Isolation of granulosal-like cells from the bovine secretory corpus luteum and their characterization in long-term culture

Background: The isolation of cells termed type 5 from the bovine corpus luteum was recently reported. Since these cells were reminiscent of immature granulosa cells, their morphological and functional relationship requires further investigation in view of the novel concept of corpus luteum growth. It suggests that putative stem cells of unknown origin supply the pool of small luteal cells. Methods: Bovine corpora lutea were mechanically dispersed, cell suspensions separated over a Percoll® density gradient, and type 5 cells purified by colony transfer. Granulosa cells were harvested from small-sized antral follicles. Observations were carried out at the light and electron microscopical level. 3β-Hydroxy-steroid-dehydrogenase was localized histochemically in addition to intracellular lipid droplets stained with nile red. Immunolocalization was used to study Factor VIII antigen presence, the architecture of the cytoskeleton, as well as the occurrence of neuronal cell adhesion molecules, and of neuronal cadherin-like molecules. The uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein was examined. As for progesterone concentration, cells were seeded at low density on day zero. Cell numbers and progesterone levels of supernatants were determined on day 10 in culture. Results and Conclusions: Type 5 cells behaved morphologically like immature granulosa cells, yet the total cell number and the progesterone concentration differed for type 5 cells compared to granulosa cells. The addition of LH had no influence on the progesterone concentration as seen for either type 5 cells or for granulosa cells. It is concluded that type 5 cells, which were originally mistaken for microvascular endothelial cells, display similarities with immature granulosa cells. Type 5 cells may play a role in renewal of luteal cells. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

111例急性T淋巴细胞白血病免疫表型分析

选用一组抗人白细胞表面分化抗原单克隆抗体和基因探针,依靠间接免疫荧光技术、Ap-AAP桥联酶标免疫组化染色和分子杂交手段.对111例急性T淋巴细胞白血病(T-ALL)进行了免疫分型研究。本研究所观察到的T-ALL细胞表型绝大多数反映着正常胸腺细胞分化发育阶段或某些少见类型细胞的表型特征,亦有少数病例则无正常淋巴细胞相对应的表型,表明T-ALL细胞的高度异质性。对T-ALL表型的研究为今后深入探讨胸腺内淋巴细胞的分化成熟以及T-ALL发生学提供了良好的研究模式。     

Outcomes of First-Generation EGFR-TKIs Against Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Harboring Uncommon EGFR Mutations: A Post Hoc Analysis of the BE-POSITIVE Study

Background

Beyond progression after tyrosine kinase inhibitor in EGFR-positive non-small-cell lung cancer patients (BE-POSITIVE) was the first Italian multicenter observational study that reported the outcomes of first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in a “real-life” Caucasian EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) population. The sharing of multi-institutional experiences represents a crucial strategy to enrich knowledge about uncommon EGFR mutations. Therefore, we performed a post hoc analysis of the BE-POSITIVE study.

Dosimetric effects of saline- versus water-filled balloon applicators for IORT using the model S700 electronic brachytherapy source

PurposeThe Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System (Xoft, Inc., San Jose, CA) is a viable option for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) treatment of early-stage breast cancer. The low-energy (50-kVp) X-ray source simplifies shielding and increases relative biological effectiveness but increases dose distribution sensitivity to medium composition. Treatment planning systems typically assume homogenous water for brachytherapy dose calculations, including precalculated atlas plans for Xoft IORT. However, Xoft recommends saline for balloon applicator filling. This study investigates dosimetric differences due to increased effective atomic number (Z_eff) for saline (Z_eff = 7.56) versus water (Z_eff = 7.42).MethodsBalloon applicator diameters range from 3 to 6 cm. Monte Carlo N-Particle software is used to calculate dose at the surface (D_s) of and 1 cm away (D_1cm) from the water-/saline-filled balloon applicator using a single dwell at the applicator center as a simple estimation of the dosimetry and multiple dwells simulating the clinical dose distributions for the atlas plans.ResultsSingle-dwell plans show a 4.4–6.1% decrease in D_s for the 3- to 6-cm diameter applicators due to the saline. Multidwell plans show similar results: 4.9% and 6.4% D_s decrease, for 4-cm and 6-cm diameter applicators, respectively. For the single-dwell plans, D_1cm decreases 3.6–5.2% for the 3- to 6-cm diameter applicators. For the multidwell plans, D_1cm decreases 3.3% and 5.3% for the 4-cm and 6-cm applicators, respectively.ConclusionsThe dosimetric effect introduced by saline versus water filling for Xoft balloon applicator–based IORT treatments is ∼5%. Users should be aware of this in the context of both treatment planning and patient outcome studies.     

Sources of heterogeneity in studies of the BMI-mortality association

Background

To date, the amount of heterogeneity among studies of the body mass index-mortality association attributable to differences in the age distribution and length of follow-up has not been quantified. Therefore, we wanted to quantify the amount of heterogeneity attributable to age and follow-up in results of studies on the body mass index-mortality relation.

Genomic alterations and molecular subtypes of gastric cancers in Asians

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly heterogenic disease, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world. Common chemotherapies are not very effective for GC, which often presents as an advanced or metastatic disease at diagnosis. Treatment options are limited, and the prognosis for advanced GCs is poor. The landscape of genomic alterations in GCs has recently been characterized by several international cancer genome programs, including stud-ies that focused exclusively on GCs in Asians. These studies identiifed major recurrent driver mutations and provided new insights into the mutational heterogeneity and genetic proifles of GCs. An analysis of gene expression data by the Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG) further uncovered four distinct molecular subtypes with well-deifned clini-cal features and their intersections with actionable genetic alterations to which targeted therapeutic agents are either already available or under clinical development. In this article, we review the ACRG GC project. We also discuss the implications of the genetic and molecular ifndings from various GC genomic studies with respect to developing more precise diagnoses and treatment approaches for GCs.     

Morphological and molecular heterogeneity in colorectal neoplasms with K-RAS mutation. A report of two cases

Approximately forty percent of colorectal cancers (CRC) are characterized by activating mutations of the K-RAS gene. Determination of K-RAS mutational status as a predictive marker for anti-EGFR therapy is usually based on the assumption of intratumoral homogeneity. We present two cases of CRC in which morphologically distinct tumor components were associated with different activating mutations of K-RAS in one patient and a mutated and a non-mutated portion in the second patient, as demonstrated by laser microdissection and consecutive molecular analyses.     

Statistically characterizing intra- and inter-individual variability in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Previous research investigating children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) has consistently reported increased intra- and inter-individual variability during motor skill performance. Statistically characterizing this variability is not only critical for the analysis and interpretation of behavioral data, but also may facilitate our understanding of the processes underlying DCD. Thus, the primary purpose of this research was to demonstrate the utility of a flexible statistical technique, a random coefficient model (RCM), that characterizes the increased intra- and inter-individual variability in children with and without DCD. We analyzed data from a sensorimotor adaptation task during which participants executed discrete aiming movements under conditions of rotated visual feedback. To highlight the advantages of this statistical approach, we contrasted the results from the RCM with those from a traditionally employed general linear model (GLM). The RCM revealed differences between the two groups of children that the GLM did not detect; and, characterized trajectories of change for each individual. The RCM provides researchers an opportunity to probe behavioral deficits at the individual level and may provide new insights into the behavioral heterogeneity in children with DCD.     

胃肠道间质性肿瘤的病理学研究

胃肠道间质性肿瘤是一类发生于胃肠道的异质性肿瘤。包括起源于平滑肌、雪旺氏细胞及胃肠道肌神经丛的三大类肿瘤的它们的组织学形态十分相似，极易沸淆。本文报告４８例，用通常的病理组织学诊断标准分类，并用Ｍａｓｓｏｎ二色染及四种不同的单克隆抗体作免疫组织化学检查，试图说明它们的形态特征及组织发生。