood D
Published: June 2007

Endoscopic gastric biopsy specimens taken in 1976 from 174 patients were reviewed. Biopsy specimens from 44 patients showed intestinal metaplasia, and subtyping by mucin histochemistry showed that 16 were of type I, 14 of type II, and 14 of type III. Only two of these 174 patients developed gastric adenocarcinoma over the next 10 to 11 years: one with type II and one with type III intestinal metaplasia. Case notes of a separate group of 68 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma diagnosed in 1985 were reviewed for evidence of intestinal metaplasia in a previous gastric biopsy. Only two patients had previously been biopsied; one of these biopsy specimens showed type II intestinal metaplasia and the other showed no intestinal metaplasia. These findings suggest that subtyping of intestinal metaplasia in endoscopic gastric biopsy specimens is of only limited value in identifying patients at risk of gastric adenocarcinoma who require long term follow up.
Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (IPSID).
Authors: Smith W J , Price S K , Isaacson P G
Published: June 2007

Analysis of DNA from the mucosal tissue of three patients with immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (IPSID) and alpha chain disease, two of whom had early stage disease responsive to antibiotics, showed monoclonal heavy and light chain gene rearrangements in all cases. These findings suggest that IPSID is neoplastic even in its early stages, but that the neoplastic cells respond to normal stimuli. Monoclonal lymphoid populations could not be detected in circulating lymphocytes from these patients, which raises the possibility that the circulatory pathways of lymphocytes derived from human gut associated lymphoid tissue may not necessarily parallel those in experimental animals.
Immunohistochemistry in district general hospitals in England and Wales.
Authors: Hall P A , Domizio P , Slavin G , Levison D A
Published: June 2007

The findings of a survey on the use of immunohistochemistry in district general hospitals in England and Wales are reported. Immunohistochemistry is used in most district hospitals, contributes to the accuracy and objectivity of some histopathological diagnoses, and is considered to be generally useful though not without drawbacks. Its expansion is being hindered by lack of funds for reagents and staff. In a few regions attempts are being made to rationalise expenditure and coordinate development of the service. We believe that if this can be done at a regional or national level then the relatively small cost entailed will be justified by a resulting improvement in the quality of patient care.
Giant cell myocarditis associated with lymphoma: an immunocytochemical study.
Authors: Hales S A , Theaker J M , Gatter K C
Published: June 2007

A case of giant cell myocarditis in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is reported. To our knowledge, this is a previously unrecorded association and supports the hypothesis that the aetiology of giant cell myocarditis is related to a changed immune state. Immunohistochemical investigation of this case with a panel of monoclonal antibodies against a range of leucocyte and muscle antigens supports the view that the giant cells have a histiocytic rather than a myogenic origin.
Diagnosis of metastases from testicular germ cell tumours using fine needle aspiration cytology.
Authors: Highman W J , Oliver R T
Published: June 2007

The cytological features of testicular germ cell tumours were established in smears from 15 freshly resected tumours. These features were applied to the fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of metastases in 27 patients referred for chemotherapy. There were 16 positive reports in 32 aspirates of which 13 were taken before chemotherapy and three in patients with residual or new masses after chemotherapy. Teratomas and typical seminomas showed certain characteristic morphological features in cytological preparations which when present in fine needle aspiration cytology material enabled tumour types to be diagnosed. Spermatocytic and anaplastic seminoma were not represented in this series. It is unlikely that these could be distinguished from malignant teratoma undifferentiated (MTU) in the fine needle aspiration cytology material. Metastases from carcinomatous areas in MTU and malignant teratoma intermediate (MTI) may not be distinguishable in fine needle aspiration cytology material from metastatic adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma from a different primary site. Positive cytological findings are of value to the oncologist in the management of patients with metastases from testicular germ cell tumours; negative cytology does not exclude the presence of viable tumour. The sampling of small foci of viable tumour in large necrotic masses persisting after chemotherapy is a problem for radiologists, cytologists, and histopathologists. This paper does not advocate the use of fine needle aspiration cytology for the diagnosis of primary testicular tumour.
Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) activities in north London blood donors.
Authors: Mijovic V , Contreras M , Barbara J
Published: June 2007

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) activities were measured in over 2000 north London blood donors. The results were compared with those from the United States. The percentage of the total donor population with ALT activities above 40 IU/l in 1986 was greater than that found in our earlier studies in 1973 and 1982 (4.6% compared with 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively). There was a noticeable difference in the ALT distribution between male and female donors: mean +2.25 SD for male donors was 55.3 IU/l, while that for female donors was 30.8 IU/l at 37 degrees C. In stability studies the optimal temperature for short term storage (10 days) was 4 degrees C (6.4% loss of activity after 10 days). Surprisingly, storage at lower temperatures (-35 degrees C and -80 degrees C) resulted in greater loss of activity.
Circulating micromegakaryocytes in myelodysplasia.
Authors: Erber W N , Jacobs A , Oscier D G , O'Hea A M , Mason D Y
Published: June 2007

The alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) immunocytochemical staining technique was used to look for circulating cells of megakaryocyte lineage in peripheral blood smears from 67 cases of myelodysplasia. Small numbers of micromegakaryocytes positive for platelet glycoprotein IIIa were found in 23 cases. These cells superficially resemble small lymphoid cells and are hence difficult or impossible to recognise in conventional Romanowsky stained smears. Circulating micromegakaryocytes were found most commonly in more aggressive types of myelodysplasia (such as refractory anaemia with excess blasts (RAEB) and refractory anaemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-t], and their presence may therefore indicate a poor prognosis. Because of the simplicity of this immunocytochemical labelling technique, it could be of wide use in the initial assessment of patients with myelodysplasia, and possibly for the early detection of acute leukaemic transformation.
C3 degradation products (C3d) in normal pregnancy.
Authors: Jenkins J S , Powell R J
Published: June 2007

Plasma C3 degradation products (C3d) were measured in 65 normal pregnancies and compared with those of non-pregnant women. No significant difference was detected between the two groups, although a difference had been previously reported. Plasma C3d estimations give an indication of complement activation and may be used as an indicator of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), irrespective of pregnancy.
Lethal challenge of gnotobiotic weanling rats with bacterial isolates from cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Authors: Lee S , Barson A J , Drucker D B , Morris J A , Telford D R
Published: June 2007

An attempt was made to produce an animal model of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The experimental animals (germ free weanling rats) were exposed to nasopharyngeal isolates from cases of SIDS to test the hypothesis that common bacteria may have an aetiological role in the disease. Negative results were obtained when the strains were tested in isolation, but certain combinations of organisms (specifically some Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) killed the animals rapidly (less than 18 hours) without prolonged terminal illness. Post mortem histological findings were consistent with those of SIDS. The lethal toxigenic potential of nasopharyngeal bacteria, which are regarded as harmless in adults, should be reconsidered in respect of the aetiology of SIDS.
Monoclonal antibody L26: an antibody that is reactive with normal and neoplastic B lymphocytes in routinely fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissues.
Authors: Norton A J , Isaacson P G
Published: June 2007

Formalin fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissue from 85 well characterised cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease were studied using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. Among the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas all cases of B cell lymphoma were reactive with L26, a monoclonal antibody which is as yet an unclustered pan B cell reagent, with the exception of pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and malignant lymphoma plasmacytic. Eighteen well characterised cases of T cell lymphoma, selected to include tumours previously shown to exhibit cross reactivity with antibodies to fixation resistant B cell related antigens, were similarly studied. Neoplastic cells in all but one case were unstained by L26. Twenty seven cases of Hodgkin's disease were also examined. In five cases all Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants were strongly stained by L26; only a proportion of Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants were recognised in a further five cases. Monoclonal antibody L26 promises to be a valuable reagent for the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma in routinely fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissues. Its advantage lies in its sensitivity and greater B cell specificity than any of the B cell related reagents currently available for the study of malignant lymphoma in fixed tissues.
Use of antimesothelial cell antibody and computer assisted quantitative analysis for distinguishing between reactive and neoplastic serosal tissues.
Authors: Donna A , Betta P G , Robutti F
Published: June 2007

Nine malignant mesotheliomas and 12 specimens of benign reactive mesothelial hyperplasia were examined using a specific antimesothelial cell antibody. Immunostaining intensity was subsequently estimated by means of image analysis. The mean and standard deviation of integrated optical density in the malignant mesotheliomas differed significantly from those in the mesothelial hyperplasias. In all mesotheliomas but one the integrated optical density was greater than in reactive mesothelial hyperplasia. No significant difference in optical density was observed between the two groups; the standard deviation was significantly higher in the reactive lesions. This technique may be adopted to complement the traditional morphological assessment of primary lesions of the serosal cavities.
Sarcoma-like mural nodules in cystic serous ovarian tumours.
Authors: Clarke T J
Published: June 2007

The morphology, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure and natural history of sarcoma-like mural nodules in two serous cystic ovarian tumours are described.
Composition of immune complexes and their relation to plasma fibronectin in chronic myeloproliferative disorders.
Authors: Baglin T P , Simpson A W , Price S M , Boughton B J
Published: June 2007

High concentrations of circulating immune complexes were detected by polyethylene glycol precipitation in 11 of 20 patients with myelofibrosis secondary to chronic myeloproliferative disease. Circulating immune complexes showed a positive correlation with plasma IgG concentrations both in patients and controls. Covariance analysis of the two groups showed significantly increased polyethylene glycol precipitable IgG in patients when adjusted for plasma IgG concentrations, indicating that the patients had significantly increased concentrations of complexed IgG. The immune complexes contained IgG, C3, and fibronectin and were inversely correlated with plasma fibronectin concentrations, suggesting that this major non-specific opsonin is important for the normal clearance of immune complexes. Therapeutic plasmapheresis efficiently removed circulating complexes and produced an increase in plasma fibronectin. This suggests that plasmapheresis may be useful for controlling immune complex mediated complications of these disorders.
Value of perinatal necropsy examination.
Authors: Porter H J , Keeling J W
Published: June 2007

In a retrospective study of 150 stillbirths and 150 neonatal deaths carried out between 1981 and 1985 the necropsy findings were compared with the clinical diagnoses, which had been obtained from the postmortem request form, and the case notes completed before the necropsy was performed. In all cases the necropsy comprised macroscopic findings and histological examination of all organs, with microbiology, radiology, and cytogenetics where appropriate. Clinically important differences between clinical and pathological diagnoses in 54 of 150 cases (36%) were noted in the cases of stillbirth. Of the neonatal deaths, examination showed clinically important information that had not been recognised during life in 66 cases (44%). Histological examination of tissues was essential for making or confirming the pathological diagnosis in 20% of all perinatal deaths.
Prospective comparison of laser nephelometry with standard agglutination techniques for detection of rheumatoid factor.
Authors: Prentice A G , Hickling P , Wiseman I C , Holwill C J , Northwood J
Published: June 2007

IgM rheumatoid factor was assayed by three routine methods: latex fixation; haemagglutination; and end point laser nephelometry in 69 patients with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis and 58 patients with other non-rheumatoid arthropathies, selected prospectively according to the American Rheumatism Association clinical criteria. The operators of the assays were unaware of the clinical diagnoses. In the group with rheumatoid arthritis 75.4% were positive by latex fixation, 73.9% by haemagglutination, and 55.1% by nephelometry. In the group with non-rheumatoid arthropathies 10.4% were positive by latex fixation, 8.6% by haemagglutination, and 10.4% by nephelometry. Thus the simple and inexpensive latex fixation test was as good as the haemagglutination test, and both were significantly better than nephelometry in the laboratory confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis (chi 2 = 5.40 and 4.56, and p less than 0.025 and less than 0.05, respectively). None of these tests was significantly better or worse than the others in producing positive results in the group with non-rheumatoid arthropathies.
Thin basement membrane syndrome in adults.
Authors: Abe S , Amagasaki Y , Iyori S , Konishi K , Kato E , Sakaguchi H , Shimoyama K
Published: June 2007

Eight (two men, six women) cases of adult thin basement membrane syndrome were studied to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. The average age at the time of biopsy was 40 years. All the patients had persistent microscopic haematuria, normal renal function, and normal blood pressure, with the exception of one who was hypotensive. Most of them had persistent or transient proteinuria. Renal symptoms were found in four families, although no relative had Alport's syndrome. Renal biopsy findings observed by light and immunofluorescence microscopy did not indicate any important abnormalities, but extensive diffuse thinning of the glomerular basement membrane, ranging from 153 to 213 nm, was a constant finding by electron microscopy. All the patients retained stable renal function at the time of final follow up, indicating a benign prognosis of the syndrome.
Streptococcal necrotising fasciitis: comparison between histological and clinical features.
Authors: Barker F G , Leppard B J , Seal D V
Published: June 2007

Nineteen acute and 17 subacute cases of necrotising fasciitis due to beta haemolytic streptococci are described. Excised tissue from seven and four cases, respectively, was available for histological examination. The two clinical types showed remarkable similarities, with inflammation and necrosis from epidermis to subcutaneous fat. Haemorrhage was present in variable amounts in both types. Gram positive cocci were not always identified in tissue, nor cultured, when serological tests were required to confirm the diagnosis. The only apparent difference between the acute and subacute type was the higher incidence of thrombi in some blood vessels of acute cases, whereas patent vessels or recanalized thrombus were usually found in subacute cases. This quantitative difference in the degree of thrombosis may alone be responsible for the varying clinical features and response to antibiotics.
Heparinase production by anaerobic bacteria.
Authors: Riley T V
Published: June 2007

The production of heparinase by a wide range of anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical specimens was investigated. None of the 29 strains of Bacteroides fragilis produced heparinase. Of 62 other Bacteroides tested, only two of four strains of B ovatus, two of three strains of B thetaiotaomicron, and two of four strains of B uniformis were heparinase producers. None of the 48 strains of fusobacteria or seven strains of Veillonella produced heparinase. The anaerobic cocci (19 peptococci and seven peptostreptococci) were also negative for heparinase production as were 46 Clostridium spp tested. It was concluded that heparinase production by anaerobic bacteria was unlikely to play a part in the regional thrombophlebitis that sometimes occurs in anaerobic infections.
Atypical bullous pyoderma gangrenosum associated with myeloid malignancies.
Authors: Hay C R , Messenger A G , Cotton D W , Bleehen S S , Winfield D A
Published: June 2007

Atypical bullous pyoderma gangrenosum was diagnosed during the course of a myeloid malignancy in three patients. One patient had chronic myeloid leukaemia, one acute myeloid leukaemia, and the third, refractory anaemia with excess of blasts. This atypical form of pyoderma gangrenosum has been specifically associated with myeloid malignancies. The atypical appearance of the skin lesions and the clinical context in which they arose caused the true diagnosis to be delayed in all cases. Treatment with steroids was associated with rapid healing of the skin lesion. The histopathological changes in the skin biopsy specimens from these cases were non-specific, and although the histology was considered to be atypical of pyoderma gangrenosum in one case, the unusual features could be attributed to the patient's neutropenia. (Skin biopsy was performed to exclude other specific pathology). Atypical bullous pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon association of the myeloid malignancies. It may remain unrecognised and should be considered more often.
Identification of bone and liver metastases from breast cancer by measurement of plasma alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activity.
Authors: Mayne P D , Thakrar S , Rosalki S B , Foo A Y , Parbhoo S
Published: June 2007

Plasma alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activities were determined in patients with breast cancer to diagnose and monitor bone and liver metastases. Bone alkaline phosphatase activity was increased in 21 of 50 patients (42%) with radiologically confirmed bone metastases, while total alkaline phosphatase activity was increased in only 10 of 50 (20%); liver alkaline phosphatase activity was raised in 12 of 25 patients (48%) with liver metastases. All patients with liver metastases had bone metastases. Bone alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher in patients with symptomatic bone disease. Isoenzyme determination provided additional information that would have changed patient management in five of 20 patients who were monitored serially. Measurement of alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activity, though less sensitive than imaging procedures, can assist in screening for, and in early detection of, a high proportion of bone and liver metastases, and can provide useful objective evidence of their response to treatment.
Value of routine histopathological examination of appendices in Hong Kong.
Authors: Chan W , Fu K H
Published: June 2007

A retrospective study of the histopathological findings of more than 11,443 appendices submitted as surgical specimens over 14 years was performed in this department. In most cases routine histopathological examination added little clinically important information to other clinical and operative gross findings, but a variety of interesting and uncommon lesions were identified. In 85 cases clinically important pathological findings were first discovered on routine histopathological examination. These included enterobiasis, schistosomiasis, mucocele, trichuriasis, tuberculosis, ascariasis, endometriosis, mucinous cystadenoma, granuloma, carcinoid tumour, neuroma, clonorchiasis, primary adenocarcinoma and secondary carcinoma.
Morphometric analysis of thyroid cell aspirates.
Authors: Wright R G , Castles H , Mortimer R H
Published: June 2007

One hundred and nineteen patients with thyroid nodules underwent fine needle aspiration cytology. Fifty eight were subsequently shown to have multinodular goitre: 36 had a follicular adenoma; 12 follicular carcinoma; and 13 papillary carcinoma on paraffin section. Morphometry performed on the aspirated cells stained by Papanicolaou and Giemsa methods showed significant differences in mean nuclear area and nuclear perimeter between groups of patients with benign thyroid nodules and those with malignant nodules. The wide variation in the mean nuclear areas and perimeters, however, severely limits the diagnostic use of morphometry in individual aspirates.
Passive haemagglutination inhibition for quantitation of red cell associated IgG.
Authors: Atrah H I , Templeton J G , Crawford R J , Gabra G S , Mitchell R
Published: June 2007

Passive haemagglutination inhibition (PHI) was adapted to quantitate red cell associated IgG. Twenty one patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) had a raised red cell associated IgG, mean (SD) = 5.783 (6.183) ng/10(6) red blood cell compared with that of 69 subjects with a red cell associated IgG of 0.433 (0.349) ng/10(6) red blood cell. Thirteen of 14 blood donors with a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAGT) had a normal red cell associated IgG. The only blood donor with positive DAGT and raised red cell associated IgG had AIHA. Studies of red cell associated IgG in other groups of patients were also undertaken. The technique is simple, does not require the use of sophisticated equipment, and is suitable as a routine test in hospital laboratories. The results of red cell associated IgG by PHI are reproducible and clinically relevant.
Use of radionuclide scanning to estimate size of spleen in vivo.
Authors: Zhang B , Lewis S M
Published: June 2007

Splenic ultrasound was performed and spleen scans obtained by a rectilinear scanner after injection of In-113m-labelled heat damaged red cells on 14 patients with various haematological disorders. Correlation was assessed between the measured volume of the operatively removed spleens, their volumes as calculated from the ultrasound data, and their preoperative dimensions of length, circumference, and area on the scans. The relation of scan to volume was best defined by an equation V = 9.88A - 534, where V = volume of spleen (cm3) and A = area (cm2) on posterior scan. The mean percentage difference between calculated and actual spleen volume was 0.2 (SD 6.7)%. Average spleen density was established as 1.04 g/cm3. The formula was shown to be reliable in the range of splenic area c 73-450 cm2--that is, volume c 185-4000 cm3. This range includes the average normal sized spleens and the splenomegalies that are most often found in clinical practice. The formula is not valid when the spleen is smaller than normal. As the method depends on measurement of the spleen image shown by scintigraphs, it cannot be used when there is functional asplenia.
Hereditary angioneurotic oedema: a neglected diagnosis.
Authors: Morris G E , Slavin B M , Browse N L
Published: June 2007

A case of hereditary angioneurotic oedema, which was only diagnosed after presentation to several hospital departments, is reported. It was then discovered that the mother of the patient had the same condition but that, unusually, it appeared to have been in remission for more than 20 years. This disease, due to C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, is potentially fatal but easily treatable. The diagnosis is often missed.
Hereditary angioedema and thyroid autoimmunity.
Authors: Muhlemann M F , Macrae K D , Smith A M , Beck P , Hine I , Hegde U , Milford-Ward A , Carter G D , Wise P H , Cream J J
Published: June 2007

Sera from 91 patients with hereditary angioedema were screened for thyroid antibodies. The results for the 77 patients more than 17 years old were compared with previously published data for the prevalence of thyroid disease in a large community (Whickham). Of the female patients with hereditary angioedema, the prevalence of thyroglobulin antibodies (TGA) was 14.0%, higher than the expected 3% (p less than 0.001). The prevalence of thyroid microsomal antibodies (TMA) was 20%, also higher than the expected 7.6% (p less than 0.01). The age distributions of the females in both groups differed: in the group with hereditary angioedema there was a greater proportion of younger patients which should have resulted in a lower prevalence of thyroid antibodies. Adjusting for related patients with hereditary angioedema, there was still an increased prevalence of TGA (p less than 0.01) and TMA (p less than 0.01).
Characteristics of cholesterol absorption by human gall bladder: relevance to cholesterolosis.
Authors: Jacyna M R , Ross P E , Bakar M A , Hopwood D , Bouchier I A
Published: June 2007

The characteristics of cholesterol uptake by 83 human gall bladders (obtained at cholecystectomy) were studied with a modified Ussing technique. Real and artificial biles labelled with 14C-cholesterol and 3H-dextran (the latter to correct for adherent mucosal bile) were used; all gall bladders absorbed cholesterol (average 3.5 nmol/cm2/minute). Recovery of the absorbed cholesterol from the tissue showed that about 4% was esterified over 60 minutes. In artificial bile the rate of absorption of cholesterol increased as the bile saturation index rose, but became constant once supersaturation was achieved. In contrast, supersaturated real bile permitted greater absorption of cholesterol, possibly due to enhanced cholesterol solubilisation. Preincubation of gall bladder tissue in sodium cyanide (5 mM) caused a 30% reduction in cholesterol uptake indicating that, although absorption is predominantly a "passive" process, there is a partial "active" component. There were no pronounced differences in the rate of cholesterol absorption as gall bladders became more diseased, but there was a reduction in the amount of cholesterol ester formed.
Management of women with abnormal cervical smears: supplement to terminology in gynaecological cytopathology.
Authors: Evans D M , Hudson E A , Brown C L , Boddington M M , Hughes H E , Mackenzie E F
Published: June 2007

Recommendations are made for the management of patients with abnormal cervical smears. Colposcopic examination is indicated for persistent mild and moderate dyskaryosis, as well as for severe dyskaryosis.
Non-pulmonary Rhodococcus equi infections in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Authors: Fierer J , Wolf P , Seed L , Gay T , Noonan K , Haghighi P
Published: June 2007

Rhodococcus equi, formerly known as Corynebacterium equi, was isolated repeatedly from the blood of two patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Neither of the patients had pneumonia while they were bacteraemic, whereas pneumonia has been present in all previously reported cases of human infection with R equi. One of our patients had diarrhoea and the organism was isolated from a stool culture; the other patient had a large granulomatous soft tissue mass in his pelvis caused by R equi. Both isolates were resistant to penicillin and one produced a beta-lactamase. Both patients were treated with vancomycin but only one recovered.