bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Promoter mutations are no major cause of PTTG overexpression in pituitary adenomas
Authors: Kanakis D. , Kirches E. , Mawrin C. , Dietzmann K. 
Published: March 2003

Summaryobjective The pituitary tumour transforming gene (PTTG) was proven to cause transformation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts, which produce tumours when transplanted into immunodeficient mice. PTTG is overexpressed in about 90% of pituitary adenomas. The reason for its overexpression is still unclear.design Because promoter mutations may play a role for an altered regulation of PTTG transcription in the pituitary adenomas, we analysed two promoter regions which were characterized previously as functionally important.patients Twenty‐five patients of both sexes with pituitary adenomas, mainly null‐cell adenomas, were included in this study.measurements Both DNA regions were amplified from paraffin sections by PCR and analysed for small deletions or insertions on polyacrylamide gels in all patients. In 16 cases both DNA regions were sequenced to detect base substitutions.results No deletions/insertions and no tumour‐specific substitutions were found. In three homopolymeric regions a polymorphism was detected, which also occurred in control sequences. In addition, these tracts showed some degree of length instability.conclusions Promoter mutations do not play a major role for the enhanced PTTG transcription in pituitary adenomas. Therefore, DNA‐binding proteins, hypomethylation or other epigenetic factors may be responsible for PTTG overexpression.
Endocrine profiles and semen quality in spinal cord injured men
Authors: Naderi A. R. , Safarinejad M. R. 
Published: March 2003

Summarypurpose To evaluate the hypothalamic–pituitary–testis (HPT) axis, endocrine profiles and semen quality in men with spinal cord injury (SCI).materials and methods Fifty‐five men with SCI were studied. Serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, oestradiol and prolactin (PRL) were determined; the LH‐releasing hormone (LHRH) stimulation test and a semen analysis were performed, and testicular volumes were measured. Thirty‐six age‐matched healthy male volunteers and 34 noninjured infertile men served as controls.results Eight SCI subjects had low basal LH, four had low basal FSH, and 16 had decreased basal serum levels of LH and FSH. Of subjects with lower serum levels of gonadotrophins (LH and/or FSH), nine had low serum testosterone and seven had hyperprolactinaemia. Serum levels of oestradiol were similar for all groups. There were increased LH and FSH responses to LHRH in SCI subjects compared to normal controls, but this difference was only statistically significant in SCI subjects with lower than normal serum levels of LH and/or FSH. There was no significant difference in testis volume between SCI subjects and controls. The mean semen volume in SCI subjects was lower than from controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Sperm motility and percent normal sperm morphology were lower in SCI compared to normal controls but not to infertile control subjects. In total, 51% and 86% of SCI subjects had at least one hormonal or axis abnormality, respectively.conclusion We conclude that hypogonadotropism in SCI subjects is likely to be secondary to altered neural or hormonal pathways between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, and that these endocrine abnormalities may be the mechanisms contributing to impairment of semen quality.
Facial disfigurement: is it in the eye of the beholder? A study in patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy
Authors: Terwee Caroline B. , Dekker Friedo W. , Bonsel Gouke J. , Heisterkamp Siem H. , Prummel Mark F. , Baldeschi Lelio , Wiersinga Wilmar M. 
Published: March 2003

Summaryobjectives The importance of facial disfigurement in many diseases necessitates a reliable and valid measure of disfigurement severity for clinical studies. The hypothesis is that a universal concept of disfigurement exists and can be measured in a reliable way. The objectives of this study were to investigate if persons, in particular patients and physicians, can agree on facial disfigurement severity; and to determine the relative contribution of predefined clinical characteristics of patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) to the overall rating of facial disfigurement severity.design A panel study was carried out in four different panels, each consisting of four members.patients We randomly selected 100 slide pairs of GO patients from four available study populations, involving mild, moderate and severe GO patients (mean age 49 years, 76% female) who were treated with either radiotherapy, sham‐irradiation, prednisone or orbital decompression.measurements All panel members individually scored the disfigurement severity of 100 GO patients shown on standardized slides on a Visual Analog Scale. In total, 1600 ratings were collected. We calculated within‐ and between‐panel agreement of disfigurement severity and identified determinants of disfigurement.results Agreement within a panel varied from 0·65 to 0·79 and was highest within the panel of ophthalmologists. Between‐panel agreement was 0·67 and was highest between ophthalmologists and laypersons. Compared with the global average, patients overrated and endocrinologists underrated disfigurement severity. Female panellists rated the patients, on average, more disfigured than male panellists. Important determinants of disfigurement were eyelid retraction, severe eyelid swelling and proptosis. Their relative importance was consistent across panels and in contrast to current measures of GO severity.conclusion Facial disfigurement severity can be measured in a reliable way using panels of panellists. Except for some systematic differences between panellists, facial disfigurement does not seem to be in the eye of the beholder.
Effect of 2 years of cortisol normalization on the impaired bone mass and turnover in adolescent and adult patients with Cushing's disease: a prospective study
Authors: Di Somma Carolina , Pivonello Rosario , Loche Sandro , Faggiano Antongiulio , Klain Michele , Salvatore Marco , Lombardi Gaetano , Colao Annamaria 
Published: March 2003

Summarybackground Osteoporosis is a frequent, severe and often underestimated consequence of long‐term hypercortisolism, often presenting as bone fracture.objective This prospective study was designed to evaluate whether the abnormalities of bone mass and turnover can be similarly reversed in adolescent and adult patients with Cushing's disease, after correction of hypercortisolism.patients and methods Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine, serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary cross‐linked N‐telopeptides of type I collagen (Ntx) levels were measured at diagnosis and 2 years after cure of Cushing's disease (CD) in six patients with childhood‐onset and nine with adulthood‐onset disease. Fifteen age‐, sex‐ and body mass index (BMI)‐matched healthy subjects served as controls.results At diagnosis, BMD Z scores at lumbar spine and OC levels were lower (2·3 ± 0·1 vs.−0·2 ± 0·01; P < 0·01 and 1·6 ± 0·1 vs. 9·6 ± 1·2; P < 0·01 respectively) while urinary Ntx levels were significantly higher (139·9 ± 6·1 vs. 82·0 ± 1·6; P < 0·01) in CD patients than in controls. Among CD patients, similar values of Z scores (−2·4 ± 0·3 vs.−2·2 ± 0·1, P = 0·4) and OC levels (1·7 ± 0·2 vs. 1·6 ± 0·2, P = 0·6) were observed in adolescent and adults patients, whereas urinary Ntx levels were significantly higher (159·7 ± 7·9 vs. 125·9 ± 3·3, P < 0·001) in the former than in the latter group.Two years after remission from hypercortisolism, OC levels (P < 0·001) and lumbar BMD Z scores (−2·2 ± 0·3, P < 0·05; and −1·9 ± 0·2; P < 0·01, respectively) increased significantly, while urinary Ntx levels reduced significantly (P < 0·001) in both adolescent and adult patients. However, biochemical markers and Z scores of BMD remained significantly suppressed compared to controls.conclusions Bone impairment in childhood‐ and adulthood‐onset Cushing's disease patients can be partly, but not completely, reversed 2 years after normalization of cortisol levels. Longer recovery times or additive therapeutic approaches are necessary to maximize peak bone mass in children and restore bone mass in adults with Cushing's disease.
Intelligent computer reporting `lack of experience': a confidence measure for decision support systems
Authors: Holst  , Ohlsson  , Peterson  , Edenbrandt  
Published: March 2003

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of developing artificial neural networks that are able to provide confidence measures for their diagnostic advice.Computer‐aided decision making can improve physician performance, but many physicians hesitate to use these `black boxes'. If we are to rely upon decision support systems for such tasks as medical diagnosis it is essential that the computers indicate when the advice given is based on experience, i.e. give a confidence measure.An artificial neural network was trained to diagnose healed anterior myocardial infarction and to indicate `lack of experience' when test electrocardiograms were different from the electrocardiograms of the training set. A database of 1249 electrocardiograms from patients who had undergone cardiac catheterization was used to train and test the neural network. Thereafter, the ability of the network to indicate `lack of experience' was assessed using 100 left bundle branch block electrocardiograms, an electrocardiographic pattern that was excluded from the training set.The network indicated that 83% of the left bundle branch block electrocardiograms and 1% of the test electrocardiograms from catheterized patients were different from the electrocardiograms of the training set. All but one of the left bundle branch block electrocardiograms would otherwise be falsely classified as anterior myocardial infarction by the network.Artificial neural networks can be trained to indicate `lack of experience', and this ability increases the possibility for neural networks to be accepted as reliable decision support systems in clinical practice.
Evaluation of 40 × 22 mm coverslip area in cervical cancer screening
Authors: OOMMEN  , CURLING  , ADAMS  , BARRETT  , TITMUSS  , WIDDOWSON  
Published: March 2003

oommen r., curling m., adams c., barrett e., titmuss e. and widdowson a. (1998) Cytopathology 9, 46–49 Evaluation of 40 ×3 20 mm coverslip area in cervical cancer screening Nine hundred and twenty‐three smears covered by 40 × 22 mm size coverslips were examined inside and outside the coverslip area to determine whether this coverslip size could be responsible for missed dyskaryotic cells in conventional cervical cancer screening. There was no instance when abnormal cells seen outside the coverslip were not also present within the coverslipped area.
Guidelines for anal cytology—to make cytological diagnosis and follow up much more reliable
Authors: SCHOLEFIELD  , JOHNSON  , HITCHCOCK  , KOCJAN  , SMITH  , SMITH  , FERRYMAN  , BYASS  
Published: March 2003

scholefield j. h., johnson j., hitchcock a., kocjan g., smith j. h. f., smith p. a., ferryman s. and byass p. (1998) Cytopathology9, 15–22Guidelines for anal cytology—to make cytological diagnosis and follow up much more reliable
Heat shock protein (HSP)27: a further refinement in the diagnosis of suspicious fine needle aspirates of breast
Authors: KEELING J. , MCKEE G. T. 
Published: March 2003

Heat shock protein (HSP)27: a further refinement in the diagnosis of suspicious fine needle aspirates of breastThe technique of fine needle aspiration (FNA) is increasingly used in the investigation of breast abnormalities both palpable and impalpable. However, up to 20% of aspirates fall into two categories which require further investigation, because they either show cytological atypia or exhibit features which are suspicious of malignancy (reporting categories C3 and C4). The usefulness of the 27‐kD heat shock protein (HSP27) expression in refining these categories of suspicion, and possibly in predicting malignancy, was investigated using an established immunocytochemical staining procedure. Positive HSP27 staining was shown by 73.1% of C4 and 33.3% of C3 FNAs. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the results obtained for the C3 and C4 FNAs.
Columnar and metaplastic cells in vault smears: cytologic and colposcopic study
Authors: Sodhani P. , Gupta S. , Prakash S. , Singh V. 
Published: March 2003

Columnar and metaplastic cells in vault smears: cytologic and colposcopic studyVault smears (n= 250) were examined as routine follow up of hysterectomized individuals. Although the majority of these smears were normal, 14 of them revealed the presence of columnar cells or metaplastic cells. None of these patients had any known cause which could account for the presence of these cells in a post‐hysterectomy smear. The possible explanations could be (i) the common mullerian origin of the upper vaginal mucosal cells, (ii) exfoliated reparative squamous parabasal and basal cells mimicking columnar cells, (iii) goblet cell metaplasia in atrophic vaginal epithelium.
Cytological and immunocytochemical evaluation of thyroid and breast masses in patients with a previous neoplasm: case reports
Authors: Pisani T. , Antonaci A. , Sinopoli N. T. , Mottolese† M. , Vecchione A. , Giovagnoli M. R. 
Published: March 2003

Cytological and immunocytochemical evaluation of thyroid and breast masses in patients with a previous neoplasm: case reportsThe diagnosis of secondary tumours represents one of the most important fields in the application of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). We studied two patients, one with a history of breast cancer and one with a previous tumour of the thyroid, who showed a second mass, in the thyroid and in the breast, respectively, during follow up. The aim of our study was to evaluate if cytology, performed on FNAC smears, may distinguish a metastatic lesion from a second primary tumour, or if further immunocytochemistry should be performed. Our data demonstrate that, while cytology may be indicative of a second primary tumour, the histotype should be confirmed by immunocytochemical staining.
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of pilomatrixoma: report of 14 cases and review of the literature
Authors: Viero R. M. , Tani E. , Skoog L. 
Published: March 2003

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of pilomatrixoma: report of 14 cases and review of the literatureWe describe 14 cases of pilomatrixoma which were diagnosed preoperatively on FNA cytology. In contrast to the literature, our series showed male preponderance and some of the tumours in unusual locations such as thigh and breast. In three patients the tumours were larger than 5 cm. The clinical diagnosis varied from tumour not otherwise defined to sarcoma. The cytologic presentation had features which allowed a correct diagnosis in all cases and included basaloid cells surrounded by delicate pink fibres, shadow cells, giant cells, naked nuclei and calcium deposits. It is concluded that the FNA cytology of pilomatrixoma is characteristic and will allow a conclusive diagnosis even in cases with an aberrant clinical presentation.
The interaction of Trichomonas vaginalis with epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and erythrocytes on vaginal smears: light microscopic observation
Authors: Demirezen S. , Safi Z. , Beksaç S. 
Published: March 2003

The interaction of Trichomonas vaginalis with epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and erythrocytes on vaginal smears: light microscopic observationIn this study, vaginal smears taken from 400 patients were examined cytologically using the Papanicolaou technique. Twenty of the 400 patients were detected as harbouring Trichomonas vaginalis.The interactions of T. vaginalis with epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) and erythrocytes were determined at light microscopic level. It was observed that T. vaginalis were juxtaposed to the epithelial cells and changed shape according to the contours of the epithelial cell revealing the cytopathic effect of trichomonads on epithelial cells.Trichomonads attached to PMNLs produced pseudopodia to phagocytose the cells. Occasionally an amoeboid shaped T. vaginalis organism was seen trailed by a row of PMNLs. This light microscopic study supports the production by trichomonads of a chemotactic factor for PMNLs.Phagocytosed erythrocytes were also seen in the cytoplasm of T. vaginalis, suggesting the need for the patient to be tested for anaemia.
Continuing education for cytotechnologists: the Australian experience
Authors: Stevens M. W. , Whitaker D. 
Published: March 2003

Continuing education for cytotechnologists: the Australian experienceThe development of a continuing education scheme for cytotechonologists in Australia is described. The process involved the establishment of a working party with Terms of Reference to review current practice in Australia and existing schemes in other parts of the world. The scheme developed takes the form of a continuing education diary that provides guidelines on the various forms of continuing education activity and corresponding credit points. The diary also provides for a record of activity to be kept. The scheme requires bi‐annual submission of personal activity which is logged into a national database. A peer profile is provided and successful achievement is marked by the issue of a certificate of participation. The programme has achieved a 57% compliance in its first year of operation.
Evaluation of thin‐layer methods in urine cytology
Authors: Wright R. G. , Halford J. A. 
Published: March 2003

Evaluation of thin‐layer methods in urine cytology Conventional cytospin smears prepared from urinary tract specimens were compared with two new thin layer techniques, i.e. ThinPrep® and AutoCyte PREP™. Cellularity, cell preservation, background features, detection rate, screening time and ease of preparation were evaluated. Thin‐layer techniques when applied to urine cytology were found to improve cell yield and cell preservation, and reduce background artefact. The reporting rate for abnormal urothelial cells was comparable to conventional cytospin smears, as was screening time. Laboratory staff found the methodologies to be practicable and easily incorporated into a large routine diagnostic service. We conclude that a one‐slide thin‐layer urine preparation is comparable to four cytospin slides in the detection of urothelial abnormalities, and that both ThinPrep® and AutoCyte PREP™ have comparable features.
Costs and benefits of cervical screening IV: valuation by women of the cervical screening programme
Authors: WORDSWORTH SARAH , RYAN MANDY , WAUGH NORMAN 
Published: March 2003

Costs and benefits of cervical screening IV: valuation by women of the cervical screening programme Objectives: To assess the value of the cervical smear test to women, taking account of the positive and negative aspects of the cervical screening service.Design: A postal survey.Setting: Tayside Health Board region of Scotland.Participants: A sample of 2000 women aged 20–59.Main outcome measures: Maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for a cervical smear test.Results: Women were prepared to pay £50.20 per smear on a 3‐yearly basis. Willingness to pay was positively related to income, but unrelated to age and whether or not the respondent had previously had a smear.Conclusions: Previous studies have estimated the cost per screen or cost per life year saved by cervical screening. This study used the economic instrument of WTP to take account of other potential (dis)benefits to women. The value women place on having a smear was more than the cost to the National Health Service (NHS) of providing the service. The output of a WTP study is potentially useful at the policy level. Future work should explore both the value of alternative approaches to cervical screening, and the value of competing health care interventions.
Expression of CD40, CD44, bcl‐2 antigens and rate of cell proliferation on fine needle aspirates from metastatic melanoma
Authors: SVIATOHA V. , RUNDGREN Å. , TANI E. , HANSSON J. , KLEINA R. , SKOOG L. 
Published: March 2003

Expression of CD40, CD44, bcl‐2 antigens and rate of cell proliferation on fine needle aspirates from metastatic melanoma The clinical behaviour of melanoma is often unpredictable using clinical and histological criteria. Tumour cell markers related to cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, cell–cell interactions and cell proliferation might improve the possibility of predicting the clinical course of melanoma.The aim of the present study was to refine prognostic criteria by an immunocytochemical investigation of CD44, CD40, bcl‐2 antigens and cell proliferation in tumour cells aspirated from metastases of malignant melanoma.CD40 is a cell surface receptor shown to be expressed by lymphomas as well as carcinomas, and is thought to play a central role in the process of tumour progression. CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein, which is involved in growth signal transmission of importance in the binding of tumour cells to endothelium, cell migration and enhancement of cell motility, which makes it of interest to study in relation to the metastasizing capacity of tumours. The bcl‐2 protein is active in the process of programmed cell death (apoptosis) as an antiapoptotic agent and its expression may reflect tumour progression.Mean/median percentages of tumour cell positivity were 8.5/3.0 for CD40, 76.1/86.3 for CD44 and 7.4/3.3 for bcl‐2. A significant correlation was observed between expression of apoptosis‐associated bcl‐2 antigen and overall survival (r=0.33). The CD44 positive cell fraction was higher in patients with short overall survival than those with long survival but this difference was not statistically significant. The expression of CD40 did not correlate with overall survival. The mean/median proliferation fraction assessed by MIB‐1 monoclonal antibody was 25.8/23.9 and showed a significant correlation with survival after diagnosis of melanoma metastasis (r=0.32).Lack of bcl‐2 expression and a high proportion of tumour cells expressing Ki‐67 antigen are predictors of poor prognosis that are independent of the traditionally accepted Breslow's thickness of the primary melanomas.
Fine needle aspiration in nodular fasciitis of the face
Authors: MATUSIK JANUSZ , WIBERG AGNE , SLOBODA JURAJ , ANDERSSON OLLE 
Published: March 2003

Fine needle aspiration in nodular fasciitis of the face Nodular fasciitis (NF) appears typically as a rapidly growing solitary mass which is most commonly located on the extremities, followed by the trunk and then the head and neck. NF is often suitable for fine needle aspiration (FNA), but few reports of NF diagnosed cytologically have been published. The purpose of this paper is to describe FNA cytology in three cases of nodular fasciitis. All three cases were located on the face.